SKATEBOARD TRUCK

Abstract: A skateboard truck (10) for a skateboard (100) having a pivotal member (12) which is arranged to be connected to the deck (102) of the skateboard. The pivotal member (12) carries the wheel assembly (13) of the truck (10). A locking mechanism (14) is also provided. In a first (unlocked) mode of operation, the pivotal member (12) is able to pivot so that the truck (10) is movable in a to and fro manner. This first mode of operation permits a rider to perform advanced manoeuvres using a skateboard (100). In a second (locked) mode of operation, the truck (10) is locked against such to and fro movement by the locking mechanism (14).

Description: SKATEBOARD TRUCK DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a skateboard truck. The skateboard truck of the present invention is arranged to b connected to the undersurface of the deck of a skateboard. FIELD OF THE INVENTION Conventional skateboards use a pair of trucks, one at the front and one at the rear. These trucks are rigidly mounted to the undersurface of the deck of the skateboard. It is difficult for a rider to perform advanced riding manoeuvres on such convention skateboards due to the limited performance of the conventional trucks - often, such advanced riding manoeuvres are not possible or can be performed only by very skilled riders. The skateboard truck of the present invention permits advanced riding manoeuvres to be more easily performed by a rider. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a skateboard truck characterized in that it comprises pivotal member means and locking means, said pivotal member means carrying the wheel assembly of said truck and arranged to be connected to the deck of said skateboard, wherein in a first mode of operation said pivotal member means is pivotal such that said truck is movable in a to and fro manner, and in a second mode of operation said truck is lockable against said to and fro movement by said locking means. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS SUBSTITUTE SHEET Figure 1 is an under-surface perspective view of a skateboard incorporating an embodiment of a skateboard truck in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional elevation view of the pivotal connection along the line 2-2 of Figure 4; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the locking mechanism of the skateboard truck shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a side elevation view of the front part of the skateboard shown in Figure 1, showing the skateboard truck with the locking mechanism in its locking position (and non-locking position) ; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the front part of the skateboard shown in Figure 1, showing the skateboard truck with the locking mechanism in its locking position; and Figure 6 is an undersurface plan view of the skateboard shown in Figure 1 with the locking mechanism in its non-locking position. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the drawings, there is shown a skateboard 100 incorporating a skateboard truck 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The truck 10 is provided at the front of the skateboard 100. The skateboard 100 itself comprises a deck 102 and another (rear) truck 104 both of which may be of conventional form. The deck 102 may be provided with an upwardly inclined offset portion 106 at its rear end and a rounded tapered portion 108 near its front end. The skateboard truck 10 comprises a pivotal member 12 which UBSTITUTE SHEET carries the rest of the truck 10 including a wheel assembl 13, and a locking mechanism 14. The rest of the truck 10 is attached to the pivotal member 12 by bolts 15. The pivotal member 12 is arranged to be connected to the 5 deck 102 of the skateboard 100. A pivotal connection 16 is arranged to connect the pivotal member 12 to the deck 102 such that the pivotal member 12 is able to perform pivotal motion relative to the deck 102. The pivotal connection 16 is provided near one end of the 10 pivotal member 12 and the rest of the truck 10 is provided near the other end of the pivotal member 12. The pivotal connection 16 is arranged to be connected to the forward part of the deck 102, with the pivotal member 12 extending rearwardly. 15 An embodiment of the pivotal connection 16 is shown in Figure 2. The pivotal connection 16 shown in Figure 2 comprises a short shaft or pin 18 which is arranged to be connected to the deck 102. The shaft 18 has a circular plate 20 20 connected at the end thereof in a transverse manner. The circular plate 20 has a circular groove 22 near the periphery thereof to accommodate a first set of ball bearings 24. A circular plate 26 is supported in the pivotal member 12 25 by a web 28 that extends between upper and lower walls 30 and 31, respectively, of the pivotal member 12. The pivotal member 12 is also provided with an outer wall 32 which extends between the upper and lower walls 30 and 31. The circular plate 26 has a circular groove 34 to SUBSTITUTESHEET accommodate the first set of ball bearings 24. Thus, the circular grooves 22 and 34 are in registration such that they form upper and lower circular grooves, respectively, to retain the first set of ball bearings 24. A further circular groove 36 is provided in the plate 26 adjacent the circular groove 34 (but on the opposite side of the circular plate 26) to accommodate a second set of ball bearings 38. Another circular plate 40 is provided above the second set of ball bearings 38 and is provided with a circular groove 42 to accommodate the second set of ball bearings 38. Thus, the circular grooves 36 and 42 are in registration such that they form lower and upper circular grooves, respectively, to retain the second set of ball bearings 38. The circular plate 40 is connected to the deck 102 by portions 43a and 43b. The upper wall 30 is provided with an opening to accommodate the shaft 18 and portion 43a. When the pivotal member 12 pivots via the pivotal connection 16 only the circular plate 26, web 28 and walls 30, 31 and 32 move. The other parts of the pivotal connection 16 do not move. The pivotal connection 16 permits the pivotal member 12 to pivot smoothly due to the dual arrangement of ball bearings 38 and 24 above and below, respectively, the circular plate 26. The locking mechanism 14 comprises a bracket 44, arranged to be connected to the deck 102, and a locking member 46 pivotally held by the bracket 44. The bracket 44 comprises a base 48 and two side portions 50 SUBSTITUTE extending therefrom. The base 48 is provided with apertures 52 such that screws 54 may be passed therethroug and into the deck 102 to connect the bracket 44 to the undersurface of the deck 102. The base 48 is also provided with a cut out 56. The two side portions 50 are each provided with a hole 58 near one of their corners. These holes 58 are aligned. The inside faces 59 of the side portions 50 are each provided a pin 60 near a curved edge 62 thereof. The locking member 46 comprises a base 64 and two side portions 66 extending therefrom. The two side portions 66 are each provided with a pin 68 extending from their outer faces 69, near one of their corners. The pins 68 are aligned. The sides 66 are each provided with a hole 70. A locking block 72 is positioned between the two side portions 66 near straight edges 74 of the side portions 66 on the base 64. The side portions 66 are provided with curved edges 76. The holes 70 are provided near the curved edges 76. The pins 68 of the locking member 46 locate in the holes 58 of the bracket 44 such that the locking member 46 is pivotal relative to the bracket 44. The pins 60 on the side portions 50 of the bracket 44 may engage in the holes 70 of the side portions 66 of the locking member 46 to retain the locking member 46 in a non-locking position. In the non-locking position, the pivotal member 12 is free to pivot and so the truck 10 is able to pivot. SUBSTITUTESHEET In this non-locking position (shown in broken lines in Figure 1, in solid shade lines at the right of Figure 4, and in Figure 6), the curved edges 62 and 76 are aligned. The pivotal member 12 is provided with a pin 77 extending from each side 78 thereof. The pins 77 engage in the holes 70 in the side portions 66 of the locking member 46 when the locking member 46 is pivoted to its locking position to retain and locking member 46 in its locking position. In this locking position (shown at the left in Figure 4 in broken shade lines and in Figure 5), the side portions 66 of the locking member 46 are positioned adjacent the sides 78 of the pivotal member 12. The straight edges 74 of the side portions 66 and a surface of the locking block 72 are in substantial contact with the deck 102. A portion of the locking block 72 abuts with the surface of the pivotal member 12. This is best seen in Figure 4. In the locking position, the pivotal member 12 is unable to pivot, thereby preventing to and fro movement of the truck 10. This is because the side portions 66 abut with the sides 78 of the pivotal member 12 to prevent any sideways, or pivotal, movement of the pivotal member 12. Further, the locking block 72 abuts with the pivotal member 12, being positioned between the pivotal member 12 and the deck 102, to stabilize the pivotal member 12. The cut-out 56 is provided in the base 48 to enable the locking member 46 to be easily pivoted from the non-locking position to the locking position by an operator using his/her finger to flick the locking member 46 into SUBSTITUTESHEET position. The locking block 72 has a rounded edge 73 to facilitate movement of the locking member 46 to and from the locking position past the edge 75 of the pivotal member 12. (As an alternative, the edge 75 of the pivotal member 12 may be rounded, and the edge 73 of the locking block 72 may be straight-edged.) Stop members 79 may be provided to limit the movement of the pivotal member 12. The stop members 79 are arranged to be connected to the underside of the deck 102 near the front end thereof, on respective sides of the pivotal member 12. The remainder of the truck 10 may be of conventional form. Thus, the truck 10 may further comprise a mounting plate 80 connecting the remainder of the truck 10 to the pivotal member 102 by way of bolts 81; resilient portions 82 on either side of a collar 83 extending from a casing 84; the casing 84 encloses the axle-bearing shaft which carries the axles upon which the wheels 85 are mounted which together make up the wheel assembly 13; a bolt 86 extending through he resilient portions 82, collar 83, a sleeve 87 and into the mounting plate 80; along with nuts 88 to retain the wheels 85 on the truck 10. Similarly, the truck 104 may be of conventional form. Thus, the truck 104 may comprise a mounting plate 110 connecting the truck 104 to the deck 102 by way of bolts 112 with an intermediate block 116 of resilient material, along with nuts 118 to retain the wheels 120 on the truck 104. The other parts of the truck 104 are obscured in Figure 1, but it will be understood that these may be of conventional form, as hereinabove stated. The preceding description of convention parts is provided by way of information even though they do not, in themselves, form part of the present invention. The manner of operation and use of a skateboard 100 incorporating a truck 10 in accordance with the present invention will now be described. In the locking position of the locking member 46 of the locking mechanism 14 of the truck 10, the pivotal member 12 is unable to pivot. The truck 10 is thus locked against any to and fro side to side movement. Thus, the truck 10 functions as a conventional truck and the skateboard 100 may be ridden as a conventional skateboard. When the locking member 46 is moved to its non-locking position, the pivotal member 12 is able to pivot by way of the pivotal connection 16 and the truck 10 is able to move in a pivotal, to and fro, side to side manner. This to and fro swinging type motion of the truck 10 is limited by the stop members 79. The two extreme positions of the truck 10 are shown in broken lines in Figure 6. When the non-locking position of the locking member 46 is engaged, a rider can stand on the deck 102 and by shifting his/her weight from side to side is able to get the skateboard 100 into motion such that it moves in a forward direction. The rider can do this without touching the ground with his/her foot. The side to side movement of the rider causes the pivotal member 12 to pivot back and forth between the stop members 79 via the connection 16. This causes the truck 10 to also SUBSTITUTESHEET move in a corresponding to and fro swinging manner. This causes the skateboard 100 to move in a forward direction. The truck 10 of the present invention also permits the skateboard 100 to be forwardly moved along an incline. Accordingly, the skateboard truck of the present invention permits a rider to perform advanced riding manoeuvres on a skateboard. Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed within the scope of the present invention. SUBSTITUTESHEET

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A skateboard truck characterized in that it comprises pivotal member means and locking means, said pivotal member means carrying the wheel assembly of said truck and arranged to be connected to the deck of said skateboard, wherein in a first mode of operation said pivotal member means is pivotal such that said truck is movable in a to and fro manner, and in a second mode of operation said truck is lockable against said to and fro movement by said locking means. 2. A skateboard truck according to claim 1, characterized in that said locking means comprises locking member means movable between a first non-locking position in said first mode of operation and a second locking position in said second mode of operation in which said locking member means engages with said pivotal member means. 3. A skateboard truck according to claim 2, characterized in that said pivotal member means and said locking member means are provided with first and second engagement means, respectively, which engage to releasably retain said locking member means in said second locking position. 4. A skateboard truck according to claim 3, characterized in that said first engagement means is provided on sides of said pivotal member means and said second engagement means is provided on side portions of said locking member means, said side portions lying adjacent said sides of said pivotal member means in said second locking position. 5. A skateboard truck according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said locking member means comprises side portions which lie adjacent respective sides of said pivotal member means in said second locking position. 6. A skateboard truck according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that said locking member means comprises a locking block which is arranged to fit between said deck of said skateboard and said pivotal member means in said second locking position. 7. A skateboard truck according to claim 6, characterized in that said one of locking block and said pivotal member means is provided with a rounded edge to facilitate movement of said locking block past an edge of said pivotal member means. 8. A skateboard truck according to any one claims 2 to 7, characterized in that said locking means comprises a bracket arranged to be connected to said deck of said skateboard and said locking means is pivotally held by said bracket. 9. A skateboard truck according to claim 8, characterized in that said locking member means and said bracket are provided with second and third engagement means, respectively, which engage to releasably retain said locking means in said first non-locking position. 10. A skateboard truck according to claim 9, characterized in that said second engagement means is provided on side portions of said locking member means and said third engagement means is provided on side portions of said bracket, said respective side portions lying adjacent one another in said first non-locking position. 11. A skateboard truck according to any one of claims 1 to SUBSTITUTE SHEET 10, characterized in that a pivotal connection means is arranged to connect said pivotal member means to said deck of said skateboard such that said pivotal member means is able to pivot. 12. A skateboard truck according to claim 11, characterized in that said pivotal connection means comprises shaft means arranged to be connected to said deck of said skateboard, first plate means connected to said shaft means, second plate means connected to said pivotal member means, third plate means arranged to be connected to said deck of said skateboard, and respective sets of ball bearings between said first and second plates and said second and third plates such that said pivotal member means and said second plate means are able to move and said shaft means and said first and third plate means remain stationery. 13. A skateboard truck according to claim 12, characterized in that said first, second and third plate means are provided with groove means to accommodate said respective sets of ball bearings. 14. A skateboard truck according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that said pivotal connection means is provided at a first end of said pivotal member means and said locking means is provided adjacent a second end of said pivotal member means. 15. A skateboard truck according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that stop means is provided to limit the pivotal movement of said pivotal member means to thereby limited the to and fro movability of said truck. SUBSTITUTESHEET 16. A skateboard truck according to claim 15, characterized in that said stop means comprises a pair of stop members arranged to be connected to said deck of said skateboard on respective sides of said pivotal member means. SUBSTITUTE SHEET

Inventors: PRACAS VICTOR MANUEL, PRACAS, VICTOR, MANUEL
Applicants: PRACAS VICTOR MANUEL, PRACAS, VICTOR, MANUEL
Application year: 1992
Main classification: A63C17
IPC codes: A63C17