All-terrain board vehicle

Abstract

An all-terrain board vehicle includes wheels characterized by a large bore hollow hub configuration comprised of an inner race portion that is held stationary of radial movement once connected to a frame, and a rotatable outer race that acts as a ground surface contacting member. The frame is pivotally connected to each wheel by a steering mechanism containing a pivoting axis located centrally in a longitudinal direction and set perpendicular to an inclination subtended from the axis of the wheel in relation to the ground. Rider weight directed towards the left or right side of the vehicle's longitudinal orientation induces a steering effect wherein each wheel pivots laterally along its axis in the opposite direction of rider lean, following the rotational path defined by the central rotating axis within the steering mechanism and due to the angular orientation of the axis and the opposing ground force upon each wheel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An all-terrain board vehicle comprising:
 a. a frame for supporting a user;   b. an at least one wheel rotatably secured at or near each end of the frame, each of the least one wheels comprising an inner rim race and an outer rim race, the inner rim race and outer rim race defining a wheel hub;   c. a steering mechanism disposed within the wheel hub of at least one of the at least one wheels, the steering mechanism comprising:
 i. a base mounted to the inner rim race of the at least one wheel and connected to the frame; and 
 ii. a pivoting member affixed to the base, the pivoting member axially connected to the at least one wheel, the pivoting member for enabling axial rotation of the at least one wheel about a central pivot axis in response to shifts in the user's body weight to the left or right of a longitudinal axis of the frame. 
   
     
     
         2 . The all-terrain board vehicle of  claim 1  further comprising an at least one frame arm disposed at one end of the frame, the at least one frame arm for dynamically mounting the frame to the inner rim race of each wheel via the steering mechanism. 
     
     
         3 . The all-terrain board vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the outer rim race of each of the at least one wheels is capable of rotating radially to facilitate forward and backward movement of the vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The all-terrain board vehicle of  claim 1  wherein each of the at least one wheels is rotatably secured to the frame at or near the lower-most point of each wheel hub. 
     
     
         5 . The all-terrain board vehicle of  claim 1  wherein a pivot axis angle of the steering mechanism is substantially perpendicular to an inclination subtended from the frame in correspondence with the axis of the at least one wheel in relation to the ground. 
     
     
         6 . The all-terrain board vehicle of  claim 5  wherein the pivot axis angle is between zero and ninety degrees (0 and +/−90°) relative to the axis of the hub of the at least one wheel in relation to the ground. 
     
     
         7 . The all-terrain board vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the frame further comprises a deck of substantially planar shape, the deck for supporting a user in a standing position. 
     
     
         8 . The all-terrain board vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the frame further comprises a deck having a convex shape, the deck for supporting a user in a standing position. 
     
     
         9 . The all-terrain board vehicle of  claim 1  further comprising an at least one binding, each at least one binding for releasably harnessing a user's foot to the frame. 
     
     
         10 . The all-terrain board vehicle of  claim 1  wherein radial movement of the inner rim race of each of the at least one wheels is inhibited. 
     
     
         11 . The all-terrain board vehicle of  claim 1  further comprising a tire mounted on each outer rim race of each of the at least one wheels.