US20090206571A1

US20090206571A1 - Wheeled apparatus, system, and method

Info

Publication number: US20090206571A1
Application number: US12/197,216
Authority: US
Inventors: Justin Francom; Larry Francom
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-08-22
Filing date: 2008-08-22
Publication date: 2009-08-20

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method for a wheeled apparatus includes selective adjustment of at least one of a number of wheels and a position of the wheels in order to achieve a target characteristic from among strength, stability, maneuverability, and wheel surface contact for a wheel board. A front and rear caster wheel may be laterally centered, and one or more sets of centrally positioned wheels may be fore and aft centered to form a generally diamond configuration. The centrally positioned wheels may be raised relative to the front and rear wheels. Adjusting mechanisms enable adjustment of heights, fore and aft positions, and the number of centrally positioned wheels.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/957,303 entitled “APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR WHEELED APPARATUS”, filed on Aug. 22, 2007 for Justin Francom et al., which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to wheel boards and more particularly relates to placement and orientation of wheels on wheel board decks.
2. Description of the Related Art
Wheel boards having a variety of wheel configurations are known. These wheel boards have been in use for a century or more. The skateboard has become more or less popular during periods of recent decades. Advances in materials and technologies have provided a basis for improved wheels, bearings, and decks. For example, a variety of materials have been used to form decks having a range of flexibility characteristics.
More recently wheel boards have been formed with decks having one or more pieces and caster type wheels. Some boards have a combination of casters and fixed axle wheels. However, the effectiveness of the wheel combinations discovered in the prior art is not known. In particular, combination wheel type wheel boards are not currently in wide use.

SUMMARY

The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available wheel board configurations and manufacturing techniques. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide a wheeled apparatus, system, and method that overcome many or all of the shortcomings in the art. In particular, the wheeled apparatus of the present invention has one or more adjustment mechanisms for adjusting fixed axle positions of one or more centrally located wheels. A predetermined number and position of these wheels can thus remain fixed to achieve desired characteristics during use in one application or under certain conditions. Then the number and/or positions can be changed to achieve a different characteristic as desired.
In a simple form a wheeled apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes a deck and a plurality of wheels connected to the deck. The wheels may be configured in a substantially diamond shape to support the deck and a weight of a user. The plurality of wheels in this configuration include a lower set of wheels with each wheel of the lower set being equipped with a castering mechanism to allow the wheels to rotate 360 degrees in a horizontal plane. The plurality of wheels also includes an adjustably supported raised set of wheels configured to allow the apparatus to tilt while the lower set of wheels support the deck and the user.
In another simple form, a wheeled apparatus system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes a wheeled sport deck having caster wheels supported at front and rear ends of the deck on a longitudinal fore and aft axis. In this embodiment, the wheeled apparatus system includes at least one adjustment mechanism. A set of laterally positioned central wheels is adjustably supported on the deck by the adjustment mechanism at a position along a length of the deck between the caster wheels.
In another simple form, a method of using a wheel board in accordance with another embodiment includes determining at least one target characteristic including at least one of a strength, stability, maneuverability, and wheel surface contact for a wheel board. The method also includes selectively adjusting at least one of a number of wheels and a position of the wheels to achieve the at least one target characteristic.
Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.
Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. The invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.
These features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope. Embodiments of the invention are described and explained with some specificity with regard to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a wheel configuration of a wheel board in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1A is an orthogonal view of an alternative wheel configuration of an embodiment of the present invention having four raised wheels;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the wheel configuration of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2A is a bottom view of an alternative wheel configuration having three sets of wheels;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic side view of the wheel configuration of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial bottom view showing an example wheel orientation of the wheels in the configuration of FIG. 1 during a turning operation; and

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic block diagram of a method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.
Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples user selections, etc., to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. However, the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.
The schematic flow chart diagrams included herein are generally set forth as logical flow chart diagrams. As such, the depicted order and labeled steps are indicative of one embodiment of the presented method. Other steps and methods may be conceived that are equivalent in function, logic, or effect to one or more steps, or portions thereof, of the illustrated method. Additionally, the format and symbols employed are provided to explain the logical steps of the method and are understood not to limit the scope of the method. Although various arrow types and line types may be employed in the flow chart diagrams, they are understood not to limit the scope of the corresponding method. Indeed, some arrows or other connectors may be used to indicate only the logical flow of the method. For instance, an arrow may indicate a waiting or monitoring period of unspecified duration between enumerated steps of the depicted method. Additionally, the order in which a particular method occurs may or may not strictly adhere to the order of the corresponding steps shown.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view taken from the top of one embodiment of a wheel board or wheeled apparatus 200 a. The wheel configuration may be attached to any of a plurality of decks 100, a representation of which is indicated by dashed lines. In one embodiment, there is a plurality of wheels 202 spaced along a central laterally extending axis 206. In this embodiment, the wheels 202 do not swivel about a vertically extending axis. Thus, the apparatus moves in a direction generally perpendicular to the central laterally extending axis 206. A second set of wheels 204 are located on a second fore and aft extending axis 210 relative to which the laterally extending axis 206 is transverse. In one embodiment, the fore and aft extending axis 210 is perpendicular to the central laterally extending axis 206. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the second set of wheels 204 are each equipped with a swiveling or castering mechanism 212. In one embodiment, the wheels 204 are casters. The wheels 202 and the second set of wheels 204 are set in a diamond-like configuration with the second set of wheels 204 at the front and back of the apparatus and the wheels 202 on the two opposite lateral sides of the apparatus. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, there are two wheels 202 on the central axis 206. The wheels 202 are located on the ends of the central axis 206. The second set of wheels 204 is located at the front and back of the apparatus 200 a.
As shown in FIG. 1A, the number of wheels 202 can be adjusted by the user. For example, four wheels 202 a may be placed along the laterally extending central axis 206. To this end, the wheeled apparatuses 200 a-d and 300 (see also FIGS. 2-3) may include a wheel number adjusting mechanism for adjusting a number of the laterally positioned central wheels 202, 202 a, 252 a. The mechanism for adjusting the number of wheels may include through holes or slots 220, tightening mechanisms 230, the additional wheels, and/or wheel mounting bases/axles. Thus, the selective adjustment of the number of wheels and their placement may be achieved by supporting the wheels on a single common axle or by aligning a plurality of axles on the laterally extending axis. Additionally or alternatively, additional wheels may be positioned on one or more additional axis 252 a, as shown and described with regard to FIG. 2A. Adding wheels on the laterally extending axis or on an additional axis improves the stability of an apparatus 200 b and increases the contact area between the wheels 202 a and the ground. The increase in contact area between the wheels 202 a and the ground increases the strength of the apparatus 200 b and the grip between the road and the apparatus 200 b. The user may add wheels to increase stability and control to aid in faster maneuvering and higher speeds, for example. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus has only two wheels 202 and is, therefore, lighter weight. The user may thus use two wheels 202 to lessen the weight of the apparatus for trick riding and for transporting the apparatus, and switch to the four or more wheel configuration of FIG. 1A when he or she needs the stability and maneuverability at higher speeds.
In an embodiment of an apparatus 200 c shown in FIG. 2, the second fore and aft extending axis 210 intersects the central axis 206 at a midpoint of the central laterally extending axis 206. The laterally extending axis 206 also generally intersects the fore and aft extending axis 210 at its midpoint. However, other configurations may also be implemented in which one or both of the axes are not centered between the wheels of the other axis. In the illustrated embodiment of the illustrated apparatus 200 c, however, the midpoint of the central axis 206 is located halfway between the wheels 202.
In one embodiment, the number of central axes 206/256 with wheels 202/252 is adjustable by the user. For example, in an embodiment of an apparatus 200 d shown in FIG. 2A, a second laterally extending central axis 256 a has been added rearwardly of the first laterally extending central axis 206 a. The addition of a second laterally extending central axis 256 a and a second set of wheels 252 a disposed on the second laterally extending central axis 256 a gives the apparatus 200 d more stability and wheel surface contact area. One or more further additional laterally extending axes may be added without limitation to further increase stability and wheel surface contact area. The general diamond shape may be conserved as axes and wheels are added.
In one embodiment, the height difference 320 between the plane of the wheels 202 and the plate of the second set of wheels 204 is adjustable by the user. (See FIG. 3.) For example, the user adjusts the sets of wheels 202 and 204 to have a smaller height difference 320 for increased stability and generally larger turning radii. On the other hand, the user adjusts to a larger height difference 320 between the sets of wheels 202 and 204 in order to facilitate performing tricks and to generally enable smaller turning radii. The height adjustment mechanism may include a stepped bolt that can be easily removed and repositioned to provide two or more height differences 320. Alternatively, a plurality of wheels sizes can be provided for interchanging to create a plurality of height differences 320. In the wheeled apparatus 300, the raised set of wheels 202 may have a height adjustment mechanism of one of these or another type that supports them on the deck 100. The raised set of wheels 202 are thus adjustable by the user to at least one of increase stability, decrease stability, and adapt the apparatus to desired riding conditions.
For example, the embodiment of FIG. 3 shows a diagrammatic side view of an apparatus 300 with a first set of wheels 202 and the second set of wheels 204 that are located in different planes. When resting on a flat surface, the wheels 202 are in a plane that is vertically higher than the plane of the second set of wheels 204. The wheels 202 may act as stabilizers for the apparatus 300. The wheels 202 on opposite lateral sides of the deck 100 may toggle back and forth between contacting a ground surface on which the apparatus is supported as the apparatus is balanced on the second set of wheels 204. For example, when the apparatus 300 is resting on a flat ground surface, the wheels 204 of the second set of wheels both contact the flat surface. The apparatus 300 will travel in a direction generally along the axis 210 (shown and described with regard to FIGS. 1-2A). While moving, the apparatus may travel either on the second set of wheels 204 or on the second set of wheels 204 and one of the wheels 202. When the ground surface is flat, the apparatus 300 is never supported on the second set of wheels 204 and both wheels 202. This is due to the fact that a plane generally defined by the second set of wheels 204 and one of the wheels 202 is never the same as the plane generally defined by the second set of wheels 204 and the other wheel of the wheels 202. This is due to the fact that the wheels 202 are set in a higher vertical plane than the second set of wheels 204.
In one embodiment, the second set of wheels 204 is equipped with a castering mechanism 212. The castering mechanism 212 allows the second set of wheels 204 to rotate or swivel 360 degrees in a generally horizontal plane. This gives the apparatus the highest range of motion possible. The horizontal plane rotation of the second set of wheels 204 allows the apparatus to turn at a higher turn angle than would be possible without the castering mechanism 212. The plane of swiveling or rotation may be canted slightly to provide increased stability or for other purposes. The turn angle may be expressed as an angle relative to the second axis 210. Achieving an angle of turn may be accomplished by causing angling of each of the second set of wheels 204 relative to the second axis 210.
In an example shown in FIG. 4, one wheel of the second set of wheels 204 is at an angle 402 from the second axis 210 while the other wheel of the second set of wheels 204 is at an angle 404 extending from an opposite side of the second axis 210. The angle 402 and the angle 404 may be slightly different depending on the movement of the apparatus but are quite often close to equal and opposite in regular use. FIGS. 2 and 2A show the second set of wheels at generally equal angles relative to the axis 210. That is, the angles of wheels 204 in FIGS. 2 and 2A are non-opposite, which corresponds to translational movement of the wheel board apparatus in a direction transverse to the axis 210. In FIG. 4, on the other hand, the apparatus is moving in the direction 406 and is turning to the left 408. In this turn, the left wheel 202 may be in contact with the ground as well as the second set of wheels 204. The right wheel 202 may not in contact the ground in this turn. The turn made by the apparatus may be similar in radius to a circle made by using the left wheel 202 as the center of the circle and the wheels 204 as points on the circle. For other turns, the second set of wheels 204 can rotate on the castering mechanisms 212 in a similar manner to accommodate different turning directions and angles. In use, the user initiates a turn by applying force to one side or another of the apparatus. The radius of the turn is controlled by the amount of force that is applied as well as the duration of time for which the force is applied.
In one embodiment, the castering mechanisms 212 allow the apparatus to travel equally well in both directions along the second axis 210 rather than being unidirectional. This is because the second set of wheels 204 can rotate to accommodate or face the direction of the movement of the apparatus.
In the illustrated embodiments, the substantially diamond configuration of the wheels gives the apparatus stability. In one embodiment, the castering devices 212 on the wheels 204 at the front and rear positions of the diamond configuration are used in conjunction with the fixed wheels 202 at the lateral positions of the diamond configuration to help insure that the deck 100 will be stable in moving in a particular direction of motion while still allowing the apparatus to tilt in the direction perpendicular to the motion. The majority of the motion is in a direction parallel to the axis 210 because of the fixed wheels 202. This configuration gives a combination of stability and maneuverability that cannot be achieved through the use of castering wheels alone or fixed wheels alone.
In one embodiment, the position of the laterally extending central axis 206 along the second fore and aft extending axis 210 is adjustable by the user. The laterally extending central axis 206 may still intersect the fore and aft extending axis 210 at the midpoint of the laterally extending central axis 206, but the laterally extending central axis 206 may be moved to different positions along the fore and aft extending axis 210. For example, the user may move the laterally extending central axis 206 toward the forward facing wheel 204 to improve the stability of the apparatus for faster riding. The user may move the laterally extending central axis 206 toward the rear wheel 204 to facilitate sharper angled turning. This fore and aft adjustment may be facilitated, for example, by one or more through openings or a slot 220 extending along a length of the deck for adjustably supporting the wheels 202/252 (see FIGS. 1 and 2A) at any of a variety of positions along the length of the deck 100. The slot 220 may also be termed a through opening and may have a configuration that enables generally linear adjustment along the slot. In this way, the centrally positioned wheels may include axles that are linearly movable for adjustment of the wheels in a fore and aft direction. The adjustment mechanism may thus include the through holes, slot 220, and/or one or more tightening mechanisms 225 for securing a wheel mounting base or axle in a desired position in the through holes or slot 220. The tightening mechanism may include threads or cams, for example. In one embodiment, the fore and aft adjusting mechanism has discrete axle positioning anchors. These may take the form of horizontal holes in the deck that receive and support one or more axles at one or more positions. Alternatively, a rail having positioning anchor structure may be coupled to the deck for receiving and supporting the axle(s). Further alternatively the rails may have continuous slot in which the axles are slidably supported. The axles can then be fixed by a tightening mechanism at desired positions.
The wheel configurations of apparatuses 200 a-d and 300 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 may form part of any of a plurality of apparatuses in accordance with the various embodiments described herein. In one embodiment, the wheel configuration is attached to a solid deck. In other embodiments the wheels are attached to decks that include open frames. For example, the wheels may be attached to the open frames shown and described in co-pending U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 61/091,278, entitled “APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR OPEN FRAMES FOR SPORT DECKS”, filed Aug. 22, 2008 by Larry Francom, which is incorporated herein by reference. The wheels 202, 202 a, 204, 252 a, and swiveling or castering mechanisms 212 may be attached to open frames by the wheel mounting bases shown and described the U.S. Patent application No. 61/091,278 The castering mechanisms 212 may be attached on the front and rear ends of the deck. Alternatively, front and rear sets of wheels supported on skateboard wheel trucks may be attached on front and rear ends of the deck.
FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic block diagram of a method 500 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. With regard to FIG. 5, a method of using a wheeled apparatus or wheel board 500 includes determining a target characteristic such as a strength, stability, maneuverability, and/or wheel surface contact for a wheel board, as indicated at 505. The method also includes selectively adjusting a wheel configuration for the wheel board, as indicated at 510.
The operation of adjusting the wheel configuration may include adjusting a number of wheels and/or a position of the wheels to achieve the target characteristic(s). In one embodiment, selectively adjusting includes selectively adjusting a number of centrally positioned wheels that lie between a forward most wheel and a rearward most wheel, as indicated at 515. In a broad range the number of these centrally positioned wheels may be in a range from 1 to 17. In an intermediate range the number may be from 3 to 11. In a narrower range, the number of centrally positioned wheels may be from 5 to 7. An odd number of centrally positioned wheels may correspond to a configuration with a laterally centered wheel plus an even number of centrally and laterally positioned wheels 202, for example. In another embodiment, the operation of adjusting the number of centrally positioned wheels may include selectively adjusting a number of centrally and laterally g positioned wheels between the forward most and a rearward most wheel. The number of wheels may be any number within the ranges set forth above. In specific ranges these centrally and laterally positioned wheels may number from 4 to 8 in one range or from 2 to 4 in an alternative range.
The operation of adjusting the wheel configuration may include selectively adjusting a position of at least one centrally positioned wheel within an extent between the forward most wheel and the rearward most wheel, as indicated at 520 in FIG. 5. It is to be understood that the forward most wheel and the rearward most wheel define a wheelbase having a distance between the forward most and rearward most wheels. In this case, selectively adjusting the position of at least one centrally positioned wheel may include positioning one or more centrally positioned wheels from no distance to one-half the distance as measured from either or both the forward most wheel or the rearward most wheel along the wheelbase. In another case, selectively adjusting the position of at least one centrally positioned wheel may include positioning one or more centrally positioned wheels from one-eighth the distance to one-half the distance as measured from either or both the forward most wheel or the rearward most wheel along the wheelbase. In still another case, selectively adjusting the position of at least one centrally positioned wheel may include positioning one or more centrally positioned wheels from one-third the distance to one-half the distance as measured from either or both the forward most wheel or the rearward most wheel along the wheelbase. It is to be understood that the centrally positioned wheels may be located at any position within these ranges.
The operation of adjusting the wheel configuration may include adjusting a position of at least one centrally positioned wheel to have a lower extent in a higher plane than a lower extent of the forward most wheel and the rearward most wheel. For calculation purposes, it is to be understood that the lower extent of the forward most wheel and the rearward most wheel define a first lower plane 330, as shown in FIG. 3. Thus, the centrally positioned wheels may be adjusted to be in a second higher plane 340 in a range from one-sixteenth inch higher than the first lower plane 330 to a height above the first lower plane 330 that is equivalent to twice a height of an upper surface of the deck from the ground. In a narrower range, selectively adjusting a height position of at least one centrally positioned wheel includes positioning the centrally positioned wheel such that the second higher plane 340 is in a range from one-eighth inch higher than the first lower plane 330 to a height above the first lower plane 330 that is equivalent to the height of the upper surface of the deck from the ground.
Position adjustment of the centrally positioned wheels may be practically achieved by an alternative opposite relative movement of one or both of the forward most and rearward most wheels. That is, the adjustment mechanisms and adjustments may be applied to the front and rear wheels instead of the centrally positioned wheels to achieve a similar relative positioning.
In one embodiment incorporating solid deck configurations, the wheels 202 may be attached to a cross bar at a center of the deck in a fore and aft direction of the deck. The user may stand or sit on the deck. In another embodiment, two separate boards or decks may replace the solid deck configuration. Each deck may have one castering mechanism 212 and a caster wheel 204 attached thereto. The two decks may be attached together by a rod. Respective crossbars may be attached perpendicularly relative to the rod to support each of the two separate decks. The wheels 202 may be attached to the ends of the crossbars. In using the wheel board of this two-deck embodiment, the user stands with one foot on each deck. In another embodiment, the wheel configuration is attached to a small sized car body. In the car body embodiment, the user may sit in the car body and lean to shift weight and steer the car.
In one embodiment, the type and size of the wheels can be changed by the user. In one embodiment, the user attaches larger, off-road type wheels for increased traction and rougher terrain. In another embodiment, the user attaches smaller, harder wheels for street riding and increased speed.
It is to be understood that the term axis as used herein may be defined as including one or more axles that support wheels along a particular line. Thus, for example, the laterally extending axes may each include one or more laterally extending axles. Likewise, a fore and aft extending axis may include plural axles disposed on a fore and aft extending line.
It is to be understood that features of the various illustrated embodiments may be applied in any combination without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example more than two wheels may be placed on any laterally extending axis 206 and the laterally extending axis 206 may be placed in a different vertical plane than the fore and aft extending axis 210.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Claims

1. A wheeled apparatus comprising:

a deck;

a plurality of wheels connected to the deck and configured in a substantially diamond shape to support the deck and a weight of a user, the plurality of wheels comprising:

a lower set of wheels, each being equipped with a castering mechanism allowing the wheels to rotate 360 degrees in the horizontal plane; and

an adjustably supported raised set of wheels configured to allow the apparatus to tilt while the lower set of wheels support the deck and the user.

2. The wheeled apparatus of claim 1, wherein the raised set of wheels are adjustable by the user to allow the raised set of wheels to be moved longitudinally in a fore and aft direction along an axis between the lower set of wheels.

3. The wheeled apparatus of claim 1, wherein the raised set of wheels have a height adjustment mechanism, the raised set of wheels being adjustable by the user to at least one of increase stability, decrease stability, and adapt to the apparatus to desired riding conditions.

4. The wheeled apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a third set of wheels that increases stability and surface contact area of the wheels.

5. The wheeled apparatus of claim 4, wherein the third set of wheels is supported on an axis that is a common axis for the third set of wheels and the raised set of wheels.

6. The wheeled apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

a fore and aft extending longitudinal axis on which the lower set of wheels is supported; and

a first laterally extending axis on which the raised set of wheels is supported, the first laterally extending axis extending transversely to the fore and aft extending longitudinal axis;

wherein the third set of wheels is supported on a second laterally extending axis spaced from the first laterally extending axis.

7. A wheeled apparatus system, comprising:

a wheeled sport deck having caster wheels supported at front and rear ends of the deck on a longitudinal fore and aft axis;

at least one adjustment mechanism; and

a set of laterally positioned central wheels adjustably supported on the deck by the at least one adjustment mechanism at a position along a length of the deck between the caster wheels.

8. The wheeled apparatus system of claim 7, wherein the at least one adjustment mechanism comprises a fore and aft adjusting mechanism for adjusting a position of the laterally positioned central wheels along a length of the deck.

9. The wheeled apparatus system of claim 8, wherein the fore and aft adjusting mechanism comprises at least one through opening in the deck.

10. The wheeled apparatus system of claim 7, wherein the at least one adjustment mechanism comprises a height adjusting mechanism for adjusting a height of the laterally positioned central wheels relative to the caster wheels.

11. The wheeled apparatus system of claim 7, wherein the at least one adjustment mechanism comprises a wheel number adjusting mechanism for adjusting a number of the laterally positioned central wheels.

12. A method of using a wheel board, the method comprising:

determining at least one target characteristic including at least one of a strength, stability, maneuverability, and wheel surface contact for a wheel board; and

selectively adjusting at least one of a number of wheels and a position of the wheels to achieve the at least one target characteristic.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein selectively adjusting comprises selectively adjusting a number of centrally positioned wheels between a forward most wheel and a rearward most wheel to include a number of wheels in a range from 3 to 11.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein selectively adjusting comprises selectively adjusting a number of centrally and laterally positioned wheels between a forward most and a rearward most wheel to include a number of wheels in a range from 4 to 8.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the forward most wheel and the rearward most wheel define a wheelbase having a distance, the method comprising selectively adjusting a position of at least one centrally positioned wheel within a range extending between and including a position of the forward most wheel and the rearward most wheel.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein selectively adjusting comprises selectively adjusting the position of the at least one centrally positioned wheel to be in an extent from one-eighth to one-half the distance as measured from the forward most wheel.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein selectively adjusting comprises selectively adjusting the position of the at least one centrally positioned wheel to be in an extent from one-eighth to one-half the distance as measured from the rearward most wheel.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein selectively adjusting comprises selectively adjusting a position of at least one centrally positioned wheel to have a lower extent higher than a lower extent of a forward most wheel and a rearward most wheel, wherein a difference in the lower extents is in a range from one-sixteenth inch to twice a height of a deck of the wheel board.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein selectively adjusting comprises selectively adjusting a position of at least one centrally positioned wheel to have a lower extent higher than a lower extent of a forward most wheel and a rearward most wheel, wherein a difference in the lower extents is in a range from one-eighth inch to a height of a deck of the wheel board.