Abstract:
A structure of a foot propelled scooter is described. Because foot propelled scooter is put into motion by using foot oscillation, thus creating an effect of exercise and frolic to the rider. The foot propelled scooter has a steering handle which is operatively coupled to a set of front wheels, the steering handle is rotatable in a steering column, a retractable bar is pivotally attached to the steering column, an adjustable rear bar is adjustably and pivotally attached to the retractable bar, a foot frame having a set of wheels disposed underneath is pivotally mounted on each end part of the adjustable rear bar. A foot brake controllable by a foot is mounted on retractable bar. The rider swings both feet alternately in a forward and a backward direction to make a pushing contact to put the scooter into forward motion.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Filed of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to foot-board vehicle. More particularly to a foot propelled scooter. The foot propelled scooter of the present invention is inherently stable and highly safe, and is easy to operate. The foot propelled scooter of the present invention provides exercise and recreation to the rider, therefore, it is suitable for both adults and children. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Exercising and playing recreational games has become very important part of our life to keep fit and healthy. The use of foot-board scooter is one of the most popular game among both adults and children because the foot-board scooter provides both good exercise and frolic to both adults and children. The foot-board scooter has also become a new fashion exercise or game, and widely accepted as favorable leisure sport for both adults and children. To operate the conventional foot-board scooter, a rider grasps the bar handle with both hands, rests one leg on the board of scooter and uses the other foot to make a pushing contact with the road surface repeatedly in order to propel the scooter in the forward direction. When the rider wishes to slow down or stop, the rider either stops pushing the scooter with one of the legs allowing the scooter to slow down and come to stop by itself or engages the skid brake which is disposed behind the hind wheel with the ground to slow down or stop the scooter. However, there are several drawbacks from using the conventional foot-board scooters, such as:
         1. The rider has to use one of the legs to tread the ground repeatedly in order to keep the scooter moving in the forward direction. After traveling for a while, doing the pushing and trending action repeated over and over again to move the scooter in the forward direction would easily exhaust the rider in a short time, thus riding a foot-board scooter cannot be fun over a longer period of time.   2. The standing board of the conventional scooter has wheels on both front and back ends, and the space for the rider to rest the leg is too narrow, thus when the rider puts both the legs on the board can easily cause the scooter unstable due body oscillation causing the rider to lose balance and fall. Therefore the conventional scooter is inherently unstable and unsafe for the rider.   3. The brake of conventional scooters is located behind the hind wheel, and since the space on the board for the rider to stand on is very limited, therefore, attempt to apply the brake using the leg can easily throw the rider out of balance due to body oscillation. In this regard the conventional scooter less safe and dangerous.       

     As mentioned above, the conventional scooters have several defects due to its structural design as a whole. Thus there are several limitations, inconvenience and safety concerns while using the conventional scooters. Therefore, the need to create an improved foot-board scooter for overcoming the above defeats and produce a safe and recreational scooter is highly desirable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, in the view of the foregoing, the present inventor makes a detailed study of the related art to evaluate and consider, and uses years of accumulated experience in this field, and through several experiments, creates the foot-propelled scooter of the present invention. Thus the present inventor provides an inherently stable and safer scooter. The foot-propelled scooter of the present invention allows the rider to have adequate space for resting both the legs, thus the problem of loosing balance due to body oscillation can be effectively eliminated. The foot-propelled scooter of the present invention also allows the rider to move the scooter in the forward direction by moving the foot frame alternately in a forward and backward direction, thus the need for the rider to use one of the legs to push or tread the surface of the road in order to move the scooter can be effectively eliminated. Therefore the rider can enjoy and exercise for a longer duration of time. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, a foot frame comprising an operative propelling mechanism is to used for moving the foot-propelled scooter. According to another aspect of the present invention, front wheels of the scooter positioned along a central axis in between the two foot frames, with each of the foot frames having a pair of wheels underneath. This design would provide a rider with an adequate space for resting each leg on each foot frame therefore the rider can gain fine balance allowing the rider to easily maneuver and propel the scooter and travel at a much faster speed. Thus present invention provides an inherently stable, safe and energy saving scooter. 
     According another aspect of the present invention, the foot-propelled scooter comprises a retractable bar is pivotally and retractably connected to the main frame plate of the steering column. The length of the retractable bar can be adjusted suiting rider&#39;s needs, such as rider&#39;s figure size. Thus the length of the retractable bar can be adjusted to suit almost every rider&#39;s figure and size. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a central area of an adjustable rear bar is pivotally connected to a distal section of the retractable bar allowing the adjustable rear bar to move forward and backward along the pivotal axis. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a foot frame having a pair of movable wheels underneath is pivotally connected to each end of the adjustable rear bar. In operation, the rider rests a foot in each of the foot frames and by swinging the legs in a forward and backward motion can easily propel the scooter in the forward direction. Further, this design also allows the rider to relax with the foot frames at a fixed position whenever needed. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, the front wheels are engageable by a brake which is controllable by a hand lever is mounted on one of the hand bar. The lever is operatively coupled to the brake by a cable. This allows rider to control the speed and to stop the foot propelled scooter whenever desired. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a foot brake is mounted on the retractable bar. This also allows rider to control the speed and to stop the foot propelled scooter whenever desired. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, because the retractable bar is pivotally and retractably connected to the main frame plate of the steering column, and because the rear bar is pivotally mounted on the retractable bar, therefore the foot propelled scooter of the present invention can be easily folded by retracting the retractable bar together with the adjustable rear bar and the foot frames against the steering column. Thus a smaller space is required to put away and store the foot propelled scooter of the present invention. 
     It is understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, but are not restrictive of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention is best understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing. Included in the drawing are the following figures: 
         FIG. 1  is an elevational view of an foot propelled scooter according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the foot propelled scooter according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the foot propelled scooter according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the foot propelled scooter showing the oscillatory motion of the foot frame to put the scooter in forward motion, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the foot propelled scooter showing the retraction of the foot propelled scooter for storage when not in use, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. 
     For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference will now be made to the following detailed description of preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  a foot propelled scooter  1  present invention is shown comprising a steering handle  11 , a retractable bar  12 , an adjustable rear bar  13 , a pair of foot frame  2  for propelling mechanism, a foot brake  4 , and a cable brake  3 . 
     The steering handle  11  comprises a hand bar  111  on each end of the steering handle  11 , a shaft  112  disposed in a center position with respect to the hand bars  111 , the shaft  112  is adjustably coupled with a steering post  1133  using a clamp  113 , a pair of clamp plates  1131  are located at the extended ends of the clamp  113  enabling to adjustably and securely fixing the shaft  112  position over the steering post  1133  by wing a fastener  1132 . The clamp  113  allows a distal portion of the shaft  112  to extend up and down within the clamp  113 , therefore this design allows adjusting the height of the steering handle  11  by moving the shaft  112  up and down and then securely fixing the shaft  112  into position over the upper end of the steering post  1133  by using the fastener  1132 . The steering post  1133  is rotatable within a steering column  114 . The lower end of the steering post  1133  comprises a steering plate  1134 . The lower end of the steering column  114  comprises a wheel frame  1141 . One end of a first directional element  1142  is pivotally connected to a first end of the wheel frame  1141  using a fastener  1148 , and one end of a second directional element  1143  is pivotally connected to a second end of the wheel frame  1141  using a fastener  1148 . The wheels  1144 ,  1145  are secured on the outer side of each directional element  1142 ,  1143 . One end of a first directional arm  1146  is pivotally connected to a first end of the steering plate  1134  and the other end of the first directional arm  1146  is pivotally connected to the other end of the first directional element  1142 , and one end of a second directional arm  1147  is pivotally connected to a second end of the steering plate  1134  and the other end of the second directional arm  1147  is pivotally connected to the other end of the second directional element  1143 . Thus enabling the shaft  112 , steering post  1133  and the steering plate  1134  to engage with the wheels  1144 .  1145 . Therefore the direction of the wheels  1144 ,  1145  motion can be controlled by controlling the steering handle  11 . The steering column  114  further comprises a pair of retraction plates  115  disposed behind the steering plate  1134 . The retraction plates  115  comprise an aperture  1151  and a retraction slit  1152 . 
     The retractable bar  12  is pivotally connected to the retraction plates  115  of the steering column  114  in a such a manner that a frontal end of the retractable bar  12  is placed in between the retraction plates  115  and pivotally connected to the retraction plates  115  by inserting a fastener  1153  into the aperture  1151  of the retraction plates  115  and through the aperture  124  of the retractable bar  12  and securing the fastener  1153 . Further the position of the retractable bar  12  can be fixed by using a faster  1154  on the retractable bar  12  and fixing it against the retraction adjustable slit  1152 . The retractable bar  12  further comprises a frontal bar  121  and a distal bar  122 , wherein a portion of the frontal bar  121  can be slided within the distal bar  122 . A plurality of threaded apertures  1221  are disposed on the frontal bar  121  and distal end bar  122 . The length of the retractable bar  12  can be adjusted by positioning the frontal bar  121  and the distal bar  122  to a desired length and fixing the frontal bar  121  with distal bar  122  by using fasteners  123  through the threaded apertures  1221 . 
     The central bar  131  of the adjustable rear bar  13  is pivotably attached to the retractable bar  12  by using a fastener  1311  through an aperture  125  and securing the connection with a nut  1313 . This design will enable the adjustable rear bar  13  to move axially with respect to the retractable bar  12 . The adjustable rear bar  13  further comprises a central bar  131  left distal bar  132  and a right distal bar  133 . A portion of the central bar  131  can slide within the left and right distal bars  132 ,  133 . A plurality of threaded apertures  1312  are disposed on the central bar  131  and a plurality of threaded apertures  1321  are disposed on the left distal bar  132  and a plurality of threaded apertures  1331  are disposed on the right distal bar  133  of the adjustable rear bar  13 . The length of the adjustable bar  13  can be adjusted by positioning the left and right distal bars  132  and  133  to a desired length and then fixing the left and right distal bars  132  and  133  to the central bar  131  by using fastener  134  through one of the threaded apertures  1321  on the left distal bar  132  and through one of the threaded apertures  1331  on the right distal bar  133 . 
     Each foot frame  2  is pivotally attached to each end of the adjustable rear bar  13 . The distance between the foot frames  2  can be adjusted to a desired range according to the rider&#39;s figure and size by adjusting the adjustable rear bar  13 . Each foot frame  2  comprises a base plate  21 , resilient elements  22 , a base plate  23 , and a pair of wheels  211  beneath the base plate  21  (the wheels  211  may be one or more than one), and the direction of the wheels  211  can be changed freely. Each of the foot frame  2  is pivotally attached to a end part of the left and right distal bars  132 ,  133  by passing an axle  212  which is located on the lower surface of the base plate  21  through the threaded aperture  1321  of the left distal bar  132  (and through the threaded aperture  1331  of the right distal bar  133 ) and then pivotally fixing the axis  212  with the left and right distal bars  132 ,  133 , by using a nut  2121 . The upper surface of the base plate  21  comprises a foot plate holder  213  at one end, and the resilient base plate  214  at the other end. One end of the resilient element  22  is fixed onto the upper surface of the resilient base plate  214 , and the other end is fixed to a lower surface at a distal portion of a bracket  232 . At a lower surface and in a frontal end of the foot-plate  23  there is a bracket holder  231 . A bracket  232  is pivotally attached to the bracket holder  231  by passing an axle  2311  through the apertures of the bracket  232 , the bracket holder  231  and the foot plate holder  213  as shown in the FIG.  2 . This would enable the foot plate  23  operationally for fixing the foot of the rider at the frontal end of the base plate  21 . 
     The front wheels  1144 ,  1145 , are engageable by a brake which is controllable by a hand lever  31 . The hand lever  31  is mounted on one of the hand bar  111  of the steering bar  11  through a cable brake  3 . The hand lever  31  is operatively coupled to the cable brake  3 , and the brake by a cable  32 . The cable  32  is extended from the hand lever  31  downwardly along the steering handle  11  to the frontal wheels  1144 ,  1145  and connecting with the brake  3 . This allows the rider to control the speed and stop the foot propelled scooter  1  whenever the rider desires. 
     The foot brake  4  is operatively mounted on the retractable bar  12 . The foot brake  4  comprises a brake pad  44 , which will engage with the surface of the road when the rider steps on a plunger  41  of the foot brake  4 . The brake pad  44  is attached at a lower end surface of a shaft  42  which extents from the lower surface of the plunger  41 . The shaft  42  passes through a resilient element  43 , which resilient element  43  is positioned between an upper surface of the retractable bar  12  and the bottom surface of the plunger  41 . The function of the resilient element  43  is position the brake pad  44  away from the surface of the road and not to engage with the surface of the road when the rider does not step on the plunger  41 . The foot brake  4  also allows rider to control the speed and to stop the foot propelled scooter  1  whenever the rider desires. 
     To operate the foot propelled scooter  1  of the present invention, the rider uses both hands to hold the hand bars  111  of the steering handle  11 , and puts one leg separately onto the feet plate  23  of the foot frame  2  located on two ends of the adjustable rear bar  13 , the front part of rider&#39;s foot will fit into the arch-shaped bracket  232  of foot plate  23 . Thus the rider&#39;s feet can be held onto the foot plate  23  and at the same time the foot makes a contact with the foot plate  23  can be secured for facilitating the rider to operate the foot frame  2  in order to move the foot propelled scooter  1  in the forward direction. The rider moves both legs alternatively forward and backward direction to make the pushing contact with the surface of the road to initiate movement of the foot propelled scooter  1  (as the  FIG. 4  shows), in order to put the foot propelled scooter  1  into action and move forward. While in motion, the rider can grasp the hand lever  31  of the brake  3  which located on one of the hand bar  111  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) to slow down or stop the foot propelled scooter  1 . Alternatively, the rider may use one foot to step on and press down the plunger  41  of the foot brake  4  to engage the brake pad  44  with the surface of the road, thus generating a resistance force due to the friction between the brake pad  44  and the road surface to slow down or stop the foot propelled scooter  1 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 1 and 2 , as it can be clearly seen that the length of the retractable bar  12  can be adjusted from front to the back and the length of the adjustable rear bar  13  can be adjusted from the right to the left as desired to suit the figure and size of the rider. To the extent, the rider may release the fastener  123  of the retractable bar  12  of the foot propelled scooter  1 , then change the position of the frontal bar  121  and distal end bar  122  (by extended outwardly or shrinking inwardly), and then fasten fastener  123  into the appropriate threaded aperture  1211  of the frontal bar  121  and the appropriate threaded aperture  1221  of the distal end bar  122  when the position of both bars creates the rider&#39;s desired length. Further, the rider may also release the adjustable rear bar  13  from the retractable bar  12  to adjust the distance of the adjustable rear bar  13  from the steering wheel  11 . Furthermore, the rider may also release the fastener  134  of the left and right distal bars  132 ,  133 , of the adjustable rear bar  13  to adjust the distance of the foot frames  2  suiting the rider&#39;s figure and size. To the extent, the length of the adjustable rear bar  13  can be adjusted by adjusting the position of the left distal bar  132  from the central bar  131  and the similarly by adjusting the position of the right distal bar  133  from the central bar  131  and then fastening the fastener  134  into the appropriate threaded aperture  1321  of the left distal bar  132  and the appropriate threaded aperture  1331  of the right distal bar  133 . Thus the length of the retractable bar  12  can be adjusted from front to the back and the length of the adjustable rear bar  13  of the foot propelled scooter  1  can be adjusted from the right to the left as desired to suit the figure and size of the rider. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , shows a side view of the foot propelled scooter  1  showing how the foot propelled scooter  1  of the present invention can be folded for storage. The rider can loosen the fastener  1154  on the retraction slit  1152  of the retraction plates  115 , then push the retractable bar  12  together with the adjustable rear bar  13  and the foot frames  2  against the side of the steering handle  11 . The retractable bar  12  is retracted by rotation through the axis  1151  and meanwhile the fastener  1154  in the retraction slit  1152  will be pushed up to the upper end position of the retraction slit  1152 . Then fastener  1154  in the upper end position is secured in order to secure the retractable bar  12  onto the side of the control handle  11 , thus the space required for storing the foot propelled scooter  1  can be substantially reduced and thus can be stored more conveniently. 
     While the invention has been described in conjunction with a specific best mode, it is to be understood that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the a foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations which fall within the spirit and scope of the included claims. All matters set forth herein or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted in an illustrative and non-limiting sense.