Skateboard Deck Segmentation for Stable Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional skateboards require users to shift their weight sideways to steer and decelerate, making them unstable and risky to ride on various surfaces, especially for adults, as they necessitate hard, flat surfaces and small wheels, limiting their use and accessibility.
Innovation Solution
A skateboard design featuring a pivotable front panel and a fixed rear panel with wide, convex wheels and a braking system, allowing for easier steering and deceleration without shifting weight, enabling stable riding on diverse terrains including dirt and gravel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional steering mechanism requiring board pivoting is used, then steering function is achieved, but user stability deteriorates and risk of falling increases
Solution Approach 1:
The deck is divided into a fixed rear section and a movable front section that can pivot independently. This segmentation allows the front section to provide steering control while the fixed rear section maintains user stability, resolving the contradiction between ease of steering and riding stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The steering mechanism is moved from requiring lateral body movement to allowing rotation of the front deck section around a vertical axis. This dimensional change in the steering mechanism enables easier steering operation without compromising user stability.
2Ease of operation
If conventional deceleration method using foot friction is used, then deceleration function is achieved, but user stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A braking mechanism is introduced as an intermediary system between the user and the ground. This mechanism provides controlled deceleration through a dedicated braking system rather than requiring the user to use their foot for friction-based braking, thereby maintaining user stability during deceleration.
3Ease of operation
If small wheels are used as required by turning mechanism, then steering capability is achieved, but adaptability to different terrains deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The front wheel assembly is made dynamically adjustable through the movable front deck section. The front wheels can be pivoted independently of the rear wheels, providing adaptive steering capability that works well with larger wheel sizes for better terrain adaptability while maintaining effective steering control.
4Adaptability or versatility
If wide convex wheels are used for terrain versatility, then device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel system is segmented into independent front and rear wheel assemblies. Each assembly can be optimized for terrain versatility with wide convex wheels, while the segmented design allows for manageable complexity through modular construction and independent operation of each wheel assembly.
Data Source
AI summary
A skateboard device may include a frame, a set of wheels, and a deck. A user or rider may stand on the deck. The deck may be divided into a front panel and a rear panel, on which the user may rest a front foot and a rear foot, respectively. The rear panel may be fixed relative to the frame. The front panel, in turn, may pivot sideways relative to the frame and, in pivoting sideways, may drive a front wheel fork for rotation in order to steer one or more front wheels of the set of wheels left or right. In some embodiments, the skateboard device may include relatively wide, convex, single front and rear wheels facilitating riding the skateboard device not only on hard, flat surfaces but also on other terrains such as, but not limited to, dirt, gravel, etc.