Abstract:
A foldable two wheeled scooter includes a steering post with a front wheel at a lower end and handlebars at an upper end. A support tube connects with a folding mechanism enclosed in a protective housing and supportively connects with a running board having a rear wheel. The protective housing prevents a user from being harmed when moving the scooter from an upright position to a folded down position.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to two wheeled scooters which collapse or fold from an upright position to a folded down position for carrying or storage. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Two wheeled scooters have long been known as a recreational device. A relatively long running board is supported above a running surface by two wheels attached at ends of the board. The two wheels are aligned so that the board can be rolled forward. To provide necessary stability of the overall structure when rolling forward, a steering post must be fixed at a front end and rise to the level of a rider&#39;s hands. A handlebar is fixed to a top end of the steering post so a user can grasp the ends of said handlebar to stabilize and guide the scooter in a forward direction. A front wheel is typically connected with the steering post by a steering mechanism so that a direction of the front wheel changes upon a rider&#39;s moving the handlebars about an axis formed by the steering post. 
   The structure of scooter described above necessarily results in an L-shaped device, where the running board and wheels form one part of the “L” and the steering post and handlebars form the other part of the “L”. Since scooters typically are used only occasionally, it has long been known that storage of said scooters present a unique problem as an L-shaped device. It has also been long known to provide mechanisms to that the L-shaped structure could be in some manner disassembled or folded to reduce the storage difficulties of said scooters. 
   While it would appear most desirable that an L-shaped device such as the two wheeled scooter should be provided with folding means located at the vertex of its L-shape, that vertex location is the place most challenging to incorporate such folding means. The vertex of the L-shape of a two wheeled scooter is the part of its structure which must be designed most sturdily so that it does not fail in use. If the steering post of a two wheeled scooter bends or breaks, a rider moving even at moderate speeds can be seriously hurt. Folding means incorporated at the vertex location have in the past introduced serious flaws in the scooter&#39;s structure, many of which could result in structural failure during use. 
   In addition to structural failure, prior art folding means for two wheeled scooters have incorporated an inherently dangerous feature. The act of folding the L-shape of the device clearly involves moving a relatively heavy steering post with unwieldy handlebars down from an upright position toward a top surface of the running board. The act of releasing the steering post from the upright position in prior art folding means often brings a user&#39;s hands near to the vertex location. In any case, a user&#39;s hands or feet may inadvertently be found in the path of the collapsing steering post and/or handlebars when the scooter is being folded down. In such a case, many prior art folding means do not adequately protect the user from injury during the collapsing or folding operation. A user&#39;s finger or toes in many prior art devices be trapped and/or crushed in the folding operation. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,701 discloses a folding means for said scooters. It is clear the folding means permit a user to inadvertently place one or more fingers inside opposing armatures or flanges that scissor together in the folding operation. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,387 discloses another folding means for said scooters. The mechanism shown includes a structure wherein the steering post folds down to the level of the running board for carrying or storage. The folding means is shown as an open framework of the dangerous scissoring flanges and armatures described above. No protective measures are shown or described that would protect a user from inadvertent injury. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,501 discloses yet another folding means for said scooters. The mechanism shown includes a structure wherein the steering post folds down to the level of the running board for carrying or storage. The folding means is shown as an open framework of the dangerous scissoring flanges and armatures described above. No protective measures are shown or described that would protect a user from inadvertent injury. 
   There is a need for a folding means for a two wheeled scooter with excellent structural integrity while providing easy release for the steering post from an upright position and protecting the user from harm during the folding operation. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is a folding scooter having folding means that incorporate a protective housing and release means with a lever-rotatable polygonal pin for releaseably securing a steering post in an upright position. Said polygonal pin virtually eliminates the possibility of wearing out said release means by repeated use. 
   The present invention is adapted to withstand the wear and tear typical of two wheeled scooters. Users often weigh much more than what would be typical of a child&#39;s weight, i.e., adults or very overweight teens will use a two wheeled scooter. User&#39;s often operate their scooters at high speeds down steep inclines or over very rough terrain. Under these extreme circumstances, the folding means must remain secure and also easily releaseable from an upright position for many years of hard use. 
   The present invention comprises a running board with a rear wheel supported from a rear wheel axle supported from a pair of rear wheel flanges extending rearward from a rear end of the running board. At a front end of the running board, a protective housing comprises an upside down and U-shaped base piece with a bottom plate and side flanges which is secured to a top and front surface of the running board at the bottom plate. Upward facing side flanges of the base piece are enclosed by a slotted roof piece. 
   Secured to an upward facing surface of the bottom plate and located between the flanges of the base piece is a second upside down U-shaped piece, a lower latch piece that comprises another bottom plate and side flanges directed upward. The side flanges of the lower latch piece have two sets of aligned notches on upper edges adapted to removeably receive a horizontal latch pin. The latch pin is urged into a set of aligned notches by means of springs connecting a mid section of the latch pin with a base pine fixed in the lower latch piece. A horizontal base pin is secured in aligned holes in the side flanges of the base piece and the lower latch piece. When the lower latch piece is secured to the base piece, two narrow upper latch piece spaces are formed between inner surfaces of the side flanges of the base piece and outer surfaces of the side flanges of the lower latch piece. 
   Secured at a lower end by the base pin within the upper latch piece spaces a third U-shaped piece, an upper latch piece comprises another bottom plate and side flanges. The concave side of the upper latch piece is directed rearward so that a top surface of the bottom plate always faces a rider when the steering post is in an upright position. Engaging ends of the side flanges of the upper latch piece fit into the two narrow upper latch piece spaces so that the base pin can secure together the base piece, the lower latch piece and the upper latch piece. The upper latch piece is rotatable about the base pin from the engaging ends. 
   The upper latch piece connects at a post support end with a lower portion of a steering post. The steering post extends downward from the upper latch piece connection to support the axle of a front wheel and extends upward from the upper latch piece connection to support handlebars for a user. 
   A middle part of the upper latch piece comprises two aligned latch pin slots opposite one another on the side flanges. These latch pin slots are further aligned with the aligned notches on the side flanges of the lower latch piece when the scooter steering post is in the upright position or in the folded down position. A latch pin is at all times fixed so that its ends are always adjacent to inside surfaces of the side flanges of the base piece and are guided by the latch pin slots. The latch pin is always urged toward the base pin by a pair of strong springs, so that said latch pin is fixed at a lowest position in forward aligned notches on the side flanges of the lower latch piece in the upright position and is further fixed in rear aligned notches in the side flanges of the lower latch piece in the folded down position. 
   A lifter end of the upper latch piece, distal to the engaging end, comprises a polygonal rotating pin that is rotatably fixed across the concavity of the side flanges and extends through one side flange to support a lever accessible to a user. A dual armature extends from the rotating pin which supports an upper cable end. The upper cable end is connected to, in an upright position, a downward extending cable. A lower cable end of the cable is fixed in a mid section of the lifter pin. When a user depresses the lever from an upward to a downward position and the steering post is in the upright position, the dual armature moves the upper cable end upward, thereby lifting the latch pin from the front aligned notches. The latch pin is restrained in its movement so that it may travel only along the path defined by the latch pin slots. However, latch pin slots are dimensioned so that when the latch pin is lifted from the front aligned notches, the upper latch piece may rotate rearward about the base pin so that the steering post is moved into a folded down position. When the steering post reaches the folded down position, a user may reverse their previous action on the lever to release the latch pin into a fixed position in the rear aligned notches on the lower latch piece. 
   The side flanges of the base piece and the slotted roof piece are critical to the invention. The side flanges of the base piece extend up from the top surface of the running board so that they at all times enclose outside facing openings of the latch pin slots and prevent a user from putting their fingers in said latch pin slots during the folding operations, either up or down. Enclosing said openings also prevents the latch pin from moving from its position with its ends engaged by the latch pin slots. The slotted roof piece covers the base pin, springs, and latch pin structures while having a single front to rear slot adapted to permit passage of the cable from the front to rear, and vice versa, in the folding operations. A further upper roof piece encloses the uncovered concavity of the U-shaped upper latch piece, thereby enclosing the cable, upper cable ends, armature and rotating pin. The combination of the base piece, the slotted roof piece, the upper latch piece, and the upper roof piece comprise an protective enclosure or housing for the folding means of the invention. A user cannot, even with diligent intent, insert their fingers or other body parts into the potentially harmful structure of the folding means. 
   The rotating pin comprises a polygonal structure. Flattened sides extend the length of the rotating pin so that when a user moves the lever from an upward to a downward position, the springs pulling down on the latch pin will in turn pull on the cable, armature and rotating pin to press a flattened side against flattened opening edges of the rotating pin openings in the side flanges of the upper latch piece. The mating flattened surfaces of the rotating pin and the rotating pin openings cause the latch pin to remain in a lifted position until a user moves the lever in the reverse direction. At that time, the latch pin is released from the lifted position and is urged into the front or rear notches or against top edges of the side flanges of the lower latch piece between said notches. 
   The steering post is topped with handlebars that extend laterally for a user to grasp. The handlebars are foldable so that they lie adjacent and parallel with the steering post in a storage position. 
   The invention scooter is capable of full and vigorous operation as if it were not capable of being reduced in size. However, in a folded down position, the steering post lies adjacent to the running board and, in a storage position, handlebars fold so that they lie adjacent and parallel with the steering post. The invention scooter is capable of being stored in a relatively small space and being carried easily. 
   One object of the invention is to provide a protection so a scooter user can safely fold their scooter down without fear of injury. The invention enclosure or housing prevents access to the inside of said housing by objects greater that about 5 millimeters so that user can not easily to put their finger into the folding means. 
   A further object of the invention is to provide an exceptionally strong structure with folding means. The steering post is connected to the running board via the upper latching piece secured directly to the base piece by the base pin. This structure provides exceptional resistance to ramming force upon the front wheel of the scooter with riders of up to and over 80 kilograms moving at a high rate of speed. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIGS. 1 through 5  are respectively left side, right side, front, rear and top views of the invention scooter in the upright position. 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  are respectively left side and top views of the invention scooter in the folded down position. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the folding means. 
       FIG. 9  is an exploded and perspective view of the base piece and the lower roof piece. 
       FIG. 10  is an exploded and perspective view of the lower latch piece, base pin (and securing screw), springs, latch pin and long armature and the upper roof piece. 
       FIG. 11  is an exploded and perspective view of the upper latch piece and the upper roof piece. 
       FIG. 12  is an exploded and perspective view of the rotating pin, locking washer, short armatures, spacer, armature connecting pin and latch lever. 
       FIG. 13  is a side view of the device of  FIG. 8  without a base piece and roof pieces. 
       FIG. 14  is a partially broken away and rear view of the device of  FIG. 13  with the base piece. 
       FIG. 15  is the device of  FIG. 13  with the latch lever depressed and the latch pin lifted from its securing notches. 
       FIG. 16  is the device of  FIG. 15  moved from an upright position to a folded down position. 
       FIG. 17  is a top view of the running board. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention is now discussed with reference to the figures. 
     FIGS. 1 and 2  show the invention scooter  100  respectively from the left and right sides comprising handlebars  101  oriented normal to a normal running direction of the scooter. Handlebars  101  are secured to a top end of a telescopic steering post  102 . Post  102  comprises a top tube  103  which is capable of being received into tube  105  upon release of band  104  to thereby reduce the length of steering column  102 . Tube  105  extends through tube  107  to fix securely to a top part of axle support  109 . A nut and band means  106  hold tube  105  in place relative to tube  107 . Axle support  109  comprises a U-shaped piece with two opposing holes at lower ends through which pass and between which are rotatably fixed an axle of front wheel  108 . Thus, rotating handlebars  101  cause front wheel  108  to respond in a like manner. 
   Running board  110  extends from a front to a rear part of scooter  100 . At a rear part of board  110  extends fender  113  over wheel  112 . Rear wheel  112  comprises an axle rotatably fixed in ends of board  110 . Front wheel  108  and rear wheel  112  cooperate so that scooter  100  can roll on a horizontal surface.  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5  respectively show front, rear and top views of scooter  100  in an upright position, as also shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
   Connecting board  110  to lower tube  105  are the folding means of the invention comprising piece  114  fixed to the running board  110  and piece  115  fixed to tube  107 . Folding means comprise a protective housing around potentially dangerous parts when scooter  100  is moved from an upright to a folded down position. 
   Consider that scooter  100  is capable of being folded down so that steering post  102  is near to the top surface of running board  110 .  FIGS. 6 and 7  respectively show side and top views of scooter  100  in a folded down position so that it is easily stored or carried. Upper tube  103  is shown contained in part within tube  105  and handlebars  101  may be dismantled into handlebar sections  117  and secured to holder  118 , thereby further reducing an overall storage outline of scooter  100 . 
     FIG. 8  shows a rear and upper perspective view of the folding means of the invention. An upper part of the folding means is fixed to a rear, outside surface of tube  107  and is rotatably connected with a lower part of the folding means fixed to a front, top surface of the running board. The upper part is rotatable along path  200 . A protective housing encloses the lower part comprising a base piece  114  that is covered by a slotted roof piece  124 . A protective housing also encloses the upper part comprising a upper latch piece  115  that is covered by an upper roof piece  125 . 
   Three slots are shown formed by the connection of roof piece  124  to base piece  114 . A first slot  127  provides for free front to rear travel of a long armature enclosed within the protective housing, while side slots  126  are defined by lateral openings in roof piece  124  and a top edge of side walls  123 . Slots  126  provide for free front to rear travel of side wall extensions  129  of upper latch piece  115 , which extensions  129  extend down to a base pin  128  securing the upper part of the folding means to the lower part. It can be readily appreciated that movement of the folding means along path eliminates the possibility that a user could trap their finger or hand in the folding mechanisms of scooter  100  in moving along path  200 . The convex and planar outer upper surface of roof piece  124  are swept by a lower edge of upper roof piece  125  when the folding means are moving along path  200 , thereby preventing a user&#39;s appendages from captured between the scissoring mechanisms within the protective housings. 
   A latch lever  121  extends from a lateral side of a side wall of upper latch piece  115  from a rotating pin and is held apart from that side wall by spacer ring  122 . 
   Various portions of the folding means are now shown and described with reference to perspective drawings in  FIGS. 9 through 12 . 
     FIG. 9  shows roof piece  124  separated from an upside down and U-shaped base piece  135  with a bottom plate  140  and side flanges  136  which is secured to a top and front surface of the running board at the bottom plate  140  via bolt holes  139 . Upward facing side flanges  136  of the base piece  135  have edges  137  which in part define slots  126  of  FIG. 8  when roof piece  124  is secured to base piece  135 . Base piece  135  further comprises two aligned holes  138  for access to a base pin. Roof piece  124  defines a slot  127  with strips  130  and  131  that extend arcuately forward from connector plate  132 . Roof piece  124  comprises holes  133  and  134  for its connection to the base piece  135 . 
   Secured to an upward facing surface of the bottom plate  140  via holes aligned with holes  139  of base piece  135  and located between the side flanges  136  of the base piece  135  is a second upside down U-shaped piece and associated mechanism in  FIG. 10 . 
     FIG. 10  is a top perspective view of the second upside down U-shaped piece, a lower latch piece  141 , base pin  149  (and securing screw  153 ), springs  154 , latch pin  157 , and long armature  161 . Lower latch piece  141  comprises another bottom plate  142  and side flanges  143  directed upward. The side flanges  143  of the lower latch piece  141  have two sets of aligned notches (front notches  147  and rear notches  145 ) separated by upper edges  145 . Notches  145  and  147  are adapted to removeably receive a horizontal latch pin  157 . The latch pin  157  is urged into one of the sets of aligned notches  145  or  147  by means of springs  154  connecting a mid section of the latch pin  157  with the base pin  149  secured in the lower latch piece  141 . A horizontal base pin  157  is secured in aligned holes  144  in the side flanges  143 . When the lower latch piece  141  is secured to the base piece  135  ( FIG. 9 ), two narrow upper latch piece spaces are formed between inner surfaces of the side flanges  136  of the base piece  135  ( FIG. 9 ) and outer surfaces of the side flanges  143  of the lower latch piece  141 . 
     FIG. 10  further shows base pin  149  comprises a head  151  a shaft  152  where ends of springs  154  attach, and a threaded bore  150  to receive securing screw  153 . Springs  154  each comprise looped ends to connect base pin  149  and grooves  159  of latch pin  157 . Latch pin  157  comprises latching ends  160  that are adapted to engage notches  145  and  147  of lower latch piece  141  and which are guided by latch pin slots described below for an upper latch piece. Long armature  161  comprises holes  162  and  163 , where hole  163  is adapted to receive latch pin  157  along axis  156  and be secured to latch pin  157  between grooves  159 . 
   Secured at a lower end by the base pin  149  and rotatably movable within the upper latch piece spaces is a third U-shaped piece. Referring now to  FIG. 11 , an upper latch piece  165  comprises another bottom plate  170  and side flanges  166 . The concave side of the upper latch piece  165  is directed rearward so that a top surface of the bottom plate  170  always faces a rider when the steering post is in an upright position. Lower engaging ends of the side flanges  166  of the upper latch piece  165  fit into the two narrow upper latch piece spaces so that the base pin  149  ( FIG. 10 ) can secure together the lower latch piece  141  ( FIG. 10 ) and the upper latch piece  165  ( FIG. 11 ). The upper latch piece  165  is rotatable about its holes  167  wherein is fixed the base pin at the engaging ends of the upper latch piece  165 . 
   The upper latch piece  165  connects at a post support end via edges  188  with the lower tube  107  ( FIG. 8 ) of the steering post. Referring again to  FIG. 11 , side flanges  166  comprise a middle part with two aligned latch pin slots  168  opposite one another on the side flanges  166 . Side flanges  166  also comprise two aligned holes  169  for receiving a rotating pin described below.  FIG. 11  shows an upper roof piece  172  which is adapted to connect with holes  171  in the bottom plate  170  via threaded extensions  174  so that upper roof piece entirely covers an upper part of the opening formed between top edges of side flanges  166 . Arcuate cutout  173  is adapted to mating fit against a surface of tube  107  ( FIG. 8 ). A lower edge of upper roof piece  172  is adapted to sweep a top surface of roof piece  124  ( FIG. 9 ) when the folding means are assembled. 
     FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a rotating pin  182 , its locking washers  187 , a latch lever  116 , a spacer  122 , dual short armatures  179 , and an armature connecting pin  178 . Rotating pin  182  comprises two flattened sides  183  adapted to lockingly engage with longitudinal slots  180  of short armatures  179  and a similarly formed locking bore  177  of latch lever  116  so that rotation of the rotating pin  182  by a user depressing latch lever  116  necessarily causes a corresponding rotation in short armatures  179 . Rotating pin  182  further comprises slots  184  adapted to receive locking washers  187 . Short armatures  179  are adapted to be located at about the center of rotating pin  182  and separated only by the width of an upper end of long armature  161  ( FIG. 10 ), which does not connect directly with the rotating pin  182 . 
   Referring again to  FIG. 12 , short armatures are shown with holes  181  adapted to receive armature connecting pin  178 . Armature connecting pin  178  connects the lower ends of short armatures  179 , spacing them apart by a secured upper end of the long armature  161  ( FIG. 10 ), whose hole  162  receives the armature connecting pin  178  along axis  164 . Referring again to  FIG. 12 , latch lever  116  comprises a user lever end  175  and a connecting end  176  which defines bore  177 . 
   Excepting the roof pieces of the protective housing,  FIGS. 13 through 16  show the folding means assembled and operating to move the steering post (not shown) from an upright to a folded down position. 
     FIG. 13  is a side view of the invention folding means.  FIG. 14  shows a rear and broken away view of the folding means of  FIG. 13 . In  FIG. 14 , base piece  135  is shown secured to its bottom plate lower latch piece  141 , forming upper latch piece spaces between side flanges  136  and side flanges  143 , wherein are rotatably fixed ends of side flanges  166  of upper latch piece  165 . When the upper latch piece  165  is connected with the lower latch piece  141  via the base pin  149 , the upper latch piece is rotatable along the path  200  ( FIG. 8 ). Ends of latch pin  157  is shown secured in front notch  147  and guided thereto by latch pin slots  168 , where said latch pin is urged downward by its connection to the base pin  149  via springs  154 . Long armature  161  connects a center of latch pin  157  with a center of armature connecting pin  178 , which upper end of long armature  161  is bracketed by lower ends of short armatures  179 . Upper ends of short armatures  179  are secured to a middle portion of rotating pin  182 . Rotating pin  182  is secured within opening in side flanges  166  and is rotatable by pressing on a top surface of latch lever  116 . Spacer  122  spaces latch lever  116  from an outside surface of a side flange  166 . 
     FIG. 14  shows the folding means of  FIGS. 13 and 14  after a user has depressed latch lever  116  in direction  189 . Short armatures  179  rotate about rotating pin  182  lifting their lower ends and thereby lifting the upper connected end of long armature  161 , which in turn lifts the connected latch pin  157  out of notch  147 . Springs  154  strongly urge latch pin  157  downward but is resisted by the tendency of the flattened sides of rotating pin  182  to cause said pin to remain in the rotated position shown in  FIG. 15 .  FIG. 16  shows the folding means of  FIG. 15  rotated back to a folded down position, thereby aligning latch pin  157  over notch  145 . In that position, latch pin  157  can be released from the position shown in  FIG. 16  and into notch  145  by lifting upward on latch lever  116 . 
     FIG. 17  is a top view of running board  110  comprising a top surface  190 , whose front portion comprises holes  191  to which the base piece and lower latch piece are secured by bolts or screws. A rear portion of board  110  comprises a wheel slot  193  defined by extensions  192 . Extensions  192  comprise axle holes for receiving and securing therein an axle of the rear wheel.