Patent Application
20120267872
The instant invention disclosed herein relates to skateboards and skateboarding and is more particularly related to paddles and blades to increase safety, efficacy and mobility when operating a skateboard on the land.
From nearly the beginning of time there has been the use of a paddle that is used to propel a water vessel across water. A paddle typically consists a handle, shaft and a blade with allows a person to hold the paddle with both hands, with one hand on the top handle and the other hand towards the middle of the shaft, which provides the force to propel the water craft. The paddling motion generated with the two handed grip efficiently and forcefully, pushes the water against the blade, which then, delivers an opposite forward force, which propels the water vessel a certain direction.
Currently, there is no paddle developed for skateboard use which is known to the inventors of the presently disclosed invention. Presently, skateboards are propelled by placing one foot on the skateboard and “pushing” the board with the opposite foot, which provides acceleration of the skateboard. In order to slow down the skateboard, a rider must either drag their foot, jump off the board or create “drag” by turning.
The problem with pushing a skateboard by one's foot is three-fold. 1) Fatigue sets in quickly because of the constant pushing of one's foot and could cause loss of control, 2) throws the body out of alignment of a natural motion because of the constant pushing of one foot on the road while the other foot maintains balance on the board and 3) maintaining a secure balance with one leg being on the skateboard and the other leg being used for only ground contact.
In brief summary, this novel invention allows a user of a skateboard or user of any similar wheeled device, such as a caster board, the ability to be propelled using a two handed stroking motion of a “street paddle” applied against a ground surface. Generally, a two handed grip is the preferred user methodology, similar to the method one implements to paddle a canoe in the water.
The street paddle consists of a handgrip, shaft and a specialized blade, disposed at the bottom of the paddle. The shaft may be constructed of wood, fiberglass, aluminum or other materials, which meet weight, strength and performance objectives. On the top end of the shaft of various or adjustable lengths and grasping modes to accommodate for the height of a particular rider, positioned as a “T” grip for the hand, a handle is constructed perpendicular to the shaft, allowing for gripping and positioning for efficacious use by one of the user's hands. Disposed at the bottom or inferior end of the shaft is constructed an high friction blade that is designed to provide a contact point between the riding surface, such as riding path, street or road and the shaft. The contact point is designed to permit the street paddle to grip the road in such a fashion that the undulated contact point connects with the road in a most efficient manner as to allow the surface of the blade to maximize the ergonomic affect of one paddling on a road by both following the natural contour of the stroking motion against the road as well as provide maximum leverage against a flat surface such as a road. Additionally, the footing is fixed relative to the shaft for a more secure contact point and designed to provide shock absorption capabilities. A molded combination of polycarbonate casing fused to a molded durable rubber may be used for such purposes.
The preferred form of the blade or footing is designed to be securely affixed to the shaft. As an example, the footing preferably comprises a fixed polycarbonate exoskeleton structure to provide a strong and durable housing for the rubber molded road-gripping structure. The rubber road grip is connected via both a jigsaw puzzle type connection as well as fused bond to the exoskeleton structure. Such members are designed to provide a smooth undulating curvature allowing the stroke path to both follow both the contour of the road and the natural stroking motion of the user, securing each thrust point as the skateboard is propelled. Such members are also designed to provide a softening or dampening effect for the user to experience a smooth motion while paddling as well as an energy return effect for the user to experience added thrust as a result of the stroke. The design also allows the user to apply forces against a ground surface to slow down the velocity of the skateboard. Such members are also designed to provide a “hooking” mechanism to allow added functionality for performing advanced maneuvers such as: changing direction of momentum, board control, grabbing skate park elements and similar tricks. Hooking is accomplished by placing the Hook part of the Blade on the side of a skateboard, or similar device, as well as various surfaces and elements. The Hook element of the Blade grabs or holds the Blade firmly on to these objects. Such members are also designed to provide added dampening and energy return functionality for added comfort and assistance to the user. Added dampening and energy return is accomplished by molding dampening holes directly placed within the rubber road grip in such a fashion that when the user applies force against the ground by use of the street paddle. The dampening holes compress when force applied, which dampens the blow of the force of the road grip against the ground. Energy return is accomplished when the dampening holes are decompressing against the ground. A force is exerted against the blade as the dampening holes are decompressing, providing a spring-like motion to assist the user in propulsion.
It is therefore a primary object to provide a street paddle for use while skateboarding, which provides and alternative mode of improving stability and accelerating and decelerating and turning without relying entirely upon the action of a person's foot.
It is another object to provide a street paddle which has a high friction ground contact point which adapts to variable ground contours as well as an undulated, or wavelike, designed contact point which provides leverage and thrust throughout the entire stroking motion.
It is yet another object to provide a street paddle, which has a replaceable footing permitting a worn part to be replaced.
It is yet another object to provide a designed in “hook” to allow for the ability to perform tricks and increased exercise and balance and match skill and physical characteristics of a user.
It is another object to provide a treaded traction contact point feature on the blade. The treaded traction provides proper gripping surface area on the blade which allows the blade not to slip on the stroke path. The placement of the tread is important to prevent stroke path slippage from any angle while exerting force against the road for acceleration or deceleration. The tread must be placed in such a manner that the rider height is taken into consideration. Ideally the tread would have a vertical as well as horizontal radius to allow the blade to follow he stroke path properly. The combination of vertical and horizontal radius shape is critical to provide the user maximum grip, stability and comfort on the stroke path.
These and other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description taken with reference to accompanying drawings.
Reference is now made to the embodiments illustrated in
Shaft 20 should be sufficiently sturdy to withstand forces associated with a mature adult traveling at high velocities striking the ground to decelerate or vary direction of travel. As such, a shaft may be of wood, carbon fiber, fiberglass, polycarbonate, plastic, aluminum, or a composite material, which may be formed or molded, and generally be small enough in circumference to be grasped by a hand, but large enough to absorb such loads without breaking.
Handle 50 should be made of material, which is readily mechanically or adhesively affixed to shaft 20. Handle 50 should provide a surface, which is comfortably grasped with the users' top hand. As such Handle 50 also may be made from wood, carbon fiber, polycarbonate, rubber, plastic or composite material.
Blade casing 30 should be made of hardened material such as ballistic polycarbonate or metal which is supportive of a fused or affixed to a softer road grip 40. Blade casing 30 should have molded shaped a hook 35, which must withstand forces generated by grabbing on a solid skate park feature, curb or skateboard type of fixture.
Each road grip 40 is affixed to blade casing 30 via combination of jigsaw puzzle interlock 38 (
A combination 47 (which may be referenced as a foot or blade) of road grip 40 and blade casing 30 is affixed to the shaft 20 preferably by nuts and bolts 25 and compressed in such a manner the connection is immovable. The combination 47 of road grip 40 and Blade casing 30 should be affixed and oriented to be directly anterior to the shaft as well as perpendicular to the handle 50 for proper effectiveness while paddling.
The combination 47 of road grip 40, dampening holes 45 and undulated shape 60 provide the thrust of the invention by providing the user an even transition through the stroke for proper dampening, energy return and smoothness in stroke. As the user transitions through the beginning of the stroke the road grip 40 is at its thickest or widest point of the road grip 40 as well as the smallest hole diameter coupled with longest hole length for a firm and stable beginning of the stroke. As the user transitions from the widest portion of the undulated shape 60 to the narrower portion, the stroke transitions to a narrower part of the undulated shape 60 as well as the largest hole diameter coupled with shorted hole length for maximum energy return, dampening and feel. As the user transitions to the end of the stroke the transition returns to the widest and thickest portion of combination 47 comprises an undulated shape 60, a narrowest hole 42, and longest hole hole 44 to provide maximum support for the final push from the ground. Further the undulated shape 60 of combination 47 provides an added undulated surface 62 to both the beginning and end of the stroke to allow the user to maintain control no matter what angle is used during the user's stroke.
The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
