Scooter structure

A scooter structure includes a vertical frame and a pedal body. The bottom of the vertical frame connects to (a) front wheel(s). The rear end of the pedal body connects to (a) rear wheel(s), the front end of the pedal body connects to an auxiliary supporter. The auxiliary supporter includes a pivoting portion pivoted at the bottom of the vertical frame and an extension element located higher than that of the pivoting portion. The extension element connects to auxiliary wheels by an assembling component. The pedal body uses the pivoting portion as the rotation shaft, and is selectively rotated between an expansion position (the pedal body is away from the vertical frame and the rear wheel is on the ground) and a folded position (the pedal body is close to the vertical frame and the auxiliary wheels are on the ground) with respect to the vertical frame.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No. 103139306 filed in Taiwan, R.O.C. on Nov. 12, 2014, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The instant disclosure relates to a kick scooter, particularly to a scooter structure that can be standable and dragable after folding.

2. Related Art

The scooter (also called kick scooter), is very light, highly flexible, and easy to operate. Consequently, it is very popular and its use has become a trend. In general, the main structure of the scooter comprises a horizontal pedal, a front wheel connected to the front of the pedal, and a back wheel connected to the back of the pedal; a vertical tube is connected to the front wheel and handles. However, the size of the scooter is very large, which may result in the folded scooter requiring a large storing space. Additionally, it is inconvenient to carry the large scooter when going out.

Accordingly, a foldable scooter has been developed, which can position the pedal close to the vertical tube after folding. However, the foldable scooter has several problems when in use. When the pedal is close to the vertical tube after folding, the back wheel is away from the ground. Consequently, the scooter is not able to stand without holding, because only the front wheel is standing on the ground. Furthermore, when the scooter is folded for storing, it must be lying on the ground. A large storing space is still required. Additionally, when carrying the scooter (for example, when in a station or an indoor area unsuitable for scootering), the user must carry the scooter by hand or use a bag. Consequently, the user may bear a heavy load when carrying the scooter, and it is necessary to improve the foldable scooter.

SUMMARY

In view of these problems, the present invention provides a scooter structure comprising a vertical frame and a pedal body. The vertical frame comprises a top end and a bottom end, wherein the top end is higher than the bottom end, and the bottom end is disposed with a front wheel. The pedal body comprises a front end and a rear end. The rear end is disposed with a rear wheel. The front end is connected to an auxiliary supporter. The auxiliary supporter comprises a pivoting portion pivoted to the bottom end of the vertical frame and an extension element higher than the pivoting portion. The extension element is assembled with at least one auxiliary wheel by using an assembling component. The pedal body uses the pivoting portion as the rotary shaft, and is selectively rotated between a expansion position and a folded position with respect to the vertical frame; the expansion position refers to the position that the pedal body is away from the vertical frame and the rear wheel is on the ground, and the folded position refers to the position in which the pedal body is close to the vertical frame and at least one auxiliary wheel is on the ground.

According to the above structure, the pedal body of the present invention may use the pivoting portion as the rotary shaft (or axis), and rotate toward to the vertical frame for the standing position (folded position), and the auxiliary wheels assembled to the auxiliary supporter may be on the ground. The auxiliary wheels and the front wheel may be on the ground at the same time, to support the scooter structure. Alternatively, the front wheel may be not on the ground, with only the auxiliary wheels on the ground for support. After folding, the pedal body and the vertical frame are in the standing position and supported by the wheels, thus reducing the storage space required. In addition, the auxiliary wheel may be a long cylinder roller with a single axis, and the contact area with the ground may be large enough to support the scooter structure with the front wheel in the standing position. Alternatively, the extension element may be disposed with more than two auxiliary wheels, so the auxiliary wheels and the front wheel may have multi contact points on the ground (for example, two auxiliary wheels and one front wheel form a triangle), to support the standing scooter structure.

In addition, after folding the pedal body and the vertical frame, the scooter structure may be moved by the auxiliary wheels and the front wheel, or by only the auxiliary wheels. Accordingly, the user may drag the scooter structure easily by standing the pedal body and the vertical frame, which may avoid the scooter structure affecting other people who are walking, or collision with other objects. Additionally, the scooter structure does not need the user to carry it by hand or by using a bag, which may reduce the user's load when carrying the scooter.

The top end of the vertical frame comprises a turning handle. The bottom end of the vertical frame comprises a front fork bracket. The front wheel is pivoted to the front fork bracket. The pivoting portion of the auxiliary supporter is pivoted on the connecting rack. Accordingly, the front wheel may change direction freely by using the turning handle. For example, when the turning handle turns 20 degrees, the front wheel turns 20 degrees at the same time. Consequently, the scooter structure is better able to change direction than other unchanging direction devices (such as the skateboard), and thus may provide a greater convenience and easier operation.

In one embodiment, the scooter structure further comprises a fixing body for fixing the pedal body in an expansion position or in a folded position. When the scooter structure is in use or folded for storage, the pedal body will not move or sway by using the fixing body, increasing the safety of the scooter.

In one embodiment, the scooter structure may comprise a release body for releasing the fixing body from the fixing status. That is, the user may control the release body to release pedal body from the fixing body, and the pedal body may use the pivoting portion as the shaft (or axis), to rotate freely.

In one embodiment, the fixing body comprises a slot, an elastic member, and a locking member connected to the elastic member, wherein the slot is disposed on the vertical frame, and the elastic member and the locking member are disposed on the auxiliary supporter. The locking member may be selectively locking onto, or releasing from, the slot. The release body comprises a releasing member, and a following member connected to the locking member. The releasing member is pivoted to the auxiliary supporter or the vertical frame rotatably, and the releasing member comprises a driving surface abutting against on the following member. Consequently, the user may step or press the releasing member to rotate. The releasing member uses the driving surface to press the following member, and the locking member is moved so as to allow the locking member to move away from the slot and release the fixing body.

In one embodiment, the scooter structure may comprise a brake (such as drum brake, disc brake, or caliper brake) disposed on the front wheel or the rear wheel, or disposed on both of the front wheel and the rear wheel, for stopping or slowing down, which may increase the safety of the scooter structure.

In one embodiment, the scooter structure may comprise a driving motor for driving at least one of the front wheel or the rear wheel to move the scooter structure. The user may also kick the ground (manually), to move the scooter structure forward.

In one embodiment, the assembling component may be a pivot shaft disposed through the auxiliary wheel for pivoting the auxiliary wheel on the extension element. Alternatively, in another embodiment, the assembling component may comprise a receiving box (luggage carrier or shopping box), a sliding groove, and a sliding brick. The sliding groove is disposed on the receiving box, the sliding brick is slid and moved within the at least one sliding groove, the sliding brick is pivoted to the extension element, and the bottom of the receiving box is assembled with the at least one auxiliary wheel. That is, the assembling component may be the luggage carrier disposed with the sliding groove, and the bottom of the luggage carrier is disposed with auxiliary wheels. When the pedal body is in the folded position, the auxiliary wheels on the bottom of the luggage carrier are on the ground for the scooter structure to be standing and be dragged.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, which respectively show a 3-D schematic view and n exploring view of a scooter structure according to the first embodiment of the instant disclosure. The scooter structure1comprises a vertical frame10and a pedal body20.

The vertical frame10is a vertical standing frame body, which comprises a top end11and a bottom end12. The top end11is located higher than the bottom end12. The top end11of the vertical frame10is disposed with a turning handle13. The bottom end12is disposed with a front fork bracket14, and the front fork bracket14is pivoted with a rotatable front wheel101.

In this embodiment, the front fork bracket14further comprises a standing rod141extending upwardly. The front fork bracket14is further connected to a connecting rack15. The connecting rack15is a reversed U-shaped rack, which comprises a head tube151. The head tube151of the connecting rack15covers the standing rod141of the front fork bracket14, and the user may control the turning handle13so as to rotate the front fork bracket14and the front wheel101with respect to the connecting rack15. For example, when the user controls the scooter structure1for turning, the user may turn the turning handle13with an angle (such as 20, 30, or 40 degrees, which depends on the turning angle). The front fork bracket14and front wheel101may be rotated with the same angle as the turning handle13turning. Accordingly, the scooter structure1is more flexible and controllable when comparing to other moving structure (such as the skateboard) that cannot or hard to change direction. In another embodiment, the front fork bracket14may be fixed (such as by soldering), to the connecting rack15, which are used to limit the present invention.

The pedal body20is a flat board for the user to stand thereon. The pedal body20comprises a front end21connected to the auxiliary supporter30and a rear end22pivoted to the rear wheel201. In this embodiment, the front end21of the pedal body20uses screw(s) to connect with the auxiliary supporter30. Alternatively, the pedal body20and the auxiliary supporter30may be formed in one piece, as shown inFIG. 8, for example, which may be formed by forging molding, extrusion molding, casting molding, or carbon fiber molding.

The auxiliary supporter30comprises a pivoting portion31and an extension element32. The pivoting portion31pivoted to the bottom end12of the vertical frame10. The extension element32is located higher than the pivoting portion31. The extension element32uses an assembling component40to assemble at least one auxiliary wheel33. In this embodiment, the pedal body20and the extension element32are formed substantially in L-shaped. The pivoting portion31is a rotary shaft disposed through the connecting rack15, so as to allow the pedal body20rotating toward to the vertical frame10. The extension element32comprises two extending arms321disposed at two sides of the vertical frame10respectively. The two extending arms321are extending upwardly (toward to the extension direction of the top end11of the vertical frame10), and the two extending arms321are higher than the pivoting portion31. The assembling component40comprises pivot shafts (or pins) passing though the auxiliary wheels33respectively and pivoting to the end of the two extending arms321respectively. In some other embodiments, the extension element32is not limited to having the extending arms321, which may be formed as multi linkage mechanics or a curved rack.

The scooter structure1may further comprise a brake70and a driving motor80. The brake may be a caliper brake, drum brake, disc brake, band brake, cone brake, etc, which is disposed on one of the front wheel101or the rear wheel201, so as to slow down or stop the scooter structure1. Alternatively, a fender202may be used to slow down or stop the scooter structure1; for example, the user may step on the fender202to generate friction between the fender202and the rear wheel201so as to slow down or stop the scooter structure1.

The driving motor80is disposed on one of the front wheel101or the rear wheel201. The driving motor80may connect to an electronic control device81. The electronic control device81is used to start the driving motor80and to drive at least one of the front wheel101or the rear wheel201for rotation. The scooter structure1may be driven by electric power, which is favorable to long distance moving or hilly roads without man power. In addition, the user may kick (manually), to move the scooter structure1forward, which is not used to limit the present invention.

According to the above design, the pedal body20may selectively be rotated between the expansion position P1and the folded position P2with respect to the vertical frame10by using the pivoting portion31as the rotating shaft. The expansion position P1, as shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 4A, refers to the position that the pedal body20is far away from the vertical frame10and the rear wheel201is on the ground. In this position, both the front wheel101and the rear wheel201are on the ground, and the user may stand on the pedal body20and control the turning handle13to change direction. Additionally, the front wheel101and the rear wheel201may be driven manually or electric power as described previously, so as to move the scooter structure1forward. In this position, the two extending arms321are extending upwardly, so the auxiliary wheels33are higher than the front wheel101and the rear wheel201without intervening. The folded position P2, as shown inFIG. 3andFIG. 4A, refers to the position that the pedal body20is close to the vertical frame10and the auxiliary wheels33are on the ground. That is, when the pedal body20is rotated toward to the vertical frame10, the extension element32is rotated toward to the same direction (toward to the ground, as shown inFIG. 3), at the same time. The auxiliary wheels33, at the end of the extension element32, fall down to the ground. In other words, the movement of the pedal body20and the extension element32is similar to the leverage principle; when the pedal body20is rotated upwardly, the extension element32is rotated downwardly. Accordingly, when the pedal body20and the vertical frame10are folded as standing position, the auxiliary wheels33and the front wheel101may be positioned as supporting. In this position, the auxiliary wheels33and the front wheel101are all on the ground and forming three contact (ground), points so as to support the scooter structure1for standing alone. Additionally, the auxiliary wheels33and the front wheel101may be used to move the scooter structure1. For example, the user may drag the vertical frame10for rolling or sliding the auxiliary wheels33and the front wheel101.

Please refer toFIG. 2andFIG. 4B. The scooter structure1comprises a fixing body50for fixing the pedal body20at the expansion position P1or the folded position P2. In this embodiment, the connecting rack15of the vertical frame10comprises a curved guiding surface152at two sides of the front wheel101respectively. The fixing body50comprises two slots51disposed at two ends each curved guiding surface152, two elastic members52(such as springs), and two locking member53(such as bolts), connecting with each elastic member52. Two sides of the auxiliary supporter30are disposed with a limiting groove301respectively. Each elastic member52and each locking member53are located within each limiting groove301of the auxiliary supporter30, and each locking member53may selectively lock onto or release from each slot51.

For example, the slot51may be a curved indentation. When the pedal body20is in the expansion position P1, the locking member(s)53is locked onto the slot(s)51by the elastic force of the elastic member(s)52. The pedal body20may be fixed in the expansion position P1, and it may increase the safety when in use. When the user folds the scooter structure1, the pivoting portion31is the rotating shaft, and the pedal body20is pressed to rotate toward to the vertical frame10. Each locking member53is oppressed by each connecting rack15and moved toward to each elastic member52so as to release from each slot51. When the pedal body20is in the folded position P2, the locking member(s)53is locked onto another slot(s)51by the elastic force of the elastic member(s)52. The pedal body20may be fixed in the folded position P2, and it may increase the safety when the scooter structure1is dragged or put for standing.

In some other embodiment, the fixing body50may comprise a slot51, an elastic member52, and a locking member53disposed on one side of the scooter structure1corresponding to the expansion position P1for the pedal body20. With respect to the folded position P2, the pedal body20may be fixed by other mechanics, for example, by using string to tide the pedal body20and the vertical frame10. Alternatively, the pedal body20and the vertical frame10may be disposed with other locking member assembly. The mechanics is not limited to the above examples.

As shown inFIG. 4A, the scooter structure1may comprise a release body60for releasing the fixing body50from the fixing position. In this embodiment, the release body60comprises a releasing member61and a following member531connected to the locking member53. As shown inFIG. 2, the following member531is a connecting rod. Alternatively, as shown inFIG. 8, the following member531comprises two pivot shafts connecting to the locking members53respectively. The releasing member61is pivoted to the auxiliary supporter30rotatably. The releasing member61comprises a driving surface611abutting against on the following member531. As shown inFIG. 4A, the driving surface611may be a curved surface. Alternatively, as shown inFIG. 10, the driving surface611may be an inclined plane. The releasing member61may further comprise a limiting wall612. A guiding slot613is formed between the limiting wall612and the driving surface611. The following member531is located within the guiding slot613and avoided to be release.

Accordingly, as shown inFIG. 4B, when the user folds the scooter structure1, the user may step or press the releasing member61to rotate. The releasing member61uses the driving surface611to press the following member531that is connected to the locking member53. Consequently, the following member531moves the locking member53toward to the elastic member52so as to release the locking member53from the slot51. The pedal body20may be in the status of free rotation from the status of fixing, and the pedal body20may be rotated toward to the vertical frame10for the folded position P2, as shown inFIG. 3andFIG. 4C.

As shown inFIG. 5toFIG. 8, which show 3-D schematic views (1), (2), (3), and an exploring view respectively, of the scooter structure according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The difference(s) between the scooter structure1A of the second embodiment and the scooter structure1of the above embodiment is an assembling component40A comprising a receiving box41, at least one sliding groove42, and at least one sliding brick43. The sliding groove42is disposed on the receiving box41, and the sliding brick43is disposed and sliding within the sliding groove42. The sliding brick43is pivoted to the extension element32, and the auxiliary wheels33are assembled to the bottom of the receiving box41.

In this embodiment, the receiving box41is concaved with a receiving portion411at the side corresponding to the vertical frame10. The receiving portion411may receive and fix a sleeve412. The sleeve412is disposed outside of the vertical frame10for limiting the vertical frame10within the receiving portion411and moving the vertical frame10up and down. Two inner sides of the receiving portion411are further concaved with the sliding groove(s)42. The extension element32comprises two extending arms321. The sliding brick43is pivoted on the end of each extending arm321. The sliding brick(s)43may be slid and moved within the sliding groove42. The bottom of the receiving box41disposes with multiple auxiliary wheels33, such as four wheels at four bottom corners of the receiving box41, as shown inFIG. 7. That is, the receiving box41may be a luggage carrier, and the auxiliary wheels33may be the wheels of the luggage carrier. Accordingly, as shown inFIG. 9A, when the pedal body20is located in the expansion position P1, the extension element32is higher than the pivoting portion31. The receiving box41may be moved upward by the extension element32lifting, and the auxiliary wheels33of the receiving box41may be away from the ground and located higher than the front wheel101and the rear wheel201. As shown inFIG. 9B, when the user folds the scooter structure1A, same as the first embodiment, the user may step or press the releasing member61to rotate. The releasing member61uses the driving surface611to press the following member531that is connected to the locking member53. Consequently, the following member531moves the locking member53toward to the elastic member52so as to release the locking member53from the slot51. The pedal body20may be in the status of free rotation from the status of fixing, and the pedal body20may be rotated toward to the vertical frame10for the folded position P2, as shown inFIG. 7andFIG. 9C.

As shown inFIG. 9C, during the pedal body20is rotated toward to the vertical frame10for the folded position P2, the sliding brick(s)43at the end of the extension element32may be slid and moved away from the pedal body20along the sliding groove(s)42, and the vertical frame10moves upwardly and the receiving box41moves downwardly. When the pedal body20is located in the folded position P2, the auxiliary wheels33of the receiving box41are on the ground. Consequently, the user may move the scooter structure1A easily by using the auxiliary wheels33of the receiving box41. In some other embodiment, the front wheel101may be also on the ground when the auxiliary wheels33are on the ground, which are not used to limit the present invention.

In summary, the pedal body may use the pivoting portion as the rotary shaft, and rotate toward to the vertical frame for the standing position, and the auxiliary wheels assembled to the auxiliary supporter may be on the ground. The auxiliary wheels and the front wheel may be on the ground at the same time for supporting the scooter structure. Alternatively, the front wheel may be not on the ground with only the auxiliary wheels on the ground for the supporting. After folding, the pedal body and the vertical frame are in the standing position and supported by the wheels, thus reducing the required storage space.

In addition, after folding the pedal body and the vertical frame, the scooter structure may be moved by the auxiliary wheels and the front wheel or by only the auxiliary wheels. Accordingly, the user may drag the scooter structure easily by standing the pedal body and the vertical frame, which may avoid the scooter structure affecting other people who are walking, or collision with other objects. Additionally, the scooter structure does not need to be carried by hand or by using a bag, which may reduce the user's load when carrying the scooter.