Onewheel support systems and apparatus

Abstract

Apparatus and systems are provided that enhance the use of a one wheel skateboard. Some of the apparatus described provide lateral surfaces that engage outer portions of a user's feet. Other apparatus facilitate the engagement of common snowboard bindings to a one wheel skateboard, thereby widening the spectrum of tricks that can be performed.

Claims

1. A device associated a single wheel motorized board having a front edge, a wheel portion, and a rear edge, comprising: a lower portion having an upper surface configured to interconnect to the front edge or rear edge of the board; a web interconnected to the lower portion, the web having an inward surface configured to be located adjacent to the front edge or rear edge of the board and adapted to engage an outer portion of a user's foot; and an upper portion having an inner edge extending towards the wheel portion of the board and generally perpendicular to the web.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the inner edge of the upper portion is curved, wherein a first end of the inner edge, which is associated with a first lateral toe-side edge of the board, is longer than a second end of the inner edge, which is associated with a lateral heal-side edge.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the web is angled relative to the lower portion and the upper portion.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the lower portion resides in a cavity of a bumper associated with the front edge or rear edge of the board.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the upper portion has a lower surface that faces an upper surface of the board.

6. The device of claim 5, further comprising a pad interconnected to the lower surface of the upper portion.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein no portion of the lower portion attaches to an upper surface of the board.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein no portion of the web is located between the front edge or rear edge and a midpoint of the board.

9. A onewheel, comprising: a rear edge, first lateral toe-side, a lateral heal-side edge defining an upper surface and a lower surface; a single wheel positioned in an opening provided at the midpoint of the upper surface and the lower surface, the wheel having lateral surfaces corresponding to lateral heal-side and toe-side edges of the onewheel; a front foot retention member associated with the front edge, comprising: a lower portion having an upper surface configured to interconnect to the front edge of the onewheel, a web interconnected to the lower portion, the web having an inward surface configured to be located adjacent to the front edge of the onewheel and adapted to engage an outer portion of a user's first foot, and an upper portion having an inner edge extending towards the wheel, the upper portion having a lower surface that faces the upper surface of the onewheel; a rear foot retention member associated with the rear edge, comprising: a lower portion having an upper surface configured to interconnect to the rear edge of the onewheel, a web interconnected to the lower portion, the web having an inward surface configured to be located adjacent to the rear edge of the onewheel and adapted to engage an outer portion of a user's second foot, and an upper portion having an inner edge extending towards the wheel, the upper portion having a lower surface that faces the upper surface of the onewheel; wherein application of a force onto the lower surface of the upper portion of the front foot retention member while pressing down on a rear portion of the onewheel adjacent to the rear edge rotates the front edge of the onewheel upwardly; wherein application of a force onto the lower surface of the upper portion of the rear foot retention member while pressing down on a front portion of the onewheel adjacent to the front edge rotates the front edge of the onewheel upwardly; and wherein application of a force onto the lower surfaces of the upper portions of the front and rear foot retention members will initiate a vertical lift maneuver.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the inner edges of the upper portions are curved, wherein first ends of the inner edges that are associated with the lateral toe-side edge of the onewheel is longer than second ends of the inner edges that are associated with the lateral heal-side edge.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the webs are angled relative to the lower portions and the upper portions.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the lower portions reside in cavities of bumpers associated with the front edge or rear edge of the onewheel.

13. The device of claim 9, further comprising pads interconnected to the lower surfaces of the upper portions.

14. The device of claim 9, wherein no portion of the lower portions attach to the upper surface of the onewheel.

15. The device of claim 9, wherein no portion of the webs are located between the front edge or rear edge and the wheel.

16. A device associated with an electrically powered, self-balancing, sideways-operated single-wheel motorized board having a front portion, a wheel portion, and a rear portion, comprising: a bottom flange having an upper surface configured to interconnect to the front portion or rear portion of the one wheel; a web interconnected on one end to the bottom flange, the web having an inner surface configured to be located adjacent to the front portion or rear portion of the one-wheel board and adapted to engage the outer portion of a user's foot; and a top flange interconnected to the web at an end opposite to the bottom flange, the top flange having an edge extending inward toward the wheel portion of the board.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein an inward extending edge of the top flange is curved, and wherein the inward extending edge is adapted to be associated with an anteroposterior axis of a user's ankle, and wherein a first end of the inward extending edge is associated with a lateral toe-side edge of the board, which is longer than a second end of the inward extending edge, that is associated with a lateral heel-side edge of the one-wheel board.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the web is angled relative to the top flange and the bottom flange.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein the bottom flange resides in a cavity of a bumper associated with the front edge or rear edge of the board.

20. The device of claim 16, wherein the top flange has a lower surface that faces an upper surface of the one-wheel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the general description of the invention given above and the detailed description of the drawings given below, serve to explain the principles of these inventions.

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective of the device of one embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 1.

(5) FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 1.

(6) FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the device shown in FIG. 1.

(7) FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view showing the device of FIG. 1 interconnected to a onewheel.

(8) FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view showing an optional pad interconnected to the device of FIG. 1.

(9) FIG. 8 is a top perspective view showing a rider using a onewheel with the rider's feet maintained by devices of FIG. 7.

(10) FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of the onewheel shown in FIG. 8.

(11) FIG. 10 is a front elevation view of the onewheel shown in FIG. 8.

(12) FIG. 11 is a side perspective view of the onewheel shown in FIG. 8.

(13) FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the onewheel shown in FIG. 8.

(14) FIG. 13 is a rear perspective view of the onewheel shown in FIG. 8.

(15) It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the invention or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(16) In general, onewheels comprise a centrally-oriented wheel portion bounded by front and rear portions, which terminate in respective front and rear edges, The device 2 of one embodiment of the present invention has holes 6 allowing for mounting to the onewheel 10 through existing bolt inserts 12 in the onewheel's bumper 14, although the device 2 is not limited to this method of mounting. The device 2 consists of a side 18 (also known as a “web” or “outer face”). A bend 22, curve, or otherwise inward transition of material(s) allows a topside 26 of the rider's foot 30 to engage with the underside 34 of the device's upper portion (also known as a “top flange”) that is interconnected to one edge of the side. The device also includes a bottom portion (also known as a “bottom flange”) that is interconnected to the side opposite the upper portion. An inward edge 38 of the top side(s) of the device may be shaped to conform to the general shape of a foot or may be straight. The device may consist of more than one material to retain structural integrity while reducing the potential for damage to the rider's shoes or feet. For example, the underside may include a pad 46.

(17) Exemplary characteristics of embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, to avoid unnecessarily obscuring embodiments of the present invention, the preceding description may omit several known apparatus, methods, systems, structures, and/or devices one of ordinary skill in the art would understand are commonly included with the embodiments of the present invention. Such omissions are not to be construed as a limitation of the scope of the claimed invention. Specific details are set forth to provide an understanding of some embodiments of the present invention. It should, however, be appreciated that embodiments of the present invention may be practiced in a variety of ways beyond the specific detail set forth herein.

(18) Modifications and alterations of the various embodiments of the present invention described herein will occur to those skilled in the art. It is to be expressly understood that such modifications and alterations are within the scope and spirit of the present invention, as set forth in the following claims. Further, it is to be understood that the invention(s) described herein is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the preceding description or illustrated in the drawings. That is, the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. The scope of the various embodiments described herein is indicated by the following claims rather than by the foregoing description. And all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. It is intended to obtain rights which include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted, including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps to those claimed, whether or not such alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps are disclosed herein, and without intending to publicly dedicate any patentable subject matter.

(19) The foregoing disclosure is not intended to limit the invention to the form or forms disclosed herein. In the foregoing Detailed Description, for example, various features of the invention are grouped together in one or more embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed inventions require more features than expressly recited. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate preferred embodiment of the invention. Further, the embodiments of the present invention described herein include components, methods, processes, systems, and/or apparatus substantially as depicted and described herein, including various sub-combinations and subsets thereof. Accordingly, one of skill in the art will appreciate that would be possible to provide for some features of the embodiments of the present invention without providing others. Stated differently, any one or more of the aspects, features, elements, means, or embodiments as disclosed herein may be combined with any one or more other aspects, features, elements, means, or embodiments as disclosed herein.