System for a folding skateboard with hands free folding operation

Abstract

The system and method invention herein disclosed and claimed is a folding skateboard. It can be folded while at rest, on the ground, by applying pressure to one end as the bi-folding deck portions pivot toward one another and come to rest in a fully folded position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hands-free folding skateboard comprising:
 a rear end deck portion having two opposing side edges, opposing top and bottom surfaces, a rear end, a mating edge essentially opposite to and parallel to said rear end, and a plurality of wheels and wheel-mounting structure mounted to said bottom surface, near said rear end, essentially halfway between said rear end deck portion side edges with said wheel orientation vertical and parallel to said rear end deck portion side edges;   a front end deck portion having said two opposing side edges, said opposing top and bottom surfaces, said front end, said mating edge essentially opposite to and parallel to said front end, and said plurality of wheels and wheel-mounting structure mounted to said bottom surface, near said front end, essentially halfway between said front end deck portion side edges with said wheel orientation vertical and parallel to said front end deck portion side edges;   a butt hinge operative to join said mating edges such that when the butt hinge leaves are essentially parallel to one another, said mating edges are held rigidly together, and said top and bottom surfaces of said rear end deck portion and front end deck portion are essentially respectively coplanar and aligned with their respective said side edges;   said butt hinge operative to join said mating edges such that when said butt hinge leaves are essentially coplanar with one another, said rear end deck portion is essentially parallel to said front end deck portion; and said wheels mounted to said bottom surface of said rear end deck portion make contact with said bottom surface of said front end deck portion; and said wheels mounted to said bottom surface of said front end deck portion make contact with said bottom surface of said rear end deck portion;   a butt-hinge locking mechanism operative to lock said butt hinge into a position where said butt-hinge leaves are essentially parallel to one another;   an unlocking actuator, operative to unlock said butt-hinge locking mechanism, said unlocking actuator unlocks said butt-hinge locking mechanism when said folding skateboard is fully unfolded, said wheels are in contact with said ground surface, and said unlocking actuator is pushed toward said ground surface.