Wheeled skate device

Abstract

A wheeled skate device has a pair of large primary wheels coupled to opposite lateral sides of a platform. The primary wheels rotate about primary axes of rotation in both forward and rearward direction. The skate device may have a secondary wheel coupled to one end of the platform which rotates about a secondary axis of rotation. The secondary wheel also pivots about a vertical pivot axis through at least 180 degrees such that the secondary wheel turns with the platform without sliding on the support surface. The wheels cooperatively operate in a travel mode and spinning mode. In the travel mode, all the wheels rotate in the same direction to horizontally displace the platform. In the spinning mode, the primary wheels rotate opposite directions to one another, and the secondary axis of rotation is traverse to the primary axes of rotation. The platform also may pivot about the primary axes of rotation between a horizontal orientation and an inclined orientation. In the horizontal orientation, the secondary wheel is disposed above the support surface in a non-contacting relationship. In the inclined orientation, the secondary wheel makes rolling contact with the support surface.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A wheeled skate device comprising: 
 a platform configured for being movably disposed over a support surface and configured for receiving a foot of a user, the platform having opposite lateral sides and opposite longitudinal ends; and    a pair of primary wheels each rotatably coupled to different lateral sides of the platform, the primary wheels being configured for rolling disposition on the support surface and being bi-directionally rotatable about primary axes of rotation; and    wherein the primary wheels are configured for cooperatively operating in at least two modes to make rolling contact with the support surface without sliding, the two modes including (i) a travel mode in which the primary wheels each rotate in a common direction, and (ii) a spinning mode in which the primary wheels rotate in opposite directions relative to one another.    
     
     
         2 . The skate device of    claim 1   , further comprising: 
 a secondary wheel rotatably coupled to one end of the platform and configured for rolling contact with the support surface, the secondary wheel rotating about a secondary axis of rotation which is oriented generally horizontally, the secondary wheel further pivoting about a generally vertical pivot axis through an angular range of at least 180 degrees, and    wherein the primary and secondary wheel cooperatively operate in the travel and spinning modes, such that the primary and secondary wheels each rotate in a common direction in the travel mode, and such that the secondary axis of rotation of the secondary wheel is oriented traverse to the primary axes of rotation of the primary wheels in the spinning mode.    
     
     
         3 . The skate device of    claim 2   , wherein the primary wheels have a common primary axis of rotation, and wherein the platform vertically pivots about the primary axis of rotation between (i) a first generally horizontal orientation in which the secondary wheel is in a non-contacting relationship with the support surface, and such that the skate device has only two points of contact with the support surface defined by the primary wheels, and (ii) a second inclined orientation in which the secondary wheel contacts the support surface, and such that the skate device has only three points of contact with the support surface defined by the primary and secondary wheels.  
     
     
         4 . The skate device of    claim 3   , wherein the secondary wheel has an outer diameter which is less than a distance between the support surface and the platform when the platform is in the first generally horizontal orientation.  
     
     
         5 . The skate device of    claim 2   , wherein the platform is configured for being movably disposed above a support surface at a specified height and defining a space between the platform and the support surface; and wherein the primary wheels are configured for maintaining the support surface at the specified height, each primary wheel having an outer diameter greater than the specified height.  
     
     
         6 . The skate device of    claim 5   , wherein the secondary wheel has an outer diameter less than the specified height.  
     
     
         7 . The skate device of    claim 1   , wherein the platform has a lower surface configured for facing the support surface; and wherein the primary axes of rotation of the primary wheels are disposed at a height with respect to the support surface at least as high as the lower surface of the platform.  
     
     
         8 . The skate device of    claim 1   , wherein the primary wheels are located at a center of gravity of the user.  
     
     
         9 . The skate device of    claim 2   , wherein the ends of the platform define front and rear ends, wherein the primary wheels are located closer to the rear end of the platform than the secondary wheel, and wherein the secondary wheel is located closer to the front end than to the rear end.  
     
     
         10 . The skate device of    claim 2   , wherein the ends of the platform define front and rear ends, wherein the primary wheels are located closer to the front end of the platform than the secondary wheel, and wherein the secondary wheel is located closer to the rear end than to the front end.  
     
     
         11 . The skate device of    claim 2   , wherein the secondary wheel is a first secondary wheel disposed at one end of the platform; and further comprising a second secondary wheel disposed at the other end of the platform.  
     
     
         12 . The skate device of    claim 2   , wherein the secondary wheel comprises a spherical ball rotatably disposed in a semi-spherical cavity defined by a coupling member attached to the platform such that a portion of the spherical ball protrudes from the cavity of the coupling member and contacts the support surface.  
     
     
         13 . The skate device of    claim 2   , further comprising a pivotal coupler having a first end rotatably coupled to the secondary wheel, and a second end pivotally coupled to the platform and pivoting about the vertical pivot axis.  
     
     
         14 . The skate device of    claim 1   , further comprising a boot configured for receiving a user's foot attached to the platform, the boot having a forefoot section with an upper surface, and wherein the primary axes of rotation of the primary wheels are disposed at or above the upper surface of the boot.  
     
     
         15 . The skate device of    claim 1   , wherein the primary wheels have separate axes of rotation which are parallel with respect to one another.  
     
     
         16 . The skate device of    claim 1   , wherein the platform has a length, and wherein the primary wheels are coupled to the platform at different locations along the length of the platform.  
     
     
         17 . The skate device of    claim 1   , wherein the primary wheels have different diameters.  
     
     
         18 . The skate device of    claim 1   , further comprising a pair of covers, each disposed over an upper portion of one of the primary wheels.  
     
     
         19 . The skate device of    claim 1   , further comprising a brake member attached to the platform.  
     
     
         20 . A wheeled skate device comprising: 
 a platform configured for being movably disposed above a support surface at a specified height and defining a space between the platform and the support surface, the platform further being configured for receiving a foot of a user, the platform having an outer perimeter, opposite lateral sides and opposite longitudinal ends;    a pair of primary wheels each rotatably coupled to different lateral sides of the platform outside the outer perimeter of the platform, the primary wheels being configured for rolling disposition on the support surface and being configured for maintaining the platform at the specified height, and the primary wheels further having an outer diameter greater than the specified height and being bi-directionally rotatable about primary axes of rotation; and    a secondary wheel rotatably coupled to one end of the platform and configured for rolling contact with the support surface, the secondary wheel rotating about a secondary axis of rotation which is oriented generally horizontally, the secondary wheel further pivoting about a generally vertical pivot axis through an angular range of at least 180 degrees, and    wherein the primary and secondary wheels are configured for cooperatively operating in at least two modes to make rolling contact with the support surface without sliding, the two modes including (i) a travel mode in which the primary and secondary wheels each rotate in generally the same direction to horizontally displace the platform, and (ii) a spinning mode in which the primary wheels rotate in opposite directions relative to one another, and in which the secondary axis of rotation of the secondary wheel is oriented traverse to the primary axes of rotation of the primary wheels, to pivot the platform about a vertical axis.    
     
     
         21 . The skate device of    claim 20   , wherein the primary wheels have a common primary axis of rotation, and wherein the platform vertically pivots about the primary axis of rotation between (i) a first generally horizontal orientation in which the secondary wheel is in a non-contacting relationship with the support surface, and such that the skate device has only two points of contact with the support surface defined by the primary wheels, and (ii) a second inclined orientation in which the secondary wheel contacts the support surface, and such that the skate device has only three points of contact with the support surface defined by the primary and secondary wheels.  
     
     
         22 . The skate device of    claim 21   , wherein the secondary wheel has an outer diameter which is less than a distance between the support surface and the platform when the platform is in the first generally horizontal orientation.  
     
     
         23 . The skate device of    claim 20   , wherein the secondary wheel has an outer diameter less than the specified height.  
     
     
         24 . The skate device of    claim 20   , wherein the platform has a lower surface configured for facing the support surface; and wherein the primary axes of rotation of the primary wheels are coupled to the platform at a height with respect to the support surface at least as high as the lower surface of the platform.  
     
     
         25 . The skate device of    claim 20   , wherein the primary wheels are located at a center of gravity of the user.  
     
     
         26 . The skate device of    claim 20   , wherein the ends of the platform define front and rear ends, wherein the primary wheels are located closer to the rear end of the platform than the secondary wheel, and wherein the secondary wheel is located closer to the front end than to the rear end.  
     
     
         27 . The skate device of    claim 20   , wherein the ends of the platform define front and rear ends, wherein the primary wheels are located closer to the front end of the platform than the secondary wheel, and wherein the secondary wheel is located closer to the rear end than to the front end.  
     
     
         28 . The skate device of    claim 20   , wherein the secondary wheel is a first secondary wheel disposed at one end of the platform; and further comprising a second secondary wheel disposed at the other end of the platform.  
     
     
         29 . The skate device of    claim 20   , wherein the secondary wheel comprises a spherical ball rotatably dispose in a semi-spherical cavity defined by a coupling member attached to the platform such that a portion of the spherical ball protrudes from the cavity of the coupling member to contact the support surface.  
     
     
         30 . The skate device of    claim 20   , further comprising a pivotal coupler having a first end rotatably coupled to the secondary wheel, and a second end pivotally coupled to the platform and pivoting about the vertical pivot axis.  
     
     
         31 . The skate device of    claim 20   , further comprising a boot configured for receiving a user's foot attached to the platform, the boot having a forefoot section with an upper surface, and wherein the primary axes of rotation of the primary wheels are disposed at or above the upper surface of the boot.  
     
     
         32 . The skate device of    claim 20   , wherein the primary wheels have separate axes of rotation which are parallel with respect to one another.  
     
     
         33 . The skate device of    claim 20   , wherein the platform has a length, and wherein the primary wheels are coupled to the platform at different locations along the length of the platform.  
     
     
         34 . The skate device of    claim 20   , wherein the primary wheels have different diameters.  
     
     
         35 . The skate device of    claim 20   , further comprising a pair of covers, each disposed over an upper portion of one of the primary wheels.  
     
     
         36 . The skate device of    claim 20   , further comprising a brake member attached to the platform.  
     
     
         37 . A wheeled skate device comprising: 
 a platform configured for being movably disposed above a support surface at a specified height and defining a space between the platform and the support surface, the platform further being configured for receiving a foot of a user, the platform having an outer perimeter, opposite lateral sides and opposite longitudinal ends;    a pair of primary wheels each rotatably coupled to different lateral sides of the platform outside the outer perimeter of the platform, the primary wheels being configured for rolling disposition on the support surface and being configured for maintaining the platform at the specified height, and the primary wheels further having an outer diameter greater than the specified height and being bi-directionally rotatable about a common primary axis of rotation; and    a secondary wheel rotatably coupled to one end of the platform and configured for disposition between the platform and support surface and configured for rolling contact with the support surface, the secondary wheel having an outer diameter less than the specified height and rotating about a secondary axis of rotation which is oriented generally horizontally, the secondary wheel further pivoting about a generally vertical pivot axis through an angular range of at least 180 degrees, and    wherein the primary and secondary wheels are configured for cooperatively operating in at least two modes to make rolling contact with the support surface without sliding, the two modes including (i) a travel mode in which the primary and secondary wheels each rotate in generally the same direction to horizontally displace the platform, and (ii) a spinning mode in which the primary wheels rotate in opposite directions relative to one another, and in which the secondary axis of rotation of the secondary wheel is oriented traverse to the primary axis of rotation of the primary wheels, to pivot the platform about a vertical axis, and    wherein the platform vertically pivots about the primary axis of rotation of the primary wheels between (i) a first generally horizontal orientation in which the secondary wheel is in a non-contacting relationship with the support surface, and such that the skate device has only two points of contact with the support surface defined by the primary wheels, and (ii) a second inclined orientation in which the secondary wheel contacts the support surface, and such that the skate device has only three points of contact with the support surface defined by the primary and secondary wheels.