Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a link type skateboard, and more particularly to a link type skateboard that can be driven forward by enabling a skateboarder to take motions of twisting his/her body in left and right sides in a status which both the skateboarder's feet are safely put on, and gathering and spreading out both heels or toes. Background Art

[2] As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional skateboard has been provided with a pair of foot plates 12 on which two wheels 16 are fixedly attached by means of a wheel fixture 14 on a bottom surface.

[3] Further, the conventional skateboard includes a connection bar 18 for fixing the foot plates 12 spaced to each other. The connection bar 18 is rotatably coupled to the foot plates 12. In other words, the foot plates 12 are rotatably coupled to the connection bar 18 and freely rotated so as to easily transfer the steering motion. Further, in order to seek a skateboarder's own safety and handle easily the skateboard, a stopper 20 for limiting rotation angles of the foot plates 12 is equipped. The stopper 20 is protruded upwardly from an upper surface of both ends of the wheel fixture 14.

[4] The conventional skateboard 10 has obtained a driving force by means of the movement of the center of gravity and the centrifugal force while gathering and spreading out both heels of the skateboarder (both toes of the skateboarder) in a status that both feet of the skateboarder are safely put on the foot plates 12.

[5] However, since a rotation diameter of the above-described conventional skateboard

10 has been limited by the connection bar 18 and the fixing wheel 16, and the skateboard 10 is only driven by the rotation movement of the foot plates 12, the speed is decreased.

[6] Further, since both foot plates 12 are rotatably coupled onto the connection bar 18, even though a rotation angle is limited by the stopper 20, skillful techniques are required for the operation and when unskillufl person gets a handle on the skateboard, safe accidents can occur very often.

[7] Moreover, since the assembling status of the conventional skateboard could not be changed according to a physical condition or an environment of the skateboarder, it can not be widely used. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[8] Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a skateboard having a link type of a connection bar for connecting both foot plates that are spaced to each other, thereby improving driving and steering operations

[9] Another object of the present invention is to provide a skateboard having a directional caster with straightness, thereby allowing a driving force to easily produced and seeking skateborder's own safety.

[10] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a skateboard that can be generally used by enabling a skateboarder to freely change an assembling status thereof. Technical Solution

[11] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a link type skateboard comprising a first foot plate on which at least one or more fixing wheels are attached, a second foot plate having at least one or more casters that can be rotated at 360 degrees about a rotation shaft, and a connection bar of which one end is rotatably coupled to the first foot plate, the other end is fixedly coupled to the second foot plate, and a hinge part is provided in the center of the connection bar so as to be rotated in left and right sides.

[12] Preferably, a rotational shaft of the caster is installed at a predetermined inclination angle. In other words, the caster is a directional caster.

[13] Preferably, the first and second foot plates are coupled so as to be attached to/ detached from the connection bar. It is more desirable that a mounting part whose both sides are opened is formed so as to enable the other end of the connection bar to be inserted into a bottom surface of the second foot plate, and the other end of the connection bar and the mounting part may be coupled to each other with a screw in a status that the other end of the connection bar is inserted into the mounting part.

[14] In this case, a plurality of fixing holes may be formed on the other end of the connection bar so as to control a spaced distance between the first and second foot plates.

[15] Preferably, the connection bar may be rotated about the hinge part on a straight line within range of degrees from -90 to 90.

Advantageous Effects

[16] According to the present invention, since the connection bar is formed in a link type and rotated about the hinge part, and one wheel equipped on a bottom surface of any one of both foot plates is a directional caster with the straightness, the link type skateboard may generate a driving force effectively.

[17] Further, when a pair of foot plates is coupled to the connection bar, since any one

foot plate is moved while rotating and the other is fixed, men and women of all ages handle the skateboard easily and enjoy skateboarding safely. [18] Moreover, as the skateboarder changes an assembling state of the skateboard freely, a spaced distance between both foot plates and a driving direction may be controlled according to the skateboarder's own necessity. [19] Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings [20] The above objects, other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[21] FIG. 1 is a bottom diagram illustrating a conventional skateboard;

[22] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective diagram of an exemplary embodiment according to the present invention; [23] FIG. 3 is a principal cross-sectional diagram of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2;

[24] FIG. 4 is an assembling diagram of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2;

[25] FIG. 5a is a utility state diagram of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2; and [26] FIG. 5b is another utility state diagram of the exemplary embodiment shown in

FIG. 2.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention [27] Hereafter, a link type skateboard according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. [28] Referring to FIG. 2, the skateboard 100 according to the exemplary embodiment includes a first foot plate 110, a second foot plate 120 and a connection bar 130 for connecting the first and second foot plates 110 and 120 in a spaced status. [29] Two wheels 114 are fixedly attached in a bottom surface of the first foot plate 110 by a wheel fixture 112. [30] Two casters 124 are equipped on the bottom surface of the second foot plate 120. A caster is coupled so as to be rotated at 360 degrees about a rotation shaft. According to the exemplary embodiment, the directional caster 124 is provided, the directional caster 124 is installed about the rotation shaft at a predetermined inclination angle, without being installed perpendicularly.

[31] Further, a mounting part 122 is formed on the bottom surface of the second foot plate 120 so as to enable the other end of the connection bar 130 to be inserted. A plurality of fixing holes 122a into which a bolt (B) can be penetrated are formed in a straight line on the mounting part 122. Further, since both sides of the mounting part 122 are opened, the other end 132 of the connection bar 130 may be inserted and mounted at any directions of the second foot plate 120.

[32] The connection bar 130 is rotatably coupled to two rinks by a hinge part 134.

Specifically, one end of the connection bar 130 is rotatably coupled to the first foot plate 110, and the other end 132 is fixedly coupled to the second foot plate 120. As any one of the foot plates 110 and 120 can be rotatably moved and the other is non- rotatably fixed, the skateboarder can easily and safely handle the skateboard. Instead, the caster 124 capable of rotating at 360 degrees is equipped on the second foot plate 120.

[33] Further, a plurality of fixing holes 132a are formed on the other end 132 of the connection bar 130, corresponding to a plurality of fixing holes 122a formed on the mounting part 122 of the second foot plate 120.

[34] Meanwhile, since one end of the connection bar 130 is fixed to the wheel fixture

112 of the first foot plate 110, the first foot plate 110 may be freely rotated and a rotation angle thereof is limited by the stopper 116 that is protrudedly formed on both ends of the upper surface of the wheel fixture 112.

[35] Referring to FIG. 3, the connection bar 130 is configured by coupling two links by the hinge part 134, and concretely, a side cross-section of one of the links is formed in the shape of concave and the other is formed in the shape of convex, thereby coupling them with each other. The coupled portion between two links is provided with a penetration hole in a thickness direction on their coupled portion, and the hinge part 134 is perpendicularly inserted and fixed into the hole, thereby allowing the connection bar 130 to be rotatably moved in left and right sides about hinge part 134. Further, a bearing 136 is fixedly inserted to an outer periphery of the hinge part 134 and an inner periphery of the hole of the connection bar 130. Further, the rotation angle of the connection bar 130 may be increased/decreased. It is desirable that the connection bar 130 on both ends is rotated within range of degrees from -90 to 90 on a straight line.

[36] Referring to FIG. 4, the bolt B is coupled in a status that the other end 132 of the connection bar 130 is inserted into the mounting part 122 formed on the bottom surface of the second foot plate 120, so as to fix the connection bar 130 and the second foot plate 120.

[37] Specifically, according to the exemplary embodiment, if necessary, a spaced distance between the first and second foot plates 110 and 120 may be controlled, alternatively, it is possible to form a desired spaced distance by corresponding with each

other a plurality of fixing holes 132a and 122a that are respectively formed on the other end 132 of the connection bar 130 and the mounting part 122, and fastening then with the bolt (B).

[38] Further, both sides of the mounting part 122 are all opened. Accordingly, the other end 132 of the connection bar 130 may be inserted into any directions of the opened sides.

[39] FIG. 5a is a back diagram of an exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 or 4. a directional caster 124 coupled on the bottom surface of the second foot plate 120 is coupled in a status that a rotational shaft of the caster 124 is inclined at a predetermined angle (θ) rightward, by setting a vertical line as a standard in diagram (see the partial magnification diagram). In this case, since the second foot plate 120 is rotated in left and right sides about the hinge part 134, thereby generating a driving force and moving the skateboard 100 to the right side (see the arrow). Of course, since the first foot plate 110 is rotatably coupled to the connection bar 130, thereby allowing the first foot plate 110 to be rotatably moved in right and left sides so as to performe the steering in a desired direction.

[40] Further, the first foot plate 110 may generate the driving force with a rotation motion in left and right sides including the steering motion and double the driving force by operating the first and second foot plates 110 and 120 at the same time.

[41] Further, the skateboard 100 may be steered by the first foot plate 110 as shown above, and reduce a rotation diameter by enabling the connection bar 130 in front to be rotated in a desired direction.

[42] FIG. 5b is a variant exemplary embodiment of the exemplary embodiment shown in

FIGS. 2 or 4. More concretely, the second foot plate 120 is rotated at 180 degrees and coupled to the connection bar 130 that is inserted through an opened portion on the other side of the mounting part 122. In other words, the connection bar 130 is coupled to the connection bar 130, in a status that the right and left sides of the second foot plate 120 are changed to each other. Accordingly, it is exemplified that the rotation shaft of the directional caster 124 coupled on the bottom surface of the second foot plate 120 is inclined in a direction opposite to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 5a (see the partial magnification diagram). In this case, the driving force is generated by enabling the second foot plate 120 to be rotated about the hinge part 134 in left and right sides, thereby moving the skateboard 100 leftward in diagram.

[43] The operation of the skateboard 100 according to the present invention will be explained in detailed with reference to FIG. 5a.

[44] In a status that a rider boards on a skateboard so as to enable his front and back foot to be respectively put on the first and second foot plates 110 and 120 of the skateboard 100, when the first foot plate 110 steers a direction in case of driving by rotating the

first foot plate 110 in left and right sides, and the second foot plate 120 is inclined to the right side of a moving direction by giving a pressure to a portion of the toe of the back foot that is safely put on the second foot plate 120 on which the back foot is put, the directional caster 124 installed at the front and back of the second foot plate 110 turns leftward, and the skateboard 100 moves rightward in an inclined direction.

[45] On the contrary, when the second foot plate 120 is inclined to the left side of the moving direction by giving pressure to a portion of the heel of the back foot that is safely put on the second foot plate 120, the directional caster 124 installed at the front and back of the second foot plate 110 turns rightward in a direction opposite to the moving direction and the skateboard 100 moves leftward in an inclined direction. Accordingly, the skateboard 100 obtains the driving force capable of going ahead, while executing the above operation repeatedly.

[46] As described above, when a plurality of directional casters 124 give pressure to the portion of the toe of the back foot and the heel that are put on the second foot plate 120 equipped on the bottom surface, the directional caster 124 equipped in the opposite direction of a pressurized portion is rotated in the opposite direction, and the skateboard 100 moves without a special driving part, if the front and back portion of the second foot plate 120 are pressurized by repeadly performing the above operation. Industrial Applicability

[47] As described above, the link type skateboard according to the present invention can attach a general caster on which a rotation shaft is perpendicularly installed can be attached, instead of the directional caster. In this case, even though the driving force of the skateboard is reduced, the skateboard has the advantages of being cheap and moving backward without special operations.

[48] Further, according to the present invention, the second foot plate is fixed to the mounting part of the connection bar using the bolt. However, the distance between the first foot plate and the second footplat may be controlled by pulling or pushing the second foot plate from the mounting part or by using various methods such as a method of controlling a handle of a vacuum cleaner.

[49] Further, the hinge part of the connection bar may be installed in a central portion of the connection bar and one side of the connection bar.

[50] Additionally, the connection bar 130 is provided in a link type, and various modes that the first foot plate and the second foot plate are rotated to each other from a center of the connection bar 130 may be applied.

[51] The forgoing embodiments are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. The present teachings can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. The description of the present invention is intended to be il-

lustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.