U.S. patent application number 12/729502 was filed with the patent office on 2011-08-04 for scooter.
This patent application is currently assigned to HSIN LUNG ACCESSORIES CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to JEENG-NENG FAN.
Application Number | 20110187073 12/729502 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44314291 |
Filed Date | 2011-08-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110187073 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
FAN; JEENG-NENG |
August 4, 2011 |
SCOOTER
Abstract
An improved scooter includes a frame, a front wheel, a rear
wheel, a stem, a handle, left and right pedal devices, and left and
right first driving devices and second driving device. The left and
right first driving devices are driven by the left and right pedal
devices respectively for solely or jointly driving the second
driving devices, and the driven second driving devices can drive
the rear wheel to rotate and roll forward, such that the front and
rear wheels can jointly drive the scooter to move forward. Users
can pedal the pedal device(s) by one leg or both legs alternately
to operate the scooter. The scooter not only complies with the
simple, smooth, power-saving, stable and safe ergonomic design, but
also comes with a unique operation and driving mode and achieves
the effects of providing a recreational sport with fun as well as a
transportation tool.
Inventors: |
FAN; JEENG-NENG; (TAOYUAN,
TW) |
Assignee: |
HSIN LUNG ACCESSORIES CO.,
LTD.
HSIN CHU HSIEN
TW
|
Family ID: |
44314291 |
Appl. No.: |
12/729502 |
Filed: |
March 23, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
280/221 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62M 1/28 20130101; B62K
3/002 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
280/221 |
International
Class: |
B62M 1/04 20060101
B62M001/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 3, 2010 |
TW |
099202168 |
Claims
1. An improved scooter, comprising a frame, whose front end having
a front wheel pivotally coupled to a front fork, and whose rear end
having a rear wheel pivotally coupled thereto, and an upper end of
the front fork being coupled to a stem, and an upper end of the
stem having a handle, characterized in that: left and right pedal
devices are installed on both sides of the frame respectively, and
each pedal device includes a carrier, and a rotating body and a
swing body are disposed at an end of the carrier, and the rotating
body is rotatably and pivotally coupled to a transverse pivot at a
front end of the frame, such that when the rotating body is
rotated, the integrally combined carrier and swing body can perform
up, down, front and rear swings; left and right first driving
devices, each includes a first driving wheel, a first driving belt
and a position restoring element installed corresponding to the
left and right pedal devices respectively, and the first driving
wheel is mounted onto the frame and driven in one direction and
free wheels in an opposing direction, and the first driving belt is
installed around the first driving wheel, and an end of the first
driving belt is installed to the swing body of a respective pedal
device, and another end of the first driving belt is pulled to the
frame through the position restoring element, such that the carrier
of the respective pedal device normally has an up-swinging force;
and a second driving device is driven by the left and right first
driving devices to rotate and roll the rear wheel, and comprises at
least one second active driving wheel coaxial with the left and
right first driving wheels, a second passive driving wheel coaxial
with the rear wheel, and a driving belt installed between the
second active driving wheel and the second passive driving
wheel.
2. The improved scooter of claim 1, further comprising at least one
middle shaft wherein at the frame between the second active driving
wheel of the second driving device and the second passive driving
wheel, and the middle shaft having a transmission wheel installed
thereon, and a driving belt being installed around the transmission
wheel, the second active driving wheel, and the second passive
driving wheel.
3. The improved scooter of claim 1, wherein the left and right
first driving wheels are installed and coupled to an axle bushing
of the second active driving wheel.
4. The improved scooter of claim 1, wherein the frame includes a
stop body disposed corresponding to the left and right pedal
devices for limiting and blocking the lower swinging carrier.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an improved scooter, and
more particularly to a scooter in compliance with the requirements
of a simple, smooth, power-saving, stable and safe ergonomic
design, and the scooter comes with a unique operation and driving
mode to achieve the effects of providing a recreational sport with
fun and serving as a transportation tool.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] With reference to FIG. 1 for a conventional scooter, the
conventional scooter comprises a frame 10, a front wheel 11, a rear
wheel 12, and a stem 13, wherein the front wheel 11 is pivotally
coupled to a front end of the frame 10 through a front fork 111, a
rear wheel 12 is pivotally coupled to a rear end of the frame 10,
and a lower end of the stem 13 is coupled to the front fork 111,
and a handle 131 is installed at an upper end of the stem 13. When
the scooter is used, an operator holds the handle 131 by both hands
to operate the stem 13 and the front wheel 11 for controlling a
driving direction, and stands on the frame 10 with one leg and
kicks on the floor with another leg, such that the scooter can be
glided and moved freely. As the gliding speed slows down gradually,
the operator has to keep kicking on the floor to resupply a motive
force for a reciprocal operation and maintain the speed of the
scooter. The kick scooter has the drawbacks of a limited kicking
speed, a low balance, a poor stability, and a monotonous exercise
that exhausts the operator's leg easily.
[0005] In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, manufacturers
developed a power scooter as shown in FIG. 2, and the power scooter
comprises pedals 14 pivotally installed onto a rear end of the
frame 10, a suspension arm 141 installed under the pedal 14, a
first driving wheel 142 pivotally installed at the suspension arm
141, a second driving wheel 15 installed at a coaxial position of a
rear wheel 12 and rotated in a single direction, a guide wheel 16
installed onto the frame 10 and behind the second driving wheel 15,
an elastic element 17 installed at a front end of the frame 10, a
pulley 18 installed at a rear end of the elastic element 17, a
driving chain 19 with an end fixed to the rear end of the frame 10
and installed around the first driving wheel 142, the second
driving wheel 15, the guide wheel 16 and the pulley 18
sequentially; such that a user stands on the frame 10 by a leg, and
steps on the upper and lower pedals 14, and the first driving wheel
142 can pull the driving chain 19 according to the front and back
swings of the suspension arm 141, and the second driving wheel 15
and the coaxial rear wheel 12 are driven to rotate, and the pulling
effect of the elastic element 17 operated together with the
single-direction rotation of the second driving wheel 15 drives the
pedals 14 to move up and down reciprocally to drive the rear wheel
12 to move the scooter, so as to achieve the effect of gliding the
scooter. Although this design provides a higher speed, the power
scooter still has the drawbacks of a low balance, a poor stability,
and a monotonous exercise that exhausts user's legs easily.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is a primary objective of the present invention to
overcome the shortcomings of the prior art by providing an improved
scooter in compliance with the requirements of a simple, smooth,
power-saving, stable and safe ergonomic design, and the scooter
comes with a unique operation and driving mode and achieves the
effects of providing a recreational sport with fun as well as a
transportation means.
[0007] To achieve the foregoing objective, the present invention
provides an improved scooter comprising a frame, a front wheel, a
rear wheel, a stem, a handle, left and right pedal devices, left
and right first driving devices and a second driving device,
wherein the left and right first driving devices are driven by the
left and right pedal devices respectively for solely or jointly
driving the second driving devices, and the driven second driving
devices can drive the rear wheel to rotate and roll forward, such
that the front and rear wheels can jointly drive the scooter to
move forward. Users can pedal the pedal device(s) by one leg or
both legs alternately to operate the scooter. The scooter not only
complies with a simple, smooth, power-saving, stable and safe
ergonomic design, but also comes with a unique operation and
driving mode and achieves the effects of providing a recreational
sport with fun as well as a transportation tool.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic planar view of a conventional
scooter;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a schematic planar view of a conventional power
scooter;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a scooter in accordance with
a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a front view of FIG. 3;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a top view of FIG. 3; and
[0013] FIG. 6 is a schematic planar view of a using status of FIG.
3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] To make it easier for our examiner to understand the
objects, effects and advantages of the present invention, we use
preferred embodiments with related drawings for the detailed
description of the present invention as follows.
[0015] With reference to FIGS. 3 to 5 for an improved scooter, the
scooter comprises: a frame 10, whose front end has a front wheel 11
pivotally connected to the front end through a front fork 111, and
whose rear end has a rear wheel 12, wherein the frame 10 includes a
stem 13 connected to an upper end of the front fork 111 and a
handle 131 connected to an upper end of the stem 13; left and right
pedal devices 20 pivotally coupled to both sides of the frame 10
respectively, and each pedal device 20 having a carrier 201
provided for a user's leg to stand on it, a rotating body 202 and a
swing body 203 disposed at an end of the carrier 201, and rotatably
and pivotally coupled to a transverse pivot 101 at a front end of
the frame 10, such that the integrally combined carrier 201 and
swing body 203 can perform up, down, front and rear swings; left
and right first driving devices 30, corresponding to the left and
right pedal devices 20 respectively, and each having a first
driving wheel 301, a first driving belt 302 and a position
restoring element 303, wherein the first driving wheel 301 is
similar to a free wheel driven in a single direction and installed
onto the frame 10 by a pivot 3011, and the first driving belt 302
is installed around the first driving wheel 301, and an end of the
first driving belt 302 is fixed to the swing body 203 of the pedal
device 20, and another end of the first driving belt 302 is pulled
to the frame 10 by the position restoring element 303, such that
the carrier 201 of the pedal device 20 normally has an up-swing
force; a second driving device 40, driven by the left and right
first driving devices 30 to drive the rear wheel 12 to rotate and
roll, and comprising a second active driving wheel 401 coaxial with
the first driving wheel 301 of the left and right first driving
devices 30, a second passive driving wheel 402 coaxial with the
rear wheel 12, a driving belt (not shown in the figure) installed
around the second active driving wheel 401 and the second passive
driving wheel 402, or at least one middle shaft 403 installed at a
position of the frame 10 and between the second active driving
wheel 401 and the second passive driving wheel 402, and a
transmission wheel 404, 405 installed onto the middle shaft 403.
With the transmission of the driving belts 406, 407, the motive
force produced by the rotation of the second active driving wheel
401 can be transmitted to the second passive driving wheel 402 and
the rear wheel 12.
[0016] In addition, the first driving wheel 301 of the left and
right first driving devices 30 can be installed to an axle bushing
4011 that is coupled to the second active driving wheel 401 of the
second driving device (as shown in FIG. 5), so that after the pivot
3011 is passed through the axle bushing 4011 and fixed to the frame
10, the left and right first driving wheels 301 can be rotated in a
single direction like free wheels, wherein the second active
driving wheel 401 is driven to rotate if the rotation direction is
clockwise, or the second active driving wheel 401 is rotated idly
if there is no rotation or the rotation direction is
counterclockwise.
[0017] The frame 10 with the installed stop body 50 corresponds to
the left and right pedal devices 20, such that a position limit
effect is provided for the up-swinging carrier 201.
[0018] With reference to FIG. 6 and the structure of the present
invention, the rotating body 202 of the left and right pedal
devices 20 is rotated freely at the transverse pivot 101 of the
frame 10, so that the integrally combined carrier 201 and swing
body 203 can perform up, down, front and rear swings. After both
ends of the first driving belt 302 of the left and right first
driving devices 30 installed around the first driving wheel 301 are
pulled to the position restoring element 303 and corresponding to
the swing body 203 of the pedal device 20, the carrier 201 can
normally have the up-swing force. When use, an operator holds the
handle 131 by both hands to control the driving direction, and
stands on the left and right carriers 201 by both legs
respectively. With a down-stepping operation, the swing body 203
will pull the first driving belt 302 to rotate the first driving
wheel 301 clockwise. If the leg is lifted, the carrier 201 will be
pulled back to the up-swing position by the first driving belt 302
and the position restoring element 303 automatically to get ready
for the next down-stepping operation. Since the first driving wheel
301 of the first driving device 30 is rotated in a single direction
like a free wheel, a motive force will be produced if the first
driving wheel 301 rotates clockwise, and no motive force will be
produced in an idle rotation if the first driving wheel 301 rotates
counterclockwise. When the carrier 201 is stepped down, the
clockwise-rotating first driving wheel 301 will drive the second
active driving wheel 401 of the second driving device 40 to rotate
directly. When the carrier 201 resumes its up-swing position, the
first driving belt 302 pulled to restore its position by the
position restoring element 303 will drive the first driving wheel
301 to rotate in an opposite direction, and thus resulting in an
idle rotation that will not drive the second active driving wheel
401 to rotate. Since the second active driving wheel 401 of the
second driving device 40 is driven to rotate, transmission
components such as the driving belts 406, 407 and the transmission
wheels 404, 405 drive the second passive driving wheel 402 to
rotate the rear wheel 12 coaxial with the second passive driving
wheel 402. With the front wheel 11, the scooter of the present
invention can be glided smoothly.
[0019] Since the left and right first driving wheels 301 are driven
to rotate in a single direction like free wheels, a clockwise
rotation of the left and right first driving wheels 301 can drive
the second active driving wheel 401 to rotate, and a
counterclockwise rotation of the left and right first driving
wheels 301 or maintaining the left and right first driving wheels
301 still will give an idle rotation that provides no motive force.
In other words, the left and right carriers 201 can drive the first
driving wheel 301 to rotate clockwise and also rotate the second
active driving wheel 401 together with the rear wheel 12 to drive
the scooter to move forward when the left and right carriers 201
are stepped downward. When the left and right carriers 201 are
swung upward, the first driving wheel 301 is rotated idly and will
not drive the second active driving wheel 401. When the left and
right carriers 201 remain still, the first driving wheel 301 will
not interfere with the still condition of the second active driving
wheel 401. The operator can stand on the left and right carriers
201 by both legs respectively to perform the up and down swing
movements to the left and right carriers 201, or step the carrier
201 to its lowest point by one leg, and step the other carrier 201
by another leg. The scooter of the present invention provides a
diversified and convenient operation.
[0020] In other words, the aforementioned structure of the present
invention allows an operator to hold the handle 131 by both hands,
and stand on the left and right carriers 201 respectively by both
legs, such that both legs can apply forces alternatively to step
the left and right carriers 201, or step on a corresponding carrier
201 by one leg to apply reciprocal forces to achieve the effect of
driving the scooter to move forward. The invention not only
complies with the simple, convenient, smooth and diversified
ergonomic requirements and provides a unique operation and driving
mode, but also achieves the effect of providing a recreational
sport with fun. Of course, the operator can operate the scooter by
stepping on the carrier(s) by both legs or by one leg according to
the road condition to achieve the effect of riding the scooter with
a balanced stability, a constant speed and a safe effect.
* * * * *