Abstract:
A surface material for a ramp comprises a fiberglass reinforced plastic material for providing a longer life and an improved grip wherein the fiberglass reinforced plastic material is coupled to the surface of the ramp which is used by a user.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This patent application is claiming the benefit of the U.S. Provisional Application having an application No. of 60/344,097, filed Dec. 20, 2001, in the name of Michael McIntyre, and entitled “SPORT RAMP SURFACE AND METHOD”. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    This invention relates to extreme sports and, more specifically, to an improve surface for a ramp structure used in extreme sports.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0005]    Ramp structures, such as a “half-pipe” and the like are commonly used in “Extreme Sports” activities. Extreme Sports such as skate-boarding, inline skating, bicycle motorcross, and free style motorcross commonly use ramp structures to perform ariel stunts/moves. A typical ramp structure  10  has some combination of sections including, but not limited to, a flat bottom section known as “flatbottoms,” inclined radial walls known as “escalators” or “rollers” extending upward from or descending downward to the flat bottom sections and elevated decks located above certain parts of the inclined radial walls. Persons using a ramp structure to practice an Extreme Sport will use any one or any combination of the flat bottom sections  12 , included radial walls  14 , and elevated decks  16  to perform tricks, maneuvers, etc.  
           [0006]    Ramp structures can be permanent, or they can be temporary, portable structures. Prior art ramp structures, including in particular, portable ones, tend to be covered with a surface material consisting of a wood or paper-based product. There are a number of problems with such prior art surface materials. The main problem is that they are not suitably weather-resistant, and thus tend to degrade over time—through a process of warping, bubbling, delamination, expansion, and/or contraction. Moreover, because such surface materials lack protection against ultraviolet radiation, they tend to fade and to become cracked or dried out from exposure to sunlight. The need to guard against such degradation often leads to the use of additional fasteners (typically screws) to hold the surface material in place, increasing the risk of fasteners becoming loose and creating a hazard for users of the ramp structure.  
           [0007]    Prior art surface materials also do not lend themselves readily to a coloring process. While wood products can be painted, the paint can be unduly slippery or creates too much of a gripping effect. This makes the ramp structure less desirable and perhaps even dangerous to users. The paint also tends to chip and wear off following use and exposure to the sun, creating a less attractive look and potential unevenness in the surface that might affect a user&#39;s performance. The difficulty in coloring also impacts on the ability to place logos on the surface material, leading to the use of vinyl logos that can be too slick and that sometimes peel off after extended use.  
           [0008]    Steel is also sometimes used as a surface material. Among its drawbacks are that it is extremely heavy, making it expensive to ship. Steel is also susceptible to rusting.  
           [0009]    With respect to both wood/paper and steel types of surface materials, it is generally not possible to patch or spot repair the surface material in the event of a defect. All of the above-mentioned qualities tend to make prior art surface materials relatively short-lasting.  
           [0010]    A need therefore existed for a surface material for a ramp structure having improved performance over the prior art materials, including longer life, resistance to ultraviolet radiation, consistency of grippability of the surface (i.e., consistent surface friction), amenability to spot repairs, ease of coloring and applying logs without affect the feel of the material, and light weight.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved ramp structure.  
           [0012]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved ramp structure having improved performance over the prior art materials.  
           [0013]    It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved ramp structure having improved performance over the prior art materials, including longer life.  
           [0014]    It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved ramp structure having improved performance over the prior art materials, including longer life, resistance to ultraviolet radiation, and consistency of grippability of the surface (i.e., consistent surface friction).  
           [0015]    It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved ramp structure having improved performance over the prior art materials, including longer life, resistance to ultraviolet radiation, consistency of grippability of the surface (i.e., consistent surface friction), amenability to spot repairs, ease of coloring and applying logs without affect the feel of the material, and light weight.  
         BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
         [0016]    In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a surface material for a ramp comprising a fiberglass reinforced plastic material for providing a longer life and an improved grip wherein the fiberglass reinforced plastic material is coupled to the surface of the ramp which is used by a user.  
           [0017]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a surface material for a ramp is disclosed. The surface material comprises a fiberglass reinforced plastic material for providing a longer life and an improved grip wherein the fiberglass reinforced plastic material is coupled to the surface of the ramp which is used by a user. The fiberglass reinforced plastic material comprises: approximately 50% fiberglass; approximately 50% resin; and an ultraviolet radiation inhibitor to protect the surface material from ultraviolet radiation.  
           [0018]    The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular, description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]    The invention itself, as well as a preferred mode of use, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrated embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals and symbols represent like elements.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an above-ground ramp structure.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a section of the above-ground ramp structure of FIG. 1 incorporating the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0022]    Referring first to FIG. 1, a perspective view of an above-ground ramp structure  10  is shown. The ramp structure  10  is of the type known in the art, and is sometimes referred to as a “half-pipe.” It is commonly used for what are known as “Extreme Sports,” including skate-boarding, inline skating, bicycle motorcross, and free style motorcross. A typical ramp structure  10  has some combination of sections as shown in FIG. 1, including flat bottom sections  12  known as “flatbottoms,” inclined radial walls  14  known as “escalators” or “rollers” extending upward from or descending downward to the flat bottom sections  12 , and elevated decks  16  located above certain sections of the inclined radial walls  14 . Persons using a ramp structure  10  to practice an Extreme Sport will use any one or any combination or the flat bottom sections  12 , included radial walls  14 , and elevated decks  16  to perform tricks, maneuvers, etc.  
         [0023]    Ramp structures  10  can be permanent, or they can be temporary, portable structures. Prior art ramp structures  10 , including in particular portable ones, tend to be covered with a surface material consisting of a wood or paper-based product. There are a number of problems with such prior art surface materials. They are not suitably weather-resistant, and thus tend to degrade over time—through a process of warping, bubbling, delamination, expansion, and/or contraction. Moreover, because such surface materials lack protection against ultraviolet radiation, they tend to fade and to become cracked or dried out from exposure to sunlight. The need to guard against such degradation often leads to the use of additional fasteners (typically screws) to hold the surface material in place, increasing the risk of fasteners becoming loose and creating a hazard for users of the ramp structure.  
         [0024]    Prior art surface materials also do not lend themselves readily to a coloring process. While wood products scan be painted, the paint can be unduly slippery or creative too much of a gripping effect, making the ramp structure less desirable and perhaps even dangerous to users. The paint also tends to chip and wear off following use and exposure to the sun, creating a less attractive look and potential unevenness in the surface that might affect a user&#39;s performance. The difficulty in coloring also impacts on the ability to place logos on the surface material, leading to the use of vinyl logos that can be too slick and that sometimes peel off after extended use.  
         [0025]    Steel is also sometimes used as a surface material. Among its drawbacks are that it is extremely heavy, making it expensive to ship. Steel is also susceptible of rusting.  
         [0026]    With respect to both wood/paper and steel types of surface materials, it is generally not possible to patch or spot repair the surface material in the event of a defect. All of the above-mentioned qualities tend to make prior art surface materials relatively short-lasting.  
         [0027]    Referring now to FIG. 2, the improved surface material  18  of the present invention is shown in position on a section of the ramp structure  10  of FIG. 1. The improved surface material  18  is a flat sheet of fiberglass reinforced plastic. Preferably, the improved surface material  18  comprises a ratio of approximately 50% fiberglass and 50% resin, though a ratio of less fiberglass and more resin or less resin and more fiberglass would still provide improved results over the prior art. Generally, as the ratio of fiberglass is increased, the strength of the resulting surface material  18  is increased. The resins are preferably GP type, or of higher grade. Suitable resins include polyesters and vinylesters.  
         [0028]    The surface material  18  is preferably affixed to the ramp structure  10  in sheets. The preferred sheet size is four feet wide, by eight feet long, by three-sixteenths of an inch in width—although any of these dimensions may be altered as desired to meet the needs of a particular ramp structure  10 . Thus, the sheets could be cut smaller, larger, thinner, or thicker as desired—and in any desired shape. It is also preferred that the surface material  18  cover every surface of the ramp structure  10  which could be used by a user, including the flat bottom sections  12 , inclined radial walls  14 , and elevated decks  16 . Indeed, it would also be preferred, at least for appearance sake, to cover the side panels  17  of the ramp structure  10 .  
         [0029]    The sheets of surface material  18  are affixed to the surfaces of the underlying ramp structure  10  in the appropriate manner, taking into account the underlying material  20  below the surface material  18 . For example, if the underlying material  20  is concrete, an adhesive would likely be used for appropriate fixation. If the underlying material  20  is metal or wood, screws or bolts could be inserted into holes drilled through the surface material  18  and secured to the underlying material  20 . (Preferably, the holes would be countersunk so as to reduce the risk of the screw or bolt interfering with the performance of a person using the ramp structure  10 .)  
         [0030]    To provide protection against ultraviolet radiation, it is possible to either add an ultraviolet radiation inhibitor to the surface material  18  during the manufacturing process, or to use a resin having such quality. To achieve coloring, color pigments may be added to the resin to create a sheet of surface material  18  having a desired color. Alternatively, a logo can be impregnated into the surface material  18  during the manufacturing process. (For example, if a pultrusion process is used as discussed below, the logo could be placed between the surfacing veil and the fiberglass.)  
         [0031]    With respect to the manufacture of the surface material  18 , it can be manufactured by any process that will create a flat sheet of fiberglass reinforced plastic. The available processes include pressing, injection molding, and pultrusion. Of these, the pultrusion process is preferred. Among other things, it is the quickest, most uniform, and yields a product having a fiberglass to resin ratio closest to optimal.  
         [0032]    Surface material  18  comprised of fiberglass reinforced plastic presents a substantial improvement over prior art materials. Thus, fiberglass reinforced plastic is relatively lightweight. As compared to steel, for example, fiberglass reinforced plastic is three-quarters lighter. It has an extremely high strength to weight ratio, exceeding that of prior art ramp surface materials such as masonite, plywood, steel, and SKATELIGHT.® (Strength is an important quality for a surface material, particularly where the ramp structure  10  is used for a high impact sport such as bicycle motorcross or freestyle.) It has dimensional stability, with a low coefficient of thermal expansion making it resistant to heat and extreme cold. It is, as discussed above, easily colored and decorated with a logo—and the colors/log will not affect the feel of the surface material  18  or readily degrade from exposure to the sun or the elements. Still further, fiberglass reinforced plastic may be spot-repaired in the event of damage to a portion of a sheet of surface material  18  through, for example, a patching process.  
         [0033]    Still further advantages include that fiberglass reinforced plastic will not be damaged by water. It will not bubble or warp and, as a result, will require less screws/bolts to secure it in position. It is also easily cut or drilled with conventional tools, making it easy to install and to customize for particular size or other requirements. In contrast to steel, fiberglass reinforced plastic has a low reflective value, eliminating glare that can distract a user and potentially cause an accident or injury. It has improved surface resistance over, in particular, the wood and paper based materials, resulting in an increase in speed on the part of the user.  
         [0034]    While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.