Abstract:
A skateboard support provides an expandable motif which gives the ability to support one, or a number of skateboards in a handy, easily accessible, and scalable structure which can support one or more skateboards. A cross pattern of support on a four-member support enables subsequent four-member supports to be located at different levels with no visual interference and only a tapering half board semi-overlap. This motif is amenable to multiplicative expansion to enable stacking with each subsequent element being located about one half of a skateboard length above its next most adjacent element. Support structures may include tubes, rings and plates from which the fork brackets may be supported. A second embodiment includes a one piece upper rack, cylindrical pole and base which can be easily deployed and stowed with simply two joinder steps.

Description:
[0001]     This is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/971,887 filed Oct. 22, 2004. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to improvements in the technology relating to skateboard support, storage and display devices, and more particularly to a stable, lightweight stand which securely supports skateboards and displays them at an easily seen perspective.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Skateboards are notoriously difficult to store and display. They cannot be stacked without rolling off of each other, and they do not store well balanced on their end. In the home, household members, especially the very young, tend to place the skateboard near the front door. Skateboards left outside will likely be stolen, while boards left inside the door in a rolling position on the floor present a safety hazard. Without any special structures present, skateboards are likely to be left about in a random pattern on the floor.  
         [0004]     Heavy, expensive structures can be used, much like a mailbox array having a number of openings of a height, width and depth necessary to accommodate the height, width and depth of the highest, widest and longest skateboard. Where only two or three skateboards are to be stored, such a heavy, expensive structure takes up significant space. However, such a structure would not be easily portable and could not be used to move the supported skateboards. In terms of a retail display, such a multi-compartment structure would not facilitate visual display or handling, but would hide the individual skateboards.  
         [0005]     Another problem is cost and scalability. Dedicated supports which grasped the board surface would not adjust to thicker and thinner boards. Scaling up from a support which supports one or two skateboards to a support which holds multiple boards is not practical. If the support is an enclosure of sufficient size to hold a wide variety of sizes and types, a scale-up for holding multiple boards would multiply upward based upon the largest size board accommodated. Cost is another factor which is particularly adversely affected during scale-up. A device for displaying four boards would increase as the square in displaying 16 boards.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     A skateboard support provides the ability to support one, or a number of skateboards in a handy, easily accessible, and scalable structure which can range from a support for a single skateboard to multiple skateboards. Each support element supports a skateboard from its axle area. The geometry of placement of each support element enables two effects. First, engagement of the skateboard at its axle causes the end opposite the end being supported to tilt inward, typically placing the non-supported end inward of the point of support. Secondly, the cross pattern of support on a four-member support enables subsequent four-member supports to be located at a level about half way down with respect to the boards supported with no visual interference and only a tapering half board semi-overlap.  
         [0007]     As a result, the rack is vertically multiplicable to enable stacking with each subsequent element being located about one half of a skateboard length above its next most adjacent element. The element configuration shown is a star “cross” pattern, but the elements can also be supported from a ring structure. In the event a ring structure is selected, the rack can have four, five, six or more individual supports at each level. As a result, the overall size of the rack in terms of diameter is expandable, maintaining the same inwardly tilting motif. The inward tilting also helps to stabilize the non-supported end of each board.  
         [0008]     In terms of scalability, the basic element of the rack includes a fork bracket which includes pair of forks angled upwardly at an angle of about 45°. The fork bracket includes individual spaced apart forks that are each approximately 0.5 inches wide and separated from each other by a distance of about two and a quarter inches. The forks fit underneath the skateboard axle ends as they extend from a central support, with the forks fitting inboard of the wheels and outboard of the central support of a skateboard.  
         [0009]     From a single fork bracket, the single fork brackets can be supported individually from a support wall, for example. A single fork bracket can be supported by a tube or other extension. A pair of oppositely oriented fork brackets can be supported from a single tube. A second oppositely oriented pair of fork brackets can be provided at right angles to the first, and both can be provided in a stand about three to four feet high. A further set of four fork brackets can be provided in parallel to the first set of four fork brackets set at a height of about two feet and turned about 45°. This pattern may be repeated up to a practicable height.  
         [0010]     In terms of materials, the preferred rack can be furnished with a material strength which is needed as depends upon the total number of skateboards expected to be supported. A preferred home support is made of plastic tubing for ease of assembly and disassembly. Taller and circumferentially larger overall supports may be made of steel as is necessary to provide overall, safe support. A further benefit of lightweight plastic tubing is the ability to lift and transfer the location of the assembly with supported skateboards. A second embodiment includes a one piece upper rack, cylindrical pole and base which can be easily deployed and stowed with simply two joinder steps. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     The invention, its configuration, construction, and operation will be best further described in the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a tubular embodiment of a single fork bracket configured to be supported with respect to a tube;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the bracket seen in  FIG. 1  and illustrating the forks and their separation;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is an alternative embodiment of the fork bracket seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2  in which the tubular rear portion has been replaced by a solid fin shape;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a one level stand having an “H” shaped base portion, vertical support and a cross shaped four member fork bracket assembly;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of the “H” shaped base portion, vertical support and a cross shaped four member fork bracket assembly of one level stand shown in disassembled view and supported by a flat surface;  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a side sectional view through a section of pipe and a five way connector of the cross shaped four member fork bracket assembly and illustrating the use of a double pin thumb release utilized to achieve a more complete breakdown of components;  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  illustrates a two level stand having two pairs of cross shaped four member fork bracket assembly for supporting two tiers of skateboards  
         [0019]      FIG. 8  is a plan view of a three piece embodiment including a base, vertical pole and top rack having four forked brackets;  
         [0020]      FIG. 9  is a top view looking down onto the three piece embodiment of  FIG. 8  and illustrating the support of a skateboard lying across the top as an alternative to hanging the skateboard on the forked bracket;  
         [0021]      FIG. 10  is a bottom view of the top rack having four forked brackets shown in  FIGS. 8-9 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 11  is a view taken along line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 10  and illustrating the rounded nature of the forked bracket;  
         [0023]      FIG. 12  is a view looking down onto the base seen in  FIG. 8-9 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 13  is a side view of the base shown in  FIG. 12 ;  
         [0025]      FIG. 14  is a sectional view taken along line  14 - 14  of  FIG. 12 ;  
         [0026]      FIG. 15  is a sectional view taken along line  15 - 15  of  FIG. 12 ; and  
         [0027]      FIG. 16  is a sectional view taken along line  16 - 16  of  FIG. 12  and illustrating a support for an optional non-skid foot pad. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0028]     The description and operation of the invention will be best initiated with reference to  FIG. 1  which illustrates a side sectional view of a fork bracket  11  having a rearwardly located tube portion  13  and a forward forked portion  15  which is angled at approximately 45° with respect to the axis of the tube portion  13 . The tube portion  13  has an internal cavity  17 . The cylindrical outer shape of the tube portion  13  and the inner cylindrical internal cavity  17  facilitates support of the fork bracket from a tube (not shown) by either fitting the internal cavity  17  onto the exterior of a tube or by fitting the cylindrical outer shape of the tube portion  13  within an internal diameter of a tube. The internal cavity  17  is illustrated as having a radiused terminus, but a flat terminus would work equally well.  
         [0029]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a top view of the fork bracket  11  gives a more complete visual illustration and details the existence of a first fork  19  separated from a second fork  21 . The forks  19  and  21  are separated by a distance D. The transition from the fork  19  to  21  is through a curved radius matching the distance D of preferably about 2.00 inches. The depth of the spacing between the forks  19  and  21  may preferably be about 2.25 inches from the vertical perspective looking down. Using sine and cosine relationships, the distance from the tip ends of the forks  19  and  21  to the radiused transition may be about 3.2 inches. Again, the distances and transitions need not be radiused, and the structures are shown as radiused for aesthetic purposes. The materials employed and method of manufacture may predominated in specifying details.  
         [0030]     For example, rather than having a tubular rear portion  13  which can fit either inside of a smaller pipe or inside of a larger pipe, a different structure can be provided. Referring to  FIG. 3 , a fork bracket  11  has fin shaped rearwardly located portion  23  for fitting inside a pipe. The bilateral symmetry of the fin shape makes the fork bracket  11  more amenable to the injection molding method of manufacture. Similarly, the fork bracket  11  can lead to a flat plate, or any other structure which permits it to be supported in substantially the same angled orientation as  FIGS. 1-3 , generally with the rear portion orthogonal to pull of gravity to enable the forward forked portion to support and urge the supported member toward the rearwardly located member, either rearwardly located tube portion  13  or fin shaped rearwardly located portion  23 .  
         [0031]     After having established the fork bracket  11 , further elemental structure will be illustrated as a rack with four such fork brackets  11  in a simple, lightweight configuration for holding four skateboards. The use of polymeric piping, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) piping can provide a very sturdy, lightweight structure. Referring to  FIG. 4 , a one level stand  31  is illustrated. The stand  31  has an “H” shaped base portion  33 , a vertical support  35  supporting a cross shaped four member fork bracket assembly  37 .  
         [0032]     It should be understood that the “H” shaped base portion  33  could be replaced by any member or structure which is enabled to sturdily support a vertical support  35 . In this case, and for simplicity, the “H” shaped base portion  33  is formed using tube or pipe fittings, including a center “T” fitting  37 , and a pair of side “T” fittings  39 . A number of pipe sections are used to interfit with the “T” fittings  37  and  39  including short lengths of connector pipe  41  between the “T” fittings  37  and  39 , and longer protruding lengths of connector pipe  43  which are connected to the “T” fittings  39 . Depending upon the diameter sizes chosen, the connector pipes  41  and  43  can be sized to extend completely through their respective “T” fittings  37  and  39 , or can be sized to fit separately, one piece in each respective end of their “T” fittings  37  and  39 . A set of four soft polymeric end caps  45  are shown attached to the protruding terminal ends of the connector pipes  43  both for balance and to provide a clearance above the floor for any portions of the “T” fittings  37  and  39  which might extend below the cylindrical extent of the connector pipes  41  and  43 .  
         [0033]     In terms of sizes and dimensions, the use of PVC piping has worked well with an overall length of the of the connector pipes  43  being about sixteen inches in length, and the overall width of the “H” shaped base portion  33  extending just beyond the overall length of the connector pipe  41 , being about eighteen inches. The “T” fittings  37  and  39  have an overall dimension of about four and a half inches in the linear pass through portion, and about three and one third inches in the perpendicular connector portion. The diameter of the connector pipes  41  and  43  is approximately one and one quarter inches, such as a standard one and a quarter ASTM D1785 schedule  40  pipe. With this size of connector pipe  41  and  43 , the “T” fittings  37  and  39  would have an outside diameter of about two inches. The outside diameter of the soft polymeric end caps  45  should be sufficiently large to insure that the “T” fittings  37  and  39  will be lifted off of any surface onto which the one level stand  31  is placed, and under loading conditions to account for any deflection of the connector pipes  41  and  43 . The vertical support  35  is preferably made of a pipe material consistent with the connector pipes  41  and  43 . The overall length of the vertical support  35  is preferably twenty eight and three quarter inches.  
         [0034]     The a cross shaped four radial member fork bracket assembly  37  may include a five way pipe connector  51  to which short lengths of optional fork bracket connector pipe  53  are attached to the cross shaped four member radial upper openings, with an opening underneath the five way pipe connector  51  for fitting onto the top of the vertical support  35 . Each of the fork bracket connector pipes  53  connect to an individual fork bracket  11 . As before, the connecting pipe  53  can connect to the inside or outside of the individual fork brackets  11 . In  FIG. 4 , the individual fork brackets  11  are engaged by the short lengths of fork bracket connector pipe  53  at the inside of the individual fork brackets  11 .  
         [0035]     Also seen in  FIG. 4  is that the a cross shaped four member fork bracket assembly  37  is oriented so that each of the individual fork brackets  11  overlie the end terminus of the longer protruding lengths of connector pipe  43  in order to give maximum stability and support when a skateboard is suspended from any one of the individual fork brackets  11 . In using the one level stand  31 , the first skateboard (not shown in  FIG. 4 ) should be loaded onto a first fork bracket  11 , with a second skateboard then loaded onto the opposite fork bracket  11 . The one level stand  31  can also support other suspended items such as backpacks and the like.  
         [0036]     In terms of pre-assembly,  FIG. 5  illustrates a three-piece breakdown in which the “H” shaped base portion  33  and the cross shaped four member fork bracket assembly  37  may be completely pre-assembled and provided along with the vertical support  35 . The members shown sill fit easily within a box which is just slightly larger than the maximum dimension of the “H” shaped base portion  33 , for easy transport and storage. The pre-assembly seen in  FIG. 5  will require only the interfitting of the vertical support  35  between “H” shaped base portion  33  and cross shaped four member fork bracket assembly  37  for setup. In this configuration, the use of glue or cement between the connector pipe  41 ,  43 , &amp;  53  and the members they attach to would be acceptable. This configuration also lends itself to the ability to be completely finished, such as painting or metalization for a more pleasing aesthetic look. It also enables other sub sets of the aforementioned individual components to be manufactured as one-piece units. For example, the “H” shaped base portion  33  and the a cross shaped four member fork bracket assembly  37  might be manufactured as a single unit, using easily injection moldable inverted “U” shaped channel to provide enhanced mechanical support.  
         [0037]     Where further breakdown is desired and where the aforementioned components are used, quick disconnects can be provided. Referring to  FIG. 6 , a side view of a connector intersection between a pipe section, in this case connector pipe  53 , and a connector, in this case five way pipe connector  51 , is seen, but utilizing a double pin thumb release  55  to lock the members together and to enable a more complete breakdown of components. The double pin thumb release  55  utilizes a pair of oppositely located cylindrical members  57  connected to a spring structure  59 . The spring structure  59  serves to keep the pair of oppositely located cylindrical members  57  in alignment and urged away from each other. The double pin thumb release  55  typically resides inside the smaller tube with the spring structure  59  extending away from the open end of the smaller tube structure.  
         [0038]     In this case, fork bracket connector pipe  53  hold the double pin thumb release  55  with the spring structure  59  extending into the fork bracket connector pipe  53 . When initially inserted into the fork bracket connector pipe  53 , the oppositely located cylindrical members  57  are brought together and the double pin thumb release  55  is inserted into the oppositely located cylindrical members  57 , the spring structure  59  end first. Initial engagement through apertures  61  in the fork bracket connector pipe  53  will be sufficient to hold the double pin thumb release  55  in place. The oppositely located cylindrical members  57  are pressed inward from the outside of fork bracket connector pipe  53  to clear the five way pipe connector  51  to enter the five way pipe connector  51 . Once inside the five way pipe connector  51  the oppositely located cylindrical members  57  will springingly urge through a set of apertures  63  in the wall of the five way pipe connector  51  and releasably lock the fork bracket connector pipe  53  to the five way pipe connector  51 . The use of the double pin thumb release  55  can occur at each pipe  35 ,  41 ,  43 ,  53  with respect to their fittings, including fork bracket  11  rearwardly located tube portion  13 , center “T” fitting  37 , pair of side “T” fittings  39 , and five way pipe connector  51 . However, the small size of the one level stand  31 , and especially the cross shaped four member fork bracket assembly  37  may encourage a more permanent assembly for this small sized embodiment. However, larger embodiments utilizing larger diameter pipe would benefit from the ability to perform a more complete breakdown and disassembly.  
         [0039]     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a two level stand  71  is seen which includes at its uppermost level, the cross shaped four member fork bracket assembly  37  seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . However, a middle cross shaped four member fork bracket assembly  73  includes a six way pipe connector  75 , and is supported by a second vertical support  77 .  
         [0040]     Note that the middle cross shaped four member fork bracket assembly  73  is placed at a 45° angle with respect to the upper cross shaped four member fork bracket assembly  37  to enable skateboards to be staggered so that the lower ends of the skateboards are angled toward the vertical supports  35  and  77  such that the lower ends of the upper rank of skateboards are tucked to the inside of and between adjacent upper ends of the skateboards of the lower rank of skateboards. In this fashion, subsequent vertically displaced fork bracket assemblies can create a series of “tucked” displays ranks in which the upper part of each skateboard prominently extends outward, and gives a lower tapering view as it visually disappears between adjacent upper skateboards of the next lower rank.  
         [0041]     Such a display in a commercial environment may be made of steel and may extend to the ceiling. In such a commercial embodiment, the stand may be supported at the upper end by the room in which it is placed. Further, such a rack vertically extending to the ceiling may preferably rotate. Where such a rack does not extend to the ceiling, the base may include a much heavier structure such as a solid metal or weighted base.  
         [0042]     A commercial stand may include a greater number of forked brackets on each level, and may be supported by a circular structure such as a ring or circle. The expanded diameter of the stand will dictate an expanded diameter base. In a commercial application where persons are expected to walk around the stand, the base is more likely to be heavier and abbreviated in diameter to facilitate clearance for walking around the stand.  
         [0043]     Referring to  FIG. 8 , a further embodiment is seen as a one level stowable stand  101 . The one level stowable stand  101  is meant for quick set up and stowable break down. A one piece upper rack  103  fits easily over a cylindrical pole  105  after the cylindrical pole is slip fit into a base  107 . Cylindrical pole  105  may preferably be made of metal or plastic and may have a length of from about twenty four to about thirty four inches. This configuration enables the user to disassemble the one level stowable stand  101  for small area stowage.  
         [0044]     The one piece upper rack  103  has four extending fork brackets  109  which are blended smoothly from a tubular “cross” shaped inner support  111 . The extending fork brackets  109  have no seams or other interruptions and present a smooth, artful appearance. The tubular “cross” shaped inner support  111  could be replaced or augmented by a rounded structure from which the extending fork brackets  109  extend. A rounded hub could have more or less than four of the fork brackets  109  which could also blend smoothly from any structure. The center of the tubular “cross” shaped inner support  111  has a bore structure, or bore  113  which accommodates enough of the upper end of the pole  105  to give stability. Similarly, the base  107  has a bore  115  for accommodating enough of the upper end of the pole  105  to give stability. It may be preferable to provide a smooth connection so that the one piece upper rack  103  can rotate with respect to the cylindrical pole  105 , which may also be able to rotate with respect to the base  107 .  
         [0045]     Referring to  FIG. 9 a  view looking down onto the one level stowable stand  101  illustrates a skateboard  121  which may be laid across the one piece upper rack  103 , in addition to using one of the four extending fork brackets  109  to engage the axle of the skateboard  121  just inside the wheels of skateboard  121  (not shown).  
         [0046]     As can be seen from the view of  FIG. 9 , base  107  includes a main horizontal member  125  which has two ends connecting a pair of end horizontal members  127 . The boundaries between the main horizontal member  125  and pair of end horizontal members  127  appear smooth and continuous while providing terminal ends  129  of the pair of end horizontal members  127  as four widely spaced stabilization points.  
         [0047]     Referring to  FIG. 10 , a bottom view of the one piece upper rack  103  illustrates the bore  113 . Referring to FIG.  11 , a view taken along line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 10  illustrates a possible open inverted “U” shaped nature of the tubular “cross” shaped inner support  111 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 8-11 , the width of the internal width of the fork portion of the four extending fork brackets  109  is about the same as the width of the tubular “cross” shaped inner supports  111 .  
         [0048]     Referring to  FIG. 12 , a top view looking down onto the base  107  better illustrates the overall shape. On the base  107  are a series of section indicators illustrating sectional views to follow. Referring to  FIG. 13 , a side view in a corresponding orientation as was seen for  FIG. 12  illustrates the side profile.  
         [0049]     Referring to  FIG. 14 , a view taken along line  14 - 14  of  FIG. 12  illustrates internal details for the support of pole  105 . An internal bore  115  is part of a cup structure  135  also having a bottom member  137 . Bottom member has an air vent and drainage aperture  139  to drain away any moisture which becomes trapped between the pole  105  and the internal bore  115  and bottom member  137 , as well as to allow displacement air to enter and escape air upon insertion or withdrawal of the pole  105 .  
         [0050]     Referring to  FIG. 15 , a sectional view taken along line  15 - 15  of  FIG. 12  illustrates a shape of the pair of end horizontal members  127  closer to the main horizontal member  125 .  
         [0051]     Referring to  FIG. 16  is a sectional view taken along line  16 - 16  of  FIG. 12  illustrates one potential configuration for supporting an optional non-skid foot pad  145 . A series of vertical extensions including a main extension  147  and a pair of side extensions  129 . The main extension  147  extends from the top of the end horizontal member  127  while and a pair of side extensions  129  extend from an area between the tops and sides of the end horizontal members  127 . As can be seen, the optional non-skid foot pad  145  extends below a bottom edge  151  of the end horizontal members  127 .  
         [0052]     While the present invention has been described in terms of a skateboard support, &amp; more particularly to a support which includes a motif which can be expanded vertically and in terms of its diameter, the mechanisms and support techniques disclosed can be applied to other devices.  
         [0053]     Although the invention has been derived with reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, included within the patent warranted hereon are all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of this contribution to the art.