Flexible reinforced board

Abstract

A sports board includes an elongated foam core, a top layer, a bottom layer and at least one flexible flat reinforcement strip. The top layer is laminated to an upper surface of the foam core and has a riding surface, a thickness less than that of the foam core and a density greater than the foam core. The bottom layer is laminated to a lower surface of the foam core and has a running sole, a thickness less than that of the foam core and a density greater than the foam core. In particular, the flexible flat reinforcement strip is embedded in a lower half of the foam core and extends substantially the whole length of the foam core and parallel to the foam core.

1 . A sports board comprising:
 an elongated foam core having an upper surface and an opposed lower surface;   a top layer laminated to the upper surface of the foam core and having a riding surface, a thickness less than that of the foam core and a density greater than the foam core;   a bottom layer laminated to the lower surface of the foam core and having a running sole, a thickness less than that of the foam core and a density greater than the foam core; and   a flexible flat reinforcement strip being embedded in the foam core, and extending substantially the full length of the foam core and parallel to the foam core.   
   
   
       2 . The board set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement strip is disposed in a lower half of the foam core proximate to the bottom layer. 
   
   
       3 . The board set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the foam core comprises a plurality of laminated foam layers. 
   
   
       4 . The board set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the foam core comprises a laminated upper foam layer, intermediate foam layer and lower foam layer, and the reinforcement strip is inserted between the intermediate and lower foam layers proximate to the bottom layer. 
   
   
       5 . The board set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the top layer includes a first foam skin laminated to the upper surface of the foam core and a second foam skin laminated to the first foam skin; and the first foam skin has a density greater than that of the foam core but less than that of the second foam skin. 
   
   
       6 . The board set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the bottom layer includes a foam skin laminated to the lower surface of the foam core and a glazed film laminated to the foam skin. 
   
   
       7 . The board set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the foam core comprises a foam selected from a group consisting of polyethylene foam and polypropylene foam. 
   
   
       8 . The board set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the bottom layer includes a foam skin laminated to the lower surface of the foam core and a glazed film laminated to the foam skin of the bottom layer. 
   
   
       9 . The board set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the glazed film is a metallized polyester film. 
   
   
       10 . The board set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the bottom layer further includes a connecting layer interconnecting the glazed film and the foam skin of the bottom layer. 
   
   
       11 . The board set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the glazed film includes a polyester film, a metal layer coated on the polyester film, and a protective film laminated to the metal layer; and the connecting layer interconnects the protective film of the glazed film and the foam skin of the bottom layer. 
   
   
       12 . The board set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the connecting layer is made of polyethylene; and the glazed film includes a polyester film, an aluminum layer coated on the plastic film, and a polyethylene protective film laminated to the metal layer; and the connecting layer interconnects the polyethylene protective film of the glazed film and the foam skin of the bottom layer. 
   
   
       13 . The board set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the bottom layer further includes a transparent plastic film laminated to the glazed film and a pattern printed to either an inner surface of the plastic film or an outer surface of the polyester film of the glazed film. 
   
   
       14 . The board set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement strip is coated with a substance to prevent the reinforcement strip from moving relative to the foam core. 
   
   
       15 . A sports board comprising:
 an elongated foam core including a laminated upper foam layer, intermediated foam layer and lower foam layer;   a first foam skin laminated to the upper foam layer of the foam core and having a density greater than that of the foam core;   a second foam skin laminated to the first foam skin and having a riding surface and having a density greater than that of the first foam skin;   a third foam skin laminated to the lower foam layer of the foam core;   a flexible flat reinforcement strip being embedded between the intermediated and lower foam layers of the foam core, and extending substantially the fuill length of the foam core and parallel to the foam core;   a metallized polyester film attached to the third foam skin;   a plastic film laminated to the metallized polyester film; and   a pattern printed on either the plastic film or the metallized polyester film.   
   
   
       16 . The board set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the reinforcement strip is coated with a substance to prevent the reinforcement strip from moving relative to the foam core. 
   
   
       17 . A sports board comprising:
 an elongated foam core having an upper surface and an opposed lower surface;   a top layer laminated to the upper surface of the foam core and having a riding surface, a thickness less than that of the foam core and a density greater than the foam core;   a bottom layer laminated to the lower surface of the foam core and having a running sole, a thickness less than that of the foam core and a density greater than the foam core; and   a plurality of flexible flat reinforcement strips having different elasticities, being embedded in the foam core, and extending substantially the fuill length of the foam core and parallel to the foam core.   
   
   
       18 . The board set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the reinforcement strips are disposed in a lower half of the foam core proximate to the bottom layer. 
   
   
       19 . The board set forth in  claim 18 , wherein the reinforcement strips are placed at the same level with respect to the lower surface of the foam core. 
   
   
       20 . The board set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the reinforcement strips are placed at different levels with respect to the lower surface of the foam core.