US3856321A

US3856321A - Wheeled board toy assembly

Info

Publication number: US3856321A
Application number: US00299432A
Authority: US
Inventors: F Solymosi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-10-20
Filing date: 1972-10-20
Publication date: 1974-12-24
Anticipated expiration: 1991-12-24
Also published as: FR2203650B1; FR2203650A1; ATA882373A; AT332775B; DE2351965A1; JPS4973242A

Abstract

This wheeled board toy assembly is adapted for use as a ski instructional device and includes: a pair of wheeled skate boards, a plurality of skate board wheels, a pair of link boards, a plurality of link board wheels, a pair of outrigger boards, a plurality of outrigger wheels, and a pair of ski poles. The assembly allows the user to practice the basic balancing skills needed for skiing while rolling on this assembly. When the user leans to one side, both skate boards tilt to that side and the assembly tends to turn to that side as it rolls.

Description

imiie tates Patent [1 Solymosi [451 Dee-24,1974

[ WHEELED BOARD TOY ASSEMBLY [76] Inventor: Frank Solymosi, 255 Violet St.,

Massapequa Park, NY. 1 1762 [22] Filed: Oct. 20, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 299,432

[52] 11.8. C1. 280/8704, 280/1l.l [51] Int. Cl A63c 17/00 [58] Field of Search280/87.04-R, 87.04 A, 11.37 R,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 885,977 4/1908 Brown 280/8704 A 2,545,543 3/1951 Bottrill 280/1123 3,357,714 12/1967 Kuehnm; 280/11.37 E 3,436,088 4/1969- Kunselman 280/8704 X Primary Examiner-Leo F riaglia Assistant Examiner-Randall A. Schrecengost Attorney, Agent, or Firml(enyon & Kenyon Reilly Carr & Chapin 57 ABSTRACT This wheeled board toy assembly is adapted for use as a ski instructional device and includes: a pair of wheeled skate boards, a plurality of skate board wheels, a pair of link boards, a plurality of link board wheels, a pair of outrigger boards, a plurality of outrigger wheels, and a pair of ski poles. The assembly allows the user to practice the basic balancing skills needed for skiing while rolling on this assembly. When the user leans to one side, both skate boards tilt to that side and the assembly tendsto turn to that side as i it rolls.

20 Claims, IODrawing Figures 9 adapted for use as a ski instructional device.

. WHEELED BOARD TOY ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I.. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a wheeled board assembly in the toy field and also to the field of ski instructional devices because the wheeled board toy assembly is 2. Description of the Prior Art US. Pat. No. 2,545,543 which issued on Mar. 20, 1951 to D. H. Bottrill'discloses a pair of ski-like platforms, each provided with-a front and back wheel. The platforms are loosely coupled to one another.

US. Pat. No. 3,252,713 which issued'on May 24, 1 966 to P. V. N. Heller discloses a scooter-type vehicle, a single wheel-mounted platform upon which the rider places both feet. Skate-boards of the prior art also receive both feet of the user. Since the skate-wheels supporting the skate-board are resiliently castered thereto the user can steer the skate-board by shifting his weight and deflecting the castered wheels.

Instructional snow skis, not wheeled ski-like platforms are shown in US. PatfNo. 1,313,502 issued Aug.

19, 1919, US. Pat. No. 3,357,714, issued Dec. 12, 1967 and US. Pat. No. 3,567,239 issued Mar. 2, 1971. In the devices of each of these patents, pairs of snow skis are coupled by links to one another.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION FIG. 4 is a side view of FIG. 2, showing the wheeled board assembly when the skate boards are perfectly level, before the skate boards are tilted.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the skate board assembly shown in FIG. 1, showing the wheels of the skate boards when the skate boards are perfectly level, before the skate board is tilted.

FIG. 6 is a view of the same skateboards shown in FIG. 5 after the skate boards have been tilted, with reference to their longitudinal axis.

FIG. 7 is a vertical section along the lines 7-7 shown in FIG. 2. s i FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the components shown in FIG. 2.

I FIG. 9 is a bottom view of another embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 10 is a side view of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION -toy assembly is indicated generally by the numeral 1. The wheeled board toy assembly 1 consists of a pair of skate boards- 3 which are generally rectangular in shape, one skate board 3 being used 'for each of the feet of the user 5. Each of the two skate boards 3 has a front end 7 and a rear end 9. The skate board 3 has a plurality of skate board wheels 11, l4, l7 and 20, some of I which are shown in FIG. 2. The skate board wheels are This invention is a wheeled board toy assembly for I recreational use and is adapted'for use as a-ski instructional device. The assembly includes a pair of wheeled skate boards, a plurality of skate board wheels on the underside of each skate board, a pair of link boards balancing skills needed for skiing while rolling on this assembly because when the user leans to one side. such as his right side, both skate boards tilt to the right of the user and the outrigger to the left of the user is lifted slightly by the left ski pole. As a result of tilting, the assemblytends to turn to the right as it rolls, that is, the wheeled board toy assembly tends to turn in the direction in which the user is leaning.

The invention enables one learning to ski to be taught and to practice the skiing techniques of wedeling and short swing. Thus by virtue of the invention a studentcan betaught and also practice skiing lessons on a hard surface such as that of the floor of a gymnasium or the pavement of a playground and at times when snow would not be available for the use of snow skis. A sloping surface either indoors or outside can also be used.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the wheeled board toy assembly of this invention as it appears when not in use.

, 'FIG. 3 is a bottom view of a wheeled board toy assembly shown in FIG. l.

affixed to the underside of each of the skate boards 3. The skate boards 3 roll on these skate board wheels 11 during use.

The wheeled board toy-assembly 1 also includes a pair of

link boards

23 and 25 which are generallyrect angular in shape. The link board 23 which is coupled to the front ends 7-of each skate board 3 is referred to I as the from link board 23. The rear link board 25 is coupled to the rear ends 9 of each skate board 3.The

skate boards 3 are arranged approximately perpendicular to the

link boards

23 and 25. A plurality of link"

board wheels

27 and 29 are positioned on the underside of the link board 23 and25.ln this embodiment,

there is one link board wheel 27 centered under the front link board 23 and one link board wheel 29 centered under the rear link board 25.

The wheeled board toy assembly I also consists of a pair of

outrigger boards

31 and 33 which are generally rectangular in shape and which are rotatably affixed tothe' from link board 23. One outrigger board is affixed to each end of the front link board and the longitudinal axis of both

outrigger boards

31 and 33 is approximately in line with the longitudinal axis of the front link board 23.'Each

outrigger board

31 and 33 has an

outer end

35 and 37 which is the end further away from the link board 23. A plurality of

outrigger wheels

39 and 41 are positioned on the underside of the outrigger boards 4 31 and 33. In this embodiment, one

outrigger wheel

39 and 41 is positioned at the outer end35 and 37 on the underside of each

outrigger board

31 and 33.

The skate board toy assembly also includes a pair of

ski poles

43 and 45. One ski pole is affixed to each of the outrigger boards 31 and 33-at the

outerend

35 and 37 of the

outrigger boards

31 and 33.

Referring to FIG. 3, which shows the underside of the wheeled bo'ard toy assembly 1 shown in FIG. 2, this em- 3 bodiment uses six skate board wheels, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 for each skate board. The

skate board wheels

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 are arranged in groups of three wheels in' a triangular configuration. One group of three wheels, the front group, 14, 15, 16 and 20, 21, 22

is arranged on the underside adjacent to the front end 7 of each skate board 3. The other group of three wheels, the rear group, 11, 12, 13 and 17, 18, 19 is arranged on the underside adjacent to the rear end 9 of the skate board 3. Each skate board 3 also has a

slat

47 and 49. The

slats

47 and 49 are generally rectangular in shape and the dimensions of the

slats

47 and 49 in length, width and thickness are each smaller, respectively, than the corresponding dimensions of the skate boards 3. In this embodiment, the

slats

47 and 49 are approximately Vs inch to A inch thick. One slat 47 and 49.is affixed to .the underside of each skate board 3.- The longitudinal axis of the

slats

47 and 49 are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the skate boards 3. The

slats

47 and 49 are arranged approximately in the middle of the skate boards 3. One of the

skate board wheels

16 and 22 from each front group of three wheels is posi- -tioned on each

slat

47 and 49. One of the skateboard -.wheels 13 and l9'from each rear group of three

wheels

11, 12, 13 and 17, 18, 19 is positioned on each

slat

47 and 49. The result of the foregoing arrangement of the skate board wheels is that the skate boards 3, tend to roll in the direction in which th e'skateboards 3 aretilted. Referring to the triangular group of front

skate board wheels

14, 15 and 16, two of the

wheels

14 and 15 within this front group are arranged side by side, opposed to one another, on the underside of the front, end of said skate board and at the same distance from the leading edge of the front end 7 of the skate board 3. Thus. these two

skate board wheels

14 and 15 form the base of the triangular configuration of this front group of three

wheels

14, 15 and 1.6. The apex of the triangular configuration of this group of three wheels l4, l and 16 is formed by skate board wheel 16 which is positioned on the front'end of the underside of slat 49. The same is true of the other front group of three skate board wheels 20, 2.1 and 22. Two of the

wheels

20 and 21 within this front group are arranged side by side, opposed to one another, and the same distance from the leading edge .of the front end 7 of the skate board 3. Thus, these two

skate board wheels

20 and 21 form the base of the triangularconfiguration of this group of three

wheels

20, 21 and 22. The other wheel 22 within this group of three-

wheels

20, 21 and 22 forms the apex of the triangular configuration of-three wheels and this wheel 22 is positioned at the front end of the'slat 47.

' In reference to the rear group of three

skate board wheels

11, 12 and 13, two of the

wheels

11 and 12 and 13 and the third wheel 13 forms the apex of the triangular configuration. The third wheel 13 is positioned on the rear end of the underside of slat 49. The same other, and the same distance from the trailing edge'of the rear end 9 of the skate board 3. Thus, these two skate board wheels and 21 form the base of the triangular configuration of this group of three

wheels

20, 21 and 22. The other wheel 19 within this group of three

wheels

17, 18 and 19 fomis the apex of the triangular configuration of three wheels and this wheel 19 is positioned at the rear end of the slat 47.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, when the skate boards 3 are perfectly level, that is, not tilted about their longitudinal axis, the only skate board wheels which are in contact with the ground 53 are the

skate board wheels

13, 16, 19 and 22 which are mounted on the

slats

47 and 49. The other

skate board wheels

11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20 and 21 which are not mounted on the

slats

47 and 49, but are directly mounted to the skate boards 3, are not in contact with the ground 53. Thus, the

skateboard wheels

13, 16, 19 and 22 which ,formthe apex of the triangular configuration of each group of three. wheels are in contact with the ground 53 when the skate board 3 is perfectly level. The

skate board wheels

11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18', 20 and 21 which form the base of each triangular configuration of each group of when theskate boards 3 are perfectly level, but are approximately A; inch to A. inch off the ground as a result of the thickness of

slats

47 and 49; Alternately,

wheels

11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20 and 2.1 could be countersunk or raised off the ground byother means.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 6, when the user 5 leans toward his rightside, as shown in FIG. 1, the skate boards 3 tilt about their longitudinal axis in the direction in which the user is leaning. The

wheels

15 and 21, which are on the sides of skate boards 3 toward which the skate boards 3 tilt, come in contact with the ground 53. Referring to FIG. 3,

rear wheels

12 and 18 come in contact with the ground as well, as

front wheels

15 and 21. Thus, as shown in FIG. 6, when the user 5 leans to his right side, both skate boards 3 tilt to the right of the user 5. The skate boards 3 roll not only on the

wheels

13, 16, 19 and 22, which are affixed to

slats

47 and 49, but also on'wheels 11, 14, 18 and 21 which are on the right side of skate board 3. Outrigger board 31, to the left of user 5 is lifted slightly by left ski pole 43. As a result of tilting, the skate boards 3 and the skate board toy assembly I tend to turn to the right, that is, in the direction in which the user is leaning. Similarly, if the user 5 were leaning to the left, the skate boards 3 would tend to turn to his left.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 7 and 8, the

outrigger boards

31 and 33 each have a well 57 into which the

ski poles

43 and 45 fit. One well 57 is located at the

outer end

35 and 37 of each

outrigger board

31 and 33. Referring to FIG. 7, there is a small horizontal pin 59 located within each well 57 and this pin 59 engages an eyelet screw 61located on the end of each

ski pole

43 and 45.

The eyelet screw 61 is located on the end of each ski is true of the other rear group of three wheels, 17, 18 and 19. Two of the

wheels

17 and 18 within this rear group are arranged side by side, opposed .to one anpole 43 and 45 which is opposite from the end of the

ski pole

43 and 45 grasped by the user. The eyelet screw 61 of. each

ski pole

43 and 45 is engaged by the pin'59 within the well 57 of the

respective outrigger board

31 and 33.

Referring to FIG. 8, the

outrigger boards

31 and 33 are rotatably affixed, in this embodiment, to the front link board 23 by means of hinges 63. Obviously, the

outrigger boards

31 and 33 may also be rotatably affixed to the front link board 23 by other means for other embodiments. The front link board 23 and the rear link board 35 are'coupled to the skate boards 3 by means of nuts and bolts 65, in this embodiment, which allow the skate boards 3 to tilt about their longitudinal axis. Obviously, the

link boards

23 and 25 could be coupled to the skate boards by other means for other.

embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, these figures illustrate a simpler, alternate embodiment of this invention in which the plurality of

skate board wheels

71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83 and 85 affixedto the underside of the skate boards 3 do not include any provision for raising any of the

skate board wheels

71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83

IraIeCl in FIGS. 1-8.

What is claimed is:

1. A skiing instruction device comprising:

a. a pair of elongated platforms each having an upper surface adapted to receive a different foot of the user when the foot is disposed alongthe length of the platform;

b. a pair of wheel assemblies each having at least one wheel mounted spaced apart with respect to one another along the lower surface of each of the pair of platforms, the axis of rotation of each wheel extending substantiallyin a transverse direction with respect to'the length of the platform, the wheel assemblies enabling the platforms to travel along a rolling surface in the direction of the length of.the platforms when the user is standing thereon;

c. means flexibly coupled to the leading portion of each of the platforms for maintaining the leading portions at a predetermined distance with respect to one another to enable the platforms to travel to- I g'ether in a side-by-side relationship when the user is standing thereon and for enabling the platforms to be rotated about an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the platforms whereby the user utilizes the platforms to simulate the techniques of snow skiing; and I d. means flexibly coupled to the trailing portion of each of the platforms for maintaining the trailing portions at a predetermined distance with respect to one another to enable the platforms to travel together in a. side-by-side relationship.

2. A skiing instruction device in accordance with claim 1 in which each of the pair of wheel assemblies of each platform is mounted on the lower surface of the platforms substantially along the longitudinal axis thereof.

3. A skiing instruction device in accordance with claim 1 in which the means for maintaining the leading portions of the'platforms at a predetermined distance with respect to one another to enable the platforms to travel together in a side-by-sidc relationship when the user is standing thereon comprises a link which is flexibly connected to a leading portion of each of the platforms.

'4. A skiing instruction device in accordance with claim. 1 in which the additional means for maintaining the trailing portions'at a predetermined distance withrespect to one another to enable the platforms to travel in a side by side relationship comprises anadditional link which isflexibly connected to the trailing portion of each of the platforms.

5. A wheeled board assembly for recreational use and adapted for useas a ski instruction device, comprising:

a. a pair of wheeled skate boards which are generally rectangular in shape, each of said skate boards having a front end and a rear end, one skate board being used for each of the feet of the user;

b. a plurality of skate board wheels affixed to the underside of each of said skate boards. on which skate 4 board wheels said skate boards roll during use; c, a pair of link boards, which are generally rectangular in shape, one saidlink board being a from link board and being coupled at the front end of each of said skate boards and the other. link board being a rear link board and being coupled at the rear end of said. skate boards, the skate boards being arranged approximately perpendicular to said link boards; cl. a plurality of link board wheels, at least one of said link board wheels being positioned on the underside of each of said link boards, on which link boardwheels said link boards roll;

e. a pair of outrigger boards which are generally rectangular in shape and which are rotatably affixed to axis of said front link board, each outrigger board.

having an outer end which is the end further away from said link board; I

f. a plurlaity of outrigger wheels, at least one of said outrigger wheels being positioned on the underside of .each of said outrigger boards, one of said outrigger wheelsbeing positioned at the outer end on the underside of each of said outrigger boards; and

g. a pair of ski poles, one of said ski poles being affixed to each of said outrigger boards, the ski poles being affixed at the outer end of said outrigger boards.

. 6. The wheeled board toy assembly according to claimS wherein each of said skate boards comprises six of each said skate board, the other group of three wheels-being arranged on the underside of the rear end of said skate board, each said skate board further comprising a slat which is generally rectangular in shape, and whose dimensions in length, width and thickness are each smaller, respectively, than the corresponding dimensions of said skate board, said slat being affixed to the underside of said skateboard, the. longitudinal .axis of said slat being approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of said skate board, said slat being arranged approximately in the middle of said skate board, one of said skate board wheels from the front group of three wheels being positionedon said slat and one of said skate board wheels from the rear group of three wheels being positioned on said slat, whereby said skate board tends to roll in the direction in which said skate board is tilted.

7. A wheeled board toy assembly according to claim 6 wherein each group of three wheels is arranged in a 7 triangular configuration on the underside of each said skate board, two of the wheels of said group of three wheels forming the base of the triangular configuration and the third wheel of said group of three wheels forming the apex of said triangular configuration.

8. A wheeled board toy assembly according to claim 7 wherein the wheel forming the apex of the triangular configuration of one group of three wheels is positioned at the front end on the underside of said slat and the two wheels of said group of three wheels which form the base of the triangular configuration are arranged side by side, opposed to one another, on the underside of the front end of said skate board and at the same distance from the front end of said skate board; and wherein the wheel forming the apex of the triangular configuration of the other group of three wheels is positioned at the rear end on the underside of said slat and the two wheels of said group of three wheels which form the base of the-triangular configuration are arranged side by side, opposed to one another, on the underside'of the rear end of said skate board and at the same distance from the rear end of said skate board.

9. A wheeled skate board according to claim 8 wherein the only skate board wheels are in contact with the ground when the skate boards are perfectly level are the skate board wheels which are mounted on said slants and which form the apex of the triangular configuration of each group of three wheels.

l0.- A wheeled, skateboard according to claim Y wherein said skate boards are coupled to said link boards nuts and bolts which allow both skate boards to rotate about their longitudinal axis with reference to both link boards.

11. The wheeled boardtoy assembly according to claim 5 wherein said outrigger boards are rotatably affixed to said front link board by means of hinges.-

12. A wheeled board'toy assembly according to claim 5 wherein each outrigger board has a well at said outerend of said outrigger board-into which'said ski poles fit.

13. A wheeled board toy assembly, according to claim 12 wherein each said outrigger board has means disposed in the well of eachoutrigger board for flexibly connecting the end of each ski pole opposite from the end of the ski pole grasped by the user to said outrigger board.

14. A wheeled board toy assembly comprising:

a. a pair of elongated platforms each having an upper surface adapted to receive. a different foot of the user when the foot is disposed along the length of the platform;

b. a pair of wheel assemblies each having at least one wheel mounted spaced apart with respect to one another along the lower surface of each of the pair of platforms, the axis of rotation of each wheel extending substantially in a transverse direction with respect to the length of the platform, the wheel assemblies enabling the platforms to travel along a rolling surface in the direction of the length of the platforms when the user is standing thereon;

0. means flexibly coupled to the leading portion of each of the platforms for maintaining the leading portions at a predetermined distance with respect to one another to enable the platforms to travel together in a side-by-side relationship when the user is standing thereon; and

d. further comprising means for mounting each of the pair of wheel assemblies to caster with respect to the platform, the axis of the caster of each of the different pair of wheel assemblies extending toward the platform in a region thereof between each of the pair of wheel assemblies, the caster of each of the pair of wheel assemblies enabling each of the platforms to be directed toward a common change of direction by the shifting of the weight of the user thereon.

15. A wheeled board toy assembly comprising:

a. a pair of elongated platforms each having an upper surface adapted to receive a different foot of the user when the foot is disposed along the length of the platform; 7 Y

b, a pair of wheel assemblies each having at least one wheel mounted spaced apart with respect to-one another along the lower surface of each of the pair of platforms, the axis of rotation of each wheel extending substantially in a transverse direction with respect to the length of the platform, the wheel assemblies enabling the platforms to travel along a rolling surface in the direction of the length of the platforms when-the user is standing thereon;

c. means flexibly coupled to the leading portion of each of the platforms for maintaining the leading portions at a predetermined distance with respect to one another to enable the platforms to travel together in a side-by-side relationship when the user is standing thereon; I

r d. means for maintaining the leading portions of the platforms at a predetermined distance with respect to one another to enable the platforms to travel together in a side-by-side relationship when the user is standing thereon including a link which is flexibly connected to a leading portion of each of the plat forms; and

e. the link having an additional wheel mounted upon the surface of the link facing in the direction of the lower surfaces-of the platforms for supporting the link with respect to a rolling surface when the link is moved toward the rolling surface.

16. A wheeled board toy assembly comprising:

a. a pair of elongated platforms each'having an upper surface adapted to receive a different foot of the user when the foot is disposed along the length of the platform;

b. a pair of wheel assemblies each having at least one wheel mounted spaced apart with respect to one another along the lower surface of each of the pair of platforms, the axis of rotation of each wheel extending substantially in a transverse direction with respect to the length of the platform, the wheel as- I semblies enabling the platforms to travel along a rolling surface in the direction of the length of the platforms when the user is standing thereon;

c. means flexibly coupled to the leading portion of each of the platforms for maintaining the leading portions at a predetermined distance with respect to one another to enable the platforms to travel together in a side-by-side relationship when the user is standing thereon;

d. means for maintaining the leading portions of the platforms at a predetermined distance with respect to one another to enable the platforms to travel together in a side-by-side relationship when the user is standing thereon including a link which is flexibly connected to a leading portion of each of the platforms; and v e. further comprising a pair of outriggers each being flexibly mounted to a different one of the opposite end portions of the link and extending substantially away from one another in a direction transverse to the length of each of the platforms, and means for connecting each hand of the user to a different one of the outriggers, whereby the outriggers and the connecting means attached thereto can provide stability to the user.

17. A wheeled board toy assembly comprising:

a. a pair of elongated platforms each having an upper surface adapted to receive a different foot of the user when the foot is disposed along the length of the platform;

wheel mounted spaced apart with respect to one another along the lower surface of each of the pair of platforms, the axis of; rotation of eachwheel extending substantially in a transverse direction with c. means flexibly coupled to the leading portion of b( a pair of wheel assemblies each having at least one each of the platforms for maintaining theleading.

portions at a predetermined distance with respect to one another to enable the platforms to travel together in a side-by-side relationship when the user is standing thereon;

a d. means for maintaining the leading portions of the platforms at a predetermined distance with respect to one another to enable the platforms to travel together in a side-by-side relationship when the user is standing thereon including a link which is flexibly connected to a leading portion of each of the platforms;

v e. further comprising a pair of outriggers each being flexibly mounted to adifferent one of the opposite end portions of the link and extending substantially away from one another in a direction transverse to the length of each of the platforms, and means for connecting each hand ofthe user to a different one of the outriggers, whereby the outriggers and the connecting means attached thereto can provide stability to the user; and

f. inwhich the means for connecting each hand of the user to a different one of the outriggers comprises a pair of upwardly extending rods each connected at the lower end thereof to a different one of the outriggers and having an upper end portion which is adapted to be grasped by a different hand of the user.

18 A wheeled board toy assembly comprising:

a. a pair of elongated platforms each having anupper surface adapted to receive a different foot of the user when the foot is disposed along the length of the platform; g V v b. a pair of wheel assemblies each having at least one wheel mounted spaced apart with respect to one another along the lower surface of eachof the pair of platforms, the axis of rotation of each wheel extending substantially in a transverse direction with Y respect to the length of the'platform, the wheel assemblies enabling the platforms to travel along a rolling surface in the direction of the length of the platforms when the user is standing thereon;

c. means flexibly. coupled to the leading portion of gether in aside-by-side relationship when the user isstanding thereon;

d. means for maintaining the leading portions of the platforms at a predetermined distancewith respect to one another to enable the platforms to travel together in a side-by-side relationship when the user' is standing thereon including a link which is flexibly connected to a leading portion of each of the platforms; I

. further comprising a pair of outriggers each being flexibly mounted to a differentone'of the opposite end portions of the link and extending substantially away from one another in a direction transverse to the length of each of the platforms, and means for connecting each hand of the user to a different one of the outriggers, whereby the outriggers and'the connecting means attached thereto can provide stability to the user; and

f. further comprising a pair of wheels each of which is attached to the lower surface of a different one of the outriggers to support the outriggers with res'p ect to the rolling surface upon which the instruction device is to be operated.

l9.'A wheeled board toy assembly comprising: 'v a. a pair of elongated platforms each having an upper surface adapted to receive a different foot of the user when the foot is disposed along the length of the platforms;

b. a pair of wheel assemblies each having at least one rolling surface in the direction of the length of the platforms when the user is standing thereon; means flexibly coupled to the leading portion of each of the platforms for maintaining the leading portions at a predetermined distance withrespect to one another to enable the platforms to travel together in a side-by-side relationship when the user is standing thereon; and

d. further comprising pairs of auxiliary wheels, each pair of auxiliary wheels being mounted with respect to the lower surface of the platform between a different one of the pairs of wheels and the'end portion of the platform adjacent thereto, each of the wheels of a pair of auxiliary wheels being mounted on different opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the platform and having its axis of rotation extending at an angle to the vlength of the platform and intersecting the longitudinal axis of the plat-v form between the region of the auxiliary pair of wheels and the end of the platform adjacent thereto, the running surface of each of the auxiliary wheels being disposed 'above a running surface when the platform is supported thereon by the pairs of wheels, whereby an auxiliary wheel of each pair-on a given platform in conjunction with the 1 1 pair of wheels enables the platform to be directed in a curvilinear direction.

20. A wheeled board toy assembly comprising:

0. means flexibly coupled to the leading portion of each of the platforms for maintaining the leading portions at a predetermined distance with respect to one another to enable the platforms to travel together in a side-by-side relationship when the user is standing thereon;

d. further comprising pairs of auxiliary wheels, each pair of auxiliary wheels being mounted with respect to the lower surface of the platforms between a different one of the pairs of wheels and the end portion of the platform adjacent thereto, each of the wheels of a pair of auxiliary wheels being mounted on different opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the platform and having its axis of rotation extending at an angle to the length of the platform and intersecting the longitudinal axis of the platform between the region of the auxiliary pair of in which the wheels of each of the pairs of auxiliary wheels on the same side of the longitudinal axis of the platform are disposed along a common substantially curvilinear line which intersects each of the pairs of wheel assemblies, whereby each platform can be selectively supported by a wheel of each of the pairs of auxiliary wheels and the pairs of wheel assemblies when the platform is being directed to move along a curved line of travel.

Claims

1. A skiing instruction device comprising: a. a pair of elongated platforms each having an upper surface adapted to receive a different foot of the user when the foot is disposed along the length of the platform; b. a pair of wheel assemblies each having at least one wheel mounted spaCed apart with respect to one another along the lower surface of each of the pair of platforms, the axis of rotation of each wheel extending substantially in a transverse direction with respect to the length of the platform, the wheel assemblies enabling the platforms to travel along a rolling surface in the direction of the length of the platforms when the user is standing thereon; c. means flexibly coupled to the leading portion of each of the platforms for maintaining the leading portions at a predetermined distance with respect to one another to enable the platforms to travel together in a side-by-side relationship when the user is standing thereon and for enabling the platforms to be rotated about an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the platforms whereby the user utilizes the platforms to simulate the techniques of snow skiing; and d. means flexibly coupled to the trailing portion of each of the platforms for maintaining the trailing portions at a predetermined distance with respect to one another to enable the platforms to travel together in a side-by-side relationship.

3. A skiing instruction device in accordance with claim 1 in which the means for maintaining the leading portions of the platforms at a predetermined distance with respect to one another to enable the platforms to travel together in a side-by-side relationship when the user is standing thereon comprises a link which is flexibly connected to a leading portion of each of the platforms.

4. A skiing instruction device in accordance with claim 1 in which the additional means for maintaining the trailing portions at a predetermined distance with respect to one another to enable the platforms to travel in a side by side relationship comprises an additional link which is flexibly connected to the trailing portion of each of the platforms.

5. A wheeled board assembly for recreational use and adapted for use as a ski instruction device, comprising: a. a pair of wheeled skate boards which are generally rectangular in shape, each of said skate boards having a front end and a rear end, one skate board being used for each of the feet of the user; b. a plurality of skate board wheels affixed to the underside of each of said skate boards, on which skate board wheels said skate boards roll during use; c. a pair of link boards, which are generally rectangular in shape, one said link board being a front link board and being coupled at the front end of each of said skate boards and the other link board being a rear link board and being coupled at the rear end of said skate boards, the skate boards being arranged approximately perpendicular to said link boards; d. a plurality of link board wheels, at least one of said link board wheels being positioned on the underside of each of said link boards, on which link board wheels said link boards roll; e. a pair of outrigger boards which are generally rectangular in shape and which are rotatably affixed to said front link board, one said outrigger board being affixed to each end of said front link board and the longitudinal axis of said outrigger boards being approximately in line with the longitudinal axis of said front link board, each outrigger board having an outer end which is the end further away from said link board; f. a plurlaity of outrigger wheels, at least one of said outrigger wheels being positioned on the underside of each of said outrigger boards, one of said outrigger wheels being positioned at the outer end on the underside of each of said outrigger boards; and g. a pair of ski poles, one of said ski poles being affixed to each of said outrigger boards, the ski poles being affixed at the outer end of said outrigger boards.

6. The wheeled board toy assembly according to claim 5 wherein each of said skate boards comprises six skate board wheels, said skate board wheels being arranged in groups of three wheels, one group of three wheels being arranged at the front end on the underside of each said skate board, the other group of three wheels being arranged on the underside of the rear end of said skate board, each said skate board further comprising a slat which is generally rectangular in shape, and whose dimensions in length, width and thickness are each smaller, respectively, than the corresponding dimensions of said skate board, said slat being affixed to the underside of said skate board, the longitudinal axis of said slat being approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of said skate board, said slat being arranged approximately in the middle of said skate board, one of said skate board wheels from the front group of three wheels being positioned on said slat and one of said skate board wheels from the rear group of three wheels being positioned on said slat, whereby said skate board tends to roll in the direction in which said skate board is tilted.

7. A wheeled board toy assembly according to claim 6 wherein each group of three wheels is arranged in a triangular configuration on the underside of each said skate board, two of the wheels of said group of three wheels forming the base of the triangular configuration and the third wheel of said group of three wheels forming the apex of said triangular configuration.

8. A wheeled board toy assembly according to claim 7 wherein the wheel forming the apex of the triangular configuration of one group of three wheels is positioned at the front end on the underside of said slat and the two wheels of said group of three wheels which form the base of the triangular configuration are arranged side by side, opposed to one another, on the underside of the front end of said skate board and at the same distance from the front end of said skate board; and wherein the wheel forming the apex of the triangular configuration of the other group of three wheels is positioned at the rear end on the underside of said slat and the two wheels of said group of three wheels which form the base of the triangular configuration are arranged side by side, opposed to one another, on the underside of the rear end of said skate board and at the same distance from the rear end of said skate board.

10. A wheeled skateboard according to claim 5 wherein said skate boards are coupled to said link boards nuts and bolts which allow both skate boards to rotate about their longitudinal axis with reference to both link boards.

11. The wheeled board toy assembly according to claim 5 wherein said outrigger boards are rotatably affixed to said front link board by means of hinges.

12. A wheeled board toy assembly according to claim 5 wherein each outrigger board has a well at said outer end of said outrigger board into which said ski poles fit.

13. A wheeled board toy assembly according to claim 12 wherein each said outrigger board has means disposed in the well of each outrigger board for flexibly connecting the end of each ski pole opposite from the end of the ski pole grasped by the user to said outrigger board.

14. A wheeled board toy assembly comprising: a. a pair of elongated platforms each having an upper surface adapted to receive a different foot of the user when the foot is disposed along the length of the platform; b. a pair of wheel assemblies each having at least one wheel mounted spaced apart with respect to one another along the lower surface of each of the pair of platforms, the axis of rotation of each wheel extending substantially in a transverse direction with respect to the length of the platform, the wheel assemblies enabling the platforms to travel along a rolling surface in the direction of the length of the platforms when the user is standing thereon; c. means flexibly coupled to the leading portion of each of the platforms for maintaining the leading portions at a predetermined distance with respect to one another to enable the platforms to travel together in a side-by-side relationship when the user is standing thereon; and d. further comprising means for mounting each of the pair of wheel assemblies to caster with respect to the platform, the axis of the caster of each of the different pair of wheel assemblies extending toward the platform in a region thereof between each of the pair of wheel assemblies, the caster of each of the pair of wheel assemblies enabling each of the platforms to be directed toward a common change of direction by the shifting of the weight of the user thereon.

15. A wheeled board toy assembly comprising: a. a pair of elongated platforms each having an upper surface adapted to receive a different foot of the user when the foot is disposed along the length of the platform; b. a pair of wheel assemblies each having at least one wheel mounted spaced apart with respect to one another along the lower surface of each of the pair of platforms, the axis of rotation of each wheel extending substantially in a transverse direction with respect to the length of the platform, the wheel assemblies enabling the platforms to travel along a rolling surface in the direction of the length of the platforms when the user is standing thereon; c. means flexibly coupled to the leading portion of each of the platforms for maintaining the leading portions at a predetermined distance with respect to one another to enable the platforms to travel together in a side-by-side relationship when the user is standing thereon; d. means for maintaining the leading portions of the platforms at a predetermined distance with respect to one another to enable the platforms to travel together in a side-by-side relationship when the user is standing thereon including a link which is flexibly connected to a leading portion of each of the platforms; and e. the link having an additional wheel mounted upon the surface of the link facing in the direction of the lower surfaces of the platforms for supporting the link with respect to a rolling surface when the link is moved toward the rolling surface.

16. A wheeled board toy assembly comprising: a. a pair of elongated platforms each having an upper surface adapted to receive a different foot of the user when the foot is disposed along the length of the platform; b. a pair of wheel assemblies each having at least one wheel mounted spaced apart with respect to one another along the lower surface of each of the pair of platforms, the axis of rotation of each wheel extending substantially in a transverse direction with respect to the length of the platform, the wheel assemblies enabling the platforms to travel along a rolling surface in the direction of the length of the platforms when the user is standing thereon; c. means flexibly coupled to the leading portion of each of the platforms for maintaining the leading portions at a predetermined distance with respect to one another to enable the platforms to travel together in a side-by-side relationship when the user is standing thereon; d. means for maintaining the leading portions of the platforms at a predetermined distance with respect to one another to enable the platforms to travel together in a side-by-side relationship when the user is standing thereon including a link which is flexibly connected to a leading portion of each of the platforms; and e. further comprising a pair of outriggers each being flexibly mounted to a different one of the opposite end portions of the link and extending substantially away from one another in a direction transverse to the length of each of thE platforms, and means for connecting each hand of the user to a different one of the outriggers, whereby the outriggers and the connecting means attached thereto can provide stability to the user.

17. A wheeled board toy assembly comprising: a. a pair of elongated platforms each having an upper surface adapted to receive a different foot of the user when the foot is disposed along the length of the platform; b. a pair of wheel assemblies each having at least one wheel mounted spaced apart with respect to one another along the lower surface of each of the pair of platforms, the axis of rotation of each wheel extending substantially in a transverse direction with respect to the length of the platform, the wheel assemblies enabling the platforms to travel along a rolling surface in the direction of the length of the platforms when the user is standing thereon; c. means flexibly coupled to the leading portion of each of the platforms for maintaining the leading portions at a predetermined distance with respect to one another to enable the platforms to travel together in a side-by-side relationship when the user is standing thereon; d. means for maintaining the leading portions of the platforms at a predetermined distance with respect to one another to enable the platforms to travel together in a side-by-side relationship when the user is standing thereon including a link which is flexibly connected to a leading portion of each of the platforms; e. further comprising a pair of outriggers each being flexibly mounted to a different one of the opposite end portions of the link and extending substantially away from one another in a direction transverse to the length of each of the platforms, and means for connecting each hand of the user to a different one of the outriggers, whereby the outriggers and the connecting means attached thereto can provide stability to the user; and f. in which the means for connecting each hand of the user to a different one of the outriggers comprises a pair of upwardly extending rods each connected at the lower end thereof to a different one of the outriggers and having an upper end portion which is adapted to be grasped by a different hand of the user.

18. A wheeled board toy assembly comprising: a. a pair of elongated platforms each having an upper surface adapted to receive a different foot of the user when the foot is disposed along the length of the platform; b. a pair of wheel assemblies each having at least one wheel mounted spaced apart with respect to one another along the lower surface of each of the pair of platforms, the axis of rotation of each wheel extending substantially in a transverse direction with respect to the length of the platform, the wheel assemblies enabling the platforms to travel along a rolling surface in the direction of the length of the platforms when the user is standing thereon; c. means flexibly coupled to the leading portion of each of the platforms for maintaining the leading portions at a predetermined distance with respect to one another to enable the platforms to travel together in a side-by-side relationship when the user is standing thereon; d. means for maintaining the leading portions of the platforms at a predetermined distance with respect to one another to enable the platforms to travel together in a side-by-side relationship when the user is standing thereon including a link which is flexibly connected to a leading portion of each of the platforms; e. further comprising a pair of outriggers each being flexibly mounted to a different one of the opposite end portions of the link and extending substantially away from one another in a direction transverse to the length of each of the platforms, and means for connecting each hand of the user to a different one of the outriggers, whereby the outriggers and the connecting means attached thereto can provide stability to the user; and f. further comprising a pair of wheels each of which is attached to the lower surface of a different one of the outriggers to support the outriggers with respect to the rolling surface upon which the instruction device is to be operated.

19. A wheeled board toy assembly comprising: a. a pair of elongated platforms each having an upper surface adapted to receive a different foot of the user when the foot is disposed along the length of the platforms; b. a pair of wheel assemblies each having at least one wheel mounted spaced apart with respect to one another along the lower surface of each of the pair of platforms, the axis of rotation of each wheel extending substantially in a transverse direction with respect to the length of the platform, the wheel assemblies enabling the platforms to travel along a rolling surface in the direction of the length of the platforms when the user is standing thereon; c. means flexibly coupled to the leading portion of each of the platforms for maintaining the leading portions at a predetermined distance with respect to one another to enable the platforms to travel together in a side-by-side relationship when the user is standing thereon; and d. further comprising pairs of auxiliary wheels, each pair of auxiliary wheels being mounted with respect to the lower surface of the platform between a different one of the pairs of wheels and the end portion of the platform adjacent thereto, each of the wheels of a pair of auxiliary wheels being mounted on different opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the platform and having its axis of rotation extending at an angle to the length of the platform and intersecting the longitudinal axis of the platform between the region of the auxiliary pair of wheels and the end of the platform adjacent thereto, the running surface of each of the auxiliary wheels being disposed above a running surface when the platform is supported thereon by the pairs of wheels, whereby an auxiliary wheel of each pair on a given platform in conjunction with the pair of wheels enables the platform to be directed in a curvilinear direction.

20. A wheeled board toy assembly comprising: a. a pair of elongated platforms each having an upper surface adapted to receive a different foot of the user when the foot is disposed along the length of the platform; b. a pair of wheel assemblies each having at least one wheel mounted spaced apart with respect to one another along the lower surface of each of the pair of platforms, the axis of rotation of each wheel extending substantially in a transverse direction with respect to the length of the platform, the wheel assemblies enabling the platforms to travel along a rolling surface in the direction of the length of the platforms when the user is standing thereon; c. means flexibly coupled to the leading portion of each of the platforms for maintaining the leading portions at a predetermined distance with respect to one another to enable the platforms to travel together in a side-by-side relationship when the user is standing thereon; d. further comprising pairs of auxiliary wheels, each pair of auxiliary wheels being mounted with respect to the lower surface of the platforms between a different one of the pairs of wheels and the end portion of the platform adjacent thereto, each of the wheels of a pair of auxiliary wheels being mounted on different opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the platform and having its axis of rotation extending at an angle to the length of the platform and intersecting the longitudinal axis of the platform between the region of the auxiliary pair of wheels and the end of the platform adjacent thereto, the running surface of each of the auxiliary wheels being disposed above a running surface when the platform is supported thereon by the pairs of wheels, whereby an auxiliary wheel of each pair on a given platform in conjunction with the pair of wheels enables the platform to be directed in a curvilinear direction; and e. in which the wheels of each of the pairs of auxiliary wheels oN the same side of the longitudinal axis of the platform are disposed along a common substantially curvilinear line which intersects each of the pairs of wheel assemblies, whereby each platform can be selectively supported by a wheel of each of the pairs of auxiliary wheels and the pairs of wheel assemblies when the platform is being directed to move along a curved line of travel.