CROSS REFERENCE

Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic priority claim is identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed with the present application are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1.57.

BACKGROUND

Field

The inventions described herein generally relate to wheel support structures, for example, skateboard, longboard, scooter, and other wheeled support structure.

Related Art

Standard board designs (e.g., skateboard, longboard, or other vehicles) generally include a deck with two wheeled trucks bolted to the deck (e.g., front and rear). To steer the board, the user stands on the deck and leans left or right to actuate the two-wheeled trucks into a turn. A straight path can generally be maintained by keeping the deck level with the ground. Existing trucks include kingpin trucks, but these have various drawbacks. Accordingly there is a need for improved trucks.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect, a truck includes a base configured to couple with a deck and includes a hanger aperture. A hanger is within the hanger aperture of the base and pivotable about a pivot axis with respect to the base. A centering mechanism, includes a first plunger assembly coupled with a first mount portion of the base. A first plunger has a first end and a second end, the first end engaged with the hanger and a second end disposed within a housing of the first plunger assembly. In a first rotated position of the hanger relative to the base the first plunger exerts a first rotation opposing force on the hanger.

In another aspect, the hanger includes a stem including a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end extending from the hanger. The distal end of the stem engages with the first end of the first plunger.

In another aspect, a second plunger assembly couples with a second mount portion of the base.

A second plunger includes a first end and a second end, with the first end engaged with the distal end of the stem and a second end disposed within a housing of the second plunger assembly. In a second rotated position of the hanger relative to the base, the second plunger exerts a second rotation opposing force on the stem. The first and second rotation opposing forces are configured to return the hanger into a centered position of the hanger relative to the base.

In another aspect, a spring disposed within the housing of the first plunger assembly biases the plunger into an extended position.

In another aspect, the spring includes a plurality of sections, each section having a different spring constant.

In another aspect, the spring includes a plurality of springs contained within the housing of the first plunger assembly.

In another aspect, the first rotation opposing force exerted by the first plunger against the stem is a function of an angle of rotation of the hanger relative to the base.

In another aspect, a rate of increase of the first rotation opposing force is greater below a specified angle of rotation of the hanger relative to the base than the rate of increase of the first rotation opposing force above the specified angle.

In another aspect, a rate of increase of the first rotation opposing force is greater above a specified angle of rotation of the hanger relative to the base than a rate of increase of the first rotation opposing force below the specified angle.

In another aspect, the first plunger assembly includes one of a damper and an inerter.

In another aspect, the housing of the first plunger assembly includes a first end portion having a threaded section and the first mount portion of the base includes a corresponding threaded section to assemble the housing with the base.

In another aspect, the stem is rigidly connected with the hanger.

In another aspect, the distal end of the stem includes an opposing surface on a first side configured to contact and engage with the first plunger through a range of rotation angles of the hanger relative to the base.

According to another aspect, a base couples with a deck. A hanger pivotably couples with the base.

The base exerts a torque on the hanger based on an angle of rotation of the hanger relative to the base. A resisting structure provides an adjustable resisting force on the hanger tending to bias the hanger back to a non-rotated position relative to the base.

In another aspect, a stem extends from the hanger.

In another aspect, the resisting structure is a plunger assembly on the base.

In another aspect, a rate of increase of the torque is greater below a specified angle than the rate of increase of the torque above the specified angle

In another aspect, a rate of increase of the torque is greater above a specified angle than the rate of increase of the torque below the specified angle

In another aspect, the torque is configured to center the hanger on the base.

In another aspect, the resisting structure is a plunger assembly including a plunger and a spring. The spring engages with the plunger to bias the plunger into an extended configuration. The spring couples with the base such that the plunger and the spring cause the torque on the hanger.

According to another aspect, a base couples with a deck and includes a hanger aperture. A hanger couples within the hanger aperture of the base and is pivotable about a pivot axis with respect to the base. A damping mechanism, includes a first cylinder coupled with a first mount portion of the base.

a first plunger having a first end and a second end, the first end engaged with the hanger and a second end disposed within the first cylinder. During rotation of the hanger relative to the base, the first plunger exerts a force on the hanger based on an angular velocity of the hanger.

According to another aspect, a truck for coupling with a deck includes an internal structure pivotably coupled with an external structure by a pivot assembly. The internal structure extends within a first opening of the external structure. A first pin assembly of the pivot assembly pivotably couples the internal structure with the external structure. A pin includes a shaft and a head. The shaft has a first aperture therethrough with the head received within and coupled with a second opening of the external structure. A damper insert has an engagement end and a brake section. The engagement end inserts within a first opening of the internal structure with brake section received within the first aperture of the shaft of the pin. The engagement end frictionally engages with the first opening of the internal structure and the brake section frictionally engages within the first aperture of the shaft of the pin such that rotation between the internal structure and the external structure about the pivot assembly is limited.

In another aspect, the damper insert includes a protrusion extending from the brake section opposite the engagement end, the protrusion disposed within a second aperture of shaft of the pin, the frictional engagement between the brake section and the shaft adjustable by a position of a movable set screw engaged with the protrusion and the second aperture of the shaft.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be limiting. Other aspects, features, and advantages of the devices and/or other subject matter described in this application will become apparent in the teachings set forth below. The summary is provided to introduce a selection of some of the concepts of this disclosure. The summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of any subject matter described herein.

