Patents by Inventor Mark S. Maratta

Mark S. Maratta has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20110316246
    Abstract: A sliding device for sliding on the ground down a sloped or inclined surface (grass, dirt, sand, synthetic turf, etc.) has an upper deck and a slide mechanism mounted below and in parallel with the upper deck. The slide mechanism has a slide base of an elongated planar member, side rails, and opposite radiused ends, and an endless anti-friction belt is entrained to slide around the slide base. Front and back rollers are mounted transversely on front and rear portions of the slide base, and the belt is entrained on the front and back rollers for straighter and more stable tracking and reduced friction for higher downhill sliding speeds. The device may be used for sliding down a hill like a body board, boogie board, surfboard, sled, ski, or skateboard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventor: Mark S. Maratta
  • Patent number: 8016304
    Abstract: A sliding device for sliding on the ground down a sloped or inclined surface (grass, dirt, sand, synthetic turf, etc.) has an upper deck and a slide mechanism mounted below and in parallel with the upper deck. The slide mechanism has a slide base of an elongated planar member with opposite radiused ends, and an endless anti-friction belt entrained to slide around the slide base. A pair of outboard side rails is mounted on opposite transverse sides of the slide base extending longitudinally. Each side rail has a plurality of mounting cutouts in a row spaced along the length thereof for mounting a plurality of wheels on the outboard side of the side rail for making turns. The wheels are preferably mounted with rubber inserts in the cutouts to allow for slight deflection of the wheels upward and rearward for better tracking in a turn. The device may be used for sliding down a hill like a body board, boogie board, surfboard, sled, ski, or skateboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Inventor: Mark S. Maratta
  • Publication number: 20090079150
    Abstract: A sliding device for sliding on the ground down a sloped or inclined surface (grass, dirt, sand, synthetic turf, etc.) has an upper deck and a slide mechanism mounted below and in parallel with the upper deck. The slide mechanism has a slide base of an elongated planar member with opposite radiused ends, and an endless anti-friction belt entrained to slide around the slide base. A pair of outboard side rails is mounted on opposite transverse sides of the slide base extending longitudinally. Each side rail has a plurality of mounting cutouts in a row spaced along the length thereof for mounting a plurality of wheels on the outboard side of the side rail for making turns. The wheels are preferably mounted with rubber inserts in the cutouts to allow for slight deflection of the wheels upward and rearward for better tracking in a turn. The device may be used for sliding down a hill like a body board, boogie board, surfboard, sled, ski, or skateboard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventor: Mark S. MARATTA
  • Patent number: 7458592
    Abstract: A sliding device for sliding on the ground down a sloped or inclined surface (grass, dirt, sand, synthetic turf, etc.) has an upper deck and a slide mechanism mounted below and in parallel with the upper deck. The slide mechanism has a slide base of an elongated planar member with opposite radiused ends, and an endless anti-friction belt entrained to slide around the slide base. The belt can be made of high-density plastic, rubber, or a track belt. The slide base surfaces and inner surfaces of the belt may be coated with plastic laminating material to increase slipperiness. The slide base has ends of selected radius of curvature to generate friction forces with the moving belt that provide a “speed limiting” function that slows the device from excessive speeds. In a preferred embodiment, the sliding device is shaped as a body board made of foam material having the slide mechanism recessed in a cavity formed within the bottom of the body to keep the rider's hands or feet from contacting the moving belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Inventor: Mark S. Maratta