Skateboard attachment strap assembly

Abstract

A skateboard attachment strap assembly (SASA) ( 10 ) that is comprised of three major elements: a front spring-powered retractable cable reel ( 12 ), an identical rear spring-powered retractable cable reel ( 48 ) and a strap assembly ( 50 ) that is centrally connected between the front and rear spring-powered retractable cable reels ( 12,48 ). The strap assembly ( 50 ) has attached an adjustable buckle ( 82 ). The buckle ( 82 ) allows the strap assembly ( 50 ) to be adjusted to an optimum length to ensure that the strap assembly ( 50 ) lies flat against the lower surface ( 104 ) of a skateboard deck ( 100 ) when the skateboard is in use. Conversely, when the skateboard is being carried or transported, the strap assembly ( 50 ) is extended. In the extended position the strap assembly ( 50 ) can be comfortably and easily placed around a shoulder, back and chest area of an individual.

1 . A skateboard attachment strap assembly (SASA) that is adapted to be used with a skateboard deck having an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein to the lower surface is attached a front truck assembly and a rear truck assembly, with each having a right side and a left side, wherein said SASA comprises:
 a) a front retractable cable reel that is attached to the lower surface of the skateboard deck adjacent to one of the sides of the front truck assembly,   b) a rear retractable cable reel that is attached to the lower surface of the skateboard deck adjacent to the rear truck assembly and is in alignment with said front retractable cable reel, and   c) a strap assembly having an upper surface, a lower surface, a front end and a rear end, wherein to each end is attached a cable that is extended from the cable reel, wherein when the skateboard is stowed or in use, the cables are retracted into their respective cable reels, thereby allowing said strap assembly to lie flat against the lower surface of the skateboard deck, conversely when the skateboard is being transported, said strap assembly is extended and placed around a shoulder, back and chest area of an individual.   
   
   
       2 . The skateboard attachment strap assembly as specified in  claim 1  wherein said front and rear retractable cable reels are each comprised of a spring-powered retractable cable reel having a cable that is internally attached to a spring-return mechanism. 
   
   
       3 . The skateboard attachment strap assembly as specified in  claim 2  wherein said cable is comprised of a multiplicity of looped metal segments that allow the cable to be flexible. 
   
   
       4 . The skateboard attachment strap assembly as specified in  claim 1  wherein each said reel is attached to the lower surface of the skateboard deck by a moisture resistant adhesive. 
   
   
       5 . The skateboard attachment strap assembly as specified in  claim 1  further comprising a combination hook and loop fastener that is located between the lower surface of the skateboard deck and the lower surface of the strap assembly, wherein the fastener aids in maintaining said strap assembly firmly against the lower surface of the skateboard deck when the skateboard is in use. 
   
   
       6 . The skateboard attachment strap assembly as specified in  claim 1  wherein said strap assembly is made of a material that is selected from the group consisting of NYLON™, cotton and rayon. 
   
   
       7 . The skateboard attachment strap assembly as specified in  claim 6  wherein said strap assembly further comprises an adjustable buckle that is used to adjust the length of the strap assembly to an optimum length. 
   
   
       8 . The skateboard attachment strap assembly as specified in  claim 7  wherein said adjustable buckle is comprised of a cam-style buckle that includes a cam lever that lifts to adjust the length of the strap assembly then closes to securely hold the strap assembly. 
   
   
       9 . A skateboard attachment strap assembly (SASA) that is adapted to be used with a skateboard deck having an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein to the lower surface is attached a front truck assembly and a rear truck assembly each having a right side and a left side, wherein said SASA comprises:
 a) a front spring-powered retractable cable reel having:
 (1) a lower surface, an upper surface, a cable opening and an internal spring-return mechanism, wherein the lower surface of said reel is attached by an attachment means to the lower surface of the skateboard deck adjacent to one of the sides of the front truck assembly, 
 (2) a cable having an inner end and an outer end, wherein the inner end is attached to the internal spring-return mechanism, and the outer end extends outward from the cable opening and terminates at a cable stop/attachment structure, wherein the cable stop prevents the outer end of the cable from retracting into the interior of said reel, 
   b) a rear spring-powered retractable cable reel that is identical to said front spring-powered retractable cable reel, wherein the lower surface of said reel is attached by the attachment means to the lower surface of the skateboard deck in longitudinal alignment with the front spring-powered retractable reel,   c) a strap assembly comprising:
 (1) a central section having a front end, a rear end, an upper surface and a lower surface, 
 (2) a front webbing strip having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is attached by an attachment means to the cable stop/attachment structure located on the first reel, and the second end is attached by an attachment means to the front end of the central section, 
 (3) a rear webbing strip having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is attached by the attachment means to the cable stop/attachment structure located on the second reel, and the second end is attached by the attachment means to the rear end of the central section, wherein when the skateboard is stowed or in use the cables are retracted into their respective reels, thereby allowing said strap assembly to lie flat against the lower surface of the skateboard deck, conversely when the skateboard is being transported, said strap assembly can be extended and placed around the shoulder, back and chest area of an individual. 
   
   
   
       10 . The skateboard attachment strap assembly as specified in  claim 9  wherein said means for attaching the lower surface of said reels to the lower surface of the skateboard deck comprises a moisture-resistant adhesive. 
   
   
       11 . The skateboard attachment strap assembly as specified in  claim 9  wherein said means for attaching the lower surface of said reels to the lower surface of the skateboard comprises:
 a) an attachment tab that is rigidly attached to the lower surface of said reels, with the ends of the tab extending outward from the outer edges of said reels, and with each tab extending end having a bore therethrough, and   b) a pair of screws that are inserted through each of the bores and into the lower surface of the skateboard deck.   
   
   
       12 . The skateboard attachment strap assembly as specified in  claim 11  wherein said reels can be attached adjacent to either the right side or to the left side of the front and rear truck assemblies. 
   
   
       13 . The skateboard attachment strap assembly as specified in  claim 12  wherein said cable is constructed of a multiplicity of looped metal segments that allow the cable to be flexible. 
   
   
       14 . The skateboard attachment strap assembly as specified in  claim 9  further comprising a combination hook and loop fastener that is located between the lower surface of the skateboard deck and the lower surface of the central section, wherein the fastener aids in maintaining said strap assembly firmly against the lower surface of the skateboard deck. 
   
   
       15 . The skateboard attachment strap assembly as specified in  claim 9  wherein the front and rear webbing strips are made of a material selected from the group consisting of NYLON™, cotton and rayon. 
   
   
       16 . The skateboard attachment strap assembly as specified in  claim 15  further comprising an adjustable buckle that is inserted over the front webbing strip and the rear webbing strip, wherein each of the buckles allows the strap assembly to be adjusted to an optimum length.
 adjustable buckle is comprised of a cam-style buckle which includes a cam lever that lifts to adjust the webbing strips, and then is lowered to securely hold the respective webbing strip.   
   
   
       18 . The skateboard attachment strap assembly as specified in  claim 15  wherein said means for attaching the inner end of the cable to the respective cable stop/attachment structure comprises:
 a) the cable stop attachment structure having a clip, and   b) the buckle on the front and rear webbing strips having a bore that is dimensioned to accept the clip, wherein the combination of the clip and the bore allows the central section and the front and rear webbing strips to be easily removed and attached.   
   
   
       19 . The skateboard attachment strap assembly as specified in  claim 9  wherein said means for attaching the front and rear webbing strips to the respective front end and rear end of the central section comprises stitching. 
   
   
       20 . The skateboard attachment strap assembly as specified in  claim 9  further comprises indicia that is placed on the strap assembly and that is visible when the skateboard is being carried.