Rider propelled scooter

A scooter to be propelled by a rider is disclosed herein. The scooter comprises a frame including a base capable of supporting the rider standing thereon and having a first side and a second side, and an arcuate bar having a lower end and an upper end. The base has a slot formed at the second side thereof. The arcuate bar extends upwardly from the first side of the base from the lower end thereof. A front wheel is coupled to the upper end of the arcuate bar by a support member, and a rear wheel is coupled to the base at the second side thereof such that the rear wheel is extending into the formed slot thereat. A handlebar is provided at the upper end of the arcuate bar and in connection with the support member to provide directional movement to the front wheel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates generally to a scooter capable of accommodating a rider standing thereon, and more specifically to a two-wheeled scooter in which the standing rider weights and unweights his/her body mass in order to provide movement thereto.

2. Description of the Related Art

Outdoor sports such as bicycling and skateboarding have recently become very popular. Scooter riding, which is a combination of both skateboarding and bicycling, is another exciting recreational outdoor sport which is becoming popular. Human powered-scooters are known in the art. These scooters are generally two-wheeled vehicles which, unlike bicycles, do not use any complex arrangement of gears and chain mechanism for power; instead these scooters are propelled only by the rider pushing with his/her feet. Human powered scooters are safe and exciting alternatives to stationary bikes or treadmills. However, scooters designed heretofore are generally utilized for the purpose of recreation, and are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, which have been developed for the fulfillment of kids and youngsters.

Previous scooters generally have been designed for non-vigorous recreational activities, such as children's toys and light recreational use by adults. For example, US Patent Publication No. 20020067018 discloses a scooter comprises a deformable footboard, a handlebar frame fastened with the front end of the footboard, a front wheel pivoted to the bottom end of the handlebar frame, a rear wheel pivoted to the rear end of the footboard, and a one-way driving mechanism disposed at a pivoting portion of the rear wheel and the rear end of the footboard to cause the rear wheel to turn unidirectionally at the time when the footboard is caused by an external force to deform.

Some scooter like devices are known which can provide exercise benefits as well. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,941,670 discloses a lightweight, easily stored, portable, strong, ride-on-device for transportation and stunt riding. The device is usable on a supporting surface and includes a V-shaped frame on which is mounted an upper and lower body stabilization and support. At least two wheels are rotatably attached to each of two wheel mountings such that in use, the device may be propelled by potential and/or kinetic energy. The direction of travel of the device is governed by the non-perpendicular positioning of the frame relative to the supporting surface. However, such transportation device with small wheels may not be able to support weight of an adult and further may have limited applications.

Therefore, there is a need to provide a ride-on scooter specifically designed for adult recreation and exercise which is capable to support the weight of an adult and is moved with manual force to provide some exercising benefits. Documents describing the closest subject matter provide for a number of more or less complicated features that fail to solve the problems described above in an efficient and economical way. None of the documents suggest the novel features of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

While the devices known in the prior-art may fulfill their respective, particular objective and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a scooter specifically designed for adult recreation and exercise which has a contoured frame reinforced at the curved areas to support the weight of an adult and has standard bicycle tires, handlebars, and handbrakes.

It is one of the objectives of the present invention to provide a scooter adapted to be propelled by a user stimulating activity as it forces the body of the user to continuously maintain balance condition.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a scooter which is able to support weight of an adult rider.

It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a scooter which is easy and safe to operate by means of utilizing brakes and the like.

It is still another objective of the present invention to provide a scooter which is easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described below. The following explanation provides specific details for a thorough understanding of and enabling description for these embodiments. One skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be practiced without such details. In some instances, well-known structures, processes and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments.

It shall be noted that unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” “include,” “including,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to.” Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number, respectively while adhering to the concepts of the present invention. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” and “an embodiment” are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features.

Referring to the drawings,FIGS. 1-2illustrate diagrammatic views of a scooter (generally designated by the numeral100), in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. The scooter100is designed and adapted to be propelled by a rider. Herein, the scooter100helps with stimulating activity as it forces the body of the rider to provide propelling force, usually in the form of a push against the ground, and continuously maintain balance conditions. The scooter100is specifically designed for adult recreation and exercise which has a contoured frame reinforced at the curved areas to support the weight of an adult and has standard bicycle tires, handlebars, and handbrakes.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, the scooter100includes a frame102. The frame102includes a base104capable of supporting the rider standing thereon. In the present embodiments, the base104is a substantially flat structure. The base104has a first side104aand a second side104b, which are generally a front portion and a rear portion thereof respectively in the illustration ofFIG. 1. In an embodiment, the base104have an upwardly inclined portion, referred by the numeral106inFIG. 1, towards the second side104bthereof. As illustrated, the base104has a slot, generally referred by the numeral108, formed at the second side104bthereof. In particular, the inclined portion106is in the form of a fork providing the slot108in the base104.

Also, as illustrated, the frame102of the scooter100includes a bar110. In the present embodiments, the bar110has a generally arcuate shape. Further, the arcuate bar110has a substantially inverted L-shaped structure. The bar110has a lower end110aand an upper end110b. As illustrated, the bar110extends upwardly from the base104, from the lower end110athereof. Specifically, the bar110extends upwardly from the first side104aof the base104. It may be seen that extending upwardly, the bar110is curved to provide the substantially inverted L-shaped structure. On bar110there may be an air pump144removably attached. Air pump144may preferably be attached to the lower end110aof bar110, however any predetermined location on bar110may be suitable. Air pump144may be a manual air pump, but other air pumps may be suitable such as an automatic air pump. There may also be a large pad140attached to the bar110, specifically at the upper end110bof bar110. Large pad140may protect a user or the scooter100.

Further, as illustrated, the scooter100includes two wheels, namely a front wheel112and a rear wheel114. In the present embodiments, as better illustrated inFIG. 2, the scooter100also includes a support member116which has a substantially inverted U-shaped structure. Herein, the front wheel112is coupled to the upper end110bof the bar110. Specifically, the front wheel112is coupled to the upper end110bof the bar110by the support member116. It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the support member116with the inverted U-shaped or fork structure with its two arms may be coupled to a center of the front wheel112at both its sides, by employing a fastening arrangement such as nuts and screws. Similarly, the rear wheel114is coupled to the base104at the second side104bthereof. In the present embodiments, the rear wheel114is coupled to the base104such that it is extending into the formed slot108thereat. Specifically, the rear wheel114is coupled to the inclined portion106of the base104. Herein, the inclined portion106with its two extending members may be coupled to a center of the rear wheel114at both its sides, by employing a fastening arrangement such as nuts and screws. It shall be appreciated that the presently utilized wheels, front wheel112and rear wheel114, in the scooter100are full-sized regular bicycle wheels as known in the art.

In one or more embodiments, as better illustrated inFIG. 2, the scooter100also includes a handlebar118. The handlebar118is provided at the upper end110bof the arcuate bar110. The handlebar118is in connection with the support member116to provide directional movement to the front wheel112. The handlebar118is arranged substantially horizontally with two ends, generally orthogonal to upward extending direction of the bar110. In some examples, the handlebar118is provided with grips120at both of the two ends. It may be appreciated that while riding the scooter, the user can turn the handlebar118which, in turn, rotates the support member116and thereby the front wheel112, thus allowing the user to change direction of movement, for example, while making a turn of the scooter100as desired.

In one or more embodiments, the scooter100further includes a brake assembly122coupled to the front wheel112to provide braking action therefor. As illustrated inFIG. 2, the brake assembly122includes a pair of hand brakes124with each of the pair of hand brakes124provided at one of the two ends of the handlebar118. One of the hand brakes from the pair of hand brakes124may be mechanically or by some other means coupled to a brake caliper126associated with the front wheel112. When the user presses the one of the pair of hand brake s124, the brake caliper126is engaged against the front wheel112to stop its rotational movement. In some examples, conventional shock absorbers may also be provided in the known manner to provide the scooter100with a heavy duty front suspension. In an alternate embodiment, the brake assembly122may only include one hand brake. Further, in one or more embodiments, as shown, the front wheel112and the rear wheel114are provided with wheel guards128, which are known in the art and have not been described further for the brevity of the present disclosure. It may also be seen fromFIG. 1that the wheel guard128provided with the rear wheel114is also extending into the formed slot108at the second side104bof the base104, in the scooter100.

Further, as illustrated inFIG. 1, the scooter100may include a front light130. The front light130may be arranged at the upper end110bof the bar110. As better illustrated inFIG. 3, the scooter100may include a pair of rear lights132. The rear lights132may be arranged in a pair of cylindrical enclosures134extending in rearward direction from the inclined portion106, generally along the same axes. It may be appreciated that the pair of rear lights132may be facing rearward of the scooter100to act like tail lights therefor. Herein, the front light130and the pair of rear lights132may be light bulbs of suitable configuration for use with scooters as known in the art. In some examples, the scooter100may also include a rear-view mirror136as shown inFIGS. 1-3. Further, in some examples, the scooter100may also include a digital screen138which may be used to display information about operation and condition thereof. For example, the digital screen138may be employed to display a current speed, total distance covered, etc. related to the scooter100. The digital screen138may serve as a speedometer to display all necessary information. It may be contemplated by a person skilled in the art that the scooter100may incorporate multiple sensors to determine such parameters and in turn be connected to the digital screen138for display of information. Sensors that may provide additional information such as heart rate, calories burned or GPS location for example. Such implementation of sensors and display is well known in the art and thus has not been explained herein for the brevity of the present disclosure. Mounted below the digital screen138may be a small pad140a, preferably on the gooseneck portion of the scooter100. The small pad140amay be used to protect a user, the digital screen or the covered gooseneck portion of the scooter100. The large pad140and small pad140amay strategically arranged at positions where a user may generally grip or a part of the body of a user may rest on frame102of scooter100.

The user rides the scooter100instead of pedaling it. Thus, the scooter100of the present disclosure provides the rider with cardiovascular exercise. The scooter100has a similar design of the frame102, or specifically the base104, as that of a skateboard. The base104being arranged low provides a low center of gravity for the overall scooter100with the rider standing and supported thereon. This makes the device inherently stable. On top of base104may be a deck142on which a user may be mounted thereon through the use of some attaching means. Deck142may preferably be removable from base104. Deck142may preferably be made of bamboo, but other materials may be suitable as well. Other suitable materials may be other types of wood, plastic, or metal, for example. As seen inFIG. 4, underneath of base104and deck142may be a compartment150. Compartment150may store or house various objects. Preferably, compartment150may be used to store items such as first aid kit items or patches to repair a flat that may occur to front wheel112or rear wheel114. The items stored may attach to the lower side of deck142. The scooter100may weigh about 30 pounds and have dimension of about 68 inches by 37 inches, with front wheel112and rear wheel114of about 20 inches in diameter. In the present embodiments, the frame102is made of steel or composite material in order to allow the scooter100to support the weight of a grown adult standing thereon.

It shall be noted that devices in the market currently directed towards transportation may be categorized generally as either push-bikes or skateboards. In consideration of these categories with respect to the riders of these devices, push-bikes and skateboards offer distinctly different riding characteristics. Push-bikes on the one hand are maneuvered by the hands and body weight distribution and basically balanced through the gyroscopic effect of the rotating wheels, have a seat for upper body support and means by which the push-bike may be powered. The result is a device particularly suitable for transporting the rider from one place to another. Skateboards on the other hand are maneuvered and balanced by foot manipulation and body weight distribution and are powered by either harnessing the potential energy of a hill or the kinetic energy of the rider. The result in this case is a device offering the rider a means of transportation over short distances. The intention for the design of the scooter100is to combine the advantages of each category to produce a new and useful means of transportation offering freedom, portability, upper body support etc., while designed for adult recreation and exercise which has a contoured frame reinforced at the curved areas to support the weight of an adult and has standard bicycle tires, handlebars, and handbrakes.