An electric weight sensing skateboard using one or more strain gauge systems to detect rider-induced strain on one or both trucks, an inertial sensor to detect accelerations and balance position, and wheel speed sensors. Throttle is controlled by rider position, for example, lean forward to increase speed, lean back to slow down. Several drive methods include a driver position detection velocity setpoint control, torque setpoint control, and direct velocity/torque control. A throttle remote is note required. Rider weight activates the motors.

A rotation powered vehicle drive mechanism includes an elongated chassis slot disposed within a respective lateral exterior portion of a chassis assembly. An elongated platform slot is disposed within a respective lateral portion of a platform assembly, and is configured such that it is substantially opposed to the chassis slot. The platform assembly is pivotally secured to the chassis assembly thereby allowing for rotation through a platform rotation angle of the platform assembly with respect to the chassis assembly about a rotation axis. The rotation of the platform assembly results in an increase or decrease of a variable slot height which is measured between the chassis slot and the platform slot. A cart assembly is disposed between the chassis assembly and the platform assembly, and is operatively coupled to the chassis slot and to the platform slot. The cart assembly has a cart height and is constrained by the chassis slot and the platform slot to a position on the chassis assembly wherein the cart height is substantially equivalent to the variable slot height. In this manner the cart assembly is configured to translate along the chassis assembly upon rotation of the platform assembly with respect to the chassis assembly. A helical drive shaft is rotationally secured within the chassis assembly and operatively coupled to the cart assembly such that translation of the cart assembly results in rotational motion of the helical drive shaft. A truck assembly is pivotally secured to the chassis assembly. The truck assembly includes an axle rotationally secured to the truck assembly and operatively coupled to a plurality of wheels. The axle is operatively coupled to the helical drive shaft such that rotation of the platform assembly with respect to the chassis assembly in a first angular direction results in rotation of the axle and respective wheels in the first angular direction.

A steering axle unit (24) for chassis or skateboards, comprising a bearing block (1) and a steering axle body (98), wherein the bearing block (1) has a fastening plane (11) for fastening to a chassis or skateboard, particularly skateboard deck (52), wherein, in the assembled state, the fastening plane (11) is arranged on the chassis or skateboard particularly so as to be parallel to the designated direction of travel (25) of the chassis or skateboard, and wherein the bearing block (1) comprises a vertical axis CD (22) about which the steering axle unit (98) is arranged so as to rotate relative to the bearing block (1), an axle (8) that projects normally from the vertical median longitudinal plane of the bearing block (1) in the straight-ahead position being arranged on the steering axle body (98), wherein the vertical axis CD (22) is arranged on the median longitudinal plane of the bearing block (1) at an angle W1 (19) of less than 90° relative to the fastening plane (11) in the direction of the steering axle body (98), wherein the axle (8) is arranged at a normal distance (20) to the vertical axis CD (22), and wherein the axle (8) is arranged in front of the vertical axis CD (22) in the designated direction of travel (25) of the chassis or skateboard.

A moving wheel platform that minimizes wheel interactions with noncontinuous and uneven surfaces. The platform provides rotation-inhibiting structures onto or into the moving wheel platforms that aids with eliminating wheel bite.

A carbon fiber reinforced skateboard is formed of laminated wood layers having identified grain directions. Upper and lower wood layers will have a grain direction parallel to a long axis of the skateboard. The skateboard will have interspersed wood layers with identified grain directions perpendicular to the long axis. Carbon fiber reinforcing material is adhered to interior plies of the skateboard along the long axis. A central portion of the reinforcing material is adhered below a central vertical point of the skateboard between the skateboard trucks. Anterior and posterior portions of the reinforcing material are adhered above the central vertical point and are located around the attachment locations for the skateboard trucks. The reinforcing material is located to provide a strengthened spine for the skateboard. A first concavity is located between the skateboard trucks parallel to the long axis. Second and third concavities are located perpendicular to the long axis.

A caster board can include a front platform section connected by a torsion bar or other neck portion to a rear platform section. The caster board can be convertible between a first configuration in which the caster board has three wheels, and a second configuration in which the caster board has two wheels. In the first configuration, the rear platform section can be supported by two wheels laterally offset from a longitudinal axis of the caster board. In the second configuration, the rear platform section can be supported by one wheel aligned with a longitudinal axis of the caster board. The rear platform section can include at least three mounting locations configured to have caster assemblies installed therein.

A Single-foot Skateboard. The Skateboard has interchangeable components in order to reduce spare part inventory. The footboard of the Skateboard is reversible.

A skateboard truck includes a metal bolt called a kingpin and a threaded fastener, called a hex nut, which when combined hold the two main components of a truck together: the baseplate, which is mounted to the bottom surface of the skateboard deck; and the turning part of the truck called the hanger, which is mounted onto the baseplate by means of the kingpin, and affixed tightly into the baseplate by means of a threaded hex nut. Two bushings placed along the shaft of the kingpin and on either side of a flange protruding from the hanger hold the hanger in place by the tightening of the kingpin into the threaded shaft nut fastener. The kingpin is oriented such that a threaded portion of the kingpin (on an end opposite a bolt head portion) is generally facing towards a bottom surface of the skateboard deck.

Methods and apparatus are discussed for an electric powered personal transportation vehicle with electric motors powered by one or more batteries. A set of universal battery mounting hole locations and a reserved space for one or more battery housings exist on a board for the personal transportation vehicle. The reserved space on the board for the one or more battery housings that house one or more battery packs is set to not interfere with an operation of the motors or the wheels. A first battery pack containing the one or more batteries differs in at least one of i) a different amp-hour capacity, ii) a different length, width, or height, and iii) a different shape than another battery pack designed to be physically contained in the one or more battery housings and electrically connect with corresponding electrical connections in the one or more battery housings.

A motorized skateboard has a maneuverable rear truck. The riding platform on which the user stands includes a rotatable steering platform that the rider can step on with his rear foot. In the nominal position the steering platform extends slightly above the rest of the riding platform and is locked from rotating. When a user steps on the steering platform, the steering platform gets pushed downward against a spring. The downward movement causes a wedge to force apart two pawl level arms, thus disengaging respective pawls from a ratchet thereby unlocking the steering. In this position the steering platform is rotationally coupled to the rear truck through two spur gears acting in serial such that as the user pivots his foot clockwise, the rear truck turns counterclockwise, and vice versa. The result is a steering motion that is similar to turning a snowboard.