Skateboard truck assembly

Abstract

A skateboard truck assembly comprising a base plate, a hanger, and at least one compressible member interposed there between that utilizes rotation of the hanger to at least partially and temporarily deform the compressible member, thereby creating zones of tension and/or compression within the compressible member and facilitating smooth and efficient motion of the skateboard.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A truck assembly comprising:
 a base plate comprising:
 a mounting plate, and 
 an angled hanger coupling member extending from the base plate and comprising at least one base plate protrusion extending outwardly from the angled hanger coupling member; 
   a hanger comprising:
 a first surface and a second surface, wherein at least the first surface is configured to face the angled hanger coupling member of the base plate, and 
 at least one hanger protrusion extending outwardly from the first surface of the hanger; 
 at least one base plate spacer adjacent to the angled hanger coupling member; and 
 at least one hanger spacer adjacent to the first surface of the hanger; 
   wherein the at least one base plate protrusion and the at least one hanger protrusion are configured to engage at least one compressible member such that a first gap is formed between the at least one compressible member and the angled hanger coupling member by the at least one base plate spacer, and such that a second gap is formed between the at least one compressible member and the first surface of the hanger by the at least one hanger spacer.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein when the hanger is rotated away from a resting position, at least one compression zone and at least one tension zone are created about a plane in the at least one compressible member, and further wherein the at least one compression zone and the at least one tension zone cooperatively urge the hanger to return to a resting position. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , the at least one base plate spacer and the at least one hanger spacer being configured to maintain the first gap and the second gap when the hanger is rotated away from the resting position. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a kingpin configured for assembly of the truck assembly, wherein the kingpin orthogonally intersects at least the first surface and/or the second surface of the hanger. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 4 , the hanger being configured to be rotated along an axis defined by a longitudinal axis of the kingpin. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 5 , the hanger defining therein a kingpin opening configured to receive the kingpin. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , the angled hanger coupling member protruding from the mounting plate at an angle in the range of from about 15° to about 75°. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , the hanger having a maximum degree of rotation of at least 15°. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1 , the at least one compressible member comprising an elastomer. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 9 , the elastomer having a Shore A hardness. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 1 , the hanger presenting a pair of opposing axle pins. 
     
     
         12 . A hanger comprising:
 a first surface and a second surface, wherein at least the first surface is configured to face an angled hanger coupling member of a base plate; and   at least one hanger protrusion extending outwardly from the first surface of the hanger, wherein the at least one hanger protrusion is configured to fully penetrate a width of at least one compressible member that is spaced apart from the first surface of the hanger by at least one hanger spacer, such that a gap is created between the at least one compressible member and the first surface of the hanger.   
     
     
         13 . The hanger of  claim 12 , wherein when the hanger is rotated away from a resting position, at least one compression zone and at least one tension zone are created about a plane in the at least one compressible member, and wherein the at least one compression zone and the at least one tension zone cooperatively urge the hanger to return to the resting position. 
     
     
         14 . The hanger of  claim 12 , further comprising a kingpin configured for assembly of a truck assembly comprising the hanger, and wherein the kingpin orthogonally intersects at least the first surface and/or the second surface of the hanger. 
     
     
         15 . The hanger of  claim 14 , the hanger being configured to be rotated along an axis defined by a longitudinal axis of the kingpin. 
     
     
         16 . The hanger of  claim 12  further comprising a kingpin opening configured to receive a kingpin, the kingpin opening having at least one bearing member for facilitating rotation of the hanger about the kingpin. 
     
     
         17 . The hanger of  claim 16 , the at least one hanger spacer being configured to be interposed directly between the at least one compressible member and at least the first surface of the hanger. 
     
     
         18 . A base plate comprising:
 a mounting plate; and   an angled hanger coupling member extending from the base plate and comprising at least one base plate protrusion extending outwardly from the angled hanger coupling member, wherein the at least one base plate protrusion is configured to penetrate at least half of a width of at least one compressible member that is spaced apart from the angled hanger coupling member by at least one base plate spacer, such that a gap is created between the at least one compressible member and the angled hanger coupling member.   
     
     
         19 . The base plate of  claim 18 , the at least one compressible member comprising an elastomer. 
     
     
         20 . The base plate of  claim 19 , the elastomer having a Shore A hardness.