Patent Publication Number: US-6981711-B2

Title: Telescoping skateboard

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to skateboards and more specifically to portable skateboards. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Skateboard riding has become an increasing popular pastime, especially among school age children. Such an activity provides a means of transportation and outdoor exercise. 
     Conventional skateboards consist of an elongated deck (as made of wood or fiberglass) with two truck and wheel assemblies mounted under the deck roughly shoulder width apart. The wheels are typically polyurethane and are mounted on an axle of a pivoting truck assembly. The truck includes a resilient ring that allows the truck to pivot about its connection with the deck, allowing the skateboard to tilt slightly over the wheels. This tilting causes radial displacement of the axles, allowing the board to turn. Decks range in width from 6 to 12 inches and from 2 to 3 feet in length. Much longer oversized boards, known as long-boards, are also used. 
     The size and weight of skateboards presents certain disadvantages. When not in use the boards most often are hand carried. In public commercial establishments, such as convenience stores and movie theaters, skateboards present difficulties for their user. The skateboard presents a hazard of knocking items off surfaces or bumping customers if the user is not careful. In addition if the user places the skateboard in an isle or other walkway, the board is a danger to other customers. In addition, the board is difficult to transport and store when not in use. For example on busses or trains, the user must ride carrying the skateboard or with the skateboard in the user&#39;s lap. Conventional skateboards are quite sizable and do not fit in a standard backpack and are difficult to fit into a school locker. 
     A number of different attempts have been made to provide a skateboard that is more portable. U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,474 to Yeh discloses a folding skateboard having a plurality of frame bars connected by a series of links. At a front and rear end of the frame bars are rotatable connectors onto which a wheel assembly is mounted. The rider stands on a platform mounted on the connector over the wheel assembly. A number of pins are used to hold the frame bars in position. The pins may be removed to fold the bars of the skateboard. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,438 discloses a skateboard having a front, middle and rear sections. A hinge joins the front section to the middle section and a second hinge joins the middle section to the rear section. Wheel assemblies are attached to the front and rear sections of the skateboard. The two hinges allow folding of the board, making the board more compact. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,406 discloses a foot supporting skate device. This device includes a skate, such as an inline skate, worn on a first foot. The skate includes a platform extending from the rear of the skate and having an additional wheel. A rider may position a second foot on this platform so that the skate may be used alone. The second foot could be used to propel the rider, as would be done with a skateboard. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,131,931 to Globerson et al. discloses a folding skateboard having front and back wheel and truck assemblies. The deck of the skateboard includes three sections. A first section is about half the length the board, and middle section having a width that is about the height of the wheel and truck assembly and the third section making up the remaining length of the skateboard. The sections are connected by hinges such that the board may be folded. In the folded position, the wheels are aligned side by side. This allows the board to compact to a size about half the size of the extended board, and one deck thickness greater in depth than an assembled board. Clips or fastening rods may be used to secure the board when it is in the open position. 
     U.S. Pat. App. Pub. 2003/0127816 A1 to Schnuckle at al. discloses a foldable skateboard. This device includes a pair of front wheels on an articulated strut attached to a central platform. A pair of rear wheels on a hinged support is also attached to the central platform. Over the back wheels is a small platform. The front and back wheels each may be folded over the central platform. A user would ride this device with one foot on the central platform. The other foot either provides the driving force for the skateboard or rests on the rear platform. The rear platform is directly behind the central platform requiring a user to position both feet along the longitudinal median of the device. This is also true of the rollerskate of U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,406. The central platform is at least as large as the rider&#39;s foot. The foot platform is in the same plane as the front and rear wheel axles. 
     To ride a conventional skateboard, a rider paces a front foot on the board at an angle (such as a 45 degree angle) relative to the longitudinal median axis of the board. Thus the toe area of the rider&#39;s foot is closer to one side of the board and the rider&#39;s heel is closer to the other side of the board. The second foot of the rider is used to propel the board forward. The “pumping” action of the foot provides a forward force to roll the skateboard forward. When the board coasts, the pumping foot is placed on the rear of the board, also at a angle similar to the angle of the front foot. To steer the board, toe or heel pressure is exerted to one side of the board. This angles the wheel axles on the truck, angling the wheels and turning the skateboard. 
     In the prior art, the foldable skateboards disclosed are all, when folded into the compact size, at least the size of the rider&#39;s foot, and in most cases are substantially larger. Most of the foldable or collapsible skateboards require an unconventional foot position. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,406 and U.S. Pat. Appln. Pub. No. 2003/0127816 A1 require a foot position in which the planted foot faces forward and the pumping foot is directly behind the planted foot when resting on the device. This is not the natural foot position when riding a conventional skateboard, and this foot position negatively impacts rider comfort and skateboard maneuver ability. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a telescoping skateboard including a front wheel assembly and a rear wheel assembly joined by a telescoping member. The telescoping member may include a spring joining the front wheel assembly to the rear wheel assembly. Mounted at the front of the board is a toe platform and mounted at the rear of the device is a heel platform. Also mounted at the rear of the device wheel is a microboard. The microboard extends to the side of the skateboard. 
     A rider may position one foot on the toe platform and heel platform, and rest the second foot on the microboard to coast when the second foot is not being used to move the board forward. The toe platform may be angled such that the rider&#39;s toe does not point straight forward. The heel platform may be raised in respect to the toe platform. A toe and heel strap may be included to secure one foot of a rider to the board. The other foot may be used to push the device. 
     Embodiments of the present device enhance the compacting features of the devices. The front wheel assembly may be a single wheel mounted on a retractable strut. The microboard may pivot into a folded position over the toe platform and heel platform. When the microboard and front wheel are folded into the compact position and the telescoping is also frame retracted, the compact skateboard has a top area not much larger than a CD jewel case. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the telescoping skateboard of the present invention with a user&#39;s foot strapped onto the skateboard. 
         FIG. 2  is the perspective view of  FIG. 1  with a user&#39;s second foot positioned on the microboard. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the telescoping skateboard of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the telescoping skateboard of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a side perspective view of the skateboard of  FIG. 3  with the skateboard fully collapsed. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Aspects of the present invention are illustrated in the following examples. With reference to  FIG. 1  a perspective view of a user&#39;s foot  10  on a telescoping skateboard in accord with the present invention is illustrated. The toe area of the user&#39;s foot  10   a  is held on toe platform  20 . The toe may be secured with toe strap  26  extending from toe platform  20 . As illustrated, toe platform  20  is angled such that the rider&#39;s foot  10  is not facing straightforward but angled relative to the medium longitudinal access of the skateboard. This mimics the natural positioning of a rider&#39;s foot on a skateboard. The heel  10   b , the user&#39;s foot  10  rest on heel platform  30 . Heel platform  30  may be elevated relative to toe platform  20 . As illustrated, toe platform is below the level of the top of front wheel  22  while heel position is above back wheel  24 . Strap  32  extends across the top of the user&#39;s foot and behind the user&#39;s foot. Strap  32  is affixed to heel platform  30 . Straps  26  and  32  securely attach a rider&#39;s foot to the skateboard. The use of such straps allows a rollerskate or rollerblade type attachment of one foot to the skateboard. This is achieved without any of the bulk of a rollerskate or rollerblade boot. Such an attachment provides a skate-like control of the device. Microboard  40  extends from the side of the rear section of the skateboard. Front wheel  22  extends from the front of the skateboard and rear wheel  24  is positioned at the back of the skateboard. The heel platform  30  and microboard  40  are positioned over rear wheel  24 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the use of device with both feet positioned on the device. As before foot  10  rests with a toe on toe platform  20  and a heel on heel platform  30  with the foot secured at the toe and heel regions by straps  26  and  32 , respectively. Front wheel  22  and rear wheel  24  contact the ground allowing the device to be pushed forward by user&#39;s second foot  12 . As pictured, user&#39;s second foot  12  rests on microboard  40 . This is the position that the rider would assume as the skateboard coasts. 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , the front wheel  22  is mounted on bolt  50  (that acts as an axle) held on struts  52   a ,  52   b . Behind the front wheel  22  on the telescoping guides  62   a ,  62   b  is mounted toe platform  20 . Toe platform  20  is attached to the top of guides  62   a ,  62   b  by bolts  56  which are secured through groove  54  on toe platform  20 . Groove  54  allows the toe platform  20  to be rotated such that it is angled to either side of the telescoping skateboard. This allows the device to be used for either the left or right foot of the user. Guides  62   a  and  62   b  are slidably mounted in track  64   a ,  64   b  respectively. Springs  60   a ,  60   b  are attached at the front of the device at one end of the springs in the rear of the device at the other end of the spring such that a spring bias retracts guides  62   a ,  62   b  along tracks  64   a ,  64   b  drawing together the back and front ends of the device. 
     At the rear of the device mounted over rear wheel  24  is a base board  44 . Mounted onto base board  44  is heel platform  30 . A bolt  36  extending through groove  34  allows variable positioning of the heel platform  30 . A microboard  40  is attached by bolt  42  base board  44 . If a user wishes to switch a device from a left to right foot the toe positioning of toe platform  20  may be reversed by angling the toe platform towards the opposite side of the skateboard. The location of heel position determined by heel platform  30  could also be repositioned to be aligned with toe platform  20 . The attachment of microboard  40  by bolt  42  allows microboard  40  to be repositioned such that it extends from the opposite side of the skateboard. This effectively allows the device to be worn on either the left or right foot. Strap  26  on toe platform  20  may be fastened across the user&#39;s toe and strap  32  behind the heel and across the top of a shoe such that length  32   b  of strap  32  extends behind the heel and length  32   a  of strap  32  extends across the top of a user&#39;s shoe. 
     The specific assembly of one example of the device is shown in  FIG. 4 . The wheel assembly includes a bolt  50  which extends through strut  52   a  through the center of the wheel  22  through strut  52   b  and is secured by nut  51 . Bolt  50  then acts as an axle upon which wheel  22  may turn. Struts  52   a ,  52   b  are mounted within brackets  53   a ,  53   b  respectively. A bolt  55  extends through guide  62   a  through a hole in a first side of bracket  53   a  through a hole in a back end of strut  52   a  through a hole in the other side of bracket  53   a . The bolt continues in a similar manner passing through a hole in one side of bracket  53   b  through a hole in strut  52   b  through a hole in the other side of bracket  53   b  and finally through a hole in one end of guide  62   b  where the end of bolt  55  is secured nut  57 . Nut  57  is tightened to hold all of the pieces frictionally together. The spacings of strut  52   b ,  52   a  (secured at a front end of each strut by bolt  50  and nut  51 ) spaces the struts such that they are spaced at a width about as wide as the width of brackets  53   a  and  53   b . This configuration allows the struts to retract by rotating on bolt  55  allowing the wheel and struts to retract back. 
     The telescoping aspect of the skateboard is achieved by guides  62   a ,  62   b  which slide in tracks  64   a ,  64   b . Guide  62   a ,  62   b  are affixed by bolts  85 ,  84  respectively which are secured through a hole in tracks  64   a ,  64   b  and secured by nuts  86 ,  87 . When nuts  86 ,  87  are secured onto bolts  85 ,  84  the guides  62   a ,  62   b  may slide along the length of groove  33   a ,  33   b.    
     In a similar manner, tracks  64   a ,  64   b  may slide relative to brackets  100 ,  102 . Track  64   a  is attached to bracket  100  by bolt  95  which extends through track  31   a  and is secured on the other side by nut  96 . Similarly, track  64   b  is attached by nut  94  which extends through groove  31   b  and is secured by nut  97 . In this way tracks  64   a ,  64   b  may slide freely on the bolts  95 ,  94  respectively. 
     Springs  60   a ,  60   b  are attached at a first end to either brackets  53   a ,  53   b  or to a front end of rails  62   a ,  62   b . Springs  60   a ,  60   b  are attached at a first end spring and to brackets  100 ,  102  respectively and at a second spring end to a front portion of guides  62   a ,  62   b . This attachment of the springs provides a force retracting the guides  62   a ,  62   b  towards the back of the telescoping skateboard. This attachment allows the guides  62   a ,  62   b  to retract in the tracks  64   a ,  64   b . The tracks  64   a ,  64   b  retract against the sides of the brackets  100 ,  102 . In this way the device becomes much more compact. The guides, tracks, and brackets form a telescoping member (or telescoping frame) onto which the platforms for a rider&#39;s toe end heel and the microboard are mounted. 
     Brackets  100 ,  102  are affixed to truck  70  by bolts  80 ,  81 ,  82 ,  83  which extend through the truck and are respectively secured by nuts  90 ,  91 ,  92 , and  93 . Wheels  24  are mounted on truck  70 . A resilient ring  71  allows the axle mounted on truck  70  to pivot allowing the skateboard to turn. 
     Mounted over guides  62   a ,  62   b  is toe platform  20  secured by bolts extending through groove  64 . The toe strap  26  is attached to one side of the toe platform. The attachment of toe platform  20  by bolts extending through groove  54  allows the toe platform  20  to be angled to the side of the portable skateboard. This angling allows more natural foot position. This angling also allows the portable skateboard to be used with either of the rider&#39;s feet. If a rider decides to switch feet the toe platform can be angled to the opposite side of the portable skateboard. The heel platform  30  is affixed to brackets  100 ,  102  by bolts extending through groove  34 . Heel strap  32  is joined to the sides of heel platform  30 . 
     Microboard  40  extends from the side of bracket  100  affixed by a bolt extending through microboard  40 . Both heel platform  30  and microboard  40  may be moved to allow user to use the device on either foot. Heel platform may be positioned by sliding the platform along groove  34  such that when the rider&#39;s toe is angled on the toe platform the heel may comfortably rest on the heel platform. The microboard  40  should be positioned such that it extends from the side of the telescoping skateboard of the foot that is not affixed on the toe and heel platform. The angle of the top platform will be the same side of the skateboard. 
     The fully compacted telescoping skateboard is shown in  FIG. 5 . Front wheel  22  is retracted back on strut  52   a . Tracks  64   a ,  64   b  are fully retracted into the respective  62   a  (and  62   b  not shown in  FIG. 5 ) such that toe platform  20  is partially over heel platform  34  and microboard  40  is over part of both of these platforms. Toe strap  26  is held between microboard  40  and toe platform  20 . Attached at the back of the telescoping skateboard is truck  70  having wheels  24  mounted with a resilient ring  71  allowing the rear wheels to turn. The total depth of the device is about the same as a non-retracted telescoping skateboard. The length of the device when compact is generally less than the size of a user&#39;s foot. This is achieved by the telescoping frame which divides the deck into a toe platform and a heel platform such that the toe platform may be retracted over part of the heel platform when the device is in the compact form shown in  FIG. 5 . The resulting compact skateboard may easily be stored in a backpack or school locker and is small enough so that it could be held in large pockets on jacket or cargo pants. 
     The rear skateboard truck and wheel assembly provides maneuvering capabilities which should be similar to the maneuvering of a conventional skateboard. The use of a single front inline wheel eliminates the bulk of using both front and rear truck and wheel assemblies. This front wheel is disposed on struts which fold back and neatly fit within the telescoping frame. However, as an alternative dual front wheels could be used if desired. The wheels may be commercially available polyurethane wheels with internal bearings as used in skateboards or in-line rollerskates. 
     Attaching one foot to the board eliminates the need for a expansive deck to allow proper foot position. The attachment of foot also compensates for maneuverability lost through the single wheel/truck assembly. As noted throughout, the skateboard can be attached to either foot by pivoting the toe platform to the opposite side of the skateboard, sliding the heel platform to the new heel position and the pivoting microboard to the opposite side of the skateboard. The angled position of the foot allows a similar heel-toe pressure to turn the wheels mounted on the truck. This should provide a maneuverability similar to that of conventional skateboard. 
     Unlike conventional rollerskates (such as in-line rollerskates) only a single telescoping skateboard is required. A rollerskate in contrast requires a skate for each foot. The height of the telescoping skateboard is similar to the height of a conventional skateboard. This contrasts with roller, which require a bulky boot which is more difficult to transport in a backpack or store in a school locker. 
     The present invention also has advantages over conventional skateboards. It is much more portable and may be easily stored. There is low risk of bringing this small, compact device into theater or a convenience store. The unique features of the telescoping skateboard allow foot position similar to that of a conventional skateboard. Because one foot may be affixed to the board, the ability to maneuver the telescoping skateboard of the present invention is enhanced. The front line in-line wheel eliminates the bulk associated with a front skateboard truck assembly. The telescoping frame of the present skateboard reduces the bulk of the device and has greater ability to retract a small size than even other retractable foldable skateboards. The telescoping feature also allows the frame to automatically adjust to different shoe sizes of different riders. If springs are used, the rider merely may fold the microboard into position, strap the device onto the rider&#39;s planted foot and begin to ride the skateboard. 
     The foot position allowed by the present invention is the natural foot positioning of a foot on a skateboard. The one alteration compared to the conventional skateboard is the heel position is slightly raised. In the illustrative embodiment the toe is positioned on the toe platform just above the axle level of the front wheel while the heel is raised above the top of the rear wheel. This positioning increases the front/back stability and prevents the weight of the rider from shifting too far to the rear. The positioning of the toe angled to the side decreases the strain on the shin. This also allows the rider to turn the telescoping skateboard as the rider would a conventional skateboard, i.e. shifting weight between the toe and heel portion. Such a device would be much more comfortable to ride compared to a in-line skate having a rear platform requiring both feet to be longitudinally oriented along the longitudinal median line of the rollerskate device. 
     The toe platform, heel platform, and microboard include grip tape decals or both as is typical on conventional skateboards. They may be made of wood (e.g. plywood) or fiberglass like a conventional skateboard. The illustrated telescoping device using a guide and track system is one telescoping embodiment. It is also possible to use telescoping concentric pipe segments with flared ends. The spring of the present invention provides an advantageous means for retracting the device to the retracted form. However, if no spring is used the telescoping device can merely slide to a position and be affixed in that position by either tightening the nut and bolt combinations such that fictional sliding no longer occurs or through the use of a locking latch.