GB2393663A

GB2393663A - A steerable skateboard/scooter hybrid

Info

Publication number: GB2393663A
Application number: GB0220500A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul David Hunter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-09-04
Filing date: 2002-09-04
Publication date: 2004-04-07
Anticipated expiration: 2022-09-04
Also published as: GB0220500D0; GB2393663B

Abstract

A board is attached, or is integral to, a frame (2) that allows wheels to be attached to the front and rear of the board. The forward wheel (1) is fixed 'in-line' with the board. The rear wheel's (7) axle is attached to a swing arm (6), which provides steering through its mounting (5) to the frame. The geometry of the swing arm makes the steering self-centring. This is achieved by inclining the swing arm toward the rear and tilting the pivot axis forward longitudinally. The rider steers by tilting the board off centre, as when snow boarding or skateboarding. The rear self-centring steering geometry allows a rider to steer the board by moving his/her centre of gravity, in relation to the terrain upon which the board is being ridden, creating the steering angle. A removable joystick (3), free to move only in the longitudinal plane, can also be provided, along with front and rear brakes and a pedal or power drive.

Description

Description: A Steerable Skateboard/scooter Hybrid

Background

Skateboards and scooters are now familiar items Commonly, wheels are attached to the underside of a board of a size and strength sufficient to carry an Individual who will use one leg to propel hm/herself and the board along the ground H'stoncally, skateboards are denvatve vehicles whose antecedents Include the roller skate, the surfboard, skis and the scooter. All are used pamanly for compete sport or play While these vehicles can trace their antecedents to utility vehicles used to navigate in particular terrain like snow or by utihsng the motion of sea tides, their more recent manifestations are considered to be appropriate to a youthful market whose objective Is more play than utility The present invention, however, anticipates no such lmnatons. It Is designed replicate the feeling of surfing or snowboarding on fimm terrain with aids to make it easy to nde Description

According to the present Invention a footplate or board Is provided, of suffcent length to allow an adult to stand comfortably with one foot ahead of the other Similarly, the board should be of sufficient width to accommodate at least the length or breadth of an adult shoe. The board can be made from a range of matenals, whether plastics, metals, composites or wood, or a combination of these The determining factors are the ability of the finished board to support the weight of an adult person, to resist the forces variously exerted on its structure during use and In relation to any superstructure or frame to which it may be attached (see below) This board Is attached to a frame or superstructure oms Integral to a superstructure that allows wheels to be attached to the front and read of the board This superstructure Inclines towards its forward edge where it divides to fomm two amms between which a wheel axle can be attached The forward wheel, which can be of a type commonly used on bicycles of 'mountain bike' or off road style and of a diameter most likely In the range 10" (ten Inches) to 16" (sixteen Inches), Is fixed ''n-lne' with the board. The rear wheel, of the same or similar size and type to the front wheel, Is attached by its axle to a swing arm, which allows the wheel to support the rider and vehicle and provides steering ability through its mounting to the frame The geometry of the swing arm Is designed so that the steering Is self-centnng This Is achieved by inclining the swing arm toward the rear and tilting the pivot axis forward in its longitudinal plane (See diagrams) The vehicle Is steered by the rider shifting weight and / or biting the board off centre, as when snow boarding or skateboardng The rear self-centnng steering geometry allows a rider to steer the board by moving hs/her centre of gravity, In relation to the terrain or surface upon which the board Is being ridden, which causes the steering angle There is also provided a removable steering pole or 'Joy stick' towards the front of the board This Joy Stakes mounted on and secured to the board by means of a horizontally pivoted mount This allows the board and 'Joy Stck'to be used in three alternative ways.

1 By fixing the pivot the pole Is Aged to the frame, allowing the nder to use it as a front/rear balancing aid and for side to side tilting of the board (which produces the steering effect) 2 By allowing fronVrear movement at the pivot, the pole provides no front/rear balance aid, but the lateral pivot still provides the steering effect produced by side to side tilting of the pole and board 3 The pole can be completely removed, leaving the rider to steer and balance only by standing on the board

The 'Joy Stick' has various alternative and Interchangeable heads, or grips, which attach to its top One grip sits over the top of the pole and Is fashioned as a ski pole grip An alternative Is a handlebar of a type common to bicycle design. A third design provides two upright grips resembling the yoke design of aircraft controls and giving the feel In use of two ski poles Braking Is provided by nommal cycle brakes, conventionally mounted at the root of the rear swing arm and acting on the rear wheel These are operated via a cable attached to a cycle type brake lever mounted on the chosen grip of the 'Joy Stick' pole When a ndems using the board without the pole the braking lever can be used hand held, mounted on a small grip An additional safety brake can be fitted to the board, frame or superstructure to act on the front wheel This brake Is applied through the pressure of a spring and Is moved away from the tyre by the pressure of the nder's leading foot resting on the lever provided at the front of the board In the event of the nder falling from the board, the action of braking on the front wheel will cause the vehicle to steer and move In an arc until it stops, preventing it from running far away Assistance to the self centnng geometry can be optionally provided by fitting a spring attached to the frame or superstructure at one end and to the swing arm at the other A vanaton of this Invention would Include a system mounted on the superstructure to allow the rider to generate propulsion through the action of standing on, or applying pressure to, a pedal connected to the front wheel through a drive system, such as a crank and rod This would be of a design similar to those hued to chldren's nde-on toys It would be possible to install powered drive to the front wheel using venous electric or other drive sources A proprietary dnve unit from a conventional powered micro scooter could be installed on the superstructure to dove the front wheel Introduction to the drawings

Refernng to the drawing In figure 1, the mayor features are shown In plan and side elevation and labelled as follows, 1 Front wheel 2 Frame or superstructure 3 Removable steenng/balance pole, or'Joy stick' 4 'Joy stick' mounting bracket and Joint 5 Rear swng/steenng amm mounting pivot 6 Rear swng/steenng amm 7 Rear wheel The diagram In figure 2 shows a cross section of the steering pivot using a possible design This Is given as an example; other conventional pivot designs may be substituted In this diagram the parts are labelled as follows 2 Frame or superstructure 6 Rear swng/steenng arm Elements of (5) Rear swng/steenng arm mounting pivot 5a Main bolt through pivot 5b Top ball race type bearing 5c Bottom ball race type bearing 5d Main nut

be Large washer The diagrams of figure 3 show one of the possible methods of affixing the removable steenng/balance pole, or 'joy stick' (item 3), to the frame or superstructure (item 2) at the 'Joy stick' mounting bracket and Joint (item 4) In this diagram the parts are labelled as follows 2 Frame/superstructure 2a Threaded end to frame / superstructure 3 Removable steenng/balance pole, or'Joy stick' 3a Tubular mount for steenng/balance pole 4a Dog clutch type securing fixing 4b Nut securing pole mount 4c Washer The diagrams of figures 4, 5 and 6 illustrate as sketches some possible variations in handlebar design mentioned In the description

Detailed Description

Refernng to the drawing In figure 1,The nder stands on a board Fred to, omntegral with, the frame between the 'Joy stick' bracket (4) and the steering pivot (5). The rider may use the 'Joy stick' (3), previously descnbed, or remove/fold down the stick (3) as they choose In common with skateboard techniques, the nder may propel the board with their legs, or using gravity.

Once moving, the board can be steered by the rider using their body weight and skill to move the board off centre In the longitudinal plane, introducing a steering effect at the pivot (5) Balancing their weight against the cornering force, as when (e 9.) snowboarding, will allow the nder to maintain this steering effect until they again move their body weight to cause the pivot (5) to straighten. The geometry specified and shown In the diagram creates a self-centnng effect because the introduction of

a steering angle has the effect of raising the board and frame The device naturally straightens to lowemts centre of gravity The mam features of the steering pivot bearing (figure 2) are the geometry, where the rotational axis Is positioned tilting forwards In the longitudinal plane, and the strength of the structure and parts, which must support the weight of the nder during all manoeuvres The amount of self-centring effect Is governed by the size of the tilt angle away from the vertical, a larger angle of lean will create a stronger centnng effect, but reduce the steering ability of the pivot.

The dog clutch (4a) Is fitted over an extension to the frame (2) and Is prevented from turning by splines on the facing surfaces Matching shapes on the end face of the tubular mount for steenng/balance pole (3a) fit the dog clutch and prevent longitudinal movement of the pole (3) A washer (4c) and nut (4b) are securely fitted In this mode the 'Joy-stckNs Mildly mounted to the frame In both longitudinal and lateral planes The assembly may be Installed with the dog clutch, (4a), reversed on the frame extension (2) in this case, the clutch parts do not Interface with the matching shapes on the tubular mount for steenng/balance pole (3a) The other components are assembled as previously described In this mode the 'Joy-stckNs ngdly mounted to the frame In only the lateral plane and Is free to move In the longitudinal plane This mode Is Intended for more skilled riders, who want to use the pole (3) to tilt the board but not for longitudinal balance Assembled as above, the pole (3) can be secured horizontally In One with the board In this mode it Is not used The pole may also be completely removed to provide this fommat

Claims

1. A ridden vehicle Including steering provided by the rear wheel and frame and principally activated by tilting the vehicle through the body movement of the rider.

2. A ridden vehicle as claimed in claim 1 where a handlebar is provided to give the rider support and confidence for balance and steering control.

3. A ridden vehicle as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 where the handlebams moveable or detachable.

4. A ridden vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim including braking systems operated by the rider.

5. A ridden vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim including sprung systems for centring the steering arrangement.

6. A ndden vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim including manually activated propulsion systems operated by the rider.

7. A ridden vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim which is motorassisted by electric or other propulsion.

8. A ridden vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim which is made from metal, plastics, composites or wood, or from a combination of these materials.

9 A ridden vehicle substantially as herein described above and Illustrated in the accompanying drawings.