Patent Publication Number: US-9895598-B1

Title: Enhanced personal mobility park system

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to personal mobility systems, and more specifically, to a public park where people gather to enjoy personal mobility devices and demonstrate their skills with such. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Public parks are well known in the art and are effective means to provide a location where people gather to use their natural or constructed features to entertain themselves or others. For example,  FIG. 1  depicts a conventional public park  101  having a sidewalk  103  that leads to a ramp  105  that a user on a self-stabilizing scooter  107  attempts to navigate. During use, the user  107  rides the scooter  107  along the sidewalk  103  and up the ramp  105  while an observer  109  watches the user on the self-stabilizing scooter  107 . 
     One of the problems commonly associated with park  101  is its limited use. For example, the sidewalk  103  and ramp  105  were not intended to offer challenging and enjoyable obstacles to those skilled in the use of self-stabilizing scooters. 
     Accordingly, although great strides have been made in the area of public parks, many shortcomings remain. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The novel features believed characteristic of the embodiments of the present application are set forth in the appended claims. However, the embodiments themselves, as well as a preferred mode of use, and further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a common public park; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of an enhanced personal mobility park system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present application; and 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of an obstacle of  FIG. 2 ; and 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of another obstacle of  FIG. 2 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of yet another obstacle of  FIG. 2 ; and 
         FIG. 6 . Is s block diagram of an alternative embodiment of the system of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     While the system and method of use of the present application is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiment disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present application as defined by the appended claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Illustrative embodiments of the system and method of use of the present application are provided below. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions will be made to achieve the developer&#39;s specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. 
     The system and method of use in accordance with the present application overcomes one or more of the above-discussed problems commonly associated with conventional public parks. Specifically, the system of the present application provides obstacles for those of all levels of skill with self-stabilizing scooters are found in a single location. These and other unique features of the system and method of use are discussed below and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     The system and method of use will be understood, both as to its structure and operation, from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description. Several embodiments of the system are presented herein. It should be understood that various components, parts, and features of the different embodiments may be combined together and/or interchanged with one another, all of which are within the scope of the present application, even though not all variations and particular embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should also be understood that the mixing and matching of features, elements, and/or functions between various embodiments is expressly contemplated herein so that one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate from this disclosure that the features, elements, and/or functions of one embodiment may be incorporated into another embodiment as appropriate, unless described otherwise. 
     The preferred embodiment herein described is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It is chosen and described to explain the principles of the invention and its application and practical use to enable others skilled in the art to follow its teachings. 
     Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters identify corresponding or similar elements throughout the several views,  FIG. 2  depicts a side view of an enhanced personal mobility park system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present application. It will be appreciated that system  201  overcomes one or more of the above-listed problems commonly associated with conventional public parks. 
     In the contemplated embodiment, system  201  includes a plurality of obstacles  203 ,  205 ,  207  in rolling communication that are configured to require skill or provide enjoyment when traversed by a rider  213  on self-stabilizing scooters  209 . 
     and one or more observers  211 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3  the obstacle  203  is depicted, this obstacle a plurality of landings  301 ,  303 , connected by one or more spiral ramps  305 . The landings  301 ,  303  and ramps  305  are configured to require a rider  213  on a self-stabilizing scooter  209  to begin at either landing  301 ,  303  and adjust their center of gravity with respect to the scooter in order to advance at a controlled rate while also turning in a similar fashion as they traverse the spiral ramp  305 . It will be appreciated that the tighter the spiral ramp  305  the more difficult negotiating it will be. It will also be appreciated that this type of obstacle is difficult if not impossible to negotiate on personal mobility devices other than the self-stabilizing scooter  209  because of the performance abilities unique to the self-stabilizing scooter  209 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4  where the obstacle  205  is depicted, the obstacle includes a plurality velocity altering patches  401 ,  403 ,  405  rigidly attached to each other and integral to a floor  407 . The patches  401 ,  403 ,  405  are configured to cause change in the speed and/or direction of the rider on the self-stabilizing scooter through friction, surface texture, density or other like attributes. It will be appreciated that this obstacles are counterproductive to other form of personal mobility devices. Examples of these patches  401 ,  403 ,  405  are soft foam mat or a bumpy surface. While the patches  301 ,  303 ,  305  have been depicted in a successive order it is contemplated that they could be spread apart or be of varying shapes and sizes and not deviate from the intent of this disclosure. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5  where the obstacle  207  is depicted, the obstacle includes a plurality of valleys  501 ,  505 ,  509  rigidly attached to and separated by a plurality peaks  503 ,  507  all integral to a floor  511 . In use the rider  213  on the self-stabilizing scooter  209  begins at either end  513 ,  515  and negotiates the valleys  501 ,  505 ,  509  and peaks  503 ,  507 . The valleys  501 ,  505 ,  509  and peaks  503 ,  507  are configured to require the rider  213  to continuously adjust their center of gravity with respect to the scooter  209  in order to climb then descend the valleys  501 ,  505 ,  509  and peaks  503 ,  507 . It will be appreciated that the valleys  501 ,  505 ,  509  and peaks  503 ,  507  are difficult if not impossible to negotiate on personal mobility devices other than the self-stabilizing scooter because of the performance abilities unique to the self-stabilizing scooter. 
     In use, each obstacle  203 ,  205 ,  207  is navigated or attempted individually. Rider  213  may choose which of the obstacles to attempt and in what sequence if any. The obstacles provide features that test the skills of the rider  213 . While the rider  213  navigates the obstacles  203 ,  205 ,  207  they are viewed by observers  211 . 
     It should be appreciated that one of the unique features believed characteristic of the present application is the obstacles  203 ,  205 ,  207  that develop, test and display skills particular to the use of self-stabilizing scooters  209 . 
     While these obstacles  203 ,  205 ,  207  have been depicted it is not meant to limit the scope of this disclosure. It is contemplated that there are various and sundry obstacles that could be arranged together to challenge and give enjoyment to persons on self-stabilizing scooters  209 . 
     An alternative arrangement of the enhanced personal mobility park system is depicted in  FIG. 6 . Embodiment  601  includes a plurality of obstacles  603 ,  605 ,  607 ,  609 ,  611  in rolling communication with at least one equipment rental location  613 , a plurality of observation areas  615 ,  617  and at least one concession location  619  via pathways  621 . It will be appreciated that while the arrangement is depicted in a single plane it is contemplated that the obstacles  603 ,  605 ,  607 ,  609 ,  611  and pathways  621  could be on multiple elevations and even above or below each other. 
     The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the embodiments may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. It is therefore evident that the particular embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified, and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the application. Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as set forth in the description. Although the present embodiments are shown above, they are not limited to just these embodiments, but are amenable to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.