Mobilized Platforms

This application is a continuation of, and claims the benefit of, U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No. 18/170,503 (now U.S. patent Ser. No. 12/324,977) to Joseph L. Pikulski, filed on Feb. 16, 2023 and entitled MOBILIZED PLATFORMS, which in turn is a continuation of, and claims the benefit of, U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No. 17/020,675 (now U.S. patent Ser. No. 11/583,754) to Joseph L. Pikulski, filed on Sep. 14, 2020, entitled MOBILIZED PLATFORMS, which in turn is a continuation of, and claims the benefit of, U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No. 16/128,413 (now U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/814,211) to Joseph L. Pikulski, filed on Sep. 11, 2018, entitled MOBILIZED PLATFORMS, which in turn is a continuation of, and claims the benefit of, U.S. application Ser. No. 15/247,820 (now U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/071,303) to Joseph L. Pikulski, filed on Aug. 25, 2016, entitled MOBILIZED COOLER DEVICE WITH FORK HANGER ASSEMBLY, which in turn claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application number 62,210,351, filed on Aug. 26, 2015, entitled MOTORIZED SKATEBOARD. Each of these applications and patents is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

This invention relates to motorized and non-motorized platforms, such as skateboards, treaded skateboards, and in particular, to motorized and non-motorized skateboards, treaded skateboards, and treaded skateboards that use single wheels mounted on fork arm trucks. Furthermore, this invention relates to fork arm systems that use motorized wheels, both externally mounted to the skateboards, and more specifically, relates to internally mounted motors within the wheels. This invention also relates to new wheel designs for single wheel skateboard applications, and a new complementary riding system that incorporates magnetic coupling to skateboards and to skateboard shoes.

Conventional skateboards have provided excitement over the years and are deemed a right of for young people. Along with bicycles and scooters, skateboards are playing a large role in increasing youth mobility. A new paradigm of travel is evolving as skateboards become motorized.

The problem with the current skateboard four-wheel system is that it is comprised of four-wheels. Two wheels on each axis separated by 7 to 10 inches in a common skateboard hanger system. Riding a skateboard that has four wheels, even though they are on independent trucks, subjects the rider to a bumpy ride.

Skateboard parks are not always available to all skateboard enthusiasts. Often, skateboarders are performing tricks and enhancing their skills in places where they may not be welcomed. Performing tricks with skateboards that involve public structures, such as stairs, planters, railings, and curbs, can be destructive to the community property, as well as, being dangerous to the skateboarder and others. in the area. This damage is caused by the action of grinding. These tricks often use the aluminum or steel skateboard hanger undersides to skid on the surfaces previously mentioned. To mitigate the effects of this grinding, Teflon® and other resilient materials have been added to the undercarriage of the skateboard to minimize the effects of grinding away the skateboard components and damaging public property. It is the intent of this disclosure to solve the problem for the community property damage and enhance the performance and safety of the skateboarder by introducing new skateboard wheel geometries for the single wheel truck skateboard.

Skateboard parks and half pipe gatherings are events where the skateboarders exhibit their coordination and mastery of riding skateboards. Some of the maneuvers performed by the skateboarders, such as 360°, 720° and 1080° turns, are qtlite dangerous. Injuries occur when the skateboard riders' feet separate from the skateboard. Often these injuries occur when in the crouched position, holding the skateboard deck to the skateboard riders' feet. These maneuvers place skateboarders in precarious positions that can result in injury. It is the intent of this novel invention to introduce the use of the magnetic shoe and skateboard deck skin coupling system to help improve skateboarders' performance and safety.

With new manufacturing processes and composite materials, skateboard production has been revolutionized. Along with the introduction of highly efficient electric motors, and substantially improved lithium-ion and lithium phosphate batteries, the popularity of using skateboards for transportation is expanding.

As a result of these advancements, certain skateboard motor assemblies have the components exposed to the elements and can interfere with the skateboarders' ability to maneuver. Additionally, it is difficult to streamline the four-wheeled skateboard when adding heavy drive train accessories such as belts, pulleys and chains. It is the intent of this invention to eliminate the concerns by integrating the motors inside the wheels.

The current skateboard is a four-wheel system with two wheels on each axis separated by 7 to 10 inches in a common skateboard hanger system configuration. Although each set of wheels is on an independent truck, the ride is bumpy, Four-wheel skateboards are limited to smooth compact surfaces for riding. The proposed invention will increase the rider's access to grass, sand, snow, ice, and mud with the treaded skateboard and/or the large wheel skateboard.

Another application of this invention is the treaded cooler, which provides ease of use and comfort in any environment and can easily be managed by one person, consider any situation that would involve the use of large two or four-wheel coolers, from emergency response events to pleasure/sport activities. The large two wheeled coolers are difficult to lift, pull or place without involving vehicle logistics and additional manpower. Such efforts can result in physical injuries to those using this type of cooler.

The cooler wheels do not traverse on uneven or soft surfaces, which require the cooler to be picked up and carried across these surfaces, The coolers are heavy and bulky in size, which can be challenging to carry over or pull on rough or soft surfaces.

Conventional coolers are not constructed to provide stable seating for small children or to caravan multiple coolers. Consequently-, transporting coolers, children and other accessories to the designated location may involve multiple trips.

It is the intent of this invention to demonstrate another application of the fork truck and wheel combinations that can be applied to a recreational cooler, which will provide ease of use, manageability by one person, provide transport for small children and caravan multiple coolers to the point of destination.

The single-wheel fork system design versus the conventional two-wheel skateboard truck system provides the rider with smooth nondestructive wheels, stability control on slanted surfaces, and increased speed by eliminating the grinding of the aluminum or metal structure of the skateboard trucks on the concrete or brick planter edges. The novel invention addresses the stability and smoothness of the skateboard ride by creating a single-wheel fork truck system, which consists of one single-wheel fork truck system in the front and another in the rear.

This novel invention also incorporates the motor drive system into the wheel or wheel hub. This invention can convert a conventional skateboard into a motorized version by installing motors into any one of the four wheels. However, the preferred embodiment of this novel invention is to use two wheels, which is the single-wheel fork truck system.

To produce the two-wheel motorized and non-motorized skateboard, this invention introduces the skateboard transom fork banger. This novel skateboard transom fork hanger assembly holds the wheel on the inside of the skateboard hanger. Conventional skateboard hangers put the skateboard wheels on the outside of the hanger. The uniqueness of the invention is to use the skateboard transom fork hanger assembly to hold a motorized wheel assembly by the inside of the forks. This system design increases maneuverability, stability, and smoothness of tile ride.

Another advantage of the novel invention is the flexibility for designing small non-motorized single-wheel fork truck skateboards. Descriptions of different skateboard wheels in this invention, and as part of the invention, reveals how important the skateboard transom fork hanger assembly is in developing new skateboard media. This invention also describes how to motorize even the small wheel skateboard by coupling an externally mounted motor to the underside of the skateboard single-wheel transom fork hanger assembly.

Normally, a skateboard has two wheels in the front and two wheels in the back of a skateboard deck. They establish a wide riding plane. This plane alternates between infinite numbers of planes as the skateboard trucks wobble when in motion. Even on smooth sidewalks on a diagonal angle, the rider will feel the crack in the sidewalk four times as skateboard rides across. A rider on a two-wheel skateboard will only experience two cracks. As elementary as this point is, it can introduce discomfort to the rider with a four-wheel skateboard. The current invention aspires to solve that problem by using two wheels.

By using two wheels, one in the front and one in the back, the skateboard is riding on a wide line, as opposed to the wide plane, that continually oscillates due to the oscillation amplification of the four skateboard wheels as they encounter road imperfections and debris. The speed performance of the skateboarder is enhanced with the reduced friction on the road with the two skateboard wheels. This increases performance, comfort and safety. This novel invention will disclose the design feature of a large single wheel skateboard that can be used on grass, gravel, sand, mud, or other soft surfaces.

The current invention, the motorized version of skateboards, provides a direct drive that eliminates cumbersome chains, belts and the associated gearing and harnessing that are required to implement the drivetrain on conventional skateboards. This invention introduces a novel skateboard fork transom system, which includes novel wheel designs for non-motorized skateboard systems that will enhance safety of the skateboard rider when performing tricks on public property or in skateboard parks.

These designs will eliminate the need for the destructive action of grinding on park or public structures. Other surfaces become accessible to the skateboarder with the introduction of the skateboard transom system. The multiple novel wheel profiles allows for less destructive activities, and more challenging skateboard maneuvers and positive control over those maneuvers. For example, skateboarders like to use planter beds, curbs and other concrete structures that have obstruction free edges to perform “grinding” maneuvers. With these novel wheels, skateboarders will be able to ride on obstacles as though they were grinding, but with less destructive results. Grinding or riding on edges of obstacles can not be performed with wheels. Riding the rails (hand rails) or exposed pipes can be performed with specially configured wheels.

Typically riding these rails involves using the center metallic portion of the skateboard truck. This is actually the bottom part of the skateboard truck, which holds the wheels. This maneuver defaces the object and degrades the skateboard truck. The present invention creates a single wheel that has a circular or straight v-groove in the center of the wheel for riding on objects.

The present invention shows that the large single wheel motorized and non-motorized skateboard has a larger surface area to travel on grass, sand, and muddy surfaces. Another novelty of the invention is that a tread may be added to the wheel hubs that extend the capabilities of the skateboarding on different surfaces that aren't accessible to four-wheel skateboards. New skateboard learners will benefit significantly from the treaded skateboard. The treaded wheels can be used on grass and sand, which are safer than hard surfaces. Even the experienced skateboarder will welcome a grassy skateboard park with a downhill run.

Another novel aspect of this invention is the introduction of the magnetic shoe sole and skateboard deck skin system to improve skateboarder's performance and safety. This can be employed to expand proficiency, finesse and the degree of difficulty currently attained by professionals and amateurs. The 360° maneuvers are performed more safely with the magnetic shoe and skateboard deck skin system.

Such a configuration allows for positive contact of the skateboard shoe sole with the skateboard deck during the skateboard time of flight, or during execution of the trick, or performance, The skateboard trick performer does not need to crouch to the lower positions in order to grab the board and hold. it to the soles of shoes as part of the trick with the positive control of the skateboard being effected by magnetic shoes, tricks can be performed with enhanced safety and the ability to concentrate on higher degrees of rotation or other aspects of the performance.

With the motorized and non-motorized versions of the skateboard transom system, the ride is greatly enhanced by the use of suspension springs that are incorporated between the transom plate and the skateboard base plate. The present: invention also provides a new spring system, which can be replaced in the conventional skateboard, which are resilient leaf-like springs.

The tires used for the different skateboard applications generally resemble, in the majority of cases, barrel wheel geometry with a flat section. When a rider is on the skateboard, the tire flattens to a small flat portion. This flatness, from the front wheel to the rear wheel, is significantly smaller than the area defined by the conventional four-wheel skateboard. The ride, even with the hard tire on the skateboard fork transom assembly and a single tire, is much smoother than a conventional skateboard ride. This means that it will not only be a smoother ride but a faster ride too. The skateboard transom fork hanger assembly, with whatever wheel configuration is chosen, is much easier to streamline.

It is also the intent of the present invention and its components to expand the single wheel skateboard transom fork assembly to include motorcycles with two and three wheels; automobiles with two, three or four wheels; scooters in either stand-up and sit-down versions; and to include automobile applications with the main drive source (the motor) incorporated into the wheel or wheels, Also, the motors that are part of the drive mechanism of the previous skateboards, whether internal or external, may also include small gas driven reciprocating engines, turbine, compressed air driven and rotary engines. Incorporating the engines or motors into the wheel, creates more space for batteries or the fuel supply. The lighter weight is due to the reduction on the material needed for the mounting and coupling of the engine to the drivetrain.

Yet another novel aspect of this invention is a configuration wherein the basic aspect is modified into a treaded cooler, which provides the opportunity for all of the weight to rest on the treads and the user pulls the treaded vehicle to the required location. The treads can be changed to address the ground conditions such as snow, water, ice, sand, gravel, and other uneven surfaces.

For example, the treaded cooler can become a floating pontoon system allowing the cooler to float in water. For boaters and campers, this flexibility is easily understood.

Based on the design of the optional treads, movement with the treaded cooler encounters minimal ground resistance. Changing the treads is easy and doesn't require high level of mechanical ability. The treaded cooler can be motorized; in effect, becoming a vehicle. Other additional features include attaching a seat to the cooler top for transport of a child as well as a device, which allows for attaching several coolers together to provide a caravan to carry other accessories. Side panels can be added to the cooler sides to place service items allow the top remain free to be opened as needed.

The treaded cooler moves goods with minimal effort and increases its functionality in multiple situations. No excessive lifting or pulling required with a treaded cooler, which minimizes physical injuries.

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without necessarily being limited to these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form, rather than in detail, in order to avoid obscuring the present invention.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with this specification and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference. All the features disclosed in this specification, (including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

Furthermore, any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. Section 112, Paragraph 6. In particular, the use of “step of” or “act of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, Paragraph 6,

Please note, if used, the labels left, right, front, back, top, bottom, forward, reverse, clockwise and counter clockwise have been used for convenience purposes only and are not intended to imply any particular fixed direction. Instead, they are used to reflect relative locations and/or directions between various portions of an object

The present invention is exemplified by three principle configurations. The first of these, shown in, is a side view showing the basic components of the motorized skateboard. This view shows a typical skateboard deckand a skateboard deck skinthat provide a good foothold for the rid, r. Along with the skateboard deck, there are the electrical components that form the electronic assemblyattached to the underside of the skateboard deck. Illustrated in, are the transom fork hanger assemblyand its relation to the skateboard deckand electronic assembly. Attached to the skateboard transom fork hanger assemblyis the motorized wheel or non-motorized wheel assembly. A general view of the skateboard is shown to give some perspective for the range of sizes that this invention will be addressing.

is an expanded isometric view of the skateboard deckcomponents and illustrates the method of attachment The skateboard deck skinis made from sandpaper-like material. There are through-holes cut into the skateboard deck skin. These through-holes are,, and. The chamfered through-holes,, andin the skateboard deckallow skateboard components to be fastened to it, the skateboard deck. The skateboard deck skinwith the through-holes,, andallows access of the component fasteners,, andwithout removal of the skateboard deck skin. The skateboard deck skinis not required to have through-holes. However, assembling and reconfiguring components of the skateboard deckis greatly facilitated by having the through-holes,, and. Component fastenerspass through the chamfered through-holesin the skateboard deckand attach to baseplateby engaging threaded-holes. The next set of component fasteners are 222, which pass through the chamfered through-holesin the skateboard deckand hold the batter compartmentsby engaging threaded-holes. Component fastenerspass through the chamfered through-holesin the skateboard deck, and hold the electronic control boxesby engaging threaded-holes. This forms a secure and effective placement of the electronic components required for the motorized skateboard operation.

shows the basic electronic assemblyas it would be attached to the underside of the skateboard deckas seen in. The battery compartment, formerly, is now referred to as battery compartment. The battery compartmentprovides a secure holding compartment for the lithium ion and/or lithium phosphate batteries that are typically used to power various electrical motors. There may be several batteries that are stored in one of the two battery compartments. There is a battery engagement switch, which allows selection of a single battery or multiple batteries to be engaged. The power from the battery compartmentsis fed through the electrical conduit through-hole. The electrical current is carried via wires that are conveniently stowed in the electrical conduit—The electrical control boxes, formerly known as electrical control boxesin, contains the electrical charging circuitry, remote control for power application to the motors, and smart charging chips for properly monitoring battery discharge and charging. This is an essential part of any remote control power application to prevent the batteries from overheating and catching fire if they are charging or discharging too quickly. Various commercial charging circuits and remote control circuits will be housed in electrical control boxes, and their functions are controlled with the electronic function controller switch. There is a connection between the electronic control boxesand the battery compartmentsvia an electrical conduit. This provides an adequate environment for keeping the electronics free of water and dust contamination, Electrical connectoris provided for both AC and DC charging. An environmental cover platealso secures the power connection from exposures to the elements.

shows the basic elements that are mechanically attached to the skateboard deckas seen in, mainly the attachment of the baseplate, formally known as baseplatein. The baseplateis attached to the skateboard deck(not shown; see) with a component fastenerthat screws into threaded receptacle. This secures the baseplateto the skateboard deck(not shown, see). The transom plateis attached to the fork hanger, In this case, the invention shows that the transom plateis a unique method for attaching motorized and non-motorized skateboard single wheel assemblies. The fork hangeralso provides a means of transitioning the electrical wires through the electrical conduitthrough electrical conduit through-hole. The wheel assemblyis attached to the fork hangervia mounting bolts.

The transom plateis similar to current skateboard assemblies and uses the same components such as the skateboard kingpin, the top bushing, and the pivot pin. The baseplateprovides the kingpin through-holefor the kingpinto fit through and to secure the baseplateto the transom plate, The transom fork hanger assembly, for future reference, is going to include the transom plateand the fork hanger.

is a side cross-sectional view of the transom plate, the base plate, the kingpin, the pivot pin, top-busing/s, bottom-bushing, bottom-bushing washer, and the kingpin locking-nut. This view also shows the side view of the fork hanger.

In this cross-section view the location of the pivot pinand the resilient pivot pin cupare shown. These structures are made of metal or plastic or a combination. A metal injection, casting, and other molding processes typically make common skateboard hangers, Some newer skateboard hangers are made from composite material. It is assumed that the injection molding process or other metal or plastic forming processes make the skateboard transom fork hanger assemblyin one piece.

This viewshows the baseplatewith the skateboard kingpininserted into the kingpin through-hole. The skateboard kingpinis stopped and held in place at the kingpin counter-bore stop. On the underside of the baseplateis the top-bushing interaction surfacethat holds the top-bushing/sfirmly in place. Depending on the length of the pivot pinand turning requirements, more top-bushingsare required. The resiliency of top-bushingsand bottom-bushing, and with the open flat space provided by the bushing interaction surfacesand, allows the transom fork hanger assemblyto freely slide and rotate about the pivot pin axis. The degree of pivoting about the pivot pin axisis determined by how tight the kingpin locking-nutcompresses the top-bushingsand the bottom-bushings. The bottom-bushing washeris the metal washer that the kingpin locking-nutpushes onto for compression. It produces uniform compression on the top-bushingsand bottom-bushingwithout distorting or tearing during compression. Also, the ease of rotation about the pivot pin axisis determined by how much compression is applied to the kingpin locking-nutand how smooth are the top-bushing interaction surfaceand the bushing interaction surfacesand. The pivot pinis held firmly to the transom plateby the pivot pin bolt, Also shown, the through-holes, which secure the wheel assembly, shown in, to the fork hanger. The electrical conduit through-holeallows the electrical wires to pass through the fork hangerand mates to the motors contained within the wheel assembly(not shown), Accessory through-holeis for attaching accessories to monitor motor or wheel performance such as tachometers.

shows an expanded isometric view of the fork hangerattached to the transom plate. Also shown is the method of attachment of the wheel assembly. The wheel assemblyis held in place by mounting boltsthat pass through through-holes, spacers, and secured to the threaded-holes. The spacersprovide proper spacing and alignment of the wheel assembly.

is an expanded isometric view of the wheel assembly. The wheel assemblyis made up of the tire skinand two identical wheel hubs, which comprise the wheel hub assembly. All components rotate about the axis of rotation. The wheel hub assemblyis held in position to the fork hangersand by mounting bolts, as shown in. The mounting boltsfit into the threaded-holes, which were threaded-holesas shown in. These threaded-holesare actually on the motor hub face. The conduit through-holeis for the electrical conduitas shown in, and is used to pass wires to the enclosed motors within the motor hub, Boltsare used to secure the internal motors. On the periphery of the two wheel hubsare rings of circles, outside bearing through-holes, and inside bearing through-holes, which are through-holes for epoxy or threaded through-holes for setscrews to attach internal components. Also shown in this view is a spacebetween the two wheel hubs.

is an isometric cross sectional view of the wheel hub assembly. It is made up of two identical wheel hubs. These two wheel hubsare bolted together with bolts, spacers, and the locking nutsthat are engaged via a through-hole.

Located on each internal surface of the wheel hubgear seat. This gear seatallows engagement of motor drive gear. The motor drive gearis mounted on the motor shaft.

In this view there are two rings of through-holes, outside bearing through-holesand inside bearing through-holes. The outside bearing through-holesand inside bearing through-holescan be threaded to accept setscrewsfor securing outside bearingsand inside bearings. The outside bearing through-holesand inside bearing through-holes, if not threaded, are used as through-holes to apply epoxy or other materials to secure the bearings in their respective positions. Outside bearing through-holesare used to secure the outside bearing; whereas, inside bearing through-holesare used to secure inside bearings,

is an expanded isometric view of the wheel hub assemblyand the expanded isometric view of the motor hub assembly. The wheel hub assemblyis made up of two wheel hubsas described in. These two wheel hubswill contain one or two motors, One completed motor hub assemblyis shown ready to be inserted into the one wheel hub. The view of the expanded motor hub assemblyshows the respective parts and the way they are assembled. The motor drive gearis attached to the motor shaftas shown inwith setscrew. The motoris mounted into the motor hubby inserting boltsthrough through-holesand into threaded-holesof the motor, the outside bearingslides onto the outside of the motor huband rests at the bearing reference stop. A hearing spacerslides onto the outside surface of the motor hub. This hearing spacerwill separate inside bearingfrom the outside bearing. This assembly is referred to as a motor hub assembly.