You heard right. Want to revolutionize the skateboard industry? Then start bidding on the patent rights for this Easily Steered Skateboard, which near as I can tell, aside from already being in production elsewhere, is essentially a shopping cart wheel, or a rotating caster. Fug. This was supposed to be a quick and dirty post, but instead it turned into a dissertation on the variety of caster wheel type truck systems. There are more than you’d think. Catch patent details and the most shopping cart action with skateboards seen since CKY. Seriously. This sounds dumb but it’s worth reading.

Thankfully, there are nerds out there who troll patent news sites, freeing such nerds as myself to troll the sites that summarize them. Sony has patented a Segway without a handle, resulting in a motorized skateboard comparison. I don’t know about you, but the few times I’ve driven by someone on a Segway, I’ve had to try hard to suppress a giggle. Personally, I can’t wait to see people falling off these things as soon as possible. Links and more after the jump.

I’ll try it on the streets sometime soon… and hopefully not end up embarrassing myself in the process.

Yeah, except you bought it in the first place, so you’ve kind of blown it already. This thing even turns into a rolling bag carrier! More extreme pictures, including what looks like photoshopped skatepark action shots, plus links after the jump.

We can debate the merits of culture if we want, but would this still be art if it was on a new school popsicle stick or a Chinese blank? No nosebone, no art? Would a lapper have made this a more complete piece? I don’t know. What is perfectly clear however, is that there is a designer named Hervé Matejewski who made this Toile de Jouy (Work of Joy?) skateboard and another gal named D, or Kristina or Lena who likes Hervé’s work. I can’t tell who the author is, the InterWebâ„¢ is so confusing.

Continuing the theme of commercializing existing practices, Didi over at Modern Convenience makes a lot of objects, mostly upholstered, that appeal to the whimsical side of people who have too much money. Two items of interest to us are the Inside Skate and the Indoor Longboard. Didi’s are prettier, but Egbert’s version is guaranteed to be cheaper. And speaking of people who have too much money, that’s Bam in in the picture above. More pics, including a Gratuitous Tony Hawk appearance after the jump.

Since 1963… with a few blackouts here and there. This started out as just lame quickie because I wanted to post a picture of this wacky old plastic Makaha skateboard that I’ve always loved. In the beginning, just as with Nash, Makaha was a real company. Makaha was one of the first skateboard companies, and the first one to use clay wheels. Owner Larry Stevenson has an actual patent on the kicktail! Their web site claims to have made the first production longboard as well. Also like Nash, unfortunately, at some point in the 70’s Makaha started turning out plastic toys. After the jump there are some more examples of Makaha’s past and present.

Oh boy! Oh boy! Oh boy! Oh boy! I’ve been asking for this for months now. This is the holy grail of 70’s wacky commercial skateboard exploitation. They actually advertised these in Skateboarder. I’ve never seen one in person but I remember seeing them in ads. Even though they looked completely ridiculous, I always wanted one for their sheer absurd nature, just to prove they exist. Thanks to Thor for locating and scanning the advert. See the full ad in all it’s 70’s glory after the jump.

Check out this hand painted skateboard made to look like a band aid. Another shot here. I’m surprised this hasn’t been done before as a commercial release. Looks good, but I wouldn’t want to tempt fate.

As you may recall, there was just too much to make fun of in one single post, so I bring you part two of the FU Boards saga. Aside from marketing plastic skateboards, somebody apparently did a little market research because some of the their tactics are incredibly on the mark.

Skateboarders Given Stylish Ride By Glow-in-the-Dark Compound

Err.. Yeah. Whatever you say, Marketing Man. I hope RTP Inc. feels like they are getting their money’s worth from you. This line of skateboards is actually called “FU Boards”, which is exactly what I am predicting the buying public will say about this product. Thanks go to field reporter Rich from EPM for this tip.