The present disclosure relates generally to a truck assembly, and more particularly to a truck assembly useful with roller skates and/or skate boards.
Trucks help a user to turn their roller skates. The skater can turn their roller skates by leaning their weight laterally through their foot thereby causing the cushions of the truck to flex and the axle of the truck and the wheels of the roller skate to tilt to the left or to the right. When the truck is not being used to turn the roller skate the pressure applied on the cushion is uniform. As such, the same amount of force is necessary to tilt the axle of the truck to the left or to the right.
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for a truck assembly that provides for, among other things, the ability to independently tune the turning action of the truck assembly, as provided herein.
The truck assembly of the present disclosure includes a mounting plate, a cushion, an axle assembly, a swing pin, a first adjustment member, a second adjustment member, a first adjustment nut and a second adjustment nut. The mounting plate includes a first mounting bracket with a first arm, a second arm and a ridge. The first arm has a first surface defining a first opening through the first arm. The second arm has a second surface defining a second opening in the second arm, where the first opening and the second opening share a rotation axis. The ridge extends parallel with the rotation axis at least partially between the first arm and the second arm.
The cushion having a front surface and a rear surface opposite the front surface. The front surface defines a concave segment. The rear surface defines a notch that receives and seats the ridge of the mounting bracket. Together the concave segment and at least a portion of the first arm and the second arm define a socket.
The axle assembly has a first wheel shaft, a second wheel shaft and a truck support. The first wheel shaft extends along a central axis from the truck support, where the central axis is perpendicular to the rotation axis of the mounting bracket. The second wheel shaft also extends along the central axis from the truck support, but in a direction opposite the first wheel shaft. The truck support includes a third surface that defines an opening through the truck support, a first tubular shaft, a second tubular shaft, a convex surface, and a guide surface. The opening through the truck support is coaxial with the rotation axis of the first mounting bracket. The first tubular shaft is coaxial with the central axis and extends in a direction of the first wheel shaft away from the opening through the truck support. The second tubular shaft is coaxial with the central axis and extends in a direction of the second wheel shaft away from the opening through the truck support. Both the first tubular shaft and the second tubular shaft have a threaded surface. The convex surface has a convex segment that seats in the socket. The guide surface has a predefined shape.
The swing pin that passes through the first opening of the first mounting bracket, the opening through the truck support and at least partially through the second opening of the first mounting bracket, where the swing pin releasably joins the cushion and the axle assembly to the first mounting bracket.
The first adjustment member has a first surface, a second surface, and a cushion arm. The first surface defines an opening mounted at least partially over the first tubular shaft of the truck support. The second surface seats against the guide surface of the truck support, where the predefined shape allows the first adjustment member to travel at least partially over the guide surface of the truck support and prevents the first surface of the first adjustment member from rotating relative the central axis. The cushion arm extends away from the central axis and contacts a first lateral surface of the cushion.
The second adjustment is operated independently from the first adjustment member. The second adjustment member has a first surface, a second surface, and a cushion arm. The first surface defines an opening mounted at least partially over the second tubular shaft of the truck support. The second surface seats against the guide surface of the truck support, where the predefined shape allows the first adjustment member to travel at least partially over the guide surface of the truck support and prevents the first surface of the second adjustment member from rotating relative the central axis. The cushion arm extends away from the central axis and contacts a second lateral surface of the cushion.
The first adjustment nut has a surface defining an internal thread that reversibly engages the threaded surface of the first tubular shaft of the truck support to move the cushion arm of the first adjustment member relative the first lateral surface of the cushion. The second adjustment nut has a surface defining an internal thread that reversibly engages the threaded surface of the second tubular shaft of the truck support to move the cushion arm of the second adjustment member relative the second lateral surface of the cushion.
In an additional embodiment, the truck assembly of the present disclosure can include a mounting plate having both the first mounting bracket, as discussed herein, and a second mounting bracket, where the second mounting bracket on the mounting plate has the same elements as the first mounting bracket. The truck assembly having the first and second mounting bracket also includes cushions, axle assemblies, swing pins, first adjustment members, second adjustment members, first adjustment nuts and second adjustment nuts.
The present disclosure also provides for a roller-skate that includes a boot having a sole, the mounting plate secured to the sole of the boot, where the mounting plate includes the first mounting bracket and the second mounting bracket, as discussed herein, and a wheel mounted on each of the first wheel shaft and the second wheel shaft.
The present disclosure also provides for a cushion for a truck assembly, where the cushion includes a front surface and a rear surface opposite the front surface, where the front surface defines a concave segment and the rear surface defines a notch that receives a ridge of the truck assembly.
The truck assembly 100 introduces an approach to adjusting the turning action of a truck useful for roller skates and/or skate boards that is very different than traditional approaches. For the present disclosure, pressure applied to the cushion 104 (through the adjustment members 110, 112, as discussed herein) for adjusting the turning action of the truck assembly 100 is directed either into or out of a median plane 117 that bisects the truck assembly 100 vertically through the mounting plate 102, the cushion 104, the axle assembly 106 and the swing pin 108.
The adjustment members 110, 112 can also be used to apply pressure to the cushion 104 independently of each other. This feature of the truck assembly 100 allows for the option of “tuning” the steering of the truck assembly 100 in a directional format. That is to say, it allows the user to put pressure on the cushion 104 in an asymmetrical way form the right side or the left side, relative the medial plane 117, of the truck assembly 100. So, for example, if steering to the left (in a common pattern for a skater to skate in circles or laps around the rink in repetitive left-turn cycle), he/she can adjust the pressure on one side of the cushion 104 completely independently from the other side thus presenting a benefit to the user. This is unique because traditional trucks only offer a single force direction on the cushion (straight down or approximately vertical) and does not allow for compensation for a competitive or recreational user to focus on a single direction turning radius focus.
The first opening 128 and the second opening 132 share a rotation axis 134. As illustrated, the rotational axis 134 is located in the approximate center of the openings 128 and 132 defined by the first surface 126 and second surface 130, respectively. Relative a longitudinal axis 119 of the mounting plate 102, the rotation axis 134 forms an angle of about forty-five (45) degrees (as illustrated). It is appreciated that other angles for the rotation axis 134 relative the longitudinal axis 119 of the mounting plate 102 are also possible. These can include, but are not limited to, 10 degrees.
As illustrated, the ridge 124 extends parallel with the rotation axis 134 at least partially between the first arm 120 and the second arm 122. In one embodiment, the ridge 124 can extend completely between the first arm 120 and the second arm 122. In addition, the ridge 124 can extend up to approximately the first surface 126 and/or the second surface 130. For the various embodiments, the ridge 124 can have different heights and/or thicknesses as desired. .
The mounting plate 102 further includes surfaces 136 that define mounting openings 138 through the mounting plate 102. A fastener can pass at least partially through the mounting opening 138 to allow the mounting plate 102 to be secured to a boot of a roller skate or to a board of a skateboard. Such fasteners can include, but are not limited to, a screw or a threaded bolt, where a threaded nut can be used with the threaded bolt to secure the mounting plate 102.
For the embodiments, when the ridge 124 is seated in the notch 150, pressure applied to one of the first lateral surface 144 or the second lateral surface 146 of the cushion 104 can be carried by the ridge 124. In this way, the amount of pressure transferred through the cushion 104 from one of the first lateral surface 144 to the second lateral surface 146, or visa-versa, can be minimized. As appreciated, the ridge 124 has a height, a length and a thickness that, for the given material from which it is produced, can carry this pressure and/or force as the truck assembly 100 is used.
The truck support 158 also includes a third surface 162 that defines an opening 164 through the truck support 158, a first tubular shaft 166, a second tubular shaft 168, a convex surface 168, and a guide surface 172 having a predefined shape. When assembled (as illustrated in
The first tubular shaft 166 is coaxial with the central axis 160 and extends in a direction of the first wheel shaft 154 away from the opening 164 through the truck support 158. The second tubular shaft 168 is also coaxial with the central axis 160 and extends in a direction of the second wheel shaft 156 away from the opening 164 through the truck support 158. Both the first tubular shaft 166 and the second tubular shaft 168 have a threaded surface 174 that can receive the first adjustment nut and the second adjustment nut, respectively.
The convex surface 168 has a convex segment 176 that seats in the socket 152.
Identical to the first adjustment member 110, the second adjustment member 112 also has the first surface 186, the second surface 188, and the cushion arm 190 (the second adjustment member 112 shown in
Independent of the first adjustment nut 114, the internal tread of the second adjustment nut 116 can reversibly engages the threaded surface 174 of the second tubular shaft 168 of the truck support 158 to move the cushion arm 190 of the second adjustment member 112 relative the second lateral surface 146 of the cushion 104. In other words, the second adjustment nut 116 can be rotated to move the cushion arm 190 of the second adjustment member 112 relative the second lateral surface 146 of the cushion 104 independently of the cushion arm 190 of the first adjustment member 110, and visa-versa.
The bearing 103 can guide the motion of the axle assembly 106 on the swing pin 108 (having been releasably secured to the first mounting bracket 118 as illustrated in
For the various embodiments, the bearing 103 can be a plain bearing or a roller element bearing. Examples of a plain bearing can include a journal bearing, an integral bearing, or a bushing. Examples of a roller element bearing can include a ball bearing, a cylindrical roller bearing or a needle bearing, among others.
The truck assembly 100 can also include a washer 107 positioned between the truck support 158 and the first arm 120 and/or the second arm 122 of the first mounting bracket 118. An example of a suitable washer 107 includes, but is not limited to, a plain washer. The washer 107 can be formed from a polymer, a metal and/or a metal alloy. Examples of suitable polymers include, but are not limited a nylon (i.e., a polyamide) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), among others. Examples of suitable metals and/or metal alloys include steel, stainless steel, hardened steel aluminum and titanium, among others.
The truck assembly 100 can be used with a variety of devices. Examples of such devices include, but are not limited to, roller skates and skateboards, among others. The truck assembly 100 can be mounted to the roller skate or skateboard with fasteners (e.g., bolts or screws) that pass through the mounting openings 138 of the mounting plate 102. When bolts (seen in
Referring now to
The truck assembly 109 further includes cushions 104-1 and 104-2, as discussed herein. As discussed, the notch of the cushions 104-1 and 104-2 can receive and seat each of the ridges 124-1 and 124-2, respectively, of the mounting brackets 118-1 and 118-2, and together the concave segments and at least a portion of the first arms 120-1 and 120-2 and the second arms 122-1 and 122-2 define each respective socket.
The truck assembly 109 also includes axle assemblies 106-1 and 106-2, as discussed herein, each having the first wheel shaft 154-1, 154-2, the second wheel shaft 156-1 and 156-2 and the truck support 158-1, 158-2. As with the truck support 158-1, there is a surface defining an opening through the truck support 158-2 that is coaxial with the rotation axis 134-2 of the second mounting bracket 118-2.
The truck assembly 109 further includes swing pins 108-1 and 108-2. Each of the swing pins 108-1 and 108-2 passes through their respective the first openings 128-1, 128-2, the opening through their respective truck support 158-1, 158-2 and at least partially through each of their respective second opening 132-1, 132-2 to releasably join the cushion 104-1, 104-2 and the axle assemblies 106-1 and 106-2 to the first mounting bracket 118-1 and the second mounting bracket, respectively. The truck assembly 109 further includes first adjustment members 110-1, 110-2, second adjustment members 112-1, 112-2, first adjustment nuts 114-1, 114-2, and second adjustment nuts 116-1, 116-2, as discussed herein.
The truck assembly 109 also includes a socket 115 that can receive a toe stop 117 and hold the toe stop 117 through the use of a set bolt 121, where the set bolt 121 reversibly clamps the toe stop 117 to the truck assembly 109. The truck assembly 109 further includes surfaces 136-1 and 136-2 that define mounting openings 138-1 and 138-2 through the mounting plate 113. Fasteners, as discussed herein, can pass at least partially through the mounting openings 138-1 and 138-2 to allow the mounting plate 113 to be secured to a boot of a roller skate.
The truck assembly of the present disclosure can be formed from a number of different materials. Examples of such materials include, but are not limited to metals, metal alloys, and combinations thereof. Examples of metals include, but are not limited to, aluminum and titanium, among others. Examples of metal alloys include, but are not limited to, steel (e.g., stainless steel), alloys of aluminum such as 7075 aluminum (among others), and alloys of titanium. Many of the components of the truck assembly of the present disclosure can be machined using a computer numerical control (CNC) machine tool, which can be controlled by computer-aided design (CAD) and/or computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) programs.
It is to be understood that the above description has been made in an illustrative fashion and not a restrictive one. Although specific examples for devices and methods have been illustrated and described herein, other equivalent component arrangements and/or structures conducive to the truck assembly can be substituted for the specific examples shown herein. For example, an axel assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can be configured in such a way that the “adjustment members” as discussed herein are non-adjustable (e.g., fixed). In one embodiment, the truck support and the cushion arms of the axel assembly can be machined from a single piece of material (e.g. metal alloy). A shaft can then be inserted through an opening in the truck support/cushion arm structure to provide the wheel shafts discussed herein.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/470,088 filed Mar. 31, 2011, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
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