Abstract:
A skateboard rail which is composed of a plurality of members which are to be connected together in an end-to-end relationship. The members are capable of being pivoted relative to each other. The members are capable of being stacked vertically and also are connectable together side-by-side to form an expanded horizontal rail.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The subject matter of this invention relates to a skateboard rail which is to be utilized in the sport of skateboarding where a skateboarder can maneuver the skateboard up off a supporting surface onto the rail and slide along the rail. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Skateboarders maneuver skateboards in a variety of ways and not necessarily on a supporting surface, such as a flat cement or asphalt surface or a half-round tube. Proficient skateboarders are capable of hopping off of a supporting surface onto a handrail located next to a series of steps and slide down the handrail. This proficiency has led to the development of a skateboard rail. 
   A prior art skateboard rail typically is constructed of a rail member which is designed to be placed in conjunction with a supporting surface. The rail member is a single elongated member that may be five or seven feet in length and it sticks up from the supporting surface generally no more than about one to two feet. It would be desirable to improve on the prior art form of skateboard rail so that the skateboard rail can be made to be substantially longer in length, higher, wider and can be contorted into different directions rather than just being in a single direction. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A first basic embodiment of skateboard rail of this invention which is composed of a plurality of members which are connected together by a connecting means in an end-to-end relationship where each member of the members is elongated having a longitudinal axis. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by having each member movable relative to a member to which it is connected. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by each member having a top surface and a bottom surface which are connected together by sides so that the skateboard rail in transverse cross-section has a general rectangular configuration. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention is where the just previous embodiment is modified by the members also being connected together side-to-side by side connection means. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention is where the just previous embodiment is modified by the side connection means being defined as a dovetail slot assembly. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention is where a previous embodiment is modified by the top surface including an elongated channel which is adapted to be connected to a leg of a separate table which can be utilized in conjunction with the skateboard rail of the present invention. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention is where a previous embodiment is modified by the bottom surface being defined as being an elongated deep cavity that permits insertion of a top surface of another member in an interlocked relationship to form a stack of the members. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention is where the just previous embodiment is modified by when the members are in the stack the members are longitudinally locked together by a plurality of projections that engage with a plurality of cavities which prevent longitudinal relative movement between the members. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by there being included a connector composed of a pair of elements which are pivotally connected together at a pivot axis, this connector is to be connected in an end-to-end relationship to the connecting means of the skateboard rail. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by defining that the connecting means comprises a pin and hole connection. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention is where a previous embodiment is modified by the pivot axis being located transverse to the longitudinal axis. 
   A second basic embodiment of the present invention relates to a skateboard rail segment which is defined as an elongated member having a top surface and a bottom surface which are connected together by opposing sides. The elongated member terminates in a pair of ends defined as a front end and a rear end with the front end having a first connecting means and the rear end having a second connecting means. The bottom surface of the elongated member is to be placed on a supporting surface so a skateboarder can hop onto that elongated surface and slide by a skateboard along the top surface. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention is where the second basic embodiment is modified by there being included an elongated shallow channel within the top surface. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention is where the second basic embodiment is modified by there being included an elongated deep cavity within the bottom surface. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention is where the second basic embodiment is modified by each of the sides having a means for interlocking with another elongated member. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention is where the just previous embodiment is modified by the means for interlocking being defined as a dovetail slot assembly. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention is where the second basic embodiment is modified by the elongated shallow channel being defined as having a first engagement means and the elongated deep cavity being defined as a second engagement means where the second engagement means and the first engagement means are connectable together when a pair of the elongated members are located in a stacked relationship. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention is where the just previous embodiment is modified by defining the first engagement means as comprising a plurality of spaced apart cavities. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention is where the just previous basic embodiment is modified by the second engagement means comprising a plurality of spaced apart projections which are adapted to interlock with the cavities. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention is where the second basic embodiment is modified by the bottom surface being defined as being wider than the top surface. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention is where the second basic embodiment is modified by there being included a protective cover attachable onto the elongated member covering the top surface. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention is where the just previous embodiment is modified by the protective cover being defined as including coping bumps at each side of the cover. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention is where the second basic embodiment is modified by the bottom surface including a series of sawteeth to provide a roughened surface which can be used to prevent slippage of the elongated member when placed against a supporting surface. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is to be made to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the precise arrangement shown in the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is an exterior isometric view of the elongated member of the skateboard rail of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the elongated member of the skateboard rail of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the elongated member of the skateboard rail of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged, transverse, isometric view of a first elongated member of the skateboard rail of the present invention taken along line  4 — 4  of  FIG. 3  showing the addition of a second elongated member about to be located in a stacked relationship with the first elongated member; 
       FIG. 5  is a transverse cross-sectional view showing three of the elongated members in a stacked relationship; 
       FIG. 5A  shows a pair of the elongated members stacked in an aligned manner; 
       FIG. 6  is a top plan view showing two sets of three elongated members each which are mounted in a side-by-side connecting arrangement and showing how the elongated members in each set can be moved to occupy different positions; 
       FIG. 7  is an isometric view of the table that is utilized in conjunction with the skateboard rail of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view showing two elongated members of the skateboard rail of the present invention shown connected together and with the table of  FIG. 7  mounted thereon; 
       FIG. 9  is an isometric view of a first embodiment of cover that is to be usable with an elongated member of the skateboard rail of the present invention; 
       FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view through an elongated member of the skateboard rail of the present invention showing the cover of  FIG. 9  installed thereon; 
       FIG. 11  is an isometric view of a second embodiment of cover that is utilized in conjunction with the skateboard rail of the present invention; 
       FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view showing the second embodiment of cover installed in conjunction with an elongated member of the skateboard rail of the present invention; 
       FIG. 13  is an isometric view of a connector that is usable to connect between a pair of elongated members of the skateboard rail of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 14  is a side elevational view showing the skateboard rail of the present invention having one of the connectors of  FIG. 13  mounted at one end of the skateboard rail and another of the connectors of  FIG. 13  mounted at the opposite end of the skateboard rail. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring particularly to  FIGS. 1–4  of the drawings, there is shown a skateboard rail segment in the form of an elongated member  20  which is to be usable to form the skateboard rail of the present invention. The elongated member  20  would generally be in the range of six feet in length. The elongated member  20  has a top surface  22 , a bottom surface  24 , a right side  26  and a left side  28 . The right side  26  is approximately parallel to the left side  28  so in transverse cross-section the general configuration of the elongated member  20  is that of a rectangle. However, the width of the elongated member  20  at the bottom surface  24  is substantially wider than the width of the top surface  22 , which is readily apparent when observing  FIG. 4 . One reason for this is to increase the stability of the elongated rail when it is being used making it less likely to tip over. The elongated member  20  will generally be constructed of a plastic material and when fabricated will have a hollow internal cavity  30  in order to decrease the overall weight of the elongated member  20 . Weighted material such as water, sand or shot can be inserted into cavity  30  by removing of cap  31  and pouring such in cavity  30 . When cavity  30  is filled, cap  31  is to be replaced. This will add weight to the member  20  making it less likely to flip over or move during use. 
   Formed within the top surface  22  is an elongated, open ended, constant width channel  32 . Formed within the channel  32  are a plurality of sawteeth  34 . Sawteeth  34  is divided into a series of groups with a cavity  31  dividing each directly adjacent groups of sawteeth  34 . 
   Formed within the bottom surface  24  is an elongated deep cavity  38 . Within the cavity  38  is formed an elongated plateau  40  which extends the entire length of the cavity  38 . The exterior surface of the plateau  40  includes a plurality of spaced apart projections  42 . In referring to  FIG. 4 , another elongated member  20  can be placed in a stacked relationship with an elongated member  20 . The top surface  22  is located within the elongated cavity  38  and a projection  42  will rest within a cavity  34  to prevent longitudinal sliding movement of the elongated member  20  that is stacked on top of the other elongated member  20 . 
   The right side  26  includes a series of spaced apart dovetail slots  46 . The left side  28  includes a series of spaced apart dovetail slots  48 . In between each directly adjacent pair of the dovetail slots  46  is located a dovetail protuberance  50 . In between each directly adjacent pair of the slots  48  is a protuberance  52 . The skateboard rail of the present invention can be constructed, as shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  8 , to be interlocked together side-by-side with each protuberance  50  being located within a slot  48 , and each protuberance  52  located within a slot  46 . It is to be understood that as many of the elongated members  20  could be arranged in a side-by-side manner as the user would wish to connect together. In  FIG. 5 , a first row of sawteeth  64  of the elongated member  20  that is located on top of the stack will engage with sawteeth  34  of a lower elongated member  20  and a second row of sawteeth  64  will engage with sawteeth  34  of the remaining lower elongated member  20 . Also, two or more of the elongated members  20  could be stacked directly aligned, as shown in  FIG. 5A , when stacked in this manner, as is also shown in  FIG. 4 , the first row of sawteeth  64  is located against right side  26  and the second row of sawteeth  64  is located against left side  28 . Each projection  42  will rest within a cavity  34 . In between each directly adjacent pair of projections  42  is a group of the sawteeth  34 . 
   Each elongated member  20  has a front end  54  and a rear end  56 . The front end  54  includes a pin  58 . The rear end  56  includes a hole  60 . The front end  54  is shown to have a rounded configuration as does also the rear end  56 . The rear end  56  is formed into a thin flange shape. The main body of the elongated member  20 , which is located directly adjacent the rear end  56 , is formed into a curved wall  62 . A pin  58  of one elongated member  20  can be mounted in conjunction with a hole  60  and then that particular elongated member can be moved relative to the other elongated member  20  to which it is connected. This movement is such so that one elongated member  20  can be arranged at an angular displacement relative to the other elongated member to which it is connected. This type of connecting arrangement is shown in  FIG. 6 . 
   The bottom surface  24  also includes a series of serrations formed by two rows of sawteeth  64  all along the bottom surface  24  with the exception of being located within the cavity  38 . One reason for the sawteeth  64  is that when the elongated members  20  are placed on certain supporting surfaces  66 , which is shown in  FIG. 14  to comprise a stair  68 , the sawteeth  64  facilitates grabbing onto and holding tightly onto the stair  68 . When utilizing of the elongated members  20  on certain supporting surfaces, such as a stair  68 , it is desirable to have the elongated member  20  to be maintained in its established position and not slide relative to the stair  68 . The sawteeth  64  also engage with sawteeth  34  when the members  20  are stacked in a laterally staggered relationship to prevent movement between members  20 . 
   Referring particularly to  FIGS. 7 and 8  of the drawings, there is shown a table  70  which has an upper flat surface  72  which has a coping bump  74  and  76  located at each side edge. The coping bumps  74  and  76  extend the entire length of the table  70 . The undersurface of the table  70  includes a pair of spaced apart plateaus  78  and  80 . Each plateau  78  and  80  will include a series of sawteeth  82 . The sawteeth  82  will function to engage in an interlocking manner with the sawteeth  34 . 
   The table  70  can be placed on a pair of elongated members  20  that are mounted in a side-by-side manner, as is shown in  FIG. 8 . The flat surface  72  provides a wider flat surface for riding of the skateboard thereon as opposed to the thin surface that is provided by the top surface  22  of the elongated member  20 . 
   Referring particularly to  FIGS. 9 and 10  of the drawings, there is shown a protective cover  84 . This cover  84  is constructed of hard sheet material, metal usually preferred, and it has a basic channel shape forming a pair of spaced apart parallel legs  86  and  88  with an apex section  85  extending therebetween. The space between the legs  86  and  88  is defined as a cavity  90 . The top surface  22  of the elongated member  20  is to be located within the cavity  90  in a snug relationship. There will probably be utilized fasteners, such as screws, to securely fasten each of the legs  86  and  88  to the right side  26  and left side  28  of the elongated member  20 . The whole purpose for the protective cover  84  is to provide a strong covering material that is wear resistant to the abrasiveness that it will inherently encounter by the constant use of having skateboards slide there across. Instead of the top surface  22  taking the wear, the cover  84  takes the wear, and upon the cover  84  becoming significantly worn or damaged, it can be replaced. Cover  84  has a groove  85  at one end and a tongue  87  at the opposite end. A tongue  87  of one cover  84  can interlock with a groove  85  of another cover  84 . 
   Referring particularly to  FIGS. 11 and 12  of the drawings, there is shown a different form of protective cover  92 . The cover  92  is defined on its upper surface by a flat, elongated, open ended channel  94  which is formed between each side edge of the cover  92  which is formed into coping bumps  96  and  98 . The free edges  97  and  99 , respectively, of each of the coping bumps  96  and  98  are to abut against their respective side edges  26  and  28  of the elongated member  20 . The side edges  26  and  28  may include elongated grooves so that the side edges of the coping bumps  96  and  98  can merely slip within those grooves, which are not shown. The same is true for  FIG. 9 . The main distinction of the protective cover  92  is that it provides a little different surface that when maneuvering the skateboard across the protective cover  92  as opposed to when utilizing the protective cover  84 . Cover  92  has a groove  91  at one end (similar to groove  85 ) and a tongue  93  at the opposite end (similar to tongue  87 ). The coping bumps  96  and  98  provide a greater degree of control. 
   Referring particularly to  FIG. 13 , there is shown a connector  100 . The connector  100  is formed of a male part  102  and a female part  104 . The male part  102  has a top surface  106  which has a longitudinal open ended channel  108 . The female part  104  has a similar top surface  110  which also includes a longitudinal open ended channel  112 . The male part  102  and the female part  104  are connected together by a pivot pin  114  which produces a pivot axis  116 . It is to be noted that this pivot axis  116 , when used in conjunction with elongated member  20 , will be located transverse or at a right angle to the longitudinal axis  118  of the elongated member  20 . The bottom surface of both the male part  102  and the female part  104  is formed into a sawtooth edge  120 . The function of the sawtooth edge  120  is for the same purpose as the sawteeth  64 . The male part  102  includes a pin  122  and the female part  104  includes a hole  124 . 
   The connector  100  can be utilized to connect two of the elongated members  20  together. When so connected, the elongated members  20  can be located at various angularly spaced relationships. For example, noting particularly  FIG. 14 , it can thus be seen that with the pin  122  being mounted within a hole  60  of the elongated member  20 , and with a pin  58  of the elongated member  20  mounted within a hole  124  of the connector  100 , and with the pin  122  being mounted within a hole  60  of the elongated member  20 , that one elongated member  20  can be displaced at any angular relationship relative to the other elongated member  20  by merely pivoting about the pivot axis  116  by means of the pivot pin  114 . The channels  108  and  112  in essence match up with the channel  32  in the elongated member  20 . As a result, the skateboarder can use the connectors  100  to form different configurations of an edge on which to ride the skateboard. For example, in  FIG. 14  the skateboard can traverse in a horizontal manner and then down a vertical manner along the stair  68  and then back into a horizontal manner. 
   The discussion included in this patent is intended to serve as a basic description. The reader should be aware that the specific discussion may not explicitly describe all embodiments possible and alternatives are implicit. Also, this discussion may not fully explain the generic nature of the invention and may not explicitly show how each feature or element can actually be representative of a broader function or of a great variety of alternative or equivalent elements. Again, these are implicitly included in this disclosure. Where the invention is described in device-oriented terminology, each element of the device implicitly performs a function. It should also be understood that a variety of changes may be made without departing from the essence of the invention. Such changes are also implicitly included in the description. These changes still fall within the scope of this invention. 
   Further, each of the various elements of the invention and claims may also be achieved in a variety of manners. This disclosure should be understood to encompass each such variation. Particularly, it should be understood that as the disclosure relates to elements of the invention, the words for each element may be expressed by equivalent apparatus terms or method terms—even if only the function or result is the same. Such equivalent, broader, or even more generic terms should be considered to be encompassed in the description of each element or action. Such terms can be substituted where desired to make explicit the implicitly broad coverage to which this invention is entitled. It should be understood that all actions may be expressed as a means for taking that action or as an element which causes that action. Similarly, each physical element disclosed should be understood to encompass a disclosure of the action which that physical element facilitates. Such changes and alternative terms are to be understood to be explicitly included in the description.