Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
1. Technical FIELD
This invention relates to storage racks and, more particularly, to a rack for multiple skateboards for providing users with an easy and convenient means of safekeeping their skateboards.
2. Prior ART
Skateboards have become a prevalent mode of transportation for today's youth. It is rare to find a child that has not ridden a skateboard, and most use skateboards daily. A conventional skateboard, in its typical form, includes a deck usually made from wood, and a pair of wheel assemblies located at the front and back ends of the deck. Each wheel assembly typically includes a set of trucks, which are attached to the deck, and a pair of wheels that extend from each end of the trucks. The problem with the popularity of the skateboard is that they have become coveted by thieves. Since there has been no reliable means for the users to secure their skateboards in public locations, many individuals find themselves carrying their skateboards with them wherever they go. This presents a particular problem for the schools, malls, parks and many other public establishments since these locations do not typically have an appropriate place for a skateboard to be stored. Obviously, it would be advantageous to provide a means for storing skateboards at these locations when not in use.
Accordingly, a need remains for an storage rack in order to overcome the above-noted shortcomings. The present invention satisfies such a need by providing a rack for multiple skateboards that is convenient and easy to use, is durable yet lightweight in design, is versatile in its applications, and provides an easy and convenient means of safekeeping users' skateboards when not in use.
In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an storage rack for safekeeping multiple skateboards and preventing unauthorized access to the skateboards. These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are provided by a storage rack for multiple skateboards.
The multi-skateboard storage rack may include a rigid frame adapted to be anchored to a support surface. A plurality of vertical rods may be statically connected to the frame. A plurality of horizontal peg extensions may be attached to the rods in such a manner that the peg extensions are pivotally coupled to corresponding ones of the rods respectively. A plurality of locking jaws may be pivotally connected to corresponding ones of the peg extensions such that associated pairs of the locking jaws may be selectively articulated between a closed locked position and an open unlocked position respectively. The pair of locking jaws may further be independently articulated along mutually exclusive arcuate paths oriented about the corresponding peg extensions.
A plurality of locks may be removably fastened to the associated pairs of locking jaws for prohibiting the pair of locking jaws from being articulated. The multi-skateboard storage rack may further include a plurality of non-linear guide tracks attached to the frame. Such an arrangement provides the unexpected and unpredictable advantage of securing a plurality of skateboards to the storage rack in a safe manner but is easily removed when needed by a user.
In an alternate embodiment, the multi-skateboard storage rack may include an optional flexible fenced closure formed from a mesh screen. The optional flexible fenced closure may include a guide pin statically attached to it such that the guide pin may be slidably mated to one of the guide tracks. In this way, the optional fenced closure may be selectively displaced along an outer perimeter edge of the frame and thereby covers the anterior and posterior faces of the frame. Such an arrangement provides the unexpected and unpredictable advantage of enclosing the skateboard within the optional fenced closure to prevent possible damage to the skateboards by an external element. The mesh screen also provides a protected but visible enclosure for users to easily identify their skateboards when retrieving them for use.
The frame may include first and second end support members each preferably having an arcuate top portion and a flat base portion respectively. The frame may further include a top linear member traversing the vertical rods and conjoined to the top portion of the arcuate top portions respectively. A plurality of bottom linear members may be registered orthogonal to the vertical rods and conjoined to the base portion of the first and second support members respectively.
The frame may further include a plurality of protection bars traversing the vertical rods and intermediately positioned between the top and bottom linear members respectively. In this way, the protection bars may be positioned posterior of the peg extensions for limiting access to an interior of the frame. Such an arrangement provides the unexpected and unpredictable advantage of protecting the skateboards and yet has a pleasant looking structure for the storage rack. The broader base portion may further ensure a stable platform in which the storage rack may be easily placed on a flat surface without the danger of being toppled easily by a lateral force on its sides.
Each of the locking jaws may be provided with an eyelet, such that corresponding ones of the eyelets may be selectively aligned when the locking jaw pairs are adapted to engage the skateboards. Such an arrangement provides the unexpected and unpredictable advantage of allowing users to easily use their own padlocks to secure their skateboards with the storage rack without fear of their skateboards being stolen.
The optional fenced closure may include a plurality of bell weights attached to the fence enclosure. A lock ring may be attached to one of the guide tracks. A lock bracket may be pivotally connected to the fenced closure. The lock bracket preferably has a slot removably mated with the lock bracket such that when the fence enclosure is lowered to the closed locked position, one of the locks may be detachably engaged with the lock ring for prohibiting the fence closure from being prematurely lifted to the open unlocked position. Such an arrangement provides the unexpected and unpredictable advantage of allowing the optional fenced closure to be slidably moved to an open or close position by users when storing their skateboards and closing the optional fenced closure after securing their skateboards to the storage rack respectively.
Each of the pairs of locking jaws may include a top J-hook pivotally coupled to the associated peg extensions and a bottom J-hook pivotally coupled to the associated peg extensions respectively. Further, the top and bottom J-hooks may be vertically offset such that the mutually exclusive paths are non-overlapping. Such an arrangement provides the unexpected and unpredictable advantage of easily clamping the J-hooks over the axles of the skateboard wheels on both sides of the vertical rods to prevent the skateboard from being easily removed by unauthorized persons.
The invention may further include a method of utilizing a multi-skateboard storage rack for safekeeping multiple skateboards and preventing unauthorized access to the skateboards. Such a method may include the chronological steps of: providing and anchoring a rigid frame to a support surface; providing and statically connecting a plurality of vertical rods to the frame; providing and attaching a plurality of horizontal peg extensions to the rods; pivotally coupling the peg extensions to corresponding ones of the rods respectively; providing and pivotally connecting a plurality of locking jaws to corresponding ones of the peg extensions respectively; selectively articulating associated pairs of the locking jaws between a closed locked position and an open unlocked position respectively; independently articulating the locking jaw pairs along mutually exclusive arcuate paths oriented about the corresponding peg extensions; and after the pairs of locking jaws engage a skateboard, prohibiting the pairs of locking jaws from being articulated by providing and removably fastening a plurality of locks to the associated pairs of locking jaws.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
It is noted the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
The novel features believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the figures are not intended to be drawn to any particular scale; nor are the figures intended to illustrate every embodiment of the invention. The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments depicted in the figures or the shapes, relative sizes or proportions shown in the figures.
The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiment set forth herein. Rather, this embodiment is provided so that this application will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the true scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the figures.
The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of the various embodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a complete description of all of the elements and features of storage rack and systems that utilize the structures or methods described herein. Many other embodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the disclosure. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived from the disclosure, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Additionally, the illustrations are merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions within the illustrations may be exaggerated, while other proportions may be minimized. Accordingly, the disclosure and the figures are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.
One or more embodiments of the disclosure may be referred to herein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “present invention” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any particular invention or inventive concept. Moreover, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any subsequent arrangement designed to achieve the same or similar purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all subsequent adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the description.
The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b) and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, various features may be grouped together or described in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter may be directed to less than all of the features of any of the disclosed embodiments. Thus, the following claims are incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as defining separately claimed subject matter.
The below disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments which fall within the true scope of the present invention. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present invention is to be determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description.
The storage rack of this invention is referred to generally in
Referring initially to
A plurality of locking jaws 23 may be pivotally connected to corresponding ones of the peg extensions 22 such that associated pairs of the locking jaws 23 may be selectively articulated between a closed locked position (
Referring to
The frame 20 may further include a plurality of protection bars 37 traversing the vertical rods 21 and intermediately positioned between the top and bottom linear members 35, 36 respectively. In this way, the protection bars 37 may be positioned posterior of the peg extensions 22 for limiting access to an interior of the frame 20. Such an arrangement provides the unexpected and unpredictable advantage of protecting the skateboards 11 without obstructing access to the skateboards 11 from an anterior side of the storage rack 10. The broader base portion 34 may further ensure a stable platform in which the storage rack 10 may be easily placed on a flat surface without the danger of being toppled easily by a lateral force on its sides.
As perhaps best shown in
Referring to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring to
The invention may further include a method of utilizing a multi-skateboard storage rack 10 for safekeeping multiple skateboards 11 and preventing unauthorized access to the skateboards 11. Such a method may include the chronological steps of: providing and anchoring a rigid frame 20 to a support surface; providing and statically connecting a plurality of vertical rods 21 to the frame 20; providing and attaching a plurality of horizontal peg extensions 22 to the rods 21; pivotally coupling the peg extensions 22 to corresponding ones of the rods 21 respectively; and providing and pivotally connecting a plurality of locking jaws 23 to corresponding ones of the peg extensions 22 respectively.
The method may further include the chronological steps of: selectively articulating associated pairs of the locking jaws 23 between a closed locked position and an open unlocked position respectively; independently articulating the pairs of locking jaws 23 along mutually exclusive arcuate paths 90, 91 oriented about the corresponding peg extensions 22; and after the pair of locking jaws 23 engage a skateboard 11, prohibiting the pairs of locking jaws 23 from being articulated by providing and removably fastening a plurality of locks 24 to the associated pairs of locking jaws 23.
The combination of such claimed elements provides an unpredictable and unexpected benefit of independently and simultaneously safekeeping users' skateboards in public areas. This structural configuration advantageously solves the problem of users, especially young children having to lug the skateboards wherever they go. In this way, users will to enjoy hanging out at skateboard restricted areas such as retail businesses, malls and movie theaters, confident that their skateboards are safely secured outside. Businesses in turn will benefit as skateboard enthusiasts are more apt to frequent their establishments knowing they have a convenient means of safeguarding their equipment. Additionally, skaters can use their skateboards to get to school without having to worry about getting in trouble for bringing their skateboards inside the school buildings.
While the invention has been described with respect to a certain specific embodiment, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
In particular, with respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the present invention may include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation.
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