Portable folding electric skateboard

Abstract

A portable skateboard, comprising a deck defined by a first board segment and a second board segment, each at least one wheel assembly attached to a bottom surface, a hinge mechanism disposed on the bottom surfaces of the board segments, configured to rotate the board segments along a lateral axis, and a locking mechanism having a latch configured to interfere with the rotation of the hinge mechanism, selectively securing the first board segment and the second board segment in an unfolded configuration, wherein top surfaces of the board segments form a continuous planar surface for standing thereon, and in a folded configuration, wherein the bottom surfaces of the first board segment and the second board segment are aligned, with the respective wheel assemblies adjacent to one another along a vertical axis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable skateboard comprising:
 a deck defined by a first board segment and a second board segment, wherein each board segment comprises a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one wheel assembly attached to the bottom surface;   at least a hinge mechanism disposed on the bottom surfaces of the board segments, mechanically connect the first board segment to the second board segment, wherein the at least a hinge mechanism is configured to rotate the board segments along a lateral axis passing through the at least a hinge mechanism; and   a locking mechanism having a latch configured to interfere with the rotation of the at least a hinge mechanism, selectively securing the first board segment and the second board segment:
 in an unfolded configuration of the portable skateboard, wherein the top surfaces of the board segments form a continuous planar surface for standing thereon; and 
 in a folded configuration of the portable skateboard, wherein the bottom surfaces of the first board segment and the second board segment are aligned, with the respective wheel assemblies adjacent to one another along a vertical axis. 
   
     
     
         2 . The portable skateboard of  claim 1 , wherein the first board segment comprises a nose portion. 
     
     
         3 . The portable skateboard of  claim 1 , wherein the second board segment comprises a tail portion. 
     
     
         4 . The portable skateboard of  claim 1 , wherein the deck comprises a cut orthogonally separating the first board segment and the second board segment, and wherein the cut is positioned at least half of a wheel diameter away from a center of the deck. 
     
     
         5 . The portable skateboard of  claim 1 , wherein the at least a hinge mechanism comprises:
 a plurality of hinge components, wherein each hinge component of the plurality of hinge components comprises:
 a first hinge node proximate to a rear end of the first board segment; 
 a second hinge node proximate to a front end of the second board segment; and 
 a bar linkage connecting the first hinge node and the second hinge node, wherein the bar linkage is configured to facilitate a rotational movement between the first board segment and the second board segment along the lateral axis. 
   
     
     
         6 . The portable skateboard of  claim 5  wherein the second hinge node comprises a blind pivot block and the first hinge node comprises a dual blind pivot block. 
     
     
         7 . The portable skateboard of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of hinge components comprises:
 a first set of hinge components; and   a second set of hinge components, wherein the first set of hinge components is offset relative to the second set of hinge components along the lateral axis, such that when the portable skateboard is in the folded configuration, the offset forms a nesting arrangement of the plurality of hinge components.   
     
     
         8 . The portable skateboard of  claim 5 , wherein the bar linkage comprises one or more recesses configured for receiving an additional locking element to secure the bar linkage to the bottom surfaces of the deck in the unfolded configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The portable skateboard of  claim 8 , wherein the recesses comprises a receiving hole and the additional locking element comprises a locking pin. 
     
     
         10 . The portable skateboard of  claim 8 , wherein the recesses comprises at least one notch and the additional locking element comprises a restraint bar having a nub. 
     
     
         11 . The portable skateboard of  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a spring, positioned between a collar and an attachment point affixed to the bottom surface of the first board segment approximate to the at least a wheel assembly, configured to hold the latch at a decompress position thereby restricting the rotation of the at least a hinge mechanism. 
     
     
         12 . The portable skateboard of  claim 11 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a shroud covering the spring. 
     
     
         13 . The portable skateboard of  claim 1 , further comprising an electronic propulsion system including at least one electric motor mechanically coupled to at least one wheel assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The portable skateboard of  claim 13 , wherein the electronic propulsion system further comprises at least one modular battery removably attached to the bottom surfaces of the deck. 
     
     
         15 . A portable skateboard comprising:
 a deck defined by a first board segment and a second board segment, wherein each board segment comprises a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one wheel assembly attached to the bottom surface;   at least a hinge mechanism disposed on the top surfaces of the board segments, mechanically connect the first board segment to the second board segment, wherein the at least a hinge mechanism is configured to rotate the board segments along a lateral axis passing through the at least a hinge mechanism; and   a locking mechanism having a latch configured to interfere with the rotation of the at least a hinge mechanism, selectively securing the first board segment and the second board segment:
 in an unfolded configuration of the portable skateboard, wherein the top surfaces of the board segments form a continuous planar surface for standing thereon; and 
 in a folded configuration of the portable skateboard, wherein the top surfaces of the first board segment and the second board segment are adjacent with the respective wheel assemblies facing outward. 
   
     
     
         16 . The portable skateboard of  claim 1 , wherein the first board segment comprises a nose portion. 
     
     
         17 . The portable skateboard of  claim 1 , wherein the second board segment comprises a tail portion. 
     
     
         18 . The portable skateboard of  claim 15 , wherein the deck comprises a cut orthogonally separating the first board segment and the second board segment, positioned at a center of the deck. 
     
     
         19 . The portable skateboard of  claim 15 , wherein the at least a hinge mechanism comprises at least a leaf hinge. 
     
     
         20 . The portable skateboard of  claim 13 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a door latch mechanism and wherein the latch comprises a retractable latch.