Abstract:
A deck grip which in use is to support the feet of the occupant of a sports board, the deck grip having a base and an undulating upper surface spaced from the base and defined by a series of spaced ridges where the alternate ridges are of a greater height than the ridges there between, and wherein the ridges extend across the deck grip to in use lie substantially transverse to the orientation of the foot of the occupant on the sports board, the ridges being formed of a resiliently compressible material.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 29/259,909, filed May 16, 2006, entitled SHEET MATERIAL OF INDEFINITE SIZE AND SHAPE FOR USE AS A GRIPPING SURFACE, and claims the benefit of Australian Patent Application Serial No. 2006905711, filed Oct. 13, 2006, entitled A DECK GRIP, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a deck grip which in use is applied to a surface to enable adequate gripping of that surface. The deck grip may be formed as an integral part of the surface or alternatively may be formed from a material which can be applied to a surface. A particular application of the invention relates to a deck grip which can be utilized with sports boards. Throughout the specification and claims the term “sports board” will be taken as including surf boards, wave boards, wakeboards, skateboards and the like. 
         [0003]    Sports boards of the form referred to above are provided and in particular those that are used in aquatic situations are provided with a smooth surface to enhance their performance however, the presence of the smooth surface creates a problem for the occupants who usually have bare feet when thy are using the sports board. It has been a well established practice for the users to apply a wax to the surface of the board which is to be used. In more recent times the practice has been adopted of providing a deck grip over the surface of the board which is to bear the feet of the occupant in use. Such deck grips are most often in the form of a panel formed of a suitable cushioning material which will resiliently conform to the sole of the feet of the user while enhancing the grip of the feet to the surface. A difficulty experienced by users of such deck grips is that the degree of grip is not as good as they would like and they lose a sense of the “feel” of the board which creates a problem in maintaining a control of the board. The capacity of the occupant to have good “feel” of the sports board becomes very important in competition. 
         [0004]    Throughout the specification and claims, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. 
         [0005]    In one aspect, the present invention provides a deck grip which in use is to support at least a foot of the occupant of a sports board, the deck grip having a base and an undulating upper surface spaced from the base and defined by a series of spaced ridges extending across the deck grip where the alternate ridges are of a greater height than the ridges therebetween, the ridges being formed of a resiliently compressible material. 
         [0006]    Preferably, the upper surface is defined by an array of upwardly directed protrusions extending from the base, wherein the array comprises rows of protrusions which form the ridges. The rows of protrusions are preferably continuous to form rib-like protrusions extending across the surface. Alternatively, the rows of protrusions preferably each comprise a set of spaced protrusions extending upwardly from the base. The ridges can be generally linear or convoluted. The ridges can also be of differing height along their length. 
         [0007]    In another aspect, the present invention provides a deck grip which in use is to support at least a foot of the occupant of a sports board, the deck grip having a base and an undulating upper surface spaced from the base and defined by a series of spaced ridges extending across the deck grip where the alternate ridges are of a greater height than the ridges therebetween, each ridge defined by an array of upwardly directed protrusions extending from the base, the ridges being formed of a resiliently compressible material. 
         [0008]    The rows of protrusions can be continuous to form rib-like protrusions extending across the surface or the rows of protrusions can each comprise a set of spaced protrusions extending upwardly from the base. 
         [0009]    Preferably, opposed faces of adjacent protrusions of each row are generally inclined. Adjacent rows of protrusions preferably have a first face of one row which is in opposed relation to the second face of another row, wherein the first face is generally perpendicular to the base and the second face is generally inclined to the base. Preferably, opposed faces of adjacent protrusions of each row are generally inclined. Each of the protrusions preferably has a generally prismatic shape. The upper face of the protrusions of greater height are preferably formed with a groove extending across the upper surface. The protrusions are preferably generally square or rectangular in plan. The ridges are of differing height along their length. The deck grip is preferably formed as sheet which can be cut to length and shape and applied to the sports board. The face of the base which is in opposed relation to the upper surface preferably has an adhesive layer applied to it, said adhesive layer being overlaid by a removable membrane 
         [0010]    In another aspect, the present invention provides a deck grip which in use is to support at least a foot of the occupant of a sports board, the deck grip having a base and an undulating upper surface spaced from the base and defined by a series of spaced ridges extending across the deck grip where the alternate ridges are of a greater height than the ridges therebetween, each ridge defined by an array of upwardly directed protrusions extending from the base and wherein the upper portion of each protrusion has a cubic configuration, the ridges being formed of a resiliently compressible material. 
         [0011]    The rows of protrusions preferably each comprise a set of spaced protrusions extending upwardly from the base. Opposed lateral faces of adjacent protrusions of each row are preferably generally inclined. The sides of the upper portion preferably extend vertically from the upper extent of the inclined lateral faces of the protrusion. Adjacent rows of protrusions preferably have a first face of one row which is in opposed relation to the second face of another row, wherein the first face is generally perpendicular to the base and the second face is generally inclined to the base. The sides of the upper portion of each protrusion preferably extend vertically from the upper extent of the inclined portion of the second face. The sides of the upper portion preferably extend vertically from the upper extent of lateral faces of the protrusion. Upper faces of the protrusions of greater height are preferably formed with a groove extending across their upper surface. Preferably, the protrusions are generally diamond shaped in plan. The ridges are preferably generally linear. The ridges are preferably formed from a set of spaced protrusions which vary in height along the ridge. 
         [0012]    In another aspect, the present invention provides a deck grip comprising a base and rows of upwardly directed spaced protrusions extending from the base, wherein the alternate rows of protrusions are generally of a greater height than the rows therebetween, the protrusions being formed of a resiliently compressible material. 
         [0013]    The rows of protrusions are preferably spaced from each other with a space located therebetween. Each row of protrusions preferably comprises individual protrusions spaced from each other with a space located therebetween. Each row of protrusions comprises spaced identical protrusions, which are preferably regularly spaced. The protrusions in one row can be generally aligned with the protrusions in an adjacent row or generally offset therefrom. The invention will be more fully understood in the light of the following description of several specific embodiments. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a schematic plan view of a surfboard accommodating a deck grip according to the first embodiment; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of a portion of the deck grip according to the first embodiment; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is cross sectional side elevation of a deck grip according to the first embodiment along the line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of an alternative form of deck grip according to a second embodiment; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view along the line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view along the line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a plan view of a deck grip according to a third embodiment of the invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a plan view of a deck grip according to a fourth embodiment; 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is a sectional view along the line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9 ; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  is a sectional view along the line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 9 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]    Each of the embodiments are directed to a deck grip which in use is to be applied to the upper surface of a surfboard in the region which is to be occupied by at least a foot of the occupant, typically the occupant&#39;s back or trailing foot. As shown at  FIG. 1  the surfboard  11  is provided with at its rear end with a panel  13  incorporating the deck grip. The panel  13  of each of the embodiments is formed from a sheet of flexible resilient material which can be formed of any suitable material but according to one specific example of the embodiment is formed of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). 
         [0027]    In the case of the first embodiment shown at  FIGS. 2 and 3  the upper surface is of the deck grip is formed as a set of ridges of alternating heights. The upper surface is formed by an array of closely spaced protrusions  15 A and  15 B which extend upwardly from a base  17  the under face of which is fixed to the surfboard  11  by means of a suitable adhesive. The protrusions  15 A and  15 B are located in parallel rows which are alternately of differing heights to provide ridges of alternating heights which are in use to extend transversely across the deck grip. In this regard the row of first protrusions  15 A are of a lower height than the second row of protrusions  15 B. 
         [0028]    The orientation of the deck grip  13  and thus the ridges on a surfboard  11  will depend on a user&#39;s preferred orientation. Typically, the deck grip will be attached such that the ridges extend across the surfboard. The user&#39;s trailing foot in use generally extends across the rear end of the surfboard  11  and thus the ridges can be substantially aligned with the user&#39;s trailing foot in use. Each of the protrusions has a generally prismatic configuration. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the opposed faces of protrusions of adjacent rows are formed to have a first face  19  on one row which is generally perpendicular to the base  17  and have a second opposed face  21  which is generally inclined. The second face  21  however is formed with a lower inclined portion  21 A and an upper perpendicular portion  21 B. The upper portion of each protrusion is defined by an upper cubic portion  23 . In addition, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the opposed faces of protrusions of each row are also formed with an inclined face  25  of similar form to the inclined second opposed face  21  of the protrusions. The height of the upper cubic portions  23  of adjacent rows of protrusions vary to provide the ridges of differing height. 
         [0029]    In addition the upper face of the upper cubic portions  23  of the second protrusions  15   b  which are of the greater height are formed with a lateral groove  27  to further enhance the gripping action. 
         [0030]    The deck grip according to the first embodiment is formed as a sheet from which suitably shaped panels can be cut for application to the sports board. The under-face of the sheet has an adhesive applied to it which is overlaid by a removable membrane. In use a panel of the desired configuration is cut out from the sheet and the membrane is removed from the adhesive laden under-face and the panel is applied to the sports board in the region to be occupied by the occupant&#39;s feet in use. If desired a number of discrete panels can be applied to the deck of the sports board according to desires of the user. 
         [0031]    The deck grip according to the first embodiment as described above provides a contoured upper surface which serves to enhance the gripping of the deck grip by the feet of the user. Furthermore, by providing portions having a lower profile the soles of the feet of the user are bought into a closer spaced relation to the body of the board. This reduction in height which serves to improve the “feel” of the board as sensed by the user who is then able to have a better sense of the movement of the board to provide for a better control of the board. However the presence of the higher portions of the deck grip as provided by the row of higher protrusions provide a courser level of traction/grip for the feet. The multiple functions of the deck grip of the first embodiment in providing an improved traction and a better “feel” while ensuring that there is adequate traction/grip provides the user with significant advantages particularly when in competition. 
         [0032]    The second embodiment of the invention as illustrated at  FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  6  and  7  is of a generally similar form to that of the first embodiment with the exception that the sides of the upper portion  23  which are adjacent the inclined portions of the second opposed face and the lateral faces of each protrusion  15 A and  15 B are spaced inwardly from the upper edge of the inclined portion of the faces. In addition the upper face of the higher protrusions  15   b  are formed with a single transverse groove  27 . 
         [0033]    The third embodiment of the invention as illustrated at  FIG. 8  is of a similar form to the first embodiment with the exception that the upper portion  23  of the second protrusions  15 B are formed with a pair of intersecting transverse grooves  27 . 
         [0034]    The fourth embodiment as shown at  FIGS. 9 ,  10  and  11  differs from the first embodiment in that the protrusions are of a generally diamond shaped configuration. In addition the protrusions of each row are laterally offset form the adjacent rows. 
         [0035]    According to a further embodiment of the invention which can apply to each of the previous embodiments the protrusions of each row may be of alternating heights whereby each row comprises a set of first protrusions  15 A and second protrusions  15 B of the respective embodiment with one form of protrusion being located between a pair of the other form of protrusions. 
         [0036]    Other alternative embodiments are also possible. For example, the rows of protrusions can be continuous to form rib-like protrusions extending across the surface of the deck grip. The ridges can be generally linear or convoluted. The ridges can also be of differing height along their length. 
         [0037]    It should be appreciated that the scope of the present invention need not be limited to the particular scope of the embodiments described above. In particular the invention can be utilized in association with any form of sports board including surfboards, sailboards, wave boards, skateboards or the like. In addition the deck grip could be used in association with other forms of water craft and may be in the form of a of sheet material which is to applied over a deck or may be formed into the deck.