Compact foldable skateboard

Abstract

A compact foldable skateboard comprises a central board portion, a front board portion and a rear board portion. The front board portion and the central board portion are connected one to the other in rear edge to front edge relation, by a hinge, for longitudinal folding movement between a flat in-use configuration and a folded storage configuration. The rear board portion and the central board portion are connected one to the other in front edge to rear edge relation, by a hinge, for longitudinal folding movement between a flat in-use configuration and a folded storage configuration. In a flat in-use configuration, the front board portion, the rear board portion and the central board portion are vertically and horizontally aligned one with the other. In a folded storage configuration, the front board portion and the central board portion face each other.

1 . A compact foldable skateboard comprising: 
 a central board portion having a top surface, a bottom surface, a left side edge, a right side edge, a front edge and a rear edge, and defining a longitudinal axis extending between said front edge and said rear edge;    a front board portion having a top surface, a bottom surface, a left side edge, a right side edge, a front edge and a rear edge;    wherein said front board portion and said central board portion are connected one to the other in rear edge to front edge relation, by a front hinge means, for longitudinal folding movement with respect to each other between a flat in-use configuration whereat said front board portion and said central board portion are vertically and horizontally aligned one with the other, and a folded storage configuration whereat said front board portion and said central board portion face each other;    selectively operable front locking means is mounted on one of said front board portion and said central board portion for releasably locking said front board portion and said central board portion in said flat in-use configuration;    a front wheel carriage mounted on one of said front board portion and said central board portion;    a rear board portion having a top surface, a bottom surface, a left side edge, a right side edge, a front edge and a rear edge;    wherein said rear board portion and said central board portion are connected one to the other in front edge to rear edge relation, by a rear hinge means, for longitudinal folding movement with respect to each other between a flat in-use configuration whereat said rear board portion and said central board portion are vertically and horizontally aligned one with the other, and a folded storage configuration whereat said rear board portion and said central board portion face each other;    selectively operable rear locking means is mounted on one of said rear board portion and said central board portion for releasably locking said rear board portion and said central board portion in said flat in-use configuration; and,    a rear wheel carriage mounted on one of said rear board portion and said central board portion.    
   
   
       2 . The compact foldable skateboard of  claim 1 , wherein said front hinge means comprises a front pivot hinge having first and second portions held together by a common pin member for pivotal movement about a front pivot axis defined by said common pin member, and wherein said rear hinge means comprises a rear pivot hinge having first and second portions held together by a common pin member for pivotal movement about a rear pivot axis defined by said common pin member.  
   
   
       3 . The compact foldable skateboard of  claim 2 , wherein said front pivot axis and said rear pivot axis are each oriented substantially transversely to said longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       4 . The compact foldable skateboard of  claim 3 , wherein said longitudinal folding movement of said front board portion with respect to said central board portion comprises relative pivotal movement of said front board portion and said central board portion about said front pivot axis, and said longitudinal folding movement of said rear board portion with respect to said central board portion comprises relative pivotal movement of said rear board portion and said central board portion about said rear pivot axis.  
   
   
       5 . The compact foldable skateboard of  claim 1 , wherein in said folded storage configuration, said top surface of said front board portion faces said top surface of said central board portion and said top surface of said rear board portion faces said top surface of said central board portion.  
   
   
       6 . The compact foldable skateboard of  claim 1 , wherein said front locking means comprises a dead bolt slidably mounted within a main housing secured to one of said front board portion and said central board portion and a bolt receiving portion mounted on the other of said front board portion and said central board portion, and wherein said rear locking means comprises a dead bolt slidably mounted within a main housing secured to one of said rear board portion and said central board portion and a bolt receiving portion mounted on the other of said rear board portion and said central board portion.  
   
   
       7 . The compact foldable skateboard of  claim 6 , whereat said main housing of said front locking means is mounted on said central board portion and terminates at said front edge of said central board portion.  
   
   
       8 . The compact foldable skateboard of  claim 6 , whereat said main housing of said rear locking means is mounted on said central board portion and terminates at said rear edge of said central board portion.  
   
   
       9 . The compact foldable skateboard of  claim 6 , whereat said main housing of said front locking means is mounted on said central board portion and terminates beyond said front edge of said central board portion.  
   
   
       10 . The compact foldable skateboard of  claim 6 , whereat said main housing of said rear locking means is mounted on said central board portion and terminates beyond said rear edge of said central board portion.  
   
   
       11 . The compact foldable skateboard of  claim 1 , further comprising a braking means having a pivot axle pivotally mounted on said rear board portion, an actuation arm means extending outwardly from said pivot axle so as to be readily accessible to a rider, and at least one brake pad operatively mounted on said pivot axle for frictional engagement with said rear wheel carriage.  
   
   
       12 . The compact foldable skateboard of  claim 1 , wherein said bolt receiving portion includes a catch portion, and said dead bolt has a co-operating notch for receiving said catch portion therein.  
   
   
       13 . A compact foldable skateboard comprising: 
 a front board portion having a top surface, a bottom surface, a left side edge, a right side edge, a front edge and a rear edge;    a front wheel carriage mounted on said front board portion;    a rear board portion having a top surface, a bottom surface, a left side edge, a right side edge, a front edge and a rear edge;    a rear wheel carriage mounted on said rear board portion;    wherein said front board portion and said rear board portion are connected one to the other in rear edge to front edge relation, by a hinge means, for longitudinal folding movement with respect to each other between a flat in-use configuration whereat said front board portion and said rear board portion are vertically and horizontally aligned one with the other, and a folded storage configuration whereat said front board portion and said rear board portion face each other; and,    selectively operable locking means mounted on one of said front board portion and said rear board portion for releasably locking said front board portion and said rear board portion in said flat in-use configuration.    
   
   
       14 . The compact foldable skateboard of  claim 13 , wherein said hinge means comprises a pivot hinge having first and second portions held together by a common pin member for pivotal movement about a pivot axis defined by said common pin member.  
   
   
       15 . The compact foldable skateboard of  claim 14 , wherein said pivot axis is oriented substantially transversely to said longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       16 . The compact foldable skateboard of  claim 15 , wherein said longitudinal folding movement of said front board portion and said rear board portion with respect to each other comprises relative pivotal movement of said front board portion and said rear board portion about said pivot axis.  
   
   
       17 . The compact foldable skateboard of  claim 13 , wherein in said folded storage configuration, said top surface of said front board portion faces said top surface of said rear board portion.  
   
   
       18 . The compact foldable skateboard of  claim 13 , wherein said locking means comprises a dead bolt slidably mounted within a main housing secured to one of said front board portion and said rear board portion and a bolt receiving portion mounted on the other of said front board portion and said rear board portion.  
   
   
       19 . The compact foldable skateboard of  claim 13 , further comprising a braking means having a pivot axle pivotally mounted on said rear board portion, an actuation arm means extending outwardly from said pivot axle so as to be readily accessible to a rider, and at least one brake pad operatively mounted on said pivot axle for frictional engagement with said rear wheel carriage.  
   
   
       20 . The compact foldable skateboard of  claim 13 , wherein said bolt receiving portion includes a catch portion, and said dead bolt has a co-operating notch for receiving said catch portion therein.