Skateboard truck assembly

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to a truck assembly for a skateboard. The truck assembly includes a baseplate and a hanger movably disposed relative to the baseplate. The truck assembly includes a dampening mechanism configured to dampen movement of the hanger relative to the baseplate. The dampening mechanism can include a spring and a resilient bushing concentrically disposed within the spring, a spring and a resilient material molded at least partially between or around coils of the spring, or both. The resilient bushing is configured to compress with the spring during movement of the hanger relative to the baseplate. The resilient material is configured to supplement resistance provided by the spring during movement of the hanger relative to the baseplate.

1 . A truck assembly for a skateboard, comprising:
 a baseplate;   a hanger movably disposed relative to the baseplate; and   a dampening mechanism configured to dampen movement of the hanger relative to the baseplate, wherein the dampening mechanism includes:
 (i) a spring and a resilient bushing concentrically disposed within the spring, wherein the resilient bushing is configured to compress with the spring during movement of the hanger relative to the baseplate; or 
 (ii) a spring and a resilient material molded at least partially between or around coils of the spring, the resilient material is configured to supplement resistance provided by the spring during movement of the hanger relative to the baseplate. 
   
     
     
         2 . The truck assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the baseplate includes a first kingpin cup and a second kingpin cup extending from a body and spaced by a distance, and the hanger is at least partially disposed between the first and second kingpin cups of the baseplate, the hanger including an extension protruding therefrom, the extension including a distal end defining a surface. 
     
     
         3 . The truck assembly of  claim 2 , wherein if either (i) or (ii), the spring is at least partially positioned on the extension of the hanger with a first end of the spring positioned against the hanger and a second end of the spring configured to be positioned against the second kingpin cup of the baseplate. 
     
     
         4 . The truck assembly of  claim 2 , wherein if (i), the resilient bushing includes a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface, the second surface of the resilient bushing is positioned against the surface of the distal end of the extension of the hanger and the first surface of the resilient bushing is positioned against or facing the second kingpin cup of the baseplate. 
     
     
         5 . The truck assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the extension of the hanger is cylindrical and the surface at the distal end of the extension is a flat circular surface. 
     
     
         6 . The truck assembly of  claim 1 , wherein if (i), the spring is a compression spring. 
     
     
         7 . The truck assembly of  claim 1 , wherein if (ii), the spring is a compression spring, a torsion spring, or a tension spring. 
     
     
         8 . The truck assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient bushing is a polyurethane bushing. 
     
     
         9 . The truck assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient bushing is configured to compress in parallel with the spring during movement of the hanger relative to the baseplate. 
     
     
         10 . The truck assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the resilient bushing is configured to supplement resistance of the spring during compression of the spring from movement of the hanger relative to the baseplate. 
     
     
         11 . The truck assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient bushing includes a continuous side wall that tapers from the first surface to the second surface to define a cone-shaped configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The truck assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first surface and the second surface are flat and define a circular configuration, and wherein a diameter of the first surface is dimensioned greater than a diameter of the second surface. 
     
     
         13 . The truck assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first surface of the resilient bushing is substantially aligned with the second end of the spring. 
     
     
         14 . The truck assembly of  claim 1 , wherein if (ii), the resilient material is overmolded onto the spring to fill all spaces between the coils of the spring. 
     
     
         15 . The truck assembly of  claim 1 , wherein if (ii), the spring and the resilient material combined define a substantially cylindrical configuration with a hollow interior. 
     
     
         16 . The truck assembly of  claim 1 , wherein if (ii), the resilient material is overmolded onto the spring to fill all spaces between the coils of the spring and to completely surround the coils from all sides. 
     
     
         17 . A method of truck assembly operation, comprising:
 movably positioning a hanger relative to a baseplate; and   dampening movement of the hanger relative to the baseplate with a dampening mechanism, wherein the dampening mechanism includes:
 (i) a spring and a resilient bushing concentrically disposed within the spring, wherein the resilient bushing is configured to compress with the spring during movement of the hanger relative to the baseplate; or 
 (ii) a spring and a resilient material molded at least partially between or around coils of the spring, the resilient material is configured to supplement resistance provided by the spring during movement of the hanger relative to the baseplate. 
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein if (i), the spring is a compression spring. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein if (ii), the spring is a compression spring, a torsion spring, or a tension spring. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the resilient bushing is a polyurethane bushing.