Multi-Pivoting Steering Mechanism
A skateboard with positive camber steering includes a frame and a board pivotally coupled to the frame. A steering assembly is coupled to the end portion of the frame and includes an upper truck arm, a lower truck arm, and at least one wheel. The upper truck arm and the lower truck arm are spaced apart relative to the frame, and the wheel has an axis of rotation. The upper truck arm and the lower truck arm are each rotatable about an axis of travel parallel to the skateboard's line of travel, and the upper truck arm is coupled to the wheel above the axis of rotation relative to the surface, with the lower truck arm coupled to the wheel below the axis of rotation relative to the surface. Thus the upper truck arm extends farther from the frame than the lower truck arm, thereby imparting a positive camber in the direction of steering.
This application claims priority to provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/229,993, “Multi-Pivoting Steering Mechanism,” filed on 25 Aug. 2015, and incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUNDDisclosed are preferred embodiments of a multi-pivoting skateboard. The majority of conventional skateboards utilize an elongated board that has a front truck and a rear truck, each having a two wheel assembly. Each assembly consists of two wheels fixed relative to the truck in a straight forward-and-reverse orientation. In order to turn a conventional skateboard, a person riding the skateboard will lean to the right or left, forcing the trucks to slightly angle the wheels in the chosen direction. Although the skateboard will turn to the right or left, the turning radius is typically limited by the amount of resistance from the trucks and wheels. In order to provide motive force, forward or backward, a rider must push the skateboard.
Due to the limited turning radius, an improved steering mechanism is needed that provides significantly improved control, including turning capability. An improved skateboard is also needed wherein a board can move up or down along the side edges of the frame. Another needed improvement is a skateboard having front wheels that can pivot perpendicularly to the frame, thus a skateboard that makes the wheels lean and turn at the same time when turning, to provide greater turning control to a rider. Additionally, a skateboard having such a steering mechanism is advantageous when the steering mechanism can be deployed on any other vehicle where wheel leaning while turning is desired.
SUMMARYA skateboard is disclosed having positive camber steering when steered along a surface. The skateboard comprises a frame having a center portion and an end portion, and a board pivotally coupled to the center portion of the frame by a board pivot assembly. At least one steering assembly is coupled to the end portion, with the steering assembly including an upper truck arm, a lower truck arm, and at least one wheel. The upper truck arm and the lower truck arm are spaced apart relative to the frame, and the wheel has an axis of rotation.
The upper truck arm and the lower truck arm are each rotatable about an axis of travel parallel to the skateboard's line of travel. The upper truck arm is coupled to the wheel above the axis of rotation relative to the surface, and the lower truck arm is coupled to the wheel below the axis of rotation relative to the surface. Thus the upper truck arm extends farther from the frame than the lower truck arm, thereby imparting a positive camber in the direction of steering. A lever connected to a drive assembly is provided, wherein pivoting the board moves the lever and rotates the drive assembly, thereby moving the skateboard forward.
The frame preferably has a straight section and a curved outward section, and includes a board pivot interface for engaging the board pivot assembly. The frame also has an elevated rear end portion. The board preferably includes a variable width. Ball joints may couple the lower truck arm and the upper truck arm to the wheel, and the drive assembly preferably comprises a one way bearing coupled to a rear wheel. The drive assembly may also include a planetary gear around a one-way bearing coupled to a rear wheel. The skateboard also preferably includes a disk brake coupled to a rear wheel, the disk brake governed by an actuator on the board.
In an alternative embodiment, the skateboard has positive camber steering along a surface with a frame having an end portion and a board coupled to the frame. A steering assembly coupled to the end portion includes an upper truck arm, a lower truck arm and at least one wheel. The upper truck arm and the lower truck arm are spaced apart relative to the frame, and the wheel having an axis of rotation. The upper truck arm and the lower truck arm are also each rotatable about an axis of travel parallel to the skateboard's line of travel. The upper truck arm is coupled to the wheel above the axis of rotation relative to the surface and the lower truck arm is coupled to the wheel below the axis of rotation relative to the surface, such that the upper truck arm extends farther from the frame than the lower truck arm, thereby imparting a positive camber in the direction of steering.
The second embodiment skateboard frame may also have a straight section and a curved outward section, and the frame may include an elevated rear end portion. The board may have a variable width, ball joints may couple the lower truck arm and the upper truck arm to the wheel, and the board may be coupled to a center portion of the frame by a board pivot assembly. The skateboard may also include a lever connected to a drive assembly, wherein pivoting the board moves the lever and rotates the drive assembly. The drive assembly preferably includes a one way bearing coupled to a rear wheel, and may include a planetary gear around a one-way bearing coupled to a rear wheel. The skateboard preferably includes a disk brake coupled to a rear wheel, the disk brake governed by an actuator on the board.
The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and is provided n the context of a particular application and its requirements. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, although a multi-pivoting skateboard is discussed herein, any other wheeled vehicle is contemplated. Additionally, although the expression ‘wheel’ is used herein, that expression contemplates, tires and other rotating structures on which a wheeled vehicle travels. Thus, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.
As shown in
Referring to
Located on both the straight section 34 and the outward curved section 36 is a circular pivot board interface 46, each for interfacing the board pivot assembly 54 for anchoring the board 12 to the frame 32, and allowing the board 12 to smoothly pivot about the board pivot assembly 54.
The board pivot assembly 54 comprises a center rod 56 with two spacers 58 and two nuts 60. A first bearing 24 and a second bearing 26 are located between the circular board pivot interfaces 46 and the center rod 56. Thus, when the board 12 is placed on top of the frame 32, the first bearing 24 and second bearing 26 are located on the straight section 34 and outward curved section 36, respectively. Circular board pivot interfaces 46 and board 12 are aligned so that the opening on the first bearing 24 and second bearing 26 and the respective openings 48 on each of the circular pivot board interfaces 46 creates a unitary axial opening as shown in
The front steering assembly 70 is made in such a way that when rider pushes the board 12 down either to the left or right, both front wheels 72 tilt relative to a vertical plane and also turn into the pushed direction as shown in
When the board 12 is tilted to the left or right, the upper arm 76 and lower arm 78 move parallel to each other so that the front wheels 72 also tilt, as shown in
The rear assembly 90, as shown in
As shown in
The rear drive assembly 90 is the main driving mechanism of the skateboard 10. The rear end 20 of the board 12 is attached to the second lever 118 with a pressed fit bearing. One end of the first lever 116 is attached to the internal gear hub/planetary gear system 106 with the one-way bearing 122 between them. The other end of the first lever 116 is attached to the second lever 118. The second lever 118 has a cylindrical extruded cut on both ends for bearings which are pressed fit into it. The first lever 116 has a different shape on both ends. The first end of the lever 116 also has a cylindrical extruded cut, with a key way slot so that the one-way bearing 122 fits into it. The other end has a straight slot shape extruded cut which acts as a slider.
As the board 12 is pivoted up and down by a rider, the rear end 20 pushes the second lever 118, and the second lever 118 pushes the first lever 116, as shown in
The first lever 116 has a straight slot shape extruded cut on the second end. The cut is made because when a vertical force is applied to the first lever 116 the internal gear hub/planetary gear assembly 106 and the rear wheel 92 will not rotate because the vertical force is moving through the center of the internal gear hub/planetary gear assembly 106 and rear wheel 92. So the straight slot shape on the second end of the first lever 116 shifts the force direction/angle. The shift of the force direction/angle causes the internal gear hub/planetary gear assembly 106 and rear wheel 92 to rotate when the board 12 is pushed up and down.
Located inside the left side of the rear wheel 92 is the planetary gear system 106 and the bearings 96. The skateboard 10 can selectively engage various gears depending on the speed and riding conditions that are encountered. The internal gear hub/planetary gear system 106 has gear ratios so that rider can go faster, as best shown in
The rectangular section of the board 12 is attached to the rear end 42 of the frame by use of the first levers and the second lever 118. The first lever 116 and the second lever 118 allow the rear end 20 of the board 12 to pivot up down about the frame 32. As shown in
The disc brake assembly 97 comprises a caliper 98, a disc 99, a wire 100, a brake actuator support 102 and a brake actuator 104. In order to slow down or stop the skateboard 10, the disc brake assembly 97 is utilized. As best shown in
When the brake actuator 104 is engaged the disc brake assembly 97 puts pressure 10 upon the brake disc 106 thereby reducing the rotational capability of the rear wheel 92. The disc brake assembly 97 is maintained in position adjacent the rear wheel 92 by the brake support 102.
Additionally, the disc brake assembly 97 is disclosed and shown on the right side of the rear wheel 92, and the gear system 106 is disclosed and shown on the left side of the rear wheel 92. Both the disc brake assembly 97 and the gear system 106 can be manufactured on opposite sides of the rear wheel 92 by the use of minor modification to the skateboard's 10 design. Also, other types/designs of brake systems can be utilized. Also, in this disclosure the multi-pivoting skateboard 10 has been described and shown with a front assembly having two front wheels 72 and a rear assembly having a single rear wheel 92. The fundamental inventive operation of the multi-pivoting skateboard 10 is not limited to the disclosed design. Other alternative embodiment skateboard design, having front and rear assemblies each having two wheels and with an appropriately modified board, is shown in
The multi-pivoting skateboard 10 provides a rider with significantly improved control. A person riding the skateboard 10 can pivot the board up or down and to the right or left, as shown in
When riding the skateboard 10, the rider stands on the board 12 and uses both legs to push skate board 10 up and down to go forward, and left and right to steer into a turn, as shown in
While the invention has been described in detail and pictorially shown in the accompanying drawings it is not to be limited to such details, since many changes and modification may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and the scope thereof.
The foregoing descriptions of embodiments of the present invention have been presented only for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the forms disclosed. Accordingly, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. Additionally, the above disclosure is not intended to limit the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A skateboard with positive camber steering along a surface, the skateboard comprising:
- a frame having a center portion and an end portion;
- a board pivotally coupled to the center portion of the frame by a board pivot assembly;
- at least one steering assembly coupled to the end portion, the steering assembly comprising an upper truck arm, a lower truck arm and at least one wheel, the upper truck arm and the lower truck arm spaced apart relative to the frame, and the wheel having an axis of rotation;
- the upper truck arm and the lower truck arm each rotatable about an axis of travel parallel to the skateboard's line of travel;
- the upper truck arm coupled to the wheel above the axis of rotation relative to the surface;
- the lower truck arm coupled to the wheel below the axis of rotation relative to the surface;
- wherein the upper truck arm extends farther from the frame than the lower truck arm, thereby imparting a positive camber in the direction of steering; and
- and a lever connected to a drive assembly, wherein pivoting the board moves the lever and rotates the drive assembly, thereby moving the skateboard forward.
2. The skateboard of claim 1 wherein the frame has a straight section and a curved outward section.
3. The skateboard of claim 1 wherein the frame comprises a board pivot interface for engaging the board pivot assembly.
4. The skateboard of claim 1 wherein the frame comprises an elevated rear end portion.
5. The skateboard of claim 1 wherein the board comprises a variable width.
6. The skateboard of claim 1 further comprising ball joints coupling the lower truck arm and the upper truck arm to the wheel.
7. The skateboard of claim 1 wherein the drive assembly comprises a one way bearing coupled to a rear wheel.
8. The skateboard of claim 1 wherein the drive assembly comprises a planetary gear around a one-way bearing coupled to a rear wheel.
9. The skateboard of claim 1 further comprising a disk brake coupled to a rear wheel, the disk brake governed by an actuator on the board.
10. A skateboard with positive camber steering along a surface, the skateboard comprising:
- a frame having an end portion;
- a board coupled to the frame;
- at least one steering assembly coupled to the end portion, the steering assembly comprising an upper truck arm a lower truck arm and at least one wheel, the upper truck arm and the lower truck arm spaced apart relative to the frame, and the wheel having an axis of rotation;
- the upper truck arm and the lower truck arm each rotatable about an axis of travel parallel to the skateboard's line of travel;
- the upper truck arm coupled to the wheel above the axis of rotation relative to the surface;
- the lower truck arm coupled to the wheel below the axis of rotation relative to the surface; and
- wherein the upper truck arm extends farther from the frame than the lower truck arm, thereby imparting a positive camber in the direction of steering.
11. The skateboard of claim 10 wherein the frame has a straight section and a curved outward section.
12. The skateboard of claim 10 wherein the frame comprises an elevated rear end portion.
13. The skateboard of claim 10 wherein the board comprises a variable width.
14. The skateboard of claim 10 further comprising ball joints coupling the lower truck arm and the upper truck arm to the wheel.
15. The skateboard of claim 10 further wherein the board is coupled to a center portion of the frame by a board pivot assembly.
16. The skateboard of claim 10 further comprising a lever connected to a drive assembly, wherein pivoting the board moves the lever and rotates the drive assembly.
17. The skateboard of claim 16 wherein the drive assembly comprises a one way bearing coupled to a rear wheel.
18. The skateboard of claim 16 wherein the drive assembly comprises a planetary gear around a one-way bearing coupled to a rear wheel.
19. The skateboard of claim 10 further comprising a disk brake coupled to a rear wheel, the disk brake governed by an actuator on the board.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 24, 2016
Publication Date: Aug 30, 2018
Inventor: Manik S. Prathamesh (Lennox, CA)
Application Number: 15/755,318