Surfing scooter

Claim 2

A non-motorized adult scooter, comprising: a first means for providing a steerable front wheel that is rotatable about first axis of rotation; second means, connected with and supported by said first means, and including a wide upper platform for carrying substantially the entirety of both feet of a standing rider in a variety of positions and locations, and a lower portion removably fastened to the scooter and having a generally smooth and snag-free face entending opposite from said upper platform for omni-directional sliding engagement with the ground and ground-supported objects, said generally smooth and snag-free face extending longitudinally with said upper platform to and upwardly sloping surface adjacent said front wheel, an third means connected with and supporting said second means and carrying a rear wheel rotatable about a second axis of rotation.

Claim 3

A non-motorized adult scooter, comprising: a first means for providing a steerable front wheel that is rotatable about first axis of rotation; second means, connected with and supported by said first means, and including a wide upper platform for carrying substantially the entirety of both feet of a standing rider in a variety of positions and locations, and a lower portion having a generally smooth and snag-free face extending opposite from said upper platform for omni-directional sliding engagement with the ground and ground-supported objects extending longitudinally with said upper platform to an upwardly sloping surface adjacent said front wheel, and third means connected with and supporting said second means and carrying a rear wheel rotatable about a second axis of rotation, said lower portion defining a concavity extending longitudinally with said upper platform for encompassing at least an intermediate portion of a frame extending between said first means and said third means.

Claim 4

A non-motorized adult scooter, comprising: a first means for providing a steerable front wheel that is rotatable about first axis of rotation; second means, connected with and supported by said first means, and including a wide upper platform for carrying substantially the entirety of both feet of a standing rider in a variety of positions and locations, and a lower portion having a generally smooth and snag-free face extending opposite from said upper platform for omni-directional sliding engagement with the ground and ground-supported objects extending longitudinally with said upper platform to an upwardly sloping surface adjacent said front wheel, and third means connected with and supporting said second means and carrying a rear wheel rotatable about a second axis of rotation, said lower portion defining a concavity extending longitudinally with said upper platform for encompassing at least an intermediate portion of a frame extending between said first means and said third means.

Claim 5

The adult scooter of claim 1 wherein said lower portion includes side edges adapted for engagement with the ground and ground-supported objects.

Claim 6

The adult scooter of claim 1 wherein said front and rear wheels have radii of at least about 12 inches, and the upper platform is supported by said first means and third means below said axes of rotation of said wheels.

Claim 7

The adult scooter of claim 4 wherein said front and rear wheels have radii less than about 22 inches.

Claim 8

The adult scooter of claim 1 wherein at least one of said wheels is supported by a shock absorber.

Claim 9

The adult scooter of claim 1 wherein said lower portion is comprised of a tough plastic material.

Claim 10

The adult scooter of claim 1 wherein said upper platform has a width of at least about 6 inches.

Claim 11

The adult scooter of claim 8 wherein said upper platform has a width of less than about 16 inches.

Claim 12

The adult scooter of claim 1 wherein said upper platform has a length of at least about 14 inches.

Claim 13

The adult scooter of claim 10 wherein said upper platform has a length of less than about 36 inches.

Claim 14

The adult scooter of claim 1 wherein said wheels include knobbed treads adapted to engage the ground with reduced slippage.

Claim 15

The adult scooter of claim 1 wherein said tires are air-filled to provide pneumatic cushioning.

Claim 16

The adult scooter of claim 1 wherein the distance between said axes of wheel rotation is at least about {fraction (3/6+L )} inches.

Claim 17

The adult scooter of claim 14 wherein the distance between said axes of wheel rotation is less than about 66 inches.

Claim 18

The adult scooter of claim 1 wherein the lower portion is supported at least three inches above the ground.

Claim 19

The adult scooter of claim 17 wherein said lower portion is supported less than about 12 inches above the ground.

Claim 20

The adult scooter of claim 1 wherein at least one of said wheels is provided with a brake operable from said first means.

Claim 21

The adult scooter of claim 1 wherein both wheels are provided with brakes operable from said first means.

Claim 22

The adult scooter of claim 1 wherein said front and rear wheels are held to said scooter with quick release fastening means.

Claim 23

A non-motorized adult scooter, comprising: a first means for providing a steerable front wheel that is rotatable about first axis of rotation; second means, connected with and supported by said first means, and including a wide upper platform for carrying substantially the entirety of both feet of a standing rider in a variety of positions and locations, and a lower portion having a generally smooth and snag-free face and side edges extending opposite from said upper platform for omni-directional sliding engagement with the ground and ground-supported objects, said side edges of said lower portion being angled upwardly, said generally smooth and snag-free face extending longitudinally with said upper platform to an upwardly sloping surface adjacent said front wheel, and third means connected with and supporting said second means and carrying a rear wheel rotatable about a second axis of rotation.

Claim 24

A non-motorized adult scooter, comprising: a first means for providing a steerable front wheel that is rotatable about first axis of rotation; second means, connected with and supported by said first means, and including a wide upper platform for carrying substantially the entirety of both feet of a standing rider in a variety of positions and locations, and a lower portion having a generally smooth and snag-free face and side edges extending opposite from said upper platform for omni-directional sliding engagement with the ground and ground-supported objects, said side edges of said lower portion being angled upwardly, said generally smooth and snag-free face extending longitudinally with said upper platform to an upwardly sloping surface adjacent said front wheel, and third means connected with and supporting said second means and carrying a rear wheel rotatable about a second axis of rotation.

Claim 25

In a steerable, non-motorized, two-wheeled adult vehicle, the improvement comprising a standing platform and an omni-directional lower sliding surface below said standing platform and between the two wheels, said lower sliding surface having a generally closed, continuous, smooth and snag-free arcuate face extending opposite from said standing platform in a substantially closed assembly, said standing platform having sufficient width and length extending to a rearward inclined surface to support both feet of the rider in a variety of positions on the platform to permit an acrobatic rider to engage the lower sliding surface with the ground and ground-supported objects while pointed in multiple directions.

Claim 26

In a steerable, non-motorized, two-wheeled adult vehicle, the improvement comprising a standing platform and an omni-directional lower sliding surface below said standing platform and between the two wheels, said lower sliding surface having a generally closed, continuous, smooth and snag-free arcuate face extending opposite from said standing platform in a substantially closed assembly, said standing platform having sufficient width and length extending to a rearward inclined surface to support both feet of the rider in a variety of positions on the platform to permit an acrobatic rider to engage the lower sliding surface with the ground and ground-supported objects while pointed in multiple directions.

Claim 27

A non-motorized vehicle having a front wheel and a rear wheel for carrying a rider while standing and moving under the influence of gravity, comprising: a standing platform sufficiently wide and long to support both feet of the rider in a variety of orientations and locations on the platform to permit the rider to apply body weight from side to side and front to rear of the platform while maintaining reliable contact between both feet and the platform, a smooth, planar, snag-free surface-forming means below and connected with said standing platform, said surface-forming means extending along a longitudinal extent of said standing platform to an upwardly sloping surface extending above a plane coincident with the upper platform and adapted to be engaged by the rider with the ground and ground-supported objects, a first fork for rotatably carrying said front wheel, said fork being pivotably connected with and supporting said platform and surface forming means by said front wheel and further connected with a handlebar to permit the rider to steer the vehicle, and a second fork connected with said platform and surface-forming means for rotatably carrying said rear wheel.

Claim 28

A non-motorized vehicle having a front wheel and a rear wheel for carrying a rider while standing and moving under the influence of gravity, comprising: a standing platform sufficiently wide and long to support both feet of the rider in a variety of orientations and locations on the platform to permit the rider to apply body weight from side to side and front to rear of the platform while maintaining reliable contact between both feet and the platform, a smooth, planar, snag-free surface-forming means below and connected with said standing platform, said surface-forming means extending along a longitudinal extent of said standing platform to an upwardly sloping surface extending above a plane coincident with the upper platform and adapted to be engaged by the rider with the ground and ground-supported objects, a first fork for rotatably carrying said front wheel, said fork being pivotably connected with and supporting said platform and surface forming means by said front wheel and further connected with a handlebar to permit the rider to steer the vehicle, and a second fork connected with said platform and surface-forming means for rotatably carrying said rear wheel.

Claim 29

The vehicle of claim 23 wherein said platform is at least about 6 inches wide and at least about 24 inches long.

Claim 30

The vehicle of claim 23 wherein said front and rear wheels have a diameter of at least about 12 inches, said platform is supported below the axes by rotation of said front and rear wheels, and said surface-forming means is supported several inches about the ground.

Claim 31

The vehicle of claim 23 wherein said surface-forming means comprises a replaceable plastic element forming a planar lower surface, an upwardly sloping forward ramp-like, forward surface and a pair of smooth, snag-free side surfaces.

Claim 32

The vehicle of claim 23 wherein said front and rear forks carry brakes for the front and rear wheels, and the handlebar carries individual hand-operated actuators for the brakes.

Claim 33

The vehicle of claim 23 wherein each of the front and rear wheels carries an air-filled tire with rough tread adapted for secure ground engagement and at least the front wheel is carried by a shock absorber system.

Claim 34

The vehicle of claim 23 wherein a strong tubular frame extends between the first and second forks, and the standing platform and surface-forming means are removably fastened to the strong tubular frame and to each other.

Claim 35

A non-motorized adult scooter, comprising: a first means for providing a steerable front wheel that is rotatable about a first axis of rotation; second means, connected with and supported by said first means, and including a wide upper platform for carrying substantially the entirety of both feet of a standing rider in a variety of positions and locations extending rearwardly to an upward inclination immediately adjacent a rear wheel of the scooter, and a lower portion having a generally smooth and snag-free closed, continuous arcuate face extending opposite from said upper platform for omni-directional sliding engagement with the ground and ground-supported objects, said lower portion being secured to said platform, said generally smooth and snag-free closed, continuous arcuate face extending longitudinally with said upper platform to an upwardly sloping surface adjacent said front wheel above a plane coincident with the upper platform, and third means connected with and supporting said second means and carrying the rear wheel rotatable about a second axis of rotation.

Claim 36

A non-motorized adult scooter, comprising: a first means for providing a steerable front wheel that is rotatable about a first axis of rotation; second means, connected with and supported by said first means, and including a wide upper platform for carrying substantially the entirety of both feet of a standing rider in a variety of positions and locations extending rearwardly to an upward inclination immediately adjacent a rear wheel of the scooter, and a lower portion having a generally smooth and snag-free closed, continuous arcuate face extending opposite from said upper platform for omni-directional sliding engagement with the ground and ground-supported objects, said lower portion being secured to said platform, said generally smooth and snag-free closed, continuous arcuate face extending longitudinally with said upper platform to an upwardly sloping surface adjacent said front wheel above a plane coincident with the upper platform, and third means connected with and supporting said second means and carrying the rear wheel rotatable about a second axis of rotation.

Claim 37

A non-motorized vehicle having a front wheel and a rear wheel for carrying a rider while standing and moving under the influence of gravity, comprising: a standing platform sufficiently wide and long to support both feet of the rider in a variety of orientations and locations on the platform to permit the rider to apply body weight from side to side and front to rear of the platform while maintaining reliable contact between both feet and the platform, the standing platform extending rearwardly to an upward inclination immediately adjacent the rear wheel of the vehicle, a smooth, planar, snag-free surface-forming means, a portion of which has a downwardly extending generally closed, continuous arcuate face below and connected with said standing platform, said surface-forming means extending along a longitudinal extend of said standing platform to an upwardly sloping surface above a plane coincident with the upper platform and adapted to be engaged by the rider with the ground and ground-supported objects, said standing platform and said surface-forming means secured in a rigid embracing relationship, a first fork for rotatably carrying said front wheel, said fork being pivotably connected with and supporting said platform and surface-forming means by said front wheel and further connected with a handlebar to permit the rider to steer the vehicle, and a second fork connected with said platform and surface-forming means for rotatably carrying said rear wheel.

Claim 38

A non-motorized vehicle having a front wheel and a rear wheel for carrying a rider while standing and moving under the influence of gravity, comprising: a standing platform sufficiently wide and long to support both feet of the rider in a variety of orientations and locations on the platform to permit the rider to apply body weight from side to side and front to rear of the platform while maintaining reliable contact between both feet and the platform, the standing platform extending rearwardly to an upward inclination immediately adjacent the rear wheel of the vehicle, a smooth, planar, snag-free surface-forming means, a portion of which has a downwardly extending generally closed, continuous arcuate face below and connected with said standing platform, said surface-forming means extending along a longitudinal extend of said standing platform to an upwardly sloping surface above a plane coincident with the upper platform and adapted to be engaged by the rider with the ground and ground-supported objects, said standing platform and said surface-forming means secured in a rigid embracing relationship, a first fork for rotatably carrying said front wheel, said fork being pivotably connected with and supporting said platform and surface-forming means by said front wheel and further connected with a handlebar to permit the rider to steer the vehicle, and a second fork connected with said platform and surface-forming means for rotatably carrying said rear wheel.

Claim 39

The non-motorized vehicle of claim 31 further comprising a longitudinal beam extending between the first fork and the second fork and substantially fully encompassed by the assembly of the standing platform and surface-forming means.