Skateboard wheel modification apparatus

Abstract

The present invention concerns a method and apparatus for the securing a secondary outer wheel surface to a primary skateboard wheel so as to change the performance characteristics of said skateboard. The apparatus is further directed to allowing a user to remove or secure said second wheel without the use of customized tools or devices. The present invention is also directed to securing a secondary wheel surface in a manner that prevents the primary wheel from impeding the motions of the skateboard. Through the use of the present invention, a user can customize the performance characteristics of the skateboard without the necessity of replacing wheels

1 . A wheel modification apparatus for use in personal transport devices, said apparatus comprising:
 a primary wheel having a ground contact surface and center body portion configured to accept an axel; and   a wheel covering, having an inner and an outer surface, the inner surface selectively engagable to the ground contact surface of the primary wheel and the outer surface configured to provide different performance characteristics than the ground contact surface of the primary wheel.   
     
     
         2 . The wheel modification apparatus of  claim 1  wherein;
 the wheel covering is formed of an elastic material. 
 
     
     
         3 . The wheel modification apparatus of  claim 1  wherein;
 the wheel covering is formed of an resilient material 
 
     
     
         4 . The wheel modification apparatus of  claim 1  wherein;
 the wheel covering is further configured to be selectively engaged to the ground contact portion of the wheel so as to not obstruct access to the center body portion of the wheel and axel. 
 
     
     
         5 . The wheel modification apparatus of  claim 3  wherein;
 the primary wheel and wheel covering are selectively engaged so as to allow access to the axel. 
 
     
     
         6 . The wheel modification apparatus of  claim 1  wherein;
 The primary wheel contact surface has a coefficient of friction value that is lower than a coefficient of friction value of the outer surface of the wheel covering. 
 
     
     
         7 . The wheel modification apparatus of  claim 1  wherein;
 The inner surface of the wheel covering is configured to arrest the movement of the primary wheel contact surface independently of the wheel covering. 
 
     
     
         8 . The wheel modification apparatus of  claim 1  wherein;
 The primary wheel ground contact surface has a durometer value that is greater than a durometer value of the outer surface wheel covering surface. 
 
     
     
         9 . The wheel modification apparatus of  claim 1  wherein;
 the wheel covering is further configured to be formed of at least two hemispherical portions, each of said portions are configured to connect to one another so as to completely envelop the ground contact surface of the primary wheel. 
 
     
     
         10 . A method of changing the performance characteristics of a ground contact surface of a personal transport device having a wheel selectively coupled to an axel, with a wheel surface covering comprising the steps of:
 selecting a wheel covering having desired performance characteristic that differs from the performance characteristic of the primary wheel of the personal transport device;   securing the wheel surface covering having different performance characteristics than the wheel to the surface of the wheel.   
     
     
         11 . A method of changing the performance characteristics of a ground contact surface of the primary wheel of  claim 10 , further comprising the steps of:
 wrapping the wheel covering formed of elastic material around a circumference of the of primary wheel.   
     
     
         12 . A method of changing the performance characteristics of a ground contact surface of the wheel of  claim 10 , further comprising the steps of:
 inserting the primary wheel into the wheel covering, wherein the wheel covering is formed of a resilient material.