An advert for Turf Lights printed in the October, 1990 issue of Transworld Skateboarding magazine. Doomed to fail because: Totally unnecessaryWeird, off brand trucks used in photoPredates cheap, durable LED lightsAbout as useful as original Elephant Brand wrenchCan’t actually see productCan’t order directFull pads used to to advertise a “street skating” productAll of the above – Thanks to Shawn Tribe for the pic.

You’re looking at the modern day equivalent of a cowcatcher for skateboards. The solution to a, errr… problem that I guess technically exists. If you’re that worried about pebbles, maybe a softer wheel is your answer. Although I guess if my mom were to take up skateboarding again, I might feel better about her chances of not breaking a hip or wrist might be slightly improved with this contraption, mostly because she’d be too embarrassed to actually ride something like this in public. Yeah, my mom has attitude. Like all good wacky skateboard inventions, there’s a kickstarter page for the Rockochet. Bonus points for a good name! – Thanks to Simon Mrozinski for the tip.

Available on Ebay from $9 to $20. Or $4 if you want to go the used route. – Thanks to Josh Baker for the tip.

For all the talk of patents, squares and radical new design, when you look at this wheel in profile, it’s still a circle. So essentially, the only thing different about this wheel is that the grooves are zigzagged. Grooves in a wheel, even on a skateboard, are nothing new. The wave pattern may be new on a skateboard, but look at your car tires and you’ll see a more intricate version of the same thing. The main advantage they can claim is more speed from a reduced contact patch, but then again any grooved skateboard wheel already has that. However, just like a car tire, these grooves should provide better traction in rain and dirt. So they look different, but at their core, they really aren’t very different at all from traditional grooved rain wheels. Let the science fight begin! The inventors of the Shark Wheel have been pouring their own prototypes in a garage, which is pretty cool, but of course there’s a Kickstarter project to fund mass production. Even if mass produced, these wheels will probably have to be offered at a premium because the molding and finishing process is going to involve more labor than the old…

As advertised in Thrasher? Apparently so. Yet another take on straps for skateboards. THey want you to think it will help you with your loop attempts, but they don’t want you to blame them if it all goes horribly wrong. – Thanks to Heath for the tip.

Swear to Glob I saw these before somewhere but I can’t place it now. These Wheel Shields are supposed to prevent wheelbite and, I don’t know, mud splatters on you new kicks? These are pre-release photos. No web page and gasp, no Kickstarter either! Just a lowly old Facebook page. Update. There is a web site, but with a different name. Marketing message needs focus guys! – Thanks to Seth Levy for the tip.

Taking a break from people reinventing the skateboard, here’s the umpteenth take on reinventing skyhooks, ollie bands, straps, etc… Krainkn was “invented” by Kevin Rains – get it? K-rain-kin! Guess what? You’ll never believe this, not in a million years. He’s on kickstarter. What’s actually hard to imagine is the fact that he has allegedly squeezed a patent or two out of this idea that dates back to the 70’s and has even been updated in the last 5 years or so. I’ll even go out on a limb and say it looks fun (shocker!) but come on man, you’re detracting from kickstarter programs that are actually interesting, like the Molecule Synth. – Thanks to Sarib for the tip. UPDATE: New videos added since the old one disappeared.

Hung is a belt clip that holds your skateboard allowing for easy access. It’s another wacky skate device, but the inventors do have a point, if your board is on your backpack you have to take it off and unstrap it to be able to use it. With Hung you can hang it up and have both hands free. I’d hate to take a hipper on that thing though. Video after the jump, or help them out on Kickstart.

The Wheelbone is blowing up. I suppose if you are going to go with the training equipment method, this weird rubber device that looks like a marital aid makes more sense than a special set of soft trucks. $20 gets you a sort of board condom that is ribbed for her pleasure. And speaking of marital aids, check out how the logo throbs on the web site. It’s very lewd, yet strangely enticing. Go ahead, it’s OK to experiment while you’re in college. Are you feeling vaguely confused? It might have something to do this inexplicably strange boardslide shot. Seriously. Check out the throbbing Wheelbone logo. – Thanks to Aaron for the tip. [Source: Skateboarding Sucks]

See if you can figure out which one of the guys over at Bossco International skates. I can’t imagine how else they were inspired to cash in on the lucrative downhill sliding glove economy, and yes, I say that with tongue in cheek. Apparently these things didn’t sell to well, becasue they are only a year old and seem to have been discontinued. I’m not sure how they failed, seeing as how they were targeting the twin brotherhood of “extreme skaters” and in-line skaters. Do those guys even do downhill? Have to give Bossco credit for innovation though. They could have gone with plastic cutting boards velcroed on a glove, but instead they came up with massive plastic thimbles and rollerballs in the palm. Not bad for a company who’s current product line up consists entirely of LED lights stuck on other things.