Abstract:
A skateboard braking apparatus comprising a brake actuator having a lever extending above the skateboard and a contact portion extending below the skateboard. The brake actuator is pivotably connected to the rear end of the skateboard at a connection point on the brake actuator such that when a user applies a rearward force on a forward facing face of the lever portion of the brake actuator, the brake actuator pivots about the connection point so that the contact portion makes contact with a surface on which the skateboard travels.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a braking apparatus for a skateboard. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Wheeled boards such as a skateboard are widely used for recreation and transportation. While a skateboard user may often desire to slow down or stop the skateboard, conventional skateboards do not have any braking apparatus. A user would brake by lowering one foot to the ground or would tilt the entire skateboard to cause a portion of the skateboard to scrape the pavement. Both methods require a certain amount of skill and experience. The scraping method also causes damage to the skateboard. Such rigorous movements are especially undesirable when the skateboard is used as a means of transportation. 
         [0003]    Various attempts have been made to devise a brake to assist the slowing down or stopping of a skateboard. One type of brakes is the wheel brake, in which the brake system reduces the rotational speed of the wheel. However, skidding is a common problem with a wheel brake, and the wheel brake also considerably increases the rate of wear on the wheels. Another brake is the of friction brake in which a braking device is lowered to contact the pavement to create friction between the braking device and the pavement. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,167,225, 6,035,976, 4,168,076, 4,043,566, 4,054,296, 4,088,334, and 4,099,734 each disclose an apparatus for braking a skateboard friction. However, the known friction brakes generally require the user to lift up one foot or otherwise significantly shift his balance to engage the brake. The maneuver can cause the user to loose balance. Therefore, existing braking devices for skateboarding have been unsatisfactory. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    According to one aspect, the invention provides a braking apparatus for a skateboard. The braking apparatus comprises a brake actuator having a lever extending above the skateboard and a contact portion extending below the skateboard. The brake actuator is pivotably connected to the rear end of the skateboard at a connection point on the brake actuator such that when a user applies a rearward force on a forward facing face of the lever portion of the brake actuator, the brake actuator pivots about the connection point so that the contact portion makes contact with a surface on which the skateboard travels. 
         [0005]    Other features and aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the features in accordance with embodiments of the invention. The summary is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the claims attached thereto. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is an perspective view of a skateboard having an exemplary braking apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  shows a detailed top view of the braking apparatus  20  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  shows a detailed bottom view of the braking apparatus  20  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIGS. 4   a - b  are detailed side views of the braking apparatus  20  of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    The invention is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  shows a skateboard  10  which includes wheels  11  and braking apparatus or actuator  20  attached to its rear end. The braking actuator  20  is connected to the skateboard  10  at a connection point  30 . The brake actuator includes a lever portion  21  and a contact portion  22 . The lever portion  21  extends substantially vertically above the skateboard and is generally narrower than the contact portion  22  which extends below the skateboard. The brake actuator  20  may be made of a durable material. The contact portion of the brake actuator  20  may also be covered by a brake pad  23 . The brake pad  23  is replaceable to provide a long service life to the braking apparatus. The brake pad  23  is preferably made of rubber, for example. The large contact area on the bottom surface of the contact portion  22  helps to stabilize the skateboard while braking. The connection point  30  is shown in  FIG. 1  to include a machine bolt. However, others types of commonly known connecting means which allows the brake actuator  20  to pivot may also be used to create the connection point  30 .  FIG. 1  also shows a brake housing  40  attached to the skate board  10 . The brake housing  40  comprises an extension below or behind the skateboard on which the connection point  30  can be attached. The connection point  30  may be directly connected to the skateboard  10  or through the brake housing  30 . The brake housing may also be formed as part of the skateboard  10 . 
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a detailed top view of the braking apparatus  20  shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 2  shows the skateboard  10 , the connection point  30 , the brake housing  40 , and the brake actuator  20  including the lever portion  21 , and the contact portion  22 .  FIG. 2  also shows the lever portion  21  with an angled forward facing face  21 A. The angle of the angled face  21 A can be adjusted according to the user&#39;s riding preference (e.g. left foot forward or right foot forward). The angled face  21 A can also be modified to follow the contour of the heel of the rear foot to allow both sideway and backward movements of the rear foot to engage the brake. The angled face  21 A also gives the user greater control over the pressure applied on the brake for better speed control. 
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a detailed bottom view of the braking apparatus of  FIG. 1 . In additional to the features shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ,  FIG. 3  shows a spring  35  for keeping the brake actuator in a disengaged position (see also  FIG. 4   a ) and a rubber brake pad  23 . The spring  35  is connected between the brake actuator  20  and either the brake housing  40  or the skateboard  10 . The spring  35  is shown to be an extension type spring connected between the lever portion  21  and the brake housing  40 . Alternatively, the spring  35  maybe a compression type spring connected between the contact portion  23  and the skateboard  10  or the brake housing  40 . Other commonly known means of providing elasticity, such as elastic polymers and flexible metal strips can also be used. 
         [0014]    The operation of the braking apparatus is described below with reference to  FIGS. 4   a  and  b .  FIGS. 4   a  and  b  show the braking apparatus  20  in disengaged and engaged positions respectively. When no force is exerted on the lever portion  21  of the brake actuator  20 , the brake actuator  20  stays in a disengaged position as shown in  FIG. 4   a . The structure of the braking apparatus allows the user to engage the brake by sliding his foot backwards or sideways, without having to lift his foot off the skateboard or significantly shift his balance. When the user engages the brake by pushing on the lever portion  21  of the brake actuator, the spring  35  extends to allow the contact portion  22  to pivot forward and contact a surface  50  on which the skateboard travels. The friction between the contact portion  22  and the surface  50  reduces the speed of the skateboard. When the backward pressure on the lever portion  21  is released, the spring  35  brings the brake actuator  20  back into the disengaged position and allows the skateboard  10  to travel unhindered. 
         [0015]    Embodiments of the present invention may provide various advantages not found in conventional skateboards, including skateboards with braking devices. First, the user is given much more control over the speed of the skateboard without compromise to the balance and stability of the user. On a conventional skateboard, the user either has to brake with his foot, or scrape the board to reduce the speed of the board. Existing skateboard brakes such as those shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,167,225 and 4,043,556 require a step-down motion that could also affect the balance the board and potentially cause the board to tilt unintentionally. In contrast, the present embodiment allows the user to slide his foot to engage the brake, while maintaining optimal balance on the board. In an embodiment of the present invention having an angled face  21 A on the lever portion, the user is able to engage the brake by sliding his foot sideways or backward requiring only minimal foot movement and balance shifting. Further, control of brake pressure is accomplished by a pivot action of the rearward foot, without any transfer of weight from one foot to the other. 
         [0016]    Second, large contact surface on the contact portion  22  provides further stability during braking. 
         [0017]    Third, friction brakes reduce the cost of maintenance required by foot brake, scrape brake, and wheel brake methods. In an embodiment having the brake pad  23 , the cost of operation is further reduced. The relatively large size of the contact portion also increases the brake apparatus&#39; durability. 
         [0018]    Fourth, the simplicity of embodiments of the present invention allows the apparatus to be installed on existing skateboard without significant modification to the skateboard body. 
         [0019]    While the invention has been described in terms of particular embodiments and illustrative figures, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the embodiments or figures described. 
         [0020]    The description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It should be understood that the invention can be practiced with modification and alteration and that the invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.