# US 8,465,044 B2 · Sports board with an interlocking structure

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 8,465,044 B2
- Document ID: US8465044B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/692,956
- Filed: 2010-01-25
- Published: 2010-06-03
- Granted: 2013-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2006-05-02
- Assignees: Flow Sports, Inc.
- Applicants: Anthony Scaturro; Eric Luthardt; Roger Neiley
- Inventors: Anthony Scaturro; Eric Luthardt; Roger Neiley
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465044B2

## CPC

- A63C 5/03: Mono skis; Snowboards
- A63C 5/12: Making thereof; Selection of particular materials (materials for the running sole A63C5/056)
- A63C 5/126: {Structure of the core}
- B63B 32/53: Sectionalised boards, e.g. modular, dismountable or foldable boards
- A63C: SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE (water skis B63B32/00, B63B34/00)
- B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06)

## Abstract

A sports board, such as a snow board, has a board core structure that provides desired structural characteristics localized to select regions of the board while maintaining predictable produceability and optimum operating qualities of the board. In an embodiment, the sports board includes a plurality of layered elements or segments, of which certain elements or segments are joined using interlocking elements.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A sports board, comprising:
an elongated base having a top layer and a bottom layer; and
an internal layer positioned between the top layer and the bottom layer and including an interlocking structure comprising:
(a) a substantially elongated central bridge, that is a single piece, with a major axis longer than a minor axis, the central bridge oriented such that the major axis of the central bridge is aligned with a long axis of the elongated base; and
(b) four interlocking segments positioned on opposed regions of the central bridge, the interlocking segments adapted to interlock with the opposed regions of the central bridge so as to maintain the central bridge and interlocking segments in a substantially fixed orientation with respect to one another, wherein the interlocking segments and the central bridge are collectively shaped such that the resulting interlocking structure is X-shaped.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The sports board of claim 1, wherein the four interlocking segments comprises a first pair and a second pair of interlocking segments, wherein the first pair of interlocking segments are coupled to a first end of the central bridge and the second pair of interlocking segments are coupled to a second, opposed end of the central bridge.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The sports board of claim 1, wherein the central bridge is made of a first material and the interlocking segments are made of a second material.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The sports board of claim 3, wherein the central bridge is at least partially made of a woven fiberglass and the interlocking segments are at least partially made of titanium.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The sports board of claim 3, wherein the interlocking segments have tapered edges that are positioned along lateral edges of the sports board.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The sports board of claim 1, wherein the sports board is a snowboard.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The sports board of claim 6, wherein each of the interlocking segments has a tapered edge positioned at an outer edge of the snowboard.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The sports board of claim 2, wherein the top layer of the elongated base comprises a first mounting zone that receives a first boot binding and a second mounting zone that receives a second boot binding.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The sports board of claim 8, wherein the first pair of interlocking segments are positioned adjacent the first mounting zone that receives the first boot binding and the second pair of interlocking segments are positioned adjacent the second mounting zone that receives the second boot binding.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The sports board of claim 1, wherein the central bridge and the interlocking segments have scalloped edges, as viewed from a point above the central bridge, which are configured to interlock with one another.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The sports board of claim 1, wherein the central bridge comprises inserts configured to accept pins to prevent shifting or movement of the central bridge and interlocking segments with respect to one or more axes of the sports board during a curing phase of fabrication of the sports board.