Abstract:
Decorative skateboard lighting devices are disclosed. In an aspect, a light device comprising a light source, a housing, a power source, and a microcontroller is disclosed, configured to removably attached to an underside of a skateboard deck and provide a decorative lighting effect. The housing is configured to contain the power source and the microcontroller and removably attach to a skateboard via a set of connector bolts configured to mount a truck to the skateboard deck. The housing is configured to be positioned along a longitudinal center plane of the deck and adjacent to the truck. In an aspect, lighting device is controlled via a remote control. In another aspect, the lighting device is configured to cause the light source to perform various lighting functions such as glowing, flashing, strobing, and the like.

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to skateboard accessories, and more particularly to decorative lighting devices for skateboards. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Skateboarding is an extremely popular recreational activity among many age groups. Skateboards are customized by adding, among other things, stickers, grip tape, specialized trucks, and unique wheels These and other customizations have grown in popularity. Skateboarders are constantly on the lookout for new and distinctive accessories to add to their skateboards. Lighted skateboard decks and lighting kits are among the accessories that have emerged for skateboards. Despite the success of lighting kits for other wheeled vehicles, like automobile underglow kits, skateboard lighting accessories have not been widely adopted because of deficiencies in prior designs. 
         [0003]    Existing lighted skateboards typically comprise a skateboard deck having one or more grooves, holes, or other voids machined into the surface of the deck. Often, the voids are positioned around the perimeter of the deck. One or more lights (e.g., an LED bulb) are screwed into the voids, creating a string of lights around the deck. Such lighted decks also typically include a power source and microcontroller which respectively power and control the light string. The power source and microcontroller may be contained in a housing attached to the underside of the deck via screws. In other designs, the housing is inserted into a hole cut into the middle portion of the deck. 
         [0004]    Such lighted skateboards must be custom designed and bunt, driving up the cost of such designs, limiting their availability, and reducing a skateboarder&#39;s ability to truly customize their skateboard. Such designs require significant removal of deck material and insertion of multiple screws into the deck which may weaken the deck, causing it to break under what would be considered “normal” use conditions. Therefore, such designs have piqued the interest of skateboarders, but have not found widespread acceptance. 
         [0005]    Also available are skateboard lighting kits are that generally include a light source attached via a fastener, an adhesive, or Velcro®, fasteners (available from Velcro USA, Inc. of Manchester, N.H.) and a housing containing a power source and a microcontroller. Such kits are configured to create a decorative lighting effect for a skateboard comprising a deck and two trucks. The trucks attach to the underside of the deck via bolts. The housing may be attached to the skateboard by placing it between the deck and a truck, thereby increasing the distance between the deck and the truck and altering the performance characteristics of the skateboard. 
         [0006]    In the alternative, the housing may attach to the skateboard via a mounting plate placed between the deck and the truck, thereby avoiding increasing the distance between the deck and the truck. The housing is attached to an outboard side of the mounting plate and is significantly thicker than the mounting plate. This positioning impedes the ability of the deck to pivot relative to the truck because the housing will collide with the truck or an attached wheel. Such collisions negatively affect the turning ability of the skateboard. 
         [0007]    Given the foregoing, what is needed are devices which provide decorative lighting for skateboards wherein the device may be installed on the skateboard by a skateboarder without requiring drilling or other significant alteration of the skateboard, Additionally, devices having a small footprint are needed in order to provide decorative lighting without significantly altering the skateboard&#39;s performance. Devices are also needed which removably attach a light source, a power source, and a microcontroller to the skateboard without altering the turning performance, deck height, or other performance characteristics of the skateboard. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the subject matter to be claimed, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the subject matter to be claimed. 
         [0009]    The present disclosure is directed to decorative skateboard lighting devices and other like recreational devices (e.g., scooters, casterboards, devices comprising a deck and one or more attached trucks, Ripstik boards, or the like) which may be installed on a skateboard without altering a deck of the skateboard, using existing connector bolts for the trucks. Devices in accordance with the present disclosure are adapted for use with a skateboard comprising a deck and two trucks having a plurality of wheels. The trucks attach to an underside of the deck and are configured to pivot relative to the deck, causing the skateboard to turn. Such devices provide decorative lighting for skateboards without impeding the turning ability of the skateboard or significantly increasing the distance between the deck and a truck. 
         [0010]    In some aspects of the present disclosure, a lighting device comprises a light source, a power source, and a microcontroller. 
         [0011]    The microcontroller and the power source are contained in a housing. The housing is configured to provide protection from impacts and other environmental hazards and to mount to the underside of a deck. The housing comprises an extension, the extension being a thin, rigid member designed to mount in between the deck and a truck via insertion of skateboard connector bolts, thereby securing the housing to the skateboard. A portion of the housing containing the power source and the microcontroller is positioned along a centerline of the skateboard such that turning operation of the skateboard is not impeded. In some aspects of the present disclosure, attachment of the housing to the skateboard deck may be reinforced by interconnecting the deck and the housing using adhesive, Velcro fastener, a removable fastener, or the like. 
         [0012]    In some aspects, the light source may be a strip of light emitting diodes (LEDs). The light source is attached to the underside of the deck using adhesive, Velcro fastener, a removable fastener, or the like, in some aspects, the light strip may be attached using a permanent adhesive. The light source provides decorative underbody lighting for the skateboard. Light may be emitted in one direction, creating a ray-like effect, or many different directions, creating a diffuse underglow effect. The light source is electrically connected to the power source and the microcontroller. The microcontroller may regulate the light source based on user inputs. In some aspects, the microcontroller may cause the light source to, for example, glow, flash, twinkle, strobe, alternate between functions, or the like. In some aspects the light source may emit multiple colors of light. User input may be received via one or more switches or via a remote control. 
         [0013]    Further features and advantages of the devices and systems disclosed herein, as well as the structure and operation of various aspects of the present disclosure, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the Detailed Description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 1A &amp; 1B  are side views of a skateboard and a decorative skateboard lighting device, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 2A &amp; 2B  are side views of a skateboard and a decorative skateboard lighting device depicting configurations of the skateboard and the lighting device, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of a decorative skateboard lighting device, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view of a skateboard and a decorative skateboard lighting device, depicting a configuration of a light source, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of a skateboard and a decorative skateboard lighting device, depicting another configuration of a light source, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of a skateboard, depicting a lighting device comprising multiple light sources, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a bottom view of a skateboard, depicting a lighting device comprising multiple light sources, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a bottom view of a skateboard and a decorative skateboard lighting device, depicting two lighting devices attached to the skateboard, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a side view of a skateboard and a decorative skateboard lighting device wherein the lighting device comprises a remote, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is a block diagram of an example computing system useful for implementing the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    The present disclosure is directed to decorative skateboard lighting devices and systems which may be installed on a skateboard without altering a deck of the skateboard. 
         [0026]    Devices and systems in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure are adapted for use with a skateboard comprising a deck and two trucks having a plurality of wheels. The trucks attach to an underside of the deck and are configured to pivot relative to the deck, causing the skateboard to turn. Such devices provide decorative lighting for skateboards without impeding the turning ability of the skateboard or significantly increasing the distance between the deck and a truck. 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1A &amp; 1B , side views of a skateboard  100  and a decorative skateboard lighting device  108 , in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, is shown. 
         [0028]    Skateboard  100  comprises a deck  102  and two trucks  104  (labeled, for clarity, as trucks  104   a,b  in  FIG. 1A ). Each truck comprises two wheels (labeled, for clarity only as wheels  106   a,c  in  FIG. 1A ). Trucks  104  are pivotally attached to deck  102 . Skateboard  100  may turn via tilting deck  102  along the long axis of deck  102 , thereby causing a lower portion of deck  102  to come into dose proximity to wheel  106  and trucks  104  to yaw relative to deck  102 . 
         [0029]    Deck  102  comprises two sets of four channels (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). Bolts  118  (labeled, for clarity, only as bolts  118   a,e  in  FIG. 1B ) are inserted through each channel and removably connect to truck  104 . In an aspect, each truck  104  is held in place by four bolts  118 . Each bolt  118  passes through deck  102 , through a truck channel (not shown in  FIG. 1 ), and is secured on a bottom portion by a fastener (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0030]    Lighting device  108  comprises a light source  110  and a housing  112 . 
         [0031]    Light source  110  is configured to provide decorative lighting, thereby enhancing the overall appearance of skateboard  100 . Light source  110 , in one aspect of the present disclosure, may be a strip of light emitting diodes (LEDs), Alternatively, light source  110  may be an OLED strip, EL wire, one or more fluorescent bulbs, one or more incandescent bulbs or some other source of light that will be apparent to those having skill in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein. 
         [0032]    Light source  110  may be configured to emit light of one color or multiple colors, in an aspect, light source  110  comprises LEDs which can selectively emit any color in the visible spectrum. As detailed below, in such aspects, the skateboard user may select the color being emitted via a switch or remote. Light source  110  may be configured to emit a diffuse “pool” of light underneath skateboard  100 , thereby creating an underglow effect. In another aspect, light source  110  may be configured to emit a static or moving beam of light, creating a ray-like effect. 
         [0033]    Light source  110  may be attached to the underside of deck  102  via one or more fasteners (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). Such fasteners may be removable or permanent. In an aspect, light source  110  is removably attached to the underside of deck  102  via a strip of Velcro fastener. Alternatively, light source  110  may be attached using permanent or removable adhesive, attached via screws, or other fasteners that will be apparent to those having reasonable skill in the art(s) after reading the description herein. In an aspect, light source  110  may be positioned longitudinally on the underside of deck  102  and between truck  104   a  and truck  104   b  and removably attached via a Velcro fastener. 
         [0034]    Housing  112  is configured to house a power source and a microcontroller (not shown). The power source and the microcontroller facilitate operation of light source  110 . In an aspect, housing  112  is a rigid separable casing designed to enclose the power source and the microcontroller. Housing  112  may be a rectangular, rigid, separable casing comprising a top housing portion and a bottom housing portion. The top housing portion is configured to contact the underside of deck  102 . 
         [0035]    Housing  112  may further comprise baseplate  114 . Baseplate  114  extends from a front housing portion of housing  112  and comprises a top baseplate portion and a bottom baseplate portion. Top baseplate portion is flush with top housing portion, creating a surface which may contact the underside of deck  102 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , baseplate  114  further comprises forward channels  306  (labeled as forward channels  306   a,b  in  FIG. 3 ) and rear channels  308  (labeled as rear channels  308   a,b  in  FIG. 3 ). Forward channels  306  and rear channels  308  are openings positioned on baseplate  114  to allow bolts  118  to pass through baseplate  114  when bolts  118  are inserted into deck  102 , as shown in  FIG. 1B . Bolts  118  may be connectors traditionally used in skateboards  100  to connect truck  104  to deck. Utilization of bolts  118  in this manner enables the connection of lighting device  108  to skateboard without drilling additional holes in deck  102 . In an aspect, forward channel  306  and rear channel  308  are circular openings, having a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the deck channels. In another aspect, forward channel  306  or rear channel  308  may be an elongated opening configured to receive bolts  118  in a variety of patterns and spacings. 
         [0036]    Housing  112  attaches to skateboard  100  above truck  104  via the insertion of a set of four bolts  118  through corresponding forward channels  306  and rear channels  308 . 
         [0037]    Skateboards  100  may optionally comprise riser pads placed between deck  102  and truck  104 , similar to the location of baseplate  114 . The thickness of baseplate  114  is minimized in order to avoid alteration of the performance and other characteristics of skateboard  100 . In an aspect, baseplate  114  thickness is approximately equal to the thickness of a riser pad. 
         [0038]    Where one lighting device  108  is used with skateboard  100 , baseplate  114  may be attached to truck  104   a  Truck  104   b  may attach to deck with the addition of a riser pad having a thickness approximately equal to the thickness of baseplate  114 , thereby avoiding alteration of skateboard  100  performance and other characteristics compared to the same board comprising two riser pads and no lighting devices  108 . 
         [0039]    Light source  110  is electrically connected to the power source and microcontroller contained in housing  112  via conduit  116 , thereby enabling control of light source  110 . In an aspect, the power source is a rechargeable battery such as a lithium polymer battery, a lithium on battery, a nickel cadmium battery, or the like. In another aspect, the power source is one or more removable, standard format batteries such as AA or AAA batteries. The power source may comprise recharging elements (e.g., photovoltaic cells) or connectors (e.g., a female 12 volt plug connector), 
         [0040]    The microcontroller regulates the power sent from the power source to light source  110 . Regulation may be done based on user input (e.g., user activation of an on/off switch) or based on preprograms instructions contained within the microcontroller (e.g., flashing commands). 
         [0041]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2A &amp; 2B , side views of skateboard  100  and decorative skateboard lighting device  108  depicting configurations of skateboard  100  and lighting device  108 , in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure, are shown. Baseplate  114  may be configured to connect lighting device  108  to skateboard at a front truck  104   a  or a rear truck  104   b.    
         [0042]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a plan view of decorative skateboard lighting device  108 , in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, is shown. 
         [0043]    Housing  112  may further comprise indicator  302  and switch  304 . Switch  304  may be actuated by a user in order to activate and deactivate lighting device  108 . Switch  304  may be a toggle switch, a push button, a three way switch, or the like. 
         [0044]    Indicator  302  may be a light configured to be active when lighting device  108  is turned on. In another aspect, indicator  302  may be configured to indicate other conditions of lighting device  108 , such as a low battery condition or connectivity with a remote  902  (shown in  FIG. 9 ). 
         [0045]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a bottom view of skateboard  100  and decorative skateboard lighting device  108 , depicting a configuration of skateboard  100  and light source  110 , in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, is shown. Centerline  401  indicates the long axis of skateboard  100 . Lighting device  108  is configured such that housing  112  is placed along centerline  401 , thereby connecting lighting device  108  to skateboard  100  without impeding movement of truck  104 . Housing  112  may be placed in front of truck  104  or behind truck  104  while avoiding interference with normal truck  104  operation. 
         [0046]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a bottom view of skateboard  100  and decorative skateboard lighting device  108 , depicting another configuration light source  110 , in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, is shown. 
         [0047]    As shown, light source  110  may be attached to a variety of portions of deck  102 . Light source  110  may be centered on the underside of deck  102 , attached in an offset position (as shown in, for example,  FIG. 4 ), attached to a top portion of deck  102  (not shown), or attached to another portion of skateboard  100  as will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein. 
         [0048]    Referring now to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , bottom views of skateboard  100 , depicting lighting device  108  comprising multiple light sources  110  (labeled, for clarity, as light source  110   a,  b in  FIG. 6  and light source  110   a - c  in  FIG. 7 ), in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, are shown. 
         [0049]    Lighting device  108  may comprise multiple light sources  110 , each attached to deck  102  via fasteners such as adhesive. 
         [0050]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , a bottom view of skateboard  100 , depicting two lighting devices  108  attached to skateboard  100 , in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, is shown. 
         [0051]    One lighting device may be attached at truck  104   a,  placing housing  112   a  behind truck  104   a.  A second lighting device may be attached at truck  104   b,  placing housing  112   b  in front of truck  104   b.  In this manner, more power may be provided to light source  110  and independent control of light source  110  may be facilitated. 
         [0052]    Referring now to  FIG. 9 , a side view of skateboard  100  and decorative skateboard lighting device  108  wherein lighting device  108  comprises a remote  902 , in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, is shown. 
         [0053]    Lighting device  108  may be controlled via user input. User input may be received via switch  304  or remote  902 . Remote  902  may communicate with the microcontroller via wireless means such as acoustic, RF Bluetooth, telephony, infrared, and other wireless means. In another aspect, remote  902  may communicate with the microcontroller via wired connection. 
         [0054]    Referring now to  FIG. 10 , a block diagram of an exemplary computer system useful for implementing various aspects of the present disclosure, is shown. That is,  FIG. 10  sets forth illustrative computing functionality  1000  that may be used to control one or more light sources  110  in response to input received from switch  304 , remote  902 , or from programs contained within the microcontroller, in all cases, computing functionality  1000  represents one or more physical and tangible processing mechanisms. 
         [0055]    Computing functionality  1000  may comprise volatile and non-volatile memory, such as RAM  1002  and ROM  1004 , as well as one or more processing devices  1006  (e.g., one or more central processing units (CPUs), one or more graphical processing units (GPUs), and the like). Computing functionality  1000  also optionally comprises various media devices  1008 , such as a hard disk module, an optical disk module, and so forth. Computing functionality  1000  may perform various operations identified above when the processing device(s)  1006  executes instructions that are maintained by memory (e.g., RAM  1002 , ROM  1004 , and the like). 
         [0056]    More generally, instructions and other information may be stored on any computer readable medium  1010 , including, but not limited to, static memory storage devices, magnetic storage devices, and optical storage devices. The term “computer readable medium” also encompasses plural storage devices. In all cases, computer readable medium  1010  represents some form of physical and tangible entity. By way of example, and not limitation, computer readable. medium  1010  may comprise “computer storage media” and “communications media.” 
         [0057]    “Computer storage media” comprises volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information, such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media may be, for example, and not limitation, RAM  1002 , ROM  1004 , EEPROM, Flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by a computer. 
         [0058]    “Communication media” typically comprise computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal, such as carrier wave or other transport mechanism. Communication media may also comprise any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media comprises wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared, and other wireless media. Combinations of any of the above are also included within the scope of computer readable medium. 
         [0059]    Computing functionality  1000  may also comprise an input/output module  1012  for receiving various inputs (via input modules  1014 ), and for providing various outputs (via one or more output modules). One particular output mechanism may be a presentation module  1016  and an associated GUI  1018 . Computing functionality  1000  may also include one or more network interfaces  1020  for exchanging data with other devices via one or more communication conduits  1022 . In some aspects, one or more communication buses  1024  communicatively couple the above-described components together. 
         [0060]    Communication conduit(s)  1022  may be implemented in any manner (e.g., by a local area network, a wide area network (e.g., the Internet), and the like, or any combination thereof). Communication conduit(s)  1022  may include any combination of hardwired links, wireless links, routers, gateway functionality, name servers, and the like, governed by any protocol or combination of protocols. 
         [0061]    Alternatively, or in addition, any of the functions described herein may be performed, at least in part, by one or more hardware logic components. For example, without limitation, illustrative types of hardware logic components that may be used include Field-programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), Application-specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Application-specific Standard Products (ASSPs), System-on-a-chip systems (SOCs), Complex Programmable Logic Devices (CPLDs), etc. 
         [0062]    The terms “service,” “module” and “component” as used herein generally represent software, firmware, hardware or combinations thereof. In the case of a software implementation, the service, module or component represents program code that performs specified tasks when executed on one or more processors. The program code may be stored in one or more computer readable memory devices, as described with reference to  FIG. 10 . The features of the present disclosure described herein are platform-independent, meaning that the techniques can be implemented on a variety of commercial computing platforms having a variety of processors. 
         [0063]    While various aspects of the present disclosure have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary aspects, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents. 
         [0064]    In addition, it should be understood that the figures in the attachments, which highlight the structure, methodology, functionality and advantages of the present disclosure, are presented for example purposes only. The present disclosure is sufficiently flexible and configurable, such that it may be implemented in ways other than that shown in the accompanying figures (e.g., on a scooter, a casterboard, a device comprising a deck and one or more attached trucks, a Ripstik® board available from Razor USA, LLC of Cerritos, Calif., a Freebord board available from Freebord Manufacturing, LLC of San Francisco, Calif., or the like). As will be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein, certain features from different aspects of the devices and systems of the present disclosure may be combined to form yet new aspects of the present disclosure. 
         [0065]    Further, the purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the relevant art(s) who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of this technical disclosure. The Abstract is not intended to be limiting as to the scope of the present disclosure in any way.