U.S. patent application number 09/755513 was filed with the patent office on 2002-07-11 for gliding board with varying bending properties.
Invention is credited to Barbieri, Scott, Bergendahl, Peter J..
Application Number | 20020089149 09/755513 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25039454 |
Filed Date | 2002-07-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020089149 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Barbieri, Scott ; et
al. |
July 11, 2002 |
Gliding board with varying bending properties
Abstract
A gliding board, such as a snowboard, has improved lift or float
in certain conditions, e.g., when gliding in powdered snow. A nose
and/or tail of the gliding board may have a variable bending
property to provide the improved float. In one embodiment, the nose
and/or tail may have a tapered thickness or other features so that
the nose and/or tail is more flexible toward the tip of the nose or
tail. Other variable bending properties in the nose and/or tail may
be provided for reasons other than improved float, such as to
enhance trick or other maneuver performance.
Inventors: |
Barbieri, Scott;
(Middlebury, VT) ; Bergendahl, Peter J.;
(Winooski, VT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Jason M. Honeyman
Wolf, Greenfield & Sacks, P.C.
600 Atlantic Avenue
Boston
MA
02210
US
|
Family ID: |
25039454 |
Appl. No.: |
09/755513 |
Filed: |
January 5, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
280/609 ;
280/14.21 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63C 5/03 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
280/609 ;
280/14.21 |
International
Class: |
A63C 005/04 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A gliding board comprising: a running length having opposite
ends, two edges and a sidewall extending along at least a portion
of one edge of the running length; a nose located at one end of the
running length; and a tail located at the other end of the running
length, wherein the nose and tail each have a transition end near
the running length and a tip opposite the transition end, at least
one of the nose and tail having a varying bending property that
affects a performance characteristic of the board.
2. The gliding board of claim 1, wherein at least one of the nose
and tail has a thickness that varies along a length of the nose or
tail.
3. The gliding board of claim 2, wherein the thickness decreases
between the transition end and the tip.
4. The gliding board of claim 3, wherein an overall thickness of
the nose decreases from approximately 5-8 mm near the transition
end to approximately 4-7 mm near the tip.
5. The gliding board of claim 1, wherein one of the nose and tail
is sidewall-free, being formed with a cap structure.
6. The gliding board of claim 1, wherein the bending property
varies along a width of the nose or tail.
7. The gliding board of claim 1, wherein the nose or tail is more
flexible near the tip than near the transition end.
8. The gliding board of claim 1, wherein the flexibility of the
nose or tail decreases from near the transition end to near the
tip.
9. The gliding board of claim 1, wherein the nose or tail includes
a structural element having at least one feature that provides the
varying bending property.
10. The gliding board of claim 9, wherein the feature includes one
of a varying thickness, a hole, a groove, a varying material
property, and a change in material.
11. The gliding board of claim 1, wherein the nose and tail have
varying bending properties that are different from each other.
12. The gliding board of claim 1, wherein the gliding board is a
snowboard.
13. A snowboard adapted to cooperate with a pair of foot bindings
that secure a rider's feet to the snowboard, comprising: a running
length having two side edges and extending between forward and rear
transitions, the running length having a sidewall extending over at
least a portion of the side edges; an upturned nose at the forward
transition having a transition end and a tip, the nose being
sidewall-free and having a cap construction and a flexibility that
varies between the transition end and the tip; and a tail at the
rear transition.
14. The snowboard of claim 13, wherein the nose has a thickness
that varies along a length of the nose.
15. The snowboard of claim 13, wherein an overall thickness of the
nose decreases from approximately 5-8 mm near the transition end to
approximately 4-7 mm near the tip.
16. The snowboard of claim 13, further comprising a core that
extends from the running length at least partially into the nose,
wherein a thickness of the core within the nose decreases between
the forward transition and the tip.
17. The snowboard of claim 16, wherein the thickness of the core
decreases from approximately 2 mm near the forward transition to
approximately 1 mm near the tip.
18. The snowboard of claim 13, wherein at least the nose is formed
with a cap structure.
19. The snowboard of claim 13, wherein the flexibility varies along
a width of the nose.
20. The snowboard of claim 13, wherein the nose is more flexible
near the tip than near the transition end.
21. The snowboard of claim 13, wherein the flexibility of the nose
decreases along a direction from the transition end toward the
tip.
22. The snowboard of claim 13, wherein the nose includes a
structural element having at least one feature that provides the
varying flexibility.
23. The snowboard of claim 22, wherein the feature includes one of
a varying thickness, a hole, a groove, a varying material property,
and a change in material.
24. The snowboard of claim 13, wherein the nose and tail each have
a varying flexibility that is different from each other.
25. The snowboard of claim 13, in combination with two foot
bindings mounted to the running length of the snowboard.
26. The snowboard of claim 13, wherein the tail is upturned.
27. A method of manufacturing a gliding board having a running
length and an upturned nose joined to the running length at a
transition, comprising: providing a core constructed and arranged
for incorporation into a gliding board, the core having top and
bottom surfaces and lateral sides; providing at least one sidewall
element, a top reinforcement layer and a bottom reinforcement
layer; and assembling the top reinforcement layer, the bottom
reinforcement layer, the at least one sidewall element and the core
so that (i) the top and bottom reinforcement layers are on opposite
top and bottom surfaces of the core, (ii) the at least one sidewall
element is secured along a lateral side of the core, and (iii) the
nose has a varying bending property.
28. The method of claim 27, wherein the nose is more flexible near
a tip of the nose than near the transition.
29. The method of claim 27, wherein the assembling step includes
constructing the nose to have a varying flexibility to provide
improved float in powder snow.
30. The method of claim 27, wherein the step of providing a core
comprises providing a core having a nose end that tapers from near
the transition toward the nose tip.
31. The method of claim 27, wherein assembling step includes
forming the nose to have a cap construction.
32. A gliding board comprising: a running length formed, at least
in part, with a sidewall construction; and an upturned nose located
at one end of the running length; the nose including means for
providing the nose with a varying bending property.
33. The gliding board of claim 32, wherein the means for providing
provides the nose with a flexibility that varies along a length of
the nose.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a gliding board
and, more particularly, to a gliding board with varying bending
properties.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Specially configured boards for gliding along a surface are
known, such as snowboards, snow skis, water skis, wake boards,
surfboards and the like. For purposes herein, "gliding board"
refers generally to any of the foregoing boards as well as to other
devices which allow a rider to traverse a surface. For ease of
understanding, however, and without limiting the scope of the
invention, aspects of the invention are discussed below
particularly in connection with a snowboard.
[0003] A typical snowboard includes a running length extending
between opposite nose and tail ends. The nose and tail ends may
have a "shovel" shape where the board end curves upwardly generally
avoiding contact with the snow when riding on smooth terrain. The
location at which the ends curve upward and away from the running
length of the board is commonly called a transition or contact
area.
[0004] The nose and/or tail provide an important function when
riding over curved or bumpy surfaces, and when riding in deep snow.
When riding on curved or bumpy surfaces, the nose and/or tail can
prevent the leading end from digging into the curve or bump, and
instead allow the board to glide up a curve or over a bump. When
riding in deep snow, the leading end of the snowboard (usually the
nose) is upturned and contacts the snow so that the board does not
dive under the snow surface. That is, the upturned nose forces snow
under the board and keeps the board from sinking excessively into
the snow. This ability of the board to force a proper amount of
snow under the board and keep the rider at a suitable position
relative to the surface of deep snow is commonly called "float." To
improve float in deep snow, some cap-type construction boards have
been provided with a core that has a tapered thickness at the nose.
This tapered thickness of the core results in a cap-type board
having a nose that increases in flexibility from the transition or
contact area toward the tip of the nose. This increased flexibility
allows the nose to flex upward to a varying degree along the nose
when contacted by snow, thereby increasing the frontal area on the
nose and the amount of lift provided to the board.
[0005] A cap-type snowboard is typically constructed from several
components including a core, e.g., made of wood, top and bottom
reinforcing layers that sandwich the core, a top cosmetic layer and
a bottom gliding surface, or base. The top reinforcing layer
typically overlaps the side edges of the core to protect the core
from the environment and provide structural support to the board.
Since the core in a cap-type board typically extends into the nose
and tail ends of the snowboard, tapering the core at the nose end
results in a board having a tapered nose and improved float.
[0006] Another construction type of snowboard is the sidewall-type
board. Similar to a cap board, sidewall boards typically have a
core, top and bottom reinforcing layers, a top cosmetic layer and a
bottom gliding surface. However, in contrast to cap boards, the top
reinforcing layer does not cover the side edges of the core.
Instead, a sidewall support member is positioned between the top
and bottom reinforcing layers (and/or a metal edge at the bottom of
the board). The sidewall is bonded to the top and bottom layers to
protect the interior of the board, including the core, from the
environment. The core in sidewall boards does not normally extend
into the nose and tail ends of the board. Instead, the core
terminates near the transitions at the nose and tail, and a spacer
made from a flat sheet material is positioned between the top and
bottom reinforcing layers in the nose and tail. The spacer
typically has a constant thickness and forms a significant portion
of the thickness of the nose and tail ends. Thus, prior
sidewall-type boards have not been provided with a tapered nose or
other features to improve the float of the board.
[0007] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] One illustrative embodiment in accordance with the invention
provides a gliding board for traveling over powder or soft snow
with increased lift or float. The gliding board includes a running
length that extends into opposite ends, two edges and a sidewall
extending along at least a portion of one edge of the running
length. A nose is located at one end of the board, and a tail is
located at the other end. The nose and tail each have a transition
end near the running length and a tip end opposite the transition
end. At least one of the nose and tail has varying bending
properties to provide improved float of the board. For purposes
herein, "bending properties" refers to a property such as the
flexibility, bending modulus, flexural rigidity or any other
bending property that may be varied over a span of the nose or
tail. For example, the varying bending properties may include a
flexibility of the nose or tail that changes over the nose or tail.
The bending properties of the nose or tail may vary in any suitable
way.
[0009] In another illustrative embodiment, a snowboard, adapted to
cooperate with a pair of foot bindings that secure a rider's feet
to the snowboard, includes a running length having two side edges
extending between forward and rear transitions. The running length
has a sidewall extending over at least a portion of the side edges.
An upturned nose is positioned at the forward transition and has a
transition end and a tip end. The nose has a cap construction and a
flexibility that varies between the transition end and the tip
end.
[0010] In another illustrative embodiment, a method of
manufacturing a gliding board having a running length and an
upturned nose joined to the running length at a transition includes
providing a core constructed and arranged for incorporation into a
gliding board. The core has top and bottom surfaces and lateral
sides. At least one sidewall element, a top reinforcement layer and
a bottom reinforcement layer are also provided, and the top
reinforcement layer, the bottom reinforcement layer, the at least
one sidewall and the core are assembled together. The gliding board
is assembled so that (i) the top and bottom reinforcement layers
are on opposite top and bottom surfaces of the core, (ii) the at
least one sidewall element is secured along a lateral side of the
core, and (iii) the nose has varying bending properties.
[0011] In another illustrative embodiment, a gliding board includes
a running length formed, at least in part, with a sidewall
construction, and an upturned nose located at one end of the
running length. The nose includes means for providing the nose with
a varying bending property.
[0012] These and other aspects of the invention will be appreciated
from the following description and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] It should be understood that the drawings are provided for
the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to define the
limits of the invention. Various aspects of the present invention
will become apparent with reference to the following detailed
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in
which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a side view of a gliding board comprising a nose
having varying bending properties in accordance with one aspect of
the invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a top view of the board of FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the board of FIG. 1
taken along section line A-A shown in FIG. 2;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the board of FIG. 1
taken along section line B-B shown in FIG. 2;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the board of FIG. 1
taken along section line C-C shown in FIG. 2; and
[0019] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a gliding board end having a
spacer in accordance with another embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] In one illustrative embodiment in accordance with the
invention, a nose or tail of a sidewall constructed gliding board
is configured with varying flex properties to affect the float or
lift performance of the board in deep snow or powder. For example,
the gliding board may have a sidewall construction along a portion
of the running length of the board, and a cap construction at the
nose and/or tail with a varying bending property, e.g.,
flexibility, in either the nose or tail. The bending properties may
vary in any direction within the nose or tail, and may vary
linearly, non-linearly, continuously, in a step-wise manner, or in
any suitable manner. Thus, the bending property of the nose or tail
may vary longitudinally and/or laterally, providing desired lift or
float characteristics when gliding, particularly in powder or soft
snow, since the nose or tail may flex when contacting snow or other
material to present an increased surface area. A hybrid
sidewall/cap construction of the board can provide some of the
desired characteristics of an all sidewall construction board, such
as easier repair, resistance to damage at the edges, and improved
shock absorption, while also providing some of the advantages of a
cap-type construction, such as simplified manufacturing techniques,
improved responsiveness of the board in turning, etc.
[0021] In one illustrative embodiment, at least one end (nose or
tail) of the board may be more flexible near the tip than near the
transition to the running length of the board. The more flexible
tip of the end may bend to provide a greater surface area against
which the snow or other material may impact and force snow to
travel under the board. For example, the increased surface area
created by flexing may increase the force of snow or other material
urging the end upward during gliding, thereby increasing the
lifting force on the board. The stiffer portion of the nose or tail
near the transition to the running length may resist large amounts
of bending and more directly and effectively transfer force of the
snow on the more flexible tip end to the running length of the
board.
[0022] In one illustrative embodiment, the board nose and/or tail
includes a structural element that has at least one feature to
provide the nose and/or tail with varying bending properties. For
example, the structural element may be a part of the board core or
any other single constituent part or material, or group of parts or
materials, in the nose or tail. The features of the structural
element that provide the varying bending properties can include a
tapering in thickness of the element, grooves, holes or other
physical features formed in the element, a change in material or
material properties in the element or any other suitable features.
For example, the material type or density of the core or the
reinforcing layers may be varied over the areas of the nose and
tail, or varying amounts or types of reinforcement fibers or
embedded materials may be added to the core in different areas to
change the local bending properties of the nose and tail. The
bending properties may also be varied by controlling the amount or
type of adhesives used to attach the various layers of the
board.
[0023] In one illustrative embodiment, an end (nose or tail) of the
board decreases in overall thickness from near the transition
toward the tip. For example, in one embodiment, the nose may taper
approximately 1 mm in thickness over an approximately 150 to 200 mm
length. This taper in overall thickness may result in increased
flexibility of the end, e.g., to allow the end to flex further
upwards when gliding in deep snow. The thickness of the nose or
tail near the transition may not be needed over the entire area of
the nose or tail and thus, the thickness may taper because the nose
and tail typically experience less stress closer to the tip. A
decreasing thickness in the nose or tail may give the board the
required structural integrity while allowing an increased and/or
differential flexibility in the nose or tail. The tapering
thickness may be formed in any suitable way. For example, the board
core may taper at the nose or tail, or the core may have a constant
thickness and other board components may vary in thickness. The
thickness of the core and/or board may vary in the lateral
direction instead of, or in combination with, the longitudinal
direction to provide varying flexibility in a lateral
direction.
[0024] An illustrative embodiment of a gliding board 1 shown in
FIG. 1 has a nose 3 and tail 5 at opposite ends of a running length
2. The nose 3 and tail 5 meet respective ends of the running length
2 at a transition, or contact area, shown generally at 4 and 6. At
or near a first transition 4, the board 1 transitions from the
running length 2 to the upturned nose 3. At or near a second
transition 6, the board 1 transitions from the running length 2 to
the upturned tail 5. In this illustrative embodiment, the nose 3
has a varying bending property along its length and/or width,
resulting in a nose 3 that provides improved lift or float when
gliding in certain conditions, such as powder snow. Although the
tail 5 in this embodiment does not have a varying bending property,
the tail 5 may have varying bending properties similar to that in
the nose 3, e.g., the board 1 may have the same float when ridden
either nose-first or tail-first (normal or switch). Alternately,
the nose 3 may not have varying bending properties and the tail 5
may have such properties. Further, both the nose 3 and the tail 5
may have varying, but differing, bending properties. In short, any
suitable combination of bending properties in the nose 3 and/or
tail 5 may be used.
[0025] The board 1 may be made to have little or no upturn at the
tail 5, and the shape and/or size of the upturn at the nose 3 or
tail 5 may be balanced with the bending properties of the nose 3
and/or tail 5. For example, the nose 3 or tail 5 may be curved at a
suitable radius and/or arc length to cooperate appropriately with
the bending properties of the nose 3 or tail 5 and/or the intended
use of the board 1. Of course, the nose 3 and/or tail 5 need not be
curved at a single radius. Instead, the nose 3 or tail 5 may have a
variable radius, may be approximately straight and arranged at an
angle to the running length 2, and so on.
[0026] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the FIG. 1 embodiment, and FIG. 3
shows a cross-section of the nose 3 of the board 1 at the line A-A
shown in FIG. 2. In this embodiment, the nose 3 includes a core 25
that tapers, i.e., becomes thinner, from near the transition 4
toward the tip 7 of the nose 3 and is sandwiched between top and
bottom reinforcing layers 22 and 27. In one embodiment, the core 25
may taper from a thickness of approximately 2 mm near the
transition 4 to approximately 0.8-1 mm near the tip 7. This taper
of the core may result in an overall thickness of the nose 3 that
is approximately 5-8 mm near the transition 4 and tapers over
approximately a 15-20 cm length to approximately 4-7 mm near the
tip 7, depending upon the thickness of the top and bottom
reinforcing layers 22 and 27, a base, decorative top sheet, or
other elements. Of course, the thickness of the core 25 and/or of
the nose 3 overall may be varied within any suitable range. In
addition as discussed more fully below, the board 1 may be made in
any suitable manner using any suitable materials or techniques that
are well known in the art. For example, although not shown for
clarity, the board 1 may include metal edges around the periphery
of the bottom reinforcing layer 27, one or more decorative layers
on the top reinforcing layer 22, or a base material or sole under
the bottom reinforcing layer 27 to provide a sliding surface. In
addition, the core 25 need not extend all the way to the tip 7, but
instead may terminate at some point between the transition 4 and
the tip 7, or before the transition 4. If the core 25 terminates
before the tip 7, another element may be placed between the top and
bottom reinforcing layers 22 and 27, e.g., to separate the layers
22 and 27 and provide the nose 3 with varying bending
properties.
[0027] Since the core 25 tapers in this embodiment, the overall
thickness of the nose 3 also tapers (although not necessarily) and
the nose 3 has a varying flexibility from the transition 4 toward
the tip 7. That is, in this embodiment, the nose 3 is more flexible
near the tip 7 than near the transition 4. As discussed above, the
varying bending properties of the nose 3 and/or tail 5 may be
provided in any suitable way apart from that shown in this
illustrative embodiment. For example, the core 25 may have a
constant thickness, or approximately constant thickness, from near
the transition 4 to the tip 7, and other portions of the board 1
may be varied in thickness or other properties to provide the
varying bending properties. The core 25 or other structural element
in the nose 3 may include grooves, holes or other physical
features, a change in material or material properties or any other
suitable feature to provide the desired bending properties. For
example, the material type or density of the core 25 or the
reinforcing layers 22 and 27 may be varied over the areas of the
nose 3 and tail 5. Varying amounts or types of reinforcement fibers
or embedded materials, e.g., elastomers, metallic strips or other
elements, different types of wood, etc., may be added to the core
25 in different areas to change the local bending properties in the
nose 3. The bending properties may also be varied by controlling
the amount or type of adhesives used to attach the various layers
of the board.
[0028] Although the bending properties of the nose 3 or tail 5
preferably include a variation in flexibility from more stiff near
the transition to more flexible near the tip, the bending
properties may be arranged in other ways. For example, the
flexibility of the nose 3 or tail 5 may be high near the
transition, drop toward the middle of the nose 3 or tail 5, and
then stay constant to the tip, e.g., to prevent breakage of the
nose 3 or tail 5. Alternately, the flexibility may be high near the
transition, drop near the middle of the nose 3 or tail 5, and then
increase toward the tip, e.g., to create a zone in the middle of
the nose 3 or tail 5 where a majority of flexing will take place.
The bending properties of the nose 3 in the FIG. 1 embodiment are
described as varying longitudinally from the transition 4 to the
tip 7, but the nose 3 may have varying bending properties in the
lateral direction either in addition to, or in place of, varying
bending properties in the longitudinal direction. Bending of the
nose 3 or tail 5 may be elastic, e.g., to allow a rider to store
energy in the nose 3 or tail 5 for various tricks or other
maneuvers, or damped to some extent, e.g., to prevent severe
vibration of the nose 3 or tail 5.
[0029] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the board 1 along the
line B-B in FIG. 2. In this embodiment, the board 1 has a cap-type
construction in the nose 3 and tail 5, and thus the cross-sectional
view of the tail 5 at the line B-B is similar to a corresponding
cross-sectional view of the nose 3. As is typical with cap-type
construction, the top reinforcing layer 22 overlaps the sides of
the core 25 and comes in contact with, and is bonded to, the lower
reinforcing layer 27. If a metal edge (not shown) is used at the
lower edges of the board 1, the top reinforcing layer 22 may be
bonded to the metal edge instead of, or in addition to, the bottom
reinforcing layer 27. In this configuration, the top reinforcing
layer 22 and its attachment to the lower reinforcement layer 27 at
edges 40 of the gliding board 1 provide lateral support to the
gliding board 1. FIG. 4 also shows a top decorative layer 21 on the
top reinforcing layer 22, and a base 26 on the lower reinforcement
layer 27. However, these layers are optional, e.g., a decoration
may be incorporated into the top reinforcing layer 22, or may be
included along with other additional layers, whether structural or
decorative. The cap construction in the nose 3 and the tail 5 may
extend from the tip 7 or 8 past the transitions 4 and 6 into the
running length 2 of the gliding board 1 or terminate in the nose 3
or the tail 5.
[0030] While the nose 3 and/or the tail 5 may have a cap
construction, at least one portion of one side of the running
length of the board 1 includes a sidewall or sidewall construction.
In short, the portion of the board 1 having a sidewall construction
may have any suitable construction (many of which are well known in
the art) that includes a sidewall element that is not covered on a
side surface by a top reinforcing layer (e.g., similar to the way
the top reinforcing layer wraps over the edge of the core 25 in
FIG. 4). The sidewall construction need not be continuous along
both sides of the board 1, but rather the board 1 may have several
segments having a sidewall that are separated by board portions
having other constructions, such as cap construction. For example,
the board 1 may have a sidewall construction in separate segments
near each foot binding, but have cap construction over other
portions of the board 1. Moreover, a sidewall need not be used in
at least one portion on both sides of the board 1. Instead, only
one side of the board 1 may include one or more sidewall
portions.
[0031] FIG. 5 shows a cross-section of the illustrative embodiment
of the FIG. 1 board at the line C-C shown in FIG. 2. In this
illustrative embodiment, the board 1 has sidewalls 20 at both edges
of the board 1 that extend along the running length 2 to near the
transitions 4 and 6. The portion of the board 1 at the line C-C
includes a core 25 made of a suitable material, such as foam, wood,
a honeycomb material, a fiberglass/resin matrix, or a molded
thermoplastic structure. The core 25 may be made as a one-piece
member that extends from the tail 5 to the nose 3, or may include a
plurality of portions, e.g., a core portion for the running length
and one or more other portions for the nose 3 and tail 5. Along the
sides of the board, situated laterally of the core 25, are the
sidewalls 20 that provide lateral support to the gliding board 1.
The sidewalls 20 have a top surface 28, a bottom surface 29, an
interior lateral surface 30 and an exterior lateral surface 31. The
exterior lateral surface 31 may be constructed to be perpendicular
to the bottom surface 29, or it may form an acute or obtuse angle
with the bottom surface 29. In this illustrative embodiment, the
exterior lateral surface 31 forms an acute angle with the bottom
surface 29. A top reinforcing layer 22 overlays the top surfaces 28
of the sidewalls 20 and the core top surface 33. An optional
cosmetic layer 21 overlays the top reinforcing layer 22, and a
bottom reinforcing layer 27 is attached to the bottom surfaces 29
of the sidewalls 20 and the core bottom surface 35. A bottom
gliding surface 26 is attached to the bottom reinforcing layer 27
and may be formed from a sintered or extruded plastic or other
appropriate material. It is to be understood that the invention is
in no way limited to the illustrative embodiment described above.
Any appropriate arrangement of layers, materials or other elements
may be used to form the sidewall portion, or any other portion of
the board 1.
[0032] Since the board 1 in this illustrative embodiment includes
at least one portion with a sidewall construction and a nose 3 and
tail 5 having a cap construction, a transition between sidewall
construction portions and cap construction portions is made. The
transition may take place gradually, e.g., the sidewall 20 may
taper or step down in thickness at the transition between sidewall
and cap portions. Alternately, the transition may occur abruptly,
e.g., the sidewall 20 may be cut off squarely at the ends. The
transitions between sidewall and cap construction may occur within
the nose 3 and/or tail 5 of the board 1, or within the running
length 2 of the board 1.
[0033] In lieu of cap construction within the nose 3 and/or tail 5,
a sidewall-type construction may be used in the nose 3 or tail 5.
Thus, the board 1 may be made to have a sidewall construction
throughout. FIG. 6 shows an illustrative embodiment of a nose 3
having a sidewall-type construction. In this embodiment, the nose 3
has a tapered thickness to provide the varying bending properties
in the nose 3. As is well known, the core of an all-sidewall
construction board typically does not extend into the nose 3 of the
board 1. Instead, a spacer 45 (typically a sheet plastic material)
is used to separate and bond the top and bottom reinforcing layers
22 and 27. However, in contrast to previously known sidewall-type
boards, in this embodiment, the spacer 45 may be tapered, e.g.,
along the length of the spacer 45, so that the nose 3 tapers
between the transition 4 and the tip 7. Alternately, the spacer 45
may be provided with holes, indentations, grooves, slots or other
physical features to provide the nose 3 with varying bending
properties. As further options for providing the nose 3 with
varying bending properties, varying amounts or types of
reinforcement fibers or embedded materials may be added to the
spacer 45 or other portions of the nose 3 in different areas to
change the bending properties.
[0034] As discussed above, the gliding board 1 may be made in any
suitable way, e.g., similar to that for skis or snowboards. The
gliding board 1 may have metal edges, a plastic base material,
vertical or horizontal wood laminate core or foam core material,
and so on. An exemplary board 1 would include a vertical laminate
wood core surrounded by one or more fiber layers for torsional
control. A sintered, extruded or graphite base is provided on the
snow contacting surface of the board 1 while a plastic, preferably
opaque, top sheet for protecting the core and laminate from
abrasion and from exposure to ultraviolet light is arranged on the
opposite surface. Sidewall or mixed sidewall/cap construction may
be employed to protect the core. Stainless steel edges may be
included to enhance edge grip. The board 1 may be arranged with a
fully distinct nose and tail for directional riding or, instead,
with identical shaped tips (and flex patterns) at both ends for
matched riding with either the nose or tail forward. The board 1
may have a sidecut for ease of turning the sliding device, and or
camber, e.g., to even the contact pressures on the board 1 along
the running length. Preferably, the nose and tail are upturned in a
shovel arrangement.
[0035] The gliding board 1 may be a snowboard that is symmetric or
asymmetric about section lines A-A and C-C as shown in FIG. 2, and
may be used in combination with any suitable foot bindings to
secure a rider's feet to the board 1. For example, a pair of tray
snowboard bindings having two or more foot straps, a highback, toe
pad and other known elements may be secured to the board 1 in any
suitable way, such as by a hold-down disk. Of course, the present
invention is not limited to any particular type of binding and/or
any other particular elements, as the bindings may be step-in
bindings, plate bindings, or any other type of device used to
attach a rider's foot to a board 1, whether the rider is wearing
soft or hard boots.
[0036] Having described particular embodiments of the invention in
detail, various modifications and improvements will readily occur
to those skilled in the art. Such modifications and improvements
are intended to be part of this disclosure and within the spirit
and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description
is by way of example only and the invention is defined by the
following claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *