Personal transport device

Abstract

A skateboard comprising an elongate body extending between a front end and a rear end, the front and rear end of the body each being positioned at a height h b . In addition, the skateboard comprises a front coupling member pivotally coupled to the front end of the body. Further, the skateboard comprises a front wheel rotatably coupled to the front coupling member. The front wheel having an axis of rotation disposed at a height h f above the ground, wherein height h f is greater than height h b . Still further, the skateboard comprises a rear coupling member pivotally coupled to the rear end of the body. Moreover, the skateboard comprises a rear wheel rotatably coupled to rear coupling member. The at least one rear wheel having an axis of rotation disposed at a height h r above the ground, wherein height h r is greater than height h b .

1 . A skateboard comprising:
 an elongate body extending along a longitudinal axis between a front end and a rear end, the front end and the rear end each being positioned at a height h b  measured perpendicularly from the ground;   a front coupling member pivotally coupled to the front end of the body, the front coupling member having a central axis of rotation and adapted to rotate relative to the board;   at least one front wheel rotatably coupled to the front coupling member with a front axle, the at least one front wheel having an axis of rotation disposed at a height h f  above the ground, wherein height h f  is greater than height h b ;   a rear coupling member pivotally coupled to the rear end of the body, the rear coupling member having a central axis of rotation and adapted to rotate relative to the board; and   at least one rear wheel rotatably coupled to rear coupling member with a rear axle, the at least one rear wheel having an axis of rotation disposed at a height h r  above the ground, wherein height h r  is greater than height h b .   
     
     
         2 . The skateboard of  claim 1  wherein the front end is tapered to permit clearance for the at least one front wheel. 
     
     
         3 . The skateboard of  claim 1  wherein the rear end of the body comprises a cutout for each of the at least one rear wheel. 
     
     
         4 . The skateboard of  claim 1  wherein at least one front wheel and the at least one rear wheel have a diameter of at least 4 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The skateboard of  claim 1  wherein the front axle has a length L f  measured between its ends and the rear axle has a length L r  measured between its ends, wherein length L f  is greater than length L r . 
     
     
         6 . The skateboard of  claim 1  wherein the central axis of rotation of the front coupling member is oriented at an angle θ f  relative to the longitudinal axis of the board in side view and wherein the central axis of rotation of the rear coupling member is oriented at an angle θ r  relative to the longitudinal axis of the board in side view, 
     
     
         7 . The skateboard of  claim 6  wherein angle θ f  comprises an angle between 0° and 90°. 
     
     
         8 . The skateboard of  claim 7  further comprising means for adjusting angle θ f . 
     
     
         9 . The skateboard of  claim 8  wherein angle θ r  comprises an angle between 0° and 90°. 
     
     
         10 . The skateboard of  claim 9  further comprising means for adjusting angle θ r . 
     
     
         11 . The skateboard of  claim 1  wherein the elongate body comprises a convex shape in side view. 
     
     
         12 . A skateboard comprising:
 an elongate body extending along a longitudinal axis between a front end and a rear end, the front end and the rear end each being positioned at a height h b  measured perpendicularly from the ground;   a front-coupling member, rotatably supporting at least one front wheel, pivotally coupled to the front end of the body, wherein the front coupling member rotates about a front central axis to pivot the front wheel; and   a rear-coupling member, rotatably supporting at least one rear wheel, pivotally coupled to the rear end of the body, wherein the rear coupling member rotates about a rear central axis to pivot the rear wheel.   
     
     
         13 . The skateboard of  claim 12  wherein the front coupling member comprises a means for adjusting an angle θ f  between the front central axis and the board axis. 
     
     
         14 . The skateboard of  claim 13  wherein the rear coupling member comprises a means for adjusting an angle θ r  between the rear central axis and the board axis. 
     
     
         15 . The skateboard of  claim 13  wherein the means for adjusting the angle θ f  comprises at least one pair of wedged discs that are counter-rotated relative to each other about the front central axis. 
     
     
         16 . The skateboard of  claim 12  wherein the elongate body comprises a convex shape in side view. 
     
     
         17 . The skateboard of  claim 12  wherein the front coupling member is connected to the elongate body by a ball and socket means oriented along front central axis of rotation. 
     
     
         18 . The skateboard of  claim 12  wherein the rear coupling member is connected to the elongate body by a ball and socket means oriented along rear central axis rotation. 
     
     
         19 . A method of altering the handling of a skateboard comprising:
 providing the skateboard comprising:
 an elongate body extending along a longitudinal axis between a front end and a rear end; 
 a pair of front wheels coupled to the front end with a front coupling member, wherein the front coupling member has a central axis of rotation about which the front coupling member rotates relative to the body; 
 a pair of rear wheels coupled to the rear end with a rear coupling member, wherein the rear coupling member has a central axis of rotation about which the rear coupling member rotates relative to the body; 
 wherein the central axis of rotation of the front coupling member is oriented at an angle θ f  relative to the longitudinal axis of the body, and the central axis of rotation of the rear coupling member is oriented at an angle θ r  relative to the longitudinal axis of the body; 
 wherein θ f  and θ r  are each between 0° and 90°; 
   adjusting the angle θ f ;   adjusting the angle θ r .   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the front coupling member comprises a pair of front wedged discs disposed about the central axis of rotation of the front coupling member, and the rear coupling member comprises a pair of rear wedged discs disposed about the central axis of rotation of the rear coupling member. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein adjusting the angle θ f  comprises counter-rotating the pair of front wedged discs relative to the central axis of rotation of the front coupling member, and adjusting the angle θ r  comprises counter-rotating the pair of rear wedged discs relative to the central axis of rotation of the rear coupling member.