CONVERTIBLE SKATEBOARD

Abstract

A skateboard that can be converted between a scooter and a skateboard has a bracket that is pivotably mounted on the footboard and can be pivoted between a first scooter position and a second skateboard position. The bracket is longer than the footboard by an amount, so that, in the skateboard position, the bracket forms a clearance between itself and the end of the footboard that is sufficiently large as to enable the skateboard to be gripped through said clearance and carried.

Claims

1. A convertible skateboard comprising: a footboard; and a handle that is connected to the footboard and can be pivoted between two end positions, namely a first scooter position and a second, stowed position, wherein the handle extends upward from the footboard in the scooter position and can be grasped by a user standing on the footboard, and wherein, when the handle is in the second, stowed position, the upper side of the footboard can be freely accessed by a user of the footboard; wherein the handle is embodied in the form of a bracket having a length that is greater than the length of the footboard, namely by such an amount that, when the bracket is folded down, a clearance is formed between the rear side of the skateboard and the bracket that is sufficiently large as to enable the bracket to be gripped through said clearance by one hand.

2. The skateboard as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bracket has a cross member which, when folded down, rests on the upper side of the footboard, so that the folded-down position of the bracket is clearly defined.

3. The skateboard as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bracket has the shape of a wishbone.

4. The skateboard as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bracket is approximately U-shaped, with the legs of the U being mounted in the front region of the footboard.

5. The skateboard as set forth in claim 1, wherein a locking mechanism that cooperates with the bracket is provided in the front region of the footboard by means of which the two end positions of the bracket can be fixed.

6. The skateboard as set forth in claim 2, wherein a locking mechanism that cooperates with the bracket is provided in the front region of the footboard by means of which the two end positions of the bracket can be fixed.

7. The skateboard as set forth in claim 3, wherein a locking mechanism that cooperates with the bracket is provided in the front region of the footboard by means of which the two end positions of the bracket can be fixed.

8. The skateboard as set forth in claim 4, wherein a locking mechanism that cooperates with the bracket is provided in the front region of the footboard by means of which the two end positions of the bracket can be fixed.

9. The skateboard as set forth in claim 2, wherein the bracket has the shape of a wishbone.

10. The skateboard as set forth in claim 2, wherein the bracket is approximately U-shaped, with the legs of the U being mounted in the front region of the footboard.

11. The skateboard as set forth in claim 9, wherein a locking mechanism that cooperates with the bracket is provided in the front region of the footboard by means of which the two end positions of the bracket can be fixed.

12. The skateboard as set forth in claim 10, wherein a locking mechanism that cooperates with the bracket is provided in the front region of the footboard by means of which the two end positions of the bracket can be fixed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0007] FIG. 1 is a side view of the skateboard in the state as a scooter;

[0008] FIG. 2 is a view of the skateboard of FIG. 1 as seen obliquely from the front; and

[0009] FIG. 3 is a view of the skateboard in the state as a skateboard seen obliquely from the front according to another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] The basic idea of the invention is to provide a bracket that is pivotally mounted on the front region of the skateboard and has a length that is greater than the length of the skateboard. When in the folded-down state, this results in a clearance between the rear side of the skateboard and the bracke through which the bracket can be gripped by one hand.

[0011] In addition, the bracket has a cross member which, when folded down, rests on the upper side of the skateboard, so that the folded-down position of the bracket is limited and clearly defined.

[0012] In one embodiment of the invention, the bracket has approximately the shape of a wishbone. In another variant of the invention, the bracket is approximately U-shaped, with legs of the U being mounted in the front region of the skateboard.

[0013] According to a development of the invention, a locking mechanism that cooperates with the bracket is provided in the front region of the skateboard by means of which the two end positions of the bracket can be fixed.

[0014] The skateboard of FIGS. 1 and 2 has a frame 1 to which a footboard 2 is attached. Two front wheels 3 and 4 are attached to the frame 1 by means of a common front axle 5 that is fastened to the frame 1 or the footboard 2 by means of a pivot bearing 6. As their name suggests, the two front wheels 3 and 4 are located in the front region of the skateboard relative to its normal direction of travel.

[0015] A single rear wheel 7 is attached to the rear region of the frame 1 and can also be optionally provided with a wheel brake 19 (see FIG. 3).

[0016] A swivelable bracket 8 is attached to the front region of the skateboard and can be swiveled between a substantially vertical position, which is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and a substantially horizontal position, which is shown in FIG. 3. The bracket 8 can be fixed in both positions by means of a spring-loaded locking pin that can snap into associated holes, for example.

[0017] In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the bracket 8 is, when seen from above, an approximately elliptical closed bracket that also has a cross member 9 in its rear region that comes to rest on the frame 1 and/or the footboard 2 when the bracket 8 is in the substantially horizontal position (FIG. 3).

[0018] As can be seen particularly from FIG. 3, the bracket 8 projects beyond the rear end 10 of the footboard 2 in the horizontal position, so that a clearance 11 is formed between the footboard 2 and the rear end 12 of the bracket 8 through which a hand can reach and grip the bracket 8 at its rear end 12 and which acts there as a handle.

[0019] In the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2, the frame 1 is extended rearward beyond the rear wheel so that the rear region 13 there is at a distance from the rear wheel 7 that can also form the clearance 11. The bracket 8 can then optionally be sufficiently long that its rear end 12 is congruent with the rear end 13 of the bracket 8 or also projects beyond the rear end 13, so that the grip region 11 lies between the two ends 12 and 13.

[0020] Although not clearly shown in the drawing, the length of the bracket 8 can be adjusted by dividing the longitudinal struts 15 and 16 of the bracket 8 and inserting them telescopically into one another and locking them in different positions.

[0021] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3, the bracket is swiveled into the second position, in which it lies substantially parallel to the footboard 2. In this embodiment, the frame is omitted and the wheels 3, 4 are held directly on the footboard 2.

[0022] Furthermore, in a departure from the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the bracket 8 in the front region is not closed in this exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3. Instead, its two longitudinal struts 15 and 16 are connected directly to the front axle 5 in the front region. Furthermore, in this exemplary embodiment, the bracket 8 has an additional cross member 17 in the front region whose purpose is substantially to provide stability.

[0023] In the variant of FIG. 3, a tab 18 is formed at the rear end of the footboard that covers the rear wheel, whereby the tab 18 acts as a rear wheel brake. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 1, an independent braking element 19 can also be provided that partially covers the rear wheel 7 and is attached to the frame 1 or the footboard 2.