AU609728B2

AU609728B2 - A hull for a surfboard, sailboard or the like

Info

Publication number: AU609728B2
Application number: AU76707/87A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Santo Amenta
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-08-07
Filing date: 1987-08-07
Publication date: 1991-05-09
Anticipated expiration: 2007-08-07
Also published as: AU7670787A

Description

4 4

O

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Form

(ORIGINATL'

FOR OFFICE64)97 2 8 Short Title: Int. C.: Application Number: Lodged: dr s 10Yct for 11 CoeC~t for pinni Complete Specification-Lodged: Accepted: Lapsed: Published: Priority: Related Art: 4r 4 ot, TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor: SANTO AMENTA 66 ALLSOPS ROAD WOORI YALLOCK 3139

VTCTORIA

AUSTRALIA

SANTO AMENTA CLEMENT HACK CO., 601 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.

Address for Service:

C

Complete Specificatior ant'itled: "A HULL FOR A SURFBOARD, SAILBOARD OR THE Thf fo.dowing LIKE" of this invention including the best metnua or perftorming it known, to me:- 2~

R

2 coo 00 09 o ot.

0 0 00 00 LIKE 0 00 9 @0 5 The pesent invention relates generally to 00 0o 0 00 "A HULL FOR A o. SURFBOARD, SAILBOARD OR THE o o

LIKE".

O The present invention relates generally to o0 oo locomotion devices and in particular to devices for moving over and through liluid media, such as for example water, snow and the like. In particular the present invention relates to a improvements in devices such as surfboards, speed boats, So\ boarrds, snow skis, sailing boats and the like. A preferred form of the present invention is an improved surfboard.

Although the present invention will be described with particular reference to improvements relating to surfboards, it is to be noted that the present invention is not so limited and is more extensive in scope extending to other devices and toother arrangements.

get 0 *99* o o o 00 o 0 0 0000 09 0 -3 It is to be noted that although the term surfboard is used throughout the present specification, including the claims, the use of this term is not meant to limit the scope of the invention to surfboards but instead this term includes within its scope any device which is used in water activities such as for example surfboaris, sail boards, surf skis, water skis, body boards, knee boards and the like.

People involved in using surfboards and/or sailboards are often in an unending quest to find what they regard as the "perfect" board for them. This so called perfect board has for the particular user of the board the right balance of properties such as speed, manoeuvrability, style, image, appearance and the like. In particular there is a quest to find a board which as the right balance of speej and manoeuvrability for a variety of conditions which are most usually encountered when operating the board. In the past some boards have been fast but not all that manoeuvrable while other boards have been manoeuvrable but are not as fast as the user desires. The present invention is an attempt to provide a board which is both manoeuvrable and fast in a variety of conditions and which will have a wider appeal to at least some of the users of such boards. As well, the present invention is an attempt to provide a board which has a distinctive appearance when compared to the appearance of boards of more conventional appearance. Therefore, it is one aim of the present invention to provide a board which has a desirable blend of performance characteristics for at least some of the users of such boards, It is another aim of the present invention to provide a board which has a distinctive appearance when compared to the appearance of boards of a more conventional appearance.

According to the present invention there is prov.ded a surfboard having improved performance characteristics due to the generally angular shape of its body which is characterised by having a number of clearly identifiable points located at spaced apart intervals over the length of oo0@ 000 0 0 0 00 0 0 00 0 0 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 d 4t, V *y 4 the body, said clearly identifiable points being defined by the intersection of angularly inclined substantially straight upper edges of sides of the surfboard, one of said clearly identifiable points being a point of maximum width which is located intermediate the ends of the body, said body comprising a forward body portion having a cross-soctional width which tapers in the forward direction from the point of maximum width to a narrow front end, a mid-body portion having a cross-sectional width which tapers rearwardly from the point of maximum width to a first rear point of intermediate width which is located rearwardly of the pont of meximum width, said first rear pont of intermediate width Sbeing another of the clearly identifiable points, and a rear-body portion having a cross-seutional width which tapers °o rearwardly from the first rear point of intermediate width to a narrow rear end wherein said mid-body portion are eo«< substantially planr and extend lengthwise in a common plane o and said forward body portion gently curves upwardly out of O10 the common plane in thF forward direction substantially from the point of maximum width, said body being further defined by a substantially flat rpper surface and a lower surface in o000^ the form of a hull being provided with channel means, and 0o 00 wherein the lower edges of the sides of the surfboard are S provided with substantially curved grooved means formed by 00 0 0°o o° removing material from the surf board along the lower edges, said grooved means extending from the front end to the first o rear point of intermediate width, said grooved means being 0000 provided in order to eliminate or reduce drag from the water O °oo on the point of maximum width and the first rear point of intermediate width during use of the surfboard, said surf board being symmetrical abouts its central longitudinal axis.

Typically, the body portion located forward of the widest part of the surfboard is curved in a direction upwards out of the plane of th6 rear body section which is typically planar from the widest part back to the extreme rear of the surfboard.

4a Typically, the first forward body portion comprises one, two, three or more body sections; each body section, if more than a single body section is present, having a taper generally in the same direction, which is tapering from the widest width inboard of the surfboard towards the narrow front end.

Typically, there are from at least three up to about ten or more, preferably from four to seven discrete body portions making up the entire body of the surfboard.

Typically, the forward end of the surfboard is tapered to a point at its nose. Typically, the radius of curvature of the point is not less than the radius of a 10 cent coin.

Typically, the radius of curvature of the forward nose of the board is from about one inch to three inches, preferably about one and half inches.

Typically, the surfboard is symmetrical about its i I longitudinal central axis.

O0 a e f i o 0 i 5 Typically, the second central body portion or the third rear body portion of the surfboard has sides provided with two, three, four or more discrete tapered portions along its edge. Typically, the angularly inclined tapered portions are arranged in pairs along opposed sides of the rear body portion. Typically, the direction of taper of all of the sides of the central and rear body portions are the same.

Typically, the undersurface of the surfboard in use is provided with channel means. Typically, there are two channel means located on either side of the central longitudinal axis of the surfboard.

Typically, the undersurface of the board of the present invention is provided with a V-shaped forward portion covering about one third of the undersurface and extending from the nose portion to about one third of the length and/or e• a V-shaped rear portion covering about one third of the S@0 undersurface extending over the about one third of the undersurface from the rear end. The undersurface between the two V-shaped undersurface treatments is substantially planar.

*20 Typically, the side edges of and/or undersurface *o close to the side edges of the board of the present invention is provided with a profile or similar called a "chine line".

This chine line which is in effect a groove, channel or o Ooo similar in which material of the board has been removed to create the profile extends from adjacent the nose portion to the rear of the central body portion or to the rear body a. portion along the sides and slightly inboard of the sides.

The chine line is aligned more or less with the side shape of the board and corresponds in position to the side of the board 30 over virtually its entire length. This profile is provided in order to eliminate or reduce the exten5 to which the wider portions of the board dig into the water during use of the board.

Typically the surfboard is provided with one, two, three, four or more fins located at spaced apart locations on the undersurface of the rear body portion. Typically, there 6 are rows of differently sized fins located along the sides of the surfboard. Typically the fins increase from 1" to 6" in size as they are located from the waist part to the rear.

Preferably, there are three fins located on the underneath of the board. The fins which are curved are arranged such that the curved portion is located on the out-board side in one embodiment in which the fins are curved on one side only.

Typically, the rear of the rear body portion has a complex shape comprising one or more rearwardly directed body portions. Preferably, the rear end portion terminates in a single pointed end. Typically, the upper surface of the pointed rear end slopes downwards.

Typically, the front body portion located forwardly of the widest part of the surfboard and accordingly the t forwardly directed taper extends from 30% to 70% of the total overall length of the board, typically from 40 to 60%, most typically around 4, Typically, the widest portion of the board is from .20 18" to 30" wide, more typically 18" to 26", preferably 19 to a a 20 end the length of the board is from 65" to 12'. The width to length ratio of the board extends from 1:10 to 1:2, more typically, from 1:5 to 1:3, preferably about 1:3.5.

0 o Typically, the length of the first rearwardly 0 25 directed taper is from 15 to 30%, more typically, 20 to 2b%, 0 00 preferably about 23% compared to the overall length of the board.

o as Typically, the length of the second or subsequent rearwardly directed tapers is from 10 to 20%, more typically 00o 30 13 to 18%, preferably about 14 to 16% of the total overall length of the board.

Typically, the length of the extreme rearward portion is about 3% of total length of the board.

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 7 Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of the surfboard made in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the surfboard in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an underneath view of the surfboard of Figure 1; Figure 4 i-s a cross-section taken along the line 4 to 4 of Figure 1; Figcures 5 to 11 are plan views of alternative rear portions of the rear body portion of the surfboard made in accordance with the present invention; Figure 12 is a partial side elevation view of another embodiment of the surfboard of the present invention; Figure 13 is an underneath view of the surfboard of Figure 12; Fs Figure 14 is a perspective view of one form of the fin; Figure 15 is a plan view of another form of the present invention; a* 20 Figures 16 is an underneath view of the embodiment os of Figure 15; and Figures 17(a) to are a series of cross-sections through various locations in Figure 16.

0°o In Figures 1 to 4 there is shown a surfboard o oa 25 generally denoted as 2, comprising a forward body portion 4, a o o o central body portion 5 and a rear body portion 6. The forward o a °o body portion 4 has tapering sides 8, 8a which extend from the widest part of the board 10 which iF located in about in the centre third portion of the surfboard with respect to its 0 0 30 overall length to th,. pointed nose 12, typically at about of the overall length of the board. Although the nose 12 may be strictly pointed, it can also be curved or rounded both from side to side and also from top to bottom or from upper surface to underneath surface. Typically, the radius of curvature, if rounded, in any direction is greater than the circumference of a 10 cent coin. The plan of the forward body I i ii -3~ 8 portion 4 iB slightly curved out of the plane of central i' portion 5 and the rear portion 6 in the direction from the undersurface towards the top surface, as shown in Figure 2.

The rear portion 6 and central body portion 5 are substantially planar and not curved like the forward portion 4. The forward front portion 4 changes into the central portion 5 at the widest part of the surfboard 10. The central portion 5 and rear sc.ction 6 are tapered rearwardlv from the widest part 10 towards the extreme rear 14 of the rear portion 4. The taper can vary from containing two body segments or be more complex containing up to four or more body segments.

Typically, the taper is complex comprising along each side a first tapered portion 16, 16a extending from the widest portion 10 to a first change of direction 18, 18a of the rear portion, a second tapered portion 20, 20a, angularly inclined t to the first tapered portion 16, 16a extending from the first t Sri, change of direction 18, to the second change of direction 22, *oo 22a and a thiird tapered portion 24, 24a, angularly inclined to t. the second tapered portion 20, 20s, extending from the second change of direction 22, 22a to the extreme rear of the surfboard 14. Although sharp changes of direction are shown and described in the preferred embodiment, it is to be noted that the changes of direction may be more or less rounded or o Ono curved. Additionally, the front body portion 4 may contain o0°o 25 one, two, three or more segments similar to the arrangement of 0 00 the central and rear portions but tapeelad in the opposite 0 0 Typically, the widest point 10 of the surfboard is located from the nose i? at a distance corresponding to about 06 4 o 30 60% of the overall length of the surfboard whereas the first change of direction 18, 18a is located at a distance from nose 12 which corresponds to about 80 to 85% of the overall length of the surfboard. The second change of direction 22, 22a of the convex rear taper is located at greater than 90 to 98% of the overall length of the surfboard. It is to be noted that the relative relationship of lengths may be altered in accordance with the weight, size and skill of an operator of r the surfboard and with conditions in which the board will be used. Additionally, more or less amounts of the changes of direction of the rear tapered sections than those described may be used depending on the precise desired characteristics of the board. Although, 3 rear tapered sections are shown there may be more or less such as from 2 to 4 or more in other forms of surfboard of the present invention.

Fins 26 may be located on the undersurface 28 of the surfboard at spaced apart locations. One, two, three, four or more fins can be employed depending on the characteristic of the board required. Three fins 26 are shown in Figure 3. A pair of channels 30 are provided in undersurface 28 and extend from the front section 4 to the rear section 6.

Referring now to Figures 5 to 11, alternative views of the rear portion of the rear section 4 of the surfboard are S disclosed. In some embodiments the extreme end 14 of the rear S section 4 is provided with shaped cut-outs 34 or shaped extensions 36 to compliment the complex rear taper.

SCo The embodiment shown in Figures 12 and 13 is *.20 provided with a plurality of fins 26 arranged in two rows along the side edges of the surfboard. In one form, the fins gradually decrease in size from relatively large located towards the centre to relatively small located towards the extreme zear 14. Then arrangements of fins and other numbers "4a,25 of fins may be employed in other form of the present 0 «0 invention.

S\4 40In Figure 14 is shown one form of the fin which may be used in the present invention. The profile of the fin is similar to the profile of the surfboard in that there is an 30 acutely shaped leading edges, a widest portion located in about the one-third central portion, and a sharp edge rear trailing edge.

An alternative form of the surfboard of the present invention is shown in Figures 15 to 17 which comprises a forward end portion 40 which consists of three body segments denoted as 42, 44, 46, central body portion 48 which consists of three body segments 50,.52, 54 and rear body portion 56 mw 71 II- 10 making seven distinct body segments in all. The widest portion of the board located at point 58 is at the junction of the body segments 46 and 50. The ratio of the lengths of the seven body segments are as follows: Body segment 42 extends from the nose 60 to about of the entire length of the board; body segment 44 extends about 14% of the entire length; body segment 46 to about body segment 50 to about body segment 52 to about 18%; body segment 54 to about 15%; with body segment 56 extending over the balance of the length of the board which is about 1%.

A chine line 62 is located along either side edge of the board and extends from adjacent the nose portion to about the junction between body segments 52 and 54. The chine line 62 follows closely the shape of the side edge and is slightly inboardly spaced from the side edge.

The described arrangement has been advanced by way of explanation and many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which includes every novel feature and/or novel combination of features hereindisclosed.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It is uncerstood tmha the invention includes all such variations and 25 modifications which fall within its spirit and scope.

0) O 1 0.

Od 400 00 00 0) 000 O 00 00 0 0 oOD a~0 0 00 0 0 0 00a~ Li

Claims

1. A urfboard having improved performance characteristics due to the generally angular shape of its body which is characterised by having a number of clearly identifiable points located at spaced apart intervals over the length of the body, said clearly identifiable points being defined by the intersection of argularly inclined substantially straight upper edges of sides of the surfboard, one of said clearly identifiable points being a point of maximum width which is located intermediate the ends of the body, said body comprising a forward body portion having a cross-sectional e width which tapers !on the forward direction from the point of maximum width to a narrow front end, a mid-body portion o- having a cross-sectional width which tapers rearwardly from the point of maximnum width to a first rear point of intermediate width which is locoated -earwardly of the point a of maximUm Width, said first rear point of intermediate width e being another of the clearly identifiable points, and a rear-body portion having a cross-sectional width which tapers S rearwardly from the first rear point of intermediate width to B^ a narrow rear end wherein said mid-body portion are a substantially planar and extend lengthwise in a common plane and said foiWard body portion gently curves upwardly out of the common plane in the forward direction substantially from the point of tmaximum width, said body being further defined by a s'bstantially flat upper surface and a lower surface in S the form of a hull being provided with channel means, and Swherein the lower edges of the sides of the surfboard are provided with substantially curved grooved means formed by removing material from the surf board along the lower edges, said grooved means extending from the front end to the first rear point of intermediate width, sair' grooved means being provided in order to eliminate or reduce drag from the water on the point of maximum width and the first rear point of intermediate width during use of the surfboard, sc., Seo4r-koF S0 V X :j c2K0 'E~

2. A surfboard according to claim I in which the forward body portion comprijsesz two forward body segraents, the first of the forward body-segments having a cross-sectional width which tarers forward.ly from the point of maximum width VI *00, 0006

6-; j1 i 12 '9 99 ft f t S 9 9 I k 9 4 069 *r 4 9 9 to a first forward point of intermedia' width, located forwardly of the point of maximum width "cd having a width less than that of the point of maximum width and the second forward body segment tapering forwardly from the first forward point of intermediate width to the front end, the rate of taper of the sides of the first body segment being constant and less than that of the second body segment which is constant, the first forward point of intermediate width being another of the clearly identifiable points. 3. The surfboard of Claim 1, in which the forward body portion comprises three or four distinct body segments, each )f the individual body segments having tapering sides, the .ate of taper of which for each individual body segment is constant but different to the rates of taper of the other body segments, the sides all tapering in the same direction. 4. A surfboard according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the rear body portion comprises tw. rear body segments, the first of the rear body segments ,.ving a cross- sectional width which tapers rearwardly from the first rear point of intermediate width to a second rear point of intermediate width located rearwardly of the first rear point of intermediate width and having a width less than that of the first rear point of intermediate width, the other rear body portion tapering rearwardly from the second rear point of intermediate width to the rear end, the second rear point of intermediate width being another of the clearly identifiable points, the rate of taper of the sides of the first rear body segment being constant and less than that of the second rear body segment. e~ I.i w1 5. A surfboard according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 in which the rear body portion comprises three or four: distinct bocy segments, each of the individual body segments having tapering sides, the rate of taper of which for each individual body segment is constant but different to the rates of taper of the other body segments, the sides all r S-v 13 tapering in the same direction. 6. A surfboard according to any one of claims 1 to in which the mid-body portion comprises two centra.i body segments, the first central body segment having a cToss- sectional width which tapers rearwardly from the point of maxiw.um width to a first central point of intermediate width located intermediate the point of maximum width and the first rear point of intermediate width and having a width intermediate that of the point of maximum width and the first rear point of intermediate width, the first central point of intermediate width being another of the clearly identifiable points and the other central body segment tapering rearwardly from the first central point of intermediate width to the *1000 first rear point of intermediate width, the rate of taper of the sides of the first central body segment being constant and less than that of the second central body segment which j« is constant. e

7. A surfboard according to any one of Claims 1 to in which the mid-body portion comprises three or four distinct body segments, each of the individual body segments having tapering side, the ra't of taper of which for each P: individual body segment is constant iut different to the o rates of taper of the other body segments, the sides all tapering in the same direction.

8. A surfboard according to o1aiim having from 3 to 10 discrete body portions, each body portion being A distinguished from adjacent body portions by one of the clearly identifiable points.

9. A surfboard according to any preceding claim in ?0 which the front end comprises a rounded nose having a radius of o rvature from 1 to 3 inches. A surfboard according to claim tin which the radius of curvature is about 1 1/2 inches. '0J L t a l 1.Bi 1 6 i I e -I i 14

11. A surfboard according to any preceding claim in which the channel means comprises klengthwise extending grooves arranged so that the grooves are located cO.n symmetrically I th w\either side of the central longitudinal axis.

12. A surfboard according to any one of claims 1 to in which the channel means comprises a generally V-shaped underneath surface portion having the apex of the V aligned along the central axis, said V-shaped portion extending from either the front end or rear end for about a third of the length of the surf board, or from both front and rear ends, the remaining underneath surface being substantially planar.

13. A surfboard according to any preceding claim in which the rear end terminates in a single pointed end. 1o 14. The surfboard of any preceding claim in which the forward body portion extends from the forward end inboard of the surfboard to an amount in the range from 30 to to 60% more preferably 60% of the total length of the surfboard. 0 a00. 15. The surfboard of Claim 2 in which the ratio of the length of the first forward body segment to the second «Se forward body segment is in the range of from 10 19% based on the entire length of the board. a *o 16. A surfboard of any preceding claim in which the 2, o, mid-body portion extends in an amount from 25% to preferably 33% to 43%, more preferably 37% of the entire length of the board.

17. The surfboard of claim 6 in which the ratios of the two body segments of the mid-body portion are in the range from 15 30% to 10 20%, preferably from 20 25% to 13 18%, more preferably 23 14% based on the entire length of the surfboard. %J^ i I. 15

18. A surfboard according to any preceding claim in which the rear body portion extends over about 3% of the entire length of the surfboard.

19. A surfboard according to any preceding claim in which the ratio of the maximum width to the overall length of the surfboard is substantially in the range from 1:4 to 1:2, preferably from 1:4 to 13:36, more preferably 19,5 to 72. A surfboard according to any preceding claim in which the width at the point of maximum width of the forward o0 body portion and the width of the first rear point of intermediate width vary from each other by an amount of up to

33.1/3%, preferably up to 23%, more preferably 10% or less, Sbased on the width of the surfboard at the point of maximum width. U 21. A surfboard according to claim 12 in which the underneath surface is provided with a forward portion extending from the front end. for about a third of the length of the surfboard in the form of a V-shaped section, a central portion extending from the rear end of the V-shaped forward portion to about two thi. of the entire length of the surfboard which is substantially planar and parallel to the top surface of the mid-body portion and a rearward generally 4 V-shapea portion extend' r about one third of the length of the surfboard from t, rear end of the planar central portion to the rear end of the surfboard, said V-shaped profiles being both arranged with the apex of the V aligned along the central longitudinal axis pointing away from the top surface of the surfboard. 22, A surfboard according to any preceding claim provided with one or more fins connected to the lower surface of the surfboard, said fin ;r fins each being generally diamond shaped in cross-section and being generally curved in the lengthwise extending direction, having generally angular sides tapering so as to terminate in a point, said fin or 16- fins being connected to the surfboard so that the point or points are located at the respective distal ends of the fin. 23. A surfboard according to claim 22 in which the fins are arranged symmetrically about the central longitudinal axis. 24. A surfboard according to claim 22 or 23 in which the fins vary in size from 1" to 6" in longitudinal length. The surfboard of any preceding claim in the form of a surfboard or the hull of a sailboard. 26. A surfboard substantially as herein before described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings. SDated this 11th day of February, 1991 SANTO AMENTA r, By his Patent Attorneys: GRIFFITH HACK CO. Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia. a I 44 4 rt 141V ni ~l i 9* :q i 1 S <A^