In one or more arrangements, a powered system for skateboards is presented which has a base plate, a drive unit, a wheel assembly, and straps. In one arrangement, the system is connected to a skateboard utilizing straps such that the system may be easily attached to and removed from the skateboard. In one arrangement, the system has a single, centrally located wheel which causes the front wheels of the skateboard to be lifted off the ground. In this arrangement, the single wheel is curved in order to allow for turning of the skateboard when utilizing the system. In one arrangement, the wheel is caused to rotate by a motor and a battery used to provide electricity to motor.

A protective case for large objects including a lock housing formed from a first section and a second section, both of the sections including at least one external subsection and at least one internal subsection configured to telescope inside the external subsection; and an extension lock comprising a lock housing and a compression lock, the lock housing including a screw-threaded channel, and the compression comprising at least one screw-threaded shaft with a compressive component on the interior end and a lock handle on the exterior end, the screw-threaded shaft configured to matingly engage with the screw-threaded channel of the lock housing; the compression lock configured to descend in the lock housing and compressingly lock the internal subsection in an extended position upon locking rotation of the compression lock; and the compression lock configure to ascend in the lock housing upon unlocking rotation of the cam latch.

A self-balancing board is provided, comprising a primary wheel assembly, a platform, at least one sensor, a controller, a first auxiliary wheel assembly, and a first brake element. The primary wheel assembly comprises a primary wheel and a motor driving the primary wheel. The platform is secured to the primary wheel assembly and has a foot deck. The at least one sensor senses the orientation of the platform. The controller receives data from the at least one sensor and controls the motor in response to the received data. The first auxiliary wheel assembly is secured to the platform distal the primary wheel assembly, and is elevated from contacting a flat surface upon which the primary wheel rests when the foot deck is parallel to the flat surface. The first brake element is manually movable relative to the first auxiliary wheel assembly to engage the first auxiliary wheel assembly to provide resistance to rotation of the first auxiliary wheel assembly.

A multi-link wheel base includes a main body composed of a plurality of links connected in series and wheels provided on the main body, and the wheels are provided on the link assembly the link assembly includes an intermediate link and an end link, wherein both sides of the intermediate link are provided with a rotational connection position, one side of the end link is provided with a rotational connection position, and the rotational connection positions on the adjacent link assemblies are rotationally connected by means of a connecting device.

A self-balancing vehicle includes a vehicle body having a housing with left and right sides which are independently moveable. A unitary support bar is disposed within the housing, and a left drive wheel and an opposed right drive wheel are each coupled to the support bar. A bracket encircles the support bar; the bracket has a cylindrical body formed with a slot through the body. A set screw is fixed to the support bar and is received within the slot to limit rotational movement of the support bar with respect to the bracket.

Improved skateboards and methods of obtaining or providing skateboards with improved trucks. Trucks have two axles or axes, two primary wheels, and two secondary wheels, and skateboards have eight wheels, four in front and four at the rear portion of the skateboard. The four primary wheels support most or all of the weight of the skateboard when the skateboard is on a flat surface, and the two secondary wheels support the weight of one portion of the skateboard (e.g., front or rear) when the primary wheels cross a crack (e.g., a sidewalk contraction joint). In various embodiments, the secondary wheels are located outboard of the primary wheels. Further, in a number of embodiments, the axis of rotation or axle of the primary wheels remains parallel to that of the secondary wheels, whether the skateboard is going straight or turning.

A truck includes a base plate, a hanger, a kingpin, and a bushing assembly. The base plate includes a coupling portion and a contact portion. The kingpin is disposed within a portion of the hanger to rotatably couple the hanger to the base plate. The bushing assembly includes at least one bushing disposed in a recess of the contact portion and in contact with the hanger. The bushing assembly including a bushing adjustment coupled to at least one of the base plate or the hanger and configured to selectively engage the at least one bushing to transition the bushing assembly between a first configuration in which the at least one bushing exerts a first force in response to rotation of the hanger and a second configuration in which the at least one bushing exerts a second force different from the first force in response to rotation of the hanger.

The present steerable wheel assembly incorporates a lean-to-steer mechanism into an inner race of a roller bearing, while a wheel is mounted to an outer race of the roller bearing. A shaft extending from the mechanism is attached to a body, and the mechanism acts to steer the outer race and the wheel about a vertical steering axis when the shaft is tilted about a horizontal axis. The mechanism can be a pivot joint, providing a linear steering response, or can be a lean-to-steer mechanism that provides a non-linear response where the steering action is not proportionally responsive to tilting over the expected range of tilting.

A device that secures an object to the user's body, hands free, while carrying multiple types of bulky items is provided. The carrying device may include at least a pair of first straps and a second strap having a plurality of loops spaced apart along its length. Each strap terminates at opposing ends providing complementary and adjustable connectors, so that when each of the two first straps selectively engages one loop of the plurality the loops, many different types of bulky items may be secured to the body of user when the connectors are locked, thereby leaving the user hands free while transporting bulky objects.

An improved skateboard truck includes a baseplate, a hanger, and a kingpin assembly for securing the hanger to the baseplate. A first pivot surface is associated with the baseplate. A pivot plate is associated with the hanger. The pivot plate has an outer edge that defines a second pivot surface. The baseplate and the hanger are configured such that the second pivot surface engages the first pivot surface when the hanger is secured to the baseplate by the kingpin assembly. One of or both the first pivot surface and the second pivot surface has an arcuate profile that allows the baseplate to rock from side to side relative to the hanger.