Skateboard training device

Abstract

A board training device for skateboards and the like comprises an elongated board having a pair of socket holes therein centered on a longitudinal axis of the board and spaced apart approximately the shoulder width of a user, each hole sized to capture and releasably hold a solid elastomeric ball of polymer, gum rubber or polyurethane. The training device enables balance training indoors over substantially the full range of pivotal motion encountered during maneuvers on a skateboard without actually skating and without damage to flooring or furniture.

1 . A board training device comprising:
 an elongated board having an upper side, a lower side, opposing end sections and a longitudinal axis extending between said end sections, and having a pair of socket holes formed therein, the socket holes being spaced apart and formed in the lower side of the board centered on the longitudinal axis; and   a pair of spherically shaped balls of elastomeric material, one of said balls being releasably received in each of said socket holes for supporting the board on a hard surface;   each of said socket holes being formed to capture said one of said balls through engagement of an edge of said socket hole at said lower side with a surface of said one ball, the elastomeric material of said balls being selected to flex sufficiently upon engagement with said edge to firmly seat said balls in said socket holes and to support the body weight of a user on said upper surface while maintaining the spherical shape of said balls, and   wherein said balls through contact with said hard surface comprise pivots that enable said user balancing on said board to pivot said board in multiple directions to simulate actual motions experienced during boarding activities.   
     
     
         2 . The board training device of  claim 1 , wherein said socket holes are spaced apart a distance corresponding to approximately said user's shoulder width. 
     
     
         3 . The board training device of  claim 2 , wherein said board has a generally planar center section between said opposing end sections and said end sections curve upwardly away from said center section, and wherein said socket holes are located in said center section adjacent to said end sections. 
     
     
         4 . The board training device of  claim 3 , wherein said user by exerting weight on one end section of said board causes the board to pivot on one ball adjacent to said one end section and enables the user to engage in a pivoting motion about said one ball. 
     
     
         5 . The board training device of  claim 1 , wherein said socket holes have a diameter such that when said balls are seated therein, the surface of said balls in said socket holes does not extend above said upper surface of said board. 
     
     
         6 . The board training device of  claim 1 , wherein said elastomeric material of said balls comprises has a durometer hardness in the range of about 50 A to 70 A. 
     
     
         7 . The board training device of  claim 6 , wherein said elastomeric material is selected from the group consisting of polymers, gum rubber and polyurethane. 
     
     
         8 . The board training device of  claim 1 , wherein said socket holes comprise cylindrically shaped holes that extend through said board, and said edge of said socket hole that engages said surface of said ball comprises a circular edge of said cylindrically shaped hole formed between the lower side of said board and a sidewall of said cylindrically shaped hole. 
     
     
         9 . The board training device of  claim 1 , wherein said socket holes comprise holes having curved sidewalls with a curvature corresponding to a curvature of the spherical surface of said balls, and wherein said curved sidewalls engage said spherical surface of said balls to capture the balls within said socket holes. 
     
     
         10 . A board training device comprising:
 an elongated board having a shape corresponding to a skateboard, and having a first and second socket holes formed therein, the socket holes being spaced apart and centered on a longitudinal axis of said board; and   first and second spherically shaped balls of elastomeric material received in said first and second socket holes, respectively, for supporting the board on a hard surface;   said socket holes having sidewall surfaces that engage a surface of said balls received in said socket holes to releasably capture and firmly seat said balls in said socket holes, the elastomeric material of said balls being selected to support the body weight of a user balancing on an upper surface of said board while maintaining the spherical shape of said balls, and being selected to grip said hard surface during pivoting motions of said board;   wherein said balls through contact with said hard surface comprise pivots that enable said user balancing on said board to pivot said board in multiple directions to simulate actual motions experienced during skateboarding activities.   
     
     
         11 . The board training device of  claim 10 , wherein said elastomeric material comprises a material having a durometer hardness in the range of about 50 A to 70 A. 
     
     
         12 . The board training device of  claim 10 , wherein said elastomeric material is selected from the group consisting of polymers, gum rubber and polyurethane. 
     
     
         13 . The board training device of  claim 10 , wherein said socket holes are cylindrical holes, and said hole sidewall surfaces that engage said balls comprise a circular edge of said socket hole formed at a lower surface of the board by a cylindrical hole. 
     
     
         14 . The board training device of  claim 10 , wherein said hole sidewalls are curved to have a shape corresponding to the spherical shape of said balls to distribute said body weight of the user over a portion of the spherical surface of the balls.