Land vehicles – Wheeled – Coasters
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-24
2001-03-27
Johnson, Brian L. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Coasters
Reexamination Certificate
active
06206389
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to skateboards and more particularly to skateboards having snowboard-like maneuverability.
2. Description of the Related Arts
A truly remarkable sport has evolved through the years in the form of the modern day skateboard. It is an outgrowth of earlier scooter designs employing a single roller skate divided into fore and aft parts secured to a horizontal board with the vertical T shaped handle at the front. The evolution including the elimination of the T shaped handle and the use of more sophisticated truck assemblies has produced an athletic device which allow young children and adults to develop amazing skills in the ability to travel along a straight course at high rates of speed, to perform maneuvers including hand stands, 360 degree turns, and to compete in slalom course races and many other endeavors.
In recent times, adolescents have rekindled the sport of skateboards. Sanctioned competitions with valuable prizes and awards have made skateboarding a professional sport and have aided the resurgence of interest in skateboards. However, skateboards and their basic designs have remained relatively unchanged through the changing times.
A recent craze that has captured the hearts of adolescents has been the sport of snow boarding. With snow boarding, the learning curve is less demanding than skiing. A new snow boarder typically learns to surf down the mountain in just a couple of lessons. Snowboarding is also gaining popularity because snow boarders enjoy a sense of freedom unmatched by skiing. Snow boarders are essentially surfers surfing on snow. One drawback with snowboarding is that snowboarding requires a ski area with mountains and snow. Thus, it is limited to winter season. Moreover, traveling to a ski area is expensive and can consume a lot of travel time often requiring someone with a driver's license and vehicle.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a surfable skateboard that mimics the sensations of snowboarding and overcomes the drawbacks and limitations of snowboarding.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a surfable skateboard that enables the user to experience the sensation of surfing and to perform maneuvers which cannot be presently achieved with current skateboard designs. The surfable skateboard is based on mounting caster wheel assemblies on the rear wheels of a skateboard that allow the rear wheels to swivel. Thus, according to one aspect of the invention, a surfable skateboard comprises a deck having a tail end and a nose end, a pair of front wheel assemblies each mounted to an underside of the deck near the nose end, and a pair of rear caster assemblies each having limited swivel configured to swivelly mount to the underside of the deck near the tail end.
According to another aspect of the invention, the surfable skateboard includes a first channel assembly pivotly attached to the underside of the deck near the nose end wherein the pair of front wheels assemblies mounts to the first channel assembly, and a second channel assembly pivotly attached to the underside of the deck near the tail end wherein the pair of rear caster assemblies swivelly mounts to the second channel assembly. A first U-section mounted to the underside of the deck near the nose end is configured to pivotly attach the first channel assembly. A second U-section mounted to the underside of the deck near the tail end is configured to pivotly attach to the second channel assembly. The pivotly attached first channel assembly and the second channel assembly affords a rider of the surfable skateboard the ability to lean into a turn making the surfable skateboard more stable through the turn. Furthermore, the leaning effect of the surfable skateboard gives the user a carving sensation similar to those experienced while snowboarding.
According to another aspect of the invention, the surfable skateboard includes at least two lean pads attached to an upper surface of the first channel assembly and the second channel assembly configured to pivotly regulate movement of the first channel assembly and the second channel assembly. The lean pads limit the amount of lean that the deck of the surfable skateboard can pivot.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, each rear caster assembly includes a protruding limiting tang, and the second channel assembly includes cutout slots configured to receive the protruding limiting tangs for limiting swivel movement of each rear caster assembly. In the present invention, the limiting swivel movement includes forty-five degrees in either direction. Limiting the swivel movement enables better maneuverability. Of course depending on the particular application more or less swivel movement is desirable.
According to another aspect of the invention, each rear caster assembly includes a cutout and the second channel assembly includes two threaded locking screws configured to protrude into the cutout of each rear caster assembly to lock swivel movement of the rear caster assemblies. A brake pad is attached to the underside of the deck near the tail end. The brake pad aides in the user in performing maneuvers as well as braking the surfable skateboard.
A surfable skateboard is provided whereby the rear caster wheels swivel to provide more maneuverability and to mimic the surfing-like sensation experienced by a rider of a snowboard. Furthermore, pivoting front and rear wheel assemblies afford the rider to lean into turns for more balance and accentuates the surfing-like sensation of carving similar to those experienced in snowboarding. Other aspects and advantages of the present invention can be seen upon review of the figures, the detailed description, and the claims which follow.
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patent: 5947495 (1999-09-01), Null et al.
patent: 5984328 (1999-11-01), Tipton
patent: 5992865 (1999-11-01), Vargas
Fischmann Bryan
Hopen Daniel
Johnson Brian L.
Peninsula Law Group
Yagi George
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