US20040035621A1

US20040035621A1 - Scooter

Info

Publication number: US20040035621A1
Application number: US10/274,922
Authority: US
Inventors: Fang-Chun Yu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-08-21
Filing date: 2002-10-22
Publication date: 2004-02-26
Also published as: DE10253050A1

Abstract

A scooter is constructed to include a front fork holding a front wheel, a base frame holding a pair of rear wheels, a coupling plate extended from the base frame and coupled to the front fork, a movable plate inserted through a transverse sliding slot in the rear vertical part of the angled front section of the flat base frame, a link coupled between the front fork and the rear end of the movable plate, and a steering control footplate rotatably supported on the flat base frame and pivoted with a front bottom rod thereof to the front end of the movable plate for enabling the rider to control the steering direction of the front wheel with the foot when riding the scooter.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION

The present invention is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/224,510 entitled “Scooter, which enables the rider to control the steering direction with the toes.”[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to scooters, and more particularly, to such a scooter, which enables the rider to control the steering direction with the toes.

2. Description of the Related Art

A variety of kick scooters and motor-driven scooters have been disclosed, and have appeared on the market. These scooters commonly comprise a flat base frame, a front fork holding a front wheel, a coupling device coupled between the front fork and the flat base frame, a pair of rear wheels bilaterally pivoted to the flat base frame, and a handlebar fixedly fastened to the top end of the front fork for steering control. According to these conventional designs, the user must manipulate the handlebar to control the steering direction. Riding these scooters require skill.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to provide a scooter, which enables the rider to control the steering direction conveniently with the toes. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a scooter, which is safe and comfortable in riding. To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, the scooter comprises a front fork holding a front wheel, a base frame holding a pair of rear wheels, a coupling plate extended from the base frame and coupled to the front fork, a movable plate inserted through a transverse sliding slot in the rear vertical part of the angled front section of the flat base frame, a link coupled between the front fork and the rear end of the movable plate, and a steering control footplate rotatably supported on the flat base frame and pivoted with a front bottom rod thereof to the front end of the movable plate for enabling the rider to control the steering direction of the front wheel with the foot when riding the scooter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a scooter according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [0007]
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a scooter according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [0008]
FIG. 3 is a schematic side view, showing the rider's foot fastened to the steering control footplate according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [0009]
FIG. 4 is a schematic side view, showing the rider's foot fastened to the steering control footplate according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [0010]
FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing showing the rider's one foot fastened to the scooter and the other foot of the rider worn with a roller-skate. [0011]
FIGS. [0012] 6(a)˜(c) are schematic drawings showing steering control actions of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, a scooter is shown comprising a [0013] flat base frame 10, a front fork 70 a, a front wheel 70 pivoted to the front fork 70 a, a substantially Y-shaped link 60, a steering control footplate 20, a movable plate 40, and a coupling rod 402.
The [0014] flat base frame 10 comprises an angled front section 106, a vertical pivot hole 104 in the big front horizontal part of the angled front section 106, a transverse sliding slot 111 in the small rear vertical part of the angled front section 106, an arched front coupling plate 101 forwardly extended from the front side of the big front horizontal part of the angled front section 106, a barrel 102 vertically formed integral with one end, namely, the front end of the front coupling plate 101 and defining an axle hole 102 a, a transmission mechanism 30 and an upright rod 50 disposed near the rear side thereof, a vertical axle hole 103 spaced between the vertical pivot hole 104 and the upright rod 50, a battery box 90 disposed at one side, and two rear wheels 400 bilaterally disposed near the rear side. The front fork 70 a has a top shank 701. The forked front end of the Y-shaped link 60 is coupled to the front fork 70 a. The steering control footplate 20 comprises straps 201 for securing the user's foot, a rotary hub 202 downwardly disposed on the middle, and a front bottom rod 203. The movable plate 40 has a bottom rod 401 on the middle.
Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 1 again, the [0015] top shank 701 of the front fork 70 a is inserted upwardly through the axle hole 102 a of the barrel 102 of the flat base frame 10. The movable plate 40 is inserted through the transverse sliding slot 111 of the flat base frame 10, keeping the bottom rod 401 pivoted to the vertical pivot hole 104 of the flat base frame 10. The coupling rod 402 is vertically pivotally coupled between the rear end of the Y-shaped link 40 and the rear end of the movable plate 40. The rotary hub 202 of the steering control footplate 20 is pivoted to the vertical axle hole 103 of the flat base frame 10, keeping the front bottom rod 203 pivoted to the front end of the movable plate 40. Further, the transmission mechanism 30 is electrically connected to the battery box 90, and controlled (by a wired control device or remote controller) to rotate the rear wheels 400.
FIGS. 2 and 4 show an alternate form of the present invention. According to this alternate form, the link, referenced by [0016] 60 a, has a front coupling rod 601 directly coupled to the top shank 701 of the front fork 70 a.
Referring to FIGS. [0017] 3˜5 again, when in use, one foot is fastened to the steering control footplate 20 by the straps 201, and the other the other foot is worn with a roller-skate 1000. Thus, the user can ride the scooter and control the transmission mechanism 30 to move the scooter.
Referring to FIGS. [0018] 6(a)˜(c), the user can force the foot to turn the steering control footplate 20 about the rotary hub 202, so as to further drive the movable plate 40 and the link 60 or 60 a to change the steering direction of the front wheel 70.
Referring to FIGS. [0019] 3˜5 again, a handle 80 can be connected to the top shank 701 of the front fork 70 a for enabling the rider to control the steering direction of the front wheel 70 with the hands.
Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 again, by means of controlling the controller to drive the brake (not shown) and to force the [0020] toe stop 1001 of the roller-skate 1000 against the road surface, the scooter is stopped.
Referring to FIG. 1 again, the [0021] upright rod 50 is provided for hanging a basket, travel bag, chair, or any of a variety of the user's personal items.
A prototype of scooter has been constructed with the features of FIGS. [0022] 1˜6. The scooter functions smoothly to provide all of the features discussed earlier.
Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. [0023]

Claims

What the invention claimed is:

1. A scooter comprising:

a flat base frame, said flat base frame comprising an angled front section formed of a big front horizontal part and a small rear vertical part, a vertical pivot hole in the big front horizontal part of said angled front section, a transverse sliding slot in the small rear vertical part of said angled front section, an arched front coupling plate forwardly extended from a front side of said big front horizontal part of said angled front section, a barrel vertically formed integral with a front end of said arched front coupling plate and defining an axle hole, an upright rod disposed near a rear side thereof for hanging things, a vertical axle hole spaced between said transverse sliding slot and said upright rod, a battery box disposed at one side thereof, and two rear wheels bilaterally pivoted thereto near the rear side;

a battery box installed in said flat base frame;

a transmission mechanism installed in said flat base frame and adapted to rotate said rear wheels;

a front fork holding a front wheel, said front fork having a top shank vertically upwardly inserted through the axle hole of the barrel of said flat base frame;

a movable plate inserted through said transverse sliding slot of said flat base frame, said movable plate having a front end, a rear end, and a bottom rod downwardly extended from a bottom sidewall thereof on the middle and pivoted to the vertical pivot hole of said angled front section of said flat base frame;

a link coupled between said front fork and the rear end of said movable plate; and

a steering control footplate, said steering control footplate comprising a plurality of straps for fastening the rider's foot, a front bottom rod pivoted to the front end of said movable plate, and a rotary hub downwardly disposed on the middle and pivoted to the vertical axle hole of said flat base frame.