Abstract:
A foldable two wheeled scooter includes a steering post with a front wheel at a lower end and handlebars at an upper end. A support tube connects with a folding mechanism enclosed substantially beneath a top plate of a foot board of the scooter. The location of the mechanism prevents a user from being harmed when moving the scooter from an upright position to a folded down position.

Description:
This application is a continuation in part of Ser. No. 11/249,877 filed Oct. 13, 2005 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,156,405. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to two wheeled scooters which collapse or fold from an upright position to a folded down position for carrying or storage. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Two wheeled scooters have long been known as a recreational device. A relatively long running board is supported above a running surface by two wheels attached at ends of the board. The two wheels are aligned so that the board can be rolled forward. To provide necessary stability of the overall structure when rolling forward, a steering post must be fixed at a front end and rise to the level of a rider&#39;s hands. A handlebar is fixed to a top end of the steering post so a user can grasp the ends of said handlebar to stabilize and guide the scooter in a forward direction. A front wheel is typically connected with the steering post by a steering mechanism so that a direction of the front wheel changes upon a rider&#39;s moving the handlebars about an axis formed by the steering post. 
   The structure of scooter described above necessarily results in an L-shaped device, where the running board and wheels form one part of the “L” and the steering post and handlebars form the other part of the “L”. Since scooters typically are used only occasionally, it has long been known that storage of said scooters present a unique problem as an L-shaped device. It has also been long known to provide mechanisms to that the L-shaped structure could be in some manner disassembled or folded to reduce the storage difficulties of said scooters. 
   While it would appear most desirable that an L-shaped device such as the two wheeled scooter should be provided with folding means located at the vertex of its L-shape, that vertex location is the place most challenging to incorporate such folding means. The vertex of the L-shape of a two wheeled scooter is the part of its structure which must be designed most sturdily so that it does not fail in use. If the steering post of a two wheeled scooter bends or breaks, a rider moving even at moderate speeds can be seriously hurt. Folding means incorporated at the vertex location have in the past introduced serious flaws in the scooter&#39;s structure, many of which could result in structural failure during use. 
   In addition to structural failure, prior art folding means for two wheeled scooters have incorporated an inherently dangerous feature. The act of folding the L-shape of the device clearly involves moving a relatively heavy steering post with unwieldy handlebars down from an upright position toward a top surface of the running board. The act of releasing the steering post from the upright position in prior art folding means often brings a user&#39;s hands near to the vertex location. In any case, a user&#39;s hands or feet may inadvertently be found in the path of the collapsing steering post and/or handlebars when the scooter is being folded down. In such a case, many prior art folding means do not adequately protect the user from injury during the collapsing or folding operation. A user&#39;s finger or toes in many prior art devices be trapped and/or crushed in the folding operation. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,701 discloses a folding means for said scooters. It is clear the folding means permit a user to inadvertently place one or more fingers inside opposing armatures or flanges that scissor together in the folding operation. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,387 discloses another folding means for said scooters. The mechanism shown includes a structure wherein the steering post folds down to the level of the running board for carrying or storage. The folding means is shown as an open framework of the dangerous scissoring flanges and armatures described above. No protective measures are shown or described that would protect a user from inadvertent injury. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,501 discloses yet another folding means for said scooters. The mechanism shown includes a structure wherein the steering post folds down to the level of the running board for carrying or storage. The folding means is shown as an open framework of the dangerous scissoring flanges and armatures described above. No protective measures are shown or described that would protect a user from inadvertent injury. 
   There is a need for a folding means for a two wheeled scooter with excellent structural integrity while providing easy release for the steering post from an upright position and protecting the user from harm during the folding operation. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The foot board structure embodiment of the present invention is a folding scooter having folding means that incorporate a lever-rotatable pin for releaseably securing a steering post in an upright position. Said pin is and an associated latch are incorporated into a forward part of a foot board of the scooter. Location of the lever, pin, and latch structure essentially within the foot board provides a user with protection from said structure. 
   The present invention is adapted to withstand the wear and tear typical of two wheeled scooters. Users often weigh much more than what would be typical of a child&#39;s weight, i.e., adults or very overweight teens will use a two wheeled scooter. User&#39;s often operate their scooters at high speeds down steep inclines or over very rough terrain. Under these extreme circumstances, the folding means must remain secure and also easily releaseable from an upright position for many years of hard use. 
   The present invention comprises a running or foot board with a rear wheel supported from a rear wheel axle supported from a pair of rear wheel flanges extending rearward from a rear end of the running board. At a front end of the running board, a protective housing comprises an upside down and U-shaped base piece with a bottom plate and side flanges which is secured to a top and front surface of the running board at the bottom plate. Upward facing side flanges of the base piece are enclosed by a slotted roof piece. 
   Secured to an upward facing surface of the bottom plate and located between the flanges of the base piece is a second upside down U-shaped piece, a lower latch piece that comprises another bottom plate and side flanges directed upward. The side flanges of the lower latch piece have two sets of aligned notches on upper edges adapted to removeably receive a horizontal latch pin. The latch pin is urged into a set of aligned notches by means of springs connecting a mid section of the latch pin with a base pine fixed in the lower latch piece. A horizontal base pin is secured in aligned holes in the side flanges of the base piece and the lower latch piece. When the lower latch piece is secured to the base piece, two narrow upper latch piece spaces are formed between inner surfaces of the side flanges of the base piece and outer surfaces of the side flanges of the lower latch piece. 
   Secured at a lower end by the base pin within the upper latch piece spaces a third U-shaped piece, an upper latch piece comprises another bottom plate and side flanges. The concave side of the upper latch piece is directed rearward so that a top surface of the bottom plate always faces a rider when the steering post is in an upright position. Engaging ends of the side flanges of the upper latch piece fit into the two narrow upper latch piece spaces so that the base pin can secure together the base piece, the lower latch piece and the upper latch piece. The upper latch piece is rotatable about the base pin from the engaging ends. 
   The upper latch piece connects at a post support end with a lower portion of a steering post. The steering post extends downward from the upper latch piece connection to support the axle of a front wheel and extends upward from the upper latch piece connection to support handlebars for a user. 
   A middle part of the upper latch piece comprises two aligned latch pin slots opposite one another on the side flanges. These latch pin slots are further aligned with the aligned notches on the side flanges of the lower latch piece when the scooter steering post is in the upright position or in the folded down position. A latch pin is at all times fixed so that its ends are always adjacent to inside surfaces of the side flanges of the base piece and are guided by the latch pin slots. The latch pin is always urged toward the base pin by a pair of strong springs, so that said latch pin is fixed at a lowest position in forward aligned notches on the side flanges of the lower latch piece in the upright position and is further fixed in rear aligned notches in the side flanges of the lower latch piece in the folded down position. 
   A lifter end of the upper latch piece, distal to the engaging end, comprises a polygonal rotating pin that is rotatably fixed across the concavity of the side flanges and extends through one side flange to support a lever accessible to a user. A dual armature extends from the rotating pin which supports an upper cable end. The upper cable end is connected to, in an upright position, a downward extending cable. A lower cable end of the cable is fixed in a mid section of the lifter pin. When a user depresses the lever from an upward to a downward position and the steering post is in the upright position, the dual armature moves the upper cable end upward, thereby lifting the latch pin from the front aligned notches. The latch pin is restrained in its movement so that it may travel only along the path defined by the latch pin slots. However, latch pin slots are dimensioned so that when the latch pin is lifted from the front aligned notches, the upper latch piece may rotate rearward about the base pin so that the steering post is moved into a folded down position. When the steering post reaches the folded down position, a user may reverse their previous action on the lever to release the latch pin into a fixed position in the rear aligned notches on the lower latch piece. 
   The side flanges of the base piece and the slotted roof piece are critical to the invention. The side flanges of the base piece extend up from the top surface of the running board so that they at all times enclose outside facing openings of the latch pin slots and prevent a user from putting their fingers in said latch pin slots during the folding operations, either up or down. Enclosing said openings also prevents the latch pin from moving from its position with its ends engaged by the latch pin slots. The slotted roof piece covers the base pin, springs, and latch pin structures while having a single front to rear slot adapted to permit passage of the cable from the front to rear, and vice versa, in the folding operations. A further upper roof piece encloses the uncovered concavity of the U-shaped upper latch piece, thereby enclosing the cable, upper cable ends, armature and rotating pin. The combination of the base piece, the slotted roof piece, the upper latch piece, and the upper roof piece comprise an protective enclosure or housing for the folding means of the invention. A user cannot, even with diligent intent, insert their fingers or other body parts into the potentially harmful structure of the folding means. 
   The rotating pin comprises a polygonal structure. Flattened sides extend the length of the rotating pin so that when a user moves the lever from an upward to a downward position, the springs pulling down on the latch pin will in turn pull on the cable, armature and rotating pin to press a flattened side against flattened opening edges of the rotating pin openings in the side flanges of the upper latch piece. The mating flattened surfaces of the rotating pin and the rotating pin openings cause the latch pin to remain in a lifted position until a user moves the lever in the reverse direction. At that time, the latch pin is released from the lifted position and is urged into the front or rear notches or against top edges of the side flanges of the lower latch piece between said notches. 
   The steering post is topped with handlebars that extend laterally for a user to grasp. The handlebars are foldable so that they lie adjacent and parallel with the steering post in a storage position. 
   The invention scooter is capable of full and vigorous operation as if it were not capable of being reduced in size. However, in a folded down position, the steering post lies adjacent to the running board and, in a storage position, handlebars fold so that they lie adjacent and parallel with the steering post. The invention scooter is capable of being stored in a relatively small space and being carried easily. 
   One object of the invention is to provide a protection so a scooter user can safely fold their scooter down without fear of injury. The invention enclosure or housing prevents access to the inside of said housing by objects greater that about 5 millimeters so that user can not easily to put their finger into the folding means. 
   A further object of the invention is to provide an exceptionally strong structure with folding means. The steering post is connected to the running board via the upper latching piece secured directly to the base piece by the base pin. This structure provides exceptional resistance to ramming force upon the front wheel of the scooter with riders of up to and over 80 kilograms moving at a high rate of speed. 
   The foot board structure embodiment of the present invention is similar in function and structure to the above invention disclosure, but the structure for the lever, pin and latch are moved from enclosure by walls of the steering column above the top surface of the foot board to a location below the top level of the foot board. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIGS. 1 through 5  are respectively left side, right side, front, rear and top views of the invention scooter in the upright position. 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  are respectively left side and top views of the invention scooter in the folded down position. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the folding means. 
       FIG. 9  is an exploded and perspective view of the base piece and the lower roof piece. 
       FIG. 10  is an exploded and perspective view of the lower latch piece, base pin (and securing screw), springs, latch pin and long armature and the upper roof piece. 
       FIG. 11  is an exploded and perspective view of the upper latch piece and the upper roof piece. 
       FIG. 12  is an exploded and perspective view of the rotating pin, locking washer, short armatures, spacer, armature connecting pin and latch lever. 
       FIG. 13  is a side view of the device of  FIG. 8  without a base piece and roof pieces. 
       FIG. 14  is a partially broken away and rear view of the device of  FIG. 13  with the base piece. 
       FIG. 15  is the device of  FIG. 13  with the latch lever depressed and the latch pin lifted from its securing notches. 
       FIG. 16  is the device of  FIG. 15  moved from an upright position to a folded down position. 
       FIG. 17  is a top view of the running board. 
       FIG. 18  is a perspective and exploded view of the foot board structure embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 19  is a perspective and assembled view of foot board structure embodiment of the present invention without showing the foot board. 
       FIG. 20  is a top view of the foot board of  FIG. 18 . 
       FIG. 21  is a bottom view of the foot board of  FIG. 18  incorporating a U-shaped mechanism support box, also shown in  FIG. 18 . 
       FIGS. 22 ,  23  and  24  are respectively top, side and bottom views of the U-shaped mechanism support box, also shown in  FIG. 18 . 
       FIG. 25  is a side, cutaway view of the foot board of  FIG. 18 , with a longitudinal cutaway made through the distal slot in the foot board of  FIG. 18 . 
       FIGS. 26 ,  27 ,  28  and  29  are side views of the foot board of  FIG. 25  showing a side, cutaway view of the steering column and lever, pin and latch structure of  FIG. 18 . 
       FIG. 26  is the invention mechanism with the latch securing the steering column in the upright position. 
       FIG. 27  is the invention mechanism with the latch lifted from a position securing the steering column in the upright position. 
       FIG. 28  is the invention mechanism with the latch lifted from a position securing the steering column in the upright position, whereafter the steering column is folded to a folded down position. 
       FIG. 29  is the invention mechanism with the latch securing the steering column in the folded down position. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention is now discussed with reference to the figures. 
     FIGS. 1 and 2  show the invention scooter  100  respectively from the left and right sides comprising handlebars  101  oriented normal to a normal running direction of the scooter. Handlebars  101  are secured to a top end of a telescopic steering post  102 . Post  102  comprises a top tube  103  which is capable of being received into tube  105  upon release of band  104  to thereby reduce the length of steering column  102 . Tube  105  extends through tube  107  to fix securely to a top part of axle support  109 . A nut and band means  106  hold tube  105  in place relative to tube  107 . Axle support  109  comprises a U-shaped piece with two opposing holes at lower ends through which pass and between which are rotatably fixed an axle of front wheel  108 . Thus, rotating handlebars  101  cause front wheel  108  to respond in a like manner. 
   Running board  110  extends from a front to a rear part of scooter  100 . At a rear part of board  110  extends fender  113  over wheel  112 . Rear wheel  112  comprises an axle rotatably fixed in ends of board  110 . Front wheel  108  and rear wheel  112  cooperate so that scooter  100  can roll on a horizontal surface.  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5  respectively show front, rear and top views of scooter  100  in an upright position, as also shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
   Connecting board  110  to lower tube  105  are the folding means of the invention comprising piece  114  fixed to the running board  110  and piece  115  fixed to tube  107 . Folding means comprise a protective housing around potentially dangerous parts when scooter  100  is moved from an upright to a folded down position. 
   Consider that scooter  100  is capable of being folded down so that steering post  102  is near to the top surface of running board  110 .  FIGS. 6 and 7  respectively show side and top views of scooter  100  in a folded down position so that it is easily stored or carried. Upper tube  103  is shown contained in part within tube  105  and handlebars  101  may be dismantled into handlebar sections  117  and secured to holder  118 , thereby further reducing an overall storage outline of scooter  100 . 
     FIG. 8  shows a rear and upper perspective view of the folding means of the invention. An upper part of the folding means is fixed to a rear, outside surface of tube  107  and is rotatably connected with a lower part of the folding means fixed to a front, top surface of the running board. The upper part is rotatable along path  200 . A protective housing encloses the lower part comprising a base piece  114  that is covered by a slotted roof piece  124 . A protective housing also encloses the upper part comprising a upper latch piece  115  that is covered by an upper roof piece  125 . 
   Three slots are shown formed by the connection of roof piece  124  to base piece  114 . A first slot  127  provides for free front to rear travel of a long armature enclosed within the protective housing, while side slots  126  are defined by lateral openings in roof piece  124  and a top edge of side walls  123 . Slots  126  provide for free front to rear travel of side wall extensions  129  of upper latch piece  115 , which extensions  129  extend down to a base pin  128  securing the upper part of the folding means to the lower part. It can be readily appreciated that movement of the folding means along path eliminates the possibility that a user could trap their finger or hand in the folding mechanisms of scooter  100  in moving along path  200 . The convex and planar outer upper surface of roof piece  124  are swept by a lower edge of upper roof piece  125  when the folding means are moving along path  200 , thereby preventing a user&#39;s appendages from captured between the scissoring mechanisms within the protective housings. 
   A latch lever  121  extends from a lateral side of a side wall of upper latch piece  115  from a rotating pin and is held apart from that side wall by spacer ring  122 . 
   Various portions of the folding means are now shown and described with reference to perspective drawings in  FIGS. 9 through 12 . 
     FIG. 9  shows roof piece  124  separated from an upside down and U-shaped base piece  135  with a bottom plate  140  and side flanges  136  which is secured to a top and front surface of the running board at the bottom plate  140  via bolt holes  139 . Upward facing side flanges  136  of the base piece  135  have edges  137  which in part define slots  126  of  FIG. 8  when roof piece  124  is secured to base piece  135 . Base piece  135  further comprises two aligned holes  138  for access to a base pin. Roof piece  124  defines a slot  127  with strips  130  and  131  that extend arcuately forward from connector plate  132 . Roof piece  124  comprises holes  133  and  134  for its connection to the base piece  135 . 
   Secured to an upward facing surface of the bottom plate  140  via holes aligned with holes  139  of base piece  135  and located between the side flanges  136  of the base piece  135  is a second upside down U-shaped piece and associated mechanism in  FIG. 10 . 
     FIG. 10  is a top perspective view of the second upside down U-shaped piece, a lower latch piece  141 , base pin  149  (and securing screw  153 ), springs  154 , latch pin  157 , and long armature  161 . Lower latch piece  141  comprises another bottom plate  142  and side flanges  143  directed upward. The side flanges  143  of the lower latch piece  141  have two sets of aligned notches (front notches  147  and rear notches  145 ) separated by upper edges  145 . Notches  145  and  147  are adapted to removeably receive a horizontal latch pin  157 . The latch pin  157  is urged into one of the sets of aligned notches  145  or  147  by means of springs  154  connecting a mid section of the latch pin  157  with the base pin  149  secured in the lower latch piece  141 . A horizontal base pin  157  is secured in aligned holes  144  in the side flanges  143 . When the lower latch piece  141  is secured to the base piece  135  ( FIG. 9 ), two narrow upper latch piece spaces are formed between inner surfaces of the side flanges  136  of the base piece  135  ( FIG. 9 ) and outer surfaces of the side flanges  143  of the lower latch piece  141 . 
     FIG. 10  further shows base pin  149  comprises a head  151  a shaft  152  where ends of springs  154  attach, and a threaded bore  150  to receive securing screw  153 . Springs  154  each comprise looped ends to connect base pin  149  and grooves  159  of latch pin  157 . Latch pin  157  comprises latching ends  160  that are adapted to engage notches  145  and  147  of lower latch piece  141  and which are guided by latch pin slots described below for an upper latch piece. Long armature  161  comprises holes  162  and  163 , where hole  163  is adapted to receive latch pin  157  along axis  156  and be secured to latch pin  157  between grooves  159 . 
   Secured at a lower end by the base pin  149  and rotatably movable within the upper latch piece spaces is a third U-shaped piece. Referring now to  FIG. 11 , an upper latch piece  165  comprises another bottom plate  170  and side flanges  166 . The concave side of the upper latch piece  165  is directed rearward so that a top surface of the bottom plate  170  always faces a rider when the steering post is in an upright position. Lower engaging ends of the side flanges  166  of the upper latch piece  165  fit into the two narrow upper latch piece spaces so that the base pin  149  ( FIG. 10 ) can secure together the lower latch piece  141  ( FIG. 10 ) and the upper latch piece  165  ( FIG. 11 ). The upper latch piece  165  is rotatable about its holes  167  wherein is fixed the base pin at the engaging ends of the upper latch piece  165 . 
   The upper latch piece  165  connects at a post support end via edges  188  with the lower tube  107  ( FIG. 8 ) of the steering post. Referring again to  FIG. 11 , side flanges  166  comprise a middle part with two aligned latch pin slots  168  opposite one another on the side flanges  166 . Side flanges  166  also comprise two aligned holes  169  for receiving a rotating pin described below.  FIG. 11  shows an upper roof piece  172  which is adapted to connect with holes  171  in the bottom plate  170  via threaded extensions  174  so that upper roof piece entirely covers an upper part of the opening formed between top edges of side flanges  166 . Arcuate cutout  173  is adapted to mating fit against a surface of tube  107  ( FIG. 8 ). A lower edge of upper roof piece  172  is adapted to sweep a top surface of roof piece  124  ( FIG. 9 ) when the folding means are assembled. 
     FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a rotating pin  182 , its locking washers  187 , a latch lever  116 , a spacer  122 , dual short armatures  179 , and an armature connecting pin  178 . Rotating pin  182  comprises two flattened sides  183  adapted to lockingly engage with longitudinal slots  180  of short armatures  179  and a similarly formed locking bore  177  of latch lever  116  so that rotation of the rotating pin  182  by a user depressing latch lever  116  necessarily causes a corresponding rotation in short armatures  179 . Rotating pin  182  further comprises slots  184  adapted to receive locking washers  187 . Short armatures  179  are adapted to be located at about the center of rotating pin  182  and separated only by the width of an upper end of long armature  161  ( FIG. 10 ), which does not connect directly with the rotating pin  182 . 
   Referring again to  FIG. 12 , short armatures are shown with holes  181  adapted to receive armature connecting pin  178 . Armature connecting pin  178  connects the lower ends of short armatures  179 , spacing them apart by a secured upper end of the long armature  161  ( FIG. 10 ), whose hole  162  receives the armature connecting pin  178  along axis  164 . Referring again to  FIG. 12 , latch lever  116  comprises a user lever end  175  and a connecting end  176  which defines bore  177 . 
   Excepting the roof pieces of the protective housing,  FIGS. 13 through 16  show the folding means assembled and operating to move the steering post (not shown) from an upright to a folded down position. 
     FIG. 13  is a side view of the invention folding means.  FIG. 14  shows a rear and broken away view of the folding means of  FIG. 13 . In  FIG. 14 , base piece  135  is shown secured to its bottom plate lower latch piece  141 , forming upper latch piece spaces between side flanges  136  and side flanges  143 , wherein are rotatably fixed ends of side flanges  166  of upper latch piece  165 . When the upper latch piece  165  is connected with the lower latch piece  141  via the base pin  149 , the upper latch piece is rotatable along the path  200  ( FIG. 8 ). Ends of latch pin  157  is shown secured in front notch  147  and guided thereto by latch pin slots  168 , where said latch pin is urged downward by its connection to the base pin  149  via springs  154 . Long armature  161  connects a center of latch pin  157  with a center of armature connecting pin  178 , which upper end of long armature  161  is bracketed by lower ends of short armatures  179 . Upper ends of short armatures  179  are secured to a middle portion of rotating pin  182 . Rotating pin  182  is secured within opening in side flanges  166  and is rotatable by pressing on a top surface of latch lever  116 . Spacer  122  spaces latch lever  116  from an outside surface of a side flange  166 . 
     FIG. 14  shows the folding means of  FIGS. 13 and 14  after a user has depressed latch lever  116  in direction  189 . Short armatures  179  rotate about rotating pin  182  lifting their lower ends and thereby lifting the upper connected end of long armature  161 , which in turn lifts the connected latch pin  157  out of notch  147 . Springs  154  strongly urge latch pin  157  downward but is resisted by the tendency of the flattened sides of rotating pin  182  to cause said pin to remain in the rotated position shown in  FIG. 15 .  FIG. 16  shows the folding means of  FIG. 15  rotated back to a folded down position, thereby aligning latch pin  157  over notch  145 . In that position, latch pin  157  can be released from the position shown in  FIG. 16  and into notch  145  by lifting upward on latch lever  116 . 
     FIG. 17  is a top view of running board  110  comprising a top surface  190 , whose front portion comprises holes  191  to which the base piece and lower latch piece are secured by bolts or screws. A rear portion of board  110  comprises a wheel slot  193  defined by extensions  192 . Extensions  192  comprise axle holes for receiving and securing therein an axle of the rear wheel. 
   The following is a description of the foot board structure embodiment of the present invention. Prior art latches for folding mechanisms have heretofor been located essentially above the plane of a scooter&#39;s foot board. The present invention moves essentially all of the latch structure off of the top part of the scooter and places it in a place where a user typically never need view the unsightly pins, levers and springs. A lever extends from below the foot board surface to an access position above the foot board for lifting by a user. This lifting action causes a polygonal pin to rotate, causing a latch lever to lift a latch bar out of notches in the steering column and thereby release the steering column from either an erect or folded down position so that the steering column can be moved into the other position. 
     FIG. 18  shows perspective and exploded view of the elements of the foot board structure scooter  200 . An upper latch piece  201  comprises at top plate  202  and side flanges  203  with a lower end cutout  204 . End  202   a  of upper latch piece  201  is adapted to be engaged to a tube  107  as shown in  FIGS. 13 through 16  to engage a steering column part of the scooter. Referring again to  FIG. 18 , aligned holes  208  in upper latch piece  201  are adapted to receive a the base pin  222  securing upper latch piece  201  to U-shaped mechanism support box  209  after the lower ends of side flanges  203  are inserted into slots  210 . The lower ends of side flanges  203  also comprised upper aligned notches  205  and lower aligned notches  206  which are adapted to receive ends of latch bar  230  when it is secured to slide back and forth in slots  214  of box  209 . Slots  214  are aligned opposite one another on right the side walls  212  of box  209  so that they accept only the ends of latch bar  230 . Notches  205  and  206  are separated by separating section  207 . 
   Box  209  has slots  210  so that upper latch piece  201  can rotate about pin  222  from the erect to folded down positions of the scooter. Box  209  also comprises opposing slots  214 , aligned holes  213  for receiving pin  222  along line  240  and aligned holes  215  for receiving polygonal pin  232  along line  242 . The ends of pins  222  and  232 , when installed, extend through the side walls  212  of box  209  and also through under side walls  218  of foot board  216 . In this manner, pins  222  and  232  secure box  209  to the underside of foot board  216 . In addition, pin  222  secures upper latch piece  201  rotatingly to box  209  and foot board  216 , while pin  232  is secured to end part  238  at bore  239  of lever  235  along line  242 . Pin  222  comprises a cap end  223  adapted to be secured abut an outer surface of a under side wall  218  and a threaded end  224  adapted to be connected to screw  229 , which in turn abuts the outer surface of the second under side wall  218 . Pin  222  also secures the ends of springs  225  within the U-shaped structure of box  209 . Springs  225  extend in that concavity rearward to engage slots  231  of latch bar  230  so that latch bar  230  is urged in a forward position when it is installed with its ends within slots  214  of box  209 . 
   Pin  232  comprises end slots  233  which receive locking washers  234  for securing pin  232  in the invention structure. Lever  235  comprises a user flange  236  for lifting by a user when upward support  237  extends through top plate  217  at slot  219 . Lever  235  extends down from upward support  237  to end part  238 , which defines a  239  to engage and to be secured to pin  232  on the inner side of the locking washer  234 . Latch bar lifter  226  comprises a lifter end  227  and a bore end  228 , which has a bore adapted to receive pin  232  so that lifter  226  rotates rearward when lever  235  is lifted upward at user flange  236 . 
   Foot board  216  comprises slots  220  the align precisely with slots  210  of box  209  when it is installed on the underside of foot board  216  and between under side walls  218 . Two screw holes are shown in the top plate  217  of foot board  216  and are adapted to align with two holes shown in the top of box  209 . These two sets of aligned holes receive screws  221  so that box  209  is further secured to the under side of foot board  216 . 
     FIG. 19  shows this embodiment&#39;s assembled parts of  FIG. 18  excepting the foot board. It is clear that lever  235  is engaged to pin  232  so that lifting up on user flange  236  causes pin  232  to rotate in a clockwise direction. Latch lifter  226  is not shown, but causes latch bar  230  to move rearward when a user lifts upward on user flange  236 . Pin  232  is shown able to rotate freely in holes  215  of box  209 . Side flanges  203  are shown extending into slots  210  of box  209  and secured to box  209  by pin  222 . 
     FIG. 20  shows foot board  216  in a top view of top plate  217  having slots  220 , holes  221   a  and slot  219 .  FIG. 21  shows that foot board  216  receives box  209  so that its outer side walls  212  abut inside surfaces  218   a  of under side walls  218  of foot board  216 . In addition, slot  219  is aligned so that it lies just outside of and parallel to the outer surface of a under side wall  218 . 
     FIGS. 22 ,  23  and  24  show box  209  comprising aligned holes  215  (to receive pin  232 ), aligned holes  213  (to receive pin  222 ), top plate  212   a , screw holes  212   b , slots  210 , and side walls  212 . 
     FIG. 25  shows section  244  of  FIG. 21 . This section of foot board  216  is used in  FIGS. 26 through 29  to illustrate the structure and operation of this embodiment from the upright or erect position of the steering column to its folded down position. Aligned holes  246  in under side walls  218  are adapted to receive and support pin  232 . Aligned holes  245  in under side walls  218  are adapted to receive and support pin  222 . 
     FIGS. 26 through 29  show an broken line location of lever  235 , a longitudinal side section of upper latch piece  201 , a side cutaway view of latch bar  230 , a longitudinal side section of box  209 , side cutaway views of pins  222  and  232 , a side view of one of springs  225  and a side view of latch bar lifter  226  engaged to pin  232 . Spring  225  connects pin  222  and latch bar  230  so that it is urged toward pin  222 . Latch bar  230  has its ends slidingly engaged in slots  214 . The lifter end of latch bar lifter  226  engages a center part of latch bar  230 . Side flanges  203  of upper latch piece  201  extend through aligned slots  210  and  220 . Upper latch piece  201  is adapted to rotate about pin  222  from an erect or upright position to a folded down position. 
     FIG. 26  shows this embodiment is an upright or erect position where latch bar  230  is engaged in lower notches  206 , thereby preventing the steering column (not shown) from collapsing toward the foot board  216 . 
     FIG. 27  shows lever  235  having been lifted up in direction  247  at the user flange by a user, causing pin  232  to rotate and thereby causing latch bar lifter  226  to force latch bar  230  rearward and out of engagement with lower notches  206 . 
     FIG. 28  shows that upper latch piece  201  has been rotated rearward in direction  248  about pin  222  after the operation of  FIG. 27  to bring the scooter to a folded down position. 
     FIG. 29  shows that after the step taken in  FIG. 28 , a user releases lever  235  so that the user flange moves down in direction  249 , thereby allowing latch bar lifter  226  to settle in to notches  205 , urged therein by springs  225 . 
   The steps in  FIGS. 26 through 29  are taken in reverse to bring the scooter to an upright or erect position.