Surfboard Stringer Reinforcing system

Abstract

A reinforcing system for a floatation device, such as a surfboard, and a method of its manufacture is disclosed. Such a floatation device has an elongated stringer that has at least a top edge and a bottom edge. The reinforcing system of the present invention includes an elongated top bracket and an bottom bracket. The top and bottom sides of each bracket are wider than the top and bottom edges of the stringer. The cross-sectional shape of the top bracket is preferably rectangular, forming an I-beam cross-section when each bracket is fixed to the stringer with a fastening means, such as a strong adhesive or screws. The floatation device is preferably of the type having two buoyant blanks, each adhered to one side of the stringer. During fabrication of the floatation device, each blank is fixed at one substantially flat side thereof to one side of the stringer with adhesive. A pair of notches may then be cut into each blank and the stringer to accommodate each bracket, which is then fastened with the fastening means to each blank and to the stringer, resulting in each blank being adhered to the stringer and each bracket. Alternately, or additionally, each bracket may be fastened to the stringer with a plurality of the screws. The assembled floatation device may then be sanded and then coated with a resin coating, applied over each blank, the stringer and each bracket.

1 . A reinforcing system for a floatation device having a resin coating applied on an outer surface thereof and at least a top surface and a bottom surface, the reinforcing system comprising:
 an elongated top bracket comprising a top side, a bottom side, and a peripheral side edge;   an elongated bottom bracket comprising a top side, a bottom side, and a peripheral side edge; and   a fastening means for fastening both the top bracket to the resin coating of the top surface of the floatation device, and the bottom bracket to the resin coating of the bottom surface of the floatation device;   whereby the brackets reinforce the floatation device at both the top and bottom surface.   
   
   
       2 . The reinforcing system of  claim 1  wherein the floatation device includes a longitudinal stringer fixed between two buoyant blanks, the resin coating applied thereover, and wherein the top bracket is fastened to the resin coating of the top surface substantially covering the stringer, and the bottom bracket is fastened to the bottom surface substantially covering the stringer. 
   
   
       3 . The reinforcing system of  claim 1  wherein the top side of the top bracket and the bottom side of the bottom bracket each have a rounded surface. 
   
   
       4 . The reinforcing system of  claim 1  wherein the top side of the top bracket and the bottom side of the bottom bracket each have a tapered surface. 
   
   
       5 . A reinforcing system for a floatation device that has an elongated stringer having at least a top edge and a bottom edge, the reinforcing system comprising:
 an elongated top bracket comprising a top side, a bottom side, and a peripheral side edge, the top and bottom sides being wider than the top and bottom edges of the stringer;   an elongated bottom bracket comprising a top side, a bottom side, and a peripheral side edge, the top and bottom sides being wider than the top and bottom edges of the stringer; and   a fastening means for fastening the top bracket to the top edge of the stringer, and the bottom bracket to the bottom edge of the stringer;   whereby the brackets reinforce the stringer of the floatation device upon assembly of the brackets and stringer into the floatation device.   
   
   
       6 . The reinforcing system of  claim 5  wherein the floatation device is of the type having two buoyant blanks, each adhered to one side of the stringer, and wherein each blank and the stringer is further cut to accommodate each bracket. 
   
   
       7 . The reinforcing system of  claim 6  wherein each blank is adhered to one side of the stringer and to the peripheral edge and one side of each bracket. 
   
   
       8 . A floatation device comprising:
 an elongated rectangular stringer defined by a top edge, a bottom edge, and two sides, each side being substantially parallel to the other;   a pair of buoyant blanks, each having one substantially flat side for fixing to one side of the stringer;   an elongated top bracket comprising a top side, a bottom side, and a peripheral side edge, the top and bottom sides being wider than the top and bottom edges of the stringer;   an elongated bottom bracket comprising a top side, a bottom side, and a peripheral side edge, the top and bottom sides being wider than the top and bottom edges of the stringer; and   a fastening means for fastening the top bracket to the top edge of the stringer and the bottom bracket to the bottom edge of the stringer.   
   
   
       9 . The floatation device of  claim 8  wherein a pair of notches are cut into each blank and the stringer to accommodate each bracket. 
   
   
       10 . The floatation device of  claim 8  wherein each blank is fixed to the stringer and to one side and the peripheral edge of each bracket with adhesive. 
   
   
       11 . The floatation device of  claim 8  wherein the fastening means is a plurality of screws. 
   
   
       12 . The floatation device of  claim 9  wherein the fastening means is adhesive. 
   
   
       13 . The floatation device of  claim 9  wherein the fastening means is a resin coating applied over the blanks, stringer, and brackets. 
   
   
       14 . The reinforcing system of  claim 1  wherein each bracket further includes two projecting side portions, a U-shaped channel defined therebetween for receiving one edge of the stringer therein. 
   
   
       15 . The floatation device of  claim 8  wherein each bracket further includes two projecting side portions, a U-shaped channel being defined therebetween for receiving one edge of the stringer therein. 
   
   
       16 . The floatation device of  claim 1  wherein the top bracket further includes at a rear end thereof a traction pad. 
   
   
       17 . The floatation device of  claim 5  wherein the top bracket and the bottom bracket are each made from a corrugated plastic material. 
   
   
       18 . A method of reinforcing a floatation device comprising the steps of:
 a) providing an assembled floatation device having an outer resin coating, a top surface and a bottom surface; an elongated top bracket comprising a top side, a bottom side, and a peripheral side edge; an elongated bottom bracket comprising a top side, a bottom side, and a peripheral side edge; and a fastening means that fastens each bracket to the outer resin coating of the floatation device;   b) fixing the top bracket to the resin coating of the top surface of the floatation device with the fastening means and fixing the bottom bracket to the resin coating of the bottom surface of the floatation device with the fastening means.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the fastening means is a strip of adhesive covered by a protective liner, and the following step is inserted between steps a) and b):
 a′) removing the protective liner from the strip of the adhesive of each bracket.