Personnel transportation devices

Abstract

A personal transportation device includes front and rear sections having wheels mounted adjacent either end. The front section is hingedly attached to the rear section. A foot platform with binding is pivotally mounted to the front section. An overrunning clutch is attached to at least one wheel. A braking element is attached to the foot platform which is urged toward the upper surface of the front section by an elastic member. The braking element projects through a slot in the rear section and contacts a ground surface when the foot platform is tipped upwardly. When a leg of the user is drawn upwardly, the front section will move toward the rear section pivoting at the hinge portions. At least one of the front wheel and the rear wheel will roll toward the other. When the leg is pushed downwardly the overrunning clutch will lock and the device will move forwardly.

1 . A personal transportation device, comprising:
 a front section, said front section having a first end and a second end, a front wheel rotatably mounted to an axle adjacent said first end, a first pivot portion disposed adjacent said second end and having a first hinge portion disposed inwardly from said second end;   a rear section, said rear section having a second, mating hinge portion adjacent a first end, a rear wheel rotatably mounted to an axle adjacent a second end and a slot, said slot spaced rearwardly from said first end and penetrating from an upper surface to a lower surface of said rear section;   at least one overrunning clutch, said overrunning clutch attached to at least one of said front and rear wheel and axle mountings and permitting said wheel to rotate only in one_direction;   a foot platform, said foot platform having a forward end, a rearward end, a second mating pivot portion mounted adjacent said rearward end and being pivotally mounted to said first pivot portion;   a braking element, said braking element having an upper end, a mid portion and a lower end, being sized and shaped to fit slidably through said slot at said mid portion, being attached at said upper end to said second pivot portion and having a friction pad at said lower end;   an elastic member, said elastic member urging said forward end of said foot platform toward an upper surface of said front section;   a binding, said binding being attached to said foot platform and removably attaching a foot of a user to said platform; and   whereby, when a leg of said user is drawn upwardly, said front section will move toward said rear section as said sections pivot at said first and second hinge portions, at least one of said front wheel and said rear wheel will roll toward the other and when said leg is pushed downwardly said at least one overrunning clutch will lock and said device will move forwardly and when said foot platform is tilted rearwardly and upwardly against said elastic element, said braking element will cause said friction pad to contact a ground surface, slowing the forward motion of said device.   
   
   
       2 . The personal transportation device, as described in  claim 1 , wherein said first and second hinge portions include stopping elements limiting rotation of said front section with respect to said rear section. 
   
   
       3 . The personal transportation device, as described in  claim 2 , wherein said stopping elements limit rotation of said front section with respect to said rear section to 180 degrees. 
   
   
       4 . The personal transportation device, as described in  claim 1 , wherein said elastic member is detachable from either of said front section and said foot platform. 
   
   
       5 . The personal transportation device, as described in  claim 4 , wherein said front section further comprises a clearance opening disposed rearward of said front wheel, said clearance opening being sized, shaped and disposed to accommodate a portion of said rear wheel when said device is folded about said first and second hinge portions for storage. 
   
   
       6 . The personal transportation device, as described in  claim 1 , wherein said overrunning clutch comprises a toothed ratchet wheel affixed to said wheel and a spring-driven pall engaging said ratchet wheel at a first end and affixed to said section at a second end. 
   
   
       7 . The personal transportation device, as described in  claim 1 , wherein said overrunning clutch comprises a combination roller clutch and bearing assembly. 
   
   
       8 . A personal transportation device, comprising:
 An upwardly curved, resilient platform, said platform having a first end and a second end;   at least one front wheel rotatably mounted to an axle attached to an underside of said platform adjacent said first end;   at least one rear wheel rotatably mounted to an axle attached to an underside of said platform adjacent said second end;   at least one overrunning, said overrunning clutch attached to at least one of said front and rear wheel and axle mountings and permitting said wheel to rotate only in a forward direction; and   whereby, when a user jumps upwardly from a top surface of said platform, said first end will move toward said second end, at least one of said front wheel and said rear wheel will roll toward the other and when said user jumps downwardly upon said top surface said at least one overrunning clutch will lock and said device will move forwardly.   
   
   
       9 . The personal transportation device, as described in  claim 8 , wherein said overrunning clutch comprises a toothed ratchet wheel affixed to said rear wheel and a spring-driven pall engaging said ratchet wheel at a first end and affixed to said rear section at a second end. 
   
   
       10 . The personal transportation device, as described in  claim 8 , wherein said overrunning clutch comprises a combination roller clutch and bearing assembly. 
   
   
       11 . The personal transportation device, as described in  claim 8 , further comprising a resilient member, said resilient member being centrally disposed beneath said platform and attached adjacent said first and second ends. 
   
   
       12 . The personal transportation device, as described in  claim 11 , wherein said resilient member limits downward flexion of said platform to a horizontal axis of said platform. 
   
   
       13 . A personal transportation device, comprising:
 a base, said base having a first end, a second end, an upper surface, a lower surface, first and second sides;   at least one guide slot, said guide slot disposed in at least one of said first and second sides parallel to a long axis of said base;   at least one front ice skating blade, said at least one front blade attached to said lower surface adjacent said first end;   at least one rear sliding element, said at least one rear sliding element attached to said lower surface adjacent said second end;   a driving platform, said driving platform having a front end and a back end and being hingedly attached at said front end to said base adjacent said first end;   at least one guide block, said guide block having an upper end, a lower end, an inner side, an outer side;   at least one guide pin, said guide pin attached to said inner side of said guide block and slidably disposed within said guide slot;   a friction point, said friction point having a mounting end and a surface engaging end, being pivotally attached at said mounting end to said outer side of said guide block and extending downwardly to below a lowest point of said sliding element;   at least one activation rod, said rod having an forward end, a rearward end and being pivotally attached at said forward end to said driving platform adjacent said back end and pivotally attached at said rearward end to said outer side of said guide block above said mounting end of said friction point;   said friction point having a stopping element, said stopping element limiting pivoting of said friction point at said mounting end to a predetermined arc of rotation;   an elastic element, said elastic element urging said friction point to pivot to an outer limit of said predetermined arc of rotation;   a binding, said binding being attached to said driving platform and removably attaching a foot of a user to said platform; and   whereby, when a leg of said user is drawn upwardly, said driving platform will draw said activation rod upwardly, moving said guide block forwardly along said guide slot, pulling said friction point upwardly, permitting said friction point to pivot rearwardly about said mounting end and when a leg of said user is pushed downwardly, said driving platform will push said activation rod downwardly, moving said guide block rearwardly along said guide slot, pushing said friction point downwardly, said stopping element limiting pivoting of said friction point to said predetermined arc of rotation permitting, thereby causing said device to move forwardly over a surface.   
   
   
       14 . The personal transportation device, as described in  claim 13 , wherein said sliding element is selected from the group consisting of:
 ice skating blades, ski tips and wheels.   
   
   
       15 . The personal transportation device, as described in  claim 13 , wherein first and second activation rods move first and second guide blocks attached to first and second friction points along first and second guide slots disposed in first and second side of said base and a strapping member connects said first and second activation rods, thereby maintaining said first and second guide blocks in said first and second guide slots. 
   
   
       16 . A personal transportation device, comprising:
 a base, said base having a first end, a second end, an upper surface, a lower surface, first and second sides;   at least one guide slot, said guide slot centrally disposed along a central horizontal axis of said base and penetrating from said upper surface to said lower surface;   at least one front sliding element, said at least one front sliding element attached to said lower surface adjacent said first end;   at least one rear sliding element, said at least one rear sliding element attached to said lower surface adjacent said second end;   a driving platform, said driving platform having a front end and a back end and being hingedly attached at said front end to said base adjacent said first end;   a guide pin, said guide pin having an upper end, a lower end, a removable upper retaining cap and a lower retaining ledge, said cap and said ledge retaining said guide pin slidably in said guide slot;   an friction point, said friction point having a mounting end and an surface engaging end, being pivotally attached at said mounting end to said lower end of said guide pin and extending downwardly to below a lowest point of said sliding element;   an activation rod, said rod having an forward end, a rearward end and being pivotally attached at said forward end to said driving platform adjacent said back end and pivotally attached at said rearward end to said removable upper retaining cap of said guide pin;   said driving platform having a central relief slot disposed at said back end, said relief slot being sized and shaped to accommodate said activation rod when said driving platform is in a lowered position;   said friction point having a stopping element, said stopping element limiting pivoting of said friction point at said mounting end to a predetermined arc of rotation;   an elastic element, said elastic element urging said friction point to pivot to an outer limit of said predetermined arc of rotation;   a binding, said binding being attached to said driving platform and removably attaching a foot of a user to said platform; and   whereby, when a leg of said user is drawn upwardly, said driving platform will draw said activation rod upwardly, moving said guide pin forwardly in said guide slot, pulling said friction point upwardly, permitting said friction point to pivot rearwardly about said mounting end and when a leg of said user is pushed downwardly, said driving platform will push said activation rod downwardly, moving said guide pin rearwardly in said guide slot, pushing said friction point downwardly, said stopping element limiting pivoting of said friction point to said predetermined arc of rotation permitting, thereby causing said device to move forwardly over a surface.   
   
   
       17 . The personal transportation device, as described in  claim 16 , wherein said sliding element is selected from the group consisting of:
 ice skating blades, ski tips and wheels.