Convertible Caster Board Wheel Layout for Rider Stability Shift
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Solution Overview
Problem
Caster boards with multiple platforms connected by a torsion bar or neck region present challenges for riders transitioning from traditional skateboards due to the unique twisting motion and lack of adjustability in wheel configurations, making it difficult for new or less experienced users to adapt.
Innovation Solution
A convertible caster board design featuring multiple wheel mounting locations, including a central and laterally offset positions, allowing users to convert between two-wheel and three-wheel configurations by repositioning caster assemblies, enhancing stability and adjustability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a caster board is designed with a fixed deck configuration, then the structural simplicity is maintained, but the adaptability for different riding styles and conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The deck is divided into multiple removable sections (front deck, rear deck, bridge section) that can be independently configured or replaced. This segmentation allows riders to customize the board for different styles (cruising, freestyle, downhill) without redesigning the entire board, thus improving adaptability while keeping individual components simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The bridge section incorporates adjustable components including rotatable wheels and repositionable trucks that can be dynamically adjusted during use or between rides. This dynamic configurability enables the same physical deck to adapt to different riding conditions and preferences, resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity.
2Ease of manufacture
If standard wheels and trucks are used on the caster board, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the performance optimization for specific riding conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The bridge section is designed as a universal interface that can accommodate various wheel and truck configurations. Standard components can be easily attached and detached, allowing the same bridge to support different wheel sizes and truck types optimized for specific conditions (cruising, freestyle, downhill), thus achieving both ease of manufacture and performance optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows changing key parameters such as wheel diameter, wheel hardness, and truck angle by simply swapping components on the adjustable bridge. This parameter variability enables performance optimization for different riding conditions while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized connection interfaces.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the deck structure is made rigid and fixed, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the ability to adjust for different riding styles deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The deck is segmented into fixed, precision-manufactured sections (front deck, rear deck) and an adjustable bridge section. The fixed sections maintain high manufacturing precision for structural integrity, while the bridge section incorporates adjustment mechanisms that allow customization without requiring precision manufacturing of the entire deck.
Solution Approach 2:
The bridge section acts as an intermediary between the fixed deck sections and the adjustable wheel/truck components. It provides standardized mounting points and adjustment mechanisms that enable adaptability while the fixed deck sections maintain manufacturing precision for their structural functions.
4Loss of time
If a single deck design is used for all riding conditions, then the device complexity is reduced, but the loss of time for adjusting or replacing decks deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The bridge section incorporates quick-adjust mechanisms including rotatable wheels and repositionable trucks that can be modified during or between rides without requiring complete deck replacement. This dynamic adjustability reduces time loss while maintaining reasonable complexity through integrated adjustment features.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular design allows riders to quickly detach and replace wheel/truck combinations on the bridge section when conditions change, without discarding the entire deck. The standardized interface enables rapid recovery and reconfiguration, minimizing time loss while keeping the overall system manageable in complexity.
Data Source
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Figure 1C
AI summary
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.