Patent Publication Number: US-2006001227-A1

Title: Scooter

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a scooter. More particularly, this invention relates to a scooter with a decorative head and a handle panel that simulate machines or animals, etc.  
      There are many scooters by prior art. A scooter generally provides a function of funny and easy riding for a user. Since using a scooter requires little skill, a scooter is widely used for children&#39;s entertainment. While scooters by prior art generally provided operability, safety and convenience etc. that are essentially required for children&#39;s toys, no scooters by prior art provided aesthetic appearance that can simulate feelings related to common objects that are interesting to the children, such as cars or animals.  
      A scooter having aesthetic function that can simulate common objects so that it can induce children&#39;s great interest has long been in need.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention contrives to solve the disadvantages of the prior art.  
      An objective of the invention is to provide a scooter that has an aesthetic appearance.  
      Another objective of the invention is to provide a scooter having appearance that simulates feelings of objects that are popular among children.  
      Still another objective of the invention is to provide a scooter having appearance having decorative parts that vary in position, size and design.  
      To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a scooter that includes a footboard, a plurality of wheels rotatably attached to the footboard, an elongated rod attached to the footboard, a handle attached to the enlongated rod and a decorative portion. The footboard includes a front end and a rear end. The elongated rod is attached near or at the front end. The decorative portion includes affront decorative portion that is attached near or at the front end.  
      The front decorative portion has a shape of a shell having a front cavity. The front cavity substantially encloses the front end of the footboard.  
      The front decorative portion simulates a front portion of a vehicle, and the wheels near the front end of the footboard simulate wheels of a vehicle.  
      Specifically, the front decorative portion simulates a front portion of a fire engine or a police car. The elongated rod passes through the roof of the fire engine or the police car. The roof includes a portion simulating an emergency light.  
      The decorative portion further includes a handle decorative portion that is attached to the handle. The handle decorative portion includes one or more lamps that simulate lamps of the vehicle.  
      Alternatively, the front decorative portion simulates a head and/or body of an animal.  
      The front decorative portion may be integrated with the footboard.  
      The decorative portion further includes a rear decorative portion that is attached at the rear end of the footboard.  
      The rear decorative portion may be integrated with the footboard.  
      The rear decorative portion has a shape of a shell having a rear cavity. The rear cavity substantially encloses the rear end of the footboard.  
      The rear decorative portion simulates a rear portion of a vehicle, and the wheels near the rear end of the footboard simulate wheels of a vehicle.  
      Alternatively, the rear decorative portion simulates a body of an animal.  
      The decorative portion further includes one or more side decorative portions that are attached to the sides of the footboard.  
      The side decorative portions may be integrated with the footboard.  
      The advantages of the present invention are: (1) a scooter having aesthetic appearance in addition to the function of handy riding means is provided; (2) the scooter simulates popular objects among children and thus induces interest and fun to children; (3) the scooter is safer since the flexible decorative portions provide a buffer and absorb impact energy.  
      Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the fuller understanding of the invention can be obtained by the following drawings, detailed description and appended claims.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a scooter of the present invention, which simulates a fire engine;  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of another scooter of the present invention, which simulates a police car;  
       FIG. 3  is an elevation view of the scooter;  
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 3 ;  
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of still another scooter of the present invention, which simulates an animal;  
       FIG. 6  is an elevation view of the scooter; and  
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 6 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       FIGS. 1 and 3  show a scooter  10  according to the present invention. The scooter  10  includes a footboard  12 , a plurality of wheels  14  rotatably attached to the footboard  12 , an elongated rod  16  attached to the footboard  12 , a handle  18  attached to the enlongated rod  16  and a decorative portion  20 . The footboard  12  includes a front end  22  and a rear end  24 . The elongated rod  16  is attached near or at the front end  22 . The elongated rod  16  is substantially perpendicular to the footboard  12 .  
      The decorative portion  20  includes a front decorative portion  26  that is attached near or at the front end  22 . The front decorative portion  26  simulates the front portion of a fire engine in  FIG. 1 . The front decorative portion  26  mocks up the cab, windows, front bumper, fender, and lights of a fire engine. Also, a sticker displaying instrument panels or other tools may be attached to the decorative portion  20 .  
       FIG. 2  shows another embodiment of the present invention. The decorative portion includes a front decorative portion  28  that simulates a police car.  
       FIG. 4  shows that the front decorative portion  26  has a shape of a shell having a front cavity  30 . The front cavity  30  substantially encloses the front end  22  of the footboard  12 . The front decorative portion  26  is made of flexible material such as plastic.  
      The front decorative portion  26 ,  28  simulates a front portion of a vehicle, and the wheels  14  near the front end  22  of the footboard  12  simulate wheels of a vehicle.  
      Referring back to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the front decorative portion  26 ,  28  simulates a front portion of a fire engine or a police car. The elongated rod  16  passes through the roof  32  of the fire engine or the police car. The roof  32  includes a portion simulating an emergency light  34 . The elongated rod  16  passes through the center of the emergency light  34 .  
      The decorative portion  20  further includes a handle decorative portion  36  that is attached to the handle  18 . The handle decorative portion  36  includes one or more lamps  38  that simulate lamps of the vehicle. The lamps  38  may be turned on or off by a switch (not shown) provided in the handle  18 . In  FIG. 2 , the handle decorative portion  36  mocks up a front panel of a police motorcycle.  
      Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the decorative portion  20  includes a front decorative portion  40  that simulates a head and/or body of an animal.  
      The front decorative portion  26 ,  28 ,  40  may be integrated with the footboard  12 .  
       FIG. 6  shows that the decorative portion  20  further includes a rear decorative portion  42  that is attached at the rear end  24  of the footboard  12 .  
      The rear decorative portion  42  may be integrated with the footboard  12 .  
       FIG. 7  shows that the rear decorative portion  42  has a shape of a shell having a rear cavity  44 . The rear cavity  44  substantially encloses the rear end  24  of the footboard  12 . The rear decorative portion  42  is made of flexible material such as plastic.  
      The rear decorative portion  42  simulates a rear portion of a vehicle, and the wheels  14  near the rear end  24  of the footboard  12  simulate wheels of a vehicle.  
      Alternatively, the rear decorative portion simulates a body of an animal.  
      The decorative portion  20  further includes one or more side decorative portions  46  that are attached to the sides of the footboard, 12 .  
      The side decorative portions  46  may be integrated with the footboard  12 .  
      While the invention has been shown and described with reference to different embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations in form, detail, compositions and operation may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.