Surfboard having a skin of reinforced fabric

Abstract

A fiberglass covered recreational board for surfing and other water sports having increased strength and rigidity provided by a longitudinal, central band or bands of higher strength glass fibers such as S Glass and S-2 Glass, or by aramid fibers, or by quartz fibers that are woven into the fiberglass cover as warp threads.

1 . A recreational board for surfing and other water sports comprising: 
 a) an elongated core comprising a floatable material, said core having an upper surface defining a deck, a lower surface, and a longitudinal axis;    b) a skin conformingly covering said deck and adhered thereto, said skin comprising a woven fiberglass fabric having a multiplicity of reinforcing strands woven into the fabric in a band extending the length of said board parallel to the longitudinal axis, said strands increasing the rigidity and strength of said board.    
   
   
       2 . The recreational board of  claim 1  wherein said core is a foamed polymeric material.  
   
   
       3 . The recreational board of  claim 1  wherein said fiberglass fabric is E fiberglass and the reinforcing strands are selected from the group consisting of S Glass, S-2 Glass, quartz, carbon and, aramid fibers and blends of said fibers with each other.  
   
   
       4 . The recreational board of  claim 3  wherein said multiplicity of strands define a band having a width in the range of about six inches to about twelve inches that extends the length of said core.  
   
   
       5 . The recreational board of  claim 4  wherein said band is divided into first and second bands, said first and second bands being spaced apart equal distances from longitudinal axis of said board.  
   
   
       6 . The recreational board of  claim 4  including a plurality of said bands.  
   
   
       7 . The recreational board of  claim 1  wherein said multiplicity of reinforcing strands are positioned only on the upper surface of said core.  
   
   
       8 . The recreational board of  claim 1  including at least one reinforcing band positioned on the upper surface and at least one band positioned on the lower surface of said core.  
   
   
       9 . The recreational board of  claim 1  wherein the board is a surfboard and the core is a honeycomb construction.  
   
   
       10 . In a recreational board for surfing and other water sports wherein the board core is a foamed polymer having an upper and lower surface, a longitudinal axis, and, a fiberglass fabric skin, the method of strengthening and rigidifying said board comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing reinforcing strands selected from the group consisting of fibers of S Glass, S-2 Glass, quartz, carbon, and aramid and blends of said fibers, one with the other;    b) weaving a fiberglass fabric having a multiplicity of said selected fibers as warp strands, said selected fibers being in a defined band; and,    c) covering the upper surface of said board with said reinforced fabric, the reinforced band being positioned parallel to said longitudinal axis, thereby providing a longitudinally reinforced board.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  including the step of providing at least one band of transverse reinforcing strands.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  including the step of providing at least two longitudinal reinforcing bands.  
   
   
       13 . A recreational board for surfing and other water sports comprising: 
 a) a foamed polyurethane core, having upper and lower surface, said core being divided longitudinally into two halves;    b) a longitudinal stringer to which each core half is bonded;    c) a first woven fiberglass cloth forming a conforming covering skin on the upper surface of said core, said cloth having a band of longitudinal strands made from fibers selected from the group consisting of S Glass, S-2 Glass, aramid and quartz fibers, the remainder of said cloth being woven from E glass, said cloth being adhered to said core by a polymeric resin, and said band being positioned over said stringer; and,    d) a second woven fiberglass cloth of E glass being adhered to the lower surface of said core.    
   
   
       14 . The recreational board of  claim 13  wherein the second fiberglass cloth is provided with longitudinal reinforcing strands selected from the group consisting of S Glass, S-2 Glass, aramid and quartz fibers.  
   
   
       15 . The recreational board of  claim 13  wherein said first cloth has at least two reinforcing bands.  
   
   
       16 . The recreational board of  claim 13  including at least one additional cloth covers on the upper surface.