Freestyle Board Sports Device
A freestyle board sports device is described. More specifically, a rotatable footplate system for attachment to a freestyle board sports device, such as a skateboard with wheels, is described. The rotatable footplate system comprises a footplate assembly that is attached to the wheels of the skateboard and freely rotates in both a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction from a neutral position with respect to a vertical axis of the skateboard when a turning force is applied to the footplate assembly and/or wheels. An alignment mechanism automatically returns the footplate assembly and wheels back to the neutral position via a shortest path when no turning force is applied. A locking mechanism either allows or prevents the footplate assembly from rotating.
The invention relates to a freestyle board sports device, and more particularly to a device similar to a skateboard.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONCurrently, freestyle board- or deck-type sporting devices generally include devices such as skateboards and scooters as well as their water analogues such as surfboards, wakeboards, etc. A variety of shapes and sizes of these devices are manufactured to provide different experiences to the freestyle enthusiast. For example, different devices may have different steering, balancing and/or attachment systems to provide the user with different experiences.
Conventional freestyle skateboards typically comprise three main components: a deck, two trucks and two sets of wheels. The deck is generally symmetrical and has a rectangular or oval platform with an upturned nose and tail and a concave shape through the middle. The trucks are t-shaped axles attached to the underside of the board with a set of wheels fixed to each truck aligned on a common track. In addition to allowing the wheels to spin, the trucks give the boarders the ability to turn. The shape of the board along with the fixed wheels and trucks allows tricks to be initiated, landed and performed backwards or forwards.
Numerous modifications have been made to conventional freestyle boards. For example, US Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0327547 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,243,925 teach variations on truck assemblies. U.S. Pat. No. 7,216,876 teaches a system for powering a skateboard or the like using hydraulic fluid. US Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0042387 teaches a skateboard platform having a gripping aperture that allows a user to lift and transport the skateboard single-handedly. US Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0148063 teaches a mobile platform assembly with increased rotational movement without the use of a truck assembly. U.S. Pat. No. 7,810,825 teaches a steering and braking system for a skateboard. U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,351; GB Patent No. 2,246,076; U.S. Pat. No. 4,202,559; U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,626; U.S. Pat. No. 5,236,208 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,083,178 teach skateboards having rotatable and/or pivotable foot supports for steering the skateboard. U.S. Pat. No. 7,338,067 and US Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0104551 teach a magnetic binding and foot traction system for use in sports boards.
While each of the foregoing systems provide the user with a specific user-experience there continues to be a need for a skateboard or other freestyle board device that has increased turning ability and maneuverability to allow a user to perform a greater number of tricks on the board, while still retaining many aspects of a conventional board.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with the invention, there is provided a rotatable footplate system for attachment to a sport device having a steering assembly, the rotatable footplate system comprising a footplate assembly operatively connected to the steering assembly, wherein the footplate assembly and steering assembly freely rotate together in a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction from a neutral position with respect to a vertical axis of the sport device body when a turning force is applied to the footplate assembly; and an alignment assembly operatively connected to the footplate assembly that automatically returns the footplate assembly to the neutral position when no turning force is being applied to the footplate assembly.
In one embodiment, the rotatable footplate system further comprises a locking mechanism for preventing the footplate assembly from rotating. The locking mechanism is operable between a locked and an unlocked position based on a user's foot placement on the footplate assembly.
In a further embodiment, the locking mechanism is a magnet operatively connected to the footplate assembly and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein placement of a user's shoe containing metal on the footplate assembly moves the magnet into the unlocked position and disengages the footplate assembly from the sport device body, allowing the footplate assembly to freely rotate, and wherein upon removal of the user's shoe the magnet automatically returns to the locked position. The locking mechanism may further comprise a spring for biasing the magnet in the locked position.
In an alternate embodiment, the locking mechanism includes a compressible spring protruding from the top of the footplate assembly, wherein placement of a user's shoe in the center of the footplate assembly compresses the spring and disengages the footplate assembly from the sport device body, allowing the footplate assembly to freely rotate, and wherein removal of the user's shoe from the center of the footplate assembly allows the spring to extend, engaging the footplate assembly with the sport device body and preventing the footplate assembly from rotating.
In a further embodiment, the alignment assembly of the rotatable footplate system comprises a rotating block operatively connected to the footplate assembly and rotatable with the footplate assembly; and a biasing means operatively connected to the sport device and biased against the rotating block, wherein the biasing means automatically returns the rotating block and footplate assembly to the neutral position when no turning force is applied to the footplate assembly. In one embodiment, there is more than one neutral position and the biasing means moves the footplate assembly to a neutral position by the shortest path. In a further embodiment, the rotating block is an elliptical disk cam having two neutral positions 180 degrees apart, and wherein the biasing means is at least one spring.
In one embodiment, the biasing means is a spring having a first end pivotably connected to the rotating block at a pivot point and a second end operatively connected to the sport device, wherein the spring first end can fully rotate about the pivot point as the pivot point rotates with the rotating block.
In another embodiment, the alignment assembly comprises at least one rotatable magnet operatively connected to and rotatable with the footplate assembly; and at least one stationary magnet operatively connected to the sport device; wherein the magnetic fields of the at least one rotatable magnet and the at least one stationary magnet bias the footplate assembly into the neutral position. The at least one rotatable magnet and the at least one stationary magnet may include a plurality of magnets, creating a plurality of neutral positions for the footplate assembly.
Preferably, the sport device for the rotatable footplate system is a skateboard and the steering assembly is a truck and wheel assembly.
In one embodiment, the footplate assembly further includes a binding system for operative engagement with a user's shoe for applying the turning force to the footplate assembly through the binding system. The binding system may include a magnet for providing a magnetic connection to a user's shoe containing metal to aid the user in applying a turning force to the footplate assembly through the binding system.
The invention is described with reference to the accompanying figures in which:
With reference to the figures, a freestyle board sport device in the form of a skateboard 10 is described. The skateboard 10 includes a board deck 14, a first and second footplate 34, 36, a first and second footplate truck assembly 30, 32 located at either end of the skateboard, and two wheel sets 58 attached to each rotating footplate truck assembly. A user of the skateboard can freely rotate each footplate truck assembly and wheel set in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions with respect to a vertical axis of the board deck, independent of the other footplate truck assembly and wheel set.
Skateboard BodyThe body of the skateboard comprises the board deck 14, a first and second skid plate 16, 17, a cover 18, a first and second underplate 20, 22, and a first and second spacer 26, 28. The skateboard is generally symmetrical and can be ridden with either end facing forward.
Board DeckReferring to
The board deck is preferably made of high quality plywood or any other sufficiently rigid and strong material such as fiberglass, reinforced injection molded plastic, aluminum extrusion or aluminum die-cast, and the like.
CoverReferring to
Referring to
Referring to
The first and second rotating footplate truck assembly 30, 32 include the moving parts of the skateboard that freely rotate as one unit in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions with respect to the vertical axis of the skateboard.
Preferably, there is no endpoint to the rotation of the footplate truck assemblies. The rotating footplate truck assemblies are located at either end 14a, 14d of the skateboard. Both rotating footplate truck assemblies are substantially identical and as such any description of the first rotating footplate truck assembly 30 is to be understood as applying to the second rotating footplate truck assembly 32, unless stated otherwise.
Each rotating footplate truck assembly generally comprises a footplate 34, 36, a binding 38 having a magnet 42, an alignment mechanism having an elliptical disk cam 46, and a wheeled truck assembly 50 having a truck baseplate 52, a truck hanger 54, an axle 56 and wheel set 58. The entire footplate truck assembly rotates as one unit with respect to the skateboard, and each footplate truck assembly rotates independently of the other.
FootplatesReferring to
The footplates are substantially identical, and as such any description of the first footplate 34 is to be understood as applying to the second footplate 36, unless stated otherwise. In one embodiment of the invention, as shown in
Similar to the board deck, the footplates are made of high quality plywood or any other sufficiently rigid and strong material such as fiberglass, reinforced injection molded plastic, aluminum extrusion or aluminum die-cast, and the like. The outer edge of the footplates may be a soft resilient treaded rubber or similar, and may have compressed air or rubber foam within itself, so to deform and cushion landings on hard surfaces
BindingThe binding 38 is attached to the top of the footplate 34, 36 and secures the footplate to the rest of the rotating truck assembly via screws 38a or other suitable attachment mechanisms. In one embodiment, the binding has a protruding bar 38b with a magnet 42 underneath. The magnet is fastened via magnet fasteners 42a to the alignment mechanism 46. The bottom sole of the user's shoe (not shown) has a metal plate as well as a slot that fits over the protruding bar of the binding and interlocks. Being symmetrical, the binding connects to the user's shoe in either direction. The slot is preferably magnetic to provide a stronger connection between the metal plate in the shoe and the binding, giving the user rotational control of the whole rotating footplate truck assembly. The binding is preferably made from a combination of injection molded plastic or polyurethane and metal extrusion or die-cast.
In other embodiments, different mechanisms for interlocking the shoe with the binding are used, such as pegs on the bottom of the shoes that fit into corresponding holes on the binding. The binding may also comprise teeth at the sides of the protruding bar to provide friction between the binding and the user's shoe to keep the shoe from slipping.
In another embodiment, the binding acts as a locking device for the footplate truck assembly, allowing the footplate truck assembly to rotate when the user's shoe is engaged with the binding, and preventing the footplate truck assembly from rotating when the user's shoe is disengaged from the binding to prevent the footplate truck assembly from rotating unintentionally. This provides a safety feature for the user to prevent unintentional rotation of the footplate truck assemblies when the board's wheels hit a rock, crack, or other obstacle in the pavement.
A footplate assembly locking mechanism for the skateboard is shown in
Alternatively, referring to
Each wheeled truck assembly comprises the truck baseplate 52, the truck hanger 54, the axle 56 and the wheel set 58 which comprises a first and second wheel 58a, 58b. Preferably, the wheeled truck assembly is a conventional skateboard wheeled truck assembly 50, shown in
The alignment mechanism is operatively connected to the footplate truck assembly and causes the footplate truck assembly to return to an equilibrium position when no turning force is applied to the footplate truck assembly.
In one embodiment, shown in
The elliptical disk cam 46 and the spring 70 cause the footplate truck assembly to automatically realign in a “neutral position”, shown in
In another embodiment, shown in
Alternatively, the rotation block alignment mechanism uses two or more rotation blocks. Referring to
In a further embodiment, a magnetic alignment mechanism is used for automatically aligning the footplate truck assembly. Referring to
In further embodiments, the magnetic alignment mechanism has more than one equilibrium position. The number of equilibrium positions is based on the number of magnetic poles in the inner and outer magnetic rings.
The skateboard comprises several bearings to allow rotation and minimize friction between the moving and non-moving parts. Referring to
In operation, a user can stand on top the skateboard and propel and steer the skateboard in a conventional manner when the footplate truck assembly is in the locked position. When the user's feet are located in a specific area on the footplate, such as in engagement with the bindings, the footplate truck assemblies unlock and the user can freely rotate the footplate truck assemblies in either direction by applying a rotational force on the footplate and/or bindings. The user can simultaneously independently rotate each footplate truck assembly. This rotational control increases the skateboard's maneuverability and makes it possible for the user to perform many complex slide, grind, flip and whip rotation and combination tricks that would not be possible on a conventional skateboard. When the user removes their foot from the bindings, the footplate assembly automatically returns to an equilibrium position via the alignment mechanism, and the footplate assembly then locks to prevent the footplate assembly from rotating out of the equilibrium position. As previously described, there may be one or more equilibrium positions.
Further EmbodimentsIn further embodiments, other sizes and shapes of footplates may be used. Specifically, in a second embodiment of the invention, as shown in
In other embodiments, the footplates may not be identical and one footplate, particularly the footplate at the rear of the board, may be slightly larger than the front footplate to provide additional leverage for jumping.
The rotatable footplate truck assembly can be used for other devices, particularly human locomotion devices, such as a scooter that can be steered with rotatable footplates. They can also be modified and used for other board sports, such as wakeboards. snowboards or surfboards where the rotatable footplates manipulate sections of the board or fins instead of wheel assemblies.
Although the present invention has been described and illustrated with respect to preferred embodiments and preferred uses thereof, it is not to be so limited since modifications and changes can be made therein which are within the full, intended scope of the invention as understood by those skilled in the art.
Claims
1. A rotatable footplate system for attachment to a sport device having a steering assembly, the rotatable footplate system comprising:
- a footplate assembly operatively connected to the steering assembly, wherein the footplate assembly and steering assembly freely rotate together in a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction from a neutral position with respect to a vertical axis of the sport device body when a turning force is applied to the footplate assembly; and
- an alignment assembly operatively connected to the footplate assembly that automatically returns the footplate assembly to the neutral position when no turning force is being applied to the footplate assembly.
2. The rotatable footplate system of claim 1 further comprising a locking mechanism for preventing the footplate assembly from rotating.
3. The rotatable footplate system of claim 2 wherein the locking mechanism is operable between a locked and an unlocked position based on a user's foot placement on the footplate assembly.
4. The rotatable footplate system of claim 2 wherein the locking mechanism includes a magnet operatively connected to the footplate assembly and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein placement of a user's shoe containing metal on the footplate assembly moves the magnet into the unlocked position and disengages the footplate assembly from the sport device body, allowing the footplate assembly to freely rotate, and wherein upon removal of the user's shoe the magnet automatically returns to the locked position.
5. The rotatable footplate system of claim 4 wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a spring for biasing the magnet in the locked position.
6. The rotatable footplate system of claim 2 wherein the locking mechanism includes a compressible spring protruding from the top of the footplate assembly, wherein placement of a user's shoe in the center of the footplate assembly compresses the spring and disengages the footplate assembly from the sport device body, allowing the footplate assembly to freely rotate, and wherein removal of the user's shoe from the center of the footplate assembly allows the spring to extend, engaging the footplate assembly with the sport device body and preventing the footplate assembly from rotating.
7. The rotatable footplate system of claim 1 wherein the alignment assembly comprises:
- a rotating block operatively connected to the footplate assembly and rotatable with the footplate assembly; and
- a biasing means operatively connected to the sport device and biased against the rotating block, wherein the biasing means automatically returns the rotating block and footplate assembly to the neutral position when no turning force is applied to the footplate assembly.
8. The rotatable footplate system of claim 7 wherein there is more than one neutral position and the biasing means moves the footplate assembly to a neutral position by the shortest path.
9. The rotatable footplate system of claim 7 wherein the rotating block is an elliptical disk cam having two neutral positions 180 degrees apart, and wherein the biasing means is at least one spring.
10. The rotatable footplate system of claim 7 wherein the biasing means is a spring having a first end pivotably connected to the rotating block at a pivot point and a second end operatively connected to the sport device, wherein the spring first end can fully rotate about the pivot point as the pivot point rotates with the rotating block.
11. The rotatable footplate system of claim 1 wherein the alignment assembly comprises at least one rotatable magnet operatively connected to and rotatable with the footplate assembly; and at least one stationary magnet operatively connected to the sport device; wherein the magnetic fields of the at least one rotatable magnet and the at least one stationary magnet bias the footplate assembly into the neutral position.
12. The rotatable footplate system of claim 11 wherein the at least one rotatable magnet and the at least one stationary magnet include a plurality of magnets, creating a plurality of neutral positions for the footplate assembly.
13. The rotatable footplate system of claim 1 wherein the sport device is a skateboard and the steering assembly is a truck and wheel assembly.
14. The rotatable footplate system of claim 1 wherein the footplate assembly further includes a binding system for operative engagement with a user's shoe for applying the turning force to the footplate assembly through the binding system.
15. The rotatable footplate system of claim 14 wherein the binding system includes a magnet for providing a magnetic connection to a user's shoe containing metal to aid the user in applying a turning force to the footplate assembly through the binding system.
16. The rotatable footplate system of claim 1 further comprising:
- a locking mechanism including a magnet operatively connected to the footplate assembly and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein placement of a user's shoe containing metal on the footplate assembly moves the magnet into the unlocked position and disengages the footplate assembly from the sport device body, allowing the footplate assembly to freely rotate, and wherein upon removal of the user's shoe the magnet automatically returns to the locked position; and
- wherein the alignment assembly comprises: a rotating block operatively connected to the footplate assembly and rotatable with the footplate assembly; and a biasing means operatively connected to the sport device and biased against the rotating block, wherein the biasing means automatically returns the rotating block and footplate assembly to the neutral position when no turning force is applied to the footplate assembly.
17. The rotatable footplate system of claim 1 further comprising:
- a locking mechanism including a magnet operatively connected to the footplate assembly and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein placement of a user's shoe containing metal on the footplate assembly moves the magnet into the unlocked position and disengages the footplate assembly from the sport device body, allowing the footplate assembly to freely rotate, and wherein upon removal of the user's shoe the magnet automatically returns to the locked position; and
- wherein the alignment assembly comprises at least one rotatable magnet operatively connected to and rotatable with the footplate assembly; and at least one stationary magnet operatively connected to the sport device; wherein the magnetic fields of the at least one rotatable magnet and the at least one stationary magnet bias the footplate assembly into the neutral position.
18. The rotatable footplate system of claim 1 further comprising:
- a locking mechanism including a compressible spring protruding from the top of the footplate assembly, wherein placement of a user's shoe in the center of the footplate assembly compresses the spring and disengages the footplate assembly from the sport device body, allowing the footplate assembly to freely rotate, and wherein removal of the user's shoe from the center of the footplate assembly allows the spring to extend, engaging the footplate assembly with the sport device body and preventing the footplate assembly from rotating; and
- wherein the alignment assembly comprises: a rotating block operatively connected to the footplate assembly and rotatable with the footplate assembly; and a biasing means operatively connected to the sport device and biased against the rotating block, wherein the biasing means automatically returns the rotating block and footplate assembly to the neutral position when no turning force is applied to the footplate assembly.
19. The rotatable footplate system of claim 1 further comprising:
- a locking mechanism including a compressible spring protruding from the top of the footplate assembly, wherein placement of a user's shoe in the center of the footplate assembly compresses the spring and disengages the footplate assembly from the sport device body, allowing the footplate assembly to freely rotate, and wherein removal of the user's shoe from the center of the footplate assembly allows the spring to extend, engaging the footplate assembly with the sport device body and preventing the footplate assembly from rotating; and
- wherein the alignment assembly comprises at least one rotatable magnet operatively connected to and rotatable with the footplate assembly; and at least one stationary magnet operatively connected to the sport device; wherein the magnetic fields of the at least one rotatable magnet and the at least one stationary magnet bias the footplate assembly into the neutral position.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 27, 2013
Publication Date: Aug 27, 2015
Inventor: Benjamin Daniel Clayton (St. Albert)
Application Number: 14/429,862