Abstract:
A riser for mounting a skateboard truck to a skateboard undersurface has a base portion having a board mounting interface surface, an overall first height dimension, and two or more through-openings for fasteners to fasten the base portion firmly to the undersurface of the skateboard, and a cantilever portion extending away from the base portion for a first length, the cantilever portion having a thickness less than the first height dimension, leaving a clearance of a second dimension between the cantilever portion and the skateboard undersurface as mounted to the skateboard undersurface, and a pattern of holes through the cantilever portion for mounting a skateboard truck to the riser on a side of the riser away from the skateboard undersurface.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED DOCUMENTS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to the provisional patent application 61/422,798 filed on Dec. 14, 2010, and all disclosure of the priority application is incorporated at least by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention is in the field of recreational and sports equipment and accessories and pertains particularly to methods and apparatus for adding spring resistance between a skateboard and a truck assembly. 
         [0004]    2. Discussion of the State of the Art 
         [0005]    The art of skateboarding is practiced both as a recreational activity and as a serious sport. Typical skateboard tricks include various jumps, rail slides, and other acrobatic tricks involving a rider and the skateboard. When a skater rides a skateboard the natural momentum of the board, for example, at the beginning of a jump, is leveraged to keep the board in motion at the rider&#39;s feet. The truck assemblies of the board suffer some shock at especially heavy landings, and such landings can damage the board or the trucks, and may injure the rider because of a lack of or insufficient level of shock-absorbing properties in the truck assemblies of the board. 
         [0006]    Therefore, what is clearly needed is a method and apparatus that provides resilient resistance between the truck assemblies and the board of the skateboard. Such a method and apparatus will enable softer landings and more leverage of board momentum in performing acrobatic tricks. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In one embodiment of the present invention a riser for mounting a skateboard truck to a skateboard undersurface is provided, comprising a base portion having a board mounting interface surface, an overall first height dimension, and two or more through-openings for fasteners to fasten the base portion firmly to the undersurface of the skateboard, and a cantilever portion extending away from the base portion for a first length, the cantilever portion having a thickness less than the first height dimension, leaving a clearance of a second dimension between the cantilever portion and the skateboard undersurface as mounted to the skateboard undersurface, and a pattern of holes through the cantilever portion for mounting a skateboard truck to the riser on a side of the riser away from the skateboard undersurface. 
         [0008]    In one embodiment the riser is made of a polymer material and in another of a metal. 
         [0009]    In an alternative embodiment the riser further comprises an extension of the base portion for a second length in the direction of the cantilever, extending the board mounting interface below the cantilever portion by the second length, the extension of the base portion having a width less than the width of the cantilever portion with a third through-opening for an additional fastener to fasten the base portion to the skateboard undersurface, and an opening in the cantilever portion of a width and length greater than the width and second length of the base extension, such that the extension of the base portion does not prevent the cantilever portion from flexing toward the skateboard undersurface. 
         [0010]    In another aspect of the invention a method for mounting a skateboard truck to a skateboard undersurface to provide shock resiliency is provided, comprising the steps of (a) providing two risers each having a base portion having a board mounting interface surface, an overall first height dimension, and two or more through-openings for fasteners to fasten the base portion firmly to the undersurface of the skateboard, and a cantilever portion extending away from the base portion for a first length, the cantilever portion having a thickness less than the first height dimension, leaving a clearance of a second dimension between the cantilever portion and the skateboard undersurface as mounted to the skateboard undersurface; (b) mounting the risers in separate positions to the undersurface of a skateboard by fasteners through the through-openings; and (c) mounting a skateboard truck to each of the risers on the cantilever portion of each riser. 
         [0011]    In one embodiment of the method the risers are made from a polymer material, and in another embodiment from metal. In an alternative embodiment of the method there is an extension of the base portion for a second length in the direction of the cantilever, extending the board mounting interface below the cantilever portion by the second length, the extension of the base portion having a width less than the width of the cantilever portion with a third through-opening for an additional fastener to fasten the base portion to the skateboard undersurface, and an opening in the cantilever portion of a width and length greater than the width and second length of the base extension, such that the extension of the base portion does not prevent the cantilever portion from flexing toward the skateboard undersurface. 
         [0012]    In yet another aspect of the invention a skateboard is provided comprising an upper surface and an undersurface, two risers each having a base portion having a board mounting interface surface, an overall first height dimension, and two or more through-openings for fasteners to fasten the base portion firmly to the undersurface of the skateboard, and a cantilever portion extending away from the base portion for a first length, the cantilever portion having a thickness less than the first height dimension, leaving a clearance of a second dimension between the cantilever portion and the skateboard undersurface as mounted to the skateboard undersurface, and a skateboard truck mounted to each of the risers on the cantilever portion of each riser, such that weight applied to the upper surface causes the cantilever portions to flex, providing thereby relative movement between the skateboard trucks and the undersurface. 
         [0013]    In one embodiment the skateboard further comprises an extension of the base portion of each riser for a second length in the direction of the cantilever, extending the board mounting interface below the cantilever portion by the second length, the extension of the base portion having a width less than the width of the cantilever portion with a third through-opening for an additional fastener to fasten the base portion to the skateboard undersurface, and an opening in the cantilever portion of each riser of a width and length greater than the width and second length of the base extension, such that the extension of the base portion does not prevent the cantilever portion from flexing toward the skateboard undersurface. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is an elevation view of a skateboard with riser parts according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a riser part with a slot for spring steel re-enforcement. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the riser part of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a riser part re-enforced with rubber and spring steel. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the riser part of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a side view of a riser part assembly re-enforced with springs. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the riser part assembly of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is an elevation view of a skateboard with bowed riser parts according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 9   a  is a perspective view of a riser having a stabilizer portion in addition to the base portion and a cantilevered portion. 
           [0023]      FIG. 9   b  illustrates the riser of  FIG. 9   a  in side elevation with the cantilever portion flexed. 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  illustrates an alternative embodiment for providing a riser with a stabilizer portion. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    The inventor provides a skateboard with resilient riser parts having spring-like action installed between the board and truck assemblies of the board. The present invention is described in enabling detail below using examples which may describe more than one relevant embodiment falling within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a skateboard  100  is illustrated in elevation view. Skateboard  100  includes a board  101  manufactured of typical materials used in skateboard manufacture. Intermediate riser parts  102   a  and  102   b  (one per end) are provided in between board  101  and standard truck assemblies  104   a  and  104   b.    
         [0027]    Riser parts  102   a  and  102   b  may be manufactured of a resilient polymer or other material having spring-resistant properties. In a preferred embodiment each riser part  102   a,  and  102   b  is formed having a base portion that is mounted directly to board  101  using bolts  103 , and a cantilevered portion that extends longitudinally toward the center portion of board  101 . It is not required that the cantilevered extension extend toward the center, as the mounting to the board might be adjusted accordingly so that the extension could be away from center, but the present arrangement is sufficient to explain the invention. 
         [0028]    The cantilevered portion of riser part  102   a  and  102   b  leaves a gap  A  between the underside of board  101  and the upper surface of the cantilever arm of each riser part. The length and/or the thickness of the cantilevered portion of the riser part can be controlled in manufacturing to increase or decrease the spring resistance of the cantilever arm. 
         [0029]    Standard truck assemblies  104   a  and  104   b  are mounted directly to the cantilevered arms of riser parts  102   a  and  102   b  via bolts  105  through openings provided in assembly truck bases  106 . A user riding skateboard  100  benefits by added shock absorption properties provided by the spring resilience of the cantilevered riser parts  102   a  and  102   b.  Likewise, natural board momentum, such as at the beginning of a vertical jump, is significantly increased by virtue of riser parts  102   a  and  102   b  flexibility and spring resistance properties, much in the manner that a diver might manipulate a springboard when diving. 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a riser part  200  is illustrated in side view. Riser part  200  is similar in material and construction to riser parts  102   a  and  102   b  of  FIG. 1 . An exception is that riser part  202  has a slot  201  machined horizontally through the base portion of riser  202  and extending substantially into the cantilevered portion of the riser part. Slot  201  has a width suitable for insertion of a piece of spring steel used to re-enforce the spring resistant properties of the cantilever portion of the riser part. In this embodiment the riser may be manufactured of a polymer material, for example, such as by molding, and the spring rate of the cantilever portion may be controlled by the thickness and the nature of the material, such as tempered steel, that may be inserted into slot  201 . 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , riser part  200  is illustrated in bottom view. Riser part  200  in this embodiment is mounted to the underside of a skateboard using two threaded holes  203  as described further above with respect to riser parts  102   a  and  102   b.  A standard truck assembly such as assembly  104   a  of  FIG. 1  mounts directly to the cantilevered arm of riser part  200  using threaded openings  202 . It is noted herein that in all embodiments threaded inserts such as helicoils might be provided in place of finished tapped holes. 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a riser part  401  is illustrated in side view in this example. Like all of the riser parts previously described, riser part  401  has a base portion and an extended cantilevered portion. In this embodiment a piece of spring steel  402  is mounted to the surface of riser part  401  that interfaces with a standard truck assembly. This version is an alternative to the slotted version described in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0033]    In one embodiment of the present invention, a piece of stiff rubber  403  or similar resilient material may be provided to fill the gap between the board and the cantilevered portion of riser part  401 . The rubber insert may be glued or mounted directly to the underside of the board. Rubber  403  may be used to re-enforce spring resistance in addition to or in place of the spring steel. Openings may be provided through the spring steel plate  402  to facilitate truck assembly mounting of a standard truck assembly. Referring now to  FIG. 5 , riser part  401  is illustrated in bottom view showing truck mount openings (backside) and board-mount openings. 
         [0034]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a riser part assembly  600  is illustrated in side view. Riser part  600  is an assembly in this embodiment including a base part  602  mounted to a cantilever arm  601 . Openings  603  are provided through cantilever part  601  matching threaded holes  605  in base portion  602  so cantilever  601  may be bolted to base portion  602 . In one embodiment part  602  may be provided in other ways to mate with cantilever portion  601  without using bolts or screws to assemble the riser. 
         [0035]    In this example, riser assembly  600  may further include steel springs  604  placed in the gap between the riser assembly cantilevered arm and the underside of the skateboard to increase the spring rate if desired. 
         [0036]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , assembly  600  is illustrated in bottom view showing four springs  604  and four openings  603  provided to assemble the two pieces, base  602  and cantilevered arm  601  together. 
         [0037]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , a skateboard  800  is illustrated in elevation view. Skateboard  800  has specially formed riser parts  802   a  and  802   b.  In this example, riser parts  802   a  and  802   b  are shaped or formed to arc away from the underside of the board  801  when mounted at their base portions using bolts  803 . The arcing of the cantilevered portions of risers  802   a  and  802   b  provides reinforcement to the spring resistant properties of the cantilevers. The standard truck assemblies  104   a  and  104   b  are mounted to the cantilever arms as described further above although some machining for clearance and for surface to surface mating might be performed before mounting the truck assemblies to the cantilevered arms. This embodiment may be practiced with or without a spring steel insert or side plate. In this embodiment the shape or physical form of the riser part is altered to increase to property of spring resistance. 
         [0038]      FIG. 9   a  is a perspective view of a riser  901  having a stabilizer portion  902  in addition to the base portion  903  and the cantilevered portion  904 . In some severe use cases, wherein experienced and talented riders do complicated maneuvers with a skateboard with risers according to embodiments of this invention, it has been discovered by the inventors that heavy torsional loads, that is, loads that tend to cause the riser to rotate in the plane of the board, tend to cause the two fasteners that secure the riser to the board (see  FIG. 1  bolts  103 ) to loosen somewhat, allowing some unwanted movement of the riser relative to the board. 
         [0039]    In the riser embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 9   a  a rectangular opening  907  is provided through the cantilever portion  904  of the riser, and an extension  902  of the base portion is provided extending above the cantilever portion (the riser is shown here inverted from its use orientation). Extension  902  is of a width to fit within the width of opening  907 , so when the cantilever portion bends, the extension  902  of the base portion does not interfere with its movement. Further a third counter-bored hole  906  is provided through extension  902  of the base portion, providing now three fastening points for the riser to the board, the three points in a triangular pattern. Fastening the riser to the board at the three points provides a much more secure resistance to rotational movement of the riser relative to the board in severe operation. Holes  905  in a rectangular pattern are for mounting the truck to the riser, as in embodiments described above. 
         [0040]      FIG. 9   b  is a side elevation view of riser  901  of  FIG. 9   a  with the cantilever portion shown flexed several degrees, as might be the case in use under substantial vertical loading by a rider. It should be noted that the region of cantilever portion  904  over dimension A will stay substantially straight, rather than curved as flexure occurs, because the truck will be bolted to the cantilever portion though holes  905 . Flexure will occur over the region denoted by dimension B. It should be noted as well that in this version the base portion  903 , the cantilever portion  904  and the base extension  902  are all of a single piece. This may be accomplished, for example, in any one of several ways. In one case the riser is manufactured from a single rectangular block beginning with the overall length, height and width of the riser, by machining away portions to provide the final shape shown, and then tempering, heat treating or flame treating the machined riser to provide suitable flexure properties. In some cases, depending on material and dimensions, no such after-treatment will be needed. In another case the riser may be cast or molded, and suitable after-treatments may be accomplished to temper the shaped riser. 
         [0041]      FIG. 10   a  is an exploded perspective view of a riser assembly  1001  having a base portion  1002  and a cantilever portion  1003  which are each machined from separate flat blanks Portion  1003  has the same holes  905  and  906  as shown in  FIG. 9   a , and base portion  1002  has a counter-bored hole  906  and through-holes  1004  that align with counter-bored holes  906  in portion  1003 . This version has an advantage in machining cost, and when assembled has the same shape and function as riser  901  shown in  FIG. 9   a.    
         [0042]    It will be apparent to one with skill in the art that the skateboard riser system of the invention may be provided using some combination or all of the features described above and components without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It will also be apparent to the skilled artisan that the embodiments described above are specific examples of a single broader invention, which may have greater scope than any of the singular descriptions taught. There may be many alterations made in the descriptions without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope of the invention is limited only by the claims which follow.