Wheeled apparatus, system, and method

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method for a wheeled apparatus includes selective adjustment of at least one of a number of wheels and a position of the wheels in order to achieve a target characteristic from among strength, stability, maneuverability, and wheel surface contact for a wheel board. A front and rear caster wheel may be laterally centered, and one or more sets of centrally positioned wheels may be fore and aft centered to form a generally diamond configuration. The centrally positioned wheels may be raised relative to the front and rear wheels. Adjusting mechanisms enable adjustment of heights, fore and aft positions, and the number of centrally positioned wheels.

1 . A wheeled apparatus comprising:
 a deck;   a plurality of wheels connected to the deck and configured in a substantially diamond shape to support the deck and a weight of a user, the plurality of wheels comprising:
 a lower set of wheels, each being equipped with a castering mechanism allowing the wheels to rotate 360 degrees in the horizontal plane; and 
 an adjustably supported raised set of wheels configured to allow the apparatus to tilt while the lower set of wheels support the deck and the user. 
   
     
     
         2 . The wheeled apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the raised set of wheels are adjustable by the user to allow the raised set of wheels to be moved longitudinally in a fore and aft direction along an axis between the lower set of wheels. 
     
     
         3 . The wheeled apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the raised set of wheels have a height adjustment mechanism, the raised set of wheels being adjustable by the user to at least one of increase stability, decrease stability, and adapt to the apparatus to desired riding conditions. 
     
     
         4 . The wheeled apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a third set of wheels that increases stability and surface contact area of the wheels. 
     
     
         5 . The wheeled apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the third set of wheels is supported on an axis that is a common axis for the third set of wheels and the raised set of wheels. 
     
     
         6 . The wheeled apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a fore and aft extending longitudinal axis on which the lower set of wheels is supported; and   a first laterally extending axis on which the raised set of wheels is supported, the first laterally extending axis extending transversely to the fore and aft extending longitudinal axis;   wherein the third set of wheels is supported on a second laterally extending axis spaced from the first laterally extending axis.   
     
     
         7 . A wheeled apparatus system, comprising:
 a wheeled sport deck having caster wheels supported at front and rear ends of the deck on a longitudinal fore and aft axis;   at least one adjustment mechanism; and   a set of laterally positioned central wheels adjustably supported on the deck by the at least one adjustment mechanism at a position along a length of the deck between the caster wheels.   
     
     
         8 . The wheeled apparatus system of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one adjustment mechanism comprises a fore and aft adjusting mechanism for adjusting a position of the laterally positioned central wheels along a length of the deck. 
     
     
         9 . The wheeled apparatus system of  claim 8 , wherein the fore and aft adjusting mechanism comprises at least one through opening in the deck. 
     
     
         10 . The wheeled apparatus system of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one adjustment mechanism comprises a height adjusting mechanism for adjusting a height of the laterally positioned central wheels relative to the caster wheels. 
     
     
         11 . The wheeled apparatus system of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one adjustment mechanism comprises a wheel number adjusting mechanism for adjusting a number of the laterally positioned central wheels. 
     
     
         12 . A method of using a wheel board, the method comprising:
 determining at least one target characteristic including at least one of a strength, stability, maneuverability, and wheel surface contact for a wheel board; and   selectively adjusting at least one of a number of wheels and a position of the wheels to achieve the at least one target characteristic.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein selectively adjusting comprises selectively adjusting a number of centrally positioned wheels between a forward most wheel and a rearward most wheel to include a number of wheels in a range from 3 to 11. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein selectively adjusting comprises selectively adjusting a number of centrally and laterally positioned wheels between a forward most and a rearward most wheel to include a number of wheels in a range from 4 to 8. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the forward most wheel and the rearward most wheel define a wheelbase having a distance, the method comprising selectively adjusting a position of at least one centrally positioned wheel within a range extending between and including a position of the forward most wheel and the rearward most wheel. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein selectively adjusting comprises selectively adjusting the position of the at least one centrally positioned wheel to be in an extent from one-eighth to one-half the distance as measured from the forward most wheel. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein selectively adjusting comprises selectively adjusting the position of the at least one centrally positioned wheel to be in an extent from one-eighth to one-half the distance as measured from the rearward most wheel. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein selectively adjusting comprises selectively adjusting a position of at least one centrally positioned wheel to have a lower extent higher than a lower extent of a forward most wheel and a rearward most wheel, wherein a difference in the lower extents is in a range from one-sixteenth inch to twice a height of a deck of the wheel board. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein selectively adjusting comprises selectively adjusting a position of at least one centrally positioned wheel to have a lower extent higher than a lower extent of a forward most wheel and a rearward most wheel, wherein a difference in the lower extents is in a range from one-eighth inch to a height of a deck of the wheel board.