Abstract:
An Improved Skateboard Rack is disclosed. Also disclosed is a rack that provides users with a safe, secure and easily-used location to securely lock their skateboards. The preferred rack is attachable to a base frame in order to provide a location to secure several skateboards at one time. In the preferred embodiments, the rack provides means for hanging a conventional skateboard from its trucks in a manner that is simple enough for an adolescent to use.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to racks for sporting goods and, more specifically, to an Improved Skateboard Rack. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Skateboards, as shown in FIG. 1, have become a prevalent mode of transportation for today&#39;s youth. It is rare to find a child that has not ridden a skateboard  10 , and most use skateboards daily. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional skateboard  10 . In its typical form, it comprises a deck  12  usually made from wood, and a pair of wheel assemblies  14  located at the front and back of the deck  12 . Each wheel assembly  14  typically will comprise a set of trucks  16 , which are attached to the deck  12 , and a pair of wheels  18  extending from each end of the trucks  16 . 
     The problem with the popularity of the skateboard  10  is that they have become coveted by thieves. Since there has been no reliable means for the public to secure their skateboards in a certain location, many individuals find themselves carrying their skateboards with them wherever they go. This presents a particular problem for the school system since the classrooms are typically not an appropriate place for a skateboard to be stored. What is needed is a skateboard rack that is easy enough for a child to use, but still provides substantial security by locking the skateboard in place until the child needs it. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In light of the aforementioned problems associated with the prior devices, it is an object of the present invention to provide an Improved Skateboard Rack. It is also an object that the preferred rack will provide users with a safe, secure and easily-used location to securely lock their skateboards. It is another object that the rack be attachable to a base frame in order to provide a location to secure several skateboards at one time. It is yet another object that the rack provide means for hanging a conventional skateboard from its trucks. Finally, it is an object that the rack be simple enough for an adolescent to use. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, of which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional skateboard; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the improved skateboard rack of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a skateboard hanging from the skateboard rack of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view depicting the skateboard rack of FIGS. 2 and 3 with the trucks locked; 
     FIG. 5 is a front view of an improved skateboard rack assembly; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternate preferred embodiment of a skateboard rack of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of a skateboard rack of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out her invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide an Improved Skateboard Rack. 
     The present invention can best be understood by initial consideration of FIG.  2 . FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the improved skateboard rack  20  of the present invention. In its preferred form, the skateboard rack  20  comprises a pair of struts  22 A and  22 B in spaced relation to one another and connected to one another by a cross bar  24 . As can be seen, the struts  22 A and  22 B are not straight, but in fact include an elbow  26 A and  26 B and finally terminate in an upwardly turned bottom end  28 A and  28 B. Arranged in the lower portion of the struts  22 A and  22 B is wheel lock means  30 . In this embodiment, the wheel lock means  30  comprises a locking ring  32 , which is loosely hanging from the elbows  26 A and  26 B. Adjacent to the bottom end  28 A and  28 B are a pair of apertures  34  which are configured to cooperate with the locking ring apertures  36  shown in hidden lines in this drawing. Attached on the outer or bottom surface of the elbows  26 A and  26 B is a retaining plate  38  to prevent the locking ring  32  from being removed from the struts  22 A and  22 B. The operation of the wheel lock means  30  will be described below in connection with FIG.  4 . If we turn to FIG. 3, however, we can see how a skateboard might be hung from the preferred rack  20 . 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a skateboard  10  hanging from the skateboard rack  20  of the present invention. As you can see in FIG. 3, the skateboard  10  hangs from the preferred rack  20  by its wheel assembly  14 . When hanging as shown, the bottom ends  28  will reside between the wheel assembly  14  and the skateboard deck  12 . The bend radius of elbows  26  and the distance between the struts  22  are dimensioned to appropriately hang and lock virtually any size conventional skateboard by its trucks. There preferably is a loose fit to the struts in order to provide for a wide variety of shapes and styles of skateboards  10 . Now turning to FIG. 4, we can see how the skateboard is locked to the rack  20 . 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view depicting the skateboard rack  20  of FIGS. 2 and 3 with the trucks  16  locked. In this diagram (which excludes the skateboard deck  12 ), we can see that the trucks  16  and wheel assembly  14  are resting on the elbows  26 A and  26 B. It should be understood that prior to inserting or dropping the skateboard onto the elbows  26 A and  26 B, the user must raise the locking ring  32  so that the wheel assembly  14  can be placed therein. Once in place, the apertures  34  and  36  (see FIG. 2) are aligned and the user inserts the lock bolt  42  of any conventional locking device  40  (such as the padlock shown here) through the aligned apertures  34  and  36 . As can be seen now, the wheel assembly  14  is locked securely to the rack  20 . If we now turn to FIG. 5, we can see how a preferred rack assembly might be configured. 
     FIG. 5 is a front view of an improved skateboard rack assembly  50 . As we can see in this embodiment, the rack  50  comprises a pair of vertical posts  42  connected to one another by three horizontal bars  44 . Dispersed across the top two horizontal bars  44  are the skateboard racks described above in connection with FIGS. 2 through 4. In this manner, a plurality of skateboards  10  can be hung from the rack assembly  50  in an extremely compact space. It should further be noticed that in some cases a single skateboard rack  28  might be provided at the top most horizontal bar  44  while leading the rack off of the center horizontal bar  44 . This would provide a locking location for an extra long skateboard such as the type known as “long boards” (used for “cruising”). As is apparent, the rack assembly  50  can be made in a variety of sizes and configurations in order to accommodate the particular site in which it is installed. It should further be appreciated that while the racks  20  are shown attached to a rack assembly  50  here, the racks  20  might simply be attached to a pre-existing wall or some other structure if desired. 
     Another preferred option might be to provide a small roof over the top of the top horizontal bar  44  that extends outwardly to protect the skateboards  10  from inclement weather. Any conventional structure to provide this roof would be sufficient. If we now turn to FIG. 6, we can examine yet another preferred embodiment. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternate preferred embodiment of a skateboard rack  60  of the present invention. As we can see here, the rack  60  comprises a pair of struts  23 A and  23 B through which is attached an alternate wheel lock means  31 . The wheel lock means  31  comprises a rear locking ring half  33 A and a front locking ring half  33 B. The two halves  33  are pivotally attached to one another by a pivot pin  44 . This permits the front locking ring half  33 B to be rotated up and down along the arc  46  such that a user might place a skateboard within the wheel lock means  31 . Once the skateboard has been inserted, a lock bolt or pin  42 , such as the one shown above in connection with FIG. 4, can be inserted. If we now turn to FIG. 7, we can see yet another alternate embodiment of a skateboard rack of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of a skateboard rack  70  of the present invention. As in FIG. 6, this rack  70  comprises a pair of struts  23 A and  23 B and another alternate wheel lock means  35 . This wheel lock means  35  comprises an alternate rear locking ring half  37 A and an alternate front locking ring half  37 B connected to one another by a pivot pin  44 . Again, the alternate front locking ring half  37 B can travel through an arc of rotation  46  until such time as the lock bolt or pin  42  is inserted within the appropriate apertures provided. Again, this will provide a secure method for locking a skateboard in the rack  70 . 
     Both racks of FIG.  6  and FIG. 7 can be attached to walls or in a manner similar to the rack assembly depicted in FIG.  5 . 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.