Abstract:
A skateboard pack, for carrying an assembled skateboard and accessories, has an elongated fabric pouch sized to generally complementarily enclose a conventional skateboard and includes an inner pocket to store other skateboard accessories. The elongated pouch of the skateboard pack also has a closure for opening and closing the elongated pouch to access the interior of the pouch and an adjustable strap equipped with a quick-connect device to allow the pouch to be carried on a back of the user in a generally diagonal orientation.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This non-provisional patent application is based on and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/475,312, filed Jun. 2, 2003, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to baggage used with sports equipment, and more particularly to a pack used to transport a skateboard.  
           [0003]    Backpacks adapted for transporting a skateboard are known in the art. In particular, backpacks suitable for transporting skateboards are available from a variety of commercial sources, and are sold under brand names including “ZITTELI” and “CLIVE”. Such known skateboard backpacks resemble conventional shoulder strap type backpacks in that both the conventional backpacks and those adapted for use with a skateboard comprise two shoulder straps. Thus, a user desiring to transport his or her skateboard and ancillary supplies would typically wear the skateboard backpack in a conventional manner with an arm inserted within each shoulder strap and the skateboard typically centered between the user&#39;s shoulders.  
           [0004]    A deficiency of the prior art skateboard backpacks becomes evident when a user attempts to ride his or her bicycle while wearing the conventional two shoulder strap skateboard backpack. Specifically, given the length of the skateboard being transported, the user may find that the skateboard extends to a height which interferes with free motion of the user&#39;s head while the user is riding his or her bicycle. Alternatively, the skateboard may extend to a sufficiently low height such that the skateboard interferes with motion of a rear wheel of the bicycle.  
           [0005]    A need exists, therefore, for a new skateboard pack which allows a user to comfortably wear the skateboard pack to transport a skateboard and ancillary equipment while riding a bicycle.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    Briefly stated, the present invention comprises a skateboard pack for carrying an assembled skateboard and accessories. The skateboard pack includes an elongated fabric pouch having a top end and a bottom end sized to generally complementarily enclose a conventional skateboard. A closure allows for opening and closing the elongated pouch to access an interior of the pouch. A longitudinal strap extends between first and second points on the elongated pouch. The first and second points are selected to allow a user to carry the pouch on a back of the user in a generally diagonal orientation.  
           [0007]    In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a combination skateboard pack and skateboard. The combination includes a skateboard having a deck and two pairs of wheels rotatably secured to one side of the deck and an elongated fabric pouch having a top end and a bottom end. The skateboard is removably positioned within the pouch. A closure allows for opening and closing the elongated pouch to access an interior of the pouch. A longitudinal strap extends between first and second points of the elongated pouch. The first and second points are selected to allow a user to carry the pouch on a back of the user in a generally diagonal orientation. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings an embodiment which is presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.  
         [0009]    In the drawings:  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a skateboard pack in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a fragmented view of a side release buckle of a strap of the skateboard pack of FIG. 1;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the skateboard pack of FIG. 1 showing the pack in an opened condition to reveal a skateboard contained therein;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a partially exploded perspective view of the skateboard pack of FIG. 3;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is an enlarged upper perspective view of an inner pocket contained within the skateboard pack of FIG. 1; and  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view of a user wearing the skateboard pack of FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]    Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “right”, “left”, “lower” and “upper” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the skateboard pack and designated parts thereof. The terminology includes words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.  
         [0017]    Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to designate like components throughout the figures, there is shown in FIGS. 1-6 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a skateboard pack assembly, generally designated  10 , suitable for transporting a skateboard and ancillary equipment. The skateboard pack  10  comprises an elongated fabric pouch  12  having a top end  14  and a bottom end  16 , a closure  18  and a longitudinal strap  26  having a length extending between first and second points  26   a ,  26   b  on the elongated pouch  12 . The pouch  12  further includes an inner pocket  38 .  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 illustrates the skateboard pack  10  in a closed configuration. In a preferred embodiment, the elongated pouch  12  is dimensioned to enclose a conventional skateboard  46  (see FIG. 3) and a spare skateboard deck  48  with lengths in the range of 24 to 40 inches. The elongated pouch  12  is preferably fabricated from a durable and weather-resistant fabric such as dernier polyester using conventional sewing techniques. From this disclosure, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that other fabrics such as nylon, cotton or blends thereof could be substituted. The artisan would further recognize that the elongated pouch  12  (as well as the strap  26 ) could be provided with reflective portions (not illustrated) for high visibility in low light conditions.  
         [0019]    In the preferred embodiment, the closure  18  is a zipper. The closure  18  connects a front flap  20  and a rear flap  22  extending from a point intermediate the top end  14  and the bottom end  16  to the top end  14 . The elongated pouch  12  includes a bottom pouch  24  for receiving approximately one half the length of the skateboard  46 . The bottom pouch  24  is formed between the front and rear flaps  20 ,  22  and the bottom end  16 . One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize from this disclosure that the closure  18  could have other forms, for example, the top end  14  of the elongated pouch  12  could be open with a string or rope secured to the circumference of the top end  14  where the string or rope is adjusted to open and close the top end  14 .  
         [0020]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the strap  26  extends between a first point  26   a  and a second point  26   b  on the elongated pouch  12 . In a preferred embodiment, the strap  26  is attached at the top and bottom ends  14 ,  16  of the elongated pouch  12 , and includes a top portion  28  of the strap  26 , a bottom portion  30  of the strap  26 , a quick-connect device  32  and a shoulder pad  34 . As illustrated in FIG. 2, the quick-connect device  32  comprises a male portion  32   a  and a female portion  32   b . The male and female portions  32   a ,  32   b  are releasably connectable by flexible tongs on the male portion  32   a  which are received within the female portion  32   b . One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that other styles of buckles or some other type of attachment device could be substituted or that the buckle could be omitted without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.  
         [0021]    A first length of webbing forms a top portion  28  of the strap  26  and is attached at a first end  28   a  to the rear flap  22  at the top end  14 . The top portion  28  passes through the shoulder pad  34  and also loops through the male portion  32   a  of the quick-connect device  32 . The top portion  28  loops through the male portion  32   a  in a manner that allows the top portion  28  to be readily moved with respect to the male portion  32   a  so long as the top portion  28  is not taut and generally aligned with respect to the male portion  32   a . When the top portion  28  is taut and generally aligned with respect to the male portion  32   a , the top portion  28  tends to lock in place with respect to the male portion  32   a . Thus, the length of the strap  26  may be adjusted by repositioning the male portion  32   a  along the top portion  28 . A second free end  28   b  of the top portion  28  passes through the shoulder pad  34 . Further, a second length of webbing is attached at each opposing end to the bottom pouch  24  at the bottom end  16 , thus forming the bottom portion  30  of the strap  26 . The female portion  32   b  of the quick-connect device  32  is attached to the elongated pouch  12  by the bottom portion  30 . A third length of webbing forms a loop  36  adjacent the top portion  28  at the top end  14  of the elongated pouch  12 . The top portion  28 , bottom portion  30  and loop  36  are preferably fabricated nylon webbing, but from this disclosure the one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that other durable and weather-resistant webbing materials such as polyester could be substituted. In addition, the artisan would recognize that the strap  26  could be attached at different points on the elongated pouch  12  to maintain a diagonal orientation of the skateboard pack  10  on a user&#39;s  50  back. The artisan would further recognize that the top portion  28  and the bottom portion  30  could switch positions without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.  
         [0022]    Referring to FIG. 5, in the preferred embodiment, the inner pocket  38  is formed by a front mesh panel  40  and an intermediate rear mesh panel  42 . The front and rear mesh panels  40 ,  42  are secured together along their respective bottom edges, while opposing side edges  44  of the front and mesh panels  40 ,  42  are secured to the front flap  20 . An opening  52  is formed between the top edges  54  of the front and rear mesh panels  40 ,  42 . The inner pocket  38  is preferably sized to receive at least a second set of skateboard wheels (not shown), but can be used to store anything suitably sized, such as repair tools. The front and rear mesh panels  40 ,  42  are fabricated from a nylon material. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize from this disclosure that numerous other suitably durable mesh and non-mesh type materials, for example cotton, polyester or blends thereof, could be substituted for the mesh panels  40 ,  42 . The artisan would further recognize that a second zipper (not shown) could be provided in the front flap  20  to allow access to the inner pouch  38  without opening the primary zipper  18 .  
         [0023]    In operation, the skateboard pack&#39;s  10  zipper  18  is unzipped, allowing the front flap  20  to separate from the rear flap  22  into an open configuration as illustrated in FIGS. 3-5. When the skateboard  46  and spare skateboard deck  48  are removed from the elongated pouch  12 , as shown in FIG. 4, an inner pocket  38  attached to the front flap  20  is readily accessible. Smaller ancillary equipment, for example spare skateboard wheels (not illustrated), spare tools (not illustrated) or other sundries may be inserted within the inner pocket  38 . With the skateboard pack  10  in the open configuration, the skateboard  46  and the spare skateboard deck  48  can be disposed within the elongated pouch  12 .  
         [0024]    After closing the zipper, the user  50  preferably proceeds to place the skateboard pack assembly  10  diagonally across his or her torso, as illustrated in FIG. 6, with the strap  26  disposed diagonally across a front portion of the user&#39;s torso and the elongated pouch  12  disposed diagonally across the user&#39;s back. If needed, the user  50  may adjust the length of the strap  26  to optimize comfort. With the skateboard pack  10  thus diagonally oriented, upper and lower ends of the skateboard  46  are less likely to interfere with free movement of the user&#39;s head and the rear bicycle wheel, respectively, while the user is riding his or her bicycle (not shown).  
         [0025]    From the foregoing it can be seen that the present invention comprises a skateboard pack  10  having a single carrying strap  26  and which can be worn by a user in a diagonally-oriented manner as to improve comfort of the user as compared to known skateboard backpacks when the skateboard pack  10  is worn while riding a bicycle. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that modifications may be made to the above described embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.