Lightweight deck for motorized sport boards

Abstract

A device ( 600 ), having a structural portion ( 100 ) of a deck ( 102 ) formed by a molded skin ( 504 ), the skin forming a nose ( 200 ), a tail ( 202 ), two rails ( 204, 206 ) connecting the nose to the tail, each rail having a respective rail cavity, and a recess ( 104 ) in the skin formed between the respective rail cavities. The structural portion is configured to secure trucks ( 700, 702 ) to a bottom portion ( 118 ) of the structural portion opposite the recess.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device, comprising:
 a structural portion of a deck formed by a molded skin, the skin forming a nose, a tail, two rails connecting the nose to the tail, each rail comprising a respective rail cavity, and a recess in the skin formed between the respective rail cavities;   wherein the structural portion is configured to secure trucks to a bottom portion of the structural portion opposite the recess.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the nose and the tail defines a cavity therein that is connected to the rail cavities. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein skin forming a side wall of the recess also forms a side of each of the two rails and is bonded to skin forming the bottom portion. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the skin comprises a monolithic, resin-infused fiber composite. 
     
     
         5 . A device, comprising:
 a structural portion of a deck, the structural portion comprising a nose, a tail, two rails between the nose and the tail, and a recess between the two rails,   wherein at least one of the nose, the tail, and the two rails comprises a skin molded to form an enclosed cavity, and   wherein the structural portion is configured to receive a pair of trucks on a bottom surface opposite the recess.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the skin comprises a resin-infused fiber composite. 
     
     
         7 . The device of claim.  5 , wherein the structural portion comprises a skin surrounding the enclosed cavity, wherein the skin forms the nose, the tail, the two rails, a top portion, and the bottom portion, and wherein the recess is formed in the top portion. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein skin forming a side wall of the recess is bonded to skin forming the bottom portion. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 5 , the deck further comprising a top portion configured to cover the recess. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , further comprising a component disposed in the recess and configured as a positive stop to prevent deflection of the cover beyond a threshold amount. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the component comprises at east one of a battery and electronics. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 5 , further comprising at least one of electronics and a battery configured to power the electronics, the at least one being fully disposed in the recess. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , further comprising a motor secured directly to one truck of the pair of trucks and configured to propel the device. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , comprising both the battery and the electronics, wherein the electronics comprise a controller configured to control operation of the motor, a wireless communication arrangement, and software configured to enable remote adjustment of operating parameters used by the controller to control the motor. 
     
     
         15 . A device, comprising:
 a structural portion of a deck, the structural portion comprising a nose, a tail, two rails between the nose and the tail, and a recess between the two rails, wherein each rail of the two rails defines a respective cavity therein;   wherein in a cross sectional view each rail comprises a perimeter that includes respective portions of: a top portion and a bottom portion of the structural portion; a side of the structural portion; and a recess wall of the recess.   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the perimeter is closed. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the recess wall is bonded to the bottom portion of the structural portion. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the bottom portion of the structural portion is disposed entirely above wheels on a pair of trucks secured to the bottom portion. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 15 , further comprising a cover for the recess and a positive stop disposed in the recess and configured to transfer load from the cover to the bottom of the recess when the cover deflects beyond a threshold amount. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the skin comprises a resin-infused fiber composite.