GB2346561A

GB2346561A - Skateboard construction

Info

Publication number: GB2346561A
Application number: GB9903099A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yi-Ling Wen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-02-11
Filing date: 1999-02-11
Publication date: 2000-08-16
Anticipated expiration: 2019-02-11
Also published as: GB2346561B; DE29902966U1; GB9903099D0

Abstract

A skateboard has a body 50 formed with a top plate 520, a bottom plate 522 and a number of reinforcing ribs 54 arranged between the top and bottom plates. A foam material (16, Fig. 3) may be provided in the gaps between the reinforcing ribs. Strengthened frames (141, Fig. 2) may also be provided towards the centre of the board between the wheel mountings. A protective bumper 30 for a skateboard formed with spaced top and bottom plates has a tongue 33 which is insertable into the gap between the plates. A screw (36, Fig. 8) may be provided for securely mounting the bumper to the board.

Description

SKATEBOARD AND PROTECTIVE PAD FOR IT The present invention relates to a skateboard and a protective pad for it.

A first conventional skateboard in accordance with the prior art shown in Fig.

10 comprises an elongated solid body (70) made of plastic by means of an injection molding process, two support brackets (71) each secured on one of the two end portions of the elongated body (70) and each having two wheels (72) each rotatably mounted on one of the two end portions thereof. However, the solid body (70) is heavy, thereby decreasing its portability and increasing the cost of manufacturing. In addition, the solid body (70) lacks flexibility and elasticity, thereby reducing the manipulation and movement of the skateboard. Moreover, the elongated body (70) made of plastic cannot be reused when it is wom out.

A second conventional skateboard in accordance with the prior art shown in Figs. 11 and 12 comprises an elongated sheet-shaped body (80) made of an alloy, a reinforcing frame (82) secured on the bottom of the body (80), two support brackets (82) each secured to one of the two end portions of the reinforcing frame (81) and each having two wheels (84) each rotatably mounted on one of the two end portions thereof.

However, the sheet-shaped body (80) is weak and is easily deformed when hit by foreign objects.

A conventional protective pad (90) in accordance with the prior art shown in Figs. 13 and 14 is mounted to a skateboard which includes an elongated body (60) having two distal end portions (62) each including a top plate (620) and a bottom plate (622), a cavity (66) contained in the elongated body (60) and located between the top plate (620) and the bottom plate (622), and a plurality of reinforcing ribs (64) mounted in the cavity (66) and each located between the top plate (620) and the bottom plate (622) of the elongated hollow body (60). The protective pad (90) is attached to each of the two distal end portions (62) of the elongated body (60) of the skateboard and includes an upper cover (92) enclosing the top plate (620) of the elongated body (60), a lower cover (94) enclosing the bottom plate (622) of the elongated body (60), an opening (96) for receiving the top plate (620) and the bottom plate (622) therein, and a screw (98) extending through the lower cover (94) and through the bottom plate (622) of the elongated body (60), thereby securing the protective pad (90) to the elongated body (60) of the skateboard. In such a manner, the protective pad (90) is worn out during long-term utilization, thereby forming an opening (A) such that two sharp edges (B) are exposed, thereby easily injuring a user.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a skateboard comprising an elongated body including a top plate, a bottom plate and two opposite closed side plates each located between the top plate and the bottom plate, and a plurality of reinforcing ribs each longitudinally arranged in the elongated body and each supported between the top plate and the bottom plate.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a protective pad for a skateboard. The skateboard includes an elongated hollow body having two distal end portions each including a top plate and a bottom plate, a cavity contained in the elongated hollow body and located between the top plate and the bottom plate. The protective pad is mounted to each of the two distal end portions of the elongated hollow body of the skateboard and including an insert formed on the mediate portion thereof and securely received into the cavity located between the top plate and the bottom plate.

IN THE DRAWINGS : Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a skateboard in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a front plan view in partial section of the skateboard as shown in Fig.

I ; Fig. 3 is a front plan view in partial section of the skateboard as shown in Fig.

1, with a foam core material; Fig. 4 is a front plan view in partial section of the skateboard in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a protective pad for a skateboard in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 6 is a side plan cross-sectional assembly view of the protective pad with the skateboard as shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a side plan cross-sectional assembly view of the protective pad with the skateboard as shown in Fig. 1, wherein the protective pad is worn out; Fig. 8 is a side plan cross-sectional assembly view of the protective pad with the skateboard as shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 9 is a side plan cross-sectional assembly view of the protective pad with the skateboard as shown in Fig. 1 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a first conventional skateboard in accordance with the prior art; Fig. 11 is a partial top plan view of a second conventional skateboard in accordance with the prior art; and Fig. 12 is a front plan view in partial section of the skateboard as shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a conventional protective pad for a skateboard in accordance with the prior art; and Fig. 14 is a side plan cross-sectional assembly view of the conventional protective pad with the skateboard as shown in Fig. 6.

Referring now to Figs. 1-3, a skateboard in accordance with the present invention comprises an elongated hollow body (10) including a top plate (11), a bottom plate (12) and two opposite closed side plates (13) each located between the top plate (11) and the bottom plate (12), a plurality of reinforcing ribs (14) each longitudinally arranged in the elongated body (10) and each formed between the top plate (11) and the bottom plate (12), two support brackets (20) each secured on one of the two end portions of the bottom plate (12) of the elongated body (10) by means of four bolts (15) and each having two wheels (22) each rotatably mounted on one of the two end portions thereof, and two flexible protective pads (30) each secured on one of the two end portions of the elongated body (10).

The elongated body (10) further includes a support base (100) formed on the mediate portion of the top plate (11) thereof, and the skateboard further comprises two strengthened frames (141) each longitudinally arranged in the elongated body (10) adjacent to the support base (100), and each formed between the top plate (11) and the bottom plate (12). The elongated body (10), the reinforcing ribs (14) and the strengthened frames (141) are integrally made of single moldable material, such as an aluminum alloy.

The skateboard further comprises a foam core material (16) contained inside the elongated body (10) to fill the voids between the strengthened frames (141) and the reinforcing ribs (14).

In such a manner, the elongated body (10) is made hollow, thereby greatly reducing the weight thereof so as to increase its portability and to decrease the cost of fabrication. In addition, the elongated body (10) is both flexible and elastic due to its hollow design. Further, the elongated body (10) is made very strong by means of the reinforcing ribs (14) and the strengthened frames (141) such that it is not easily deformed when it hits or is hit by foreign objects. Moreover, the elongated body (10) is integrally made of an aluminum alloy such that it can be reused when being worn out.

Referring now to Fig. 4, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, each of the two opposite closed side plates (13) of the elongated hollow body (10) is made of a flexible sheet plate.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, a curved protective pad (30) made of plastic in accordance with the present invention is mounted to a skateboard made of an alloy which includes an elongated hollow body (50) having two distal end portions (52) each including a top plate (520) and a bottom plate (522), a cavity (56) contained in the elongated hollow body (50) and located between the top plate (520) and the bottom plate (522).

The Protective pad (30) is attached to each of the two distal end portions of the elongated hollow body (50) of the skateboard and includes an upper extension strip (31) formed on the top portion thereof and extending in a horizontal manner to cover the top plate (520) of the elongated hollow body (50), an insert (33) formed on the mediate portion thereof and securely received into the cavity (56) located between the top plate (520) and the bottom plate (522), and a lower extension strip (32) formed on the bottom portion thereof and extending in a horizontal manner to cover the bottom plate (522) of the elongated hollow body (50). The upper extension strip (31) contains a receiving recess (310) for securely receiving the top plate (520) of the elongated hollow body (50) therein, and the lower extension strip (32) contains a receiving recess (320) for securely receiving the bottom plate (522) of the elongated hollow body (50) therein.

The skateboard includes a plurality of upright reinforcing ribs (54) each mounted in the cavity (56) and each located between the top plate (520) and the bottom plate (522) of the elongated hollow body (50), and the protective pad (30) further contains a plurality of slits (35) defined in the insert (33) for receiving one of the corresponding reinforcing ribs (54) therein.

In such a manner, the insert (33) is directly inserted into the cavity (56) such that the protective pad (30) can be attached to the elongated body (50) of the skateboard quickly and stably, thereby facilitating a user to fit the protective pad (30) to the skateboard.

Referring to Fig. 7 with reference to Fig. 6, the protective pad (30) is worn out during long-term utilization, thereby forming a cut portion (300). However, the cut portion (300) does not contain any sharp edges due to the large area of the insert (33) such that the cut portion (300) will not injure the human body, thereby assuring the safety of the protective pad (30).

Referring now to Fig. 8, the protective pad (30) further comprises a locking screw (36) in turn extending through the lower extension strip (32) and through the bottom plate (522) of the elongated hollow body (50), thereby further securing the protective pad (30) to the elongated body (50) of the skateboard.

Referring to Fig. 9, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the protective pad (30) includes an upper lip (38) formed on the top portion thereof and abutting the top plate (520) of the elongated hollow body (50), an insert (33) directly inserted into the cavity (56) of the elongated body (50), and a lower lip (39) formed on the bottom portion thereof and abutting the bottom plate (522) of the elongated hollow body (50).

Claims

1. A skateboard comprising: an elongated body (10) including a top plate (11), a bottom plate (12) and two opposite closed side plates (13) each formed between said top plate (11) and said bottom plate (12); and a plurality of reinforcing ribs (14) each longitudinally arranged in said elongated body (10) and each formed between said top plate (11) and said bottom plate (12).

2. The skateboard in accordance with claim 1, wherein said elongated body (10) includes a support base (100) formed on the mediate portion of the top plate thereof, and said skateboard further comprises two strengthened frames (141) each longitudinally arranged in said elongated body (10) located adjacent to said support base (100), and each formed between said top plate (11) and said bottom plate (12).

3. The skateboard in accordance with claim 2, further comprising a foam core material (16) mounted inside said elongated body (10) and located between said strengthened frames (141).

4. The skateboard in accordance with claim 2, wherein said elongated body (10), said reinforcing ribs (14) and said strengthened frames (141) are integrally made of an aluminum alloy.

5. The skateboard in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a foam core material (16) mounted inside said elongated body (10) and located between said reinforcing ribs (14).

6. The skateboard in accordance with claim 1, further comprising two flexible protective pads (30) each secured on one of the two end portions of said elongated body (10).

7. A protective pad for a skateboard, said skateboard including an elongated hollow body (50) having two distal end portions (52) each including a top plate (520) and a bottom plate (522), a cavity (56) contained in said elongated hollow body (50) and located between said top plate (520) and said bottom plate (522), said protective pad (30) being mounted to each of said two distal end portions of said elongated hollow body (50) of said skateboard and including an insert (33) formed on the mediate portion thereof and securely received into said cavity (56) located between said top plate (520) and said bottom plate (522).

8. The protective pad for a skateboard in accordance with claim 7, wherein said skateboard includes a plurality of upright reinforcing ribs (54) each mounted in said cavity (56) and each located between said top plate (520) and said bottom plate (522) of said elongated hollow body (50), and said protective pad (30) further contains a plurality of slits (35) defined in said insert (33) for receiving one of said corresponding reinforcing ribs (54) therein.

9. The protective pad for a skateboard in accordance with claim 7, wherein said protective pad (30) further includes an upper extension strip (31) formed on the top portion thereof and covering said top plate (520) of said elongated hollow body (50).

10. The protective pad for a skateboard in accordance with claim 9, wherein said upper extension strip (31) contains a receiving recess (310) for receiving said top plate (520) of said elongated hollow body (50) therein.

11. The protective pad for a skateboard in accordance with claim 7, wherein said protective pad (30) further includes a lower extension strip (32) formed on the bottom portion thereof and covering said bottom plate (522) of said elongated hollow body (50).

12. The protective pad for a skateboard in accordance with claim 11, wherein said lower extension strip (32) contains a receiving recess (320) for receiving said bottom plate (522) of said elongated hollow body (50) therein.

13. The protective pad for a skateboard in accordance with claim 11, further comprising a locking screw (36) in turn extending through said lower extension strip (32) and through said bottom plate (522) of said elongated hollow body (50).

14. The protective pad for a skateboard in accordance with claim 7, wherein said protective pad (30) further includes an upper lip (38) formed on the top portion thereof and abutting said top plate (520) of said elongated hollow body (50).

15. The protective pad for a skateboard in accordance with claim 7, wherein said protective pad (30) further includes a lower lip (39) formed on the bottom portion thereof and abutting said bottom plate (522) of said elongated hollow body (50).