Patent Publication Number: US-2023147956-A1

Title: Scooter with rear swivel wheel

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO ANY PRIORITY APPLICATIONS 
     Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic priority claim is identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed with the present application are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1.57. 
     The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/878,878, filed May 20, 2020, entitled “SCOOTER WITH REAR SWIVEL WHEEL,” which is a continuation of U.S. patent spplication Ser. No. 16/156,704, filed Oct. 10, 2018, entitled “SCOOTER WITH REAR SWIVEL WHEEL,” which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/708,546, filed Sep. 19, 2017, entitled “SCOOTER WITH REAR SWIVEL WHEEL,” which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/205,392, filed Jul. 8, 2016, entitled “SCOOTER WITH REAR SWIVEL WHEEL,” which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/522,295, filed Oct. 23, 2014, entitled “SCOOTER WITH REAR SWIVEL WHEEL,” which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/826,484, filed Mar. 14, 2013, entitled “SCOOTER WITH REAR SWIVEL WHEEL,” which claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/616,121, filed Mar. 27, 2012, entitled “SCOOTER WITH REAR SWIVEL CASTER WHEEL.” The entireties of each of the aforementioned applications are hereby expressly incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Field of the Invention 
     Embodiments of the invention relate generally to personal mobility vehicles and, more specifically, to a scooter having at least one swivel caster wheel located at the rear portion of the scooter. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     The use of personal mobility vehicles, such as scooters, has become a popular recreational activity as well as useful means of personal transportation. Scooters have become popular among many age groups and there are many different scooter variations and scooter designs. Scooter designs have become more compact and convenient, and many scooters have folding mechanisms allowing the user to easily store or carry the scooter. Conventional scooters have at least two wheels and a steering mechanism. 
     Scooters provide useful means of personal transportation and recreation, but due to the limited range of motion of the front and rear wheels, the conventional scooters are limited in the type of movement provided to the user. Due to the fixed nature of the wheels, conventional scooters do not allow any side-to-side movement by the user, or any turning motion of the scooter other than by steering the front wheel in which the path of the rear wheel substantially tracks the path of the front wheel. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     An aspect of the present invention is the realization that allowing the user to perform a side to side movement or allowing the user to direct the riding board in a sideways arcuate path, is practicable with a two-wheeled scooter (e.g., a kick-scooter) and would increase the user&#39;s enjoyment and providing additional ability for advanced users to perform various stunts or tricks. 
     Conventional scooter braking mechanisms can be ineffective and would not function effectively with a pivoting or swiveling wheel. Also, using a conventional scooter, a user is only able to propel the scooter forward by pushing off the ground with one of the user&#39;s feet. A user is also limited to steering the front wheel of the conventional scooter, and continues moving forward in a generally limited direction and orientation. What is needed is an improved and new scooter and brake design that provides alternative range of movement to the user. 
     Preferred embodiments of the personal mobility vehicle are configured to allow a user to propel a caster-wheeled scooter by pushing off of the ground with one of the user&#39;s feet. A user is able to cause the scooter to travel in a generally linear forward direction by steering the front wheel with a handlebar assembly configured to change the direction of the front wheel. Preferred embodiments of the scooter also generally include at least one swivel caster wheel located on the rear of the scooter, allowing the user to cause the scooter to travel in a non-linear movement or ride the scooter using a side to side motion similar to the rear movement of a swivel caster board. 
     A preferred embodiment of a scooter includes a body comprising a deck and the deck has a substantially planar top surface configured to support a user. The scooter includes at least one front wheel supported by the body and an angled rear portion supported by the body. It also includes a rear swivel wheel assembly comprising: an attachment portion coupled to the angled rear portion, a rear wheel rotatable about a wheel axis, and a support portion coupled to the attachment portion and configured to support the rear wheel. The support portion is configured to allow pivoting of the rear wheel relative to the angled rear portion and about a swivel axis. The angled rear portion is inclined with respect to the top surface of the deck and extends upward at an angle relative to the top surface of the deck, and the swivel axis is inclined with respect to the top surface of the deck. 
     Another embodiment of a personal mobility vehicle comprises a body having a deck configured to support a user and the body also comprising an inclined portion. The vehicle also includes a rear swivel wheel assembly supported by the inclined portion and the rear swivel wheel assembly includes a rear wheel configured to pivot about a swivel axis. The vehicle includes a brake assembly comprising: an attachment portion configured to be supported by the body, an actuator portion that is accessible to the foot of the user, and a braking surface supported by the brake assembly and configured to apply frictional braking force to the rear wheel when in contact with the rear wheel at various degrees of rotation of the rear wheel about the swivel axis. The brake assembly has an engaged position in which the braking surface is in contact with the rear wheel and the brake assembly is movable to the engaged position in response to the user acting upon the actuator portion. 
     Another preferred embodiment is a scooter having at least one swivel caster wheel mounted on the rear of the scooter, and at least one swivel caster wheel mounted on the front of the scooter, with the front swivel caster wheel operably coupled to a steering mechanism available to the user. In this embodiment, the user is able to cause the scooter to travel in a generally linear forward direction by pushing off of the ground with one of the user&#39;s feet and directing the front wheel with the steering mechanism. The user is also able to propel the scooter forward using a side to side motion which causes the scooter to propel forward due to the front and rear swivel caster wheels being mounted at an angle relative to the user support platform. 
     In this embodiment, the front swivel caster wheel may have a centering mechanism biasing the caster wheel to a neutral steering position. A spring action device may be mounted between the caster wheel assembly and some fixed portion of the user support platform of the scooter to provide rotational resistance to the caster wheel. In another preferred embodiment, self-centering of the swivel caster assembly may be provided by a torsion spring arrangement, such as a helical torsion spring. In these embodiments, the self-centering spring provides resistance to pivoting or turning of the swivel caster wheel assembly fork about its turning axis allowing the caster wheel to be steered by the user. The self-centering spring mechanism may also provide rotational resistance and a biasing force on the swivel caster wheel to return the swivel caster wheel to its neutral steering position when the scooter is being propelled by side to side movement by the user to propel the scooter in a forward direction. 
     Another preferred embodiment is a scooter having at least one swivel caster wheel mounted on the rear of the scooter, a front wheel operably coupled to a steering mechanism available to the user, where the scooter includes a rear braking mechanism which creates a frictional braking force upon the rear swivel caster wheel when acted upon by the user. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention are described below with reference to illustrations of a preferred embodiment, which is intended to illustrate, but not to limit, the present invention. 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a scooter. 
         FIG.  2    is a side view of the scooter of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    is a side view of the rear portion of the scooter of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  4    is an isometric view of the swivel caster wheel assembly of the scooter of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  5    is a perspective view of an alternate centering spring assembly. 
         FIG.  6    is a side view of an alternate embodiment of a swivel caster wheel assembly and rear portion of a scooter with a brake. 
         FIG.  7    is a top-down view of the underside of a swivel caster wheel assembly and brake mechanism of a scooter. 
         FIG.  8    is a perspective view of an embodiment of a swivel wheel brake assembly. 
         FIG.  9    is a bottom view of a braking surface of a swivel wheel brake assembly. 
         FIG.  10    is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a scooter. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present technology. While numerous specific embodiments of the present technology will be described in conjunction with the alternative embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the present technology to these embodiments. Instead, these described embodiments of the present technology are intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents. Furthermore, in the following detailed numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present technology. However, it will be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art that embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, compositions and mechanisms have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of embodiments of the present technology. 
       FIG.  1    shows a scooter  10  having certain features, aspects and advantages of the present disclosure. The depicted embodiment includes a scooter body  20 , which includes a deck  22  and a handlebar assembly  24 . Preferably, the upper surface of the deck  22  includes a foot rest surface  26  which is configured to support a foot or the feet of a user. The scooter  10  includes at least one front wheel  28  and at least one rear swivel caster wheel  29  supported by the scooter body  20 . The illustrated scooter  10  includes a front wheel  28  and a rear wheel  29  spaced apart from one another with the deck  22  extending therebetween. Preferably, the wheels  28 ,  29  are aligned in the same plane when the wheels  28 ,  29  are in a neutral position, as illustrated, and located at opposite ends of the deck  22 . As illustrated, a preferred embodiment of the scooter  10  also includes a head tube  30  which rotatably supports the handlebar assembly  24  so that the handlebar assembly  24  can rotate within the head tube  30 . The front wheel  28  is operatively coupled to the handlebar assembly  24  so that a user can steer the front wheel  28  by moving the handlebar assembly  24 . Preferably, the height of the handlebar assembly  24  can be adjusted by sliding telescoping portions of the handlebar assembly  24  relative to one another in a direction toward or away from the deck  22 . The scooter body  20  includes a support assembly  32  between the head tube  30  and the deck  22 . A pivoting mechanism (not shown) may be configured to allow the support assembly  32  and head tube  30  to rotate with respect to the scooter body  20 . In one embodiment, the scooter  10  is a folding scooter with the pivoting mechanism located at the support assembly  32 , head tube  30  or the handlebar assembly  24 . 
       FIG.  2    shows the scooter body  20  and wheels  28 ,  29  depicted in  FIG.  1   . The scooter body  20  includes an angled rear portion  34  supporting the rear swivel caster wheel  29 . As illustrated, the angled rear portion  34  may be an integrated portion of deck  22  configured so that an angle is formed between the plane of the deck  22  and the plane of the angled rear portion  34 . Preferably, the angle is an acute angle. In an alternate embodiment, the angled rear portion  34  may be a separate component coupled to the body  20  or deck  22  of the scooter so that an angle is formed with the plane of the deck  22 . The angled rear portion  34  includes a bottom surface which supports a swivel caster wheel assembly  36 . The wheel assembly  36  includes the rear swivel caster wheel  29 . The rear swivel wheel  29  has a pivot or swivel axis about which it can pivot or swivel. In this embodiment, mounting the rear swivel caster wheel  29  and swivel caster wheel assembly  36  to the bottom surface of the angled rear portion  34  causes an inclination of the pivot axis of the swivel caster wheel assembly  36  with respect to the top surface of the deck  22 . The pivot axis can be aligned so that it passes through the axis of the rear wheel axle, or the pivot axis can be forward of the axis of the rear wheel. In other embodiments, the angle between the plane of the deck  22  and the plane of the angled rear portion  34  is approximately 45 degrees, while in other embodiments this angle is greater than about 45 degrees. Preferably, the angle between the deck plane and the rear portion plane is less than about 45 degrees and greater than 1 degree. In some embodiments, the angle is less than about 30 degrees and greater than about 10 degrees. 
     The plane of the angled rear portion  34  also forms an angle with the plane of the riding surface and/or the plane that passes through the axles of the wheels  28  and  29 . For example, the angle between the plane of the angled rear portion  34  and the plane of the riding surface is preferably an acute angle that is less than about 45 degrees. In some embodiments, this angle is less than about 30 degrees and greater than about 10 degrees. In other embodiments, the angle between the plane of the rear portion  34  and the plane passing through the axles of the wheels  28  and  29  is an acute angle and less than about 45 degrees. In other embodiments, this angle is less than about 30 degrees and greater than about 10 degrees. In other embodiments, the surfaces of the angled rear portion  34  are curved. Preferably, the inclined pivot axis of the rear swivel wheel  29  is inclined with respect to and forms an angle with plane of the riding surface, the plane of the deck  26  and the plane that passes through the axes of the axles of the wheels  29  and  28 . Preferably, this angle between the inclined pivot axis and these planes is greater than about 45 degrees and in some embodiments can be between about 60 degrees and about 80 degrees. 
     The inclined pivot axis of the rear swivel caster wheel  29  allows the user to cause pivoting of the rear swivel caster wheel  29  by applying a force with a sideways component or an eccentric force to substantially one side of the rear portion of the foot rest surface  26  substantially above the rear swivel caster wheel  29 . Pivot rotation of the rear swivel caster wheel assembly  36  allows the rear portion of the scooter  10  to travel in a substantially different direction than the general direction of the travel of the front portion of the scooter  10 , rather than the rear wheel  29  necessarily substantially tracking the path of the front wheel  28 . This allows the user to cause the rear portion of the scooter  10  to travel in a substantially side-to-side or sideways motion while the front of the scooter  10  is travelling in a linear forward direction following the rotation of the front wheel  28 . This also allows the user to perform various stunts or tricks, including simulating a vehicular motion referred to as “drifting”, wherein while performing a turn, the rotational directions of the front wheel and rear swivel caster wheel are pointing in the opposite direction to the direction of the turn. 
       FIG.  3    shows the angled rear portion  34  of the scooter body  20  and rear swivel caster wheel  29  depicted in  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2   . The swivel caster wheel assembly  36  is supported by or mounted to the bottom surface of the angled rear portion  34 . The swivel caster wheel assembly  36  comprises a fork assembly  40 . In the illustrated embodiment, the scooter body  20  includes an angled rear portion  34  and the angled rear portion extends above the deck  22  so that the top surface of the angled rear portion is inclined with respect to the top surface of the deck  22 . This arrangement allows the scooter body and deck  22  and foot platform to be positioned at a low elevation relative to the riding surface and creates a low center of gravity for the user and scooter combination, providing greater stability and increasing turning ability for the user. As described above, the illustrated rear angled portion  34  can be a separate component that is coupled to the deck  22  by a suitable arrangement, such as fasteners  41 . Preferably, the deck  22  is substantially planar and the rear angled portion  34  is angled upwardly relative to the deck  22 . In one embodiment, an attachment portion (not visible) of the rear angled portion  34  is received within an internal space of the deck and can be angled with respect to the remainder of the rear angled portion  34 . 
     In another embodiment, the deck  22  of the scooter  10  is configured to be substantially flat with no inclination at the rear of the deck. The rear angled portion  34  can extend in a direction substantially parallel to the deck  22  so that it is not inclined relative to the deck. In such an embodiment, the caster wheel assembly  36  can be configured to include an inclined portion or angled feature that causes the inclined pivot axis of the rear swivel wheels  29  to be inclined relative to the riding surface, the plane of the deck  22  and/or the plane passing through the axes of the wheel axles. 
     In another embodiment, the rear angled portion  34  extends below the plane of the deck  22  and said rear angled portion  34  creates a declined angle with respect to the bottom surface of the scooter body  20  or the deck  22 . This embodiment positions the deck  22  and foot platform at a higher elevation relative to the ground and creates a higher center of gravity for the user and scooter combination. This embodiment also provides a substantially flat deck  22  and foot platform for the user and allows the user to place one or both of the user&#39;s feet directly above the rear caster wheel to apply sideways or eccentric forces to cause the caster assembly to pivot about the pivot axis. The elevated center of gravity in combination with the substantially flat deck  22  and foot platform allows the user to apply greater eccentric force upon the rear caster wheel to cause the caster wheel assembly to pivot about the pivot axis  44 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  4  and  5   , an embodiment of swivel caster wheel assembly  36  is shown, including centering spring assembly  38  coupled to the fork assembly  40 . Rear swivel caster wheel  29  is coupled to the fork assembly  40  for rotation about the wheel rotation axis  42 , such as on a conventional axle and bearing assembly. Conventional bearings and other hardware are not shown in this figure. Caster wheel assembly  36  may be secured or bolted to the scooter at an angled surface such as the angled rear portion  34  to permit pivoting of rear swivel caster wheel  29  about pivot axis  44 , which when assembled to the scooter  10  preferably is oriented at an angle relative to a vertical direction. The centering spring assembly  38  may comprise a bearing assembly which can include an inner race and an outer race, where the outer race is mounted in a friction fit opening in a bearing ring of the fork shell assembly  40  for rotation about pivot axis  44 , and the inner race is mounted to rotate relative to the outer race about the pivot axis  44 . 
     The centering spring assembly  38  may further comprise a helical torsion spring  54  mounted to the outer race of the bearing assembly such that rotation of the outer race about the pivot axis  44  (along with the fork shell assembly  40 ) results in rotation of the helical torsion spring  54  about the pivot axis  44 . The coil torsion spring  54  may include a first spring arm  56  and a second spring arm  58  extending outwardly from the center of coil torsion spring  54 . One embodiment of the caster wheel assembly  36  includes a first spring post  48  and a second spring post  50  configured to abut first spring arm  56  and second spring arm  58 , respectively, such that rotation of the fork shell assembly  40  about pivot axis  44  causes a twisting force to be applied to the helical torsion spring  54  when first spring arm  56  abuts first spring post  48  and restricts rotational movement of the first spring arm in one rotational direction, or second spring arm  58  abuts second spring post  50  and restricts rotational movement of the second spring arm in the other rotational direction. When all rotational force is removed from fork shell assembly  40 , helical torsion spring  54  returns to its neutral position causing fork shell assembly  40  and thus swivel caster wheel assembly  36  to return to its neutral steering position. 
     Another embodiment of the centering spring assembly  38  may comprise one spring post, with the first spring arm  56  and second spring arm  58  extending from the center of helical torsion spring  54  in substantially a similar direction abutting the spring post on each side of said spring post. When a rotational force is applied to fork shell assembly  40  in one direction, first spring arm  56  abuts a first side of the spring post restricting rotational movement of the first spring arm and the rotational force creates a bending moment to helical torsion spring such that first spring arm  56  and second spring arm  58  are moved apart. This action is repeated for the second spring arm  58  and second side of the spring post when the rotational force is applied to the fork shell assembly in the other direction. When all rotational force is removed from fork shell assembly  40 , helical torsion spring  54  returns to its neutral position causing fork shell assembly  40  and thus swivel caster wheel assembly  36  to return to its neutral steering position. It is understood that further embodiments are possible and considered incorporating similar elements to achieve the same result to cause the swivel caster wheel assembly to be centered when pivot rotational forces applied to the fork shell assembly can be overcome or are removed completely. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  6   , a close up side view of a rear swivel caster wheel  29  with rear caster brake  60  is illustrated in an upside-down orientation. The rear caster brake  60  is rotatably or pivotably coupled to the rear of scooter body  20 . In one embodiment the rear caster brake  60  is pivotably coupled to the angled rear portion  34  as depicted in  FIG.  6   . In another embodiment the rear caster brake  60  includes a braking surface  62  to apply frictional braking force upon the outer circumference of the rear swivel caster wheel  29 . The rear portion of the deck  22  of the scooter body  20  may comprise a void extending from the top of deck  22  through the bottom surface of scooter body  20  and configured to have substantially the same shape and size as the rear caster brake  60  or a user actuator portion of the rear caster brake  60 . In another embodiment, the rear caster brake  60  is pivotably coupled to the rear end of scooter body  20 . In some embodiments, the rear caster brake  60  is positioned above the rear swivel caster wheel  29  such that the top surface of the rear caster brake  60  (or user actuator portion) is available to the foot of the user in a standing position above the deck. 
     In one embodiment, the rear caster brake  60  comprises a braking surface  62  which may be configured with a concave curvature  64  such that the degree of concave curvature is greater than or at least equal to the curvature of the outer circumference surface of the rear wheel to allow for maximum frictional contact between the braking surface  62  and the rear wheel. A biasing mechanism such as a spring or elastic member is included to bias the rear caster brake  60  toward a first position in which the braking surface is not in frictional contact with the outer circumference surface of the rear swivel caster wheel  29 . The rear caster brake  60  is configured such that a downward force applied by the foot of a user causes the rear caster brake  60  to move from the first position to a second position in which the braking surface is in frictional contact with the outer circumference surface of the rear swivel caster wheel  29 . The frictional contact applied by the bottom surface of the rear caster brake  60  causes the rear caster wheel  29  to slow in rotation, causing the scooter  10  to slow and/or come to a stop. Advantageously, the material of the frictional braking surface  62  can be selected to exhibit desirable frictional properties or wear properties, for example. Thus, the material of the frictional braking surface  62  can be optimized relative to the material used for the rear caster brake  60 , if desired. 
     In the illustrated arrangement, the frictional braking surface  62  is directly affixed to the rear caster brake  60 ; however, in other arrangements, the frictional braking surface  62  could be indirectly or otherwise coupled (e.g., through a linkage arrangement) to the rear caster brake  60 . For example, in such an arrangement, the frictional braking surface  62  could rotate about the pivot axis  44  along with the rear caster wheel  29  and could be actuated by a stationary actuator portion of the brake  60 , which is configured to actuate the frictional braking surface  62  in multiple positions of the wheel  29 , including all possible positions or a subset of all possible positions, such as in positions in which the wheel  29  is trailing or positioned behind the pivot axis  44 . Alternatively, the frictional braking surface  62  and the actuator portion could rotate about the pivot axis  44  along with the rear caster wheel  29  and the actuator portion could be configured to remain accessible to the user in multiple positions of the wheel  29 , including all possible positions or a subset of all possible positions, such as in positions in which the wheel  29  is trailing or positioned behind the pivot axis  44 . In such an arrangement, if provided, the void can be larger than the actuator portion to permit rotational movement of the actuator portion throughout a desired range of motion of the rear wheel  29  about the pivot axis  44 . Further, the void, acting on the actuator portion, could function as a limit stop arrangement to define maximum rotational positions of the rear wheel  29  about the pivot axis  44 . 
       FIG.  7    shows a bottom view of a scooter and rear caster brake. In a preferred embodiment, the rear caster brake  60  may be configured such that the braking surface  62  is substantially greater in width than the width of rear caster wheel  29 . This configuration allows the user to apply the rear caster brake while the rear caster assembly is pointed in a non-neutral steering direction. In a preferred embodiment, the rear caster brake  60  comprises a braking surface  62  with a concavely curved surface  64 , where the concave curvature follows a laterally curved path such that the lateral curve of the concave curvature surface  64  substantially follows the general travel of the outer circumference of the rear caster wheel  29  as it pivots about the pivot axis  44 . Thus, the laterally curved path of the concavely curved surface  64  defines a radius about the pivot axis  44  of the rear caster wheel  29 . This configuration allows the user to apply the rear caster brake  60  while the rear caster wheel  29  is pointed in a generally non-neutral steering position to apply an effective and safe frictional braking force on the rear caster wheel  29 . In another embodiment, the braking surface  62  consists of a durable material such as a hard plastic, metal, or metal alloy. In another embodiment, the braking surface  62  is removable and replaceable by the user. 
       FIG.  8    illustrates an embodiment of a rear caster or swivel braking assembly including a brake  60 . The braking assembly includes a braking surface  62  configured to contact a rear swivel wheel and apply a braking force to the wheel. The braking surface  62  includes a concave curvature  64  that can generally correspond to the outer circumferential surface of the rear swivel wheel  29 , as described above. The curvature  64  allows for more contact area between the braking surface  62  and the wheel  29 . The braking surface  62  can be coupled to or supported by the brake  60 . The brake  60  can include a cut-out or recess portion configured to receive at least a portion of the braking surface  62 . The brake  60  also includes an attachment portion  72  that is configured to be coupled to or supported by the body  20 , deck  22 , or the angled rear portion  34 . Preferably, the attachment portion  72  is rotatably supported by the body  20 , deck  22 , and/or the angled rear portion  34 . Preferably, the braking assembly is biased away from a position in which the braking surface  62  contacts the rear wheel  29 . 
     The braking assembly can also include an actuation portion  70  that is coupled to the swivel brake  60 . The actuation portion  70  can be configured to be accessible to the foot of a user such that a user can engage the brake  60 . Preferably, the actuation portion extends upward from the brake  60  and toward a user riding the vehicle. The actuation portion  70  can extend through a void or opening in the body  20 , deck  22 , and/or the angled rear portion  34  so as to be accessible to the foot of a user. 
       FIG.  9    illustrates the bottom view of an embodiment of a braking surface  62  configured to frictionally contact a rear swivel wheel  29 . The braking surface  62  includes a concave curvature or cut-out  64 , as discussed above. As illustrated, the concave curvature or cut-out  64  has a curved or radial path. Preferably, the curved path of the concave cut-out  64  corresponds to the path of the rear wheel  29  as the rear wheel  29  swivels or rotates about its swivel axis. This curved path of the cut-out  64  causes the portion of the wheel  29  in contact with the braking surface  62  to remain within the concave cut out or curvature  64 . The curved path also allows for more contact area between the swivel wheel  29  and the braking surface  62 , even when the rear wheel  29  is swiveling from side to side. The braking surface  62  can be coupled to the brake body  60  or braking assembly by attachment means such as screws, pins, clips or bolts. Preferably, the braking surface  62  is removable from the brake  60  and can be replaced by a user when worn. 
       FIG.  10    depicts an alternate embodiment of the caster scooter  10 . The illustrated embodiment includes a scooter body  20 , which includes a deck  22  and a handlebar assembly  24 . The scooter  10  includes at least one rear swivel caster wheel  29  supported by the scooter body  20 , as described above with respect to any of the previously described embodiments. The scooter  10  also includes at least one front swivel caster wheel assembly  69  including at least one front swivel caster wheel  63  supported by the head tube  30  and operably coupled to the handlebar assembly  24 . The front swivel caster wheel  63  rotates about a swivel axis. The illustrated scooter  10  includes a front wheel  63  and a rear wheel  29  spaced apart from one another with the deck  22  extending therebetween. Preferably, the wheels  63 ,  29  are aligned in the same plane when the wheels  63 ,  29  are in a neutral steering position, as illustrated, and located at opposite ends of the deck  22 . The scooter body  20  includes a support assembly  32  between the head tube  30  and the deck  22 . A pivoting mechanism (not shown) may be configured to allow the support assembly  32  and head tube  30  to rotate with respect to the scooter body  20 . As illustrated, a preferred embodiment of the scooter  10  also includes a head tube  30  which rotatably supports the handlebar assembly  24  so that the handlebar assembly  24  can rotate or swivel within the head tube  30 . 
     In one preferred embodiment, the front swivel caster wheel assembly  69  and front swivel caster wheel  63  may rotate freely independently of the handlebar assembly  24 . In another preferred embodiment, the rotation of the front swivel caster assembly  69  and the front swivel caster wheel  63  may be limited in rotation to a predefined range of motion in relation to the handlebar assembly  24  to allow the user some control as to the general direction of rotation of the front swivel caster wheel  63 . In another preferred embodiment, the front swivel caster wheel assembly  69  may comprise a biasing member (such as helical torsion spring  54 ) to rotationally bias the front swivel caster wheel assembly to its neutral steering position. In another preferred embodiment, the front swivel caster wheel assembly  69  and the front swivel caster wheel  63  may be supported by the scooter body  20  such that the at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel are spaced apart from one another with the deck  22  extending therebetween. This embodiment may comprise a handlebar assembly  24  supported by the scooter body  20  providing a means for stability and balance to the user while riding the scooter. The handlebar assembly may also be useful to the user to exert eccentric side-to-side forces upon the at least one front swivel caster wheel  63  to cause the front swivel caster wheel to rotate about its pivot axis. 
     Although this invention has been disclosed in the context of certain preferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the invention and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. In particular, while the present systems and methods have been described in the context of particularly preferred embodiments, the skilled artisan will appreciate, in view of the present disclosure, that certain advantages, features and aspects of the systems and methods may be realized in a variety of other applications, many of which have been noted above. Additionally, it is contemplated that various aspects and features of the invention described can be practiced separately, combined together, or substituted for one another, and that a variety of combination and subcombinations of the features and aspects can be made and still fall within the scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the invention herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular embodiments described above, but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims that follow.