A self-balancing electric vehicle may include a board having a frame, and a suspension system including at least one four-bar linkage coupling opposing end portions of a hub motor axle to the first end portion of the frame. The four-bar linkage(s) may have a first fixed link connected to the axle, a second fixed link comprising the frame, and two pivotable links joining the first fixed link to the second fixed link, such that the board is configured to be movable up and down relative to the axle. A shock absorber may be coupled to the four-bar linkage(s) and to the first end portion of the frame, such that the shock absorber is configured to damp up and down movement of the board relative to the axle.

An inline skate includes a front wheel mount secured to a bottom of a skate boot; a front wheel rotatably secured to the front wheel mount; a rear wheel mount secured to the bottom of the skate boot; a rear wheel rotatably secured to the rear wheel mount; and a shock absorber disposed between the front wheel mount and the rear wheel mount and including two sets of a positioning member secured to the skate boot; a threaded adjustment member disposed through either the rear or front wheel mount; a first bifurcation element through a biasing member and having one end secured to the adjustment member and the other two ends secured to the biasing member; and a second bifurcation element through the biasing member and having one end secured to the positioning member and the other two ends secured to the biasing member.

A blade arrangement for an ice skate boot, the blade arrangement comprising a support for an ice skate boot with a blade runner mounted to the support and a suspension structure arranged between the support and the blade runner.

A self-balancing electric vehicle may include a board having a frame, and a suspension system including at least one four-bar linkage coupling opposing end portions of a hub motor axle to the first end portion of the frame. The four-bar linkage(s) may have a first fixed link connected to the axle, a second fixed link comprising the frame, and two pivotable links joining the first fixed link to the second fixed link, such that the board is configured to be movable up and down relative to the axle. A shock absorber may be coupled to the four-bar linkage(s) and to the first end portion of the frame, such that the shock absorber is configured to damp up and down movement of the board relative to the axle.

A self-balancing electric vehicle may include a board having a frame, and a suspension system including at least one four-bar linkage coupling opposing end portions of a hub motor axle to the first end portion of the frame. The four-bar linkage(s) may have a first fixed link connected to the axle, a second fixed link comprising the frame, and two pivotable links joining the first fixed link to the second fixed link, such that the board is configured to be movable up and down relative to the axle. A shock absorber may be coupled to the four-bar linkage(s) and to the first end portion of the frame, such that the shock absorber is configured to damp up and down movement of the board relative to the axle.

A self-propelled, one-wheeled vehicle may include a suspension system configured to dampen up and down motion of a board relative to the axle of a central wheel assembly when the vehicle encounters obstacles and bumps on a riding surface. Illustrative suspension systems include a shock absorber, a rocker, a pushrod, bell cranks, and/or a swingarm that couple the axle to the board. The suspension system may be disposed completely below a foot deck of the vehicle.

A movable dasher board system optimizes user safety in a hockey rink or similar arena. A bottom structure, provided by a sliding bottom surface or roller assembly, has low friction characteristics, typically a .sub.s of 0.05 or less with respect to ice if a sliding surface, or if roller bearings an effective coefficient of rolling friction 0.04 or less. A dasher board assembly is operatively connected to and extends upwardly from the bottom structure. Biasing and impact force absorbing devices (such as pneumatic or hydraulic or spring-encasing telescoping tubes, or foam, gel, or compression springs) bias the bottom structure and dasher board assembly to a desired position and absorb the impact of a human hitting the dasher board assembly to minimize the possibility of injury to the human. The system may be installed in a pre-existing rink or other arena.

A self-propelled, one-wheeled vehicle may include a suspension system configured to provide arcuate, generally vertical motion of a board relative to an axle of a central wheel assembly when the vehicle encounters obstacles and bumps on a riding surface. Illustrative suspension systems may include a shock absorber and a swingarm that couple the wheel assembly to the board.

A shock absorbing device designed to be mounted to a sliding board, includes a mobile device connected to a mechanism transmitting the forces generated during the deformation of the board and including a part of a deformable viscoelastic material, such that the part is shaped in such a way that its transversal section varies longitudinally in an increasing and decreasing manner, to form hollows and ridges, wherein the distance between the hollows and/or the distance between the ridges varies during the deformation of the part.

Exemplary embodiments are directed to a base plate for a skateboard that includes a body, and first and second pivot cups. The body includes a proximal end and a distal end. The first pivot cup extends from the body at or near the distal end. The second pivot cup is spaced from the first pivot cup and extends from the body at or near the proximal end. The second pivot cup defines an outer perimeter surface having an uninterrupted height. The second pivot cup includes an opening extending therethrough and surrounded by the outer perimeter surface of the second pivot cup. The second pivot cup includes one or more channels extending from the opening and through at least a portion of the second pivot cup. The one or more channels extend through at least the portion of the second pivot cup without extending through the outer perimeter surface.