Patent Application
20070120335
Not Applicable.
This invention relates to the field of skateboards and snow skis/snowboards, in particular, the instant invention involves a traditional skateboard that has been transformed into a skiing device that can perform skateboard maneuvers on snow.
In the area of skateboarding, skateboarders have traditionally had to turn to snowboards to have similar recreation in the snowy weather. Snowboarding, however, varies in many significant ways from skateboarding. The most obvious difference is the fact that a snowboarder's feet are bound and attached through boots to the snowboard, whereas, on a skateboard, the rider's feet are merely placed on top of the deck of the skateboard and are easily freed from the board to perform tricks and to discontinue the use of the board. Another significant difference is the feel and handling of the snowboard compared to a skateboard due to the fact that the skateboard has wheels and a truck between the deck and the ground that allows for steering and control while a snowboard's deck comes in direct contact with the ground. The locked-in feet and lack of suspension/steering ability make snowboarding a related, but different skill than skateboarding. Another feature of snowboarding and skiing is that both are edging devices. The instant invention, on the other hand, provides a turning/steering ability rather than an edging ability.
There have been devices known in the prior art that purport to combine skateboarding and snow recreation. However, none of the previous inventions have been able to offer the same suspension/steering or truck turning ability found on skateboards that are required to perform skateboard tricks. Chou in U.S. Pat. No. 6,481,725 teaches of a skateboard that attaches to one traditional ski. This invention does not have any spring suspension/steering ability, however. Differing from the instant invention, this device involves a single ski with no independent truck-turning ability. Similarly, Dotson in U.S. Pat. No. 4,116,455 involves a skateboard platform combined with removable ski shoes. No spring suspension/steering ability is included in this invention and therefore, most, if not all, skateboard tricks are not achievable on this device. This invention defines a board with only two skis, therefore there is no independent suspension and the define ski does not have the rocker provided in the instant invention.
Hirbod in U.S. Pat. No. 4,181,319 discloses a self-propelled skateboard with improved suspension capabilities. However, this invention is very complex, contains footpads and mechanisms for use with the hands. Therefore, a need exists for a simple skateboard/ski combination, without foot bindings, that can be used on snow and that has the same suspension/steering abilities that a skateboard does on pavement.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a skateboard/ski combination is described. A traditional skateboard deck has its wheels removed. The skateboard trucks remain in place, however. The four wheels on the traditional skateboard truck are replaced with four skis. The apparatus contains a spring suspension/steering system providing a neutral location of the skis at rest that rebounds to a neutral location when the skis are excited by external force.
The spring suspension/steering system includes two anchoring plates that are mounted between the underside of the skateboard deck and the trucks. The anchoring plates are hooked to a plurality of extension springs either through holes or prongs. Each ski has two extension springs connected between the ski and the anchor plate. The anchor plate helps create a tool-less ability to pre-load the skis for desired ride and functionality. The skis can be pre-loaded in either direction by disconnecting one spring per ski, be it the inboard or outboard springs, to achieve the desired performance enhancements.
The skis are composed of a base made of either plastic or metal that has a traditional ski shape, i.e., providing a ski shovel at both the front and rear ends of said base. The ski base, which has a flat or concave surface perpendicular to the length of the ski, contains a radius positioned longitudinally to the ski length (rocker) that then transitions to a small radius at the front and rear of the skis. This provides a traditional ski shovel in the front and rear of the ski base. Metal or plastic rails are mounted to the ski base on opposing sides of the base in a vertical fashion, extending below the surface of the base. The rails have a radius positioned longitudinally to the ski length (rocker) that transitions to a small radius at both the front and rear ends of the base. These rails are interchangeable to achieve different types of performance characteristics and to quickly and easily repair or replace worn or damaged rails.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the spring suspension/steering system is comprised of a torsion spring mounted inside of the vertical portion of the skateboard/ski combination in the vicinity of the hole of the axle. The torsion springs act against the axle and the ski base to provide a neutral suspended location and spring tension when he ski is rotated about the axle in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.
Another alternative embodiment of the invention involves the addition of a multi-purpose leash and cuff assembly that attaches the board to the rider that is added for safety and utility.
The principal object of the invention is to replace the wheels on a traditional skateboard with skis. This allows the skateboard rider to ride on snow with the same agility as the traditional wheeled skateboard on pavement. The rider will be able to perform all the same tricks and maneuvers as on a non-snowy surface. Skateboarders, snowboarders and anyone interesting in trying new sports will find this invention useful.
For a better understanding of the invention, we turn now to the drawings.
The spring suspension/steering system 14 includes two anchoring plates 15 that are mounted between the underside of the skateboard deck 10 and the trucks 12. The anchoring plates 15 are hooked to a plurality of extension springs 16 either through holes or prongs (not shown). Each ski 11 has two extension springs 16 connected between the ski 11 and the anchoring plate 15.
The skis 11 are composed of a base 17 made of either plastic or metal that has a traditional ski shape, i.e., providing a ski shovel at both the front and rear ends of the base 17. The ski base 17, which has a flat or concave surface perpendicular to the length of the ski 11, contains a radius positioned longitudinally to the ski length (rocker) that then transitions to a small radius at the front and rear of the skis 11. This provides a traditional ski shovel in the front and rear of the ski base 17. Metal or plastic rails 18 are mounted to the ski base 17 on opposing sides of the base in a vertical fashion, extending below the surface of the base 17. The rails 18 have a radius positioned longitudinally to the ski length (rocker) that transitions to a small radius at both the front and rear ends of the base 17. These rails are interchangeable to achieve different types of performance characteristics and to quickly and easily repair or replace worn or damaged rails.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the spring suspension/steering system is comprised of a torsion spring (not shown) mounted inside of the vertical portion 13 of the skateboard/ski combination in the vicinity of the hole of the axle 13. The torsion springs act against the axle 13 and the ski base 17 to provide a neutral suspended location of the skis and spring tension when the ski 11 is rotated about the axle 13 in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.
The illustrations and examples, provided herein explanatory purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims, as those skilled in the art will make modifications to the invention for particular uses.
