Steerable in-line skateboard

• US 6,270,096 B1
• Filed: 02/02/2000
• Issued: 08/07/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bradley D. Cook
• Original Assignee: Bradley D. Cook
• Inventors: Cook, Bradley D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, J. J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lum, L.
• Application Number:
  US09/495,968
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 280/87.01, 280/87.041, 280/87.042, 280/87.043, 280/14.21, 280/14.28, 280/11.22, 280/11.27, 280/11.28, 280/11.221, 280/11.223, 280/11.231
• US Class Current: 280/87.042
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/01 Skateboards A63C17/02 - A63C17/28 take precedence; rolling devices on skis A63C5/035
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/013 with parallelograms, follow up wheels or direct steering action
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/016 with wheels arranged in one track
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/52 Direct actuation of steering of roller skate or skateboards, e.g. by a foot plate

Abstract

A skateboard comprising a rigid elongated board having front and rear portions, and front and rear wheel trucks mounted to the underside of the board. The wheel trucks each have multiple wheels mounted in-line. A steering platform is at the front of the board for use by the rider to steer the board. The steering platform is rotatable and is connected by a linkage system to the wheel trucks wherein, by rotating the steering platform, each wheel within their respective truck is equally angularly displaced to effect a turning movement of the board.

Claims

1. A skateboard comprising:

a rigid elongated board with a longitudinal center line running fore and aft and front, the board having front and rear portions, and having a top surface and a bottom surface, a U-shaped frame mounted to the bottom surface of the board, the U-shaped frame having a first depending flange and a second depending flange;

at least one wheel truck mounted to the U-shaped frame;

a steering platform having a top surface and a bottom surface, the steering platform mounted within the top surface of the board for rotatable movement;

the wheel truck has at least one wheel rotatably mounted upon an axle disposed transversely to the longitudinal centerline of the board, a first end of the axle being mounted in a bearing in the first depending flange of the U-shaped frame and a second end of the axle being mounted for fore and aft movement in a slot in the second depending flange of the U-shaped frame; and

a steering mechanism connecting the steering platform to the wheel truck.

2. A skateboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wheel truck is mounted between the first and second depending flanges of the U-shaped frame adjacent to the board front portion and a second wheel truck is mounted between the first and second depending flanges of the U-shaped frame adjacent to the rear portion.

3. A skateboard as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second wheel truck has at least one wheel rotatably mounted upon an axle disposed transversely to the longitudinal centerline of the board, a first end of the axle being mounted in a bearing on the second depending flange of the U-shaped frame and a second end of the axle being mounted for fore and aft movement in a slot in the first depending flange of the U-shaped frame.

4. A skateboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the steering platform is mounted in the board adjacent to the front portion.

5. A skateboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wheel truck has a plurality of wheels.

6. A skateboard as claimed in claim 5, wherein each wheel truck has a plurality of in-line wheels.

7. A skateboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slot has an arcuate shape.

8. A skateboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the steering mechanism comprises a steering linkage connecting the steering platform to a first wheel linkage arm and to a second wheel linkage arm, the first linkage arm being connected to the second end of each axle of the first wheel truck and the second wheel linkage arm being connected to the second end of each axle of the second wheel truck.

9. A skateboard as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first wheel linkage arm is positioned adjacent to the second depending flange of the U-shaped frame and the second wheel linkage arm is positioned adjacent to the first depending flange of the U-shaped frame, a linkage plate interconnecting the linkage arms.

10. A skateboard as claimed in claim 9, wherein each wheel truck has a plurality of in-line wheels.

11. A skateboard as claimed in claim 10, wherein the steering platform is mounted in the board adjacent to the front portion.

12. A skateboard comprising:

a rigid elongated board with a longitudinal center line running fore and aft and front, the board having rear portions, and having a top surface and a bottom surface, a U-shaped frame mounted to the bottom surface of the board, the U-shaped frame having a first depending flange and a second depending flange;

multiple wheel trucks mounted to the U-shaped frame;

a first wheel truck is mounted to the U-shaped frame adjacent to the board front portion and a second wheel truck is mounted to the U-shaped frame adjacent to the board rear portion;

a steering platform having a top surface and a bottom surface, the steering platform mounted within the top surface of the board for rotatable movement;

the steering platform being mounted in the board adjacent to the front portion;

the wheel trucks each having a plurality of in-line wheels wherein each wheel is rotatably mounted upon an axle disposed transversely to the longitudinal centerline of the board, a first end of each axle of the first wheel truck being mounted in a bearing in the first flange of the U-shaped frame and a second end of each axle of the first wheel truck being mounted for movement in an arcuate slot in the second flange of the U-shaped frame, a first end of each axle of the second wheel truck being mounted in a bearing on the second flange of the U-shaped frame and a second end of each axle of the second wheel truck being mounted for movement in an arcuate slot in the first flange of the U-shaped frame;

a steering mechanism connecting the steering platform to each of the wheel trucks; and

the steering mechanism comprising a steering linkage connecting the steering platform to a first wheel linkage arm and to a second wheel linkage arm, the first linkage arm being connected to the second end of each axle of the first wheel truck and the second wheel linkage arm being connected to the second end of each axle of the second wheel truck, the first wheel linkage arm being positioned adjacent to the second depending flange of the U-shaped frame and the second wheel linkage arm being positioned adjacent to the first depending flange of the U-shaped frame, a linkage plate interconnecting the linkage arms.