Wheeled skate device

A wheeled skate device comprising:

• a platform configured for being movably disposed above a support surface at a specified height and defining a space between the platform and the support surface, the platform further being configured for receiving a foot of a user, the platform having an outer perimeter, opposite lateral sides and opposite longitudinal ends;
• a pair of primary wheels each rotatably coupled to different lateral sides of the platform outside the outer perimeter of the platform, the primary wheels being configured for rolling disposition on the support surface and being configured for maintaining the platform at the specified height, and the primary wheels further having an outer diameter greater than the specified height and being bi-directionally rotatable about primary axes of rotation;
• and
• a secondary wheel rotatably coupled to one end of the platform and configured for rolling contact with the support surface, the secondary wheel rotating about a secondary axis of rotation which is oriented generally horizontally, the secondary wheel further pivoting about a generally vertical pivot axis through an angular range of at least 180 degrees, and
• wherein the primary and secondary wheels are configured for cooperatively operating in at least two modes to make rolling contact with the support surface without sliding, the two modes including (i) a travel mode in which the primary and secondary wheels each rotate in generally the same direction to horizontally displace the platform, and (ii) a spinning mode in which the primary wheels rotate in opposite directions relative to one another, and in which the secondary axis of rotation of the secondary wheel is oriented traverse to the primary axes of rotation of the primary wheels, to pivot the platform about a vertical axis.

A wheeled skate device comprising:

• a platform configured for being movably disposed above a support surface at a specified height and defining a space between the platform and the support surface, the platform further being configured for receiving a foot of a user, the platform having an outer perimeter, opposite lateral sides and opposite longitudinal ends;
• a pair of primary wheels each rotatably coupled to different lateral sides of the platform outside the outer perimeter of the platform, the primary wheels being configured for rolling disposition on the support surface and being configured for maintaining the platform at the specified height, and the primary wheels further having an outer diameter greater than the specified height and being bi-directionally rotatable about a common primary axis of rotation;
• and
• a secondary wheel rotatably coupled to one end of the platform and configured for disposition between the platform and support surface and configured for rolling contact with the support surface, the secondary wheel having an outer diameter less than the specified height and rotating about a secondary axis of rotation which is oriented generally horizontally, the secondary wheel further pivoting about a generally vertical pivot axis through an angular range of at least 180 degrees, and
• wherein the primary and secondary wheels are configured for cooperatively operating in at least two modes to make rolling contact with the support surface without sliding, the two modes including (i) a travel mode in which the primary and secondary wheels each rotate in generally the same direction to horizontally displace the platform, and (ii) a spinning mode in which the primary wheels rotate in opposite directions relative to one another, and in which the secondary axis of rotation of the secondary wheel is oriented traverse to the primary axis of rotation of the primary wheels, to pivot the platform about a vertical axis, and
• wherein the platform vertically pivots about the primary axis of rotation of the primary wheels between (i) a first generally horizontal orientation in which the secondary wheel is in a non-contacting relationship with the support surface, and such that the skate device has only two points of contact with the support surface defined by the primary wheels, and (ii) a second inclined orientation in which the secondary wheel contacts the support surface, and such that the skate device has only three points of contact with the support surface defined by the primary and secondary wheels.