Skateboard with mechanical drive

• US 4,915,403 A
• Filed: 12/30/1988
• Issued: 04/10/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Antoine Bregger, Charles Wild
• Original Assignee: Antoine Bregger, Charles Wild
• Inventors: Bregger, Antoine, Wild, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, Charles A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): McGiehan, Donn
• Application Number:
  US07/292,445
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 280/220, 280/221, 280/252, 280/253, 280/254, 280/255, 280/256, 280/257, 280/258, 280/87.042, 280/11.115
• US Class Current: 280/221
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/01 Skateboards A63C17/02 - A63C17/28 take precedence; rolling devices on skis A63C5/035
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/12 with driving mechanisms

Abstract

A skateboard has a frame (1) on which a petal (7b) is pivotably mounted. When the pedal (7b) is pressed down its movement is converted via a push rod (16), a crank (26) and a toothed segment (29) into a rotational movement which is transmitted to a gear train (2). The output pinion of the gear train (2) is fixedly connected to the shaft of the two drive rollers (4). The push rod (16), in each case via a ball-and-socket joint (19a, 19b), is connected to both the pedal (7b) and the toothed segment (29) so that the transmission of the drive force is ensured even during tilting of the pedal (7b) caused when riding around curves. This mechanically driveable skateboard has the same height as a conventional skateboard and enables relatively high speeds to be reached while retaining the diverse possibilities such as ease in negotiating curves and maneuverability.

Claims

1. A skateboard comprising:

an elongated frame disposed horizontally having a front end, a rear end and a midpoint;

two free rollers mounted to the front end of said frame for free rotation;

a plate adapted to form a standing surface and divided into a fixed board and a pedal having a first end and a second end, said fixed board being rigidly attached to said frame between the midpoint and the front end, said pedal being located between the midpoint and the rear end of said frame and having its first end pivotably mounted to the midpoint of said frame for movement between a horizontal position and an inclined position located generally above the horizontal position;

an elastic return member adapted to urge said pedal from the horizontal position to the inclined position, whereby, after said pedal has been depressed from the inclined position to the horizontal position and then released, it is automatically urged back to the inclined position by said elastic return member;

a transmission located underneath said frame between the midpoint and the rear end thereof and including a drive shaft, a drive shaft housing surrounding said drive shaft and allowing said drive shaft to rotate therein in a first direction and a second direction which is opposite to the first direction, two drive rollers located at opposite ends of said drive shaft and attached thereto for conjoint rotation therewith when said drive shaft rotates in the first direction and for free rotation thereabout when said drive shaft rotates in the second direction, and a gear box attached to said drive shaft housing and including a rotatable input gear and a rotatable output gear which rotates in response to the rotation of said input gear, said output gear rotating said drive shaft in the first direction and the second direction;

elastic fixing members which suspend said drive shaft housing from said frame such that said drive shaft extends transversely across said frame, said elastic fixing members allowing said frame and said transmission to tilt with respect to said pedal when said skateboard is riding around a curve; and

linkage elements including a crank arm having a first end and a second end, a toothed segment having one side fixedly attached to the first end of said crank arm and the other side rotatably attached to said transmission, said toothed segment being operative to rotate said input gear of said gear box, a pin attached to the second end of said crank arm and extending away from said toothed segment, said pin being operative to rotate said crank arm about said first end thereof, and a push rod having a first ball-and-socket joint located at one end and connected to said pedal and a second ball-and-socket joint located at an opposite end and connected to said pin, said first and second ball-and-socket joints allowing said push rod to act on said pin in an unimpeded manner and adapt to the sloping positions of said pedal caused by riding the skateboard around curves, thereby allowing said transmission to tilt with respect to said frame, whereby the depression of said pedal causes said push rod to push on said pin and rotate said toothed segment such that said drive shaft and said drive wheels rotate conjointly in the first direction to propel said skateboard and whereby said drive shaft rotates in the second direction upon the release of said pedal such that the motion of the skateboard is unaffected.

2. The skateboard according to claim 1, wherein the second end of said pedal is fixed to said frame by a locking member.

3. The skateboard according to claim 2, wherein said locking member is an elastic clamp.

4. The skateboard according to claim 2, wherein said drive rollers are provided with free-wheeling clutches to allow said drive wheels to rotate conjointly with said drive shaft when said drive shaft rotates in the first direction, and to rotate freely about said drive shaft when said drive shaft rotates in the second direction.