Spinning Vehicle Apparatus and Assembly

Abstract

A vehicle includes a platform having first and second sides and upper and lower surfaces. First and second wheels are operatively coupled to the platform and disposed proximate the first side of the platform. The first and second wheels each have a support surface contact patch that lies in a first plane. The vehicle also includes a disk rotatably coupled to the lower surface of the platform. The disk has first and second regions associated with respective first and second sides of the platform and an inner ring. The disk lies in a second plane disposed at an angle to the first plane, such that when the contact patches of the first and second wheels are in contact with the support surface the first region is further away from the support surface than the second region and the inner ring contacts the support surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vehicle configured to operate on a support surface, the vehicle comprising:
 a platform having first and second sides and upper and lower surfaces;   first and second wheels operatively coupled to the platform and disposed proximate the first side thereof, the first and second wheels each having a support surface contact patch, the contact patches lying in a first plane; and   a disk rotatably coupled to the lower surface of the platform, the disk having first and second regions associated with respective first and second sides of the platform and an inner ring, the disk lying in a second plane disposed at an angle to the first plane, such that when the contact patches of the first and second wheels are in contact with the support surface the first region is further away from the support surface than the second region and the inner ring contacts the support surface.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the second region of the disk extends beyond the second side of the platform. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein when the disk rotates, the inner ring propels the vehicle on the support surface. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the disk further comprises an outer ring,
 wherein when the outer ring contacts the support surface, the vehicle is tilted such that the second side of the platform is disposed proximate the support surface.   
     
     
         5 . The vehicle of  claim 4 , wherein when the disk rotates, the outer ring propels the vehicle on the support surface. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 third and fourth wheels operatively coupled to the platform and disposed proximate the second side thereof,   wherein when the inner ring contacts the support surface, the first and second wheels and the inner ring are configured to bear substantially all weight of the vehicle.   
     
     
         7 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the platform lies substantially within a third plane disposed at an angle to the first plane. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the platform lies substantially within a third plane parallel to the first plane. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the disk has an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the second plane and tilted from vertical by approximately 1 to 45 degrees. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a figure coupled to the upper surface of the platform.   
     
     
         11 . The vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the figure is removably coupled to the upper surface. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle resembles a skateboard. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a shell positioned over at least a portion of the upper surface of the platform.   
     
     
         14 . The vehicle of  claim 13 , wherein the shell resembles one of a car or an insect. 
     
     
         15 . A vehicle configured to operate on a support surface, the vehicle comprising:
 a platform having first and second sides and upper and lower surfaces;   first and second wheels operatively coupled to the platform and disposed proximate the first side thereof, the first and second wheels each having a support surface contact patch, the contact patches lying in a first plane; and   a disk rotatably coupled to the lower surface of the platform, the disk having first and second regions associated with respective first and second sides of the platform, a pinion gear configured to engage a rack gear to thereby rotate the disk when the rack gear is pulled, and an inner ring and an outer ring, the disk lying in a second plane disposed at an angle to the first plane, such that when the contact patches of the first and second wheels are in contact with the support surface the first region is further away from the support surface than the second region and the inner ring contacts the support surface.   
     
     
         16 . An assembly comprising:
 a vehicle configured to operate on a support surface, the vehicle comprising:
 a platform having first and second sides and upper and lower surfaces; 
 first and second wheels operatively coupled to the platform and disposed proximate the first side thereof, the first and second wheels each having a support surface contact patch, the contact patches lying in a first plane; 
 a disk rotatably coupled to the lower surface of the platform, the disk having first and second regions associated with respective first and second sides of the platform and an inner ring and an outer ring, the disk lying in a second plane disposed at an angle to the first plane, such that when the contact patches of the first and second wheels are in contact with the support surface the first region is further away from the support surface than the second region and the inner ring contacts the support surface; 
   a pinion gear coupled to the disk; and   a rack gear configured to engage with the pinion gear to rotate the disk and inner ring to thereby propel the vehicle on the support surface.   
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the second region of the disk extends beyond the second side of the platform. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein when the outer ring contacts the support surface, the vehicle is tilted such that the second side of the platform is disposed proximate the support surface. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 18 , wherein when the disk rotates, the outer ring propels the vehicle on the support surface. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 third and fourth wheels operatively coupled to the platform and disposed proximate the second side thereof,   wherein when the inner ring contacts the support surface, the first and second wheels and the inner ring are configured to bear substantially all weight of the vehicle.   
     
     
         21 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the platform lies substantially within a third plane disposed at an angle to the first plane. 
     
     
         22 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the platform lies substantially within a third plane parallel to the first plane. 
     
     
         23 . The vehicle of  claim 16 , wherein the disk has an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the second plane and tilted from vertical by approximately 1 to 45 degrees.