Innovations Revolutionizing Skateboard Safety
18 patents in this list
Updated:
Skateboarding offers excitement, but it also comes with inherent risks. Fortunately, modern technology is transforming how skateboards are designed with safety in mind. New advancements, such as enhanced braking systems, impact-absorbing materials, and stability improvements, are making skateboarding much safer without sacrificing performance.
Whether for leisure or competition, these cutting-edge features provide peace of mind and better protection against accidents.
On this page, we’ll dive into the key innovations in skateboard safety that are shaping the future of the sport.
1. Single-Wheel Truck Skateboard for Enhanced Comfort and Rail Grinding Capability
Joseph L. PIKULSKI, 2023
Skateboard with a single wheel truck that improves ride comfort and performance compared to traditional four-wheel skateboards. The single-wheel truck provides smoother ride by reducing the number of wheel impacts when crossing cracks in the ground. The single wheel also has a V groove for grinding rails without damaging the skateboard. The skateboard can have an internal motor in the wheel for powered versions.
2. Pivoting Skateboard Truck Design to Reduce Wheel Bite on Uneven Surfaces
Karsten Manufacturing Corporation, 2023
A skateboard truck that reduces wheel interaction when the skateboard rolls over uneven surfaces like cracks. The truck has arms that pivot on a central hanger. Rotation-inhibiting structures limit how far the arms can rotate.
3. Split Structure Skateboard Wheel for Enhanced Comfort, Durability, and Customization
NINGBO WONDER POWER TECH CO, LTD, 2023
A skateboard wheel tire that provides improved comfort, shock absorption, durability and visual customization compared to traditional skateboard wheels. It uses a split structure with multiple parts. The main annular cover tire and connectors are made of the same material for consistent hardness. Embedded parts fill the gaps and are made of the same material but can have different colors and hardnesses. This allows customization and optimizing properties like comfort without sacrificing durability.
4. Skateboard Deck Design for Enhanced 3D Surface Stability and Usability
Hasegawa Corporation, 2021
A skateboard deck design that allows the front and rear wheels to stably contact a 3D road surface while ensuring usability and operability. The deck has multiple board materials with a central wood board narrower in width than the outer wood boards. The narrower central wood board reduces torsional rigidity. Fiber reinforced plastic boards are added above and below the wood core. The plastic boards extend fully but the wood boards narrow at the center. This reduces torsional rigidity at the center, allowing twist while maintaining overall deck width and stability. The plastic boards also fill remaining gaps around the wood core.
5. Peripheral Bumper Apparatus for Enhanced Skateboard Edge Protection
Titus Gadwin Watts, 2021
Bumper apparatus for a board vehicle that protects the board edges from damage and wear. The bumper has a bent elongated member that extends along the periphery of the board. A primary crossbar connects the side portions of the elongated member along the board. This bumper configuration serves as a durable barrier around the front, rear, and side edges of the board to prevent damage from impacts.
6. Manual Lever-Activated Braking Device for Skateboards
David Woodsford, 2021
A braking device for skateboards that allows for safe and efficient braking, particularly in emergency situations. The device is attached to the skateboard and includes a lever that can be manually actuated by the rider to engage a braking mechanism. When activated, the braking mechanism applies pressure to the skateboard wheels to slow down and stop the skateboard.
7. Reinforced Kick Tails for Enhanced Durability in Freestyle Skateboards
Cross Wing Technology Holdings, LLC, 2020
A lightweight and thin sport board like a skateboard designed for freestyle tricks that reinforce the kick tails to handle the loads of tricks and jumps. This involves adding extra material and reinforcement to the areas around the rear and front trucks where the kick tails are mounted. This reinforcement enhances the strength of the board in those areas compared to the rest of the platform.
8. Reinforced Kicktail Design for High-Performance and Safer Skateboarding
Cross Wing Technology Holdings, LLC, 2020
Skateboard design to enable high-performance freestyle tricks and potentially elevate skateboarding to Olympic-level competition. The design features reinforced kicktails for improved durability and responsiveness during tricks.
9. Reinforced Skateboard Construction for Enhanced Impact Resistance
NHS, INC., 2020
Skateboard top construction using a plurality of hardwood veneers in which sections of the 3rd and 5th veneer plies adjacent to the impact areas at the ends of the major axis are replaced with a non-grain, omni-directional strength material. This strengthens those vulnerable areas against compressive forces from impacts. The replacement material can be a composite, plastic, metal, or any material with good tensile and compressive strength regardless of grain orientation.
10. Shock Absorber Suspension System for One-Wheeled Electric Skateboards
Future Motion, Inc., 2019
Suspension system for one-wheeled self-balancing vehicles like electric skateboards, that allows the board to move vertically relative to the wheel in response to bumps. The suspension uses a shock absorber and linkage assembly to isolate the frame from terrain impacts. This prevents jolts and improves ride comfort compared to rigid one-wheelers. The suspension has swingarm or bell crank linkages connecting the shock absorber between the wheel axle and board.
11. Self-Balancing Electric Skateboard with Resilient Suspension System for Shock Absorption
Future Motion, Inc., 2019
Rider detection systems for self-balancing electric vehicles like skateboards. The systems detect rider presence and orientation on the vehicle using pressure sensors on the foot pads and orientation sensors. This allows the vehicle to know when a rider is on board and their weight distribution. The vehicle can then use this information to properly balance and move.
12. Rider Detection and Balance Control Systems for Self-Balancing Electric Skateboards
Future Motion, Inc., 2019
Rider detection systems for self-balancing electric vehicles like skateboards. The systems detect rider presence and orientation on the vehicle using pressure sensors on the foot pads and orientation sensors. This allows the vehicle to know when a rider is on board and their weight distribution. The vehicle can then use this information to properly balance and move.
13. Skateboard with Lever-Activated Brake System for Improved Stability and Control
Young Jin Choi, 2019
A skateboard with a brake system to improve stability and control. The brake is activated by a lever mounted on a handle that is attached to the skateboard truck. This allows the rider to squeeze the lever to engage the brake and slow down the skateboard.
14. Rider Detection and Stabilization System for Self-Balancing Skateboards
Future Motion, Inc., 2019
Rider detection and stabilization system for electric vehicles like self-balancing skateboards. The system uses pressure sensors in the deck to detect if a rider is on board. This allows the vehicle to activate the self-balancing motor control only when someone is riding. The sensors can be divided into zones to detect foot placement and enable tilting turns.
15. Skateboard with Integrated Handle and Brake System for Improved Safety
Young Jin Choi, 2018
A skateboard with a handle and brake system to improve stability, control and safety. The skateboard has a handle attached to the truck hanger and a brake lever on the handle. This allows the rider to grip the handle for stability, leverage and balance. The brake lever operates a brake system to slow or stop the skateboard. This provides a way to control speed and stop without relying only on foot dragging.
16. Self-Balancing Personal Transporter with User Input-Based Control System
DEKA Products Limited Partnership, 2018
Personal transporter vehicle that balances itself on two wheels as it moves through user input. The vehicle has sensors to detect rider body orientation and weight distribution. A processor uses this input to generate control signals for direction and velocity while maintaining balance. The vehicle has a self-balancing system that continuously adjusts the wheels to keep the rider upright.
17. Hand-Lever Controlled Braking System for Recreational Boards
Streetboardz International Pty Ltd, 2018
A braking system for recreational boards like snowboards that allows riders to safely slow down and stop without losing balance. The braking system has an external activating means, like a hand-held lever, that controls the braking mechanism. When the lever is pulled, prongs on the mechanism extend into the riding surface to slow down the board. The lever allows gradual braking while keeping the rider balanced.
18. Self-Balancing Skateboard with Rider Detection for Enhanced Safety
Future Motion, Inc., 2018
Self-stabilizing electric vehicle like a self-balancing skateboard that can detect rider presence on the vehicle. The vehicle has sensors like pressure transducers on the deck that detect foot pressure to determine if a rider is on board. The vehicle uses this rider detection information along with orientation sensors to control the motorized wheels and propel itself. This allows the vehicle to automatically adjust its balance and speed based on rider presence and orientation.
Request the PDF report with complete details of all 18 patents for offline reading.
These innovations in skateboard safety are pushing the sport forward, making it safer and more accessible. With advanced designs like improved stability mechanisms and shock-absorbing materials, skateboarders can now enjoy a more secure ride. As technology continues to advance, skateboard safety will undoubtedly keep improving, offering riders a thrilling experience with fewer risks.