Abstract:
A shock absorption system for a sports board which includes a rocker assembly for attaching the board to a raised platform which rocks forward and aft on the board. A space between the platform and the board to accommodate two independent inflated bladders which create a cushion for the platform to rock into forward and aft. The pressure inside the bladders will be at the rider&#39;s desired psi and will be sufficient for the rider to exert extreme pressures for balance, control, and maneuvers on any given terrain conditions.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application is a completion application of co-pending of United States Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/338,772, filed Dec. 4, 2001, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention pertains to sport boards. More particularly, the present invention concerns a shock absorbing system for a sport board. Even more particularly, the present invention concerns a universal shock absorbing system for a wide variety of sport boards.  
         PRIOR ART  
         [0004]    In recent years, snowboarding, skate boarding, and water or aquatic board-related sports have continued to become increasingly popular sports. These sports have also become more competitive and demanding on both the rider and the equipment. The demand continues in recreational and competitive snow and water sports.  
           [0005]    In any form of transportation, there is an inherent element of “shock” that is produced by changing terrain conditions that transfers energy from the terrain ground or water into the vehicle that is speeding across it. In most forms of transportation, the vehicle has been equipped with some form of “shock absorbers” to smooth out the ride and to increase performance of both the equipment and the rider. It has become essential for the vehicle to be equipped with shock absorbers except in vehicles like the snowboards, skateboards, water skis and wakeboards. The present invention, as subsequently detailed, addresses this issue.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    In accordance herewith, there is provided a shock absorbing system for a sport board which comprises:  
           [0007]    (a) a sport or sporting board, and  
           [0008]    (b) a rocker system associated therewith.  
           [0009]    The rocker system or rocker, generally, comprises a pair of spaced apart first and second or lower and upper, respectively, rocking members which are disposed transverse to the longitudinal access of the board. The rocking members are hingedly interconnected through suitable means to enable the rocker to rotate or pivot forward and aft.  
           [0010]    The first or lower rocking member is integral with or otherwise affixed to the board on the upper surface thereof  
           [0011]    The upper or second rocking member is affixed to a platform which is disposed above the board such that a space is created between the bottom of the platform and the upper surface of the board.  
           [0012]    The upper rocking member and the lower rocking member include means for interdigitating, such as spacers or hinge members which cooperate to define a hinge. A hinge pin, or the like, interconnects the two together and defines a pivot about which the platform rotates.  
           [0013]    In a first embodiment here, a pair of bladders or other compressible bodies are affixed to the upper surface of the board, one on each side of the hinge, in the space between the board and the platform. Thus, as the platform teeters or pivots between a forward and an aft position on the board, it will encounter one of the two bladders. Each bladder is inflatable and contains the same amount of fluid, such as air.  
           [0014]    The bladders and hinge may be encased within a sealed shroud or the like to protect it from the elements.  
           [0015]    It is further contemplated in the practice of the present invention that the present invention be part of an original equipment or that it be retrofitted wherein the bladders, rocker members, and platform are disposed on a mounting plate which is secured to a sports board.  
           [0016]    For a more complete understanding of the present invention, references made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views in which: 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a top view of a sports board for use in the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is a side view of a sports board having the rocker system hereof mounted thereto;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is a top view of a sports board having the lower rocker member mounted thereto;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is a bottom review of the platform used herein having the upper rocker member mounted thereonto;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 is a partial side view showing the platform and the hinge pinhole;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 is a plan view, partly exploded, showing the hinge pin and the air bladders used herein;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a sleeve;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 8 depicts the rubber outer containment housing or shroud with upper and lower rubber seals and valve ports;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 9 is a front view of the upper and lower rocker members;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 9A is a front view of a spacer;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 10 is a side view of an air bladder; and  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 11 is a side view of a second embodiment hereof. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0029]    Now, in accordance with the present invention, and with reference to the drawing, in particular FIGS.  1 - 10 , there is depicted therein a sports board, generally, denoted at  16 . The sports board  16  hereof may comprise a ski board, skate board, water board, wave board, ski, or any other similar type of board which is used in various ground and aquatic sports. The present invention is contemplated for use in connection with and conjointly with any one of such type boards. Thus, the board  16  shown herein is a snowboard for illustrative purposes only. However, it is to be understood that the present invention is applicable to any other type of board such as those alluded to hereinabove.  
         [0030]    The board  16  hereof has an upper surface  11  and a lower surface  13 . Disposed on the board  16  is a shock absorbing system or shock absorber defined by a rocker system or rocker, generally, denoted at  12  (FIG. 9). The rocker system hereof, generally, comprises:  
         [0031]    (a) a first or lower rocker member  19  which is disposed atop the board  16 , and  
         [0032]    (b) an upper or second rocker member  31  which interdigitates with and is hingedly connected to the lower rocker member via means for hingedly interconnecting such as a pin or hinge pin  22 .  
         [0033]    In a first embodiment hereof, the lower rocker is secured to the upper surface  11  of the board  16  by any suitable means and, preferably, is molded integrally with the board. The lower rocker  19 , generally, comprises a transverse body disposed on the upper surface  11  of the board  16  and extending across the width thereof. The lower rocker member  19  further includes:  
         [0034]    (a) a pair of spaced apart flanges  19 ′,  19 ″, each having an aperture formed therein, and  
         [0035]    (b) a plurality of cylindrical sleeves  26  which are mounted onto the transverse rocker or fulcrum  19  or is integrally formed therewith.  
         [0036]    The sleeves  26 , as noted, are cylindrical and have a hollow interior. The sleeves are co-axial with themselves and the apertures of the flanges. A plurality of spacers  27 , as shown in FIG. 9A are disposed on either side of associated sleeves  26 , as shown.  
         [0037]    Disposed on either side of the fulcrum are compressible members  23  and  23 ′. Each compressible member is similar. The compressible members can comprise any suitable article such as a section of compressible foam, an inflatable bladder, or the like. Each of the bladders is independently inflatable with a suitable fluid such as water, air or the like. A valve member  24  associated with each bladder may be used to inflate and deflate its associated bladder, as desired. Preferably, in the practice of the present invention, each of the bladders contains the same amount of fluid so that they are substantially equal. Preferably, the bladders are air bladders. It is contemplated that the valves or valve members  24  will extend from their associated bladder through the platform  17  to facilitate accessibility thereto.  
         [0038]    The compressible members are secured to the upper surface of the board by any suitable means such as through an anchor  30 . Alternatively, the bladders may be secured to the upper surface  11  with a nylon hook and fastener (Velcro), gluing, or the like.  
         [0039]    As noted, the upper rocker assembly  31  is constructed similar to rocker member  19  and includes aperture flanges  31 ′ and  31 ″. The member  31  is secured to a platform  17 . The platform  17  has an upper surface  17 ′ and a lower surface  17 ″. As shown, the rocker  31  is integral with or otherwise affixed to the lower surface  17 ″. As shown in FIG. 5, the lower surface  17 ″ of the platform  17  is substantially bisected by the transverse rocker or fulcrum member  31  into a pair of identical sections. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the bottom surface  17 ″ of the platform  17  tapers from the member  31  to the outer perimetral edge of the board. The taper permits the space  90  between the lower surface of the platform  17  and the upper surface  11  of the board  16  to reduce quickly when the platform and the board teeter into each other.  
         [0040]    The upper rocker member  31  also includes a plurality of co-axial cylindrical sleeves  26 ′ integral therewith. The sleeves  26 ′ are constructed similarly to the sleeves disposed on the lower rocker member  19  and are spaced in a manner such that they will interdigitate, therewith, as shown in FIG. 9. The sleeves  26 ′ may be integrally formed with the fulcrum member  31  or may comprise a plurality of sleeves mounted thereonto. It should be noted in this regard, that the sleeves formed in the lower fulcrum member or transverse fulcrum member  16  may be integrally molded therewith, as shown in FIG. 9. Since each of the sleeves are coaxial, the hinge pin  22  can project therethrough to hingedly interconnect the platform to the lower rocker.  
         [0041]    It is readily appreciated that the platform pivots about the pin  22  both fore and aft in the directions of the arrow A (FIG. 5).  
         [0042]    It should be noted that the intermediate sleeves  26  and  26 ′ are optional since it is only necessary that the upper fulcrum member  31  be hingedly connected to the lower rocker member  19  so that the hinge pin  22  may project therethrough and interconnect the upper rocker to the lower rocker. Thus, only the apertured flanges  19 ′,  19 ″,  31 ′ and  31 ″ are necessary for hinged interconnection. Optionally, a plurality of wear rings or spacers  27  may be disposed between the sleeves  26 ′ to prevent wear or the like.  
         [0043]    In order to maintain the rocker system sealed from the elements and to maintain the integrity and pressure within the bladders, it is possible to enshroud the system with a shroud or outer containment housing  33 . In order to accommodate the shroud, valve ports  25  are provided in the seal or shroud  33 . The valves  24  extend from each of the bladders and protrude through the ports  25 , from the platform  17  to enable them to be connected to a suitable source of compressed air or other fluid (not shown). A pressure gauge or the like (not shown) can be operatively affixed to the valves to measure and control the pressure within the bladders.  
         [0044]    .As shown, a first sealing element or rim seal  20  is circumferentially disposed about the lower rocker member  19 . The rim seal  20  is used to attach a lower portion of a shroud  33  to encase the lower rocker  19  and to protect it from the elements, as explained herein below. The rim seal  20  secures a lower seal  28  associated with the shroud  33  thereto. Sealing is accomplished by snap-fitting the lower seal  28  into the lower rim seal  20  the lower seal  28  into the rim seal  20 .  
         [0045]    Referring to FIGS. 5 and 8, secured to the lower surface of the platform and surrounding the upper rocker member is a rim seal  32 . The rim seal  32  slidingly fits into the lower rim seal  28  to effectively close off the rocker system from the elements. The shroud  33  carries the seals  28  and  29 .  
         [0046]    Where used, the outer containment housing or shroud  33  is placed around the rocker assembly, the upper seal  29  and the lower seal  28  are snapped into the upper rim seal  32  and the lower rim seal  20 , respectively, to form a seal that will protect all the components inside from water, snow, ice, etc. The outer containment housing thus includes a bead, i.e. upper and lower seals  28  and  29 , that snaps into the rim seals all the way around the shock absorbing assembly to protect it from the elements. The outer containment housing is a continuous piece made of rubber, vinyl, nylon or other suitable water-impervious suitable material.  
         [0047]    The shroud  33 , being attached at both its top and bottom to the rocker assembly has a sufficient extension capability to allow full range of motion of the most forward part and most aft part of the platform.  
         [0048]    With the board and the platform joined together, there is defined a unitary shock absorbing assembly. The board and the platform are free moving parts, able to teeter in opposite directions from one another.  
         [0049]    The user, when deploying the present invention as a snowboard is positioned on the platform, toes pointing to one lateral edge, and heals pointing to the other or opposite lateral edge, one foot forward of the fulcrum, and one foot aft of the fulcrum, and the feet at about a nominal 3°-35° angle to the length and the width of the platform, though this is dictated by the comfort desires of the user. When associated with a ski, the platform may be modified to include bindings  18  for securing a ski boot (not shown) or other footwear. like.  
         [0050]    When used as water ski, the user has one foot forward of the fulcrum, centered on the platform and toes pointing toward the tip of the board and the other foot centered on the platform after of the fulcrum and toes pointing toward the tip of the board.  
         [0051]    As a kneeboard, the user is in the kneeling position, as a wake board, the user is in the same position as with a snowboard.  
         [0052]    The present invention can be used to retrofit an existing sport boards. Thus, and shown in FIG. 11 and in a second embodiment hereof, generally, denoted at  210  there is provided a mounting plate  212  to which is secured the rocker system hereof. The mounting plate  212  is dimensioned to lie atop or be superposed a sport board (not shown). The mounting plate is secured to the sport board through any suitable means, such as threaded fasteners, adhesives, and the like. In all respects the shock absorbing system is the same as in the first embodiment.  
         [0053]    It is to be appreciated that there has been described herein a sports board which enables the user to ride on a “cushion of air” or other suitable fluid thereby softening the ride while at the same time providing a rigid toe-to-toe or heel-to-heel (edge-to-edge) ride providing improved performance.