# US 8,540,284 B2 · Snowboard simulation riding device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,284 B2 - Document ID: US8540284B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/275,990 - Filed: 2011-10-18 - Published: 2013-04-18 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2011-10-18 - Assignees: No Snow Ventures, LLC - Applicants: Mark Falanga; Andres J. Salas-Acosta - Inventors: Mark Falanga; Andres J. Salas-Acosta - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540284B2 ## CPC - B62M 27/02: power driven - F16D 55/226: in which the common actuating member is moved axially {, e.g. floating caliper disc brakes} - F16D 65/847: with open cooling system, e.g. cooled by air - B62K 2202/00: Motorised scooters - F16D 2121/04: acting on a piston-type actuator, e.g. for liquid pressure - F16D 2125/04: Cylinders - B62M: RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR {SINGLE-TRACK} CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of transmissions in vehicles in general B60K; transmission elements per se F16) - F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES - B62K: CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDECARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE ## Abstract A wheeled riding device has a body with an elongate front arm, a turning tail, and a joint part pivotally connecting the turning tail and front arm relative to one another. A front wheel is carried by a forward end of the front arm. Rear wheels are carried by a rear end of the turning tail. A standing platform is supported over the front arm and turning tail. The rear wheels and turning tail can pivot laterally side to side relative to the front arm. The front wheel and front arm can pivot vertically up and down relative to the standing platform. The front wheel, during a turn, is cambered inward into the turn. The device is controlled by the rider using body movements and skills required to ride a snowboard. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wheeled riding device comprising: a body with an elongate front arm and a turning tail pivotally connected relative to one another at a joint part; a front wheel carried by a forward end of the front arm; rear wheels carried by a rear end of the turning tail; and a standing platform supported over the front arm and turning tail, wherein the rear wheels and turning tail can pivot laterally side to side relative to the front arm, and wherein the front wheel and front arm can pivot vertically up and down relative to the standing platform. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A wheeled riding device according to claim 1, wherein the joint part is part of and beneath the standing platform. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A wheeled riding device according to claim 1, wherein the front arm pivots about an arm axis oriented generally horizontally side to side and the turning tail pivots about a tail axis oriented generally vertically but tilted at an angle relative to a vertical reference. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A wheeled riding device according to claim 1, further comprising a suspension mechanism connected between the standing platform and the front arm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A wheeled riding device according to claim 4, wherein the suspension mechanism includes a shock absorber and a set of optionally selectable links different from one another, each link for connecting the shock absorber to the wheeled riding device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) A wheeled riding device according to claim 4, wherein the standing platform and the front arm each have a V-shaped structure with a pair of spaced apart legs, and wherein the suspension mechanism includes a shock absorber mounted between the legs of each. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A wheeled riding device according to claim 1, further comprising: only one front wheel; two of the rear wheels; two brakes, one each coupled to a respective one of the two rear wheels; and a hand held actuator coupled to the two brakes by cables and having two levers, one of the two levers for independently operating a corresponding one of the two brakes. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A wheeled riding device according to claim 1, wherein the joint part has a plate connected to a mating plate on the turning tail, whereby mating surfaces of the plate and mating plate define a plane and wherein a tail axis is oriented perpendicular to the plane, the turning tail pivotable about the tail axis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A wheeled riding device according to claim 8, wherein the turning axis is oriented generally vertically but tilted at an angle relative to a vertical reference. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) A wheeled riding device according to claim 8, further comprising a self-centering mechanism associated with the turning tail that biases the turning tail to a center home position whereby the front wheel and the rear wheels roll in the same direction. ### Claim 11 A snowboard simulation device comprising: an elongate front arm with a free end and a back end; a turning tail with a forward end and a rear end; a platform structure defining foot landings and having a lengthwise axis, the back end of the front arm and the forward end of the turning tail each pivotally connected to the platform structure; a front wheel carried by the free end of the front arm; and rear wheels carried by the rear end of the turning tail, wherein, by turning the platform structure about its lengthwise axis, the front arm turns relative to the turning tail side to side and the front wheel is cambered to the same side. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A snowboard simulation device according to claim 11, wherein the front arm can pivot about the back end at an arm pivot such that the free end moves up and down relative to the platform structure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A snowboard simulation device according to claim 11, wherein the platform part has a plate connected to a mating plate on the turning tail, whereby mating surfaces of the plates define a plane and are pivotable relative to one another about a tail axis oriented perpendicular to the plane. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A snowboard simulation device according to claim 13, wherein the plane is oriented generally horizontally but tilted at an angle relative to a horizontal reference. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A snowboard simulation device according to claim 14, wherein the front arm can pivot at its back end about a generally horizontal, laterally oriented arm axis such that the free end can move up and down relative to the platform structure. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) A snowboard simulation device according to claim 11, further comprising a suspension mechanism connected between the platform structure and the front arm between the back end and free end, the suspension mechanism including a shock absorber and a link connecting one end of the shock absorber to the device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A snowboard simulation device according to claim 16, further comprising a suspension kit including plurality of different, interchangeable components optionally selectable to selectively alter one or more performance characteristics of the suspension mechanism. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) A snowboard simulation device according to claim 11, further comprising two rear wheels, a brake coupled to each of the two rear wheels, and a hand brake actuator for operating the brakes, the hand brake actuator having two levers, one for independently actuating each of the brakes. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) A snowboard simulation device according to claim 11, further comprising a self-centering mechanism configured to bias the turning tail to a center home position relative to the front arm. ### Claim 20 A snowboard simulation device comprising: an elongate front arm with a free end and a back end; a turning tail with a forward end and a rear end; a platform structure defining foot landings, the front arm connected to and pivotable about an arm axis and the turning tail connected to and pivotable about a tail axis relative to the platform structure; a single front wheel carried by the free end of the front arm; two laterally spaced apart rear wheels carried by the rear end of the turning tail; and a brake associated with each of the rear wheels, wherein the arm axis is generally horizontal and oriented perpendicular to a lengthwise axis of the platform structure and wherein the tail axis is generally vertical but tilted rearward at an angle relative to a vertical reference, resulting in an articulated steering motion when the front arm is leaned to one side or the other about the lengthwise axis.