Abstract:
A miniature roll-up halfpipe for use with fingerboards or miniature skateboards includes a pair of sideframes configurable in either a collapsed compact configuration or an extended open configuration. A pair of platforms join the end portions of the sideframes to form a generally rectangular structure having a pair of upwardly open curved edges. A flexible resilient sheet is received upon the supporting frame to form a curved surface of the type frequently used by skateboarder&#39;s or the like. In the closed configuration, the flexible sheet is rolled into a cylindrical shape and encloses the collapsed siderails and platform elements. A pair of generally cylindrical endcaps are received upon the opposed ends of the rolled sheet to provide closure and secure attachment thereof.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to toy skateboards and particularly to accessory stunt performing apparatus usable in conjunction therewith. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In resent years, a toy trend has emerged which is directed toward wide spread use of miniaturized toys and toy items. In accordance with this trend, practitioner&#39;s have provided miniature cars, trucks, motorcycles, scooter&#39;s, and sport apparatus such as skateboards or the like. Such miniatures are often highly detailed and precise in their replication of the corresponding full size device. Consumer&#39;s have found such highly detailed and precise miniature toys to be attractive and popular for both use as play items and for accumulating as collectibles. 
     One of the more unusual miniature toy items to emerge in great popularity in resent years is found in miniature versions of skateboards. Such miniature version skateboards are generally referred to as “fingerboards” due to the manner in which the child user plays with the miniature skateboard. In a typical play pattern, the user places a single finger or pair of fingers upon the upper surface of the fingerboard and rolls the fingerboard across various surfaces. In addition, the user&#39;s become extremely adapt at exercising various maneuvers such as jumps or spins through a manipulation of the pressure upon and force exerted against the upper surface of the fingerboard. Notsurprisingly, serious fingerboard enthusiast endeavor to mimic conventional skateboard sport and play patterns such as competitive events, stunts, tricks or the like. To perform such stunts, tricks or competitive events, practitioner&#39;s attempt to utilize apparatus which closely resembles or mimics the standard apparatus used by skateboarder&#39;s. Such stand skateboard trick and competition apparatus has been provided in a variety of shapes and configurations. For example, U.S. Pat. Des. No. 256,488 issued to Firestone sets forth a SKATEBOARD RAMP having a generally curved upwardly facing semi-cylindrical frame structure supported by a plurality of support legs. A smooth curved cylindrical surface is supported upon the interior of the supporting frame. 
     U.S. Pat. Des. No. 258,459 issued to Firestone sets forth a SKATEBOARD RAMP BOWL having a frame structure supporting an upwardly open curved recess having curved closed ends formed therein. An interior surface supported by the structure forms an upwardly open continuously curved surface suitable for use by skateboarder&#39;s. 
     U.S. Pat. Des. No. 258,460 issued to Firestone sets forth a TRAILABLE SKATEBOARD RAMP having a curved skateboard ramp structure joined to and supportable by a trailer. The support structure includes downwardly extending support legs which allow fixation of the ramp structure without removal from the supporting trailer. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,129,916 issued to Schlesinger et al sets forth an ADJUSTABLE SKATEBOARD RAMP having a support frame defining a horizontal portion and a vertical portion each of which includes extending outer members joined to form an approximate right angle. A curved ramp surface is secured to the extending members and defines a curvature in accordance with the relative extensions of the horizontal and vertical supports. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,285,514 issued to Romero sets forth a RAMP DEVICE FOR PRACTICING WHEELED SPORTS having a pair of generally planar ramp members commonly joined at a hinged junction and pivotable relative to each other to form a peak or two-sided ramp. Each of the hinged ramp portions is supported by a collapsible support structure. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,310 issued to Farnen sets forth a MODULAR HALFPIPE SKATEBOARD RAMP AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING having a collapsible ramp structure supporting a curved ramp surface formed in a modular manner to facilitate assembly of more complex ramp combinations. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,599,235 issued to Lynberg sets forth a COLLAPSIBLE SKATE RAMP utilized in providing lift for in-line skater&#39;s, skateboarder&#39;s and cyclist&#39;s. The lateral sections of the ramp are attached in a manner which facilitates easy assembly of the ramp structure. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,749,615 issued to Itson sets forth a CYCLING AND SKATING RAMP TRAILER having a pair of trailers each supporting a collapsible ramp structure and each towable by a powered vehicle. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,232,423 issued to Hajduczek sets forth an EXERCISE APPARATUS having a concaved track forming a circular segment and having a predetermined radius. A platform is movable upon the track and is configured to allow the primary axis of a user&#39;s body standing upon the movable platform to remain in a generally upright position as the user slides back and forth upon the track. 
     In a second area of the prior art generally related to the collapsible aspect of the present invention, practitioner&#39;s in the art have provided a variety of toys configurable between a container package and a useful toy. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,927,397 issued to Wilson sets forth a KNOCK DOWN ANIMAL TOY having a generally cylindrical housing and a pair of circular end caps fittable thereon. A plurality of animal appendages and body components such as head, legs and a tail are alternately securable to the cylindrical body to form a toy animal or stored within the cylindrical body. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,018,583 issued to Novoteny sets forth a TOY used in combination with a conventional beverage can. A beverage can defining a generally cylindrical shape is used to support a pair of circular end caps on each end thereof. The end caps define various apertures to which a plurality of body components and appendages such as the head, legs and tail of a horse may be secured to form a figure. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,144,751 issued to Brown sets forth a FIGURE TOY CONTAINER having a generally cylindrical body supported by a plurality of removably attached appendages. In one configuration the appendages are secured to the cylindrical body to provide a fanciful human-like figure while in a storage configuration certain appendage elements are removed from attachment to the cylindrical body and stored therein. In an alternate embodiment, a similar figure forming a four-legged animal is shown. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,660,926 issued to Lerner et al and U.S. Pat. No. 3,195,265 issued to Marquez et al set forth examples of toys formed from cylindrical elements. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 318,025 issued to Pusey sets forth an ARTIFICIAL COASTING OR SLEDDING COARSE having a pair of support towers on each end of a curved ramp operable to allow user&#39;s to slide across the ramp from tower to tower. 
     While the foregoing described prior art devices have to some extent improved the art and in some instances enjoyed commercial success, there remains nonetheless a continuing need in the art for ever more improved interesting and amusing toy apparatus. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved toy apparatus. It is more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved toy apparatus suitable for use in combination with a fingerboard or other similar apparatus such as a skating doll or the like to perform various simulated stunts and play activities. 
     In accordance with the present invention there is provided a roll-up halfpipe for miniature toy skateboard, the halfpipe comprising; a pair of sideframes each alternatively configurable in an open configuration and a collapsed configuration; a pair of platforms each having opposed ends and each being attachable to the side frames in the open configuration to support the side frames in a generally parallel relationship; a planar sheet having opposed end edges and side edges, the planar sheet being formed of a resilient material and constructed to be alternatively rolled into a generally cylindrical closed configuration and an open configuration defining an upwardly open cylindrical ramp; and a pair of endcaps receivable upon the planar sheet in the generally cylindrical closed configuration, the pair of sideframes, when in the open configuration, being constructed to cooperate with the pair of platforms to support the planar sheet in the cylindrical ramp configuration and the pair of platforms and the pair of sideframes, when in the collapsed configuration, being enclosed within the planar sheet in the closed configuration and the endcaps. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements and in which: 
     FIG. 1 sets forth a perspective view of a roll-up halfpipe for miniature toy skateboard constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 sets forth a perspective assembly of the roll-up halfpipe of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 sets forth a partial assembly view of the present invention roll-up halfpipe in its carrying or storage configuration; 
     FIG. 4 sets forth a side elevation view of a collapsible lateral support member utilized in the present invention roll-up halfpipe in its folded position having its extended position shown in dashed-line; 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 sets forth a perspective view of a miniature halfpipe constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally referenced by numeral  10 . Halfpipe  10  is fabricated of an appropriate miniature size to accommodate a fingerboard  60  constructed to replicate a conventional skateboard. Halfpipe  10  includes a pair of sideframes  11  and  12  positioned in a generally parallel arrangement. Sideframes  11  and  12  are substantially identical in fabrication and in accordance with the present invention are capable of being collapsed or folded to facilitate the compact storage configuration set forth below in FIG.  3 . 
     More specifically, sideframe  11  includes a pair of siderails  20  and  23  pivotally joined at a hinge  22 . Sideframe  11  further includes a pair of vertically extending endstands  30  and  31  each having upper ends  32  and  33  respectively. Endstand  30  is pivotally secured to the outer end of siderail  20  by a hinge  21  and is pivotable in the directions indicated by arrows  26 . Similarly, endstand  31  is pivotally secured to the outer end of siderail  23  by a hinge  24  and is pivotable in the directions indicated by arrows  25 . 
     As is better seen in FIG. 2, sideframe  12  which is substantially identical to sideframe  11  includes a pair of siderails  45  and  46  joined at a hinge  47 . By way of further correspondence, sideframe  12  includes a pair of endstands  40  and  42  pivotally secured to siderails  45  and  46  respectively by hinges  49  and  48 . Endstands  40  and  42  defines respective upper ends  41  and  43  (better seen in FIG.  2 ). 
     Halfpipe  10  further includes a pair of generally planar platforms  50  and  52  defining respective grooves  51  and  53 . By conventional attachment means (seen in FIG. 2) platform  50  is secured to ends  32  and  43  of endstands  30  and  42  while platform  52  is secured to ends  33  and  41  of endstand  31  and  40 . 
     Halfpipe  10  further includes a flexible sheet  35  preferably formed of a slightly flexible resilient material such as thin plastic or the like. The essential characteristic of sheet  35  is the possession of sufficient strength and resilience to maintain a suitable ramp surface upon halfpipe  10  while being nonetheless sufficiently flexible to be curled or rolled into the closed configuration shown in FIG.  3 . Sheet  35  defines a pair of edges  36  and  39  at opposite ends thereof and a pair of side edges  37  and  38 . Edges  36  and  39  are received within grooves  51  and  53  of platforms  50  and  52  respectively. 
     Thus, in the assembled configuration shown in FIG. 1, halfpipe  10  forms a stand alone generally rigid structure upon which the user is able to roll fingerboard  60  back and forth in the directions indicated by arrows  16  and  17  as the user places a finger  15  upon the upper surface of the fingerboard. The user then manipulates fingerboard  16  in accordance with typical skateboard maneuvers and stunts. 
     FIG. 2 sets forth a perspective assembly view of halfpipe  10  together with endcaps  61  and  62 . As described above, halfpipe  10  includes a pair of substantially identical sideframes  11  and  12  joined by a pair of platforms  50  and  52  in a snap-fit attachment. Sideframe  11  includes a pair of siderails  20  and  23  joined by a hinge  22  together with a pair of endstands  30  and  31  joined to siderails  20  and  23  by hinges  21  and  24  respectively. Endstands  30  and  31  defines respective upper ends  32  and  33 . Ends  32  and  33  are configured to snap-fit into sockets formed in platforms  50  and  52 . 
     Similarly, sideframe  12  includes a pair of siderails  45  and  46  joined by a hinge  47  together with a pair of endstands  40  and  42  pivotally secured to siderails  45  and  46  by hinges  49  and  48 . Endstands  40  and  42  define upper ends  41  and  43  configured to snap-fit attach to platforms  52  and  50  respectively. Thus, the combination of sideframes  11  and  12  together with platforms  50  and  52  provides the supporting strength for halfpipe  10  in the open or extended configurations thereof shown in FIG.  2 . 
     Halfpipe  10  further includes a resilient flexible sheet  35  preferably formed of a somewhat rigid material such as thin plastic or the like. Sheet  35  defines edges  36  and  39  at each end thereof together with side edges  37  and  38 . The material thickness selected for sheet  35  is chosen to provide sufficient rigidity to span the space between sideframes  11  and  12  to facilitate the above described fingerboard play while concurrently being sufficiently flexible to be rolled into the closed configuration shown in FIG.  3 . Endcaps  61  and  62  are utilized in combination with sheet  35  in its rolled configuration shown in FIG. 3 to provide closure of the rolled sheet structure. Sheet  35  is secured at edges  36  and  39  by grooves  51  and  53  formed in platforms  50  and  52 . With edges  36  and  39  secured to platforms  50  and  52 , the resilience and strength of sheet  35  causes sheet  35  to be pressed against the upper edges of side frames  11  and  12  which support edges  37  and  38  respectively of sheet  35 . 
     In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, halfpipe  10  may be disassembled and conveniently packed and carried in the manner shown in FIG.  3 . The disassembly of halfpipe  10  is carried forward by removing the snap-fit attachments of platforms  50  and  52  upon sideframes  11  and  12 . This releases sheet  35  and sideframes  11  and  12 . Thereafter, sideframe  11  is collapsed by pivoting siderail  23  about hinge  22  to bring siderails  20  and  23  into a parallel side-by-side arrangement such as that shown in FIG. 4 in solid-line representation. Thereafter, endstands  30  and  31  are pivoted about hinges  21  and  24  respectively in the directions indicated by arrows  26  and  25  to configure sideframe  11  in its fully collapsed position as shown in FIG. 4 in solid-line representation. Sideframe  12  is similarly collapsed by pivoting siderails  45  and  46  about hinge  47  and pivoting endstands  40  and  42  about hinges  49  and  48 . 
     At this point, the user simply rolls sheet  35  in the manner shown in FIG. 3 to form a cylindrical body and places one end thereof into either of endcaps  61  and  62 . Sideframes  11  and  12  in their collapsed position together with platforms  50  and  52  may then be placed within the interior defines by sheet  35  in its rolled configuration (seen in FIG.  3 ). The final closure is accomplished by simply utilizing the remaining one of endcaps  61  or  62  to captivate the open end of rolled sheet  35  as is also better seen in FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 3 sets forth a perspective assembly view of halfpipe  10  in its closed configuration. As can be seen, sheet  35  having edges  36  and  39  as well as side edges  37  and  38  has been rolled into a generally cylindrical configuration after which endcap  61  is secured upon edge  38 . In its rolled configuration, sheet  35  defines an interior cavity  55  within which the structural elements of halfpipe  10  such as sideframes  11  and  12  together with platforms  50  and  52  may be received. As a final step, endcap  62  is secured upon edge  37  and the end portion of rolled sheet  35  to complete closure of halfpipe  10 . The resilience of sheet  35  produces a sufficient spring force urging sheet  35  against its rolled configuration to maintain a secure attachment of endcaps  61  and  62 . In this manner, the present invention halfpipe may be conveniently carried or stored. 
     The assembly of halfpipe  10  into the open or operative configuration shown in FIG. 1 is carried forward in a generally reverse process to that described above. Thus, endcaps  61  and  62  are removed from sheet  35  and the structural components of halfpipe  10  such as sideframes  11  and  12  and platforms  50  and  52  are retrieved from the interior of sheet  35  and opened to their extended configurations shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thereafter, sheet  35  is positioned upon sideframes  11  and  12  and platforms  50  and  52  are snap-fitted to captivate sheet  35  in the manner shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 sets forth a side elevation view of sideframe  11  illustrating its collapsed configuration in solid-line representation. Sideframe  11  is also shown in dashed-line configuration in its extended configuration. In the collapsed configuration shown in FIG. 4, sideframe  11  includes siderails  20  and  23  pivoted together at hinge  22  in the directions indicated by arrows  27 . Further, endstands  30  and  31  having ends  32  and  33  are shown pivoted to their collapsed position. 
     Sideframe  11  is returned to its extended configuration by pivoting siderails  20  and  23  about hinge  22  to move siderail  23  to the dashed-line position shown. Sideframe  11  is fully extended by pivoting endstands  30  and  31  about hinges  21  and  24  in the directions indicated by arrows  28  and  29  to the fully extended positions shown in dashed-line representation. 
     It will be understood that the structure of sideframes  11  and  12  are substantially identical and thus the descriptions and figures set forth herein will be understood to apply equally well and be equally descriptive of the structure of sideframe  12 . Thus, sideframes  11  and  12  are capable of configuration in a collapsed position suitable for insertion into sheet  35  in the manner shown in FIG. 3 or to an extended configuration suitable for use as supporting structure for sheet  35  in the manner shown in FIG.  1 . 
     What has been shown is a novel roll-up halfpipe for use in combination with miniature toy skateboards or “fingerboards” which is collapsible to provide convenient storage and carrying in an extremely compact and interesting configuration. The apparatus is suitable for fabrication using conventional molded plastic elements and is relatively simple to assemble and disassemble by younger children. 
     While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.