EP0062190B1 - Surfboard, especially windsurf board, and method for its production - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is with respect to craft such as surfboards and more specially sailboards made up of a board body of synthetic resin foam and with a synthetic resin shell and having fittings such as a daggerboard case, mast foot sleeves or sockets, connection points for foot straps, skegs etc. The sailboard is made up of a base element having all the fittings on it. The top part of a skin-compatible, flexible light-weight synthetic resin or plastic is fixed on the base element. All mechanical forces are taken up by the base element while the greater part of the buoyant volume is formed by the top part. The top part may more specially be so designed that it may be taken off the base element and an other one put in its place.

Description

The invention relates to a windsurf board with a board body made of plastic and plastic foam and with aggregates connected to the board body, such as a sword case, mast foot sleeve, foot straps, fins, etc.

Windsurfing boards of this type are generally known (DE-Z "Surf", 3/81, pp. 68-77). Known windsurf boards basically consist of a foam core and an outer skin that completely encloses it. The foam cores can be PU foams, polystyrene foams or other light plastic foams. Known outer skin materials include polyethylene, glass fiber reinforced plastic, and epoxy laminates. Surfboards are also known which consist of foamed polyester half-shells.

The known windsurf boards have a number of disadvantages, which lie in particular in the high weights. Another disadvantage is that it is not possible, for example, to provide reinforcements in the form of frames, stringers or the like. Because of the relatively high weight of the foam used, efforts are also made to keep the outer skin as thin as possible in order to solve the weight problems mentioned. This again results in a comparatively high impact sensitivity of such boards. A major disadvantage according to the prior art is also that the above-mentioned, sometimes considerable mechanical stress-absorbing units can hardly be safely connected to the known windsurfing boards, since - as can be seen from the described construction according to the prior art - only can be anchored to a comparatively weak foam core and, at best, two thin, mechanically stronger outer skin layers. In the case of industrially manufactured windsurf boards, the production is also burdened with high mold costs, so that correspondingly expensive new molds have to be created to change the board shape.

From US-PS 4 129 911 a surfboard intended for surfing is also known, in which a molded foam part is used for increased comfort of the user and at the same time to achieve increased flexibility in an upper recess of the floating body in the deck of the surfboard. A mechanically highly resilient anchoring of units of the type mentioned above is not addressed.

Based on the general prior art mentioned at the outset, the invention has for its object to provide a windsurf board of the type specified and a suitable new manufacturing process for this, which permits the greatest possible mechanical stresses of the above-mentioned units with the lightest construction and, moreover, in the most cost-effective manner in industrial applications Series production enables simple modifications of the board body in terms of shape and mechanical strength.

This object is achieved in a windsurf board of the type mentioned essentially in that the board body consists of an upper part and a lower part, the lower part being designed as a bottom element and the upper part as a buoyancy body, that the bottom element is essentially rigid and of one mechanically strong material is that the units are connected to the base element such that all mechanical forces are absorbed by the base element and that the buoyancy body consists of a flexible light plastic foam.

Apart from the complete solution of the object on which the invention is based, the advantage is thereby achieved that the risk of injury is considerably reduced when using a skin-friendly, flexible, light plastic for the upper part. In addition, with a corresponding design of the bottom part, the flexibility of such a surfboard can be optimally determined over the length without difficulty and even changed by simply connecting additional stiffening elements to the bottom plate before the top part is connected to the bottom element. Because the rigid, mechanically strong material, which has a high specific weight compared to the plastic foam, is only used on the underside of the surfboard, a considerable weight saving is possible. It is expected that with a total volume of about 260 liters of such a windsurf board, weights between 12 and 14 kg can be achieved. Since all mechanical force-absorbing units are connected directly to the base element, the known problems, such as breaking out of sword cases, pulling out foot straps, etc., are eliminated at the same time. Because of the high mechanical strength of the anchoring, which is a considerable advantage for the special field of windsurfing, the mast bushing can also be comparatively short, so that the force is attacked by the mast in the lower area of the windsurfing board. This significantly increases the stability against tipping. In addition, it is easily possible to equip one and the same floor element with different top parts, so that different types of surfboards can be produced with considerable savings in molding costs.

In particular, it is preferred that the base element has a raised central rib and that the aggregates are arranged in the region of the central rib.

In particular, the invention can thereby white be formed that the floor element is provided with stringers.

It is further preferred that the bottom element in the area of the rear of the windsurf board has a section designed as a bridge-like component. This embodiment offers the advantage that the main standing surface of a windsurfing board experiences additional stiffening, whereby in an advantageous further development this bridge-like component can be hollow, can contain an inflatable bladder or can be foamed with a particularly light foam. As a result, the advantage of further weight savings is achieved with the highest mechanical strength. In addition, foot straps can then be attached in this area without difficulty, which, according to the invention, are then connected to the base element via the bridge-like component and not to the foam core as previously.

In addition, support ribs can also be provided in the cavity bridged by the bridge-like component.

The floor element can preferably be produced as a deep-drawn part made of ABS, as a molded part made of polyethylene foam sandwich material, of integral polyurethane foam, of SMC (sheet molding compound) or of wood or partly wood. The material to be selected depends on the properties of flexibility and strength required for the end product.

The upper part preferably consists of a skin-friendly material, in particular plastic foam, such as, for example, polyethylene foam or other flexible foams.

In a particularly preferred embodiment according to the invention, the upper part is designed to be removable and replaceable. This makes it easy to produce changes in the total volume, changes in shape, in particular the shape of the surface and standing area. For example, a floor unit with two different top parts could be offered as a trading unit, which can be used to produce an all-round board and a high-speed board.

It is further preferred that the upper part covers the front part of the windsurf board, while the rear part of the windsurf board which essentially forms the base is formed by the bridge-like component.

In an advantageous development according to the invention, the base element is designed as a flexible base plate and has coupling pieces for differently shaped stringers or longitudinal ribs. As a result, a wide variety of board shapes can be produced using one and the same base plate, for example by connecting the base plate to a correspondingly shaped longitudinal rib in a tongue and groove connection.

Another object of the invention is a method for producing a windsurf board with a board body made of plastic and plastic foam and with aggregates connected to the board body, such as a sword case, mast foot attachments, foot straps, fins, etc., which is characterized in that a bottom element made of a mechanically strong Material is produced which contains all the attachments of the aggregates, such as mast foot, sword box, foot straps, fins, etc., and that the base element is then connected to an upper part which is made of a plastic foam and is designed as a buoyancy body.

• Figur 1 eine perspektivische skizzenhafte Ansicht der beiden Hauptbestandteile eines Windsurfbrettes nach vorliegender Erfindung ;
• Figuren 2 und 4 zwei Möglichkeiten verschiedene Brettformen unter Verwendung des gleichen Bodenelementes herzustellen ;
• Figur 3 eine Schnittansicht längs der Linie 111-111 in Fig. 2 ;
• Figur 5 eine Schnittansicht längs der Linie V-V in Fig. 4 ;
• Figur 6 eine skizzenhafte Schnittansicht einer Möglichkeit der Verbindung zwischen Oberteil und Bodenelement ;
• Figur 7 eine seitliche Ansicht einer alternativen Ausführungsform nach der Erfindung ;
• Figur 8 eine Draufsicht des Windsurfbrettes nach Fig. 7 ;
• Figur 9 ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel nach der Erfindung in einer schematischen Seitenansicht ;
• Figur 10 eine Schnittansicht längs der Linie X-X von Fig. 9 ;
• Figur 11 eine Schnittansicht längs der Linie XI-XI von Fig. 9 ; und
• Figur 12 eine Draufsicht auf das Ausführungsbeispiel gemäß Fig. 9.

Further advantageous details and developments according to the invention result from the following description, in which this is explained in more detail with reference to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings. It shows :

• Figure 1 is a perspective sketchy view of the two main components of a windsurf board according to the present invention;
• Figures 2 and 4 two ways to produce different board shapes using the same floor element;
• Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 111-111 in Fig. 2;
• Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line VV in Fig. 4;
• Figure 6 is a sketchy sectional view of a possibility of connection between the upper part and bottom element;
• Figure 7 is a side view of an alternative embodiment according to the invention;
• Figure 8 is a plan view of the windsurf board of Fig. 7;
• Figure 9 shows a further embodiment according to the invention in a schematic side view;
• Figure 10 is a sectional view taken along line XX of Fig. 9;
• Figure 11 is a sectional view taken along the line XI-XI of Fig. 9; and
• FIG. 12 shows a top view of the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 9.

As shown in the perspective view according to FIG. 1, a windsurf board according to the present invention, generally designated 1, consists of two main components, namely a bottom element 2 and an upper part 3. The bottom element 2 is produced from a mechanically stable material by a suitable molding process. Such materials are, for example, ABS, polyethylene foam sandwich, integral polyurethane foam, SMC (sheet molding compound) or wood or wood paired with one of the plastics mentioned.

As shown, the base element 2 made of the mechanically solid material contains all the aggregates or fastening points for aggregates that are usually present, such as are present in such windsurf boards, namely, for example, the mast bushings 4, the sword case 5, and fastenings 6 for foot straps.

In the preferred embodiment, ent holds the bottom element 2 at least one central rib 7, which is designed according to the desired flexibility of the windsurf board 1. For the same purpose (not shown in the drawings), the base element 2 can also contain additional stringers, both the central rib 7 and the stringers not necessarily having to be formed in one piece with the base element 2. For example, dovetail-shaped grooves or similar coupling pieces can be provided for this purpose in the base element 2, into which corresponding coupling sections of the stringer or the central rib 7 can be inserted. This embodiment makes it possible to produce windsurfing boards of completely different shape, in particular with regard to the keel jump, by appropriately designing the central rib or the stringers from a single type of flexible floor element.

To stiffen and reinforce the main standing area of the windsurfing board 1, the base element 2 in the area of the stern 8 has a bridge-like component 9, which is likewise either formed in one piece with the base element 2 or can be connected to it by means of corresponding coupling sections. Details of this bridge-like section 8 are referred to below.

In order to produce a hydrodynamically favorable shape, the bottom element 2 also has raised edges 11, 12 on the sides, which can have the edge-like sharp transitions to the bottom desired in many types of boards, or the front keels of the underwater ship of the windsurf board 1.

The upper part 3 illustrated by way of example in FIG. 1 preferably consists of an elastic skin-friendly material of low specific weight. Examples of such materials are polyethylene foam or other types of foam, rubber, neoprene or other flexible materials. On the other hand, the upper part 3 can also consist of an inflatable rubber or plastic bladder. The upper part 3 can either be foamed directly onto the base element 2 in the manufacture of the windsurfing board 1 or can be produced as a separate component and later connected to the finished base element 2. Possibilities of the connection between the upper part 3 and the base element 2 are explained in more detail below.

In any case, the upper part 3, at least as far as the units 4, 5, 6 are concerned, is not exposed to any mechanical stresses, and can therefore be chosen optimally in terms of skin friendliness and low weight. The upper part 3 according to FIG. 1 is also provided with corresponding cutouts 13, 14, 15 which correspond to the units 4, 5, 6. Furthermore, the upper part 3 is of course adapted in shape to the corresponding surface of the base element 2 with which it is joined.

2 to 5 show the possibility proposed according to the invention, using one and the same floor element 2, to produce two windsurf boards 1 of completely different shape and characteristics by appropriately shaping the upper part 3.

FIGS. 3 and 3 show a strong wind board of small volume, while the volume of the windsurf board 1 according to FIGS. 4 and 5 is considerably larger due to the corresponding design of the upper part 3. For further details, reference is made to the description of FIG. 1.

The possibilities shown in Fig. 2 and 4 can be used when using a detachable connection between the upper part 3 and the bottom element 2 in that, for example, two different top parts 3 are supplied with a bottom element 2, so that the user is given the opportunity, depending to change his windsurf board according to the purpose. Because of the material characteristics of the upper part, this connection can be a type of button connection, for example, in which coupling parts 16 fastened to the base element 2 at corresponding points can be connected to correspondingly shaped openings 17 in the upper part 3.

FIGS. 7 to 12 illustrate two further embodiments according to the invention, in which the upper part 3 only partially forms the deck surface 18 of the windsurf board 1. As in the other embodiments, all units 13 to 15 are also part of the bottom element 2, while the main volume of the windsurf board 1 is formed by the upper part 3. In the embodiments according to FIGS. 7 to 9, however, the standing area behind the mast base sleeves 4 is formed by the bridge-like component 9, which, as a continuation of the central rib 7, also holds the sword case 5 or the foot straps 19 indicated in FIG.

The bridge-like component 9 can, as indicated in FIG. 7, be foamed with a light plastic foam 20. In alternative embodiments, an inflatable air envelope (not shown) can be introduced into the cavity between the floor 21 and the bridge-like component 9 of the floor element 2. Furthermore, it is also possible not to fill this space or, if necessary, to brace it with support ribs 22, as indicated in FIG. 11.

It is obvious that the construction proposed according to the invention and the associated manufacturing process make it easy to produce windsurf boards with outstanding properties, particularly with regard to the lowest possible weight. With the basically two-part design, a wide variety of board shapes can be produced without difficulty. Furthermore, the risk of injury is considerably reduced by using a comparatively flexible soft foam for the upper part 3.

Since the base element 2 is accessible in all respects prior to the assembly with the upper part 3, the desired longitudinal flexibility of the finished windsurfing board can also be optimized by attaching appropriate stiffening elements. For example, aluminum components or the like can also be installed without difficulty. Since all mechanical forces of the associated units are borne by the mechanically firm base group, the plastic foam forming the actual buoyant volume of the windsurfing board 1 can be selected without regard to its mechanical strength.

Claims (11)

1. Windsurfing board having a board body of synthetic resin and synthetic resin foam and fittings (4, 5, 6), as a daggerboard well, mast foot sleeves or sockets, foot straps, skegs, etc., joined to the board body, characterised in that the board body is consisting of an upper part (3) and a lower part (2), wherein the lower part (2) is performed as a base element (2) and the upper part (3) as a buoyant body (3), in that the base element (2) is basically stiff and consisting of a material with high mechanical strength, in that the fittings (4, 5, 6) are joined with the base element (2) in such a way that all mechanical stresses are taken by the base element (2) and in that the buoyant body (3) is consisting of a light-weight flexible synthetic resin foam.

2. Windsurfing board according to claim 1, characterised in that the base element (2) is having an upright middle rip (7) and in that the fittings (4, 5, 6) are positioned in the region of the middle rib (7).

3. Windsurfing board according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the base element (2) is having stringers.

4. Windsurfing board according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the base element (2) at the stern (8) of the windsurfing board (1) is having a section performed as a bridge-like structure (9).

5. Windsurfing board according to claim 4, characterised in that the bridge-like structure (9) is hollow and in that possibly and inflatable balloon of synthetic resin or rubber is provided within the bridge-like structure (9) or the bridge- like structure (9) is filled with foam material.

6. Windsurfing board according to claim 5, characterised in that support ribs (22) are provided in the hollow space bridged by said bridge- like structure (9).

7. Windsurfing board according to any of the claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the base element (2) is consisting of anyone of the following materials : deep-drawn ABS sheet material, a polyethylene foam sandwich material, a polyurethane integral foam, SMC (sheet moulding compound), wood or wood combined with synthetic resin.

8. Windsurfing board according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the connection between the upper part (3) and the base element (2) is such that the upper part (3) is removable and exchangable.

9. Windsurfing board according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the upper part (3) is covering the forward region of the windsurfing board (1) whereas the rear region of the windsurfing board generally forming the foot area is provided by the bridgelike structure (9).

10. Windsurfing board according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the base element (2) is in the form of a flexible base slab there are provided coupling pieces to connect differently formed stringers or longitudinal ribs (7) with the base slab.

11. A method for producing a windsurfing board having a board body of synthetic resin and synthetic resin foam, and having fittings connected with the board body like daggerboard well, mast oot sleeves or sockets, foot straps, skegs, etc., according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that there is produced a base element of a material with high mechanic strength which is containing all connecting points of the fittings like mast step, daggerboard well, foot straps, skegs, etc., and in that thereafter the base element is joined to a upper part produced from a synthetic resin foam and being performed as a buoyant body.

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