Abstract:
A device is designed to secure the front tube of the handlebar of a foldable scooter and is formed of a shaft rod, two clamping members, a wrenching rod, a lashing collar, and a stop nut. The device is pivotally fastened between the front tube of the handlebar and the folding mechanism of the foldable scooter. The clamping members are actuated by the wrenching rod to hold and push a press member of the shaft rod to press against the front tube, so as to prevent the handlebar of the scooter from swaying at the time when the scooter is in motion.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a scooter, and more particularly to a front tube pressing device of the scoter to prevent the handlebar of the scooter from swaying. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in FIG. 1, a prior art scooter  1  comprises a folding mechanism  50  which is pivotally disposed between a front tube  32  of a handlebar  30  and a footboard  93 . The handlebar  30  is apt to sway at the time when the scooter  90  is in operation. In order to provide a remedial measure, two upright plates  51  and  52  of the folding mechanism  50  are connected at the front end with a connection piece  95  which is provided with a threaded hole  96  and a fastening bolt  97  engaging the threaded hole  96 . The tail end of the fastening bolt  97  presses against the front tube  32  of the handlebar  30  so as to prevent the handlebar  30  from swaying, as shown in FIG.  2 . Such a remedial measure as described above is defective in design in that the fastening bolt  97  must be fastened securely each time when the scooter  90  is in operation, and that the frequent action of fastening the fastening bolt  97  often results in the wear of the threaded hole  96  and the fastening bolt  97 , and further that the rotation of the fastening bolt  97  causes the wear of the surface of the front tube  32  by mechanical friction. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a scooter with a front tube pressing device which is easy to use to stabilize the front tube and the folding mechanism. 
     It is another objective of the present invention to provide a scooter front tube pressing device which does not undermine the external appearance of the scooter. 
     The pressing device of the present invention comprises a shaft rod, two clamping members, one wrenching rod, one lashing collar, and a nut. The device of the present invention is pivotally fastened between a scooter front tube and a folding mechanism of the scooter. In operation, the wrenching rod is kept in the fastening state such that the two clamping members of the pressing device hold and push the press member of the shaft rod of the device toward the front tube of the scooter. As a result, the front tube of the scooter is securely pressed against by the press member, so as to prevent the handlebar of the scooter from swaying at such time when the scooter is in operation. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a scooter front tube pressing device of the prior art. 
     FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the prior art scooter front tube pressing device in combination. 
     FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 shows a sectional schematic view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention before action. 
     FIG. 6 shows a sectional schematic view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention after action. 
     FIG. 7 shows a sectional view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 shows a sectional view of a third preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a scooter front tube pressing device  20  of the present invention is pivotally fastened with two through holes  53  and  54  of two upright plates  51  and  52  of a folding mechanism  50  of a scooter  90 . The folding mechanism  50  is fastened with the front end of a footboard  93  which is provided with a rear wheel  98 , and a front wheel  99 . A handlebar  30  is pivoted to the front end of the footboard  93  and is provided with a grip  31  and a front tube  32  connected with the folding mechanism  50 . 
     The pressing device  20  comprises the following components. 
     A shaft rod  40  is put through the through holes  53  and  54  of the folding mechanism  50  and is provided at one end with a first outer threaded portion  41 , and at other end with a second outer threaded portion  42 . 
     A press member  60  is provided axially with a through hole  61  for fitting the midsection of the shaft rod  40 , and in the outer edge with a flat rest portion  62  for pressing against the front tube  32 . The press member  60  is further provided with a first press surface  63  and a second press surface  64 . The first press surface  63  and the axial direction of the press member  60  form an angle smaller than 90 degrees. The second press surface  64  and the axial direction of the press member  60  form an angle greater than 90 degrees. 
     A first clamping member  70  is provided with an axial hole  74  for fitting the shaft rod  40 . The first clamping member  70  has a press surface  75  contiguous to the press member  60  and in contact with the first press surface  63  of the press member  60 . The first clamping member  70  is provided on its other side with a head end  76  which is greater in diameter than the through holes  53  and  54  of the folding mechanism  50  and is provided with a recess  77 . 
     A second clamping member  80  is fitted over the shaft rod  40  and is located at the side of the press member  60  opposite the press surface  63 . The second clamping member  80  is provided with a press surface  82  contiguous to the press member  60  and in contact with the second press surface  64  of the press member  60 . The second clamping member  80  is provided with a receiving space  83 . 
     A wrenching rod  43  is provided with a lashing head end  432  which is in turn provided with an eccentric axial hole  431  for accommodating a pivoting element  44  by means of which the wrenching rod  43  is fastened with the outer threaded portion  41  of the shaft rod  40 . 
     A lashing collar  71  of a plastic or rubber material is provided at the center with a round hole  711 . The lashing collar  71  is fitted over the shaft rod  40  and is located at one side of the lashing head end  432  of the wrenching rod  43 . 
     A stop nut  81  is provided at one end with a threaded portion  811  which is engaged with the second outer threaded portion  42  of the shaft rod  40 . The stop nut  81  is received in the receiving space  83  of the second clamping member  80  and is provided at other end with a stop portion  812  greater in diameter than the through holes  53  and  54  of the folding mechanism  50 . 
     In combination, the first outer threaded portion  41  of the shaft rod  40  is fastened with the wrenching rod  43  of the pivoting element  44  and is then fitted with the lashing collar  71   1 . The first clamping member  70  is fitted with the shaft rod  40  such that the lashing collar  711  is located in the recess  77  of the first clamping member  70  and is put through the through hole  53  of the upright plate. The head end  76  of the first clamping member presses against the upright plate. The press member  60  and the second clamping member  80  are fitted with the shaft rod  40  such that the press surface  75  of the first clamping member  70  is in contact with the first press surface  63  of the press member  60 , and that the press surface  82  of the second clamping member is in contact with the second press surface  64  of the press member  60 . The shaft rod  40  is put through the through hole  54  of the upright plate  52 . Finally, the stop nut  81  is engaged with the second outer threaded portion  42  of the shaft rod  40  such that the threaded portion  811  of the stop nut  81  is disposed in the receiving space  83  of the second clamping member  80 , and that the stop portion  812  of the stop nut  81  is pressed against the upright plate of the folding mechanism  50 . The fastening device  20  is thus mounted on the scooter  90 , as shown in FIG.  4 . 
     In operation, the wrenching rod  43  is turned on the pivoting element  44  such that the lashing collar  71  is pressed against by the nonuniform diametrical edges of the axial hole  431  of the wrenching rod  43 , and that various components mounted on the shaft rod  40  are pressed together, and further that the press member  60  is pressed and pushed by the first clamping member  70  and that second clamping member  80  toward the front tube  32  of the scooter  90 . The front tube  32  is secured in place by the press portion  62  of the press member  60 , so as to prevent the handlebar  30  of the scooter  90  from swaying, as shown in FIG.  5 . 
     The pressing device  20  is inactivated by wrenching the wrenching rod  25  to set the lashing collar  26  free from the pressure of the nonuniform diametrical edges of the axial hole  431  of the wrenching rod  43 , as shown in FIG.  6 . 
     As shown in FIG. 7, the second preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a shaft rod  211  which is provided with a head end  213  greater in diameter than the through holes  53  and  54  of the folding mechanism  50 . The head end  213  is intended to press against the outer side edge of the second through hole  54  of the folding mechanism  50  at the time when the wrenching rod  43  is in action, thereby resulting in the effect of the stop nut  81  of the first preferred embodiment. 
     As shown in FIG. 8, a pressing device  22  of the third preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises only one clamping member  221  and one press member  222  for securing the front tube  32 . As the wrenching rod  223  is wrenched, the press member  222  and the clamping member  221  push against each other such that the press member  222  displaces in the direction toward the front tube  32 , and that the front tube  32  is pressed against by the press member  22 . The handlebar  32  of the scooter is thus prevented from swaying.