Wheeled Recreational Device For Use With Rough Terrain

Abstract

A recreational device including a single wheel having a rim with a track and a tire coupled to the rim. The recreational device further includes a central hub assembly positioned within the wheel and movably coupled to the track of the rim such that the central hub assembly is rotatable in the track about an axis of rotation of the wheel. The recreational device further includes a support plate coupled to the central hub assembly and configured to support a human foot, and a guard plate coupled to the central hub assembly. The recreational device is configured such that rotational movement of the central hub assembly is independent from rotational movement of the wheel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A recreational device, comprising:
 a wheel having a rim with a track and a tire coupled to the rim;   a central hub assembly positioned within the wheel and movably coupled to the track of the rim such that the central hub assembly is rotatable in the track about an axis of rotation of the wheel;   a support plate coupled to the central hub assembly and configured to support a human foot; and   a guard plate coupled to the central hub assembly;   wherein rotational movement of the central hub assembly is independent from rotational movement of the wheel.   
     
     
         2 . The recreational device of  claim 1 , wherein the central hub assembly further comprises a plurality of smaller wheels operably coupled to the central hub assembly and movable within the track. 
     
     
         3 . The recreational device of  claim 2 , wherein only a portion of each of the plurality of smaller wheels is positioned within the track and in contact with a base of the track. 
     
     
         4 . The recreational device of  claim 2 , wherein the central hub assembly includes at least one aperture configured to partially receive a portion of at least one smaller wheel therein. 
     
     
         5 . The recreational device of  claim 2 , wherein an axis of rotation for each of the plurality of smaller wheels is parallel with the center axis of rotation of the wheel. 
     
     
         6 . The recreational device of  claim 2 , wherein the central hub assembly further includes at least one notch configured to receive a portion of at least one smaller wheel therein such that the wheel is partially recessed into the central hub assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The recreational device of  claim 2 , wherein the central hub assembly further includes a fork configured to operably support one smaller wheel therein. 
     
     
         8 . The recreational device of  claim 7 , wherein the fork is diametrically opposite from the support plate about a perimeter of the central hub assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The recreational device of  claim 7 , wherein the fork further includes a head tube positioned within a bore in the central hub assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The recreational device of  claim 9 , wherein the bore further includes a spring positioned within the bore and received within the head tube of the fork. 
     
     
         11 . The recreational device of  claim 9 , wherein a vertical axis of the head tube of the fork is transverse to the axis of rotation of the wheel. 
     
     
         12 . The recreational device of  claim 1 , wherein the central hub assembly further includes a plurality of bearings operably coupled to the central hub assembly and movable within the track. 
     
     
         13 . The recreational device of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of bearings are each operably coupled to the central hub assembly with a bearing pin. 
     
     
         14 . The recreational device of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of bearings are positioned entirely within the track. 
     
     
         15 . The recreational device of  claim 13 , wherein a spacer is coupled to the bearing pin and positioned between the bearing and the central hub assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The recreational device of  claim 12 , wherein an axis of rotation of each of the plurality of bearings is transverse to the axis of rotation of the wheel. 
     
     
         17 . A recreational device, comprising:
 a wheel having a hub and rim with a track positioned on one side of the rim, the wheel further having a tire coupled to the rim;   a central hub assembly movably coupled to the track such that the central hub assembly is rotatable in the track about an axis of rotation of the wheel;   a support plate coupled to the central hub assembly and configured to support a human foot; and   a guard plate coupled to the central hub assembly;   wherein rotational movement of the central hub assembly is independent from rotational movement of the wheel.   
     
     
         18 . The recreational device of  claim 17 , wherein the wheel is only rotatable in one direction about the hub. 
     
     
         19 . The recreational device of  claim 17 , wherein the central hub assembly further includes a plurality of smaller wheels operably coupled to the central hub assembly and movable within the track. 
     
     
         20 . The recreational device of  claim 19 , wherein the central hub assembly further includes a plurality of laterally positioned bearings coupled to the central hub assembly and movably positioned within the track.