Land vehicles – Wheeled – Coasters
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-02
2001-08-07
Swann, J. J. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Coasters
C280S011223, C280S011221, C280S087041
Reexamination Certificate
active
06270096
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of skateboards, and more particularly to an improved skateboard which comprises two or more sets of in-line wheel trucks wherein two or more wheel trucks may be steered by the foot of the rider regardless of any shifts in the weight of the rider.
2. Description of the Related Art
The prior art is replete with patents dealing with skateboards. Typically, skateboards come with wheel trucks having axial alignment for multiple wheels on the trucks or may have in-line wheel trucks similar to the type used in the present invention. The typical conventional skateboard comprises a rigid elongated board having front and rear portions with a wheel truck assembly fixedly mounted below the front portion of the board and a rear wheel truck assembly fixedly mounted beneath the rear portion of the board. Normally, steering is accomplished by a complex redistribution of the weight of the rider standing on the board. Obviously, learning to redistribute the weight as required to steer a skateboard in a safe manner is a time consuming and dangerous process.
Some of the prior art disclose skateboards which have axially aligned wheels and, to assist the rider in steering the board, the wheels are tapered from side to side to effectively increase the turning ability of the board when the board is tilted to one side or the other to effect a sharper turning radius. However, such boards do not have the capability of individually steered wheel trucks, thereby limiting the amount of steerability of the board.
Other patents in the prior art are known to have steerable wheel trucks. For instance, in the patent to Piazza, Jr. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,202,559) a steerable skateboard is shown wherein a steering platform is placed at the front of the board for effecting steering by the user, but only the front trucks is steerable. There is no linkage to the rear truck. The board of the Piazza patent utilizes aligned wheel trucks and obviously only the front wheel truck is steerable.
In the Welsh Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,236,208) another type of skateboard is shown wherein the board may be steerable both from the front and the rear, and the user will have steering capability by using both feet. Again, there is no linkage between the front and rear trucks and the effective steering must be by both feet. This patent also discloses wheel trucks which have axially aligned wheels and not in-line wheel trucks.
In the Yi Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,401) an in-line skateboard is shown having turning capability. However, the rollers are only pivotally mounted for steerability and the steering is effected in response to pressure placed upon the wheel trucks by the user. There is no independent steering of the wheel trucks from the foot of the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention and the contemplated problems which have and continue to exist in this field, the objectives of this invention are to provide a new and improved steerable in-line skateboard. The board has, at its front, a circular steering platform onto which one foot of the user is placed and then, by turning the platform with the foot, the person steering is able to effect angular displacement of all of the wheels of both the front wheel truck and the rear wheel truck to effect a rapid and decisive turning maneuver. When the platform is rotated and the front wheels of the front truck are turned, a steerage linkage mechanism cooperatively is attached to the wheels of the rear truck and will also effect an angular displacement of the rear wheels to greatly enhance the turning of the board.
Each wheel of each truck is individually mounted upon an axle wherein each axle is angularly displaced upon the rotation of the platform by the rider. To effect a rapid turning motion, the wheels of the rear truck are angularly displaced in a direction opposite from the angular displacement direction of the wheels of the front truck.
Further, since each wheel axle is angularly displaceable, a system is incorporated to the “at-rest” position of the axles and to provide to the skateboard a datum position which will provide a straight travel path unless the rider rotates the platform to effect the turning maneuver.
Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing the preferred embodiment of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4047727 (1977-09-01), Holladay et al.
patent: 4202559 (1980-05-01), Piazza, Jr.
patent: 4445699 (1984-05-01), Darasko
patent: 5236208 (1993-08-01), Welsh
patent: 5330214 (1994-07-01), Brooks et al.
patent: 5409265 (1995-04-01), Douglass
patent: 5411282 (1995-05-01), Shannon
patent: 5419570 (1995-05-01), Bolletté
patent: 5513865 (1996-05-01), Brooks et al.
patent: 5549331 (1996-08-01), Yun et al.
patent: 5566957 (1996-10-01), Ho
patent: 5660401 (1997-08-01), Yi
patent: 5707068 (1998-01-01), Bradfield
patent: 5803473 (1998-09-01), Bouden
patent: 5826895 (1998-10-01), Bradfield
patent: 5855385 (1999-01-01), Hambsch
patent: 5951027 (1999-09-01), Oyen et al.
patent: 6003882 (1999-12-01), Colonese, Jr. et al.
patent: 6012727 (2000-01-01), Chang
patent: 6029984 (2000-02-01), Pivotto
Hinkle & Associates, PC
Lum L.
Swann J. J.
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