WO2009036195A2

WO2009036195A2 - Manipulateable terrain and user traverse interface method and apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2009036195A2
Application number: PCT/US2008/076051
Authority: WO
Inventors: John M. O'brien
Original assignee: O'brien John M
Priority date: 2007-09-11
Filing date: 2008-09-11
Publication date: 2009-03-19
Also published as: WO2009036195A3

Abstract

A user support interface and manipulatable terrain are provided, and relates to the field of sport, recreation, and transportation. In particular, it relates to a manipulatable terrain and methods and apparatuses for a user to engage and/or traverse a natural or manipulateable terrain for sport, recreation, or transportation purposes.

Description

MANIPULATEABLE TERRAIN AND USER TRAVERSE INTERFACE METHOD AND APPARATUS

Cross Reference to Related Applications The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent

Application No. 60/971 ,450, filed September 11 , 2007, entitled "Manipulateable Terrain and User Traverse Interface Method and Apparatus," the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of sport, recreation, and transportation. In particular, it relates to a manipulatable terrain and methods and apparatuses for a user to engage and/or traverse a natural or manipulateable terrain for sport, recreation, or transportation purposes.

Background

Sports such as snow boarding, skate boarding, roller skating, surfing, and inline skating have become very popular recently. These types of sports feature speed, height, high level of physical exertion, and some level of danger. They can be played for competition in a contest or non-competition for recreation. Since the early 1990s, a significant growth of inline skating and skateboarding has occurred. A more aggressive style of skating has evolved, which involves significant skating maneuvers and a variety of tricks performed on obstacles, fixtures or other features.

A skater typically engages the terrain or obstacles only through the wheels attached under the skate or through a blade. Surfing, skiing and snow boarding generally do not use wheels, but rather surfaces and edges adapted to traverse various terrains, such as snow, sand and waves. These sports of course have been popular for centuries. Public or private skate parks that are designed specifically for skating sports exist all over the world. Many skate parks are equipped with artificial fixtures such as quarter pipes, half pipes, handrails, trick boxes, or vert ramps to create different types of terrains that offer various levels of challenge and excitement for skaters. However, once constructed, these fixtures can not be easily changed into different shapes or different types of terrains without significant cost. The same can generally be true with respect to ski slopes. Whereas waves, however, are constantly changing, which often adds to the sport's allure.

Brief Description of the Figures

Figure 1 illustrates a side view of a user interface in accordance with various embodiments;

Figure 2 illustrates an end partial view of the user interface of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 illustrates a bottom view of the user interface of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 illustrates a side view of a user interface in accordance with various embodiments;

Figure 5 illustrates a partial side view of a user interface in accordance with various embodiments;

Figure 6 illustrates an end partial view of the user interface of Figure

5;

Figure 7 illustrates a side view of a user interface on a terrain in accordance with various embodiments;

Figure 8 illustrates a perspective view of a user interface on a terrain in accordance with various embodiments; Figure 9 illustrates a side view of a manipulatable terrain accordance with various embodiments;

Figure 10 illustrates a side view of a manipulatable terrain accordance with various embodiments; and

Figure 11 illustrates an end view of a manipulatable terrain in accordance with various embodiments.

Description of the Various Embodiments

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scopes of embodiments, in accordance with the present disclosure, are defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Various operations may be described as multiple discrete operations in turn, in a manner that may be helpful in understanding embodiments of the present invention; however, the order of description should not be construed to imply that these operations are order dependent.

The description may use perspective-based descriptions such as up/down, back/front, and top/bottom. Such descriptions are merely used to facilitate the discussion and are not intended to restrict the application of embodiments of the present invention. The terms "coupled" and "connected," along with their derivatives, may be used. It should be understood that these terms are not intended as synonyms for each other. Rather, in particular embodiments, "connected" may be used to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact with each other. "Coupled" may mean that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact. However, "coupled" may also mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other, but yet still cooperate or interact with each other.

For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form "A/B" or in the form "A and/or B" means (A), (B), or (A and B). For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form "at least one of A, B, and C" means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C). For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form "(A)B" means (B) or (AB) that is, A is an optional element.

The description may use the phrases "in an embodiment," or "in embodiments," which may each refer to one or more of the same or different embodiments. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," "having," and the like, as used with respect to embodiments of the present invention, are synonymous.

In various embodiments, a method and apparatus for generating manipulatable terrains (e.g. fixtures) to meet individual user's skill or challenge level with low or no cost is provided and may provide enjoyment to people of all ages. Manipulatable terrains in accordance with various embodiments may also help attract more cross over from one sport to another sport. Further, in various embodiments, a new recreational user interface configuration is provided that combines the features of the traditional wheeled user interfaces (e.g. roller blades, skate boards, etc.) and surface/edge user interfaces (e.g. snow boards, skis, surf boards, etc.) that provide the ability to engage such manipulatable terrains, obstacles, fixtures, features, etc. Such user interfaces may significantly enhance the novelty and complexity of the sports and the maneuverability of the user interface about the terrain.

Embodiments of the present invention pertain to employing user traverse interface apparatus and manipulateable terrain to create a sport that may serve as a combination of many traditional sports. Figure 1 shows a side perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a design of user traverse or user interface apparatus 100 in accordance with various embodiments. As in the illustrated embodiment, the traverse interface apparatus may include a support structure 102. Bottom interface members 104 may be in a shape of a sphere, semi-sphere, or other configuration and be coupled to the support structure 102 such that they rotate and/or move freely about with respect to a support structure or a terrain.

In one embodiment, the bottom interface members may be coupled to the support structure 102 by way of attachment fixture 106, which itself may be fixed or rotate relative to the support structure. In one embodiment, the bottom interface members 104 may be a wide wheel, such as those generally used with skate boards or a narrower wheel, such as those used with roller blades, each of which may generally rotate 360 degrees in either direction. In another embodiment, the bottom interface members 104 may be a spherical wheel that allows rotation in any direction. In other embodiments, the bottom interface members 104 and/or the edge interface members 108 may rotate around their own center axis.

The freely moveable/rotatable nature of the bottom interface members 104 may enhance the maneuverability of the traverse interface apparatus 100, its adaptability to the terrain and its ability to traverse the terrain, similar to how a skate board or roller blade would traverse a ramp or some other feature. The bottom interface members 104 can be made from a high- resilient, flexible material, including but not limited to metal, rubber, polymers, composites, alloys and the like.

In various embodiments, traverse interface 100 may also have one or more edge interface members 108. In various embodiments, the edge interface members 108 may be in a shape of a disc, sphere, cone, hemisphere, or other configuration having the capability to at least rotate in a plane that is generally angled with respect to the bottom surface of the traverse interface 100.

Figure 2 illustrates an end view of the traverse interface apparatus illustrated in Figure 1. Edge traverse members may be disposed at an angle X with respect to the support structure in order to facilitate transition between the side support members and the bottom support members 104. In one embodiment, the angle of the edge traverse members may be disposed between 15 and 90 degrees with respect to a vertical central plane of the bottom interface members 104. The relative angle between the edge interface members and the bottom interface members may be varied as desired by the user to alter the respective to enhance the interface with the terrain or support surface. Such angles may be selected depending on a variety of factors, including edge member size shape and materials, terrain materials, and user aggressiveness.

Figure 3 illustrates a bottom view of the embodiment of the user interface of Figure 1. In one embodiment, three bottom support members may be coupled to the support structure 102. Two edge interface members may be disposed on each side of the bottom support members. In various embodiments, there may be one or more edge interface members 108 disposed such that the edge interface members 108 may be able to engage the terrain from either side of the traverse interface 100, as illustrated. In other embodiments, multiple edge interface members 108 may be disposed about only a single side of the traverse interface.

In various embodiments, the edge interface members 108 and the bottom interface members 104 can be coupled to the platform support structure 102 in different pattern or quantity to meet the user's needs or to adapt to a different terrain material or configuration. Figure 4 is an example of a different configuration. Both bottom interface members 104 and edge interface members 108 may be made from different materials suitable for use on different terrains.

In one embodiment, the edge interface 108 may be coupled to support structure 102 and adapted to rotate and generally move freely by an edge attachment fixture 110. In various embodiments, the edge interface members 108 may be adapted to engage a surface in a carving action, much like a ski or snow board edge carves in the snow or a surf board carves in the wave in order to take a more aggressive traverse line across the terrain.

In various embodiments, the edge interface members 108 can be made from the same or different material as the bottom interface material 104. In certain embodiment, it may be advantageous to use a lower friction and a harder material, such as alloys, engineered plastics, ceramics, and the like to enable better engagement with the terrain such that more aggressive lines can be taken.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a user traverse interface 100 in accordance with various embodiments. The side or edge interface members 108 may be generally conically shaped and freely rotatable with upper edges 109 adapted to engage the terrain. In various embodiments, a bottom support member 104 may be generally disposed in the base of the conical shaped edge interface 108. So disposed, the conical shape of the edge interface members 108 may allow for a generally smooth transition between the edge interface member 108 and the bottom interface members 104.

In various embodiments, the bottom interface members 104 may be disposed between the edge interface members. In various embodiments, the bottom interface members 104 may be omnidirectional rollers, spheres, or bearings to allow directional freedom. In various embodiments, the edge interface members 108 may be a harder material, which can allow a user to fide hard surface terrain, such as swimming pools.

Both the bottom and edge interface members 104 and 108 may be able to variably and/or coincidentally engage the terrain when in use by a rider. For example, if the rider is on a ramp or other feature, the user may traverse the ramp on an aggressive line by using the edge interface members 108, and when the user wants to take a less aggressive line, e.g. go down the ramp, the user may pivot from the edge interface members 108 to the bottom interface surfaces 104. In various embodiments, the support platform 102 may be coupled to a boot, shoe or other foot engaging configuration. In some embodiments, the traverse interface apparatus may be integral with the foot engaging configuration. Whereas in other embodiments, the traverse interface may be attached or detached from the wearing gear for replacement or exchange. In various other embodiments, the traverse interface may be coupled to and/or integral with a board or other ridable configuration.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate an embodiment of the interaction between a traverse interface apparatus 200 and a terrain 250. The traverse interface apparatus 200 may engage the terrain 250 through its bottom interface members 204 as illustrated in Figure 7, through edge interface members 208 as illustrated in Figure 8, or both. Terrain 250 may be created by natural formation such as wood, concrete, rock, dirt, etc. It may also result from an artificial surface and/or structure such as a wall, ramp, fixture, etc.

In various embodiments, the terrain may be an artificial manipulateable terrain that can be fixed in a desired configuration (such as a skate park) and/or manipulated in real time as the user is traversing the terrain (such as riding a wave). Further, the user may employ different user interfaces (e.g. boot or board) based on the condition of the terrain. Therefore, the ability to manipulate the terrain and use of various ways of engaging a terrain with a user interface apparatus can generate a higher level of complexity.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrates a side view of one embodiment of a manipulateable terrain in accordance with various embodiments that may be used together with a traverse interface apparatus. Interface surface 330 may be designed with a fixed and/or variable height, length and slope angles X, Y and Z. The interface surface 330 may have different width along the path.

In various embodiments, a terrain actuation or manipulation system may be used to manipulate the terrain as desired. In one embodiment, a hydraulic and/or pneumatically actuated manipulation system may be used. For example, one or more manipulation members 356 may be used to raise and lower designated portions of the surface 330 in order to change the terrain and generate desired features. Figure 10 illustrates the terrain manipulated by actuation of manipulation members 356' to manipulate surface 330'.

In various embodiments, expandable rollers may be disposed beneath the generally flexible surface to manipulate the terrain. The rollers may be, for example, hydraulically or pneumatically expandable and mounted to allow the rollers to roll along the under side of the interface surface. In various embodiments, the rollers could have both horizontal movement across the floor and vertical movement to cause surface manipulation. Such movement may, for example, simulate a wave in the flooring surface.

Figure 11 illustrates a manipulatable terrain in accordance with various embodiments. The manipulatable terrain may have a surface 500 configured in the shape of a tube In various embodiments. The tube may be of a sufficient diameter 550 to allow a user to traverse up and down the walls of the tube. A plurality of roller supports 540 may be disposed about the outer circumference of the tube and engage the tube in a manner that provides structural support. The roller supports may also be configured to rotate the tube about a central axis 560 via rotation of the roller supports. In various embodiments, the rollers may be coupled to an actuator that can move the roller supports toward and away from the central axis 560 of the tube. So configured, the manipulatable terrain may resemble a revolving tube like structure, wherein the walls are constantly rotating and the shape of the tube body may be manipulated in a variety of ways.

Figures 12A and 12B illustrate end views of a manipulatable terrain in accordance with various embodiments. The manipulatable terrain may have a surface 600 configured in the shape of a tube 610 having a diameter 650 and a center 660. One or more manipulation members 630 may be disposed about the circumference of the surface and be adapted to manipulate the position and rotation of the tube. In various embodiments, the manipulation members 630 may include plurality of shorter rollers 640 (i.e. they do not run the length of the tube) that are generally horizontally disposed about the circumference of the surface 600 and engage a back side of the surface.

The manipulation member 630 may also include a driver linkage 670 may be disposed about the periphery of the rollers 640, and coupled to cause the rollers 640, and hence the surface 600 to revolve or rotate as illustrated by 690. Driver linkage 670 may be a belt, chain, or another mechanical linkage, and may use a gear, friction, or other interface. In various embodiments, the rotation of the rollers may be controlled by electro magnets. In various embodiments, the drive linkage may be adapted to directly drive the surface and thus no rollers are required.

Driver linkage 670 may engage a pulley 672 disposed within a support arm or member 678. A drive shaft 674 may be disposed within a support casing 676. Drive linkage 670 may engage drive shaft 674 such that rotation of the drive shaft drives the drive linkage about the circumference of the surface 600. In various embodiments, the pulley and manipulatable terrain may be generally fixed relative to the support arm 678, and the support casing and drive shaft are not. Thus movement of the support arm causes movement of the manipulatable terrain and the pulley, but the casing and drive shaft remain generally in the same plane.

Thus, as illustrated in Figure 12 B, when the support arm is moved downward, the surface 600 moves a distance H in the area of the manipulation member 630. In various embodiments, the support member and manipulation members may be able to move horizontally as illustrated by 680. In various embodiments, a number of manipulation members 630 may be disposed along the length of the tube and move independent of other manipulation members. The manipulation members 630 may be moved in both vertical and horizontal directions, thus causing the tube 610 to turn, twist, raise and lower as desired by the user, and thus manipulating the terrain.

In various embodiments, the terrain manipulation system may be controlled by a controller and further linked to a computer that has programming capability and/or the ability to execute preprogrammed commands. A user can program and design the contour of a terrain, for example, by controlling the pressure that is transmitted to a specific location of the base layer. Computer can also be used to simulate and display the surface contour generated by terrain manipulation system. Various embodiments of terrain design including different type/number of surface features may be generated with modification and alteration of the manipulation system.

In one embodiment, the material used as the interface surface of the may be compatible with the material used for bottom and edge interfaces. Typically, a high resilient and low friction material should be used to construct the terrain. In other embodiment, a flexible base material in conjunction with a resilient and low friction surface material may be used to construct the terrain. Such materials may include rubbers, engineering plastics, carbon fibers and/or composites.

In various embodiments, the terrain may be manipulated to have a fixed feature presentation (such as emulating a famous skate park). In various embodiments, the terrain may be manipulated while the user is traversing various features. And in other embodiments, the terrain may be constantly manipulated in a particular direction to emulate, for example, riding waves.

The combination of a flexible material and a terrain manipulation system may result in a terrain that can be easily manipulated, modified, and programmed at the user's specification and generally at a low cost. Manipulatable terrains in accordance with various embodiments may be installed in skate parks or other locations (indoor or outdoor) for temporary/permanent use. It can also be used in sport contest when various levels of challenge are needed for competition. Various embodiments that use different means to generate manipulateable terrains with modification or alteration may also be practiced within the spirit and scope of this invention. In addition to the discussion and illustrations of various embodiments above, it is to be understood, however, that a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalent embodiments or implementations calculated to achieve the same purposes may be substituted for the embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present invention. Those with skill in the art will readily appreciate that embodiments in accordance with the present invention may be implemented in a very wide variety of ways. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the embodiments discussed herein.

Claims

1. A user traverse interface apparatus, comprising:

A user support;

One or more bottom interface members rotatably coupled to the user support and adapted to engage a surface; and

One or more edge interface members rotatably coupled to the user support and adapted to engage the surface.

2. The user traverse interface apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the edge interface members and bottom interface members are wheels, and wherein each wheel includes and rotates about a central axis.

3. The user traverse interface apparatus of claim 1 , where in the edge interface members are disposed at an angle with respect to the bottom interface members.

4. The user traverse interface apparatus of claim 3, wherein the angle is in the range of 15 to 90 degrees.

5. The user traverse interface apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more edge interface members are generally conical in shape, the generally conical shaped edge interface having an upper edge adapted to engage the surface and a bottom portion.

6. The user traverse interface apparatus of claim 5, wherein the bottom support member is at least partially disposed in the bottom portion of the conical shaped edge interface member.

7. The user traverse interface apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the bottom support members are omnidirectional spheres.

8. A manipulatable terrain, comprising:

A generally flexible surface having a user interface surface and a back side; and

A plurality of surface manipulation members coupled to the back side of the generally flexible surface, the plurality of surface manipulation members adapted to manipulate the topography and/or position of the user interface surface.

9. The manipulatable terrain of claim 8, wherein the manipulation members are hydraulically or pneumatically actuated supports.

10. The manipulatable terrain of claim 8, wherein the manipulation members are expandable rollers.

11. The manipulatable terrain of claim 8, wherein the surface is generally shaped as a tube having a central axis and a diameter, and the manipulation members include a plurality of roller supports disposed about an outer periphery of the tube.

12. The manipulatable terrain of claim 11 , wherein the roller supports are adapted to rotate, and wherein such rotation of the rollers causes rotation of the tube.

13. The manipulatable terrain of claim 12, wherein the roller supports are expandable to cause manipulation of the terrain.

14. The manipulatable terrain of claim 12, wherein the roller supports are movable with respect to the central axis.

15. A method of riding manipulatable terrain, comprising;

Providing a manipulatable terrain having a surface and a plurality of manipulation members coupled to the surface;

Providing a user support interface having one or more bottom interface members and one or more edge interface members adapted to engage the surface;

Manipulating the topography of the surface.