Geometrically variable-rocker surfboard

Abstract

A flexible surfboard is provided in an embodiment. The surfboard includes a foam body having a length, width, and thickness. The surfboard includes a flexible structural component tapered in at least one dimension, and disposed within the foam body. The flexible structural component has as dimensions a length, width, and thickness, and is configured to flex under induced forces during use. The flex characteristics of the flexible surfboard are primarily dependent on flex characteristics of the flexible structural component. The tapered flexible structural component is oriented within the foam body such that the length, width, and thickness of the tapered flexible structural component align with the length, width, and thickness of the foam body, respectively. The thickness of the soft body is less than the width of the soft body, and the width of the soft body is less than the length of the soft body. The thickness of the tapered flexible structural component is less than the width of the tapered flexible structural component, and the width of the flexible structural component is less than the length of the tapered flexible structural component. The length of the tapered flexible structural component is 6 to 12 inches shorter than the length of the foam body.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A flexible surfboard blank comprising:
 a foam body having a length, width, and thickness; and   a flexible structural component tapered in at least one dimension, disposed within the foam body, the flexible structural component having as dimensions a length, width, and thickness, and configured to flex under induced forces during use,   wherein the flex characteristics of the flexible surfboard blank are primarily dependent on flex characteristics of the flexible structural component, and wherein the tapered flexible structural component is oriented within the foam body such that the length, width, and thickness of the tapered flexible structural component align with the length, width, and thickness of the foam body, respectively, wherein the thickness of the soft body is less than the width of the soft body, and the width of the soft body is less than the length of the soft body, and wherein the thickness of the tapered flexible structural component is less than the width of the tapered flexible structural component, and the width of the flexible structural component is less than the length of the tapered flexible structural component, wherein the length of the tapered flexible structural component is 6 to 12 inches shorter than the length of the foam body.   
     
     
         2 . A flexible surfboard comprising:
 a foam body having a length, width, and thickness; and   a flexible structural component tapered in at least one dimension, disposed within the foam body, the flexible structural component having as dimensions a length, width, and thickness, and configured to flex under induced forces during use,   wherein the flex characteristics of the flexible surfboard are primarily dependent on flex characteristics of the flexible structural component, and wherein the tapered flexible structural component is oriented within the foam body such that the length, width, and thickness of the tapered flexible structural component align with the length, width, and thickness of the foam body, respectively, wherein the thickness of the soft body is less than the width of the soft body, and the width of the soft body is less than the length of the soft body, and wherein the thickness of the tapered flexible structural component is less than the width of the tapered flexible structural component, and the width of the flexible structural component is less than the length of the tapered flexible structural component, wherein the length of the tapered flexible structural component is 6 to 12 inches shorter than the length of the foam body.   
     
     
         3 . The flexible surfboard of  claim 2 , wherein a ratio of length to width to thickness, of the tapered flexible structural component is approximately 160:16:1. 
     
     
         4 . The flexible surfboard of  claim 3 , wherein the width is measured at a widest point of the flexible structural component, orthogonal to the length and the thickness, and wherein the thickness is measured at a thickest point of the flexible structural component, orthogonal to the length and width. 
     
     
         5 . The flexible surfboard of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible structural component is formed of wood. 
     
     
         6 . The flexible surfboard of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible structural component is formed of wood that is laminated with a fiber-reinforced cloth. 
     
     
         7 . The flexible surfboard of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible structural component is formed of a composite material. 
     
     
         8 . The flexible surfboard of  claim 4 , wherein the panel's thickest point may be located anywhere along the longitudinal axis and may taper thickness to at least one terminal end to further modulate a desired flex pattern. 
     
     
         9 . The flexible surfboard of  claim 4 , wherein the panel's widest point may be located anywhere along the longitudinal axis and may taper width to further modulate desired flex pattern. 
     
     
         10 . The flexible surfboard of  claim 4 , in which the panel may be a flat, pre-manufactured rocker. 
     
     
         11 . The flexible surfboard of  claim 4 , in which the panel may be a flat, pre manufactured with a combination of camber on the rear half of the board blending towards flat or rocker shape. 
     
     
         12 . The flexible surfboard of  claim 2 , wherein the soft body is formed of polyurethane or expanded polystyrene foam. 
     
     
         13 . The flexible surfboard of  claim 2 , wherein the foam body is formed of a low-density polyethylene foam. 
     
     
         14 . The flexible surfboard of  claim 13 , further comprising a high-density polyethylene foam skin adhered to the soft foam body. 
     
     
         15 . A method of making a flexible surfboard comprising:
 providing a foam body having a length, a width, and a thickness   enclosing a tapered flexible structural component within the foam body, the tapered flexible structural component having a length, width, thickness, and configured to flex under induced forces during use; and orienting the tapered within the foam body such that the length, width, and thickness of the tapered flexible structural component align with the length, width, and thickness of the foam body, respectively; wherein the flex characteristics of the flexible surfboard are primarily dependent on flex characteristics of the flexible structural component, wherein the thickness of the soft body is less than the width of the soft body, and the width of the soft body is less than the length of the soft body, and wherein the thickness of the flexible structural component is less than the width of the flexible structural component, and the width of the flexible structural component is less than the length of the flexible structural component, wherein the length of the flexible structural component is 6 to 12 inches shorter than the length of the foam body.   
     
     
         16 . The method of making the flexible surfboard of  claim 14 , further comprising shaping the foam body into a surfboard design. 
     
     
         17 . The method of making the flexible surfboard of  claim 14 , further comprising filleting the corners of the flexible structural component for ease of blank manufacturing. 
     
     
         18 . The method of making the flexible surfboard of  claim 11 , further comprising routing a spot in the flexible structural component to place a fin or receptacle capable of receiving a fin. 
     
     
         19 . The method of making the flexible surfboard of  claim 14 , further comprising adhering a skin to the surfboard design and wherein the skin is formed of a high-density polyethylene foam. 
     
     
         20 . The method of making the flexible surfboard of  claim 14 , wherein the flexible structural component is adhered to the foam body.