Surfboard with Adjustable and Adaptive Bottom Contours

Abstract

The surfboard disclosed is a structural assembly of a rigid component forming at least the deck and rails, and a pliant component forming at least some portion of the bottom surface, joined to enclose a hollow volume. By means of a user controlled pneumatic adjustment to the hollow volume, a plurality of bottom contour shapes is available to the surfboard.

This invention claims: 
     
         1 . A surfboard, comprising: a rigid shell, said rigid shell forming at least a longitudinally extending upper-side deck surface and an underside of said deck surface, and having a right contiguous rail profile and a left contiguous rail profile at its perimeter, and; a pliant skin, said pliant skin forming at least a portion of a bottom surface of the surfboard, and forming an adaptive bottom contour shape, and; an impermeable connection, said impermeable connection joining said rigid shell and said pliant skin to enclose a hollow volume. 
     
     
         2 . The surfboard of  claim 1 , wherein said pliant skin sustains a tensional force from spanning said underside between said right contiguous rail profile and said left contiguous rail profile, and said rigid shell sustains a compressional force from bearing said pliant skin. 
     
     
         3 . The surfboard of  claim 1 , further comprising a pneumatic valve, said pneumatic valve being disposed through said rigid shell or said pliant skin into said hollow volume, and operating to control an ingress and an egress of air, thereby adjusting said adaptive bottom contour shape. 
     
     
         4 . The surfboard of  claim 1 , further comprising a pneumatic valve, said pneumatic valve being disposed through said rigid shell or said pliant skin into said hollow volume, and operating to control an ingress and an egress of air, thereby adjusting said surfboard's volume. 
     
     
         5 . The surfboard of  claim 3 , further comprising a bottom contour substructure integral to said rigid shell, said bottom contour substructure protruding downwardly from said underside through said hollow volume, and operating to influence said adaptive bottom contour shape, wherein said impermeable connection is a chemical bond. 
     
     
         6 . The surfboard of  claim 3 , further comprising a bottom contour substructure separable from said rigid shell, said bottom contour substructure protruding downwardly from said under-side through said hollow volume, and operating to influence said adaptive bottom contour shape, wherein said impermeable connection is a detachable mechanical bond. 
     
     
         7 . A surfboard, comprising: a rigid shell, said rigid shell forming at least a longitudinally extending upper-side deck surface and an inverse under-side of said deck surface, and having a contiguous rail profile at its perimeter, and; a pliant skin, said pliant skin forming at least a portion of a bottom surface of the surfboard, and forming an adaptive bottom contour shape, and; an impermeable connection, said impermeable connection joining said rigid shell and said pliant skin to enclose a hollow volume, and; a pneumatic valve, said pneumatic valve being disposed through said rigid shell or said pliant skin into said hollow volume, and operating to control an ingress and an egress of air, thereby adjusting said adaptive bottom contour shape and the volume dimension of said surfboard, and; said rigid shell also comprising a bottom contour substructure protruding downwardly from said under-side through said hollow volume, and operating to influence said adaptive bottom contour shape. 
     
     
         8 . A process for adjusting surfboard bottom contours to a plurality of shapes, which comprises the alternative steps of: a) temporarily unsealing and controlling the ingress of air into a hollow volume enclosed between a rigid shell that forms at least the deck and rails of the surfboard, and a pliant skin that forms a portion of the bottom surface of the surfboard, before resealing the hollow volume by means of a pneumatic valve disposed through the rigid shell or said pliant skin, thereby distending the pliant skin away from the under-side of the deck, producing a convex bottom contour; or b) temporarily unsealing and controlling the egress of air from a volume enclosed between a rigid shell that forms at least the deck and rails of the surfboard, and a pliant skin that forms a portion of the bottom surface of the surfboard, before resealing the hollow volume by means of a pneumatic valve disposed through the rigid shell or said pliant skin, thereby contracting the pliant skin towards the underside of the deck, producing a concave bottom contour; or c) temporarily unsealing and facilitating the free communication of air enclosed between a rigid shell that forms at least the deck and rails of the surfboard, and a pliant skin that forms a portion of the bottom surface of the surfboard, with the surrounding air before resealing the hollow volume by means of a pneumatic valve disposed through the rigid shell or said pliant skin, producing a flat bottom contour.