Land vehicles – Wheeled – Coasters
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-29
2002-12-03
Johnson, Brian L. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Coasters
Reexamination Certificate
active
06488294
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to skateboards and more particularly to a skateboard attachment for gripping shoes.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Skateboarding includes a colorful history dating back to the 1950's when the public began to equate skateboarding to the well established sport of surfing. Skateboarding was found as a substitute for surfing wherein an individual could improve balancing skills, a common element between the sports. Skateboarding was originally limited to streets and sidewalks and consisted of a board with clay wheels mounted to a bottom side. In the 1970's, urethane wheels were introduced leading to a significant improvement by providing a stronger wheel that could handle slalom and downhill skateboarding.
To accommodate the vast improvement in skateboards, skate parks were built moving the skateboarder from a horizontal plane to vertical. Trick or freestyle skateboarding developed including numerous aerial moves named after the inventor “ollies” where a rider taps on the tail of a board with one foot and sliding the other allows a rider to jump over immovable objects. Rollerblading has invaded most every skateboard park even though the sports are distinct. However, skateboarding remains safer than rollerblading and maintains a following who developed a “streetstyle” wherein technical tricks add to the enjoyment with or without the use of a skatepark.
The skateboard has evolved from a flat wood plank with clay wheels to polyurethane or wood platforms with frictionless bearings supporting polyurethane wheels.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,159,121 discloses a grip accessory for skateboards. This accessory consists of an elevated pedestal located along each end of a skateboard. The objective of the pedestal is to allow a rider to perform handstands as well as the shoes of a rider to fit under the pedestal. The pedestal is large and may act as an obstruction to the use of the board and safety of an individual. Placement of the foot beneath the pedestal inhibits quick release. Further, the size of the pedestals are so large that freestyle skateboarding is dictated by the pedestal configuration.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,172 discloses a skateboard having boots secured to the top portion of the skateboard platform. Although this attachment securely fastens a rider's feet to the platform, this attachment limits use of the board to skateboard parks where no foot push is required. The rigid attachment is also considered unacceptable should the rider fall.
Thus, what is lacking in the art is a means for securing shoes to a skateboard that does not inhibit normal use or add to the bulk of a board.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Disclosed is a skating device formed from a conventional skateboard oblong platform. The platform is supported by a pair of roller assemblies mounted proximate to a tail end section and a second pair of roller assemblies mounted proximate to a front end section of the platform. In a preferred embodiment, the skating device includes the use of a clip secured to the top surface of the platform along the tail section and the front section. The clips each include a lip or projection that allows a rider to position the sole of a shoe beneath the lip so as to secure the rider's shoe to the platform. The clip may be bolted, glued, or clamped allowing for the modification of existing skateboard to include use of the clip. Further, such installation methods can allow disassembly of the clips for use of the skateboard without the shoe locks if a single clip is desired or in need of replacement. Alternatively, the clips can be formed integral with the platform.
In an alternative embodiment, the clips can be raised for use and stored when not in use by lowering. In this embodiment, the clips can be lowered when not in use to a position flush with the upper surface of the platform. A rider can use the skateboard in its ordinary manner and then raise one or both of the clips to engage the soles of their shoes. The clips can further be removed without the need for tools.
In yet another embodiment, the clips can be formed to engage a speciality shoe wherein the clips operate in the same format as the previous embodiments, however, a modified shoe is adapted to provide superior attachment necessary for competitive freestyle boarding.
Thus, an objective of the invention is to disclose the use of hooks for securing the sole of a shoe, and thus the foot placed within the shoe, to the skateboard.
Still another objective of the invention is to disclose shoe attachments that are indiscrete and do not inhibit foot removal when necessary.
Another objective of the invention is to disclose the use of removable or retractable hooks that allow the use of a skateboard without surface protrusions.
Other objectives and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4159121 (1979-06-01), Spitzke
patent: 4886298 (1989-12-01), Shols
patent: 5484312 (1996-01-01), Zepeda
patent: 5544919 (1996-08-01), Tinkler
patent: 5641172 (1997-06-01), Hoffman et al.
patent: 5997018 (1999-12-01), Lee
patent: 6193276 (2001-02-01), Sottile et al.
patent: 6199881 (2001-03-01), Wood et al.
Johnson Brian L.
Klebe G B
McHale & Slavin
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