Convertible skateboard/scooter

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6199880
  • Patent Number
    6,199,880
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, March 17, 1999
    25 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, March 13, 2001
    23 years ago
Abstract
The convertible skateboard/scooter includes a base board with wheels coupled to a lower side of the base board. A handle is hinged to the base board and is movable between a first position in which the device can be used as a conventional skateboard, and a second position in which the device can be used as a conventional scooter. In the skateboard configuration, the handle is located adjacent a side surface of the device to provide a top surface that is unobstructed by the handle and upon which a user can stand while skateboarding. A parental lock can be located in the handle to lock the handle at either one of the first and second positions and to prevent the conversion of the device between the skateboard and scooter configurations by a child. An indent in the rear of the base permits the handle to be used for carrying the device when in the skateboard configuration.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The invention relates generally to skateboards and in particular to a skateboard with a moveable handle that permits the skateboard to be configured as a scooter.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




Scooters and skateboards are well known manually propelled vehicles that can be used for both recreation and transportation by children and adults. A conventional skateboard includes a board with one or more wheels attached to its lower surface. The board is typically large enough to fit a user's feet onto the top surface when the user is standing with legs slightly spread apart and facing perpendicular to a direction of travel for the skateboard. In addition, the conventional skateboard typically includes four wheels that are flexibly attached in pairs to the lower surface of the skateboard. A first pair of wheels is flexibly attached to the front of the board and a second pair of wheels is flexibly attached to the rear of the board by front and rear trucks, respectively. The trucks are configured such that when a user's weight is shifted to a first side of the skateboard, each pair of wheels turns in an opposite direction relative to the other pair of wheels to steer the skateboard towards the first side of the skateboard.




By contrast, a conventional scooter is essentially a skateboard with a handle attached to the front end of the board. The scooter's board, however, is typically larger than that of a skateboard. In addition, although many conventional scooters include a two pair wheel arrangement similar to the wheel arrangement described above with regard to a conventional skateboard, some scooters include only a front wheel and a back wheel. The conventional scooter's handle typically extends two to four feet high (to approximately waist height of the user) and is used to provide leverage for propelling the scooter as well as provide steering for the scooter. In operation, a user places one foot on the top surface of the board of the scooter and pushes off a traveling surface with the other foot to propel the scooter. Once enough speed is attained, the user can coast with both feet placed on the top surface of the board. The scooter is steered by a combination of manipulation of the handle and shifting of the user's weight.




One variation of the standard scooter is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,707,884 to Chang (Chang '884). Chang '884 teaches the use of a foldable handle attached to a skateboard and is specifically directed to the locking hinge that connects the handle to the skateboard. The locking hinge mechanism is permanently mounted on the top surface of the base board and is lockable between an upright “operative” position in which the device can be operated as a conventional scooter, and a rest position in which the handle can be folded to rest upon the top surface of the base board to compactly store the device in a garage or other storage place.




Another scooter that includes a hinged handle connected to a wheeled platform is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,387,675 to Worobow (Worobow '675). The scooter disclosed in Worobow '675 has a handle with a steering member running through the center of the handle and attached to a front set of wheels. The steering member pivots within the handle and is connected to the front set of wheels such that the wheels can be rotated to steer the scooter. The entire handle is pivotally coupled to the platform of the scooter such that the handle can be collapsed onto the top surface of the platform to facilitate storage of the scooter.




The devices disclosed in Chang '884 and Worobow '675 are essentially foldable scooters. Neither device can be used as a skateboard because in the handle's stowed position, it obstructs the top surface of the board. Although other known scooters have handles that can be removed to allow the scooter to be used as a skateboard, a user requires tools to remove the handle, and the handle is separated from the skateboard, creating a storage problem.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The drawbacks of the prior art are overcome by the present invention, which provides a skateboard/scooter device that can be quickly and easily converted between a conventional skateboard and a conventional scooter. Conversion is accomplished by moving a handle between an upright scooter configuration and a stowed skateboard configuration. The handle can be disposed on the side of, and co-planar with the top surface of, the base board when in the skateboard configuration. A grip portion of the handle can be spaced from the back of the base board to provide a convenient carrying handle for the skateboard when in the skateboard configuration. When in the scooter configuration, the handle extends upwards at an angle from a front portion of the base board to provide an easily graspable handle for a user standing on the base board.




Riding a skateboard is a natural progression from (and more difficult than) riding a conventional scooter. Accordingly, for training purposes, a convertible skateboard/scooter greatly facilitates a user's learning of skateboarding while saving the user the cost of purchasing both a skateboard and a scooter. A convertible skateboard/scooter device is especially appropriate for use by children. A convertible skateboard/scooter provides both the training advantages and the safety features that are desired when the device is used by a child. In particular, a convertible skateboard/scooter device allows a child initially to learn conventional four wheel scooter riding while providing the opportunity to advance to skateboarding if the child desires. In addition, depending on the type of terrain on which the child will be traveling, a parent can determine whether the child should operate in the conventional scooter configuration or the skateboard configuration.




The invention provides even greater storage and carrying ability than that of the related art. Specifically, because the handle can be tucked on the side of the base board, the skateboard/scooter device will take up little more than the room needed for a conventional skateboard. When the handle is tucked on the side of the base board it can also serve as a carrying handle for the skateboard configuration. For example, in order to traverse a waterway, a mud path, or to walk the device uphill, a user can carry the skateboard/scooter device by the handle when the device is in its skateboard configuration.




A parent lock can also be incorporated into the handle to lock the device in either of the skateboard and scooter configurations. The lock is configured such that only an adult can unlock the skateboard/scooter device to switch between configurations. Accordingly, a parent can rest assured that a child will not convert the device between configuration without consent of an adult.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIGS. 1 and 2

are perspective views of the convertible skateboard/scooter embodying the principles of the invention in the conventional skateboard and scooter configurations, respectively.





FIG. 3

is a bottom perspective view of the convertible skateboard/scooter of FIG.


1


.





FIG. 4

is a bottom view of the front portion of the convertible skateboard/scooter of FIG.


1


.





FIG. 5

is a semi-exploded view of the front portion of the convertible skateboard/scooter shown in FIG.


4


.





FIG. 6

is a partial, semi-exploded view of the convertible skateboard/scooter shown in FIG.


4


.





FIG. 7

is a second partial, semi-exploded view of the convertible skateboard/scooter shown in FIG.


4


.





FIG. 8

is a partial, semi-exploded top perspective view of the convertible skateboard/scooter shown in FIG.


1


.





FIG. 9

is a perspective view of the base, handle bracket and handle of the convertible skateboard/scooter of FIG.


2


.





FIG. 10

is a perspective view of the handle, handle bracket, handle lock, base, front base block and lock housing of the convertible skateboard/scooter of FIG.


1


.





FIG. 11

is a second perspective view of the handle, handle bracket, handle lock, base, front base block and lock housing of the convertible skateboard/scooter of FIG.


1


.





FIG. 12

is a perspective view of the handle lock, base and front base block of the convertible skateboard/scooter of FIG.


1


.





FIG. 13

is a perspective view of the handle lock and base of the convertible skateboard/scooter of FIG.


1


.





FIG. 14

is a top view of the handle lock of the convertible skateboard/scooter of FIG.


1


.





FIG. 15

is an exploded view of the handle lock for the convertible skateboard/scooter of FIG.


14


.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




A convertible skateboard/scooter embodying the principles of the invention is illustrated in

FIGS. 1-14

and described below.




As shown in

FIG. 1

, convertible skateboard/scooter


1


includes a base


100


, front and rear wheel trucks


400


and


450


, respectively, and a handle


300


. Base


100


and wheel trucks


400


,


450


are of conventional design. Base


100


includes a lower surface


103


, a top surface


107


, front and rear


105


,


106


, and right side


104


, respectively. Wheels


401


are carried on wheel trucks


400


,


450


, which are attached to lower surface


103


of the base


100


.




Handle


300


is attached to the front end of the base


100


. Handle


300


is shown in

FIG. 1

in its lower “stowed” position such that the convertible scooter/skateboard is in its skateboard configuration. In this position, middle portion


310


of handle


300


is located adjacent the right side


104


of the base such that essentially none of the handle portion extends above the top surface


107


of the base


100


or otherwise obstructs a user's access to the base's top surface


107


for the purpose of skateboarding.




Handle


300


is formed from metal tube, and includes an elongate middle portion


310


and a base end and a grip portion that each extend perpendicularly from either end of the middle portion


310


. Grip portion


320


includes a top grip half


321


that is placed over a perpendicularly extending distal end of the metal tube and mates with a lower grip half


322


to sandwich the metal tube therebetween. The surface of the grip portion can be knurled or otherwise textured for greater gripping ability. At the opposite end of the handle middle portion


310


, the metal tube forms a handle base end


301


that is perpendicular to the middle portion


310


and is rotatably connected to a handle bracket


600


(discussed in greater detail below) located at the front


105


of the base.




A latch


303


extends from a side of the handle's middle portion


310


to rest on the top surface


107


of the base and provide support for the handle


300


to prevent it from being bent if a user steps on it while in the “stowed” skateboard position adjacent the base


100


.




In the stowed configuration, grip portion


320


is located adjacent to, and spaced from, the rear of the base


100


and provides a convenient carrying handle. Specifically, grip portion


320


extends approximately perpendicular to the handle middle portion


310


and is configured to create a space between the rear of the base


106


and the grip portion


320


to allow access for a user's hand.




In the scooter configuration, the handle middle portion


310


is inclined above the base


100


and extends upwardly from the right side of the front bumper


200


. Grip portion


320


extends generally perpendicular to the middle portion


310


. The handle's middle portion


310


is of such a length as to permit a user to easily grasp the grip portion


320


when standing on the base


100


. A handle lock


500


(discussed in greater detail below) is incorporated into the front wheel truck


400


to lock the handle


300


in either the scooter configuration or skateboard configuration.




As shown in

FIGS. 3-7

, a front bumper


200


encloses the handle base end


301


and handle bracket


600


, and includes a front bumper lower portion


220


fastened to a front bumper upper portion


240


to encase the handle base end


301


and handle bracket


600


. Front bumper upper portion


240


includes fastener shafts


241


that mate with apertures


221


in the front bumper lower portion


220


such that fasteners


230


can secure the upper and lower front bumper portions together. Fastener shafts


241


extend through apertures


101


in the base


100


to positively lock the front bumper


200


and base


100


relative to each other. In addition, apertures


224


located in the front bumper upper portion


240


align with apertures


624


of the handle bracket


600


and apertures


124


in the base


100


to permit fasteners


425


and


625


to fasten the front bumper


200


to the base


100


and handle bracket


600


.




The front truck


400


is attached to the base lower surface


103


with fasteners


425


. Truck


400


includes a front t-bar


410


that is attached to a front base block


420


by a truck joint fastener


430


. The front t-bar


410


includes a truck joint aperture


412


through which the truck joint fastener bolt


434


extends. Wheels


401


are attached to axles


413


located on either end of the t-bar


410


. A guide post


411


extends from a central portion of the t-bar


410


and is pivotally housed within a recess


423


in the front base block


420


. The truckjoint fastener


430


includes a bolt


434


that is held within an aperture


427


in the front block


420


and is attached to the t-bar


410


by a first elastomeric member


431


, washer


432


, and nut


433


. The truck joint fastener


430


includes a second annular elastomeric member


435


that is sandwiched between the front t-bar


410


and the front base block


420


to provide the flexibility necessary for turning the wheels


401


of the truck


400


.




As shown in

FIGS. 8-12

, handle bracket


600


is attached to the base


100


via fasteners


625


that extend through apertures


124


,


424


and


624


in the base


100


, front base block


420


and handle bracket


600


, respectively. The handle bracket


600


is generally U-shaped and has a wall


604


connecting between, and reinforcing, a top portion


620


and bottom portion


630


which form the U-shaped sides of the handle bracket


600


. The top portion


620


extends upward further than the bottom portion


630


of the U-shaped bracket


600


. Three apertures


624


are located in each of the upper and lower portions


620


and


630


and are aligned with each other to allow fasteners to pass therethrough and attach the handle bracket to the base


100


. A lip


603


is located on the bottom portion


630


of the handle bracket to provide a flush, coplanar surface when front base block


420


is attached on top of the handle bracket


600


as best shown in FIG.


7


.




As shown in

FIGS. 8-10

, several features of the handle bracket


600


work in conjunction with the handle lock


500


to secure the handle in either of its skateboard and scooter configurations. A lock aperture


601


is located at a central portion at the base of the U-shaped handle bracket. The lock aperture


601


is also rotationally aligned with scooter throughholes


350


and skateboard throughholes


360


, both of which are located in the same circular plane in base end


301


of the handle


300


. Accordingly, a spring biased lock extension


520


can pass through the lock aperture


601


and scooter throughholes


350


to lock the handle


300


and base


100


in the scooter configuration. Similarly, the spring biased lock extension


520


can pass through the handle lock aperture


601


and skateboard apertures to lock the handle with respect to the base


100


in the skateboard configuration.




A slot


602


located on a central portion of the handle bracket


600


cooperates with stop


302


of the handle


300


to limit the travel of the handle


300


between the scooter configuration and the skateboard configuration. Stop


302


can be a dowel shaped pin that is screwed through the base end


301


of the handle. The stop


302


can be accessed through stop access hole


605


located on the bottom portion


630


of the handle bracket


600


.




As shown in

FIGS. 10-12

, front base block


420


is sandwiched between t-bar


410


and the lock housing


530


. Lower surface


426


of the front base block


420


is shaped as a planar rectangle and mates with both the rear lower surface


532


of the handle lock housing


530


and a portion located above the lip


603


of the handle bracket bottom portion


630


. The base block


420


includes an aperture


426


through which the truck joint fastener bolt


434


extends, and which is angled slightly away from the lower surface


103


of the base and towards the front


105


of the base. A guide post recess


423


is located adjacent aperture


426


and is configured to house the guide post


411


and permit the guide post


411


to pivot therein. The guide post recess


423


is angled slightly away from the lower surface


103


of the base and towards the rear


106


of the base.




The brake lock housing


530


is generally L-shaped and includes a planar rear lower surface


532


that is slightly elevated with respect to a planar front lower surface


531


. Accordingly, a portion of the U-shaped handle bracket


600


can mate with the planar front lower portion


531


to create a co-planar surface with the planar rear lower surface


532


to smoothly abut and attach to the planar lower surface


426


of the base block


420


. The upper surface


535


of the brake lock housing


530


is planar and includes a slider indent


536


in which a slider


510


can travel. Several apertures


424


run through the perimeter of the lock housing to allow the various fasteners to pass through and lock the structure to the base


100


.




As shown in

FIGS. 13-15

, slider


510


is nested in the slider indent


536


of the lock housing


530


such that it can be slid along a longitudinal axis of the lock housing. A lock extension


520


is preferably formed as a metallic dowel pin and is press fit into a distal end


518


of the slider. Lock clips


513


are provided on either side of the slider


510


and mate with like-shaped clip indents


538


in the lock housing


530


to lock the slider in a fully extended position (as shown in FIG.


13


). Press bars


512


located on either side of the slider


510


are inwardly flexible due to slots


511


running along either side of the longitudinal axis of the slider


510


. Accordingly, the slider


510


can be unlocked from its fully extended position by applying an inward force to both of the press bars


512


to release the lock clips


513


from the clip indents


538


. The force required to unlock the slider can be varied by varying the size of the slots


511


in the slider. Preferably, the amount of force required is greater than that which a small child can produce, but low enough such that an adult can easily perform the unlocking operation.




Once the slider is unlocked from the housing


530


, the slider can be slid along its longitudinal axis and in a direction out of the lock housing


530


against the bias of spring


540


. Spring


540


is located within a spring slot


515


in the slider


510


and is biased against spring stop


537


located in the indent


536


of the lock housing


530


to urge the slider into the fully extended position. A cooperating surface


519


of the spring slot


515


(as best seen in

FIG. 15

) is configured to mate with the spring stop


537


and further secure the slider when it is in its fully extended position.




In operation, when the slider is in its fully extended position, the lock extension


520


extends through one of the two throughholes in the handle (either the skateboard throughhole


350


or the scooter throughhole


360


) and through the lock aperture


601


. Because the lock aperture


601


is not movable with respect to the base


100


, the handle


300


is effectively locked in either the skateboard configuration or the scooter configuration when the slider is in its fully extended position.




To change configurations between the skateboard configuration and the scooter configuration, the slider press bars


512


are forced together to release the lock clips


513


from the clip indents


538


in the lock housing and permit the slider to be pulled backwards out of the lock housing


530


. Once the lock extension


520


is completely removed from lock aperture


601


and skateboard throughholes


360


, the handle is free to rotate upwardly and away from the top surface


106


of the base (the handle cannot rotate in the opposite direction due to the interaction of slot


602


with the stop


302


of the handle). The spring


540


acts against spring stop


537


in the lock housing to bias the slider


510


and lock extension


520


towards the handle.




Accordingly, when the handle is rotated to a position in which the scooter throughhole align with the lock extension


520


, the spring will force the lock extension


520


through the scooter throughhole and lock aperture


601


to lock the handle in its scooter configuration. The spring also forces the slider


510


back in to the lock housing


530


such that lock clips


513


are snapped back into the clip indents


538


of the lock housing and the slider is locked in the lock housing. To change the configuration back to the skateboard configuration, the same operation is undertaken except the handle is oppositely rotated.




The distal end


518


of the slider is a generally elongate rectangular block shape with an aperture at its distal end for press fitting the lock extension


520


therein. As shown best in

FIG. 14

, a portion of the distal end


518


extends beyond the planar upper surface


535


of the lock housing. Accordingly, a rectangular groove


108


is formed in the lower surface of the base


100


to accommodate the distal end


518


and permit the lock housing


530


to lie flush against the lower surface


103


of the base.




The rear wheel truck


450


can be configured similar to the front wheel truck, but without connection to a lock housing, slider and handle bracket. A spacer block


460


can be sandwiched between the rear base block


470


and the lower surface


103


of the base to ensure that all wheels


401


are equally spaced from the lower surface


103


of the base


100


. Moreover, a spacer block can be used to ensure that the space taken up by the lock housing, slider and handle bracket in the front truck is compensated for in the rear truck to ensure that the wheels are spaced equally from the lower surface


103


of the base


100


.




Many variations on the structures and functions of the illustrated embodiment are contemplated. Although the handle is shown attached to the right side of the base, the handle could be mounted to the left side for easier manipulation by a left handed user. Similarly, although illustrated as being stowed along the side of the base, the handle could alternatively be stowed in an indent or recess in the upper surface of the base, or beneath the base. The specific location of the handle can be varied provided that it does not obstruct access to the top surface of the base board when the handle is in the “stowed” skateboard configuration.




The base board can be configured in various styles besides that disclosed in the depicted embodiment. For example, a base board with a large tail fin could be used such that the grip portion


320


of handle


300


can be stowed beneath the tail fin and a user can steer the skateboard via the fin.




The specific materials used to construct the invention can be selected from those known in the art. The base


100


can be made from wood, metal, plastic, carbon fiber and/or other materials. In addition, the base can include a tacky layer adhered to its top surface to provide a no-slip surface to a user. The tacky layer can include a sand paper, a gummy based adhesive or other known tacky material. The trucks


400


and


450


and handle


300


are preferably made from either plastic or metal, but can be made from other high strength lightweight materials such as rubbers, ceramics, carbon fiber, etc. The wheels can be made from rubber, plastics, or other known materials. The handle lock


500


can be composed of parts made from plastic, rubber, metal or other known materials. The lock extension should be made from a durable material such as metal, carbon fibers or other similar material that will repeatedly lock the handle with respect to the base


100


.




Although the invention is illustrated with respect to a skateboard and scooter, a movable handle mechanism could be used on other devices, such as a water toy configurable between a knee-board type device and a stand up water scooter board.




Variations to the handle lock mechanism are also contemplated. For example, the handle lock mechanism can alternatively be configured as a spring loaded gear cap that is fit onto the base end


301


of the handle


300


. The gear cap could include gear teeth that are biased into locking contact with mating teeth located on the handle


300


to rotatably fix the handle in place when in a first position, and could be movable against the spring bias to a second position in which the teeth are released from each other and the handle is free to rotate.




The handle is preferably U-shaped, with a base end


301


and grip portion


320


extending upwards and generally perpendicular to a middle portion


310


. However, alternative configurations are contemplated. The handle can include an upper portion that is T-shaped and includes separate grip locations for the right and left hands of a user. The handle can include a pole shaped grip extension that extends linearly from the base end


301


with no perpendicular portion extending from the pole shaped grip extension.




Although in the preferred embodiment of the invention the skateboard/scooter device is described as a child's device, the inventive concepts disclosed herein can be utilized in skateboard/scooter devices suitable for adults.



Claims
  • 1. A skateboard/scooter device, comprising:a base having a top surface, a perimeter about the top surface, and a lower surface; a wheel coupled to said lower surface of said base; and A handle coupled to said base and movable between a first scooter position and a second stowed position, wherein said handle extends upwardly from said base and can be grasped by a user standing on said base when in said first scooter position, and said top surface is unobstructed by said handle and accessible to a user of the skateboard/scooter device and a substantial portion of said handle is located outside the perimeter of said base and is located between planes containing said top and lower surfaces when said handle is in said second stowed position.
  • 2. The skateboard/scooter device of claim 1, further comprising:a plurality of wheels coupled to said lower surface of said base.
  • 3. The skateboard/scooter device of claim 1, wherein said base includes a side surface and said handle is located adjacent said side surface of said base when in said second stowed position.
  • 4. The skateboard/scooter device of claim 1, wherein said handle includes a portion that is co-planar with said upper surface of said base when in said second stowed position.
  • 5. The skateboard/scooter device of claim 1, wherein said handle is located adjacent said lower surface of said base when in said second stowed position.
  • 6. The skateboard/scooter device of claim 1, wherein said handle is located above said top surface of said base and extends at an angle away from said base when in said first scooter position.
  • 7. The skateboard/scooter device of claim 1, wherein said base includes a front portion and a rear portion, and said handle is rotatably coupled to said front portion of the base.
  • 8. The skateboard/scooter device of claim 1, wherein said base includes a left side, a right side and a back side, and said handle extends along one of said right and left sides of said base and includes a grip portion that extends adjacent said back side of said base when said handle is in said second stowed position.
  • 9. The skateboard/scooter device of claim 8, wherein said grip portion is spaced from said back side of said base when in said second stowed position to create an aperture therebetween for convenient carrying of the device when in said second stowed position.
  • 10. The skateboard/scooter device of claim 1, further comprising a lock connected to said handle and capable of locking said handle at one of its first scooter position and its second stowed position with respect to said base.
  • 11. The skateboard/scooter device of claim 10, wherein said handle includes a lock aperture and said lock includes a lock extension slidably connected to said base and extendible into said lock aperture to lock said handle with respect to said base.
  • 12. A wheeled device, comprising:a base having a top surface and a lower surface; a wheel coupled to said lower surface of said base; and a handle having a first portion and a second substantial portion, said first portion being coupled to and extending inwardly of said base and wherein said handle is movable between a first position in which said handle extends upwardly from said base and said device is configured in a scooter configuration, and a second position in which said second substantial portion of said handle is stowed below a plane containing said top surface of said base and said device is configured as a skateboard.
  • 13. The wheeled device of claim 12, further comprising:a plurality of wheels coupled to said lower surface of said base.
  • 14. The wheeled device of claim 12, wherein said base includes a side surface and said handle is located adjacent said side surface of said base when in said second position.
  • 15. The wheeled device of claim 12, wherein said handle is located above said top surface of said base and extends at an angle away from said base when in said first position.
  • 16. The wheeled device of claim 12, wherein said base includes a front portion and a rear portion, and said handle is rotatably coupled to said front portion of said base.
  • 17. The wheeled device of claim 12, wherein said base includes a left side, a right side and a back side, and said handle extends along one of said right and left sides of said base and includes a grip portion that extends adjacent said back side of said base when said handle is in said second position, said grip portion being spaced from said back side of said base when in said second position to create an aperture therebetween for convenient carrying of the device when in said second position.
  • 18. The wheeled device of claim 12, further comprising a lock located adjacent said handle and capable of locking said handle at one of its first position or its second position with respect to said base.
  • 19. The wheeled device of claim 12, wherein said handle is rotatably coupled to said base.
  • 20. A wheeled device, comprising:a base having a side surface, a top surface and a lower surface; a wheel coupled to said lower surface of said base; a handle coupled to said base; and means for pivoting said handle to convert said device between a first scooter configuration in which said handle extends upwardly from said base, and a second skateboard configuration in which a substantial portion of said handle is stowed adjacent said side surface closer to one of said side surface of said base and said lower surface of said base than to said top surface of said base and in which said top surface is unobstructed by said handle.
  • 21. The wheeled device of claim 20, further comprising means for locking said handle in said first scooter configuration and said second skateboard configuration.
  • 22. The wheeled device of claim 20, wherein said base includes a front portion and a rear portion, and said handle is rotatably coupled to said front portion of the base.
  • 23. The wheeled device of claim 20, wherein said base includes a left side, a right side and a back side, and said handle extends along one of said right and left sides of said base and includes a grip portion that extends adjacent said back side of said base when said device is in said skateboard configuration, said grip portion being spaced from said back side of said base when in said skateboard configuration to create an aperture therebetween for convenient carrying of the device when in said skateboard configuration.
US Referenced Citations (13)
Number Name Date Kind
D. 250610 Wynn Dec 1978
D. 304360 Curry Oct 1989
1213454 Brown Jan 1917
1336100 Shearer Apr 1920
1387675 Worobow Aug 1921
3236539 Ketterer Feb 1966
4061351 Bangle Dec 1977
4093252 Rue Jun 1978
4179134 Atkinson Dec 1979
4707884 Chang Nov 1987
4929208 Corica May 1990
5419570 Bollotte May 1995
5516126 Myers May 1996
Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
Number Date Country
3442193 Nov 1985 DE
35 37 522 A1 Apr 1987 DE
0 643 299 Sep 1928 FR
WO 9825677 Jun 1998 WO