US20080287018A1

US20080287018A1 - Stealth tail quad surfboard

Info

Publication number: US20080287018A1
Application number: US12/152,348
Authority: US
Inventors: Bill Johnson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-05-14
Filing date: 2008-05-14
Publication date: 2008-11-20

Abstract

A tail section for a surfboard includes a substantially v-shaped notch or cutout intersecting substantially trailing edges formed between two points. Each of the substantially straight trailing edges extend to the arcuate side of the body of the surfboard.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Provisional U.S. Patent Application 60/930,163 filed May 14, 2007

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

The invention described in this patent application was not the subject of Federally sponsored research or development.

FIELD

The present invention pertains to surfboards; more particularly the present invention pertains to the design of the tail section of a surf board.

BACKGROUND

Since the beginning of the sport of surfing, surfers have continually looked for surfboard designs which increase the speed of the surfboard on the water, which provide greater-stability and maneuverability and which enable the riding of smaller waves. Accordingly, the design of surfboards; particularly the design of the tail section of the surfboard has evolved over the years. Current configurations of surfboard tail sections which feature points include the “Swallow” which has two points, the “Bat Tail” which has three points, the “Diamond” which has three points, and the “Square” which has two points. Unpointed surfboard tail section designs having no points include the “Thumbtail”, the “Squash” and the “Pintail”.
While the foregoing designs have made small contributions to the stability speed and maneuverability of the surfboard in the water and have enabled many to enjoy the sport of surfing on smaller waves, the need still remains for a improved design for the tail section of a surfboard that provides greater stability, maneuverability, and speed over water than prior art designs.

SUMMARY

The design for the tail section of a surfboard disclosed herein includes four corners or points. These four corners or points define substantially two straight trailing edges formed on either side of a substantially V-shaped notch or cutout. The disclosed design for the tail section of a surfboard provides the surfer greater control of the surfboard with respect to the wave being ridden.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

A still better understanding of the stealth tail quad surfboard of the present invention may be had by reference to the drawing Figures wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the bottom of a surfboard including a deep V-shaped notch or cutout in the tail section;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the bottom of a surfboard including a shallow V-shaped notch or cutout in the tail section;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the bottom of a surfboard showing the disclosed tail section design with a quad fin configuration;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the surfboard shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5A is top plan view of the perimeter of the tail section of the surfboard shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4;

FIG. 5B is a top plan view of a first alternative perimeter of the tail section of a surfboard; and

FIG. 5C is a top plan view of a second alternative perimeter of the tail section of a surfboard.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The surfboard 10 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 includes a body portion 12 bounded by side edges 14 and formed to be substantially symmetrical about a longitudinal axis L. The body portion 12 includes three contiguous portions: a front section 18, a center section 20 and a tail section 22: The center section 20 includes a transverse axis T ahead of which is included a fin 24 on the bottom 26 of the surfboard 10. Ahead of, the transverse axis T is the front section 18 featuring a pointed nose 28. Behind the transverse axis T is the tail section 22. It has been found that the design of the tail section 22 is a key element for providing the stability of the surfboard as perceived by a rider. Typically mounted on the tail section 22 are multiple fins 102, 104, 106 and 108.
As may be seen in FIGS. 3, and 4 the disclosed design for the tail 32, 34 and section 22 of a surfboard 10 includes four points or corners 32, 34, and 36, 38. Two sets of two points or corners 32, 34, and 36, 38 are located on either side of the longitudinal axis L of a substantially symmetrical surfboard. Between each of the two sets of points or corners 32, 34, and 36, 38 are located substantially straight trailing edges 33, 37. It has been found that the use of two sets of two points or corners 32, 34, 36, 38 allows the surfer to hold tighter turns in bigger waves. Further, the disclosed tail section design 22 including the four points or corners 32, 34, 36, 38 and the substantially V-shaped notch or cutout 40 in the tail section 22 allows the surfer greater stability which provides for follow through a turn when riding a wave.
Those who have used a surfboard including the disclosed tail section design 22 report that the same feel associated with a surfboard having three fins projecting from the bottom. Specifically, the surfer feels more hold, more drive and more projection. However, the disclosed surfboard tail section design 22 provides more speed than typically associated with three fin surfboards.
It has also been found that the substantially V-shaped notch or cutout 40 centered on the longitudinal axis L provides a flexing action at the tail section 22 of the surfboard. This flexing action provides the surfer with the ability to make tighter turns while on the wave and to have greater stability and control when maneuvering the surfboard 10 on the surface of the water. The flexing tail section 22 with two sets of two points or corners 32, 34, and 36, 38 and a substantially straight trailing edges 33, 37 on each side of the substantially V-shaped notch 40 acts like another fin but with no drag.
As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the first end of the trailing edge 33 forms a point 34 by its intersection with the substantially V-shaped notch or cutout 40. The second end of the trailing edge 33 forms a point 32 by its intersection with the side edge 14 of the surfboard. A similar construction appears on the other side of the surfboard for trailing edge 37 which is bounded by points 36 and 38.
Further experimentation with the disclosed invention has revealed that other outlines of the tail section are enabled. Shown in FIG. 5A is a tail section 22 perimeter P1 wherein the straight line distance from the first end or point 134 of the trailing edge 133 to the transverse axis is less than the straight line distance of the second end or point 132 of the trailing edge 133 the transverse axis. A similar construction appears on the other side of the V-shaped notch 140.
Shown in FIG. 5B is a tail section 22 perimeter P2 wherein the straight line distance from the first end or point 234 of the trailing edge 233 to the transverse axis is substantially equidistant to the straight line distance of the second end or point 232 of the trailing edge the transverse axis. A similar construction appears on the other side of V-shaped notch 240.
Shown in FIG. 5C is a tail section 22 perimeter P3 wherein the straight line distance from the first end or point 334 of the trailing edge 333 to the transverse axis is greater than the straight line distance of the second end or point 332 of the trailing edge 333 to the transverse axis. A similar construction appears on the opposite side of V-shaped notch 340.
A still better understanding of the various perimeters of the tail section for a surfboard of the proposed invention may be had by observing that an extension of the trailing edges 133, 137 shown in FIG. 5A forms a substantially acute angle a with the longitudinal axis L or line of symmetry of the surfboard.
In FIG. 5 B an extension of the trailing edges 233, 237 forms a substantially perpendicular or a right angle b to the longitudinal axis L or line of symmetry of the surfboard.
In FIG. 5C an extension of the trailing edges 333, 337 forms a substantially obtuse angle c with the longitudinal axis L or line of symmetry of the surfboard.
While the present invention has been disclosed according to its preferred and alternate embodiments, those of ordinary sill in the art will understand that still other embodiments have been enabled by the foregoing disclosure. Such other embodiments shall be included within the scope and meaning of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A surfboard comprising:

a body portion formed to have side edges and to be substantially symmetrical about a longitudinal axis;

said body portion having a contiguous front portion ahead of a transverse axis, a center section on either side of said transverse axis, and a tail section behind said transverse axis;

said tail section having a substantially V-shaped notch formed so that the point of said V-shaped section is located on said longitudinal axis;

said tail section having a trailing edge adjoining said substantially V-shaped section at a first end and a second end adjoining said side edge of the surfboard.

2. The surfboard as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said first end of said trailing edge and said second end of said trailing edge are substantially equidistant from said transverse axis.

3. The surfboard as defined in claim 1 wherein:

the distance from said first end of said trailing edge from said transverse axis is greater than the distance of said second end of said trailing edge from said transverse axis.

4. The surfboard as defined in claim 1 wherein:

the distance from said first end of said trailing edge from said transverse axis is less than the distance of said second end of said trailing edge from said transverse axis.

5. The surfboard as defined in claim 1 further including a plurality of fins extending outwardly from said tail section.

6. A substantially symmetrical tail portion for a surfboard comprising:

a pair of substantially arcute sides positioned substantially equidistant from a line of symmetry passing through the substantially symmetrical tail portion;

each of said substantially arcute sides terminating in a substantially straight trailing edge;

said substantially straight trailing edge extending between said substantially arcuate sides and intersecting a substantially V-shaped cutout;

said substantially V-shaped cutout formed on the line of symmetry of the substantially symmetrical tail portion.

7. The substantially symmetrical tail portion for a surfboard as defined in claim 6 wherein the said substantially straight trailing edges from a substantially acute angle with said line of symmetry.

8. The substantially symmetrical tail portion for a surfboard as defined in claim 6 wherein said substantially straight trailing edges form a substantially right angle with said line of symmetry.

9. The substantially symmetrical tail portion for a surfboard as defined in claim 6 wherein the said substantially straight trailing edges form a substantially obtuse angle with said line of symmetry.

10. The substantially symmetrical tail section as defined in claim 6 further including a plurality of fins extending outwardly therefrom

11. A method for increasing the perceived stability of a surfboard to a rider, said method comprising the steps of:

forming a substantially V-shaped notch in the tail section of the surfboard about the line of symmetry of the surfboard;

forming a substantially straight trailing edge portion of the tail section of the surfboard on either side of and intersecting said substantially V-shaped notch.

12. The method as defined in claim 11 wherein said substantially straight trailing edges form a substantially acute angle with said line of symmetry.

13. The method as defined in claim 11 wherein said substantially straight trailing edges form a substantially right angle with said line of symmetry.

14. The method as defined in claim 11 wherein said substantially straight trailing edges form a substantially obtuse angle with said line of symmetry.

15. The method as defined in claim 11 further including the step of mounting a plurality of fins extending outwardly from said tail section of said surfboard.

16. A substantially symmetrical surfboard having a pointed front section, a center section, a tail section and side edges or herein the improvement comprises;

a substantially V-shaped notch aligned with axis of symmetry of the surfboard cut into the tail section of the surfboard;

substantially straight trailing edges formed on either side of said substantially straight trailing edge;

each of said substantially straight trailing edges forming a first point at the intersection of one of said trailing edges and with said substantially V-shaped notch and a second point at the intersection of one of said trailing edges with the side edge,

wherein substantially V-shaped notch provides for flexing of each side of the tail section of the surfboard.

17. The substantially symmetrical surfboard as defined in claim 16 wherein an extension of said substantially straight trailing edge forms an acute angle with said axis of symmetry

18. The substantially symmetrical surfboard as defined in claim 16 wherein as extension of said substantially straight trailing edge forms a substantially right angle with said axis of symmetry.

19. The substantially symmetrical surfboard as defined in claim 16 wherein an extension of said substantially straight trailing edge forms a substantially obtuse angle with said axis of symmetry

20. The substantially symmetrical surfboard as defined in. Claim 16 further including a plurality of fins mounted to the tail section on either side of said substantially V-shaped notch.