Lightweight compact collapsible folding personal transporter

A four-wheel scooter having a collapsible shell and a seat mounted on a shaft disposed at the rear end of the scooter, such shaft movable approximately 90 degrees forward from an upright position to a storage position into a receipt slot defined in the top portion of the shell and a steering column disposed at the front end of the scooter in an upright position for use and rotatable approximately 275 degrees to a storage position against the bottom of the unit when such shell is in its collapsed storage mode.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The structure of this invention resides in the area of motor vehicles and more particularly relates to a lightweight collapsible folding four-wheel personal transporter or scooter which in a storage mode is easy to fold, pull and/or carry and in a use mode is easy and convenient to set up for transporting an individual as desired.

2. History of the Prior Art

Motor scooters, particularly four-wheel scooters having a seat and a steering handle, are well known such as the CITY BUG scooter manufactured for EV Rider of Sarasota, Fla. Such scooters, though, are not especially compact and lightweight so that they cannot be easily transported and/or stored when not in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved four-wheel folding electric scooter which utilizes a retractable, collapsible rail frame and a rotating integral front steering assembly which rotates from an upright position to a storage position on the bottom of the collapsed scooter and a seat post and attached seat which can rotate from an upright use position to a folded position into a recess formed within the front main housing such that the scooter when folded for storage is so compact that it is similar in size to a large briefcase and can even be carried as “carry on” luggage on an airplane. The seat can also be located at a different position for use as a pull handle with the rear wheels resting on the ground so that the device can be pulled by a user walking. The front steering post with handle grip and steering mechanism is mounted so that it rotates approximately 275 degrees from an upright use position into a recess within the bottom of the main housing. The structure utilizes the improved lightweight batteries and motors of the current technology which use provides savings in size and weight over scooters having conventional drive systems and traditional motor transmissions. The location of the motor(s) in the scooter of this invention is near the rear wheels, and the battery is located within the main housing of the structure. The battery can incorporate modern nickel metal hydride or lithium ion technology. The unit can weigh approximately 28 lb. and carry an individual weighing upwards of 300 lb. In a folded storage mode the unit is approximately 22 inches long, 6¼ inches high and 19 inches wide; and in an unfolded use mode the unit is approximately 36 inches long and 30 inches high when the seat and steering handle are erected, and 19 inches wide. The collapsible main housing and overlapping shells allow for the lateral adjustment of the wheel base to extend from an extended state of 30 inches to a collapsed state of 16 inches. The integrated folding seat can include a pull handle, as described further below.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

FIG. 1illustrates a perspective view of the scooter of this invention. Scooter10has four wheels, being first front wheel28, second front wheel30, first rear wheel34and second rear wheel36which are held onto a framework as described in more detail below. InFIG. 1one can see front shell12of the main housing which can be moved over smaller sections of rear shell14when the front and rear shells are collapsed together such that front shell12moves over the smaller front shell receipt area40defined in a portion of rear shell14, allowing the scooter to be collapsed. When in its collapsed state, as seen inFIG. 2, front shell12substantially overlaps portions of rear shell14. As seen inFIG. 1, steering column16is shown in its upright position such that by rotating steering handle18, the steering movement of first and second front wheels28and30can be achieved. To operate the scooter, one sits on seat22mounted on seat shaft20and can activate controls for acceleration and braking, which controls can be positioned in any desired location on the structure, such as on steering handle18. In use one sits on seat22and rotates steering handle18to steer the scooter while it is moving. When one is finished using the scooter and wishes to place it into its storage mode, one first pushes the front of the device to the rear such that front shell12covers over front shell receipt area40of rear shell14, thus substantially reducing the size of the unit by moving first and second front wheels28and30much closer to first and second rear wheels34and36. One then can rotate steering column16downward and around to its position on the bottom of the scooter, as described further below, and as seen partially moved into such position inFIG. 2, being rotated on front wheel shaft38with seat22being moved on seat shaft hinge24such that seat shaft20can pass into seat shaft receipt slot26formed in the tops of front shell12and rear shell14for storage. When seat22is in seat receipt area90, one can grasp handle92to pull the scooter on its first and second rear wheels34and36.

FIG. 3illustrates the framework of the interior of the scooter with the front and rear shells removed, showing first frame rail54and second frame rail56which can telescopically receive, respectively, therein a first frame rail extension60and second frame rail extension58in a fashion such that first and second frame rail extensions60and58can be maneuvered inward and outward to collapse or extend the frame rail extensions within the frame rails. Seen in this view is seat shaft20which is supported on a seat shaft hinge52which allows the seat and seat shaft to be folded forward into its storage mode when desired. First and second rear wheels34and36are mounted, respectively, on first rear wheel suspension member64and second rear wheel suspension member66. A motor can be placed near one or both rear wheels such as motor88seen near first rear wheel34and motor89seen near second rear wheel36. The motors can drive the wheels by drive belts. Also shown inFIG. 3is angle82of movement of seat shaft20as well as crossbar62for additional strength which can support thereon or nearby a battery disposed in battery storage area86. Battery technology is well known and is not illustrated but is understood to be placed within the body of the structure of this invention and to be interconnected by wires, not shown but also well known, to drive motor88near first rear wheel34. Also seen inFIG. 3is steering column16which is rotatably mounted on steering shaft68, on the first and second ends of which are rotatably mounted first front wheel28and second front wheel30. Tie rod42connects first spindle46to second spindle44to effect the steering movement of the front wheels, as described further below. Steering column16can be rotated on steering shaft hinge32completely around steering shaft arc80, such as seen inFIGS. 2 and 3, so that it comes to rest on the bottom of the collapsed structure, as best seen in FIG.4. Lastly, when placing the scooter of this invention into its storage mode, seat shaft20and seat22are rotated downward to a collapsed position where seat shaft20fits within seat shaft receipt slot26and seat22fits within seat receipt area90defined in the front of the main housing, as seen in FIG.1.

FIG. 5illustrates a rear perspective view of the front of the steering assembly wherein tie rod42connects the spindles on the wheels to cause their steering movement. Tie rod42is connected through a link shaft70to a link member48above the shaft, the movement of link shaft70being controlled within link plate slot74formed within steering column receptor plate72such that as steering column16is rotated, link engagement member50is held within link member48and when rotated by steering column16, can move link shaft70back and forth within link plate slot74such that it can steer first and second front wheels28and30from side to side when steering column16is in its upright position. When it is desired to fold steering column16downward to a storage position, it is rotated on steering shaft hinge32, as seen inFIGS. 1 and 3, which rotation pulls link engagement member50out of its mating receipt slot within link member48, thereby allowing steering column16to be rotated downward to its storage position under the unit, as seen in FIG.4.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications can be substituted therefor without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention.