Skateboard and Steering Device

Abstract

A front wheel unit includes a front wheel support portion, which rotationally supports a front wheel, and a front wheel seat, which supports the front wheel support portion such that the front wheel support portion is rotatable at least about the front axis. A rear wheel unit includes a rear wheel support portion, which rotationally supports a rear wheel, and a rear wheel seat, which supports the rear wheel support portion such that the rear wheel support portion is rotatable at least about the rear axis. The front wheel unit and the rear wheel unit are configured such that, when the board portion is tilted in a width direction, the amount of rotation of the rear wheel support portion about the rear axle is greater than the amount of rotation of the front wheel support portion about the front axis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A skateboard, comprising:
 a board portion including a surface configured for a user to ride and a back surface that is opposite the surface;   a front wheel unit including a front wheel located at a front portion of the back surface of the board portion; and   a rear wheel unit including a rear wheel located at a rear portion of the back surface of the board portion, wherein   the front wheel unit includes:
 a front wheel support portion that rotationally supports the front wheel; and 
 a front wheel seat having a front axis extending in a direction intersecting the board portion, the front wheel seat supporting the front wheel support portion such that the front wheel support portion is rotatable at least about the front axis, 
   the rear wheel unit includes:
 a rear wheel support portion that rotationally supports the rear wheel; and 
 a rear wheel seat having a rear axis extending in a direction intersecting the board portion, the rear wheel seat supporting the rear wheel support portion such that the rear wheel support portion is rotatable at least about the rear axis, 
   each of the front axis and the rear axis is inclined upward from front to rear in the board portion, and   the front wheel unit and the rear wheel unit are configured such that, when the board portion is tilted in a width direction, an amount of rotation of the rear wheel support portion about the rear axis is greater than an amount of rotation of the front wheel support portion about the front axis.   
     
     
         2 . The skateboard according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a steering device configured to steer the front wheel unit and the rear wheel unit, wherein   the steering device includes an linkage mechanism including a connection shaft,   the linkage mechanism is configured to link rotation of the front wheel support portion and rotation of the rear wheel support portion by connecting the front wheel support portion and the rear wheel support portion to each other with the connection shaft,   the connection shaft includes a first end connected to the front wheel support portion so as to be rotatable at least about the front axis, and   the connection shaft includes a second end connected to the rear wheel support portion so as to be rotatable at least about the rear axis.   
     
     
         3 . The skateboard according to  claim 2 , wherein
 a point at which the first end of the connection shaft is connected to the front wheel support portion is a front connection point,   a point at which the second end of the connection shaft is connected to the rear wheel support portion is a rear connection point, and   a distance between the front axis and the front connection point differs from a distance between the rear axis and the rear connection point, so that the connection shaft is placed at an angle with respect to a reference line extending in a front-rear direction in which the front wheel unit and the rear wheel unit are aligned.   
     
     
         4 . The skateboard according to  claim 3 , wherein the connection shaft is placed on one side of the reference line in a direction intersecting the reference line. 
     
     
         5 . The skateboard according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the first end of the connection shaft is connected to the front wheel support portion through a first elastic body used as a universal joint, and   the second end of the connection shaft is connected to the rear wheel support portion through a second elastic body used as a universal joint.   
     
     
         6 . The skateboard according to  claim 2 , wherein the connection shaft includes a display portion capable of displaying a design. 
     
     
         7 . The skateboard according to  claim 1 , wherein the rear wheel is placed rearward of the rear axis in a direction intersecting the rear axis. 
     
     
         8 . The skateboard according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the front wheel unit includes two front wheels arranged on opposite sides of the front axis, and   the rear wheel unit includes one rear wheel.   
     
     
         9 . A steering device, comprising a front wheel unit, a rear wheel unit, and an linkage mechanism including a connection shaft, wherein
 the front wheel unit includes:
 a front wheel support portion configured to rotationally support a front wheel of a mobile body; and 
 a front wheel seat having a front axis extending in a direction intersecting an axle of the front wheel, the front wheel seat supporting the front wheel support portion such that the front wheel support portion is rotatable at least about the front axis, 
   the rear wheel unit includes:
 a rear wheel support portion configured to rotationally support a rear wheel of the mobile body; and 
 a rear wheel seat having a rear axis extending in a direction intersecting an axle of the rear wheel, the rear wheel seat supporting the rear wheel support portion such that the rear wheel support portion is rotatable at least about the rear axis, 
   the linkage mechanism is configured to link rotation of the front wheel support portion and rotation of the rear wheel support portion by connecting the front wheel support portion and the rear wheel support portion to each other with the connection shaft,   the connection shaft includes a first end connected to the front wheel support portion so as to be rotatable at least about the front axis,   the connection shaft includes a second end connected to the rear wheel support portion so as to be rotatable at least about the rear axis,   a point at which the first end of the connection shaft is connected to the front wheel support portion is a front connection point,   a point at which the second end of the connection shaft is connected to the rear wheel support portion is a rear connection point, and   a distance between the front connection point and the front axis differs from a distance between the rear connection point and the rear axis, so that the connection shaft is placed at an angle with respect to a reference line extending in a front-rear direction in which the front wheel unit and the rear wheel unit are aligned.   
     
     
         10 . The steering device according to  claim 9 , wherein the connection shaft is placed on one side of the reference line in a direction intersecting the reference line.