Personal Vehicle Wheel Mount and Kit and Methods and Uses Thereof

Abstract

The present specification discloses wheel mounts for personal vehicles, such as skateboards and scooters. Wheel mount embodiments disclosed herein provide for the interchangeable mounting of wheels having differently shaped wheel cores. The present invention allows users to forego the previous limitation of having a specific wheel mount that only provides for the mounting a specific wheel having one specific wheel core geometry. Embodiments can be utilized on motorized personal vehicles, such as motorized skateboards and scooters that utilize various motors, such as direct drive or belt drive motors.

1 . A wheel mount, comprising:
 a base, the base comprising a first side and an opposite second side, the first side having either a belt engagement surface or a plurality of direct drive engagement portions, the first side further defining a bearing seat;   a plurality of first lugs projecting from the second side of the base, each lug of the plurality of first lugs having a first shape, the first shape having a first arcuate surface with a first arc length; and   a plurality of second lugs projecting from the second side of the base, each lug of the plurality of second lugs having a second shape, the second shape having a second arcuate surface with a second arc length,   wherein the first shape of each lug of the plurality of first lugs is different from the second shape of each lug of the plurality of second lugs; and   the plurality of first lugs and plurality of second lugs are arranged to enable interchangeable mounting of a first wheel having a first wheel core, and a second wheel having a second wheel core different from the first wheel core.   
     
     
         2 . The wheel mount according to  claim 1 , wherein the first shape of each lug of the plurality of first lugs further comprises two planar surfaces. 
     
     
         3 . The wheel mount according to  claim 2 , wherein the second shape of each lug of the plurality of second lugs further comprises two planar surfaces and the first arc length is different from the second arc length. 
     
     
         4 . The wheel mount according to  claim 1 , wherein the second shape of each lug of the plurality of second lugs further comprises two planar surfaces. 
     
     
         5 . The wheel mount according to  claim 1 , wherein the first shape of each lug of the plurality of first lugs further comprises two planar surfaces, and the second shape of each lug of the plurality of second lugs further comprises two planar surfaces, wherein the first arc length is different from the second arc length. 
     
     
         6 . The wheel mount according to  claim 1 , wherein the first arc length is longer than the second arc length. 
     
     
         7 . The wheel mount according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first lug group including at least one lug of the plurality of first lugs and at least one lug of the plurality of second lugs, and a second lug group including least one lug of the plurality of first lugs and at least one lug of the plurality of second lugs. 
     
     
         8 . The wheel mount according to  claim 7 , further comprising an axle aperture through the base and the first lug group and the second lug group are disposed adjacent the axle aperture. 
     
     
         9 . The wheel mount according to  claim 8 , wherein the first lug group and the second lug group are mirroredly disposed about the axle aperture. 
     
     
         10 . The wheel mount according to  claim 7 , wherein the first lug group includes two of the first lugs and two of the second lugs. 
     
     
         11 . The wheel mount according to  claim 10 , wherein the two of the first lugs are disposed between the two of the second lugs. 
     
     
         12 . The wheel mount according to  claim 7 , wherein the first lug group and the second lug group are mirroredly disposed along an annular region of the base. 
     
     
         13 . The wheel mount according to  claim 12 , wherein the first lug group and the second lug group are spaced apart from each other by about 72 degrees along the annular region. 
     
     
         14 . The wheel mount according to  claim 12 , wherein the lugs within the first lug group are spaced apart from one another by about 36 degrees along the annular region. 
     
     
         15 . The wheel mount according to  claim 14 , wherein the lugs within the second group are spaced apart from one another by about 36 degrees along the annular region. 
     
     
         16 . The wheel mount according to  claim 1 , wherein the belt engagement surface is a toothed surface. 
     
     
         17 . The wheel mount according to  claim 16 , wherein the toothed surface has 56 teeth, 63 teeth, 68 teeth, 70 teeth or 75 teeth. 
     
     
         18 . The wheel mount according to  claim 1 , wherein the first wheel core comprises one or more circular apertures or one or more non-circular apertures. 
     
     
         19 . The wheel mount according to  claim 1 , wherein the first wheel is a ABEC wheel and the second wheel is a Kegel wheel. 
     
     
         20 . A wheel mount conversion kit comprising:
 a. a wheel mount, comprising:
 a base, the base comprising a first side and an opposite second side, the first side having a belt engagement surface, the first side further defining a bearing seat; 
 a plurality of first lugs projecting from the second side of the base, each lug of the plurality of first lugs having a first shape, the first shape having a first arcuate surface with a first arc length; and 
 a plurality of second lugs projecting from the second side of the base, each lug of the plurality of second lugs having a second shape, the second shape having a second arcuate surface with a second arc length, 
 wherein the first shape of each lug of the plurality of first lugs is different from the second shape of each lug of the plurality of second lugs; and 
 the plurality of first lugs and plurality of second lugs are arranged to enable interchangeable mounting of a first wheel having a first wheel core, and a second wheel having a second wheel core different from the first wheel core; and 
   b. a belt for engagement with the belt engagement surface.   
     
     
         21 . The wheel mount conversion kit of  claim 20  further including at least one of a wheel bearing, a motor cover and motor pulley. 
     
     
         22 . A wheel mount conversion kit comprising:
 a. a wheel mount, comprising:
 a base, the base comprising a first side and an opposite second side, the first side having a plurality of direct drive engagement portions, the first side further defining a bearing seat; 
 a plurality of first lugs projecting from the second side of the base, each lug of the plurality of first lugs having a first shape; and 
 a plurality of second lugs projecting from the second side of the base, each lug of the plurality of second lugs having a second shape, 
 wherein the first shape of each lug of the plurality of first lugs is different from the second shape of each lug of the plurality of second lugs; and 
 the plurality of first lugs and plurality of second lugs are arranged to enable interchangeable mounting of a first wheel having a first wheel core, and a second wheel having a second wheel core different from the first wheel core; and 
   b. at least one of a wheel bearing, a motor cover, and motor pulley.