Scooter

A scooter includes a footboard, a steering column having an upper end connected to a handlebar and a lower end connected to a front fork, a head-tube frame assembly having a head tube coupled to the steering column and a frame assembly coupled to the footboard, a front ball bearing wheel rotatably mounted to the front fork, and a rear ball bearing wheel rotatably mounted to a rear fork the footboard. The scooter further includes a folding mechanism in the head-tube frame assembly for folding up the scooter.

FIELD OF THE TECHNOLOGY

The present application relates to a scooter, and particularly to a scooter having ball bearing wheels.

BACKGROUND

Traditional two-wheeled scooters have front and rear wheels. Each wheel is rotatably mounted on a central wheel axle within a wheel hub. These wheels have been used for many years. It is desirable to produce an improved scooter with wheels that have no central wheel axles and hubs, and to produce a scooter that is simple in construction, low in manufacturing cost and fun to play with.

The above description of the background is provided to aid in understanding a scooter, but is not admitted to describe or constitute pertinent prior art to the scooter disclosed in the present application, or consider any cited documents as material to the patentability of the claims of the present application.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect, there is provided a scooter including a footboard on which a rider can stand, a steering column having an upper end connected to a handlebar and a lower end connected to a front fork; a head-tube frame assembly having a head tube in which the lower end of the steering column is rotatably received and a frame assembly coupled to a front end of the footboard, a front wheel rotatably mounted to the front fork, and a rear wheel rotatably mounted to a rear fork provided at a rear end of the footboard wherein each of the front and rear wheels is in the form of a ball bearing wheel.

Each ball bearing wheel may include an outer ring having an annular raceway formed on an inner surface thereof and an inner ring having an annular raceway formed on an outer surface thereof. The annular raceways are facing each other and defining an annular space. A plurality of bearing balls can be rotatably disposed around the annular space, and a ball-separating ring formed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart ball-retaining pockets for retaining therein the plurality of bearing balls respectively.

The front fork may include two downwardly extending prongs, and the lower ends of the two prongs may be connected to two opposite sides of a lowermost portion of the inner ring respectively. According to one embodiment, the front fork can have two downwardly extending prongs, and the lower ends of the two prongs can be connected to two opposite sides of a radially inwardly extended portion formed on a lowermost portion of the inner ring respectively. The front fork may include two semi-circular-shaped prongs extending along two opposite sides of the outer and inner rings of the ball bearing wheel.

In one embodiment, each ball-retaining pocket may be generally Ω-shaped.

In one embodiment, the outer ring may include an outer ground-engaging ring portion and an inner ball-engaging ring portion formed on an inner surface of the outer ground-engaging ring portion. The outer ground-engaging ring portion and the inner ball-engaging ring portion can be molded in one single piece. The outer ground-engaging ring portion may be made of polyurethane. The inner ball-engaging ring portion may be made of acrylonitride butadiene styrene. The inner ring may be made of acrylonitride butadiene styrene.

In one embodiment, the head-tube frame assembly may include two parallel arms having upper ends fixed to the head tube and lower ends pivotally coupled to a pivot pin provided on an upper surface of the footboard at the front end thereof. A tubular casing can be adapted to receive the two arms therethrough and two opposite projections can be formed on two opposite outer walls of the tubular casing respectively. A spring may have an upper end connected to the upper ends of the arms and a lower end connected to a lower end of the tubular casing. Two vertical walls can be formed on an upper surface of the footboard at the front end thereof. The two vertical walls may have two upper curved edges formed thereon with two opposite front slots and two opposite rear slots respectively. The two arms can be moved from an unfolded and locked position where the two opposite projections are inserted and biased by the spring into the two opposite front slots respectively, whereby pulling the tubular casing against the biasing force of the spring releases the two opposite projections from the two opposite front slots and allows the two arms to pivot about the pivot pin from the unfolded position, towards the footboard and to a folded and locked position where the two projections are inserted and biased by the spring into the two opposite rear slots respectively.

According to another aspect, there is provided a scooter including a footboard on which a rider can stand, a steering column having an upper end connected to a handlebar and a lower end connected to a front fork, a head-tube frame assembly having a head tube in which the lower end of the steering column is rotatably received and a frame assembly coupled to a front end of the footboard, a front ball bearing wheel rotatably mounted to the front fork, a rear ball bearing wheel rotatably mounted to a rear fork provided at a rear end of the footboard, two parallel arms having upper ends fixed to the head tube and lower ends pivotally coupled to a pivot pin provided on an upper surface of the footboard at the front end thereof, a tubular casing adapted to receive the two arms therethrough, two opposite projections being formed on two opposite outer walls of the tubular casing respectively, a spring having an upper end connected to the upper ends of the arms and a lower end connected to a lower end of the tubular casing, and two vertical walls formed on an upper surface of the footboard at the front end thereof. The two vertical walls may have two upper curved edges formed thereon with two opposite front slots and two opposite rear slots respectively, whereby the two arms can be moved from an unfolded and locked position where the two opposite projections are inserted and biased by the spring into the two opposite front slots respectively, and whereby pulling the tubular casing against the biasing force of the spring releases the two opposite projections from the two opposite front slots and allows the two arms to pivot about the pivot pin from the unfolded position, towards the footboard and to a folded and locked position where the two projections are inserted and biased by the spring into the two opposite rear slots respectively.

Each of the front and rear ball bearing rings may include an outer ring having an annular raceway formed on an inner surface thereof, and an inner ring having an annular raceway formed on an outer surface thereof. The annular raceways can be facing each other and defining an annular space. A plurality of bearing balls can be rotatably disposed around the annular space, and a ball-separating ring can be formed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart ball-retaining pockets for retaining therein the plurality of bearing balls respectively.

In one embodiment, the front fork may include two downwardly extending prongs, and the lower ends of the two prongs can be connected to two opposite sides of a lowermost portion of the inner ring respectively. The front fork may include two semi-circular-shaped prongs extending along two opposite sides of the outer and inner rings of the ball bearing wheel.

In one embodiment, each ball-retaining pocket may be generally Ω-shaped. The outer ring may include an outer ground-engaging ring portion and an inner ball-engaging ring portion formed on an inner surface of the outer ground-engaging ring portion.

Although the scooter disclosed in the present application is shown and described with respect to certain embodiments, it is obvious that equivalents and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of the specification. The present application includes all such equivalents and modifications, and is limited only by the scope of the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to a preferred embodiment of the scooter disclosed in the present application, examples of which are also provided in the following description. Exemplary embodiments of the scooter disclosed in the present application are described in detail, although it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that some features that are not particularly important to an understanding of the scooter may not be shown for the sake of clarity.

Furthermore, it should be understood that the scooter disclosed in the present application is not limited to the precise embodiments described below and that various changes and modifications thereof may be effected by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the appended claims. For example, elements and/or features of different illustrative embodiments may be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other within the scope of this disclosure and appended claims.

It should be noted that throughout the specification and claims herein, when one element is said to be “coupled” or “connected” to another, this does not necessarily mean that one element is fastened, secured, or otherwise attached to another element. Instead, the term “coupled” or “connected” means that one element is either connected directly or indirectly to another element, or is in mechanical or electrical communication with another element.

Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “front”, “rear”, “upper”, “lower”, “upward”, and “downward” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The terminology includes the words noted above as well as derivatives thereof and words of similar import.

FIG. 1is a perspective view of a scooter according to an embodiment of the present application. The scooter may include a platform or footboard9on which a rider can stand. The footboard9has a front end91and a rear end92. The scooter may include a steering column4having an upper end and a lower end.

The upper end of the steering column4may be connected to a T-tube1having a horizontal tube portion and a downwardly depending portion. A horizontal handlebar2can be fixedly received in the horizontal tube portion of the T-tube1. Two handles3can be fixedly coupled to the two opposite ends of the handlebar2.

The lower end of the steering column4can be connected to a front fork5. A head-tube frame assembly6,8,16may include a head tube16in which the lower end of the steering column4can be rotatably received and a frame assembly6,8coupled to the front end91of the footboard9. A front ball bearing wheel12can be rotatably mounted to the front fork5. The front fork5may have two downwardly extending prongs51. The two prongs51of the front fork5may be generally semi-circular in shape, and extending along two opposite sides of the front ball bearing wheel12. The two prongs51of the front fork5can serve as wheel covers for protecting the ball bearing wheel12and preventing a rider from accidentally touching the ball bearing wheel12during a ride. Furthermore, the two semi-circular prongs51can allow a central opening of the ball bearing wheel12to remain open without any obstruction.

A rear ball bearing wheel12′ can be rotatably mounted to a rear fork11provided at the rear end92of the footboard9. A cover or fender10may be provided at the rear end92of the footboard9. The fender10may serve as a cover for the rear ball bearing wheel12′ as well as a braking device of the scooter. The fender10can be adapted to make contact with the rear ball bearing wheel12′ when the fender10is stepped down by a foot of the rider. When the fender10is stepped down and touches the rear ball bearing wheel12′, the friction between the fender10and the rear ball bearing wheel12′ causes the scooter to slow down and stop.

Although it has been shown and described that the scooter has two wheels, it is understood that the scooter may have two or more wheels. The detailed structures of the front and rear ball bearing wheels12,12′ will be described below.

FIGS. 2a,2band2cshow different views of the front and rear ball bearing wheels12,12′ of the scooter according to an embodiment of the present application. The structures of the front and rear ball bearing wheels12,12′ can be substantially the same.

The ball bearing wheel12,12′ may include an outer ring21having an annular raceway R1formed on an inner surface thereof, and an inner ring22having an annular raceway R2formed on an outer surface thereof. The annular raceway R2of the inner ring22can be facing the annular raceway R1of the outer ring21, and defining an annular space28thereinbetween.

A plurality of bearing balls24can be rotatably disposed around the annular space28. A ball-separating ring25may be formed with a plurality of ball-retaining pockets27for retaining therein the plurality of bearing balls24respectively. The ball-retaining pockets27may be equidistantly and circumferentially arranged along the ball-separating ring25. The plurality of bearing balls24may be made of steel or any other suitable material. The two prongs51of the front fork5may extend along the two opposite sides of the outer and inner rings21,22of the front ball bearing wheel12.

FIGS. 3a,3band3cshow different views of the outer ring21of the front and rear ball bearing wheels12,12′ according to an embodiment of the present application.

The outer ring21may be formed of an outer ground-engaging ring portion21aand an inner ball-engaging ring portion21b. The outer ground-engaging ring portion21acan have a surface adapted to contact the ground when the scooter is moving thereon. The outer ground-engaging ring portion21amay be made of polyurethane (PU) or any other suitable elastic material. The inner ball-engaging ring portion21bis formed with the annular raceway R1which can be configured to engage with the plurality of bearing balls24. The inner ball-engaging ring portion21bmay be made of acrylonitride butadiene styrene (ABS) or any other suitable hard material. The outer ground-engaging ring portion21aand the inner ball-engaging ring portion21bcan be molded in one single piece.

FIGS. 4a,4band4cshow different views of the inner ring22of the front and rear ball bearing wheels12,12′ according to an embodiment of the present application.

The inner ring22with the annular raceway R2formed thereon can be configured to engage with the plurality of bearings balls24. The inner ring22may also be made of ABS or any other suitable hard material.

It can be seen inFIG. 1that the two lower ends of the two prongs51of the front fork5can be fixedly connected to two opposite sides of a lowermost portion of the inner ring22close to the ground respectively. According to the illustrated embodiment, the inner surface of the lowermost portion of the inner ring22can be formed with a radially inwardly extended portion222. The extended portion222may be formed with two transverse through holes223. Two sets of bolts and nuts224can be used to fasten the lower ends of the two prongs51to the extended portion222of the inner ring22through the two transverse through holes223. The connection of the front fork5at the lowermost portion of the inner ring22close to the ground can make steering of the front ball bearing wheel12easier and riding on the scooter steadier.

FIG. 5illustrates the assembled outer and inner rings21,22of the ball bearing wheels12,12′. When the outer and inner rings21,22are assembled together, the annular raceway R2of the inner ring22can be facing the annular raceway R1of the outer ring21, and defining the annular space28for receiving therein the plurality of bearing balls24.

FIGS. 6a,6band6cshow different views of an annular shield23of the ball bearing wheels12,12′ according to an embodiment of the present application. The annular shield23may have a plurality of screw holes231formed thereon. According to the illustrated embodiment, there can be three screw holes231formed on the annular shield23. The annular shield23can be fastened on one side of the inner ring22by driving screws26through the screw holes231and into corresponding internally threaded portions221of the inner ring22.

FIGS. 7a,7band7cshow different views of the ball-separating ring25of the ball bearing wheels12,12′ according to an embodiment of the present application. The ball-separating ring25may be formed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart ball-retaining pockets27for retaining therein the plurality of bearing balls24respectively. According to the illustrated embodiment, there may be six ball-retaining pockets27formed on the ball-separating ring25, though it can have more or less than six ball-retaining pockets27. Each ball-retaining pocket27may have a generally Ω-shape.

FIG. 8illustrates the positioning of six bearing balls24on the ball-separating ring25ofFIG. 7a. It can be seen that each bearing ball24can be retained in the Ω-shaped ball-retaining pocket27formed on the ball-separating frame25.

FIG. 9is a cross sectional view of a fully assembled ball bearing wheel12,12′. As best illustrated in this figure, the annular shield23can cover one side of the annular space28between the outer and inner rings21,22of the ball bearing wheel12,12′. By means of the plurality of bearing balls24, the outer ring21can rotate relative to the inner ring22.

The scooter of the present application may further include a folding mechanism in the head-tube frame assembly6,8,16for folding up the scooter. According to the illustrated embodiment inFIG. 1, the head-tube frame assembly6,8,16(partially exploded) may have two parallel arms6having two upper ends fixed to the head tube16and two lower ends pivotally coupled to a pivot pin81provided on an upper surface of the footboard9at the front end91thereof. The two arms6can be received in a tubular casing8. The tubular casing8may have a rectangular cross section. Two opposite projections82can be formed on two opposite outer walls of the tubular casing8respectively. A spring7can an upper end connected to the upper ends of the arms6, and a lower end connected to a lower end of the tubular casing8.

Two vertical walls83can be formed on an upper surface of the footboard9at the front end91thereof. The two vertical walls83may have two upper curved edges84formed thereon with two opposite front slots85and two opposite rear slots86respectively.

By means of the folding mechanism, the two arms6of the head tube16can be moved from an unfolded and locked position where the two opposite projections82are inserted and biased by the spring7into the two opposite front slots85of the two vertical walls83respectively. Pulling the tubular casing8against the biasing force of the spring7can release the two opposite projections82from the two opposite front slots85respectively allowing the two arms6to pivot about the pivot pin81from the unfolded position towards the footboard9to a folded and locked position where the two opposite projections82can be inserted and biased by the spring7into the two opposite rear slots86of the two vertical wall83respectively. This folding mechanism serves to fold the steering column4together with the handlebar2, the front fork5and the front ball bearing wheel12from the unfolded position to a folded position where the steering column4is disposed generally parallel to the footboard9for easy carrying and storage.

To begin a ride, a rider places one foot on the footboard9and uses the other foot to push off the scooter. Since the inner ring22is fixedly connected to the steering column4and the front fork5, the inner ring22is stationary relative to the steering column4and the front fork5. When the scooter is pushed forwards, the inner ring22moves forwards thereby driving the outer ring21and the plurality of balls24to rotate. When the outer ring21rotates, the scooter can then moves forwards.

Without the central wheel axle and wheel hub of a conventional wheel, the scooter with the ball bearing wheels12,12′ of the present application can have an unconventional outer appearance. Each ball bearing wheel12,12′ has a central bore defined by the inner ring22. The front and rear ball bearing wheels12,12′ of the present application can give a scooter a new and unique look that can make the scooter more fun to play with by kids. Since there are no rotating axle, hub and spokes and less exposing moving parts as in a conventional wheel, the scooter of the present application is safer to play with. Furthermore, the scooter of the present application is simple in construction and low in manufacturing cost.

While the scooter disclosed in the present application has been shown and described with particular references to a number of preferred embodiments thereof, it should be noted that various other changes or modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appending claims.