A skateboard truck that includes an inertia drive attached to a wheel. The inertia drive causes an inertial mass (i.e. flywheel) to turn at a higher speed then the wheel. During “pumping” of the skateboard the wheels accelerate and an inertia drive helps propel the skateboard given its inertia combined with the wheel inertia. The inertia drive may be configured to maintain skateboard stability at high speeds.

An electric skateboard includes a frame assembly has a deck with an opening of the deck to house a battery case mounted to a bottom of the deck. The frame has a top plate that covers the opening and forms with the battery case an enclosure. A battery pack is positioned at least partially in the enclosure. Front and a rear truck are mounted to the bottom of the deck. At least one of the first and front and rear trunks are coupled to first and second wheels mounted on axles of the front and rear trucks. The front truck is mounted on the front end and a rear truck mounted on a rear end of the deck. Upper and lower control arms share a single shaft.

Skateboard trucks and skateboards using the improved trucks are disclosed. Truck according to the present invention can comprising a hanger with wheels. A base assembly is included having an at least partially hollow housing section. The hanger is rotationally mounted to the base assembly. The hanger also comprises a hanger portion that is within partially hollow housing section. Compressible spring elements are included within the partially hollow housing section, wherein the hanger portion operates on the compressible spring elements when the hanger rotates in relation to the base assembly. Skateboards are also disclosed that utilize the truck. One or more trucks are mounted to the skateboard deck with the truck having internal compressible spring elements that are compressed when turning the skateboard. The internal compressible spring elements also expand to return the truck to a neutral position when the skateboard is not turning.

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 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.

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.

A composite panel structure has opposing outer walls or surfaces and a core comprising a plurality of ribs extending between and connected to the outer walls and defining chambers which are filled with expanding foams, non-expanding foams, gases, or a combination thereof. The outer panel surfaces and internal chamber walls or ribs are made of woven or non-woven fibrous material impregnated with one or more resins. The panel structure may be used for making a variety of products including sports equipment such as sports paddles, surfboards, kite boards, skateboards, wakeboards, as well as construction panels for walls, ceilings or floors, display panels, panels for the vehicle industry, furniture, and other structures requiring high strength to weight properties.