Patent Publication Number: US-7219907-B2

Title: Skateboard wheel set with suspension device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
     This is a Continuation-In-Part application of applicant&#39;s former patent application Ser. No. 10/612,907, file on Jul. 7, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,913,272. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A conventional skateboard generally includes a deck and two trucks that are connected to the underside of the deck. Each truck has two wheels connected to two ends of the truck and is cooperated with two respective bearings. However, there is no sufficient suspension device connected between the wheels and the trucks so that the wheels do not accurately response to the movement of the skateboard and it is experienced that the wheels could interfere with each other. Eventually, the players cannot maintain balance during severe changes of movements when playing the skateboard. 
     The present invention intends to provide a skateboard wherein each set of the wheel sets on the bottom of the deck includes two independent suspension devices so as to provide suspension features in different directions. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a skateboard that comprises a deck with two connection members connected to an underside thereof and two trucks are connected to the two connection members respectively. Each truck has a main body connected to the connection member and a transverse tube to which two wheel frames are connected to two ends thereof. Two wheels are rotatably connected to the two wheel frames. A truck spring member is received in each main body and has a first recess. Each connection member has a protrusion which is engaged with the first recess so that the truck is rotatable about a first pin extending through the main body, the truck spring member and connected to the connection member. 
     The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view to show one set of the connection member, the truck and the wheel frames of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view to show one set of the connection member, the truck and the wheel frames of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view to show the truck spring member and the protrusion of the connection member; 
         FIG. 4  shows a side cross sectional view of the first pin connecting the connection member and the truck; 
         FIG. 5  shows the wheel frames connected to the truck; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view to show the wheel on the wheel frame and the truck; 
         FIG. 7  shows the frame spring member in the transverse tube of the truck and an insertion on the wheel frame may compress the frame spring member; 
         FIG. 8  is a front cross sectional view to show the connection member, the truck and the wheel frames of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view to show another embodiment of assembly of the connection member, the truck and the wheel frames of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded view of the embodiment in  FIG. 9 , and 
         FIG. 11  is a cross sectional view to show the embodiment in  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 6  and  8 , the skateboard of the present invention comprises a deck  10  and two connection members  20  each have a board  200  which is connected to an underside of the deck  10 . Two trucks  40  are connected to the two connection members  20  respectively and each truck  40  includes a main body  41  for connecting with the connection member  20  and a transverse tube  42  for connecting two wheel frames  30  on two ends thereof. A truck spring member  50  is received in each main body  41  and has a first recess  51  and a second recess  52  defined radially therein respectively. A first pin  400  extends through a durable tube  411  in the main body  41  and a hole  53  in the truck spring member  50  and is connected to a nut  401  received in the connection member  20 . Each connection member  20  has a protrusion  21  which is inserted in the main body  41  and engaged with the first recess  51 . The main body  41  further has a ridge  43  ( FIG. 3 ) extending from an inner periphery thereof and engaged with the second recess  52  to position the truck spring member  50 . 
     Each wheel frame  30  has a central hole  32  and a second pin  33  extends through two respective central holes  32  in the two wheel frames  30  and the transverse tube  42 . Each wheel frame  30  has a wheel shaft  34  eccentrically extending therethrough and two wheels  31  and bearings  310  are rotatably connected to the wheel shafts  34  on the two wheel frames  30  respectively. 
     Further referring to  FIG. 7 , a frame spring member  60  is located between each of the wheel frames  30  and the transverse tube  42 . Each wheel frame  30  has an insertion  35  which is inserted in the transverse tube  42 . The transverse tube  42  includes a central tube  421  through which the second pin  33  extends. A connection portion  422  extends from an inner periphery of the transverse tube  42  and is connected to the central tube  421 . The frame spring member  60  has one side contacting the connection portion  422  and the other side of the frame spring member  60  is in contact with the insertion  35 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the truck  40  can be rotatable about the first pin  400  and the truck spring member  50  is compressed by the protrusion  21  on either side and provides a bouncing force to re-position the truck  40 . 
     The wheel frame  30  is rotatable about the second pin  33  and the frame spring member  60  provides a force to re-position the wheel frame  30 . The wheels  31  are located eccentrically on the wheel frame  30  and is allowed to move in vertical and horizontal directions relative to the truck  40 . 
     The present invention provides a simple and efficient mechanism to let the wheel frames  30  automatically adjust their positions during playing the skateboard. 
       FIGS. 9 to 11  show another embodiment of the present invention, wherein each insertion  350  has a contact member  351  which is in contact with the frame spring member  60 . Two adjusting bolts  70  are respectively inserted into the two wheel frames  30  and press the two respective contact members  351 . By rotating the two adjusting bolts  70 , the bouncing force of the wheel frames  30  can be adjusted. 
     While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.