Patent Publication Number: US-9415296-B1

Title: Skateboard accessory

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to provisional patent application U.S. Ser. No. 62/073,628 filed on Oct. 31, 2014, the entire contents of which is herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The embodiments herein relate generally to skateboards and skateboard accessories. 
     Prior to embodiments of the disclosed invention, switching a deck on a skateboard was a time consuming process. A deck could need to be replaced as a result of damage, a change in design taste or any other reason. Embodiments of the disclosed invention solve this problem. 
     SUMMARY 
     A skateboard is configured to receive at least one faceplate. The skateboard has a motherboard which further has a top side, a bottom side, a front end, and a rear end. The motherboard is symmetrical about a central axis which runs from the front end to the rear end. A forward truck and a rearward truck are attached to the motherboard. A plurality of slots are arranged symmetrically about the central axis on the motherboard. The plurality of slots are adapted to receive the at least one faceplate. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The detailed description of some embodiments of the invention is made below with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein like numerals represent corresponding parts of the figures. 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a top perspective exploded view of an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom perspective exploded view of an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of the faceplate detailing the post component. 
         FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of the motherboard detailing slot component. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective detail of the invention post component inserted into slot component but not in locked position. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective detail of the invention post component inserted into slot component and in locked position. 
         FIG. 9  is a section detail exploded view of an embodiment of the invention along line  9 - 9  in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 10  is a section detail view of an embodiment of the invention along line  10 - 10  in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 11  is a section detail view of an embodiment of the invention along line  11 - 11  in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 12  is a detail perspective view of the male button. 
         FIG. 13  is a detail perspective view of an embodiment of the female button. 
         FIG. 14  is a section view of an embodiment of the invention along line  14 - 14  in  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS 
     By way of example, and referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , one embodiment of the skateboard accessory  10  comprises motherboard  12  attached to first faceplate  40 A and second faceplate  40 B. 
     Motherboard  12  further comprises top side  14 , bottom side  16 , front end  18  and rear end  20 . Motherboard  12  is symmetrical about central axis  22  which runs from front end  18  to rear end  20 . 
     Motherboard  12  further comprises a plurality of rearward slots  24 . The plurality of rearward slots  24  further comprises outboard rearward first side slot  24 A, inboard rearward first side slot  24 B, outboard rearward second side slot  24 C, and inboard rearward second side slot  24 D. Outboard rearward first side slot  24 A and outboard rearward second side slot  24 C are symmetrically located on motherboard  12  about central axis  22 . Inboard rearward first side slot  24 B and inboard rearward second side slot  24 D are symmetrically located on motherboard  12  about central axis  22 . 
     Motherboard  12  further comprises a plurality of central rearward slots  24 . The plurality of central rearward slots  24  further comprises outboard central rearward first side slot  24 E, inboard central rearward first side slot  24 F, outboard central rearward second side slot  24 G, and inboard central rearward second side slot  24 H. Outboard central rearward first side slot  24 E and outboard central rearward second side slot  24 G are symmetrically located on motherboard  12  about central axis  22 . Inboard central rearward first side slot  24 F and inboard central rearward second side slot  24 H are symmetrically located on motherboard  12  about central axis  22 . 
     Motherboard  12  further comprises a plurality of central slots  24 . The plurality of central slots  24  further comprises inboard central first side slot  24 I, and inboard central second side slot  24 J. Inboard central first side slot  24 I and inboard central second side slot  24 J are symmetrically located on motherboard  12  about central axis  22 . 
     Motherboard  12  further comprises a plurality of forward slots  24 . The plurality of forward slots  24  further comprises outboard forward first side slot  24 K, inboard forward first side slot  24 L, outboard forward second side slot  24 M, inboard forward second side slot  24 N. Outboard forward first side slot  24 K and outboard forward second side slot  24 M are symmetrically located on motherboard  12  about central axis  22 . Inboard forward first side slot  24 L and inboard forward second side slot  24 N are symmetrically located on motherboard  12  about central axis  22 . 
     Motherboard  12  further comprises a plurality of central forward slots  24 . The plurality of central forward slots  24  further comprises outboard central forward first side slot  24 O, inboard central forward first side slot  24 P, outboard central forward second side slot  24 Q, and inboard central forward second side slot  24 R. Outboard central forward first side slot  24 O and outboard central forward second side slot  24 P are symmetrically located on motherboard  12  about central axis  22 . Inboard central forward first side slot  24 Q and inboard central forward second side slot  24 R are symmetrically located on motherboard  12  about central axis  22 . 
     Motherboard  12  further comprises a plurality of forward male snap fasteners  26 . The plurality of forward male snap fasteners  26  further comprises first side outboard forward male snap fastener  26 A, first side central forward male snap fastener  26 B, first side inboard forward male snap fastener  26 C, second side outboard forward male snap fastener  26 D, second side central forward male snap fastener  26 E, and second side inboard forward male snap fastener  26 F. First side outboard forward male snap fastener  26 A and second side outboard forward male snap fastener  26 D are symmetrically located on motherboard  12  about central axis  22 . First side central forward male snap fastener  26 B and second side central forward male snap fastener  26 E are symmetrically located on motherboard  12  about central axis  22 . First side inboard forward male snap fastener  26 C and second side inboard forward male snap fastener  26 F are symmetrically located on motherboard  12  about central axis  22 . 
     The motherboard  12  further comprises a plurality of rearward male snap fasteners  26 . The plurality of rearward male snap fasteners  26  further comprises first side outboard rearward male snap fastener  26 G, first side inboard rearward male snap fastener  26 H, second side outboard rearward male snap fastener  26 I, and second side inboard rearward male snap fastener  26 J. First side outboard rearward male snap fastener  26 G and second side outboard rearward male snap fastener  26 I are symmetrically located on motherboard  12  about central axis  22 . First side inboard rearward male snap fastener  26 H and second side inboard rearward male snap fastener  26 J are symmetrically located on motherboard  12  about central axis  22 . 
     Motherboard  12  is attached to rearward truck  28 A with first side rearward truck bolts  30 A,  30 B and second side rearward truck bolts  30 C,  30 D. The first side rearward truck bolts  30 A,  30 B and the second side rearward truck bolts  30 C,  30 D are symmetrically located on motherboard  12  about central axis  22 . 
     Motherboard  12  is attached to forward truck  28 B with first side forward truck bolts  30 E,  30 F and second side forward truck bolts  30 G,  30 H. The first side forward truck bolts  30 E,  30 F and the second side forward truck bolts  30 G,  30 H are symmetrically located on motherboard  12  about central axis  22 . 
     First faceplate  40 A further comprises a first plurality of rearward track inserts  42 . The first plurality of rearward track inserts  42  further comprises: first rearward track insert  42 A and second rearward track insert  42 B. 
     First faceplate  40 A further comprises a plurality of rearward first side posts  44 . The plurality of rearward first side posts  44  further comprises outboard rearward first side post  44 A and inboard rearward first side post  44 B. 
     First faceplate  40 A further comprises a plurality of central rearward first side posts  44 . The plurality of central rearward first side posts  44  further comprises outboard central rearward first side post  44 E and inboard central rearward first side post  44 F. First faceplate  40 A further comprises an inboard central first side post  44 I. 
     First faceplate  40 A further comprises a plurality of forward first side posts  44 . The plurality of forward first side posts  44  further comprises: outboard forward first side post  44 K and inboard forward first side post  44 L. 
     First faceplate  40 A further comprises a plurality of central forward first side posts  44 . The plurality of central forward first side posts  44  further comprises: outboard central forward first side post  44 O, and inboard central forward first side post  44 P. 
     First faceplate  40 A further comprises a plurality of first side forward female snap fasteners  46 . The plurality of first side forward female snap fasteners  46  further comprises: first side outboard forward female snap fastener  46 A, first side central forward female snap fastener  46 B, and first side inboard forward female snap fastener  46 C. 
     First faceplate  40 A further comprises a plurality of first side rearward female snap fasteners  46 . The plurality of first side rearward female snap fasteners  46  further comprises: first side outboard rearward female snap fastener  46 G and first side inboard rearward female snap fastener  46 H. 
     Second faceplate  40 B further comprises a second plurality of rearward track inserts  42 . The second plurality of rearward track inserts  42  further comprises: second rearward track insert  42 C and second rearward track insert  42 D. 
     Second faceplate  40 B further comprises a plurality of rearward second side posts  44 . The plurality of rearward second side posts  44  further comprises outboard rearward second side post  44 C and inboard rearward second side post  44 D. 
     Second faceplate  40 B further comprises a plurality of central rearward second side posts  44 . The plurality of central rearward second side posts  44  further comprises outboard central rearward second side post  44 G and inboard central rearward second side post  44 H. Second faceplate  40 B further comprises an inboard central second side post  44 J. 
     Second faceplate  40 B further comprises a plurality of forward second side posts  44 . The plurality of forward second side posts  44  further comprises: outboard forward second side post  44 M and inboard forward second side post  44 N. 
     Second faceplate  40 B further comprises a plurality of central forward second side posts  44 . The plurality of central forward second side posts  44  further comprises: outboard central forward second side post  44 Q, and inboard central forward second side post  44 R. 
     Second faceplate  40 B further comprises a plurality of second side forward female snap fasteners  46 . The plurality of second side forward female snap fasteners  46  further comprises: second side outboard forward female snap fastener  46 D, second side central forward female snap fastener  46 E, and second side inboard forward female snap fastener  46 F. 
     Second faceplate  40 B further comprises a plurality of second side rearward female snap fasteners  46 . The plurality of second side rearward female snap fasteners  46  further comprises: second side outboard rearward female snap fastener  46 I and second side inboard rearward female snap fastener  46 J. 
       FIGS. 5-11  show an example of a post  44 , which could be any of the numerous posts described above. Each post  44  further comprises post body  48  attached to post head  50 . The post body  48  is attached to a faceplate  40 . Motherboard  12  has numerous slots  24 . Each slot  24  further comprises slot opening  52  connected to slot ridge  54 . To join faceplate  40  to motherboard  12  a user inserts each post head  50  into a slot opening  52  and then slides post head  50  onto slot ridge  54 . 
       FIGS. 12-14  show an example of a male snap  26 , attached to motherboard  10  being joined in a female snap  46  attached to a faceplate  40 . Note that the opening around male snap  26  is slightly larger than female snap  46  so that female snap  46  can deform outward into the opening around male snap  26 . To join faceplate  40  to motherboard  12  a user inserts each male snap  26  into a female snap  46  and applies pressure until the connection is complete. 
     As used in this application, the term “a” or “an” means “at least one” or “one or more.” 
     As used in this application, the term “about” or “approximately” refers to a range of values within plus or minus 10% of the specified number. 
     As used in this application, the term “substantially” means that the actual value is within about 10% of the actual desired value, particularly within about 5% of the actual desired value and especially within about 1% of the actual desired value of any variable, element or limit set forth herein. 
     All references throughout this application, for example patent documents including issued or granted patents or equivalents, patent application publications, and non-patent literature documents or other source material, are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties, as though individually incorporated by reference, to the extent each reference is at least partially not inconsistent with the disclosure in the present application (for example, a reference that is partially inconsistent is incorporated by reference except for the partially inconsistent portion of the reference). 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
     Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specified function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶6. In particular, any use of “step of” in the claims is not intended to invoke the provision of 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶6. 
     Persons of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that numerous design configurations may be possible to enjoy the functional benefits of the inventive systems. Thus, given the wide variety of configurations and arrangements of embodiments of the present invention the scope of the invention is reflected by the breadth of the claims below rather than narrowed by the embodiments described above.