US20120092886A1

US20120092886A1 - Skate board Lighting System

Info

Publication number: US20120092886A1
Application number: US12/906,888
Authority: US
Inventors: Vance Calhoun; Bryan Bartlett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-10-18
Filing date: 2010-10-18
Publication date: 2012-04-19

Abstract

A skateboard lighting system is provided which is mountable to a skateboard having a deck, a deck top surface, a deck bottom surface and a pair of supporting trolleys, each trolley being mounted to the deck bottom surface and defining a trolley wheel axis. The lighting system comprises a lighting system frame mountable to the deck bottom surface proximate a first trolley and at least one light mounted to the frame, the light including a first lighting element arrayed to direct light along a light axis, the light axis being substantially parallel to the trolley wheel axis. A power source is provided in electrical communication with the light.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

The present invention is directed to a lighting system for skateboards and, more particularly, to an under board lighting system that can illuminate portions of the skateboard and the adjacent ground area.
Skateboarding is becoming more and more popular with skate board parks being created on school grounds and public areas. Skateboarding also remains a popular activity in other areas as well, such as bike paths, sidewalks, parking areas, etc.
Given their small size, and propensity to flip, crash or be subject to harsh conditions of use, skateboards are typically constructed as simple, sturdy products. Use of enhanced features on skateboards has sometimes produced unsatisfactory results, as the features may not stand up well to the rugged use that many skateboards experience and may detract from the balance or performance of the skateboard. However, it remains desirable to provide for enhanced features, such as light features, useful to enhance visibility of skateboards to others on the same trails, walkways or other areas.
For example, under low light conditions bikers or joggers might not see an approaching skateboarder on the same trail until the skateboarder is relatively close. As such, it is desirable to provide a skateboard lighting system that enhances the visibility of a skateboarder to other skateboarders as well as pedestrians, cyclists, etc. As noted above, it is further desirable that any such lighting system be constructed in a manner that will provide little or no reduction in performance or balance of a skateboard, and is rugged enough to stand up to crashes, flips and other typical conditions of skateboard use.
In addition to safety advantages, skateboard lighting system can also provide aesthetic features that may be desirable to skateboard owners and to observers of skateboarding activities. Moreover, the use of different types of lighting bulbs/fixtures allows for creation of different types of lighting patterns and effects, as may be desirable for safety, aesthetic or identification purposes. Similarly, the lighting system may cooperate with other skateboard components to create additional aesthetic effects, e.g. illuminating translucent wheels.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide skateboards with durable lighting system that will not detract from performance or durability of the skateboard, yet enhance visibility and safety, and allow for other aesthetic effects. These and other objects and advantageous may be achieved through use of the present invention, which is described below in relation to the presently preferred embodiments.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A skateboard lighting system is provided which is mountable to a skateboard having a deck, a deck top surface, a deck bottom surface and a pair of supporting trolleys, each trolley being mounted to the deck bottom surface and defining a trolley wheel axis. The lighting system comprises one or more lighting system frame(s) mountable to the deck bottom surface proximate the trolley. At least one light mounted to the frame to illuminate the ground area about and/or below the skateboard. A power source is provided in electrical communication with the light.
The light may include a first lighting element arrayed to direct light along a light axis, the light axis being substantially parallel to the trolley wheel axis.
The lighting system may include a switch mounted to the frame and in electrical communication with the light and the power source, the switch being operative to regulate illumination of the light.
The light may further include one or more second lighting element(s), arrayed to direct light in a direction(s) substantially transverse to the trolley wheel axis, to illuminate a ground area below and/or about the skateboard. A plurality of second lighting elements may be arrayed radially about the light axis.
The lighting system may further include a radio frequency receiver in electrical communication with the light, the receiver being operative to regulate illumination of the light in response to receipt of radio frequency signals from a handheld remote control. The receiver may be mounted to the frame.
The skateboard may include a pair of translucent skateboard wheels, and the light may be directed toward the translucent wheels to illuminate them.
In one embodiment the power source is a battery power source which may be mounted to the frame.
In another embodiment the power source may be an electrical generator connected to one or more of the skateboard wheels to generate electrical power in response to rotation of one or more of the skateboard wheels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a skateboard having an exemplary skateboard lighting system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the skateboard and the skateboard lighting system;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the skateboard lighting system frame and associated components;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of one configuration of the skateboard lighting system and skateboard trolley;

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of an exemplary skateboard lighting system;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of an alternative configuration of the skateboard lighting system and skateboard trolley; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the configuration shown at FIG. 6, in assembled form.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein, including various ways of types of light fixtures and various ways of mounting the light fixtures to the lighting system frame and/or the lighting system frame to the skateboard. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.
FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary skateboard lighting system in accordance with the present invention, mounted to a skateboard. As shown, skateboard 10 includes top surface 11 supporting a rider 18, and bottom surface 13, to which skateboard trolleys 15, 17 are mounted. As further shown at FIG. 2, trolley 15 includes trolley frame 19 and wheels 21, defining a trolley wheel axis 22. The trolley further includes trolley base plate 16, which is secured to bottom surface 13 by fasteners, such as fasteners 57, 59. As will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, various types of fasteners can be used to secure trolley 15 to skateboard bottom surface 13.
As shown in more detail at FIGS. 2-4, a lighting system frame 20 is secured to skateboard 10 proximate trolley 15. As shown at FIG. 1, each trolley may incorporate a lighting system operative to illuminate around areas below and/or about either side of the trolley, e.g. illuminated ground areas 22, 24, 26, 28. Depending on the orientation of the lights and the type of lights used, the illuminated ground areas may be of different shapes, patterns and colors as may be desired. In the presently preferred embodiment the lights 23, 25 may be implemented as super high flux SMT LED bulbs having five or nine LEDs, such as the Model 194 168 WSW 225 SMT Tower/Tower II bulbs marketed by CTLUMINATION, of Higley, Ariz., available at www.superlumination.com. Such bulbs include a single light element, LED 29 at the end of the bulb that can be used to direct light axially from the bulb along a light axis 32, which is substantially parallel to the trolley wheel axis 22. Each light may also include a plurality of side facing LEDs 27 that can be used to direct light radially from the bulb, i.e. substantially transverse to the light axis. The lights may be in clear or colored as desired, and are preferably sufficiently small to be mountable under a skateboard. Lights approximately 10 mm in diameter and 32 mm in length have been found to be suitable.
Such lights each include four to eight light side facing light elements 27 radially arrayed about the light axis 32, and an end light 29 oriented to direct light axially along the light axis 32. As used in the presently preferred embodiment, the axially disposed light elements (LED's) 27 direct light towards the lower surface 13 of the skateboard 10, as well as the ground area below and about the skateboard. The end light 29 illuminates the ground area further from the skateboard 10. The combination of end lights and radially arrayed lights may be oriented to define different patterns of light and shadow areas that travel with the movement of the skateboard, and vary with the orientation or tilt of the skateboard.
In one construction of the present invention, the skateboard wheels may be formed of a translucent material that can be illuminated as a result of proximity and orientation of the lights 27, 29. Other effects may be implemented using alternative lights and components of skateboard 10.
In the presently preferred embodiment the lights in other components of the lighting system are arrayed on a frame 20, which is formed to receive adjacent portions of the trolley frame 19, and is secured to the skateboard bottom surface 13 using the same fasteners used to secure the trolley base plate 16 to the skateboard. Such an arrangement, illustrated at FIGS. 2, 4, 6 and 7 allows the lighting system to be retrofit to a skateboard without the need to use separate fasteners or otherwise modify the skateboard. Moreover, the construction of frame 20 positioned in a location that is relatively well protected from damage during normal use, and makes use of trolley frame 19 to enhance the structural integrity of the lighting system.
FIG. 3 further illustrates the construction of a lighting system 10 in accordance with the present invention. The lighting system includes frame 20, to which the electrical components of the lighting system may be mounted. Lights 23, 25 may be mounted on opposing side walls 31, 33 of frame 20. Power source 35, typically implemented as a battery power pack, may also be mounted on the side wall 33 of frame 20. Frame top wall 39 is formed to define aperture 41 and recess 43, to allow components of the trolley 15 to pass therethrough. Receiver 37 may be mounted on an inside surface of sidewall 33, or on the inside surface of top wall 39.
The lighting system frame 20 also includes switch 45, disposed on side wall 31. Switch 45 is operative to enable or disable the lighting system, in response to remote control signals from remote control 30 (FIG. 1).
The lighting system frame 20 further includes a pair of flanges, 47, 49, which are matable to a surface area(s) of trolley 15. The flanges 47, 49 may be disposed above or below trolley mounting plate 16. In the construction shown at FIG. 4, the flanges 47, 49 are disposed above trolley mounting plate 16. Alternatively, as shown at FIGS. 6,7, the flanges 47, 49 may be disposed below the trolley base plate 16, adjacent the skateboard lower surface 13. In both embodiments, the frame 20 is engaged to the skateboard and the trolley mounting plate by fasteners 57, 59.
Accordingly, the lighting system of the present invention may be secured to the skateboard by disengaging trolley fasteners and locating the lighting system frame such that frame apertures 53 are in registry with trolley apertures 55, then resecuring the fasteners to hold the frame in place.
FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary circuit to implement the lighting system of the present invention. As shown therein, power pack 35 provides power for the system which is enabled by switch 45. Once switch 45 is closed, the lights will operate in response to radio frequency signals transmitted by remote control 30 and received by receiver 37. The receiver 37 then turns lights 23, 25 on and off in response to operation of remote control 30. As would be apparent to those of ordinary skill, the lighting system may operate without the use of a remote control 30 and receiver 37. In such case, the lights would illuminate in response to operation of switch 45. Lights 23, 25 may also be implemented as blinking lights, or blinking circuitry may be incorporated in the lighting system, to provide additional light effects.

Claims

1. A skateboard lighting system mountable to a skateboard having a deck, a deck top surface, a deck bottom surface and a pair of supporting trolleys, each trolley being mounted to the deck bottom surface and defining a trolley wheel axis, the lighting system comprising:

a) a lighting system frame mountable to the deck bottom surface proximate a first trolley;

b) at least one light mounted to the frame, the light including a first lighting element arrayed to direct light along a light axis, the light axis being substantially parallel to the trolley wheel axis, and

c) a power source in electrical communication with the light.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a switch mounted to the frame, the switch being in electrical communication with the light and the power source, for enabling illumination of the light.

3. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the light further includes a second lighting element being arrayed to direct light in a direction substantially transverse to the trolley light axis.

4. The system as recited in claim 3 wherein the light includes a plurality of second lighting elements, the second lighting elements being arrayed radially about the light axis.

5. The system as recited in claim 4 wherein the second lighting elements are arrayed to direct light to a ground area below the skateboard deck bottom surface.

6. The system as recited in claim 3 wherein the second lighting elements are further operative to direct light to illuminate a ground area about the skateboard.

7. The system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a radio frequency receiver in electrical communication with the light, the receiver being operative to regulate illumination of the light in response to receipt of radio frequency signals from a remote control.

8. The system as recited in claim 7 wherein the receiver is mounted to the frame.

9. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the first trolley includes a pair of translucent skateboard wheels, wherein the light is directed to illuminate the translucent wheels.

10. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the power source is mounted to the frame.

11. The system as recited in claim 10 wherein the power source is a battery power source.

12. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the first trolley includes a pair of skateboard wheels and the power source is an electrical generator connected to one of the pair of skateboard wheels, the electrical generator being operative to generate electrical power in response to rotation of the one of the pair of skateboard wheels.

13. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the first trolley includes a mounting plate for mounting the first trolley to the deck bottom surface, and wherein the lighting system frame is engaged to the mounting plate.

14. The system as recited in claim 13 wherein a portion of the lighting system frame extends intermediate the deck bottom surface and the trolley mounting plate.

15. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the trolley defines a trolley frame, which is extendable through the lighting system frame.

16. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the lighting system frame and first trolley are mountable to the deck bottom surface by a common set of fasteners.

17. The system as recited in claim 1 further including first and second lights mounted on opposing sides of the lighting system frame, the first and second lights being arrayed to direct light along the light axis, in substantially opposite directions.