Abstract:
A wheelie scooter which utilizes an auxiliary wheel assembly mounted aft of the rear wheel of the scooter with the rear wheel in a first position. The auxiliary wheel assembly is adjustable to vary the distance of the auxiliary wheel of the auxiliary wheel assembly from the surface on which the scooter is being operated to thereby provide different levels of skill to riders of the scooter when performing of a stunt maneuver known as a wheelie. The rear wheel of the scooter can be adjusted to a second position where the scooter operates as a normal scooter and not as a wheelie scooter.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    This invention relates to a scooter and more particularly to a scooter that has been designed to include an auxiliary wheel assembly which can be usable by a rider in performing of a stunt maneuver which is known as a wheelie.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    In the past, there has been a stunt maneuver that is known as a wheelie utilized in conjunction with bicycles, motorcycles, tricycles and scooters. A wheelie is defined as a stunt maneuver in which a front wheel of a two wheeled vehicle is raised off the surface on which the vehicle is located with the vehicle to be supported solely by the rear wheel as the vehicle continues to maneuver. Youthful riders of such vehicles commonly seek to emulate such a stunt. Such stunts are exceedingly common in conjunction with skateboards.  
           [0005]    In recent years, there has been a new type of vehicle that is being marketed which is actually a new form of an old vehicle and is called a scooter. The present day scooters are exceedingly light weight, utilize exceedingly small wheels resembling skateboard wheels. Within the past few years, there has been developed a further progression of such a vehicle where the scooter is motorized. Youthful riders are starting to perform “wheelies” in conjunction with these motorized scooters. A problem encountered when youthful riders are attempting to perform a wheelie in conjunction with a motorized scooter is the youthful rider has a tendency to topple sideways or fall over backwards as a result of inexperience or lack of riding ability. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an auxiliary wheel assembly in conjunction with the scooter that provides an extra wheel to contact the surface with this extra wheel being located aft of the rear wheel of the scooter. The use of the auxiliary wheel assembly will function to prevent or at least minimize the possibility of over rotation or falling over sideways of the user and thus increase the safety and stability of the user in performing a wheelie.  
           [0006]    A desirable type of auxiliary wheel assembly could be what is conventionally known as a skateboard truck. A skateboard truck takes the form of a pair of wheels with a mounting frame located between the wheels. This mounting frame is connected through a shock absorber assembly to a mounting bracket. The mounting bracket is typically mounted onto the body of a skateboard. By the user&#39;s shifting of one&#39;s weight when riding the skateboard, the mounting bracket can move relative to the mounting frame about the shock absorber. By the user shifting one&#39;s weight, the skateboard can be maneuvered to proceed in different directions. It has been found to be particularly desirable to use a skateboard truck as the auxiliary wheel assembly within the present invention.  
           [0007]    In the past, scooters that have been designed to perform wheelies have a short wheel base and are inherently more difficult to operate because of this short wheel base than a conventional scooter. A conventional scooter has a longer wheel base. In the past, there have been conventional scooters designed that have the longer wheel base, and there have been wheelie scooters that have been designed that have a shorter wheel base. Prior to the present invention, it has not been known to design a scooter that can be positioned to be in a wheelies mode, and by a simple modification, place the scooter in a conventional operating mode.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The basic embodiment of the present invention comprises a wheelie scooter which utilizes a planar platform mounted between a front wheel and a rear wheel. Connected to the front wheel is a steering post with a handlebar attached at the upper end of the steering post. A motor is connected to the rear wheel and by power supplied by a battery is to affect motor operation of the scooter. There is a platform extension that is connected to the main platform and extends outwardly of the rear wheel. A mounting base is mounted on the platform extension. This mounting base is inclined relative to the surface on which the scooter is being operated when both the front wheel and rear wheel are in contact with the surface. A mounting bracket of an auxiliary wheel assembly is fixedly mounted on the mounting base with this mounting bracket being adjustable to various positions with the auxiliary wheel assembly to be fixedly located in each of the positions. The auxiliary wheel assembly includes an auxiliary wheel which is spaced from the surface when both the front wheel and the rear wheel are resting on the surface. The auxiliary wheel assembly is then to be usable by the user in the performing of a wheelie.  
           [0009]    A further embodiment of the present invention is where the basic invention is modified to where the motor is operated electrically.  
           [0010]    A further embodiment of the present invention comprises where the basic embodiment is modified by the mounting base including a flat surface.  
           [0011]    A still further embodiment of the present invention is where the basic embodiment is modified with the connection between the mounting bracket and mounting base being accomplished by a series of elongated slots with a separate fastener engaging with each elongated slot.  
           [0012]    A further embodiment of the present invention is where the basic embodiment is modified by the auxiliary wheel being smaller than the rear wheel.  
           [0013]    A further embodiment of the present invention is where the basic embodiment is modified by the forward edge of the mounting base being located closer to the surface on which the scooter is located than the rearward edge of the mounting base.  
           [0014]    A further embodiment of the present invention is where the basic embodiment is modified by the rear wheel being adjustable between multiple positions so the scooter can operate as a normal scooter in one position and as a wheelie scooter in another position.  
           [0015]    A further basic embodiment of the present invention comprises a scooter which utilizes the main platform mounted between a front wheel and a rear wheel. The rear wheel is adjustable between multiple positions and fixable to the main platform in each position permitting the scooter to operate as a normal scooter in one position and as a wheelie scooter in another position.  
           [0016]    A further basic embodiment of the present invention is where there is a main platform mounted between a front wheel and a rear wheel. A motor and the rear wheel is mounted on a mounting plate. The mounting plate is mountable in two different positions (a first position and a second position) on the main platform with the first position locating the rear wheel between the motor and the front wheel and the second position locating the motor between the rear wheel and the front wheel. The first position permits the scooter to be operable to perform wheelies and the second position permits the scooter to operate as a normal scooter not able to perform wheelies. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]    For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is to be made to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the precise arrangement shown in the drawings.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the wheelie scooter of the present invention depicting the position of the scooter in phantom when performing a wheelie;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 is a back view of the wheelie scooter of the present invention taken along line  2 - 2  of FIG. 1;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 is a side view of the rear wheel are of the wheelie scooter of the present invention taken along line  3 - 3  of FIG. 2;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the mounting arrangement of the auxiliary wheel assembly of the wheelie scooter of the present invention taken along line  4 - 4  of FIG. 2;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the mounting arrangement for the auxiliary wheel assembly of the wheelie scooter of the present invention taken along line  5 - 5  of FIG. 4;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a modified rear wheel mounting structure of the scooter of the present invention showing the rear wheel in the position for the scooter to perform wheelies;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 7 is a bottom view taken along line  7 - 7  of FIG. 6;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the modified rear wheel mounting structure of the scooter of the present invention showing the rear wheel in the position for conventional scooter operation with the scooter not intended to be used to perform wheelies; and  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 9 is a bottom view taken along line  9 - 9  of FIG. 8. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0027]    The wheelie scooter of the present invention by the utilizing of a motor provides continuous operational power to the rear wheel of the wheelie scooter even when the scooter is in the position of performing a wheelie. By the utilizing of a single rear wheel, the wheelie scooter is able to achieve rapid pivoting or turning while even doing a wheelie.  
         [0028]    Referring particularly to the drawings, there is shown a scooter  10  which has a main platform  12  that connects between a front wheel fork  14  and a rear wheel  16 . Mounted on the front wheel  14  is a front wheel  18 . The front wheel  18  and the rear wheel  16  are designed to roll on a surface  20 . Steering tube  22  connects to the front wheel fork  14 . At the upper free end of the steering tube  22  is a handlebar  24 . Generally, both the front wheel  18  and the rear wheel  16  are of the same size although such is not mandatory.  
         [0029]    Mounted in conjunction with the main platform  12  is a battery compartment  26  which is formed within a battery housing  28 . Mounted within the battery compartment  26  is a battery  30 . Integrally connected to the main platform  12  and extending rearwardly thereof is a platform extension  32 . The platform extension  32  basically comprises a pair of frame members which are located in a bifurcated arrangement with the rear wheel  16  being mounted therebetween and rotatably mounted on the frame members. Platform extension  32  also includes a standing platform  34 . The standing platform  34  is mounted between upstanding supports  36  which are integrally connected to the platform extension  32 . The forward edge of the standing platform  34  is fixedly mounted onto the support surface  38  of the main platform  12 . The user, when operating of the scooter  10 , can either stand on the support surface  38  or the standing platform  34 . The standing platform  34  includes a upwardly flared edge  40  located at the free edge of the standing platform  34 . It is to be understood that the main platform  12 , the platform extension  32  and the standing platform  34  will all be constructed of metallic material such as aluminum or steel.  
         [0030]    Mounted between and to the bifurcated members of the platform extension  32  is a motor  42 . The motor  42  is to be supplied electrical energy by the battery  30 . The motor  42  causes rotation of the rear wheel  16  through a drive belt  44 . It is to be understood that there will be mounted in conjunction with the handlebar  24  an appropriate speed control lever, which is not shown.  
         [0031]    Mounted at the aft edge of the platform extension  32  and in between the bifurcated frame members of the platform extension  32  is a mounting base  46 . The mounting base  46  is planar and is formed integral with the platform extension  32 . It is to be noted that the mounting base  46  is located inclined to the surface  20  with a typical angle of inclination being about twelve degrees.  
         [0032]    An auxiliary wheel assembly  48 , which generally is in the form of a skateboard truck  50 , is mounted on a mounting bracket  52 . The skateboard truck  50  permits turning by the rider shifting his or her weight. The skateboard truck  50  also includes a shock absorber unit  54 . The skateboard truck  50  has mounted thereon a pair of spaced apart wheels  56  and  58 . The wheels  56  and  58  are of the same size and are noticed to be substantially smaller in size than the wheels  16  and  18 . In order to achieve proper operation of the structure of the present invention, the wheels  56  and  58  will always be smaller than the wheels  16  and  18 . The skateboard truck  50  could be mounted on a plate (not shown) which is mounted in a cantilevered manner on the mounting base  46 . This would provide a torsion spring type of mounting with “give” to occur when pressure is applied against the skateboard truck  50  when performing a wheelie. This spring type of action would provide additional excitement to the rider when performing wheelies.  
         [0033]    Formed within the mounting base  46  are four in number of elongated holes  60 . Mounted on the mounting bracket  52  are four in number of bolt type fasteners  62 . A fastener  62  is to connect with a single elongated hole  60 . The longest dimension of the elongated holes  60  is arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis  64  of the scooter  10 . By loosening of the fastener  62 , the mounting bracket  52  can be moved on the mounting base  46  with the result that the wheels  56  and  58  can be moved closer to the surface  20  or further away from the surface  20 . When a desired distance has been achieved, the fasteners  62  are to be tightened fixing in position the auxiliary wheel assembly  48  onto the scooter  10 . It is to be understood that the closer the wheels  56  and  58  are to the surface  20 , the easier it is and the less amount of skill is required in order to produce a wheelie. The wheelie is produced by the rider yanking in an upward direction on the handlebar  24  when the scooter  10  is being propelled by the motor  42 . This will cause the front wheel  18  to be raised from the surface  20 , as is shown in phantom lines in FIG. 1. This raising is to occur sufficiently until the wheels  56  and  58  come into contact with the surface  20 . When the wheels  56  and  58  are mounted so that they are the maximum spaced distance from the surface  20 , the maximum degree of inclination of the scooter  10  will be obtained in the performing of a wheelie. This will also be the maximum degree of difficulty for the rider. When performing a wheelie, the rider will brace his or her trailing foot against the upwardly flared edge  40  of the standing platform  34 .  
         [0034]    Generally, an inexperienced rider will locate the wheels  56  and  58  as close as possible to the surface  20 . As the rider becomes more experienced, the mounting bracket  52  will be adjusted relative to the mounting base  46 , and when the wheels  56  and  58  are located the furthest distance from the surface  20 , that will constitute the highest experienced level for the rider.  
         [0035]    Referring particularly to FIGS.  6 - 9  of the drawings, there is shown a modified version of the present invention. This modified version relates to the inclusion of a mounting plate  64  which is not utilized within the basic embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS.  1 - 5 . However, for purposes of description, common structural parts between the modified version and the basic version of the present invention are denoted with the same reference numerals as were used to denote the same parts within FIGS.  1 - 5 .  
         [0036]    The rear wheel  16  is mounted on an axle  66 . The axle  66  passes through a hole (not shown) formed within the mounting plate  64 . Actually, the axle  66  is longitudinally fixed in position relative to the mounting plate  64  by structure which is not shown but where the axle  66  is still capable of being freely rotational relative to the mounting plate  64 . The motor  42  is also fixedly mounted onto the mounting plate  64  by means of bolts  68 . Each bolt  68  is mounted through a spacing sleeve  70  which functions to space the motor  42  a short distance away from the mounting plate  64 . The bolts  68  are fixedly mounted onto motor bracket  72  which is fixedly mounted onto the casing of the motor  42 .  
         [0037]    The axle  66 , after passing through the mounting plate  64  and the center of the rear wheel  16 , then passes through a brake hub  74 . The brake hub  74  is mounted within an enclosing ring  76 . Enclosing ring  76  is integral with arm  75 . The rider is to pull (or push) a lever (not shown) which acts through a cable (not shown) to cause the enclosing ring  76  to constrict against hub  74  causing the scooter to be slowed and eventually stop. Such a braking device is deemed to be conventional.  
         [0038]    With the rear wheel  16  being located between the motor  42  and the front wheel  18 , as is shown in FIG. 7, the mounting plate  64  is fixedly secured to an attachment  86  which is fixedly mounted onto the platform extension  32 . A bolt  84  is mounted between the mounting plate  64  and the attachment  86 . One end of axle  66  is rotationally mounted to attachment  90  which is fixed to platform extension  32 . Arm  75  is fixed to attachment  78  by bolt  80 . Attachment  78  is also fixed to platform extension  32 . The opposite end of the axle  66  is fixedly mounted to an attachment  82  which is also fixedly mounted onto the platform extension  32 . The attachments  78 ,  82  and  86  provide the mounting support for the rear wheel  16 , motor  42  and mounting plate  64  to the platform extension  32  when in the first position of mounting, which is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Mounted on the inside surface of the mounting plate  64  is a belt pulley  88 . Associated with the belt pulley  88  is the drive belt  44 . The drive belt  44  is drivingly connected to an output pulley (not shown) of the motor  42  and a driven pulley (not shown) which is mounted in conjunction with the rear wheel  16 . It is to be understood that the motor  42  is to receive electrical energy from a battery source, such as battery  30 .  
         [0039]    In the modified mounting arrangement of the rear wheel  16  shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in essence, the configuration is essentially identical to what is shown in FIG. 1. The motor  42  is located between the auxiliary wheel assembly  48  and the rear wheel  16  which means that the rear wheel  16  is spaced some distance from the auxiliary wheel assembly  48  with this spacing being required in order to permit the user to use the scooter  10  in order to perform wheelies. Because the rear wheel  16  is spaced some distance from the auxiliary wheel assembly  48  and closer to the front wheel  18 , the scooter  10  has a shortened wheelbase. This shortened wheelbase generally makes the scooter  10  more difficult to operate and probably will be operated by more experienced riders. If the scooter  10  is intended to be operated by a less experienced rider, and a rider that is not at the skill level to perform wheelies, the rider can transform the modified mounting arrangement of FIGS. 6 and 7 to the configuration shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 which will place the rear wheel  16  directly adjacent the auxiliary wheel assembly  48  and locate the motor  42  between the front wheel  18  and the rear wheel  16 . This will extend the wheelbase of the scooter with this extended wheelbase making it easier to use the scooter  10 . However, the scooter  10  will generally not be usable to perform wheelies and using of the auxiliary wheel assembly  48 . The user could actually perform a wheelie, but the wheelie would be exceedingly difficult to perform when in the position shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.  
         [0040]    To locate the modified mounting version in the position shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 from the position of FIGS. 6 and 7, the axle  66  is disengaged from attachment  82  and aligned attachment  90  which is also mounted on the platform extension  32 . Attachment  90  is located on the side opposite the attachment  82  keeping in mind that the platform extension  32  is actually composed of a pair of bifurcated members with attachment  82  being mounted on one bifurcated member and attachment  90  being mounted on the opposite bifurcated member. The bolt  84  is also to be disengaged from the attachment  86 . The rear wheel unit, which is composed of rear wheel  16 , mounting plate  64  and motor  42 , can now be turned one hundred eighty degrees with axle  66  now being mounted in conjunction with attachments  92  and  94  which are also mounted on the platform extension  32 . The bolt  84 , instead of connecting with attachment  86 , now connects with attachment  98  which is also fixedly mounted on the platform extension  32 . The bolt  84  is disengaged from the attachment  86  and then engaged with attachment  98 . At the same time, the bolt  80  is disconnected from attachment  78  and then is reconnected with attachment  96 . Basically, in comparing FIGS. 8 and 9 with respect to FIGS. 6 and 7, the left wheel  16  has assumed the position of the motor  42  and the motor  42  has assumed the position of the left wheel  16 . The position in FIGS. 8 and 9, which will be referred to as the second position, permits the scooter  10  to be operated as a conventional scooter with a longer wheelbase.  
         [0041]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential attributes thereof. Reference should be made to the appending claims rather than the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.