# US 8,783,699 B2 · Truck and wheel bearing assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,783,699 B2 - Document ID: US8783699B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/506,749 - Filed: 2012-05-15 - Published: 2013-11-21 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2012-05-15 - Applicants: Daniel Jon Gesmer - Inventors: Daniel Jon Gesmer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783699B2 ## CPC - A63C 17/226: {Wheel mounting, i.e. arrangement connecting wheel and axle mount} - A63C 17/0093: {Mechanisms transforming leaning into steering through an inclined geometrical axis, e.g. truck (A63C17/011 takes precedence)} - A63C 17/012: {with a truck, i.e. with steering mechanism comprising an inclined geometrical axis to convert lateral tilting of the board in steering of the wheel axis} - A63C 17/015: {with wheels arranged in two pairs} - B60B 27/0005: {with ball bearings} - A63C 17/02: with wheels arranged in two pairs {(for skateboards A63C17/015)} - F16C 2316/30: Articles for sports, games and amusement, e.g. roller skates, toys - A63C: SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE (water skis B63B32/00, B63B34/00) - B60B: VEHICLE WHEELS (making wheels or wheel parts by rolling B21H1/00, by forging, hammering or pressing B21K1/28); CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS ## Abstract An improved skateboard or roller-skate truck and wheel bearing assembly is disclosed containing an axle bearing yoke, base, grommet, and wheel and bearing combination which delivers improved steering precision, steering control, and wheel alignment. A grommet in the truck includes a bearing surface on a face which engages a bearing member in the yoke and restricts arcuate movements of the yoke and wheels. The contours of the grommet are also unique and contribute to steering control. The wheel and bearing combination incorporates paired bearing casings with bell-shaped members in their ends which meet each other inside a wheel of the board or skate and self-adjust to accommodate imperfections in the bearing seat levelness, bearing seat spacing, axle diameter and axle straightness. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A skateboard or roller-skate truck comprising a base plate, a yoke including a body portion moveable in arcuate paths about the base plate, a first aperture formed in the body portion, and a bearing member adjacent the first aperture, a post extending from the base plate through the first aperture adjacent the bearing member, and a resilient first grommet engaged on the post and the bearing member adjacent the first aperture adapted to restrict arcuate movements of the yoke and having a cylindrical first face configured for complementary engagement with a cylindrical surface on the bearing member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The truck of claim 1 in which the first face on the grommet is concave and configured for engagement with a convex surface on the bearing member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The truck of claim 1 in which the yoke includes a recessed area having perimeter walls formed in the body portion adjacent to the bearing member, and the first grommet includes a collar section which is fitted into the perimeter walls of the recessed area. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The truck of claim 3 in which the recessed area is hexagonal. ### Claim 5 A skateboard or roller-skate truck comprising a base plate, a yoke including a body portion moveable in arcuate paths about the base plate, a first aperture formed in the body portion, and a bearing member adjacent the first aperture, a post extending from the base plate through the first aperture adjacent the bearing member, and resilient first and second grommets having fissures formed in the sides of at least one of the grommets engaged on the post and bearing member on opposite sides of the yoke adjacent the first aperture and adapted to restrict arcuate movements of the yoke. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The truck of claim 5 in which the sides of at least one of the grommets are internally hollow. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The truck of claim 5 which includes an end cap disposed on the post, and the second grommet is cone-shaped from a larger end adjacent a first face configured for engagement with the bearing member to a smaller end adjacent a second face configured for complementary engagement to the end cap. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The truck of claim 7 which includes a beveled surface on the second face of the second grommet, and a beveled surface on the end cap complementary to the second face of the second grommet. ### Claim 9 A skateboard or roller-skate truck comprising a base plate, a yoke including a body portion moveable in arcuate paths about the base plate, a first aperture formed in the body portion, and a bearing member adjacent the first aperture, a post extending from the base plate through the first aperture adjacent the bearing member, and resilient first and second grommets engaged on the post and bearing member on opposite sides of the yoke adjacent the first aperture and adapted to restrict arcuate movements of the yoke, the second grommet including a first face engaged on the bearing member and a second face spaced apart from the first face containing a plurality of first locking members, and an end cap disposed on the post having a plurality of second locking members arranged for complementary engagement with the first locking members. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The truck of claim 9 in which the sides of the first grommet taper from a larger end of the grommet adjacent to a first face on the grommet to a smaller end adjacent to a second face on the grommet. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The truck of claim 9 which includes a tension nut on the post spaced apart from the first aperture by the first grommet and moveable against the first grommet to increase compression thereon. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The truck of claim 11 in which the first grommet is cone-shaped from a larger end adjacent a first face configured for engagement with the bearing member to a smaller end adjacent a second face configured for proximate engagement to the tension nut. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The truck of claim 12 in which the second face of the first grommet includes a beveled surface, and an end cap having a beveled face complementary to the second face of the first grommet is interposed on the post between the first grommet and the tension nut. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The truck of claim 13 in which the end cap is harder material than the first grommet. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The truck of claim 9 in which the end cap is a harder material than the second grommet. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The truck of claim 9 in which the first locking members and the second locking members are complementary ridges. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The truck of claim 9 in which the end cap engaged on the first locking members includes a face opposite the second locking members adapted to be fixed on the base plate of the truck. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The truck of claim 17 in which the face of the end cap opposite the second locking members is a cup configured for complementary engagement with the base plate of the truck. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The truck of claim 17 in which the face of the end cap opposite the second locking members includes a ridged contour adapted for mating engagement with the base plate of the truck.