WO1989002301A1

WO1989002301A1 - Winged skateboard

Info

Publication number: WO1989002301A1
Application number: PCT/AU1988/000364
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Hawkes; David Hookham; David Paul Hansen
Original assignee: Skatewing International Pty. Limited
Priority date: 1987-09-18
Filing date: 1988-09-14
Publication date: 1989-03-23
Also published as: ES2010367A6; GR880100596A; CN1031942A

Abstract

A skateboard deck (1) has two wing-like portions (3) extending upwardly and outwardly from an elongate body (2). The underface of body (2) has two sets of wheels (6) which allow the body to tilt laterally relative to the wheel axle. A wheel (10), a solid non-moving pad (16), a ball (17) or a rotatable pad (19) is provided under each wing-like portion. A handle (15) is provided on each wing-like portion which can be gripped by the user in a sitting position. Alternatively, the skateboard can be used by a standing user. The skateboard deck may be mounted to an existing skateboard and the wing-like portions can be made demountable from the skateboard deck.

Description

WINGED SKATEBOARD

This invention relates to ride-on wheeled toys to be propelled by hand, foot or by gravity.

There are many toys that fill the above description, for example, pedal cycles, pedal cars, skate boards and roller skates. The present invention has a relationship tc some of those toys, in particular skateboards, but provides safer rider conditions than are provided by skateboards and allows the rider to execute novel manoeuvres on the toy. Broadly, the invention provides a skate deck for use as or for attachment to a ride-on wheeled toy, the skate deck comprises a body having a rider zone on an upper face of the body and two aligned body extensions projecting in opposite directions from an axis of the body so as to diverge upwardly outwardly relative to the rider zone.

The skate deck can be used to form a ride-on wheeled toy where the toy comprises a body with two spaced apart wheel means mounted on an underface of the body with a rider zone on an upper face of the body over the wheel means, two aligned body extensions projecting in opposite directions from the body with the alignment of the extensions substantially at right angles to the axis extending between the two wheel means, the body extensions diverge upwardly outwardly relative to the rider zone, and a ground engaσahle member on the underface of each body extension located remote from the wheel means. In a preferred form of the invention the body is elongated, the body extensions are in the form of wings and the ground engaging members are wheels.

Several embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :-

Fig.l is a perspective view of a skate deck according to the invention,

Fig.2 is a perspective view of the skate deck fittec with wheel means to provide a ride-on wheeled toy,

Fig.3 is a view from below of the toy of Fig.2, Fig.4 is view from above of the toy of Fig.2, Fig.5 is a front end view of the toy of Fig.2, Fig.6 is a side view of the toy of Fig.2, Fig.7 is a view from the other side of the toy of Fig.2,

Fig.8 is a rear end view of the toy of Fig.2, Fig.9 is a view the same as Fig.6 showing another form of ground engaging member, Fig.10 is a view the same as Fig.6 showing a further form of ground engaging member,

Fig.11 is a view the same as Fig.6 showing a still further form of ground engaging members and Fig.12 is a perspective view showing a manner of demountably coupling a body extension to the toy body.

Referring to the drawings, the skate deck 1 has an elongated body 2 from which two wing-like body extensions 3 extend transversely upwardly outwardly. The upper surface of the body 2 is the rider zone and can be provided for comfort and convenience with a seat zone 4 and a foot zone 5. The foot zone 5 preferably has a roughened surface to promote good grip when the rider is standing. If desired both 4 and 5 can be rough surfaced zones for good grip by the rider of the -t-oy. It iε to be understood that the body ne d .not be of elongated form and can be square or round or of other shape when viewed in plan.

In Fig.2 the skate deck has been fitted with wheel means to convert it into a ride-on wheeled toy. As will be understood the skate deck can be sold to a person who will wish to fit it to an existing skateboard or fit to the skate deck customised wheel means. In the skateboard industry many forms of specialised wheels have been designed and the skate deck allows the user to mount wheel means thereon to suit his particular requirements.

As illustrated in Fig.2 there is a wheel set 6 mounted on the underface of the body 2 adjacent each end of the

- body. Each wheel set 6 includes two wheels 7 on an axle 8 with a central connection 9 between the axle and the body 2. The wheel sets 6 are conveniently of the type commonly used in skateboards where the central connection to the body 2 allows the body to tilt laterally relative to the wheel axle.

Under each wing 3 there is a wheel 10 with an axis of rotation of each wheel 10 which is substantially parallel tc the plane of the underface of the wing and in a plan view of the toy is substantially at right angles to the long axis of the body 2 , this can be seen by the axis lines X and Y in Fig.3. Preferably each wheel 10 is mounted as shown with a single support strut 11 fixed to the wing and located on the inner side of the wheel 10 adjacent the body 2 but other forms of mounting can be employed.

Other features of the toy which are desirable but not essential are a brake pad 12 at the rear end of the body 2 on the under face thereof, a bumper pad 13 at the front end of the body 2 and bumper runners 14 on the underface of the body 2 between the wheel assemblies 6. By leaning to the rear a rider can engage the pad 12 with the ground to brake the progress of a moving toy.

There is a handle 15 on the upper face of each wing 3 remote from the body 2. The handles 15 provide security for the rider and assist the rider in maintaining control of the toy when in motion with the rider in a sitting or crouched position. The handles 15 also assist the rider to maintain control over the toy when executing manoeuvres by moving his body centre of gravity from a central position over the toy body 2 to an off-centre position. The centre of gravity shift enables the rider to perform a number of manoeuvres similar to those possible with a conventional skateboard but in addition the engagement of the wing wheel 10 with the ground allows additional novel manoeuvres to be performed including very rapid 180 degree turns.

The amount of manoeuvring that can be achieved by a rider is determined largely by the skill of the rider. This can be understood when the many manoeuvres that can be performed by a skilled skate board rider are considered against the skill of a novice user of a skate board who has problems with straight line travel on the skateboard.

In variations of the foregoing construction the wing wheel 10 can be replaced by a solid non-moving _,pa lb UE shown in Fig.9. This arrangement has disadvantages, for example a high wear rate, but it allows some manoeuvres to be more rapidly and effectively executed.

In another variation as shown in Fig.10 a spherical ball 17 mounted in a socket 18 replaces the wheel 10. This arrangement has a similar function to the wheel 10 except that is can rotate in any direction.

In yet another variation as illustrated in Fig.11 the wheel 10 can be replaced by a rotating member 19 with an axis of rotation substantially at right angles to the plane of the underface of the wing and which in a plan view of the toy is at right angles to the long axis of the toy body 2.

In a further development of the toy the wings are removable. Referring to Fig.12 of the drawings it will be seen that there is illustrated an elongated body 20 with wheel assemblies mounted on the underface of the toy body as previously described. Located between the wheel assemblies and fixed to the underface of the body, or formed integrally therewith, are transversely disposed fixing sockets 21 of rectangular section. It will be understood that an alternate arrangement could provide a single transverse tube the open ends of which would provide the sockets 21. Multiple sockets can also be provided for each wing as required.

Each wing 22 has an attachment end 23. In the illustrated embodiment the end 23 is smaller in section than the adjacent end of the body of the Wj_ng and is adapted t-. be a neat fit into the socket 21 in order to mount and position the wing on the toy body 20. One possible form of fixing to demountably secure the wing to the body comprises the arrangement shown wherein there is a pin 24 which is adapted to be a neat fit in holes 25 in the socket 21 and a hole 26 in the wing end 23.

The wing shape can be varied but in all forms when mounted on the toy body the wing orientation is such that it includes a section that is inclined upwardly outwardly- relative to the toy body. The inclined part of the wing can be straight as illustrated or curved.

Claims

WE CLAIM: -

1. A skate deck for use as or for attachment to a ride-on wheeled toy, the skate deck comprises a body having a rider zone on an upper face of the body and two aligned body extensions projecting in opposite directions from an axis of the body so as to diverge upwardly outwardly relative to the rider zone with the alignment of the extensions substantially at right angles to the said axis oi the bod .

2. A skate deck as claimed in claim 1 converted to a ride-on wheeled toy which includes two spaced apart wheel means mounted on an underface of the body and positioned on said axis of the body with a ground engagable member on the underface of each body extension located remote from the wheel means.

3. A skate deck as claimed in claim 2 wherein the body is longer in the direction of said body axis than it is wide and the wheel means are located adjacent each end of said body.

4. A skate deck as claimed in claim 2 wherein each wheel means comprises two wheels on an axle positioned substantially transverse to the said body axis axis with a connection between the axle and said body which allows said body to tilt sideways.

5. A skate deck as claimed in claims 2 wherein each substantially parallel to the underface of the body- extension and substantially at right angles to the said axis of said body when the skate deck is viewe"d from above.

6. A skate deck as claimed in claim 2 wherein each ground engagable member is a pad rotatable about an axis which is substantially at right angles to the underface of the body extension and at right angles to the said axis of said body when the skate deck is viewed from above.

7. A skate deck as claimed in claim 2 wherein each ground engagable member is a pad fixed to the body extension.

8. A skate deck as claimed in claim 2 including a handgrip fixed to each body extension.

9. A skate deck as claimed in claim 2 including a brake pad fixed to the under face of the toy body and lying on the said axis of said body and positioned adjacent an end of the skate deck body.

10. A skate deck as claimed in claim 2 wherein the body extensions are demountable from the skate deck body.