Abstract:
In one embodiment, an adapter for a board ( 1 ) is provided, comprising at least two different receptacles ( 20 ) for attaching different types of chassis.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to adapters for rolling boards and also to rolling board systems having corresponding adapters. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various rolling boards are commercially available nowadays for exercising various types of board sports. The best known rolling boards are those known as skateboards, other types of rolling boards including longboards, mountainboards, flowboards, freeboards, downhill boards, which have brakes, street luges, kickboards (essentially scooters), T-boards, road boards or windsurf boards, wherein the last-mentioned boards have a sail. These various rolling boards differ from one another for example in the length or thickness of the axles used or the diameter of the wheels used. Some kinds of rolling board have additional particular features, for example the abovementioned sail in the case of windsurf boards, a brake for braking at least one axle in the case of downhill boards, or a handlebar or steering rod in the case of kickboards. 
     In winter, use is made moreover of what are known as snowboards, which have no wheels. 
     A number of the abovementioned rolling board types are defined and explained in more detail in the following. 
     A longboard is a special skateboard which is longer than conventional skateboards (generally between 90 and 150 cm) and has a longer wheelbase. Generally, larger wheels made of usually softer material are attached to a longboard than are used in a conventional skateboard. By improving the ride stability, soft and larger wheels (which reduce rolling resistance by absorbing unevennesses more effectively) and the longer wheelbase allow higher speeds than with a standard skateboard. 
     Visually and technically, a mountainboard, or all-terrain board, is a mixture of a skateboard and a snowboard for traveling by rolling board off-road. 
     A flowboard is a form of skateboard which attempts to imitate the properties of a snowboard. In this case it is a matter of carving in particular. The flowboard consists of a skateboard-like board (also called a “deck”), to the front and rear of which metal arcs having about seven wheels each are fastened. 
     A freeboard is a skateboard-like board, which simulates the traveling behavior of a snowboard on asphalt. In addition to the pure carving behavior of a skateboard or longboard, the freeboard allows lateral sliding movements and also sudden braking by putting the freeboard into a horizontal position in relation to the slope. 
     A T-board and a road-surf board are forms of skateboard having two wheels and attempt to imitate the properties of a snowboard. They differ from the traditional skateboard in a similar way to how a roller skate differs from an inline skate. Traveling on only two wheels simulates traveling on the edge in snowboarding. T-boards and road-surf boards allow in this case an angle of inclination of 60 degrees, similar to that of a snowboard, in contrast to an angle of inclination of 25 degrees in the case of a skateboard. 
     A windboard is a skateboard or longboard to which a windsurfing sail is fastened and allows windsurfers to exercise leisure and training options. 
     The term road luge (or street luge) designates a gravity-dependent extreme sport, in which a kind of oversized, usually self-constructed skateboard is lain on to travel down paved roads. It is a type of tobogganing, but without snow. 
     It should be noted that the above kinds of rolling board are to be understood merely as examples and the invention is not restricted to these kinds of rolling board. 
     The abovementioned carving is a development of the conventional skiing technique, in which turns are made completely on the steel edges, rather than drifting through the curve. Snowboarding made the carving technique popular as a result of the completely different feeling associated with traveling on the edge. 
     In order to be able to exercise various board sports, for which different kinds of rolling boards are necessary, it is therefore necessary to buy a corresponding number of different rolling boards, this being associated with correspondingly high costs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide adapters and a corresponding system, with which it is possible to change cost-effectively between different kinds of rolling board. 
     According to a first aspect of the invention, an adapter for a board is provided, wherein the adapter comprises a plurality of receptacles for receiving different chassis. With such an adapter, different chassis, for example a chassis for a longboard, a chassis for a mountainboard or a chassis for another kind of rolling board, can be attached to a single board. 
     The receptacles may in this case comprise in particular threaded bores and/or bores or holes for accommodating screws for fastening different chassis. In this case, use can be made of the fact in such an embodiment that the fastening possibilities for different types of chassis are standardized and so the corresponding receptacles for receiving different standard chassis can be provided. 
     According to a further aspect, an adapter for a board is provided, wherein the adapter comprises a receptacle on the underside for a chassis and wherein the adapter comprises a fastening element on the top side for a sail and/or a steering rod. With such an adapter, the board can be used both as a simple skateboard and, when equipped with a sail or a steering rod, as a windsurf board or kickboard. 
     According to a third aspect of the invention, an adapter is provided for extending an axle, wherein the adapter has an internal thread for coupling to an axle and an external thread for coupling to a wheel. The thread size of the internal thread can be the same as or different from the thread size of the external thread, and so both simple extension using the same wheels and extension with simultaneous changing of the thread in order to use different wheels are possible. 
     The first aspect and the second aspect of the invention can be combined in one adapter. 
     An embodiment of a system according to the invention comprises one or more adapters as defined above. 
     In addition, such a system can contain a handle, a windsurfing sail, an edge protector for a board and/or a board. In the latter case, an adapter according to the first and/or second aspect can be integrated into the board. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention is explained in more detail below by means of embodiments. The invention is explained in more detail below by means of embodiments with reference to the appended drawing, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a plan view of the top side of a board, said board being equipped with adapters according to an embodiment of the present invention, 
         FIG. 2  shows a plan view of the underside of the board in  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional view of the board in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , wherein the board in  FIG. 3  is equipped with different additional components than in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , and 
         FIG. 4  shows a cross-sectional view of an adapter according to another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention are explained in the following text. These embodiments are to be considered merely as being by way of example, but not as limiting. It should be noted that the description of an embodiment having a multiplicity of components should not be interpreted as meaning that all of these components are necessary in order to implement the present invention. Rather, fewer components and/or alternative components can be provided in other embodiments. 
     A first embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 3 . Here,  FIG. 1  shows a plan view of the top side of a board  1  having two embodiments of an adapter according to the invention.  FIG. 2  shows a partial plan view of the underside of the board in  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 3  shows a side view. In order to illustrate various ways of using the adapter according to the embodiment in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , partly different elements are assembled on the adapter in  FIGS. 1 to 3 . 
     The adapter in  FIGS. 1 to 3  comprises an upper binding plate  4  and a lower binding plate  7 , which have a protrusion  6  in each case at the longitudinal sides of the board  1  used. The board  1  can in this case be for example a snowboard or a board constructed like a skateboard. As can be seen in particular in  FIG. 3 , the upper binding plate  4  and the lower binding plate  7  are connected in the region of the protrusion  6  by a quick-release clamp  8  having an eccentrically mounted clamping lever. In the embodiments in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the lower binding plate  7  has a guide  2  provided to accommodate a clamping lever of the quick-release clamp  8 , and the upper binding plate  4  has a corresponding slot or a corresponding depression for accommodating a nut of the quick-release clamp  8 . Whereas in the embodiment in  FIGS. 1 to 3  the quick-release clamps  8  are arranged such that the respective clamping lever is held in the guide  2  of the respective lower binding plate  7 , the reverse arrangement, i.e. accommodating the clamping lever in the upper binding plate  4 , or fastening without a quick-release clamp, for example using screws and nuts, is also possible. In the embodiment in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , spacer sleeves  9  are furthermore provided on the shafts of the quick-release clamps  8 , wherein the height of the spacer sleeves  9  corresponds to the thickness of the board  1 . 
     In the embodiment in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a chassis can be attached to each adapter, in particular to the respective lower binding plate  7 , as will be explained in more detail later. In order thus to obtain a rolling board with two chassis, in particular with two axles, two adapters of this kind can, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , be attached to the board  1 , wherein the position of the adapter in one embodiment can be selected in an infinitely variable manner corresponding to the desired position of the chassis. In particular, in one embodiment which uses quick-release clamps such as the quick-release clamp  8 , the adapters can be displaced in a simple manner along the board, in order to be able to set different chassis spacings and positions or wheelbases and axle positions in an infinitely variable manner. 
     The fastening of a chassis  12  to the lower binding plate  7  according to one embodiment is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . In this embodiment, the chassis  12  are connected to the lower binding plate  7  by means of countersunk connecting screws  13 , wherein one or more spacers  11  (two in the example in  FIG. 3 ) are provided in order to set a spacing of the chassis  12  from the lower binding plate  7 . In one embodiment of a system according to the invention, a plurality of spacers  11  of different thicknesses are provided in order to be able to set the spacing of the chassis  12  from the lower binding plate  7  in accordance with a desired type of rolling board. 
     In one embodiment, one or more spacers have clearances  17  in order to be able to receive required tools, for example screwdriver or wrench for tightening the connecting screws  13 . 
     In order to accommodate the connecting screws  13 , a multiplicity of holes  20  are provided in the lower binding plate  7 . As can be seen in particular in  FIG. 2 , in this case a multiplicity of holes  20  are provided for holding different chassis. In this regard, it should be noted that a screw pattern or screw spacing for different types of chassis, for example chassis for skateboards, longboards, mountainboards etc., is standardized or specified in another manner, and in one embodiment of the invention, the screw holes  20  are arranged in a manner corresponding to two or more of these standardized or specified chassis screw patterns. In this way, in such an embodiment, different types of chassis can be attached to one and the same binding plate in a simple manner. 
     In the embodiment in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the upper binding plate  4  also has holes for accommodating screws and/or another fastening element. In particular, in the embodiment as shown in  FIG. 3 , a fastening possibility  3  for a windsurfing sail  15  or for a scooter steering rod  22 , having a handgrip and brake, is provided. In addition, in one embodiment a safety belt, a carrying strap, a lock for theft prevention or a line for pulling the board can be fastened to this or another fastening means. 
     In one embodiment, one or more further holes or fastening possibilities can furthermore be arranged on the upper binding plate  4 , for example in order to fasten a foot strap to provide a better connection between a rider and the board. 
     The abovementioned guide  2  or a corresponding slot in the upper binding plate  4  can, in one embodiment, serve at the same time as a fastening possibility for handgrips  21  having a braking system, as are illustrated by way of example in  FIG. 1 . In this way, the board can be used in a simple manner as what is known as a street luge or roller sled or roller bob, wherein the rider sits in this case on the upper binding plate  4  which is at the rear in the direction of travel with his legs lying on the board in the direction of travel and uses said upper binding plate  4  as a seat. The handgrips are used in this case for holding on to and the brake for regulating the speed. 
     One or both of the upper binding plates  4  can be provided in the embodiment in  FIGS. 1 to 3  with a nonslip structure  14 , which reduces the risk of sliding away. Such a nonslip structure  14  can comprise for example ribs, wherein the ribs can have different sizes and arrangements. 
     Markings  19  can be provided on the lower binding plates  7  and/or on the upper binding plates  4  in order to simplify the orientation of the binding plates with respect to the longitudinal axis of the board and thus to simplify the correct fitting of the binding plates. 
     In addition, the slot  2  can serve as a guide for a brake cable of a brake for one axle, for example a Bowden cable. 
     In one embodiment of a system according to the invention, different chassis  12  are fastened to a plurality of lower binding plates  7  by means of corresponding connecting screws  13  and spacers  11 . In this way, it is possible to convert a board particularly quickly, since the lower binding plate  7  having mounted chassis  12  can be exchanged rapidly by means of quick-release clamps such as the quick-release clamps  8 . 
     In another embodiment, the upper binding plate  4  and/or the lower binding plate  7  are integrated fixedly with a specially correspondingly equipped board  1 . In the case of such a board, only the chassis then has to be exchanged. 
     In a further embodiment of a system according to the invention, a snowboard is used as the board  1 . In this way, a snowboard can easily be converted into a skateboard. In such a system, an edge protector  10  can be provided in order to protect the edges of the snowboard. In principle, such an edge protector can also be used in a board other than a snowboard. 
     Embodiments of an adapter according to the invention for fastening various chassis, a steering rod, handgrips and/or a windsurfing sail were discussed above with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 3 . It should be noted that embodiments of the present invention do not necessarily have to have all the above-discussed fastening possibilities, but rather some embodiments only have some of these possibilities. 
     A further embodiment of an adapter according to the invention is described in the following text with reference to  FIG. 4 . The adapter according to the embodiment in  FIG. 4  is used in this case in particular for extending a rolling board axle. The adapter of the embodiment in  FIG. 4  comprises an elongate body  31 , which has an external thread  35  at one end and a bore with an internal thread  36  at another, opposite end. A thread stopper  33  can additionally be arranged in the bore. In addition, the elongate body  31  has a gripping point  34 , which is designed to be held by a wrench. For fitting, the adapter of the embodiment in  FIG. 4  is screwed by means of the internal thread  36  onto an axle  32  of a rolling board chassis, wherein the corresponding external thread of the axle  32  otherwise serves to hold a corresponding wheel, which is removed for example before the adapter is fitted. A wheel is then screwed onto the external thread  35 . 
     Here, the thread size of the thread  35  can correspond to the thread size of the thread  36 . In this case, the adapter represents in a simple manner an extension of the axle and the same wheel can be screwed onto the thread  35  as is screwed onto the axle  32 . In another embodiment, the thread  35  differs from the thread  36  and has for example a different thread diameter. In this case, a different wheel, for example a larger wheel or a smaller wheel, can be screwed onto the thread  35  than is screwed onto the axle  32 . For example, the threads  35  and  36  can be what are known as G1 threads, by means of which for example a skateboard axle is converted into a stronger and longer longboard axle having the same threads for fastening the same wheels as are fastened to the skateboard axle. In another embodiment, the thread  36  is what is known as a G1 thread and the thread  35  is a larger thread, for example a G2 thread. A skateboard axle can be converted herewith into a stronger and longer mountainboard axle having a larger thread for fastening mountainboard tires. This is also illustrated schematically in  FIG. 3 , wherein the skateboard wheels are designated by the reference sign  18  and the adapter and the larger mountainboard tires  16  screwed onto the adapter are illustrated by dashed lines. 
     In yet another embodiment, the thread  36  can be a larger thread, for example a G2 thread, and the thread  35  a smaller thread, for example a G1 thread. With such an adapter, a mountainboard axle for example can be converted into a longboard axle having a thread for fastening smaller wheels such as the wheels  18  from  FIG. 3 . 
     As can be seen from  FIG. 3 , the embodiment of  FIG. 4  can be combined with the adapter explained with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 3 . As described in detail above, different variations and modifications of the embodiments illustrated are furthermore possible, and so the invention is not restricted to the embodiments illustrated.