Patent Publication Number: US-2009236811-A1

Title: Skateboard Riser with Integrated LED Light

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a non-provisional application of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/037,778 filed on Mar. 19, 2008, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     This invention was not federally sponsored. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to the general field of skateboards, and more specifically toward a riser for a skateboard with an integrated LED light. The riser is made of clear acrylic and attaches between the deck and the truck of the skateboard. The riser is battery powered and rechargeable. The LED emits light that travels through the riser and exits in almost all directions, thereby illuminating the space directly in front of and around the skateboard. 
     Lights, especially flashing lights, can create a unique visual appearance. The skateboarding industry strives to create new ways for skateboarders to differentiate themselves from other riders. As of yet, there are no systems or devices for emitting light from skateboards that can integrate fully into the skateboard and do not affect the skateboarder&#39;s ability to use the skateboard. 
     Skateboarding is also a fun and exciting sport that is usually enjoyed during the day. It can be more dangerous at night, however, since it is difficult for others to see the skateboarder. Street lighting is often inadequate or inconsistent. Bicyclists have overcome this issue by attaching lights to the handlebars or rear reflectors of their bicycles. Skateboarders do not have such a convenient place to attach a light that is capable of warning others of the skateboarder&#39;s presence. 
     Thus there has existed a long-felt need for source of light that skateboarders may attach to their skateboards to emit light and illuminate the area immediately around their skateboard. It should be visible to others in relative close proximity to the skateboarder not only for the novelty of lights on skateboard, but also to alert others of the presence of a skateboarder for safety reasons. Additionally, the light-emitting device should not affect the skateboarder&#39;s ability to ride and use all the available features of the skateboard. The device should be easy to mount and the batteries used to power the skateboard should be rechargeable or easily replaced. 
     The current invention provides just such a solution by having a riser for a skateboard with an integrated LED light. The riser is made of clear acrylic and attaches between the deck and the truck of the skateboard. The riser is battery powered and rechargeable. The LED emits light that travels through the riser and exits in almost all directions, thereby illuminating the space directly in front of and around the skateboard. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The current invention provides a skateboard with a riser that illuminates areas around the skateboard. It includes a battery, an LED, a switch, and a means for charging the battery. It is installed between the deck and one of the trucks of the skateboard. It may be necessary to install an additional riser on the opposing truck to maintain a level height of the deck of the skateboard. The light produced by the current invention can be used for safety and for fun. Other individuals, such as a driver of a car, will be more likely to avoid the skateboarder because of the visual notification of his or her presence. Also, the lights create a new and novel affect that has never before been seen. Maneuvers performed on a skateboard can be accentuated by lights, especially flashing lights. For example, the light emitted from the current invention can create a glow around the bottom of the board while traveling along the ground, but can also create eye-catching effects when flips are performed. 
     It is a principal object of the invention to provide a riser for a skateboard that emits light in substantially all directions around the skateboard. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a rechargeable, battery-powered riser for a skateboard that produces light. 
     It is a final object of this invention to provide a light emitting riser that can easily be installed on a skateboard. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. The features listed herein and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a bottom view of the light-emitting riser. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the light-emitting riser. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of a skateboard with the light-emitting riser. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of a skateboard with the light-emitting riser. 
         FIG. 5  is a lower perspective view of a skateboard with the light-emitting riser. 
         FIG. 6  is a view of a skateboarder riding a skateboard with an integrated light-emitting riser. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
     Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with references made to the drawings below. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Instead, emphasis is placed upon clearly illustrating the components of the present invention. Moreover, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts through the several views in the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a bottom view of the light-emitting riser. The light-emitting riser  10  includes a clear case  20  that is molded from a clear acrylic block. Other materials may be used to create the clear case  20 , but must be able to withstand the rigors of being a skateboard riser. The clear case is preferably created from a material that is transparent, but the material may also be translucent. Inside of the clear case  20  are a battery  11 , circuit board  12 , and a means for emitting light, such as a light emitting diode, or LED  13 . The battery  11  powers the circuit board  12 , which in turn powers the LED  13 . Also connected to the circuit board  12  are a charging port  14  and a switch  15 . The switch  15  is used to turn the device on and off, or more specifically, to turn the LED  13  on and off. The charging port  14  is used to charge the battery  11  such that the same battery  11  may be used repeatedly. Attachment holes  16  are used to connect the light-emitting riser  10  to the deck of a skateboard. A simpler version of the above light-emitting riser could include a clear case, battery, LED, and switch, whereby the battery is connected to the LED via the switch, and the switch turns the LED on and off. 
     Various different types of batteries can be used to power the device. Preferably, the battery is rechargeable such that it need not be replaced every time the battery is drained. The battery must be able to fit into a relatively small space yet be able to power an LED light for an extended period of time. It must meet the voltage requirements of the circuit board used to power the LED, if applicable. A slim battery that can produce approximately 4.5 volts has been found to meet these requirements. 
     While a single LED has been described, it is nonetheless possible, and even preferable, to use multiple LEDs. The LEDs can all be of the same color to create a more intense light, or can be of different colors. It is intended that the main purposes of the LEDs is to produce sufficient lighting to make objects proximate to the skateboard visible, but it may also be beneficial to use the lights as accent lighting, even during the day. The LEDs may be clustered together inside of the clear case, or may be evenly or randomly distributed throughout. Further, different sources of light other than LEDs are possible without departing from the scope of the current invention. There are many different types of small light bulbs that can be used in the current invention, so long as they are small enough to fit inside of the clear case and can produce a sufficient amount of light. 
     A charging port is used to connect a power source to the device to recharge the battery. Various different types of ports are possible, and may depend on the battery and voltage requirements of the circuit. The charging port can include a proprietary configuration, or can use a standard plug size or even a USB power connector. Additionally, the charging port can be connected to another battery that recharges the battery inside of the clear case, powers the circuit board and therefore the LED, or both. A solar cell may also be used to power the circuit board, recharge the battery, or both. It can be connected directly to the circuit or connected to the charging port. The solar cell that collects light and transforms it into an electrical current can be located externally from the skateboard, or integrated into the deck of the board. 
     In its simplest form, the switch is an on-off switch that is used to turn the LED light on and off. A light sensitive switch can also be used, such that the LED light is automatically turned on when the level of ambient light falls below a specified level. The switch can also be a multi-way switch that causes the circuit board to perform different functions depending upon the position of the switch. For example, the switch can be a three-way switch that turns the LED light on, off, or cause it to flash. If there are multiple LEDs, the circuit board can cause them all to flash together, in sequence, or to have the individual LEDs flash randomly. Other patterns and lighting options are possible without departing from the scope of the current invention. 
     As described above, the circuit board can be used to direct the flow of energy from the battery to the LEDs depending on the position of the switch. Various different circuit boards are available and well known in the art that can create a plethora of lighting effects. While a circuit board has been shown throughout the figures, it is nonetheless possible that the current invention could operate without a circuit board. The components of the circuit could be built directly into the clear case. Alternatively, the circuit could be placed entirely within the one or more LEDs. Further, multiple circuits and/or circuit boards could be used with the current invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the light-emitting riser. The light-emitting riser  10  includes a clear case  20 . Inside of the clear case  20  are a battery  11 , circuit board  12 , and a light emitting diode, or LED  13 . The battery  11  powers the circuit board  12 , which in turn powers the LED  13 . Also connected to the circuit board  12  are a charging port  14  and a switch  15 . Attachment holes  16  are used to connect the light-emitting riser  10  to the deck of a skateboard. On the top of the light-emitting riser  10  is a layer of reflective foil  17 . The layer of reflective foil  17  reflects light that would normally be incident upon the lower side of the deck. Other reflective materials may be used to achieve this goal of reflecting the light away from the deck of the skateboard and towards the ground below, thereby increasing the effective brightness of the light-emitting riser  10 . 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of a skateboard with the light-emitting riser. The light-emitting riser  10  is attached to the deck  40  of the skateboard  99 . Bolts  22  travel through the deck  40  of the skateboard  99 , the clear case  20  of the light-emitting riser  10 , and a truck  30  to secure the truck  30 , lighting-emitting riser  10 , and the deck  40  together. Other means of attachment are possible, including adhesives, magnets, and molding the clear case  20  and the deck  40  together. Nuts  21  secure the bolts  22 . Wheels  31  attach to the truck  30 . A battery  11  is located inside of the clear case  20  and powers the LED  13 . Dashed lines with arrows on the end represent paths of light emitted from the light-emitting riser  10 . 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of a skateboard with the light-emitting riser. The light-emitting riser  10  is attached to the deck  40  of the skateboard  99 . Bolts  22  travel through the deck  40  of the skateboard  99 , the clear case  20  of the light-emitting riser  10 , and a truck  30  to secure the truck  30 , lighting-emitting riser  10 , and the deck  40  together. Nuts  21  secure the bolts  22 . Wheels  31  attach to the truck  30 . A battery  11  is located inside of the clear case  20  and powers the circuit board  12  and LED  13 . A switch  15  is used to turn the LED  13  on and off and a recharging port  14  is used to recharge the battery  11 . Dashed lines with arrows on the end represent paths of light emitted from the light-emitting riser  10 . 
       FIG. 5  is a lower perspective view of a skateboard with the light-emitting riser. The light-emitting riser  10  is attached to the deck  40  of the skateboard  99 . Bolts  22  travel through the deck  40  of the skateboard  99 , the clear case  20  of the light-emitting riser  10 , and a truck  30  to secure the truck  30 , lighting-emitting riser  10 , and the deck  40  together. Nuts  21  secure the bolts  22 . Wheels  31  attach to the truck  30 . A switch  15  is used to turn the light-emitting riser  10  on and off and a recharging port  14  is used to recharge the battery. Dashed lines with arrows on the end represent paths of light emitted from the light-emitting riser  10 . 
       FIG. 6  is a view of a skateboarder riding a skateboard with an integrated light-emitting riser. The skateboarder  90  is riding a skateboard  99  equipped with a light-emitting riser  10 . Dashed lines with arrows on the end represent paths of light emitted from the light-emitting riser  10 . Different intensities of light are possible by changing the number or type of LEDs or different sources of light, thereby increasing or decreasing the effective distance the light-emitting riser  10  can illuminate. 
     It should be understood that while the preferred embodiments of the invention are described in some detail herein, the present disclosure is made by way of example only and that variations and changes thereto are possible without departing from the subject matter coming within the scope of the following claims, and a reasonable equivalency thereof, which claims I regard as my invention. 
     All of the material in this patent document is subject to copyright protection under the copyright laws of the United States and other countries. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in official governmental records but, otherwise, all other copyright rights whatsoever are reserved.