Rider Driven Skateboard

Abstract

A skateboard comprising a pair of front wheels mounted to a front axle having a one-way clutch mounted in one or both front wheels, and a pair of rear wheels mounted to a rear axle having a one-way clutch mounted in one or both rear wheels, and a drive mechanism configured to drive the front axle so as to rotate one or both front wheels to drive the board forward when a rider's weight is shifted to the rear of the skateboard deck, and configured to drive the rear axle so as to rotate one or both rear wheels to drive the board forward when the rider's weight is shifted to the front of the skateboard deck.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A skateboard comprising:
 a deck mounted to pivot at its center with respect to a chassis;   a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels;   a front axle mounting said pair of front wheels wherein a one-way clutch is mounted within at least one of said front wheels;   a rear axle mounting said pair of rear wheels wherein a one-way clutch is mounted within at least one of said rear wheels; and   a drive mechanism configured to drive the front axle so as to drive the skateboard forward when the rider's weight is shifted to the rear of the skateboard deck causing the deck to pivot downwardly at the rear, and to drive the rear axle so as to drive the skateboard forward when the rider's weight is shifted to the front of the skateboard deck causing the deck to pivot downwardly at the front.   
     
     
         2 . The skateboard of  claim 1  wherein the drive mechanism comprises a belt and pulley system. 
     
     
         3 . The skateboard of  claim 1  wherein the drive mechanism comprises a plurality of gears and a constant torque spring. 
     
     
         4 . The skateboard of  claim 1  wherein the drive mechanism comprises a plurality of gears and a constant force spring. 
     
     
         5 . The skateboard of  claim 1  wherein there is a one-way clutch mounted in both front and both rear wheels. 
     
     
         6 . The skateboard of  claim 1  wherein each one-way clutch is a sprag clutch. 
     
     
         7 . The skateboard of  claim 1  wherein said front axle is mounted in a front truck housing flexibly attached to the chassis and said rear axle is mounted in a rear truck housing flexibly attached to the chassis.