Self-generating light-producing skateboard

• US 6,621,419 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2002
• Issued: 09/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Top Card Enterprise Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Top Card Enterprise Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Chiu, Cheng-pang
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAI, ANNE VIET NGA
• Application Number:
  US10/097,739
• Publication Number:
  US 20020135998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.4, 340/815.42, 340/815.47, 340/815.52, 362/495, 362/500, 362/464, 362/103, 362/551, 362/459, 310/67.A, 310/75.C, 310/257, 310/49.R, 310/67.R, 315/78, 280/11.221, 280/11.203, 280/11.231, 280/11.19, 280/811, 280/816
• US Class Current: 340/815.42
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/01 Skateboards A63C17/02 - A63C17/28 take precedence; rolling devices on skis A63C5/035
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/26 with special auxiliary arrangements, e.g. illuminating, marking, or push-off devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/14 Lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/12 Dynamos arranged in the wheel hub

Abstract

A self-generating light-producing skateboard mainly includes at least one induction coil assembly mounted on at least one wheel supporter assembly, at least one magnet-containing wheel mounted on the wheel supporter assembly at an outer side of the induction coil assembly, at least one light-emitting element fixed to an outer periphery of a deck of the skateboard and electrically connected to the induction coil assembly, and a light-transferring strip mounted around the outer periphery of the deck. When wheels of the skateboard rotate at high speed, the magnets on the magnet-containing wheel interact with the induction coil assembly to produce current that drives the light-emitting element to emit light. The light-transferring strip transfers the light emitted from the light-emitting element to lighten the outer periphery of the deck, making the skateboard safer for use.

Claims

1. A self-generating light-producing skateboard, comprising:

a deck;

front and rear wheel sup porter assemblies mounted to predetermined positions at an underside of said deck, each of said wheel supporter assemblies including a wheel supporter, at least one of which is fixedly provided on at least one end with a coil chamber;

at least one induction coil assembly located in said coil chamber with an axle in said wheel supported extended therethrough, each said at least one induction coil assembly including a coil support, left and right outer magnetic pole halves, a copper foil, an insulating washer, and an inner magnetic pole, said axle extending through said inner magnetic pole, said copper foil, and said washer, said coil support extending at least partially around said inner magnetic pole, and said outer magnetic pole halves together extending at least partially around said coil support;

a coil being wound around said coil support with two lead-out wires connected to wires that are then connected to at least one light-emitting element fixedly connected to an outer periphery of said deck;

four wheel assemblies separately mounted to two ends of said two wheel supporters of said front and said rear wheel supporter assemblies, each said wheel assembly including a wheel rotatably mounted to an outer en of said axle;

at least one of said wheels that is mounted to an outer side of said at least one coil chamber being provided at an inner end surface along an axle hole with a plurality of holes for each receiving a magnet therein; and

a light-transferring strip mounted around an outer periphery of said deck;

whereby when said wheel rotate at high speed, said magnets set at the inner end surface of said at least one wheel interact with said at least one induction coil assembly to generate current that drives said at least one light-emitting element to emit light, and said light in transferred via said light-transferring strip to light the outer periphery of said deck, enabling said skateboard to produce light without batteries and be safer for use.

2. The self-generating light-producing skateboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inner magnetic pole of said at least one induction coil assembly has a plurality of magnetic pole lugs spaced along an outer end thereof, one of said magnetic pole lugs being provided with a locating hole corresponding to locating slots provided on said insulating washer and said copper foil of said induction coil assembly, such that said inner magnetic pole, said insulating washer, and said copper foil are held to said coil support by a boss on said coil support extended through said locating hole and said locating slots.

3. The self-generating light-producing skateboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light-transferring strip is provided along an outer surface with a plurality of spaced frosted portions, diameter-reduced groove portions, and diameter-increased rib portions to reflect or refract light emitted from said at least one light-emitting element and transferred via said light-transferring strip, so that light from a single light source of said at least one light-emitting element produces multiple light spots on said skateboard.

4. The self-generating light-producing skateboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein said induction coil assembly is adapted to connect to various kinds of electronic, electric energy consuming optional attachments of said skateboard to enable functioning of said optional attachments without batteries and simplified manufacture of said skateboard.

5. The self-generating light-producing skateboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein said optional attachments of said skateboard are selected from the group consisting of a flash driver, tachometer, and odometer.