Patent ID: 12246802

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to example embodiments which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. In this regard, the example embodiments may have different forms and may not be construed as being limited to the descriptions set forth herein.

It will be understood that the terms “include,” “including”, “comprise”, and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

It will be further understood that, although the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” and “upper,” “lower,” “inside,” “outside,” etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections may not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section.

As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Expressions such as “at least one of,” when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modify the individual elements of the list.

Various terms are used to refer to particular system components. Different companies may refer to a component by different names—this document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function.

Matters of these example embodiments that are obvious to those of ordinary skill in the technical field to which these exemplary embodiments pertain may not be described here in detail.

The implementation and application of example embodiments will be discussed in detail below.

A surfboard according to one or more example embodiments may comprise a surfboard, a stand-up paddle board, a pair of water skis, or another recreational flotation device.

FIGS.1to5show a surfboard1of an exemplary embodiment. As shown inFIG.1, the surfboard1is a double-air-chamber surfboard, comprising a first air chamber11and a second air chamber12, where the first and second air chambers are independent from each other. The second air chamber12is arranged around the first air chamber11, the first air chamber11and the second air chamber12are each provided with an air valve10, and a partition13is arranged between the first air chamber11and the second air chamber12.

FIGS.2aand2billustrate two example embodiments A1, A2 of a cross-section taken along a line A-A inFIG.1. According to example embodiment A1, as shown inFIG.2a, the partition13comprises a first connecting portion131, a second connecting portion132, and an intermediate portion133. The first connecting portion131comprises a pair of top wall connecting pieces1310, which may be symmetrically-arranged. The pair of top wall connecting pieces1310are respectively connected to a top wall111of the first air chamber11and a top wall121of the second air chamber12. The second connecting portion132comprises a pair of bottom wall connecting pieces1320, which may be symmetrically-arranged. The pair of bottom wall connecting pieces1320are each respectively connected to a bottom wall112of the first air chamber11and a bottom wall122of the second air chamber12. The intermediate portion133may be formed of a single piece of material, such as, but not limited to, a single piece of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material or a single piece of laminated PVC mesh material, which is connected to the first connecting portion131and the second connecting portion132respectively between the first air chamber11and the second air chamber12. As shown inFIG.2a, a pair of top wall connecting pieces1310may be integrally provided with top wall extension pieces1311extending between the first air chamber11and the second air chamber12, and a pair of bottom wall connecting pieces1320may be integrally provided with bottom wall extension pieces1321extending between the first air chamber11and the second air chamber12. That is, the portions of each of the top wall connecting pieces1310and the bottom wall connecting pieces1320connected to the first air chamber11and the second air chamber12may be arranged roughly transversely, and the top wall extension pieces1311of the top wall connecting pieces1310and the bottom wall extension pieces1321of the bottom wall connecting pieces1320may be arranged roughly vertically. One end of the intermediate portion133is sandwiched between a pair of top wall extension pieces1311and the other end is sandwiched between a pair of bottom wall extension pieces1321. A manner in which the intermediate portion133is connected to the top wall extension pieces1311and/or the bottom wall extension pieces1321may include, but is not limited to high-frequency welding, hot melting, and/or gluing.

According to example embodiment A2, as shown inFIG.2b, a difference between this example embodiment A2 and the example embodiment A1 is that the intermediate portion133of the example embodiment A2 may be integrally formed with the first connecting portion131and the second connecting portion132between the first air chamber11and the second air chamber12. That is, one end of the intermediate portion133may be integrally formed with one top wall extension piece of the first connecting portion131, and the other end of the intermediate portion133may be integrally formed with one bottom wall extension piece of the second connecting portion132. Both ends of the intermediate portion133may be integrally formed with the top wall extension piece1311and the bottom wall extension piece1321on a same side of the first connecting portion131and the second connecting portion132, respectively (as shown in the example embodiment ofFIG.2b). Alternately, although not shown, ends of the intermediate portion133may be integrally formed with the top wall extension piece1311and the bottom wall extension piece1321on the different sides of the first connecting portion131and the second connecting portion132, respectively.

Alternately, though not illustrated inFIGS.2aand2b, the intermediate portion133may be arranged between the first air chamber11and the second air chamber12such that one end thereof is integrally formed with the top wall extension piece1311of one side of the first connecting portion131, and the other end of the intermediate portion133is sandwiched between a pair of bottom wall extension pieces1321of the second connecting portion132. Alternately, one end of the intermediate portion133may be sandwiched between a pair of top wall extension pieces1311of the first connecting portion131, and the other end of the intermediate portion133may be integrally formed with the bottom wall extension piece1321of one side of the second connecting portion132.

According to example embodiments A1 and A2, the first air chamber11and the second air chamber12may be separated by the intermediate portion133, which may be made of a single piece of material and may be connected to each air chamber by means of the first connecting portion131and the second connecting portion132.

FIG.3is an exploded schematic view of a surfboard according to example embodiment A1 or A2. Since the second air chamber12is arranged around the first air chamber11, the partition13, dividing the first and second chambers11and12from each other, is annular. The first air chamber11and the second air chamber12may both be made of a drop-stitch material, so the partition13serves to connect the first air chamber11and the second air chamber12and also serves to separate the first air chamber11from the second air chamber12. As shown in the cross-sectional views ofFIGS.2aand2b, the partition13may be symmetrically arranged on both sides of the first air chamber11.

A double-air-chamber surfboard, as described for example in the above example embodiments, may be manufactured as described below.

According to an example embodiment of a manufacturing method, a drop-stitch material sheet, with the overall contour of the desired surfboard, may be cut from a larger piece of drop-stitch material. The overall contour of the cut portion may be the same as a desired an outer contour of the second air chamber12. An inner portion is then cut from the cut material sheet, the inner portion having an outer contour corresponding to a desired shaped of the first air chamber11, such that an opening matching the desired outer contour of the first air chamber11is formed in the middle of the drop-stitch material sheet with the overall contour, thereby forming a second drop-stitch material sheet.

The partition13may be made by connecting a single piece of strip-shaped material, such as a single piece of PVC material or a single piece of laminated PVC mesh material, end to end to form an annular intermediate portion133. The annular intermediate portion133may be connected to the first connecting portion131and the second connecting portion132by high-frequency welding, hot melting, gluing, and or another connection method,

The first connecting portion131of the partition13may be connected to the top wall111of the first drop-stitch material sheet having the outer contour of the desired first air chamber11. The second connecting portion132of the partition13may be connected to the bottom wall112of the first drop-stitch material sheet having the outer contour of the desired first air chamber11. That is, the first drop-stitch material sheet and the partition13are connected, forming the first air chamber11.

The first connecting portion131of the partition13may be connected to the top wall121at a middle opening of the second drop-stitch material sheet having the outer contour of the desired second air chamber12. The second connecting portion132of the partition13may be connected to the bottom wall122at the middle opening of the second drop-stitch material sheet having the outer contour of the second air chamber, such that the first drop-stitch material sheet having the outer contour of the first air chamber11is located at the middle opening of the second drop-stitch material sheet having the outer contour of the second air chamber12, and the outer contour of the second drop-stitch material sheet is sealed by an edge sealing material. That is, the second drop-stitch material sheet, the partition13, and the edge sealing material are connected, forming the second air chamber12.

According to another example embodiment, as shown inFIG.3, the surfboard1may further comprise a reinforcing piece14, the reinforcing piece14comprising an annular top wall reinforcing piece141and an annular bottom wall reinforcing piece142. As shown in conjunction withFIG.2a, the top wall reinforcing piece141may cover the first connecting portion131, and the bottom wall reinforcing piece142may cover the second connecting portion132. The top wall reinforcing piece141may completely cover the first connecting portion131and be connected to the top walls of the first air chamber11and the second air chamber12. The bottom wall reinforcing piece142may completely cover the second connecting portion132and be connected to the bottom walls of the first air chamber11and the second air chamber12. Alternately, the top wall reinforcing piece141and the bottom wall reinforcing piece142may respectively cover only a portion of the first connecting portion131and the second connecting portion132.

According to another example embodiment, the surfboard may further comprise an auxiliary reinforcing piece arranged between the reinforcing piece and the first connecting portion and/or between the reinforcing piece and the second connecting portion. As shown inFIGS.4a,4b, and5, the surfboard1may comprise an auxiliary reinforcing piece15arranged between the reinforcing piece14and the partition13. In particular, the auxiliary reinforcing piece15may comprise a top wall auxiliary reinforcing piece151and a bottom wall auxiliary reinforcing piece152. The top wall auxiliary reinforcing piece151is arranged between the top wall reinforcing piece141and the first connecting portion131, and the bottom wall auxiliary reinforcing piece152is arranged between the bottom wall reinforcing piece142and the second connecting portion132. The top wall auxiliary reinforcing piece151and the bottom wall auxiliary reinforcing piece152may each have an annular structure, and the top wall auxiliary reinforcing piece151may cover a gap between a pair of top wall connecting pieces1310of the first connecting portion131, and the bottom wall auxiliary reinforcing piece152may cover a gap between a pair of bottom wall connecting pieces1320of the second connecting portion132. The auxiliary reinforcing piece15may comprise only one of the top wall auxiliary reinforcing piece151and the bottom wall auxiliary reinforcing piece152.

FIGS.6to10illustrate a surfboard2of another example embodiment, the surfboard2also having a double-air-chamber structure. In the drawings,FIGS.7a,7b,9aand9bshow cross-sectional views of different example embodiments B1 to B4, respectively, of the section of the surfboard2taken along a line B-B.FIGS.7ato8show a surfboard having a reinforcing piece24, andFIGS.9ato10show a surfboard with a reinforcing piece24and an auxiliary reinforcing piece25. The difference between the reinforcing piece and the reinforcing piece14of the above-described example embodiment is that the reinforcing piece24of this example embodiment is substantially planar and may cover not only the partition23but also the first air chamber21of the surfboard2. The auxiliary reinforcing piece25is arranged between the reinforcing piece24and the partition23, and the auxiliary reinforcing piece25may be configured similarly to the auxiliary reinforcing piece15of the example embodiment shown inFIGS.4to5. The partition23may be analogous to the partition13, such as that shown inFIGS.7a,7b,9aand9b.

FIGS.11to15show a surfboard3of a further example embodiment, the surfboard3also having a double-air-chamber structure. In the drawings,FIGS.12a,12b,14aand14bare cross-sectional views of different example embodiments C1 to C4, respectively, of the section of the surfboard3taken along a line C-C.FIGS.12ato13show a surfboard having a reinforcing piece34, andFIGS.14ato15show a surfboard having a reinforcing piece34and an auxiliary reinforcing piece35. The difference between the reinforcing piece34and the reinforcing piece24of the above example embodiment is that the reinforcing piece34of this example embodiment is substantially planar and may cover not only the partition33and the first air chamber31, but also the second air chamber32of the surfboard3. The auxiliary reinforcing piece35is arranged between the reinforcing piece34and the partition33, and the auxiliary reinforcing piece35may be configured similarly to the auxiliary reinforcing piece15of the example shown inFIGS.4to5. The partition33may be analogous to the partition13, such as that shown inFIGS.12a,12b,14aand14b.

According to an example embodiment, one or both of the reinforcing piece and the auxiliary reinforcing piece may be suitable to be connected to another piece via high-frequency welding, hot melting or gluing. The annular reinforcing piece14, the annular auxiliary reinforcing piece15, the annular auxiliary reinforcing piece25, and the annular auxiliary reinforcing piece35, may each be connected by means of high-frequency welding, hot melting, gluing, and/or another method, and the planar reinforcing piece24and the through planar reinforcing piece34may be connected by means of gluing or another method.

A double-air chamber surfboard, including a reinforcing piece and/or an auxiliary reinforcing piece, may be manufactured as described below.

According to an example embodiment of a manufacturing method, the reinforcing piece and/or the auxiliary reinforcing piece may be connected such that at least the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are covered, thereby providing further connection between the first air chamber and the second air chamber.

As shown inFIG.1, the surfboard1may also be further provided with an anti-slip layer16which may form an outer surface of the surfboard1. The anti-slip layer16may be arranged on an outer side of the reinforcing piece14.

An example manufacturing method of the double-air-chamber surfboard may further comprise arranging one or more other safety assistance accessories, such as the anti-slip layer.

It may be understood that the example embodiments described herein may be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within each example embodiment may be considered as available for other similar features or aspects in other example embodiments.

While example embodiments have been described with reference to the figures, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope as defined by the following claims.