Abstract:
A truck assembly for a roller board which permits the user to simulate the effects of snow boarding or surfing through adjustments made to the plane in which the axle of the board extends. The present invention provides several types of nobules which may be mounted to the bottom surface of a board and which securely receive a curved axle therein. The nobule each include a curved, elongated slot which permits rotation of the nobule relative to the board, thereby twisting the axle a corresponding amount. When the axle twists, the plane in which it extends changes a corresponding amount relative to the board which, in effect, changes the responsiveness of the board so as to simulate the feel of traditional skate boarding, surfing, or snow boarding.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/182,977, filed Feb. 16, 2000. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates generally to roller board apparatus, such as what are commonly referred to as skateboards, and more particularly to truck assemblies for mounting on roller boards.  
           [0004]    2. Description of Prior Art  
           [0005]    Recreational activities such as skateboarding, snow boarding, wave surfing and wind surfing each have the common element of requiring their participants to develop the skill of balancing themselves on a relatively planer platform while propelling themselves forward by having to transfer their weight in a certain manner. Due to this common underlying element of these various activities, they tend to attract common individuals. Hence, an individual who skateboards would probably like to wave surf, wind surf and snow board, and vice-versa.  
           [0006]    Unfortunately, wave surfing and wind surfing each require the use of water, most suitably an ocean, and snow boarding obviously requires mountains and snow. Therefore, these activities can only be performed during certain seasons and only in certain geographical regions, while skateboarding can be performed in any location at practically any time of year. Thus, it would be enticing to those who enjoy the above-described activities to have a skateboard type apparatus which could effectively simulate the feel of each of the other activities.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,874 to Schouten and Simonian, which is commonly owned with the present application, teaches a truck for roller board apparatus having curved forward and rear axles which each rotatably receive a plurality of wheels, thereby creating, in essence, an arc of wheels. A compressible wedge positioned between the truck assembly and board platform permit the angles of the plane in which each axle extends to be changed relative to the platform. By changing these angles, the ride characteristics of the board change. This, coupled with the arc of wheel assemblies, creates a roller board which effectively simulates skateboarding, snow boarding, wave surfing, or wind surfing depending upon which axle angles are selected.  
           [0008]    3. Objects and Advantages  
           [0009]    It is a principal object and advantage of the present invention to provide a truck assembly for a roller board apparatus which is easy to mount on a board.  
           [0010]    It is another object and advantage of the present invention to provide a truck assembly for a roller board apparatus that is inexpensive to manufacture.  
           [0011]    It is a further object and advantage of the present invention to provide a truck assembly for a roller board apparatus that may be retrofit on existing platforms.  
           [0012]    Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will in part be obvious and in part appear hereinafter.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0013]    In accordance with the foregoing objects and advantages, several embodiments of the present invention are described herein. Each of the embodiments include the common element of a truck assembly for mounting a curved axle (which carries an “arc” of wheels thereon) to a roller board, including nobules that may be selectively twisted in order to change the angle of the plane in which the axle extends relative to the bottom surface of the board. By changing the angle of the axle plane, the ride characteristics of the board correspondingly change.  
           [0014]    The first embodiment of the present invention includes a truck assembly comprising a plate having opposed, curved-shaped slots formed therethrough, and a nobule having opposed end portions with respective holes formed therethrough and a medial portion extending outwardly therefrom. The assembly is mounted to the bottom surface of a board via screws passing through the board, curved slots, and nobule end portions. The ends of the curved axle are inserted in bored holes formed in the nobule&#39;s medial portion.  
           [0015]    To change the angle of the plane in which the axle lies relative to the bottom surface, the attachment screws may be loosened, the nobules twisted relative to the curved slots until the axle is moved to its desired orientation, and the screws once again tightened. By twisting the opposing nobules by equal amounts, the axle will remain symmetrical relative to the board&#39;s longitudinal axis.  
           [0016]    The second embodiment of the present invention is essentially the same as the first embodiment, except the curved slots are integrally incorporated into the nobule structure, thereby alleviating the need for a separate plate.  
           [0017]    The third embodiment of the present invention includes a truck assembly comprising of a spacer element attached to the board&#39;s bottom surface, an elongated intermediate member attached to the spacer element via screws passing through its ends and including a longitudinally extending slot (extends along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the board) formed therethrough, and a nobule having a central opening formed therethrough and being slidably attached to the intermediate member. The intermediate member and nobule include mating concave and convex surfaces, respectively and are connected to one another via a screw passing through the curved slot and central opening. The nobule also includes an opening to receive the end of a curved axle.  
           [0018]    To change the angle of the plane in which the axle extends relative to the bottom surface, the screw interconnecting the intermediate member and nobule is loosened, the nobule slid longitudinally along the length of the intermediate member until it reaches its desired orientation, and the screw tightened to fix the relative position of the nobule and intermediate member. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]    The present invention will be more fully understood by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view showing a first embodiment of the present invention adjacent the front and of a roller board, and a second embodiment of the present invention adjacent the rear end of a roller board;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view showing the first and second embodiments of the present invention in alternate positions;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3 is an exploded, partial perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 4 is an exploded, partial perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 a  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  4   a - 4   a  of FIG. 4;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 5 is a partial, exploded perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the third embodiment, taken along line  6 - 6  of FIG. 5;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of a nobule of the third embodiment;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 8 a  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  8   a - 8   a of FIG. 8. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0030]    Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout, there is seen in FIGS.  1 - 2  a roller board, designated generally by reference numeral  10 . Board  10  includes an upper, rider support surface (not seen in drawings), a bottom, truck support surface  12 , and front and rear ends  14 , 16  respectively. Board  10  further includes front  18  (first embodiment) and rear (second embodiment)  100  truck assemblies attached to bottom surface  12 , adjacent front and rear ends  14 ,  16 , respectively. Truck assemblies  18  and  100  can be used interchangably.  
         [0031]    Referring specifically to FIG. 3, truck assembly  18  comprises a nobule  20  and plate  22  positioned between surface  16  and nobule  20 . Plate  22  includes opposing curved slots  23 ,  24  and a central opening  26  formed therethrough, with one securely attached to bottom surface  16 , adjacent each of the side edges of board  10  via a screw  28  passing through board  10  and central opening  26 .  
         [0032]    Nobule  20  includes opposing end portions  30 ,  32  through which respective opening  34 ,  36  are formed, and a central portion  29  which extends outwardly from end portions  30 ,  32 . Screws  40 ,  42  pass through opening  34 ,  36 , respectively, and through curved slots  23 , 24 , respectively, thereby securely attaching nobules  20  to plates  22 . Central portion  29  includes a bored opening  44  formed therein and extends along a diagonally oriented axis relative to bottom surface  16 . The openings formed in opposing nobules  20  are positioned in facing relation to one another when nobules  20  are attached to board  10 .  
         [0033]    A curved axle  46  having a plurality of wheels  48  rotatably mounted thereon (the mounting may be done in a manner identical to that described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,5,537,874) is attached to each of opposing nobules  20 , via insertion of the opposite ends thereof in the openings  44  of respective nobules  20 . Thus, an arc of wheels  48  rotatably mounted on axle  46  extends across bottom surface  16  along an axis T-T that extends transverse to the longitudinal axis L-L of board  10 .  
         [0034]    As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 1 a,    2 , and  2   a,  the plane in which the arc of wheels  48  extends can be selectively changed by twisting nobules  20  relative to plate  20 . This twisting can be accomplished by removing screws  40 , 42 , rotating nobules  20  to their desired orientation, and re-inserting and fastening screws  40 , 42 . By rotating nobules  20  an equal amount relative to plates  22 , axle  46  will remain symmetrical relative to longitudinal axis L-L of board  10 .  
         [0035]    As the angle θ of the plane in which the arc of wheels  48  extends relative to bottom surface  16  changes, so do the riding characteristics of board  10 . By decreasing the angle θ between the wheel plane and bottom surface  16 , and increasing the longitudinal spacing, S, of the center-most wheels  48  on front and rear assemblies  16 ,  100 , respectively, the responsiveness of board  10  increases (responsiveness being defined as the measure of how severe a turn is achieved for a given transfer in weight). The converse is also true. The physics of these ride characteristics is explained in U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,874, which is incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0036]    Referring now to FIG. 4, truck assembly  100  is illustrated. Truck assembly  100  includes a spacer  102  attached to bottom surface  104 , a nobule  106  attached to spacer  102  which includes opposing end portions  108 , 110  and a medial portion  112 . Spacer  102  and end portions  108 ,  110  each include circular openings  114 , 118  and curved slots  116 ,  120  respectively, formed therethrough. Openings  114 ,  118  and slots  116 ,  120  respectively, are axially aligned with one another when nobule  106  is appropriately positioned in attached relation to spacer  102 . To securely attach spacer  102  to nobule  106 , a pair of screws  122 ,  124  are passed through corresponding pairs of openings/slots  114 / 116 ,  118 / 120 , respectively, and fastened thereon via washer/nut combinations  126 ,  128 , respectively.  
         [0037]    A curved axle  130  having a plurality of wheels  132  rotatably mounted thereon, thereby creating an arc of wheels, is attached to the nobules  106  which are attached to bottom surface  104 , adjacent opposing side edges thereof. An axle receiving hole  134  is formed transversely through medial portion  112  of nobule  106 , and the threaded ends  136  of axle  130  are passed through the holes  134  of opposing nobules  106 . A nut  138  is then threaded on the ends  136  of axle  130  in order to securely attach it to nobules  106 .  
         [0038]    The plane in which axle  130  and hence, the arc of wheels  132 , extends may be selectively changed relative to bottom surface  10 , thereby correspondingly changing the riding characteristics of board  10 . As with truck assembly  16 , the plane in which axle  130  extends may be changed by loosening nuts  126 ,  128  and rotating corresponding pairs of spacers and nobules  102 ,  106 , thereby causing screws  122 , 124  to move relative to slots  114 ,  118  and  116 , 120 , respectively. Thus, the angle of the plane in which axle  130  extends will change relative to bottom surface  102 , thereby changing the ride characteristics of board  10 .  
         [0039]    Referring now to FIGS.  5 - 7 , a third embodiment of a truck assembly designated generally by reference numeral  200  is illustrated. Truck assembly  200  comprises a spacer element  202  attached to the bottom surface  204  of a board  10 , an intermediate member  206  securely attached to spacer  202  via screws  208 ,  210  which pass through axially aligned holes formed through spacer  202  and intermediate member  206 , adjacent their ends (See FIG. 6), and a nobule  212  which is slidably attached to intermediate member  206 .  
         [0040]    Intermediate member  206  includes an elongated slot  214  formed longitudinally therethrough, and nobule  212  includes an opening  216  formed therethrough. A screw  218  extends upwardly through slots  214  and hole  216 , and is fastened thereon by a nut  220  which lies flush with a seat  222  formed on nobule  212  in the area surrounding hole  216 . The bottom surface  224  of nobule  212  and the upwardly facing surface  226  of intermediate member  206  are equally convex and concave, respectively, thereby conforming to one another. The relative position of nobule  212  with respect to intermediate member  206  may be selectively changed by loosening screw  218 , sliding nobule  212  longitudinally along intermediate member  206  to its desired position, and tightening screw  218  via nut  220 .  
         [0041]    Nobules  212  further include a bored hole  228  (See FIG. 7) formed in raised, medial portion  230  thereof, that extends along a longitudinal axis that is essentially perpendicular relative to the longitudinal axis of hole  216 . The ends of a curved axle  232  are inserted within the bored holes  216  of a respective nobules  218 , thereby interconnecting the axle to truck assembly  200 . Prior to insertion of the ends of axle  232  into bored holes  230 , a plurality of wheels  234  are rotatably mounted on axle  232 , thereby creating an arc of wheels. Due to the relative movement of nobule  212  with respect to intermediate member  206 , the angle of the plane in which axle  232  (and hence, the arc of wheels) extends relative to bottom surface  202  can be selectively increased or decreased. Thus, the responsiveness of a board  10  having truck assemblies  200  mounted thereon can be selectively changed.  
         [0042]    Referring now to FIG. 8, a truck assembly, designated generally by reference numeral  400 , is illustrated attached to the bottom surface  402  of a board  10 . Truck assembly  400  includes an elongated spacer element  404 , an elongated nobule  406  attached to spacer element  404 , and an axle holder  407  movably attached to nobule  406 . A curved axle  408 , substantially identical to the axles previously disclosed in this application, rotatably carrying a plurality of wheels  410 , is securely attached to axle holder  407 .  
         [0043]    Spacer element  404  and nobule  406  include corresponding holes  412 ,  414  and  416 ,  418  respectively, formed through their end regions  420 ,  422  and  424 ,  426 , respectively. Holes  412 ,  414  are positioned in axial alignment with holes  416 ,  418  to facilitate passage of screws  428  and  430 , respectively, therethrough. Screws  428  and  430  securely attach spacer element  404  to bottom surface  402 , and nobule  406  to spacer element  404 .  
         [0044]    Nobule  406  further includes a medial portion  432  positioned between end regions  424 ,  426  which includes a hole  434  formed therethrough along an axis that extends radially relative to holes  416 ,  418 . A screw  436  passes through hole  434  leaving its threaded end exposed adjacent the outside edge of board  10 .  
         [0045]    Axle holder  407  includes a hole  438  formed through a lower portion  439  and through which the threaded end of screw  436  passes, and an axle receiving portion  440  which securely receives an end of axle  408 . With lower portion  439  positioned in contacting relation to medial portion  432 , a quick release clamp  442  threadably engages the end of screw  436 , thereby clamping axle holder  407  between it and medial portion  432 .  
         [0046]    The angle of the plane in which axle  408  extends relative to bottom surface  402  can be selectively changed to correspondingly change the ride characteristics of board  10 . To change this angle, clamp  442  is first loosened relative to axle holder  407 . Axle holder  407  may then be manually rotated about screw  436  until axle  408  is positioned in a desired plane. Clamp  442  may then be tightened on screw  436  until axle holder  407  is securely and tightly positioned between it and medial portion  432 .