Technical Field

[001] The present invention relates to skateboards, and more specifically to a truck for a skateboard.

Background

[002] The primary function of the truck is to attach the wheels to the deck and to steer of the skateboard. A truck consists of a hanger with an axle to hold the wheels and a baseplate that is bolted to the deck which supports a kingpin bolt with a pair of bushings that the hanger pivots on.

[003] It takes weeks for the bushings on a pair of new trucks to get broken in. Once they are broken in, the trucks offer the rider a personal and predictable response from the deck necessary for consistent trick execution.

[004] When performing tricks with the skateboard, in addition to rolling and turning, different parts of the skateboard are used to interact with obstacles such as rails, ledges, and coping. Some tricks use the underside of the deck and some tricks use the trucks. When performing tricks using the underside of the skateboard’s nose and tail such as nose, tail and blunt slides, the outward facing heel portion of the truck baseplate comes in contact with the riding obstacle. This causes wear to the back side of baseplate of the truck. Grind tricks involve sliding on one or both trucks along a hard edge, or a rail, which causes wear to the hanger. For strength, the axle and kingpin of a truck are normally made of steel, however for low weight, the hanger and the baseplate are made from aluminum or magnesium. Since both aluminum and magnesium are soft metals, both the hanger and the baseplate wear out quickly when performing grinds and slides. Eventually the trucks need to be replaced after a certain amount of damage. This involves an economic expenditure and having to break in and get used to a new pair of trucks. [005] More importantly the soft metal material generates significant friction when performing grinds and slides which in many instances causes the deck to lock up and cause the rider to lose his balance and to abort the trick. As the hanger and base plate wear down, friction increases and it becomes increasingly more difficult to execute and land tricks.

Summary

[006] It is an object of the present invention to improve the interaction between the truck and different obstacles as well as extending the functional lifespan of a skateboard truck.

[007] The invention relates to a truck for a skateboard, said truck comprising a baseplate and a hanger for holding two wheels at opposite ends of the hanger, the truck being arranged to receive an armor shield arranged to protect a portion of the truck, and including a releasable fastening means for fastening the armor shield to the truck.

[008] The truck preferably further comprises one or more recesses matching the shape of one or more armor shields, into which the respective armor shield may be inserted.

[009] The invention also relates to an armor shield arranged to match a portion of a truck and to be attached to said portion of the truck, and including a fastening means for fastening the armor shield to the truck.

[010] The armor shield may be a hanger armor shield covering an outer portion of the hanger and/or a rear armor shield covering at least a part of the heel of the baseplate. The recesses in the truck are preferably designed so that the respective armor shield fits snugly into the respective recess and with matching fastening means between the armor shield and the truck.

[011] The fastening means may comprise matching screw holes on the truck and the armor shield. Alternatively, or in addition, the fastening means may comprise one or more slits on the truck arranged to receive corresponding protrusions on the armor shield.

[012] In one embodiment, the armor shield comprises a curved portion constituting part of a cylinder, said armor shield being arranged to match a portion of the hanger of the truck to protect the side of the truck facing the ground when the skateboard is in use. This portion is subject to a lot of wear when performing grinding tricks. In another embodiment, the armor shield is arranged to match a portion of the heel of the baseplate, which is also subject to a lot of wear. Both armor shields may be used together.

[013] The invention is based on identifying the areas of the truck which interact with obstacles, affect performance and are subjected to wear and to develop a truck design which features replaceable wearing parts, armored plates made from superior materials for these areas. These areas are primarily the bottom of the hanger as seen when the skateboard is in use, that is, the side facing away from the skateboard, downwards when the skateboard is being used, and also the rear side or“the heel” of the baseplate. The armor plates may be fastened with any suitable releasable fastening means. In a preferred embodiment, the fastening means comprises one or more screws and matching screw holes in the armor plate and the truck. The fastening means may also comprise protrusions on the armor plate and matching receiving means, such as slits, on the truck, into which the protrusions may be inserted. As additional fastening means, an adhesive may be provided. The adhesive must be releasable, for example, by pulling force, or by heating.

[014] Because of the releasable fastening means, the armor plates may be exchanged when they are worn out. This is less expensive and less time-consuming than replacing the entire truck, and preferable since trucks and the way they respond and feel are the most personal of all of the skateboards different components.

[015] The replacement parts are made of a durable material low friction material, preferably steel, or a durable engineering resin. A steel plate may be used, suitably having a thickness of between 0.7 and 1.5 mm. If another material is used, or if the rider wants a more durable replacement part it may be feasible to make the replacement parts thicker.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[016] The invention will be described in more detail in the following, by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which

Figures la and lb are different views of a truck according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 2a and 2b are different views of a hanger armor plate according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2c shows a rear armor plate according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figures 2d and 2e are different views of an alternative shape of the hanger armor plate.

Figure 3 shows a truck with a recess arranged to receive a hanger armor plate Detailed Description

[017] Figures la and lb show different views of a truck according to an embodiment of the invention. As for a conventional truck, the truck of Figs la and lb comprises a baseplate 11, and a hanger 13 for holding an axle arranged to hold two wheels 15 at opposite ends of the hanger. The hanger also comprises a hanger flange 17 through which a kingpin 19 is inserted. On the inner side of the hanger flange, between the hanger flange and the base plate, a first bushing is arranged around the kingpin. On the outer side of the hanger flange a second bushing is arranged around the kingpin.

[018] The truck comprises one or more armor plates made from a durable material. As will be understood, although the truck of Figures la and lb has two different armor plates, a truck may comprise one or both of the armor plates shown in this drawing.

[019] A first armor plate, which will be referred to as a hanger armor plate 21 , is shaped and positioned on the hanger 13 in such a way that when the board slides, for example along a rail, the armor plate will contact the rail so any wear on the hanger will affect the armor plate and not the main portion of the hanger itself. The shape of the armor plate preferably comprises a portion of a cylinder, arranged to fit around a portion of the hanger 13, and a shield portion shown as a triangular shape in Figures la and 2a, arranged to extend over a part of the hanger pivot pin portion of the truck.

[020] Preferably, the hanger 13 has a recess in which the hanger armor plate 21 is arranged to fit snugly. The hanger armor plate 21 may then be designed so that its outer surface aligns with the outer surface of the hanger 13 at the edge of the recess. Alternatively, the hanger armor plate may be arranged to be applied on the around the hanger without fitting into a recess.

[021] The hanger armor plate may be fastened in any suitable way. It is foreseen that the armor plate and the truck have at least one bore for receiving a screw or a bolt to fasten the armor plate. In Figure la, a screw hole 23 is arranged in the armor plate and the hanger in the area of the pivot pin, for receiving a screw. In addition, more screws or bolts may be provided, for example at the opposite side of the armor plate, with corresponding holes in the hanger. Alternatively, or in addition, the hanger may be provided with slits 25 and the armor plate may have protrusions 27 arranged to interact with the slits.

[022] As shown in Figure la, the truck also comprises a rear armor plate 31 covering the rear portion, or heel 33, of the baseplate of the truck.

[023] Figure 2a shows a hanger armor 21 plate as the one attached to the hanger in Figures la and lb, seen from the front, with the one screw hole 23 as discussed above. Figure 2b shows the hanger armor plate 21 seen from the back. Figure 2b shows two protrusions 27 arranged to interact with slits 25 in the hanger. There could instead be another type of fastening means, for example, one or more screws (not shown). Figure 2c shows the rear armor plate 33 separate from the truck. The rear armor plate is arranged to match at least a part of the heel of the truck which is prone to wear. For maximum stability, as shown in Figure lb, the rear armor plate is preferably arranged to meet the bottom of the skateboard and extend outwards from the skateboard along the edge of the baseplate so far that it will protect the truck from wear. A bore 35 is arranged to cooperate with a bore on the truck so the rear armor plate can be fastened with a screw. Figures 2d and 2e show an alternative hanger armor plate 21’ to the one 21 shown in Figures 2a and 2b, having a different shape and different fastening means. The hanger armor plate 21’ has no protrusions at the back but has two bores 35 instead, to interact with corresponding bores on the truck for fastening the hanger armor plate with screws, as shown in Figure 2d. As can be seen from Figure 2e, the front of the armor plate also has a different shape but still has a screw hole 23’ used to fasten the armor plate to the truck. Of course, the armor plates shown here are only examples. Armor plates may have any suitable shape which enables them to protect the truck, and may be fastened to the truck with any suitable means.

[024] Figure 3 shows a truck with a hanger arranged for a hanger armor plate to be mounted, but without the hanger armor plate, seen in the direction towards the board if the truck is mounted. As can be seen, there is a recess for receiving the hanger armor plate 21. In the rear side there are two slits 25 arranged to receive the

protrusions of the hanger armor plate and in the recess a screw hole positioned to match the screw hole of the hanger armor plate when the hanger armor plate is positioned in the recess (not shown in Figure 3). As will be understood, the hanger should be adapted to the same fastening means as the hanger armor plate, including for example matching slits and protrusions, and/or matching screw holes. In addition, a releasable adhesive may be used for additional fastening effect.

[025] To attach the hanger armor plate 21 to the hanger in this embodiment, the protrusions on the armor plate would first be entered into the slits on the hanger and the armor plate could then be secured by means of a screw or bolt inserted in the screw hole. The armor plates must be made from a material that is wear resistant, typically a metal or a resin or some other material that is hard enough to withstand the wear caused by doing tricks with the skateboard as discussed above. In a preferred embodiment the armor plates are made from steel plates having a thickness of 0.7 - 1 mm, or low friction engineering resins having a variable thickness of between 1- 3.5mm.