Patent Publication Number: US-2009236816-A1

Title: Skateboard street paddle

Description:
CONTINUITY 
     This U.S. Non-provisional patent application continues from a U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 11/861,425 filed Sep. 26, 2007. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The instant invention disclosed herein relates to skateboards and skateboarding and is more particularly related to paddles used to increase safety, efficacy and mobility when propelling a skateboard. 
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
     From nearly the beginning of time there has been the use of a paddle that is used to propel a water vessel across the seas. A paddle typically consists a handle, shaft and a blade which allows a person to propel the water craft forward by efficiently pushing the water backwards, which then, delivers an opposite forward force which propels the water craft. More recently, skiers have utilized ski poles to propel and assist in balancing and stabilizing their down hill or cross country journey. 
     Currently, there is no paddle made for skateboard use. Presently, skateboards are propelled by placing one foot on the skateboard and “pushing” the board with the opposite foot which provides acceleration of the skateboard. In order to slow down the skateboard, a rider much either drag their foot, jump off the board, create “drag” by turning. or utilize a skateboard break. 
     The problem with pushing a skateboard by one&#39;s foot is three-fold. 1) fatigue sets in quickly because of the constant pushing of one&#39;s foot and could cause loss of control, 2) throws the body out of alignment of a natural motion because of the constant pushing of one foot on the road while the other foot maintains balance on the board and 3) maintaining a secure balance with one leg being on the skateboard and the other leg being used for the only ground contact. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     In brief summary, this novel invention allows a user of a skateboard or user of any similar wheeled device the ability to be propelled using a stroking motion of a “street paddle” applied against a ground surface 
     The street paddle consists of a shaft of various lengths and grasping modes to accommodate for the height of a particular rider. The shaft may be constructed of wood, fiberglass, aluminum or other materials which meet weight and strength objectives. On the top end of the shaft, positioned as a grip for the hand, a handle is constructed perpendicular to the shaft, allowing for gripping and positioning for efficacious use. Disposed at the bottom or inferior end of the shaft is constructed an high friction footing that is designed to provide a contact point between the riding surface, such as a riding path, street or road and the shaft. The contact point is designed to permit the street paddle to grip the road in such a fashion that the contour of the contact matches the plane of the road. Additionally, the footing is fixed relative to the shaft for a more secure contact and is made of material which provides shock absorption capabilities. A molded hard rubber may be used for such purposes. 
     The preferred form of the footing is designed to be securely affixed to the shaft. As an example, the footing may comprise a hub and two high density rubber, non rotate-able, ground contacting members which are securely, but removably affixed thereto. Such members are designed to provide a smooth curvature allowing the street paddle to follow the contour of the road, securing each thrust point as the skateboard is propelled forward. The design also allows a rider to apply forces against a ground surface to slow down the velocity of the skateboard. 
     It is therefore a primary object to provide a street paddle for use while skate boarding which provides an alternate mode of improving stability and accelerating and decelerating without relying entirely upon action of a foot. 
     It is another object to provide a street paddle which has a high friction ground contact point which adapts to variable ground contours. 
     It is yet another object to provide a street paddle which has a replaceable footing permitting a worn part to be replaced. 
     It is yet another object to provide various weights of street paddles to allow for increased exercise and balance and match skill and physical characteristics of a user. 
     These and other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description taken with reference to accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevation of a street paddle made according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevation of the street paddle seen in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the street paddle seen in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference is now made to the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  wherein like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout. As seen in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , a street paddle  10  generally comprises parts consisting of a shaft  20 , a superiorly disposed handle  30 , an interiorly disposed hub  40  and a pair of ground contacting members, each numbered  50 . These parts are seen separately in  FIG. 3 , with dashed lines  52 ,  54 ,  56  and  58  showing associated linkages. 
     Shaft  20  should be sufficiently sturdy to withstand forces associated with a mature adult traveling at high skateboard velocities striking the ground to decelerate or vary direction of travel. As such, a shaft may be made of wood, carbon fiber or a composite material, which may be formed or molded, and generally be small enough to be grasped by a hand, but large enough to absorb such loads without breaking. 
     Handle  30  should be made of material which is readily mechanically or adhesively affixed to shaft  20 . Handle  30  should provide a gripping surface, such as surface  60  and/or  62  which is comfortably grasped. As such Handle  30  may also be made from wood, carbon fiber or a composite material similar to material used in shaft  20 . 
     Hub  40 , as is the case of handle  30 , should be made of material which is readily mechanically or adhesively affixed to shaft  20 . However, care should be taken to assure hub  40  and associated shaft  20 , together, can withstand forces earlier disclosed for shaft  20 . Hub  40  may be made from materials similar to those used for shaft  20 . 
     Each ground contacting member  50  may be round, like wheels (see  FIG. 2 ), however each such member should be so affixed to hub  40  that rotation is difficult, if not impossible when member  50  is being applied against a ground surface. Though two members  50  are shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , street paddle  10  may comprise one or more such members  50  within the scope of the instant invention. Further, the object of member  50  is to provide a good resistive contact against a ground impact site. For this reason, member  50  shapes may vary from round to elliptical to geometric polygons and from smooth to having a grooved tread. 
     It is important that each member  50  is made from an impact resistant material, such as high density rubber. As such materials may wear through use, it is also important, though not necessary, that each member  50  be removable and replaceable upon hub  40 . 
     The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.