Modifiable Skateboard

Abstract

This invention is directed to a modifiable skateboard comprising: a deck; a first set of mounting slots defined in the bottom of the deck for receiving attachments arranged orthogonally to the long axis of the deck; a second set of mounting slots defined in the bottom of the deck for receiving attachments arranged parallel to the long axis of the deck; a first accessory having a first attachment that is removably received in one of the slots at one end of the deck; and, a second accessory having a second attachment that is removably received in the opposite end of the deck.

Description

1) FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to a skateboard and more particularly to a skateboard that is easily modifiable with interchangeable accessories.

2) DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Skateboards are well known and are believed to have been invented in the 1950s gaining widespread popularity in the 1960s. The components of a typical skateboard include the deck which supports the rider and generally is the main component which other accessories attach. Trucks, which connect to the deck, include an axle for attaching wheels. Wheels of different types are available based on the type of skateboarding that the rider engages in. Bearings allow the wheels to rotate around the axles. Grip tape which is attached to the top surface of the skateboard provides a non-slip surface and significantly increases the friction on the top of the deck. Risers can also be included which elevate the deck off the ground higher than with the trucks alone. Typically, the trucks are screwed into the deck requiring holes and prevent the trucks, and therefore, the wheel positions from being easily changed.

Traditionally, skateboards contain a forward and rear truck each having an axle and two wheels connected to each truck. Attempts have been made to alter this traditional configuration such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,984,328 and 6,428,022 which disclose a two-wheeled skateboard with the wheel aligned in a linear configuration along the center axis of the deck. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 6,270,096 discloses a skateboard with wheels arranged in a linear fashion with each truck having multiple wheels in a linear arrangement.

Further, attempts have been made to make the wheels removable so that the wheels can be interchanged. United States Patent application 2006/0131826 discloses removable wheels so that the wheels are interchangeable. United States Patent application 2007/0035100 discloses a removable wheel hub, but uses a fixed mount that is screwed into the deck. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,299 allows for two or three wheels to be attached to a mounting rail, however, the mounting rail is affixed to the deck, thereby preventing the position of the wheels to be easily modified.

Since the Ollie was invented around 1978, riders have been trying to find ways to customize skateboards and begin using these items as articles of expression. For example. U.S. Pat. No. 4,159,121 discloses hand or foot holds that can be attached to the deck using screws. U.S. Pat. No. 7,118,117 is directed to a tension strap that attaches to the deck and a belt worn by the user so that the skateboard is held to the feet of the user for performing tricks. U.S. Pat. No. 4,896,893 discloses runners attached where wheels would normally be, so that the skateboard is adapted to be used on an ice surface. United States Patent Application 2010/0276912 discloses a “leash” that is an aftermarket accessory that wraps around a skateboard and allows the rider to pull the leash to keep the skateboard on the feet of the rider during stunts such as jumping and Ollie's. U.S. Pat. No. 4,055,234 discloses a brake system that can be used with a skateboard. U.S. Pat. No. 4,289,325 discloses a forward extension unit that is held in the hand of the rider, connects to the front of a skateboard and allows the rider to enhance the control of the skateboard when riding. U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,827 discloses a bridle that the rider pulls when jumping so that the skateboard can be held securely to the rider's feet even when airborne.

Other examples of accessories for skateboards have been attempted such as United States Patent application 2003/0075890 which includes metal plates attached to the deck so that when in cooperation with magnets imbedded in the rider's shoes, they enhance the ability of the rider to keep the skateboard in contact with his or her shoes when jumping or performing other airborne maneuvers. U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,438 discloses a skateboard with magnets on the top of the deck and in the rider's shoes so that the rider can more easily secure the skateboard to his shoes when riding.

It is an object of this invention to provide a skateboard accessory system that provides for easy modifications to the deck of a skateboard for interchangeable trucks and wheels in many configurations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objectives of this invention are accomplished by providing a system for providing a modifiable skateboard comprising: a deck; a plurality of mounting slots defined in the bottom of the deck for receiving attachments; a plurality of detent indentions defined in the mounting slots operatively associated with attachments, thereby securing accessories to the underside of the deck; an accessory having an attachment member that can be received in the mounting slot accessories to be attached to and arranged in multiple configurations to the deck. The invention can also include accessories selected from the group of trucks with wheels, single wheels, ice blade, pivots and the like. The invention can include an opening defined in the deck for receiving a wheel; and, a wheel carried by the mounting rails so that a portion of the wheel protrudes above the deck and a portion of the wheel protrudes below the deck.

The invention can also include a recess refined in the top of the deck; a tether attached to the deck at a point within the recess; a handle attached to the tether that can be received by the recess when the handle is not in use and can be extended to the length of the tether when the rider wishes to use the handle to perform tricks.

The invention can also include a magnetic plate carried by the top of the deck; a shoe for being worn by a rider that includes a ferrous metal carried by the soles of the shoes that, when in contact with the magnetic plate, secures the shoes to the deck. The soles of the shoes can also include ferrous material integrated into the material of the sole integrated at the time of manufacturing such as metal filings added to the polymer used to manufacture the shoe. The magnet can be an electromagnet in electronic communication with a controller and actuation button so that when the actuation button is depressed, the electromagnet energizes securing the shoes to the deck. In one embodiment, the activation button is in wireless communications with the controller.

The invention can also include a clip attached to the top of the deck; an opening defined in a rider's shoe that is operably arranged to receive the clip when the shoe slides against the clip securing the shoe to the deck.

Further, the invention can include a first material having a higher rigidity than a second area wherein the first area is located at the joint between a flat portion of the deck and an upward angled portion of the deck creating a flexing area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The construction designed to carry out the invention will hereinafter be described, together with other features thereof. The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

FIGS. 1A through 1C include several views of components of the invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are bottom views of aspects of the invention;

FIGS. 2C through 2F include several views of aspects of the invention;

FIGS. 3A through 3D include several top views and a side view of aspects of the invention;

FIG. 3E is a side view of aspects of the invention;

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of aspects of the invention;

FIGS. 4B through 4C include several views of accessories;

FIG. 4D is a side view of aspects of the invention;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are top views of the invention;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are a top view of the invention and the bottom view of shoes cooperatively associated with components of the invention;

FIG. 7A is a bottom view of aspects of the invention;

FIGS. 7B through 7D are perspective views of the invention;

FIG. 7E is a top vide of aspects of the invention;

FIGS. 8A through 8C are perspective views of the invention;

FIGS. 9A though 9C are cross sectional views the invention; and,

FIG. 10 is a side view of aspects of the invention.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that one or more aspects of this invention can meet certain objectives, while one or more other aspects can meet certain other objectives. Each objective may not apply equally, in all its respects, to every aspect of this invention. As such, the preceding objects can be viewed in the alternative with respect to any one aspect of this invention. These and other objects and features of the invention will become more fully apparent when the following detailed description is read in conjunction with the accompanying figures and examples. However, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of the invention and the following detailed description are of a preferred embodiment and not restrictive of the invention or other alternate embodiments of the invention. In particular, while the invention is described herein with reference to a number of specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that the description is illustrative of the invention and is not constructed as limiting of the invention. Various modifications and applications may occur to those who are skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention, as described by the appended claims. Likewise, other objects, features, benefits and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from this summary and certain embodiments described below, and will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such objects, features, benefits and advantages will be apparent from the above in conjunction with the accompanying examples, data, figures and all reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom, alone or with consideration of the references incorporated herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the drawings, the invention will now be described in more detail. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which the presently disclosed subject matter belongs. Although any methods, devices, and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the presently disclosed subject matter, representative methods, devices, and materials are herein described.

This invention is directed to a skateboard that is adapted to be easily modified into a plurality of configurations without the need to alter the physical characteristics of the skateboard itself.

Referring to FIGS. 1A through 1C, a skateboard 10 is shown having mounting slots 12a and 12b defined along the underside of the deck of the skateboard aligned along the long axis of the skateboard. The mounting slots are adapted to receive attachment 14. Securing member 16 uses tension between the mounting slots and the attachment to secure the attachment in place with the slot. Other securing means include detent 18, clip 20, and the like. Under these securing arrangements, an indent or similar configuration exists in the mounting slot to engage with the detent or clip of the like.

Referring to FIGS. 2A through 2F, clip indent 22 receives the clip on the attachment so that the attachment will be secured to one of the various indents. When a detent system is employed, indents 24 receive the detent 18 and secure the attachment to one of a plurality of positions.

Through using the mounting slots and attachments, a variety of accessories can be arranged in a variety of configurations. For example, the traditional truck 26 having wheels 28a and 28b can have an attachment 30 connected to the truck. It should be noted that when the attachment is received in the mounting slot, the attachment secures the truck to the deck without having to screw or otherwise physically modify the deck to secure the truck. The truck can easily be added, removed or positioned along the rails to provide for a variety of configurations. Other accessories can include a single wheel 32 that pivots in a direction shown as 34, an ice blade 36 for use on ice and a pivot member 38 for attachment to the front or rear of the skateboard to allow the rider to kick up on one end and pivot in a circular motion.

Referring to FIGS. 3A through 3E, several of the potential configurations are illustrated. In arrangement shown as 40, single wheel 32 is placed at one end of the board with truck 26, and its wheels, are attached at the other end of the deck. In arrangement 42, single wheels 32 are placed on both sides of the deck. In arrangement 44, two trucks can be attached to the ends of the deck to resemble a more typical skateboard configuration. In arrangement 46, two trucks can be placed at the ends with a single wheel placed in the center of the deck. With mounting rails 12a through 12c, the number configurations can be vast. Arrangement 48 shows three single wheels attached to the deck, however, a center single wheel 32a, has a larger diameter than that of the single wheels 32 placed at the ends.

Referring to FIGS. 4A through 4D, an example is shown as arrangement 50 having a deck with an opening 52 approximately in the center of the deck. A single wheel 54 having a larger diameter than that so that when attached to the deck, the wheel extends both above and below the deck through opening 52. Further, pivot members 38 can be attached to the mounting slots at the ends when a rider is learning how to ride a deck with the single center wheel. Once a certain proficiency is obtained, the pivots can be easily removed without leaving holes where former screws would be placed for a traditional deck's accessory attachments.

Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the deck can also include on the top portion a recessed handle 56 recessed into top opening 58. Tether 60 attached to the handle and the deck so that when the handle is pulled upwards away from the deck, the rider can use the handle and tether to hold the deck to the feet of the rider to facilitate moves with the skateboard such as jumping. The tether can be elastic with a predetermined extension length. The tether can also spool around a retractor which will allow the tether to deploy when pulled and retract back into the recess when the rider releases the handle.

Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, an embodiment allowing the rider to stay secured to the deck is shown. Shoes 62 include a metal plate attached to or imbedded in the soles of the shoes. The deck includes magnetic plates 64 attached to the top or embedded in the deck. In one embodiment, the magnets are electromagnets having a controller 66 and actuating button 68. When button 68 is pressed, the electromagnets energize through the controller will hold the rider's shoes to the deck. In one embodiment, the actuating button is in wireless communications with the controller and an activation signal is transmitted from the activating button assembly 70 to antenna 72 resulting in the electromagnets energizing.

Referring to FIG. 7A through 7E, another embodiment for securing a rider to the deck of the skateboard is shown. This embodiment includes the cooperation between a particular rider's shoes and attachments to the deck of a skateboard. Shoe 72 includes an opening 74 adapted to receive a deck clip 76 that can be attached to the top of the deck. When in use, the rider can slide the edge of the shoe toward the clip, engage the clip and secure the shoe to the deck. This allows the rider to perform jumps and other actions with the deck with the shoe attached to the deck. When the shoe slides away from the clip, the shoes are released from the skateboard.

Referring to FIG. 8A, another embodiment of the invention is shown. In this a first flexible portion 80 is shown generally in the center portion of the deck having a specific rigidity. A second portion of the deck 82 is attached to the first portion of the deck having a rigidity that is more flexible than that of portion 80, allowing the ends of the deck to flex. A third portion 84 is connected to the second portion having a rigidity greater than that of the center portion to provide additional strength to the ends of the deck. Referring to FIG. 8B, one embodiment of the invention is shown with a the end 84a attached to the board through spring 90. This provides for the ends of the board to spring. Referring to FIG. 8C, end portion 84a is connected to the board through coupling 92a and 92b. The coupling can be rigid or flexible. Further, the end portions can be slidably attached to the board allowing for the length of the board to be modified by extending and retracting the end portions.

Referring to FIG. 9A, a cross section layer is shown at the slot level of the board. The slots can be orthogonal to the long axis of the board allowing the attachments to “slide in sideways”. Slots can also be orientated length wise and width wise forming an intersecting pattern as shown in FIG. 9B. The attachments can include pegs that can be received in opening 95 defined in the bottom of the board as shown in FIG. 9C. The attachments can be attached through friction fit, pressure fit, a detent or other securing assembly. The opening can be threaded to match threads included on the attachments securing the attachment to the board. In one embodiment, Pegs or posts are attached to the underside of the board and are received in openings defined in the attachments.

Referring to FIG. 10, a shaft 96 with a handle 98 can be attached to the board to form a “scooter”. Lights 94 can be mounted to the board either directly on the board or through the various attachment methods discussed herein. In one embodiment, the bottom surface of the board includes a reflective material enhancing the effect of the lights. One embodiment, the wheels attached to the board are of a caster type wheel.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A modular modifiable skateboard system comprising: a deck;a first set of mounting slots defined in the bottom of the deck;a second set of mounting slots defined in the bottom of the deck arranged parallel to the long axis of the deck;a set of accessories that are configured to be removably attached to deck;a first accessory taken from the set of accessories having a first attachment that is removably received in the mounting slots at one end of the deck;a second accessory taken from the set of accessories having a second attachment that is removably received in the mounting slots at the opposite end of the deck;a shaft removably attached vertically to the deck of the skateboard;a handle attached to the shaft at an end opposite the deck and orthogonal to the shaft;powered lights attached to the bottom of the deck for projecting light from underneath the deck;a reflective surface included on the bottom of the deck for reflecting light from underneath the deck;a first end attached to the deck by an extendable coupling to allow for the length of the skateboard to vary;a second end attached to the deck by a spring allowing for the end to flex in relation to the deck;a recess defined in the top of the deck;a tether attached to the deck at a tether distal end;a handle attached to the tether at a tether proximal end that can be received by the recess when the handle is not in use and can be extended to the length of the tether when the rider wishes to use the handle to lift the deck skateboard off the ground; and,a clip attached to the top of the deck for being inserted into an opening defined in a rider's shoe arranged to receive the clip when the shoe slides against the clip thereby securing the shoe to the deck.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first accessory includes a truck attached to a wheel.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the second accessory includes a truck attached to a wheel.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the wheel of the second accessory has a different diameter that of the wheel of the first accessory.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the first accessory includes a truck attached to an ice blade.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the first accessory includes a truck attached to a stop.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the first accessory includes a truck attached to a pivot.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the first accessory includes a truck attached to a light.

9. The system of claim 1 including an opening defined in the center portion of the deck for receiving a center wheel removably received in one of the mounting slots and disposed generally in the center of the deck so that a portion of the center wheel protrudes above the deck.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the tether retracts into the deck when not in use.

11. A modular modifiable skateboard system comprising: a deck;a first set of mounting slots defined in the bottom of the deck and extending from one end of the deck to the opposite end of the deck along a long axis of the deck;a set of accessories that can be removably attached to the deck;a first accessory taken from the set of accessories having a first attachment that is removably received in the mounting slots at one end of the deck; and,a second accessory taken from the set of accessories having a second attachment that is removably received in the mounting slots at the opposite end of the deck.

12. The system of claim 11 including an opening defined in the center portion of the deck for receiving a center wheel removably received in the mounting slots and disposed generally in the center of the deck so that a portion of the center wheel protrudes above the deck.

13. The system of claim 11 including a shaft attached vertically to the deck.

14. The system of claim 13 including a handle attached to the shaft at an end opposite the deck and generally orthogonal to the shaft.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the shaft is removeably attached to the deck.

16. The system of claim 11 including: a recess defined in the top of the deck;a tether attached to the deck at a tether distal end; and,a handle attached to the tether at a tether proximal end that can be received by the recess when the handle is not in use and can be extended to the length of the tether when the rider wishes to use the handle to lift the skateboard off the ground.

17. A modular modifiable skateboard system comprising: a deck;a first set of mounting slots defined in the bottom of the deck;a set of accessories that can be removably attached to the deck;a first accessory taken from the set of accessories having a first attachment that is removably received in one of the mounting slots at one end of the deck;a second accessory taken from the set of accessories having a second attachment that is removably received in one of the mounting slots at the opposite end of the deck;a recess defined in the top of the deck;a tether attached to the deck at a tether distal end; and,a handle attached to the tether at a tether proximal end that can be received by the recess when the handle is not in use and can be extended to the length of the tether when the rider wishes to use the handle to lift the skateboard off the ground.

18. The system of claim 17 including a clip attached to the top of the deck for being inserted into an opening defined in a rider's shoe arranged to receive the clip when the shoe slides against the clip thereby securing the shoe to the deck.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the first accessory includes a truck and an attachment selected from the group consisting of a: wheel, ice blade, pivot, stop and light.

20. The system of claim 17 including an opening defined in the center portion of the deck for receiving a center wheel removably received in the mounting slots and disposed generally in the center of the deck so that a portion of the center wheel protrudes above the deck.