Bodyboard with planar, continuously variable stiffening element

Abstract

A bodyboard and a method for building such a bodyboard is provided. The bodyboard includes a foam core with buoyancy to support a rider in water. A substantially solid and rigid, generally planar stiffening element is coupled to the core, for example by embedding therein, and the element provides a resistance to flexing in response to the rider's applying a bending force to the core. The stiffening element may include a beam oriented in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the core, a beam oriented in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, and/or a beam oriented in a direction oblique to the longitudinal axis. The resistance to flexing provided by the stiffening element may increase in a continuously varying amount over at least a portion of the foam core. The element may provide the resistance along a first selected vector and a second selected vector, wherein the second selected vector is not parallel to the first.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A bodyboard comprising: 
 an elongate foam core configured to support a rider in water, the core having a longitudinal axis;    a substantially solid and rigid, generally planar element coupled to the core, the element configured to provide to the core a resistance to flexing in response to the rider's applying a bending force to the core.    
     
     
         2 . The bodyboard of  claim 1  wherein the rigid element includes a beam oriented in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         3 . The bodyboard of  claim 1  wherein the rigid element includes a beam oriented in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         4 . The bodyboard of  claim 1  wherein the rigid element includes a beam oriented in a direction oblique to the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         5 . The bodyboard of  claim 1  wherein the resistance to flexing provided by the rigid element increases in a continuously varying amount over at least a portion of the foam core.  
     
     
         6 . The bodyboard of  claim 1  wherein the rigid element is coupled to the core by being embedded therein.  
     
     
         7 . The bodyboard of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the rigid element is formed of carbon fiber.  
     
     
         8 . The bodyboard of  claim 1  wherein the foam core is formed at least in part of expanded polypropylene.  
     
     
         9 . The bodyboard of  claim 1  wherein the rigid element includes a stiffening-plate portion which provides the resistance to the bending force.  
     
     
         10 . A bodyboard comprising: 
 an elongate foam core having a longitudinal axis;    a rigid stiffening element coupled to the core, the element providing a resistance to a bending force along a first selected vector, wherein the first selected vector is not parallel to the longitudinal axis.    
     
     
         11 . The bodyboard of  claim 10  wherein the first selected vector is generally transverse the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         12 . The bodyboard of  claim 10  wherein the element provides the resistance along a second selected vector, wherein the second selected vector is not parallel to the first.  
     
     
         13 . The bodyboard of  claim 10  wherein the element includes a generally planar portion.  
     
     
         14 . The bodyboard of  claim 10  wherein the element includes a portion configured to provide resistance to a bending force applied in any direction.  
     
     
         15 . A bodyboard comprising: 
 an elongate foam core configured to support a rider in water, the core having a longitudinal axis;    a substantially solid, rigid element coupled to the core, the element including a beam transverse the longitudinal axis of the core.    
     
     
         16 . The bodyboard of  claim 15  wherein the core includes a forward nose area, and further wherein the beam transverse the longitudinal axis of the core is disposed adjacent the forward nose area.  
     
     
         17 . A bodyboard comprising: 
 an elongate foam core configured to support a rider in water;    a substantially solid, rigid, generally planar element coupled to the core, the element providing resistance to flexing in response to a plurality of bending forces applied to the core along a plurality of vectors.    
     
     
         18 . A bodyboard comprising: 
 an elongate foam core configured to support a rider in water, the core defining an upper surface;    a substantially solid, rigid element coupled to the core, the element including a planar portion oriented generally parallel to the upper surface of the core and an edge portion oriented generally perpendicular to the upper surface of the core.    
     
     
         19 . A bodyboard comprising: 
 an elongate foam core configured to support a rider in the water;    first and second generally planar elements coupled to the core, the generally planar elements each including an expanse oriented generally parallel to one another, the elements providing to the core a resistance against bending forces.    
     
     
         20 . The bodyboard of  claim 19  wherein the elements have substantially the same shape and are aligned one above the other.  
     
     
         21 . The bodyboard of  claim 19  wherein the elements are spaced apart from one another.  
     
     
         22 . A bodyboard comprising: 
 an elongate foam core configured to support a rider in the water;    a generally planar element coupled to the core, the element including a beam providing to the core a resistance against a bending force applied to the core, the beam having a length defined between a first end and a second end, the beam varying in width along at least a portion of its length.    
     
     
         23 . A bodyboard comprising: 
 an elongate foam core having a longitudinal axis, a forward nose area, and a rear tail area;    a generally planar element embedded in the core, the element providing to the core a resistance to flexing, the element including a first beam adjacent the nose area of the core, the first beam oriented generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the element further including a second beam oriented generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, third and fourth beams oriented oblique to the longitudinal axis; and a fifth beam adjacent the tail area, the fifth beam oriented generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.    
     
     
         24 . A method for building a bodyboard comprising the steps of: 
 providing a mold for forming a foam core having an upper surface and a lower surface;    positioning a stiffening element in the mold between the upper surface and the lower surface; and    blowing expandable foam into the mold under temperature and pressure conditions selected to form the foam core around the stiffening element.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the mold includes a side wall, an upper wall and a lower wall, and the step of positioning the stiffening element in the mold includes spacing the stiffening element off of at least one of the walls.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the stiffening element is spaced off of the upper wall by suspending the stiffening element from the upper wall with one or more pins.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the one or more pins hold the stiffening element by friction fit.  
     
     
         28 . A method for building a bodyboard comprising the steps of: 
 providing a substantially solid and rigid, generally planar element;    providing a first piece of foam configured in size and material for use in a foam core of the bodyboard;    providing a second piece of foam configured in size and material for use in a foam core of the bodyboard; and    laminating together the first and second pieces of foam with the rigid element between the pieces of foam.    
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the first and second pieces of foam are provided from a single piece of foam that is sliced into the two pieces.  
     
     
         30 . A bodyboard comprising: 
 an elongate foam core having a longitudinal axis;    a rigid stiffening element coupled to the core, the element providing a resistance to a bending force along a first selected vector, wherein the first selected vector is not parallel to the longitudinal axis, and the element providing a resistance to a bending force along a second selected vector, wherein the second selected vector is substantially perpendicular to the first.