SKATEBOARD WITH MULTI-PIVOTING STEERING MECHANISM

RELATED APPLICATIONS

|0(KI1.| This application claims pri.ari.ty to provisional, U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 62/229,993 filed on 25 Aug, 2015, and entitled "Multi-Pivoting Steering Mechanism ^* which is incorporated by reference in its entirety,

BACKGROUND

1001)2] Disclosed are preferred eratxidiraents of a nmlii-pivoting skateboard. The majority ^: of conventional skateboards, utilize an elongated board with a front track, and a rear truck, each having a two wheel steering assembly. Each steering assembly consists of two wheels fixed relative to the truck in 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 resistance from the trucks and wheels, in order to provide motive force, forward or backward, a rider must push the skateboard.

[0003] Due to the limited turning radius, an improved steering mechanism is needed that provides significantly improved control, including greater turning capability. An improved skateboard is also needed wherein the board (i.e.. "deck") can rock up-and-down along the side edges of the frame to provide motive force; Another needed improvement is a skateboard having front wheels that can pivot perpendicularly to the frame, thus a skateboard thai makes the wheels lean and turn, at the same time when turning (i.e., with positive camber in the steering direction), to provide: greater taming 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 positive camber while turning is desired.

SUMMARY

100041 A 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 hoard pivotally coupled to the center portion of the frame by a board pivot assembly. A.t least one steering assembly is coupled proximal th end portion, with, the steering assembly including, an upper truck arm, a lower truck ami, 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.

100051 The up er: truck arm and the lower truck arm are each rotatahle 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 track 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, imparting a positive camber in the direction of steering. A leve connected t a drive assembly is provided, wherein pivoting the board moves the lever and rotates the drive assembly, thereby moving the skateboard forward.

100 61. The frame preferably has a straight section and a curved outward section, and includes 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 track arm mi 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 arau a one- a bearing coupled to a -rear wheel. The skateboard also preferabl includes a disk brake coupled to a rear wheel the disk brake- governed by an actuator on the board .

[00071 In an alternative embodiment, the skateboard has positive camber steering along a surface, including a frame having an -end portion and a board coupled to the .frame. A steering assembly coupled t the end portion includes an upper track arm, a lower truck ami and at least one wheel. The upper truck arm and the lower truck anil are spaced apart relative to the frame, 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 relati ve to the surface, such thai the upper truck arm extends farther from the fram than the lower truck arm, thereby imparting a positive camber i the direction of steering.

|0OO8| The second embodiment skateboard frame may also have a straight section and a curved outward section, and me frame may include an elevated rear end portion. The board may have a variable width, bail joints may couple the lower truck .arm and the upper truck, ami 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 dri e 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.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

{O009J FIG. 1 illustrates an orthographic left side view -of a multi-pivoting skateboard; |0010| FIG. 2 illustrates an orthographic right s de view of the multi-pivoting skateboard;

{00113 FIG . 3 il lustrates an elevational left side view of the multi-pivoting skateboard; {00121 FIG, 4 illustrates a top plan view of the multi-pivoting skateboard;

[ΘΘΟ] FIG. 5 illustrates a bottom plan view of the -multi-pivoting skateboard;

{ ^' 00143 FIG. 6 illustrates a front elevational view of the multi-pivoting skateboard; |00151 FIG. 7 illustrates a rear elevational view of the multi-pivoting skateboard; |0016 ^' 3 FIG. 8 illustrates an exploded view of the multi-pivoting skateboard;

|00171 FI . 9 illustrates a bottom view of a .frame of the .multi-pivoting skateboard; 1001$! FIG. 10 illustrates an orthographic top view of the frame;

{00193 FIG. 11 illustrates an exploded view of a front steering assembly of the -multi- pivoting skateboard;

{0020| FIG. .12 illustrates an. exploded view of a rear dri ve assembly of the multi- pivoting skateboard;

|00211 FIG, 13- illustrates an- orthographic view of a person riding the multi-pivoting skateboard;

{00223 FKL 14 il lustrates an orthographic right side view of a first alternative embodiment of the multi-pivoting skateboard having straight sides; |0Θ231 FIG, 15 illustrates a first orthographic front view of the front steering assembly showing two iron t tires/wheels in a pi voted position;

{00241 FIG. 16 illustrates a second orthographic front vie of the front steering assembly showing two: front tires/wheels in a pivoted position;

|0025| FIG. ! 7 illustrates a top view of the front steering assembly showing two front tires/wheels In a pivoted position;

[Q026J FIG. 1 S illustxates a side elevational view of the multi-pivoting skateboard's rear tire/wheel with two levers.

|l)027| FIG. 1 illosirates an orthographic top view of a second alternative embodiment multi-pivoting skateboard having, a front steering assembly with two tires/wheels, a rear assembly having two tires/wheels and an alternative board shape;

{00281 FIG. 20 illustrates a first alternative embodiment, front steering assembly annotated with an. XYZ coordinate system;

{00291 FIG. 21 illustrates an exploded view, a top orthogonal view and a bottom orthogonal view of th - alternative embodiment steering assembly;

{00301 FIG. 22 illustrates, an exploded view of a second alternative embodimen front steering assembly; and

[0031 J FIG. ^' 23 illustrates an exploded view of a damping system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032 { The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention,; and i s provided n ine context of a particular application and i ts requirements. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readil apparent to those skilled in the art, and the genera] principles defined ^■ herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications wi thout departing from the spirit and scope of the presen t 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 may travel. 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,

00331 As shown in FIGS. 1- 1 , an improved skateboard 10 includes the following major elements: a board 12, a frame 32, front steering assembly 70 and a rear drive assembly 90. The board 12, as shown in FIGS. -8 _» includes an upper surf ace 14, a lower surface 16, a board front end 1 S, a board rear end 20 and a perimeter edge 22, Located substantially centrally of the board 12 on the lower surface 16 is a board pivot assembly 54. Traditional skateboards have elongated flat decks (he, hoards) with straight sides and radlused front and rear ends. As shown in FIGURES 1-8, the skateboard 10 utilises a unique hoard 12 shape that curves upward at the front and r , with a perimeter edge 22 thai curves inward along the board 12. This creates a board 12 with wider sections toward the board front end 18 and the rear end 20, and narrowed near the hoard pivot assembly . The board rear end 20 of the board 12 tapers to be substantially .rectangular with preferable dimensions of 1.0-2.0 inches (2.54-5.08 cm) in width, extendin along the side of the rear wheel 92 preferably to the left.. Additionally, although the illustrated skateboard 1 utilizes a specific board 12 shape,, other shapes and dimensions of the board. 1 are contemplated, such as die board 12 with, straight sides shown in. FIG. 1,4,

| ^' 0 341 Referring to FIGS. 1 -10, the frame 32 is comprised of a straight section 34, an outward curved section 36, a frame front end 38 having an open ended hollow cylinder 40 and a frame rear end 42 having a Same opening 44. As shown in F GS, 8-10, the straight section 34 s ans the skateboard 10 with the straight section 34 having an upward curve a it approaches, the ^• frame rear end 42. The outward curved section 36 branches off from the frame front end 38 and eoiitinties at an. outward angle to approximately the board, pivot assembly 54, and men curve back inward with an S-shape until it contacts the straight section 34 at .a point substantially ^' two- thirds the length of the straight section 34.

10035} 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.

{00361 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 pi vot 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 hoard 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 i FIG, 8. The center rod 56 is preferably threaded at each end, allowing one of the nuts 60 to be screwed onto each end. Once the nuts 60 are screwed on the board 12 is .securely attached to the frame 32 and can be raised or lowered along each side. Preferably to attach the board 12 to the frame 32 by the board pivot assembly 54, the first bearing 24 and second bearing 26 are inserted into the center ci rcular bore of the board 12.. T e center rod 56 goes through the center circular bore of the board 12 and is inserted through the first hearing 24 and the second bearing 26, Both sides of the center rod 56 are fitted inside the openings 48 of the circular board pivot interfaces 46 on the frame 32 and fixed by mus 60. Thus, the whole board pivot assembly 54 allows a smooth rocking up and down pivoting movement to the board 12.

[00371 FIGS. L 4, 5, 6, 8; 1 1, 15 and 16 show the front steering assembly 70. The from steering assembly 70 includes t wo front wheels 72:. two trucks 74, a truck upper arm 76, a truck lower arm 78, a stabiliser 80 aud attachment -components 82 which include ball joint rod ends 86 proximal each wheel. A wheel 72 is located on each side of the board 12 and the feme 32 at the front The attachment components 82, in conjunction with the open ended hollow cylinder 40 at the -front end 38 of the -frame 32, are utilized to secure the two front wheels 72, with the ball joint ends 86 attached terminally tliereto. The stabilizer 80* as its name implies, is utilized to stabilize the front wheels72 when the skateboard 10 is being ridden _* The upper arm 76 and the lower arm 78 are attached to each respective wheel 72, The upper ami 76 and the lower arm 78· allow the tw front wheels 72 to pivot about the frame 32. A compression spring 84 is located on each side of the frame 32 and is utilized to provide resiliency to each wheel 72 as the front wheels 72 pivot, urging them back to an upright orientation

{00381 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. FIGS. 13,15, 16 and 17. The principal difference between the upper arm 7 and the lower arm 78· is that the upper ami 76 is not straight, but rather angled, frontward from the frame 3 to the front wheels 72, while the lower arm 78 is straight. Both the upper arm 76 and lowe ami 78 hav e a bore in the middle for attachment to the frame front end 38. |0Θ3* ⁾ | When the board 12 is tilted to the left or right, the upper arm 76 and lower arm 78 mo e parallel to each other so that the front wheels 72 also lilt, as shown in FIGS. 13, 15, .1 and .1 , Hie front wheels 72 turn left or right as a result of the upper arm 76 moving side o-side and bending slightly forward. The stabilizer 80 maintains both front wheels 72 parallel to each other and also it pushes the wheels 72 left or right (while keeping the wheels 72 parallel) as the board is pushed left- or right while■ maintaining good control.

[004 j ^' fhe rea assembly 90, as shown in FIGS. 2, 7, 8 and 12, includes a single rear wheel 92, first rear wheel attachment components 94, bearings 96, an internal gear .hub/planetary gear system 106, and second rear wheel attachment components 120. The planetary gear system 106 includes a planetary gear carrier 108, a sun gear 110, three planet gears 1 .12, an annul us 114, a first lever 1 16, a second lever 118, and a one-way bearing 122.

f ^' 0041] As show in FIGS. 1-5 and 8, the rear drive assembly 90 is located at the rear of the skateboard 10, The rear wheel 92 is attached to the frame rear end 42 by use of the first attachment components 94 in conjunction with the frame opening 44 at the frame rea end 42. The rear- wheel 92 is attached to the frame rear end 42. using of the internal gear hub pianetary gear system 106 and th first attachment components 94.

[O042| The e r drive assembly 90 is the main driving mechanism of the skateboard 10, The rear end 20 of the board 12 is attached to t he second le v er 118 wit a pressed fi t bearing. One end of the first lever 1 16 is attached to the internal gear hub/planetary gear system 106 with the one-way bearing 1.22 between them. The other end of the first lever 1 16 is attached to the second lever 11-8. The second lever 1.1.8 has a cylindrical extruded cut on both ends for bearings which are pressed fit into it. The first lever 1 16 has a _. different shape on both ends, fhe first end of the lever 1 1 also has a cylindrical extruded mi, with a key way slot so thai the one-wa bearing 122 fits into it The other end has a straight slot shape extruded cut which acts as a. slider,

| M 3] As the board 12 is pivoted u and down by a rider, the rear end 20 pushes the second leve 1 18, and the: second lever 1 18 ^: pushes the first lever 1 16, as shown in FIG. 1 S, The first lever 1 16 rotates the interna! _. gear hub planetary .gear- assembly 106 and the rear wheel 92. The one way bearing 122 is attached in between the lever 1 16 and the system .108. The one-way bearing 122 force the internal gear hub/planetary gear assembly 108 and the rear wheel 92 to rotat in one direction, only. As also shown in FIG, 18, a. downward force is indicated by the arrow 130 and a sliding motion which is caused by the. force is indicated by the arrows 132, The one way bearing 122 also helps a rider when, he she does not want to push the board 12 up and down and instead wishes to stand neutral and just cruise.

[00441 J first lever 1 16 has a straight slot shape extruded cu t on the second end. The cut is made because when a vertical force is applied to the first Sever 1 16 the internal gear huh/ planetary gear assembly .106 and the rear wheel. 92 wi.ll not rotate because the vertical force is moving through the center of the internal gear h ub/planetary gear assemb ly 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 o 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,

[00451 Located inside the left side of the rear wheel 92 is the planetary gear system, 106 and the bearings 96. The skateboard. 10 can selectivel engage various gears depending on the speed and riding conditions thai are encountered. The internal gear hub/pl netary gear system 106 has gear ratios so that rider can go faster, as best shown in FIG;. 8, The planet gear carrier 108, sun gear 110, three planet gears 1 12 and annulns S 14 are attached inside the rear wheel 9 and the whole assembly is attached to the frame rear end 42. It ^' should be noted that while the haemal gear hub/planetary gear assembly 106 is disclosed and shown, the skateboard 10 is not limited to any specific number of gea ratios. Other numbers of gears, or no gears, can also be utilized without departing from the scope, of the invention,

|0046| 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 1 18 allow re tear end 20 of the board 1.2 to pivot up down about the ^' frame 32. As shown in FIGURE 1 , 3 and 8, the first lever 1 1 is attached to the frame rear end 42, and the second lever 1 18 is ^' attached to the one-way bearing 122. The one-way hearing 122 is attached to the internal gear hub/pl anetary gear sys tem 306 and the internal, gear ^' huh planetary gear system 106 i s attached to the rear wheel 92, The first lever 1 16 is also attached t the rear end 20 of the board 12 which is attached to the rear drive assembly .90. As a rider pushes the board 12 up and down the rear wheel -92 rotates with the help of the assembly 90.

| ^' 0 7| The disc brake assembly 97 comprises a caliper 98., a disc 99, a wire 100, a brake actuator support 102 and a brake actuator 1 4. In order to slow down or stop the skateboard 10, the disc brake assembly 97 is utilized. As best shown in FIG. 8, the disc brake assembly 97 is located on the right ^' side of the rear wheel 92 (when viewed from the front). The disc brake assembly 97 -functions as other conventional, disc brake systems, in order to slow down, or stop, a person tiding the skateboard 10 will step downward on the brake actuator 104, which is accessed from the upper surface 14 of the board 1 2 and is located on the left side adjacent the rear end 20 of the board 1.2.

|IH)4S| When the brake actuator 1.04 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 assembl 97 is maintained in position adjacent the rear wheel 92 by the brake support 102.

[ ^' 00 9J Additionally, the disc brake assembly 97 is disclosed and shown on the right side of th rear wheel 92, and the .gear system 106 is disclosed and shown on the left side of the rea 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 FIG. 1 .

(0050| The multi-pivoting skateboard 10 provides a rider with significantl improved control. A person riding the skateboard .10 can pivot the board up or down and to the right or left, .as shown in FIGURE 13. The control is also increased by the ability of the wheels to pivot, as previously- disclosed. And, in conclusion,, the unique scrape of the board 12 provides a platform that allows a rider to fully utilize the capabilities of the multi-pivoting skateboard .10 while -maintainin -balance and riding comfort

(00511 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 int a turn, as- shown in FIG. 13. Th e board 12 pi vots about the frame interface 24 with the help of the board pivot assembly 54. The u and down oscillating movement causes the- skateboard 10 to move forward with the help of rear drive assembly 90. The front steering assembly 70 helps a rider to turn, left and right by pushing the skateboard left and right,

{ ^' O052J FIGURE 20 shows an XYZ coordinate system and Parallelogram linkage system 136 and the two wheels 142 ( ^' front or back, depending on the embodiment). The parallelogram linkage system 136 has four sides 1 4.1 6, 148,150 and it is held by the center part 138 and attached at the bottom of the board 140. The wheels .142 are -attached to two sides 144,148 of the parallelogram. The wheels 142 are resting on the bottom plane Χ-Ύ. And Z-X is vertical plane. All linkages 144,146,148,150 are attached to. each other with joints 152,154,156,158 these joint allow for the rotation of the linkages as shown with arrows- 160,162. hi assembly 70 shown in FIGS. .13, 15,16 and 17 the ball joints 86 are used to allow degrees of freedom of rotation and in the assembly in. FIG. 21 sleeve bearings 170 are attached at every joint 1.5.2,154, 156,158. And in FIG. 22 joints 200,202,204,206 are used.

f 0053 J FIG. 21 shows assembly 160. Unlike tipper aim 76 and the lower arm 78 from assembly 70 from PIG, 1.1, the- Top. Rod 162 and Bottom Rod 164 are straight and they are attached to the Mid 166 with nuts 168 and Bolts 170, There are sleeve bearings 170 at every joint point 172,174,176,178. Side pin 180 is used to attach the upright 182 to both the Top Rod 162 and the Bottom Rod 164, Wheels 72 are attached to the upright 182 with the nut 184 which is going, through opening 186. This, whole assembly .160 makes the parallelogram l inkage system which makes the wheels lean and turn at the same time.

|005 | FIG.22 shows assembly 188, i this assembly parallelogram linkage system has different joints that assembly 70 and 160. Top bar 200 and Bottom bar 1 8 has bore

202,204,206408 at both ends. This bore openings 202,204,206,208 are at an angle. A boh goes through opening 202,204,206,208 and attached to wheel holder 210. The rubber bushings 194,196 are inserted into counferbore 212,214 of center Part 194, The rubber bushings 194,196 has through opening 212,214 where Top bar 200 and Rottorn bar 19$ are attached to center Pari 194 with the bol

[00551 FICl 23 shows the damping system. The spherical bails 188, 190 tests in spherical concave ^' 186 which is inside Mid 166, suspension Push 184 is between spring 192 and Mid 166 and lis inclined surfaces 216 are touching spherical balls 188,190. When the

Parallelogram moves at. an angle the Spherical balls 188, 190 slide over Incline surfaces 216 of suspension Push 184 and compresses the spring 1 2.

f 00561 While the invention has been described in deta l and pictoriaSly 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

!0O57J The foregoing descriptions of embodiments of the present invention have been presented only for purposes of illustration and description. They ^' are not intended to he 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 she present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.