Abstract:
A novel skate platform wheel truck and wheel design is disclosed which incorporates five wheels per truck, with a larger center wheel with a convex or flat running surface, and two smaller side wheels with a beveled surface. This configuration permits more fluid and responsive turning of the skateboard.

Description:
This application is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 09/148,171 filed Sep. 04, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,019,382 (which was a division application of application Ser. No. 08/600,309 filed Feb. 12, 1996) entitled CONFIGURABLE WHEEL TRUCK FOR SKATEBOARDS OR ROLLER SKATES INCORPORATING NOVEL WHEEL DESIGNS, which is pending. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates primarily to skateboards and roller skates and more particularly, to an improved skate wheel truck and wheels incorporating novel wheel designs for use therewith. 
     2. Background Information 
     Skateboards are well known devices having numerous references in the art. It is also well known that they can be extremely dangerous to someone unskilled in their use. Early attempts to alleviate this problem resulted in such solutions are the eight-wheel skateboard having four wheels per truck as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,062,557 and an improvement thereto found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,337,961 wherein an endless belt is positioned around paired wheels with each truck having two pair. An alternative, U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,379, addressed a similar but slightly different problem for unskilled skaters. When passing over uneven terrain or a curb, having an upward projection which may come in contact with the truck axle housing, causing an abrupt halt to the skateboards forward progress with potential danger to the use. The &#39;379 patent utilizes a small roller positioned axially between the wheel pairs and has a radius smaller than the truck wheels so that the roller would normally clear objects when a person is skating on a flat, level terrain, but the roller would engage an upward extending object and roll over rather than impacting upon the object. 
     However, as a skateboard rider becomes more skilled and begins to attempt acrobatic maneuvers and narrow radium turns as well as increasing travel speeds, the above-described devices tend to inhibit such use by increasing the turning radius when attempting acrobatics and turns and limiting the speed achievable by the rider. 
     For the more skilled rider, attention has been toward improving the design of the wheel, such as that found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,070,065 and 4,128,254 which are directed to increasing traction and resistance to sideways slip of the wheel during turn and to reduce loss of speed during sharp turns due to greatly increased rolling friction as a result of lip deformation of the wheel. 
     Thus, there is a need for skateboards having wheel truck configurations and wheel designs that provide a relatively stable and safe platform for the beginning use and, at the same time, can be reconfigured as the user gains experience with use of the board in order to perform acrobatics and turns such as can be found in exhibitions and contests of skateboarding. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention, there is provided a newly designed skateboard truck assembly configurable to incorporate three, four, five or more wheels per truck and arranged to provide the stability and control required by the skill of the use. Further, the wheels incorporate novel designs configurable toward enhancing the stability and smoothness of the ride whether in use by a beginner or by an expert. 
     Additionally, the truck is designed to be compatible with existing boards can be easily retrofit with the novel truck configuration of the present invention. 
     In one configuration, each truck assembly has three wheels placed in axial alignment. A large wide wheel is mounted in the center of the truck assembly with two smaller width wheels mounted axially on either side of the large center wheel. The center wheel has a small bevel at each edge and the small side wheels are beveled with the bevel forming the same angle as the center wheel edge bevels. 
     In another configuration, the center wheel is narrower than the previously described configuration and includes a pair of wheels mounted axially on either side of the center wheel for a total of five wheels per truck. The surface along the circumference of the wheel is flat, with the side wheel pairs having beveled surfaces. 
     It is envisioned the skateboard utilizes two of either of the above described truck assemblies and during use, while riding in a straight line, the two large center wheels ride flat on the surface. As the rider shifts weight to begin a turn, the two center wheels roll off their center surface an onto the beveled edges of the side wheels and, during the turn, the harder the rider leans, the sharper the radius of the turn as the side wheels come into play, helping the user&#39;s control in keeping the board from tipping over. Further, the board is more stable at high speeds as two wheels run truer in form, enabling the user to exercise better control of the higher speed. 
     Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide the skateboard having a ride with the more natural feeling of skimming across the surface of water or snow such as when using an actual surfboard or snowboard. A further object of the present invention is to provide a skateboard that is more stable at higher speeds and capable of greater range of motion including sharper radius turning than that of present skateboards. 
     It is a feature of the present invention to provide a skateboard or roller skate wheel truck configurable in either of two, three, four, five or more wheels per truck configurations, permitting the board to be readily adapted to the uses and skills of the rider. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, depending claims, and accompanying drawings where: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a skateboard incorporating the three-wheel configuration of the skateboard wheel truck and innovative wheel design of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along the longitudinal wheel truck axis incorporating a three wheel configuration and illustrating one embodiment of the innovative wheel design of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is an axial cross-sectional view of the wheel truck of FIG. 1 showing the mounting configuration of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the wheel truck in FIG. 1 showing an alternate embodiment of the innovative wheel design of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the wheel truck of the present invention utilizing a single axle, five-wheel configuration and innovative wheel design; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the wheel truck of the present invention utilizing a five-axle, five-wheel configuration with the axles in a staggered configuration; 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the wheel truck of the present invention utilizing four wheels incorporating an innovative wheel design of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the wheel depicted in FIG. 7 as modified for use in a two-wheel per truck configuration. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, an improved skateboard incorporating one embodiment of the present invention is generally illustrated at  10 . Skateboard  10  includes a platform  12 , a front carriage or wheel truck assembly  14 , and a rear carriage or wheel truck assembly  16  in accordance with the present invention. Truck assemblies  14  and  16  are identical and are rotated 180° with each other and mounted on a mounting block  20  adjacent opposing ends of the platform  12 . As each carriage or wheel truck assembly  14 ,  16  is identical, only truck assembly  14  of the various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. 
     Wheel truck assembly  14 , and referring now to FIG. 2 and 3, comprises a mounting block  20  which is affixed to the lower surface  18  of platform  12  and a wheel mounting frame  22  including parallel arms or sidewalls  31  extending between a flange  34  and a rounded tip  32  and defining a rectangular opening  23  therebetween sufficient to receive a main or center wheel  24 . Frame  22  includes openings  29  formed in the frame  22  sidewalls  31  for receiving in a relatively snug fit, wheel axle  28  for supporting wheels  24 ,  26  within frame  22  while permitting wheels  24 ,  26  to freely rotate on wheel bearings  30  formed within the wheels  24 ,  26 . 
     It is to be understood that the wheels  24 ,  16 , utilize wheel bearings  30  such as are now known in the art and which are formed in the interior of the wheels to rotate around axle  28 . However, it is within the scope of this invention that as improvements are made in bearings and the like, they may be incorporated in the disclosed invention without departing from the spirit thereof. Further, frame  22  is connected, and referring now to FIG. 3, to mounting block  20  in a traditional manner shown in prior art methods of connecting wheel trucks to skateboards. However, it is within the scope of this invention that the angle, φ, will be varied, depending on the specific frame used for a specific configuration, and where the angle φ is defined as 0°≦φ°≦90°. 
     Wheel  24  has a diameter about its central axis typical of other skateboard wheels such as is known in the art with the pair of side wheels  26 , having a slightly lesser diameter. The present invention, however, is directed to an innovative design of the wheels  24 ,  26 , and their interrelation during operation, as will be discussed hereinafter. 
     In this embodiment, by way of example and not by way of limitation, wheel  24  has a width on the order of three inches. Wheel  24  includes a central flat portion  25  formed around the circumference of the wheel  24  and has a bevel  27  formed circumferentially on both edges around wheel  24 . In the shown embodiment, and referring also to FIG. 2A, each bevel is on the order of ¾ inches wide as measured along a tangent axially along the surface  25  wheel  24  and forms and angle θ, on the order of 22°, with the aforementioned tangential line. 
     It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the above dimensions and angles are representative of this embodiment only and that combinations of other dimensions and angles where the surface  25  width is ≧½″, and where 2°≦angle θ≦45°, and where the surface  27 / 27 ′ width is ≧⅛″, without departing from the scope or intent of the present invention. 
     Further, axle  28  extends beyond sidewalls  31  to permit auxiliary or secondary wheels  26  to be affixed in rotational alignment around axle  28 . In the depicted embodiment, wheels  26  are narrower than wheel  24  and have a beveled circumferential surface  27 ′ with the bevel formed at, and as a continuation of the same angle θ as formed on wheel  24 . 
     In the depicted embodiments, the wheels utilize bearings formed on the interior thereof, to permit the wheels to rotate around axle  28 . Further, frame  22  is connected to mounting block  20  in a manner shown in prior art methods of connecting wheels to platform  12 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 4, an alternate embodiment of the center wheel  24 ′ is shown to have an elliptical circumferential surface  25 ′. The outer or side wheels  26 ′ are identical in construction to wheels  26  shown in FIG.  2 . The bevel angle θ°, has the same range (2°-45°) as shown for bevel  27 ′ in FIG.  2 . Further, the housing  22  of truck  14 / 16  is identical to that in FIG. 2, with the main or center wheel  24 ′ formed by having an elliptical curvature along the circumference thereof. 
     Referring now to FIG. 5, another alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown to have a modified wheel mounting truck  14 ′/ 16 ′ including four parallel arms or sidewalls  66 ,  68  extending between flange  34 ′ and rounded tip  32 ′ and defining three openings between the rounded tip  32 ′ and mounting flange  34 ′ of the housing  14 ′/ 16 ′. Axle  28 ′ extends through openings formed in the sidewalls to secure in position a main wheel  60  mounted on axle  28 ′ in the center opening defined by sidewalls  66 , a pair of first or inner side wheels  62 , mounted on axle  28 ′ in the two openings defined by two sidewall pairs,  68 ,  66  and  66 ,  68 , and a pair of second or outer side wheels  64 , mounted on axle  28 ′ exterior to housing  14 ′/ 16 ′ and adjacent to sidewalls  68 . 
     The main wheel  60  is flat in its outer diameter circumference with rounded edges. The side wheels  62 , have a diameter approximately that of main wheel  60  and are beveled at an angle θ. Outer side wheels  64 , have a diameter approximately that of the diameter to the bevel diameter of wheel  62  proximate to wheel  64 . The circumference of wheel  64  is also beveled at an angle of θ with respect to a horizontal line axially tangential to the circumference of wheel  64 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 6, the mounting frame  14 ″/ 16 ″ of FIG. 5 has been modified to provide offsetting the first and second side wheels  62 ,  64  so that they are in a swept configuration with main wheel  60  proximate to tip  32 ′ of frame  14 ″/ 16 ″ and side wheels  62  swept back towards flange  34 ′ and side wheels  64  being swept further in the same direction as shown. As a result, multiple short axles are utilized, being depicted in FIG. 6 as axle  70 , positioned in sidewalls  66 ′ and utilized for the main wheel  60 , a pair of axles  72  positioned in both sidewalls  66 ′,  68 ′ and utilized for first side wheels  62 , and a pair of axles  74 , positioned in sidewalls  68 ′ and utilized to position second side wheels  64  externally to frame  14 ″/ 16 ″. In use, this embodiment permits turns to be made which have a very short turning radius. 
     Referring how to FIG. 7, there is shown still another embodiment  90  of the present invention which utilizes the wheel mounting frame of FIG. 5 with the axle  28 ′ extending completely through the truck frame  14 ′/ 16 ′. However, in this embodiment the main wheel  60  shown in FIG. 5 has been removed and the inner side wheels  92  have been modified to provide a flat surface  93  on the circumference of wheel  92  starting at the edge of wheel  92  proximate to side wall  66  and extending axially along the circumference for a distance of about ¼ the width of wheel  92 , but at least ≧⅛″, at which point the wheel  92  is again beveled an angle of θ°. Referring now to FIG. 8, the wheel similar to that of first outrigger wheel  92  of FIG. 7 but having a greater width and a flat portion  82 ≧⅕ the width of the wheel  84  before beginning a beveled portion at an angle of θ° along the flat portion of wheel  80 . These wheels may be utilized as a retrofit for existing skateboard trucks utilizing two wheels, so that advantages inherent in the design of the wheels heretofore described may be utilized without purchase of special mounting trucks. 
     The present invention is directed to a novel skateboard/roller skate wheel design which, in use, provides for a smoother, more natural ride such as may be found when riding a snowboard or surfboard, is readily configurable to provide changes in various ride characteristics, such as stability, speed, turning radius, and providing for an even distribution of load on the wheels during turns and to innovative wheel truck frames which permit the characteristics inherent in the disclosed wheel design to be fully utilized. By way of example and not by way of limitation with respect to the configurability of the disclosed invention, another embodiment of the present invention, although not shown, envisions removing the secondary wheels of the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 2 and 4 to be removed and use would be on the center wheels of the  14 / 16  wheel truck. 
     And, although the innovative wheel truck is designed so as to provide a direct retrofit for existing wheel trucks, it is within the purview of the invention that the wheel truck herein described can be modified to fit new designs in skateboard/roller skate wheel truck mounting plates. 
     Whereas the present invention has been described in relation to the drawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention.