Abstract:
An illuminated sport board/skateboard emits light from both the top and bottom of the board to yield a significant quantum of light for optimal visibility and safety. A base panel is provided having an underside surface with at least one transparent segment aligned with an inlay cavity within the base&#39;s interior core. A battery powered lighting source containing a plurality of light emitting diodes or an electroluminescent lighting strip is housed within the inlay cavity. A top shell having at least one transparent display is attached to the base panel in a manner that aligns the transparent display with the LED emitted or electroluminescent lighting. Light is emitted from both the top and bottom of the board owing emission through the transparent display of the top shell and the transparent segment of the base panel. The illuminated sport board may be constructed as a skateboard, snowboard, or skis to provide safety from vehicles and other recreational participants.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an illuminated sport/recreation board; and more particularly, to a skateboard illuminated with electroluminescent characters, indicia and/or decorations suited for use during dusk or nighttime hours for enhanced safety. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Skateboarding during dusk or nighttime hours can be hazardous on roadways and/or in neighborhoods where automobiles are encountered. Illuminating characteristics of automobile headlamps generally produce an illumination range of approximately 25 to 50 feet. This illumination range can be significantly reduced by mist, fog, or bends in the road. Despite improvements to vehicle headlights, skateboarders, and the like, are oftentimes not seen by automobile drivers until the distance between the automobile and the skateboarder is small and chances for avoiding contact are significantly reduced. Moreover, skateboarders and other sport boarders, such as snowboarders and skiers, run the risk of colliding into one another due to poor visibility during dimly lit conditions. It would further be advantageous if the sport board included light visibility on the surface thereof so that the skateboarder could readily glance down during skating and access his/her feet positions, while at the same time providing visibility from the underside of the board when the board is in the air during a stunt. 
     Several approaches devised by prior art workers attempt to provide solutions for these hazardous visibility conditions. These approaches include providing sport boards/skateboards having lighting elements located on the periphery or the side of the board. For example: U.S. Pat. No. 7,048,284 to Seifert discloses an illuminated skateboard including a light string mounted about a peripheral edge of a deck extending between a top surface and a bottom surface of a board; U.S. Pat. No. 6,802,636 to Bailey, Jr. discloses an illuminated recreational board including a plurality of recesses with a transparent cover extending in a peripheral side of a board and a plurality of removable LED&#39;s positioned therein; U.S. Pat. No. 5,132,883 to La Lumandier discloses an illuminated railing with a bar of lights appointed for attachment to a skateboard as a bumper; U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20040257831 to Liao discloses an illuminating decoration for a skateboard including two transparent tubes with a plurality of light-emitting elements therein that are attached to two lateral sides of a skateboard; and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20050029767 to Chang discloses a skateboard with a plurality of LEDs are embedded in a periphery of the board and are arranged so that when the wheels rotate, light is emitted from the LEDs. These types of peripheral lighting applications on skateboards/sport boards do not provide a significant degree of light for visibility; nor does the peripheral lighting allow the skater to readily assess the exact position of his/her feet in dark or dimly lit surroundings, since the lights are only on the periphery. In such cases, light is only emitted from the peripheral or sides of the board. As a result, the board is not optimally visible from vantage points above the board, or from beneath the board during air-borne stunts. 
     Various types of sport boards and skateboards having illumination emitting capabilities have been provided wherein illumination means is attached to the underside of a board, thereby only providing illumination directly under the board and not above the board surface. For example: U.S. Pat. No. 4,336,573 to Carter discloses an illuminated skate/skateboard including a person carrying platform having a light source on the underside thereof for underside illumination, and wheels formed of translucent material capable of transmitting light generated by the light source; U.S. Pat. No. 5,292,141 to Ekedal, et al. discloses a skateboard comprising riding platform with a rotatable disk for maneuverability supported thereon, and optional front and rear illumination sources mounted within respective housings secured to the underside of the riding platform; U.S. Pat. No. 5,119,277 to Copley, et al. discloses an illuminated skateboard comprising a riding platform having a bottom surface with front and rear housing secured thereto, wherein the front and rear housing each include an illumination source therein operable to provide illumination while riding the skateboard; and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20040100055 to Chang discloses a skateboard having a step board with wheels and a truck unit appointed with a safety alert system underneath the step board and at least one illuminator positioned at an exterior of the truck unit. Like the intended disadvantageous faced by the peripheral lighting applications, these underside lighting skateboards do not provide a significant degree of light for visibility; nor does the peripheral lighting allow the skater to readily see the exact position of his/her feet when dark as the lights are only on the periphery. Light only emits from the underside of the skateboard, and/or the wheels (in limited disclosures), and as a result, the board is not optimally visible from vantage points above the board thereby causing risk of the skateboarder being struck by a vehicle or colliding with another skateboarder. 
     Other illuminated skateboards provide illumination to more than a simple underside or periphery of a skateboard. However these boards still fail to provide electroluminescent lighting integrated within the board so that a substantial area of the board omnidirectionally emits light therefrom. U.S. Pat. No. 5,513,080 to Magle, et al. discloses a lighting kit that provides indirect lighting for roller skates or skateboards by mounting a lighting assembly under the shoe section of the skate or underside of the skateboard and providing a light directed down from the bottom of the shoe section of the skate or underside of the skateboard to the floor under the user. Further disclosed are the use of flat EL lamp panels provided for removable attachment to the sides of a skateboard. The flat EL lamp panels are applied to the outside of the board, and therefore may begin to malfunction and lose integrity over time as exposed to inclement weather, rain, snow, etc. Over time the lamp panels would likely become damaged as they may be stepped on or otherwise damaged as they are on the exterior of the board. 
     Even where illuminated skateboards heretofore disclosed and utilized provide lighting integrated within the board, these devices still fail to provide illumination to a substantial area of the board to virtually omnidirectionally emit light therefrom. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20050102733 to Holmberg, et al. discloses lighted sports equipment comprising a skateboard including a tip portion, a waist portion, and a tail portion, wherein each are selectively illuminable, being responsive to at least one illumination means provided within the skateboard. The tip portion, waist portion, and tail portion may each be constructed at least in part from a translucent material. Despite the use of selective illumination on the tip, waist or tail portion, these devices still fail to provide lighting integrated within the board so that a substantial area of the board omnidirectionally emits light therefrom. The board does not provide for omnidirectional lighting, in that only the top of the board is provided with illumination; while the underside of the board is not. 
     Notwithstanding the efforts of prior art workers to construct illuminated skateboards/sport boards that provide safety during nighttime use, there remains a need in the art for an illuminated sport board/skateboard that emits a significant quantum of light for optimal visibility and safety. There exists a need in the art for an illuminated sport board that provides emission of light over substantially the entire surface of the board, including light emission from the top and bottom of the board, so that the light is emitted in an omnidirectional manner and is visible from virtually every position. Visibility of the individual using the board would be enhanced if light was emitted, not just from a thin band extending peripherally around a board, but from a plurality of segments located on the top and bottom of a sport/skateboard. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an illuminated sport board/skateboard that emits light from both the top of the board and the bottom in a manner that yields a significant quantum of light for optimal visibility and safety. As a result, the user of the board is visible from virtually every position and the safety of the board user is enhanced when dealing with vehicles as well as other persons carrying out related or like recreational activities. Visibility of the individual using the board is enhanced as light is emitted, not just from a thin band circumferentially around the board or a small rear or front spot, but from a plurality of segments located on the top and on the underside/bottom of the board. This virtual omnidirectional emission of light from the board is achieved by providing a base panel having at least one transparent segment and a top shell having at least one transparent display located on each of the underside and top of the board, respectively. 
     The illuminated sport board comprises a base panel having sides, an underside surface, upper surface, and interior core. The upper surface includes an opening therein that extends within the interior core of the base panel to form an inlay cavity therein. This inlay cavity may take a plethora of shapes and forms, but preferably it is a channel type construct. The underside of the base panel has at least one transparent segment that is aligned with the inlay cavity. The board further comprises a lighting source housed within the inlay cavity of the base panel. The light source can comprise a plurality of light emitting diodes, and preferably comprises at least one electroluminescent light strip. As such, the light source will hereinafter be described as an electroluminescent lighting source. A top shell having at least one transparent display is included as a feature of the board. The top shell is attached to the upper surface of the base panel so that the transparent display is aligned with the electroluminescent lighting strip within the inlay cavity for emitting light from the transparent display. A battery activated by a power control for supplying current to the electroluminescent light source is provided. The electroluminescent lighting source emits light through the transparent display of the top shell and the transparent segment of the underside surface of the base panel so that the sport board is highly visible. The illuminated sport board may further include wheels attached to the underside surface of the base panel to form a skateboard device. Alternatively, the sport board is constructed for use as a snowboard or in for use as skis. 
     A method of manufacturing an illuminated sport board is provided. The first step involves forming a base panel. The base panel comprises sides, an underside surface, upper surface, and interior core. The underside has at least one transparent segment. Next, illumination designs are selected and are aligned on the upper surface of the base panel and are cut, etched, or the like to form an opening traversing into an inlay cavity. This inlay cavity carved or otherwise formed in the base panel is aligned with the transparent segment of the base panel. An electroluminescent lighting strip is then sized and shaped to correspond with the illumination designs of the inlay cavity and same is then placed within the inlay cavity of the base panel. The next step involves cutting a compartment into the interior core of the base panel and fitting a battery with a power control therein and connecting same to the electroluminescent lighting strip. Subsequently, a top shell is formed. The top shell has at least one transparent display shaped as the illumination designs. This top shell is aligned with the base panel and visa vie the transparent display is aligned with the inlay cavity and electroluminescent light strip and is attached to the base panel. In operation, the electroluminescent lighting source emits light through the transparent display of the top shell and the transparent segment of the underside surface of the base panel so that the sport board is highly visible from both top and bottom views. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       The invention will be more fully understood and further advantages will become apparent when reference is had to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1   a  is a top view of the sport board wherein the electroluminescent lighting source is supplied with current so that the board is in the “on” or illuminated condition with light emitting from the transparent displays of the top shell and the transparent segment of the base panel; 
         FIG. 1   b  is a bottom view of the board of  FIG. 1  showing light emitting from the transparent segment of the base panel; 
         FIG. 1   c  is a top view of the sport board of  FIG. 1  wherein the board is in the “off” condition; 
         FIG. 2   a  is a schematic view showing the omnidirectionally illuminated sports board being assembled, wherein the inlay cavity resembles a series of channels in the base panel; and 
         FIG. 2   b  is a schematic view showing another embodiment of the omnidirectionally illuminated sports board being assembled, wherein the inlay cavity is a large insert in the base panel. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an illuminated sport board that emits light along a substantial portion of the surface of the board, including the top and the bottom thereof. A base panel is provided having an inlay cavity in the interior thereof and at least one transparent segment on the underside thereof aligned with the inlay cavity. A light source is positioned and housed within the inlay cavity. The light source can comprise a plurality of light emitting diodes, and preferably comprises an electroluminescent strip. A top shell is then attached to the upper surface of the base panel, substantially sealing the inlay cavity, and light source therein, so that the resultant board is durable and resilient when used during recreational/sporting activities. This top shell includes at least one transparent display, preferably intermingled with opaque sections or regions throughout the entire surface, and aligned with the light source so that the transparent displays emit light therefrom. Additionally, the transparent segments of the base panel emit light therefrom, so that light is emitted from virtually the entire surfaces, top and bottom, of the board and the board can be seen from any vantage point. This increases the margin of safety in dusk or night time environments when a vehicle is approaching by illuminating the board from substantially all angles, while at the same time enhancing visibility on tracks or slopes to minimize the risk of collisions with others. 
       FIGS. 1   a - 1   c  illustrate a schematic view of an embodiment of the sport board shown as a skateboard. Particularly:  FIG. 1  shows a top view of the skateboard wherein the electroluminescent lighting source is supplied with current so that the board is in the “on” or illuminated condition, shown generally at  10 ;  FIG. 1   b  shows a bottom view of the skateboard of  FIG. 1  in the “on” condition; and  FIG. 1   c  is a top view of the skateboard of  FIG. 1  wherein the board is in the “off” condition. The illuminated sport board comprises a base panel  11  with sides  12 , an underside surface  13 , upper surface  14 , and interior core  15 . Upper surface  14  includes an opening therein that extends downward within interior core  15  of base panel  11  to form an inlay cavity  16   n  ( 16   a - 16   n ) therein. In this figure, inlay cavity  16  traverses throughout interior core  15  of base panel  11  and is shown as a design therein having an outer channel  16   a  and a plurality of smaller regions  16   b . This inlay cavity  16   n  ( 16   a - 16   n ) may take a plethora of shapes and forms, but preferably it is a channel type construct and is formed within a substantial portion of interior core  15  of base panel  11 . Underside surface  13  of base panel  11  has at least one transparent segment  18   a ,  18   b  ( 18   a - 18   n ) that is aligned with inlay cavity  16   n  ( 16   a - 16   n ). Base panel  11  may include a plurality of transparent segments  118   n , or the entire body of base panel  11  may be substantially composed of a transparent material so that light can be emitted from virtually the entire base panel  11 . The board further comprises an electroluminescent lighting source  20  housed within inlay cavity  16   a ,  16   b  ( 16   a - 16   n ) of base panel  11 . Base panel  111  may be constructed so that sides  12  are composed of a transparent material so that electroluminescent lighting source  20  is further visible from sides  12  of base panel  11  during use. 
     Electroluminescent lighting source  20  may use different colored lights; the lights may be flashing, cascading (as in a timed sequence), constant, or a variety of these light patterns as would lend to enhanced safety. Electroluminescent light source  20  may comprise an electroluminescent sheet (preferably, double-sided), preferably having a width ranging between 2 to 27 inches and height ranging from 6 to 27 inches and can be cut into an array of designs and shaped to correspond to the inlay cavity  16 . Alternatively, electroluminescent light source  20  comprises an electroluminescent cable and/or ribbon/tube positioned within inlay cavity  16 ; preferably, the cable and/or ribbon has a width of 0.025 to 24 inches. 
     A battery  21  activated by a power control  22  is attached to electroluminescent light source  20  within base panel  11  for supplying current to electroluminescent light source  20 . Power control  22  may be activated by a pressure sensor/plurality of pressure sensors located within base panel  11  for supplying current to electroluminescent light source  20 . That way, the user merely steps on board  10  and the light  20  begins to emit; conversely, when the user steps off the board, the light  20  turns off. A light sensor may be provided to engage power control  22  and battery  21  for automatically activating/deactivating current supply to electroluminescent light source  20  so that the light  20  turns on when it becomes dim and automatically turns off in daylight. Alternatively, power control  22  may be provided with an on/off power switch having a top covering closable in a substantially sealed manner within base panel  11 . Most preferably, power control  22  attached to battery  21  may be integrated within a card reader  23  which is activated by a key  24  with an internal card tag/bar code, which in turn activates battery  21  for supplying current to electroluminescent light source  20 . The use of the card reader  23  is advantageous in that it provides instant activation of the current to the lighting source  20  without concern for water affecting the board or power control  22 . 
     A top shell  30  having at least one transparent display  32  ( 32   a - 32   n ) is attached to base panel  11  to form board  10 . Top shell  30  preferably further comprises a non-skid surface applied thereto for increased traction thereon. Preferably, base panel  11  and top shell  30  are both composed of, or substantially composed of, a transparent, abrasion resistant material. Base panel  11  and top shell  30  may be composed of/or include portions composed of a durable material, such as a polymeric material, titanium, and/or Kevlar. In turn, preferably top shell  30  includes a plurality of transparent displays  32   n  ( 32   a - 32   n ) and opaque sections  33  ( 33   a - 33   n ) dispersed on top shell  30  so that a substantial portion of top shell  30  is covered with transparent displays  32   a - 32   n  intermingled with opaque sections  33   a - 33   n . The transparent displays  32   a - 32   n  are optionally tinted or painted with at least one transparent pigment to allow light to pass through and opaque sections  33  ( 33   a - 33   n ) are preferably tinted or painted with at least one opaque pigment to prevent light from passing through. Preferably, base panel  11  and top shell  30  include a flat body section  50 ,  60  and curved end sections  51 ,  61 , arranged so that the inlay cavity  16  and visa vie electroluminescent lighting source  20  is inlaid within flat body section  50  of base panel  11 ; in turn, transparent displays  32   a - 32   n  are located on flat body section  60  of top shell  30 . 
     Top shell  30  is attached to upper surface  14  of base panel  11  so that transparent displays  32   n  ( 32   a - 32   n ) are aligned with electroluminescent lighting strip  20  within inlay cavity  16   a ,  16   b  ( 16   a - 16   n ) for emitting light from transparent displays  32   a ,  32   b  ( 32   a - 32   n ). The electroluminescent lighting source emits light through transparent displays  32   a ,  32   b  ( 32   a - 32   n ) of top shell  30  and transparent segments  18   a ,  18   b  ( 18   a - 18   n ) of underside surface  13  of base panel  11  so that skateboard  10  is highly visible. The illuminated sport board may further include wheels  40  attached to underside surface  13  of base panel  11 . Alternatively, the sport board may be constructed for use as a snowboard or for use as skis. 
     Inlay cavity  16  can be a plethora of shapes and sizes, and may include large regions within interior core  15  of base panel  11 . Transparent displays  32   a - 32   n  can be a plethora of shapes, sizes, designs, characters, indicia, and so on. Transparent displays  32   a - 32   n  may be specific characters and advertise various organizations. Moreover, opaque sections  33   a - 33   n  and transparent designs  32   a - 32   n  may be of any size, and may merely be speckles located along the entire surface of top shell  30  to look like an egg or the like with light radiating from every angle along the shaped of top shell  30 . Additionally, a retroreflective sheet thermally bonded to a woven or knitted strip may be bonded to portions of base panel  11  and top shell  30  to provide reflective properties, as well as illumination to the illuminated sport board  10 . Preferably, this retroreflective sheet should be bonded to sides  12  of base panel  11  and dispersed on top shell  30 . 
       FIG. 2   a  is a schematic view showing generally at  100  the omnidirectionally illuminated sports board being assembled. The first step involves forming a base panel  111  having sides  112 , an underside surface  113 , upper surface  114 , and interior core  115 . Underside  113  has at least one transparent segment  118   a ,  118   b  ( 118   a - 118   n ) aligned with an inlay cavity  116   n  ( 116   a - 116   n ) created from a plethora of illumination designs, herein resembling an interconnected channel. An electroluminescent lighting strip  120  is sized and shaped to correspond with the illumination designs of inlay cavity  116   n  ( 116   a - 116   n ) and same is placed within inlay cavity  116   n  ( 116   a - 116   n ) of base panel  111 . A battery  121  with a power control  122  is formed within base panel  111  and connecting to electroluminescent lighting strip  120  for supplying current thereto. Preferably, power control  122  attached to battery  121  may be integrated within a card reader  123  which is activated by a key  124  with an internal card tag/bar code, which in turn activates battery  121  for supplying current to electroluminescent light source  120 . Subsequently, a top shell  130  having at least one transparent display  32   a - 32   n  shaped as the illumination designs of inlay cavity  116   n  ( 116   a - 116   n ) is attached to base panel  111  in a substantially sealed condition. This top shell  130  is aligned with base panel  111  and visa vie transparent displays  132   n  ( 132   a - 132   n ) are aligned with inlay cavity  116   n  ( 116   a - 116   n ) and electroluminescent light strip  120 . In operation, electroluminescent lighting source  120  emits light through transparent displays  32   a - 32   n  of top shell  130  and transparent segments  118   a - 118   n  of underside surface  113  of base panel  111  so that the sport board is highly visible from both top and bottom views. 
       FIG. 2   b  is a schematic view showing another embodiment of the omnidirectionally illuminated sports board being assembled, wherein the inlay cavity is a large insert in the base panel, shown generally at  200 . Base panel  211  with sides  212 , underside surface  213 , upper surface  214 , and interior core  215  includes at least one transparent segment  218  ( 218   a - 218   n ) which herein is a rectangular shaped segment. This transparent segment  218  is aligned with an inlay cavity  216  ( 216   a - 216   n ) created from a plethora of illumination designs, herein resembling a large rectangular cut-out. An electroluminescent lighting strip  220  is sized and shaped to correspond with the illumination designs of inlay cavity  216  and same is placed therewithin. A battery  221  with a power control  222  is formed within base panel  211  and coupled to electroluminescent lighting strip  220  for supplying current thereto. Top shell  230  having at least one transparent display  232   a - 232   n  shaped as the illumination designs of inlay cavity  216  is attached to base panel  211  in a substantially sealed condition. 
     Having thus described the invention in rather full detail, it will be understood that such detail need not be strictly adhered to, but that additional changes and modifications may suggest themselves to one skilled in the art. For example, the light emitting diodes and/or electroluminescent lighting strips or electroluminescent wire can be sequenced intermittently to generate moving light, thereby creating an ever changing kaleidoscope of light movement. Such changes and modifications are intended to falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the subjoined claims.