1 SCOOTER DECK [001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION [002] The field of the present invention relates to decks for sports devices, specifically decks for scooters. [003] DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART [004] Scooters and other similar vehicles the have a deck surface that the user or tider stands on are weight bearing structures that experience a substantial amount of force and wear during use. [005] Such force and wear is increased significantly when the user attempts to perform tricks that require the rider to loose contact with the surface of the board for a period and then return their feet back to the deck to maintain control of their scooter. These forces can be significant and so the problem faced with present deck manufactures is to provide a deck of suitable strength to withstand the various forces applied to it without increasing the weight to a degree that the performance of the scooter is compromised. [006] As such, many deck manufactures create a deck from metal extrusions to create a hollow deck, the thickness of the sheet is increased to provide strength across the whole length of the board. Others produce their decks from di-cast or CNC process. [007] In each instance the thickness of the deck is significant and this results in the handling of the board becoming compromised in the pursuit of deck strength which is necessary to ensure that the deck does not easily fail during use and cause injury to the rider. [008] OBJECT OF THE INVENTION [009] It is an object of the present invention to provide a lightweight, resilient deck for a scooter.
2 [010] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taking in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. [011] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [012] According to the present invention, although this should not be seen as limiting the invention in any way, there is provided a scooter deck, the deck having an upper and lower section, each section having an inner and outer side, the inner side including a plurality of spaced apart integrally formed ridges, the upper and lower section being located such that the inner sides are opposingly positioned to form a hollow compartment within, characterised in that the plurality integrally formed ridges are separated by at least one rib-section, characterised in the at least one rib section spans from the upper section to the lower section. [013] In preference, the plurality of integrally formed ribs extend substantially in a longitudinal direction of the deck. [014] In preference, the plurality of spaced apart integrally formed ridges vary in height across a width of the deck. [015] In preference, the deck is formed by extrusion. [016] In preference, the upper and lower separate are two separate sections joined one to the other. [017] In preference, the upper section has an outer surface that is substantially concave. [018] In preference, the at least one rib section defines at least two hollow sections within the deck. [019] In preference, there are two rib sections defining three hollow chambers. [020] In preference, the hollow chambers are interconnected.
3 [021] In a further embodiment, the present invention describes a method of producing a scooter deck, the method including the step of: [022] forming an extrusion having an upper and lower section, each section having an inner and outer side, the inner side including a plurality of spaced apart integrally formed ridges, the upper and lower section being located such that the inner sides are opposingly positioned to form a hollow compartment within, characterised in that the plurality integrally formed ridges are separated by at least one rib section, characterised in the at least one rib section spans from the upper section to the lower section. [023] In preference, the extrusion is a hot extrusion. [024] In preference, the extrusion is a cold extrusion. [025] In preference, the plurality of integrally formed ribs extend substantially in a longitudinal direction of the deck. [026] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [027] By way of example, an embodiment of the invention is described more fully herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [028] Figure 1 shows a perspective cross section view of the deck of the present invention; [029] Figure 2 shows a cross section view of the figure 1; [030] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the deck of figure 2 with the upper section as see through to show the interior detail; [031] Figure 4 shows a rear perspective of the deck; [032] Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the deck as part of a scooter.
4 [033] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [034] With reference to figure 1 the deck 10 of a scooter of the present invention in which there is an upper deck section 12 and a lower deck section 14. The upper deck 14 is where the user or rider places their feet during use of the scooter. The shape of the upper deck is typically planar but it may be convex of concave as required. [035] The deck 10 includes a main hollow internal section 16a and hollow side internal section 16b and 16c respectively. Each internal hollow section 16a-c has a number of raised ridges 17 travelling along the longitudinal length of the deck 10 formed during the extrusion process. The spacing of the ridges 17 can be varied according to requirements but a generally of substantially uniform width. [036] Punctuating the arrangement of the raised ridges 17 are the ribs 20 that span the height of the internal hollow section 16 to provide support to the upper deck section 12. The ribs 20 run the longitudinal length of the deck 10 but it is within the scope of the invention that the ribs my only span a section of the length. Each ribs 20 has a substantially consistent width with a tapered section 21 where it joins to the upper 12 or lower 14 sections respectively. [037] Whilst it is envisaged that the deck 10 can be produced from a single extrusion, it may also be formed by the joining of two separate sections being an upper section and a lower section, with a welding joint around the outer periphery of the deck. In such a case, the ribs 20 would be formed on an inner surface of either the upper or lower section and shaped to butt against the inner surface of the opposing section. In this manner more complicated ridge shapes may be obtained. [038] On the outer surface 15 of the lower section 14 there are raised transverse lobes 23 running substantially parallel with the ribs 20. These lobes 23 provide additional strength to the supporting ribs 17 positioned immediately above them. The extra thickness in the are by the lobes 23 also ensure that any stresses absorbed from the upper deck 12 through the ribs 20 are readily transferred through a greater area on the lower deck section without the need to have any similar raised section on the upper deck section 12.
5 [039] The side hollow sections 16b and 16c are wedge-shaped, with an outer cambered surfaces 26, so that any force applied to the outer periphery 19 of the upper surface 13 of the upper section 12, such as indicated by the arrow 26, is then directed toward the lobes 23 on the lower section 14. The advantages of such a shape are exemplified when the outer surface 13 of the upper deck section 12 is slightly concave in shape, as shown in figure 2. The formation of hollow sections then serves not only to increase strength and rigidity of the deck 10 but also allows a reduction in material compared to metal decks made in the traditional box section formation. [040] In figure 3, the ribs 20 are shown to run substantially along the length of the underside of the lower deck section 14 as do the supporting ribs 17. [041] The present invention also resides in a method for producing a deck 10, in which a billet is forced through a die, the die having a plurality of raised sections to produce a plurality of spaced apart integrally formed ridges 17, the upper 12 and lower 14 section being located such that the inner sides are opposingly positioned to form a hollow compartment 16 within, characterised in that the plurality integrally formed ridges 17 are separated by at least one rib section 20, characterised in the at least one rib section 20 spans from the upper section to the lower section. [042] As is now apparent from the above, the present application provides a novel deck for a scooter or other such apparatus that provides increased strength to weigh ration when compared to decks of the prior art. The advantages of such are numerous including a reduction in use of material, ease of manufacture and weight saving providing the user with an increased maneuverability and handling. [043] Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures can be made within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details described herein but it is to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.