Patent Publication Number: US-2022212745-A1

Title: Foldable scooter

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a foldable scooter. 
     Description of the Prior Art 
     Scooter is another type of sporting product different form the skateboard. A scooter usually includes a deck assembly, a steering assembly, a front wheel and a rear wheel. The steering assembly can operate to control the front wheel to make a turn or the like. Although the scooter is relatively smaller than a bicycle, there is still a need for folding the scooter. 
     The conventional folding scooter usually uses a wire or rope in its folding control mechanism, so the overall structure is not compact, easy to damage, and difficult to control. 
     The present invention is, therefore, arisen to obviate or at least mitigate the above-mentioned disadvantages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The main object of the present invention is to provide a foldable scooter which has a compact structure, and is easy and reliable to fold. 
     To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention provides a foldable scooter, including: a deck assembly and a steering assembly; the steering assembly including a steering rod, a head tube sleeved around the steering rod and a bracket, the deck assembly including a deck body and a connector connected to a front end of the deck body, the bracket being connected between the head tube and the connector; the connector including at least one guiding groove, each of the at least one guiding groove including an unfolding positioning slot and a folding positioning slot which are arranged in interval; a slidable member being slidably disposed in the bracket, at least one engaging portion being disposed on the slidable member, slidable along the at least one guiding groove and releasably blocked within the unfolding positioning slot or releasably blocked within the folding positioning slot, the foldable scooter further including a linkage mechanism connected to the bracket, connected with the slidable member and configured to release the at least one engaging portion from the unfolding positioning slot or the folding positioning slot; the linkage mechanism including a lever, a driving member and a linking member, the driving member and the linking member being connected to the bracket, the lever being located at a side of the bracket facing toward a rear end of the deck body; the driving member including a driving portion, a connecting portion and a lever mounting portion, the driving portion being connected with the linking member, the linking member being connected with the slidable member; the connecting portion being connected to the bracket by a second shaft, the lever being rotatably connected to the lever mounting portion, the lever being freely rotatable relative to the driving member between a first position and a second position so as to provide an idling rotation stroke of the lever; the lever including an abutting portion abuttable against the driving member on a rotation direction of the lever to drive the driving member; wherein when the lever is located in the first position, the lever is adjacent to the bracket and the abutting portion is distanced from the driving member in the rotation direction of the lever and the at least one engaging portion is releasably blocked within the unfolding positioning slot or releasably blocked within the folding positioning slot; when the lever is rotated away from the bracket from the first position to be located in the second position, the lever is abutted against the driving member in the rotation direction of the lever and the driving member is driven to move by the lever as the lever is rotated away from the bracket from the second position, and the at least one engaging portion is released from the unfolding positioning slot or released from the folding positioning slot. 
     The foldable scooter of the present is provided with a linkage mechanism but not a wire control mechanism, so it has a compact structure, and is easy and reliable to fold. The lever is provided with idling rotation stroke (about 30 degrees) to prevent unintended folding due to unintended releasing of the folding control mechanism by kicking of a foot. For example, the foldable scooter would not be folded if a user unintendedly moves the lever within the idling rotation stroke. The folding of the foldable scooter can be carried out by operating the lever with a foot, which is very convenient. 
     The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiment(s) in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a stereogram of a preferable embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is another stereogram of a preferable embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a breakdown drawing of a preferable embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a stereogram showing a foldable scooter with its handle assembly detached according to a preferable embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIGS. 6-9  are cross-sectional views showing operation of a folding control mechanism to fold the foldable scooter according to a preferable embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIGS. 10-13  are partial enlarged cross-sectional views showing operation of a folding control mechanism to fold the foldable scooter according to a preferable embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 1 to 2  for a preferable embodiment of the present invention. A foldable scooter of the present invention includes a deck assembly, a steering assembly, a front wheel  50 , a rear wheel  90  and a folding control mechanism  60 . The rear wheel  90  is mounted to the deck assembly. The steering assembly controls the front wheel to make a turn. The folding control mechanism  60  is disposed between the deck assembly and the steering assembly and configured for controlling folding/unfolding of the steering assembly relative to the deck assembly. 
     Specifically, the steering assembly includes a handle assembly  10 , a steering rod  20 , a head tube  31 , a bracket  32  and a wheel mounting mechanism  40  (such as a fork). The front wheel  50  is rotatably mounted to the wheel mounting mechanism  40 , and the wheel mounting mechanism  40  is connected with the steering rod  20 . The steering rod  20  is disposed through the head tube  31  and rotatable relative to the head tube  31 , and relative axial movement of the steering rod  20  and the head tube  31  is limited. The handle assembly  10  is connected to an upper portion of the steering rod  20 . The bracket  32  is fixedly connected or integrally formed with the head tube  31 , and the bracket  32  is connected to the deck assembly. 
     The deck assembly includes a deck body  70 , a connector connected to a front end of the deck body  70 , a shock absorbing mechanism  72  and a wheel mounting mechanism  80 . The connector includes two plates  71  separately and oppositely connected to the front end of the deck body  70 . Each of the two plates  71  includes one guiding groove  712  and a first shaft hole  711 . Each of two sides of the bracket  32  includes a second shaft hole  321 , and a first shaft  75  is disposed through each said first shaft hole  711  and each said second shaft hole  321  to connect the bracket  32  and the deck assembly. The wheel mounting mechanism  80  is mounted to the rear end of the deck body  70 , and the shock absorbing mechanism  72  is disposed between the wheel mounting mechanism  80  and the deck body  70 . The rear wheel  90  is rotatably mounted to the wheel mounting mechanism  80 . It is noted that the lever  62  is located at a side  323  of the bracket  32  facing toward a rear end of the deck body  70  so that the lever  62  can be driven, for example, by one foot, which is convenient. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the handle assembly  10  includes two handlebars  11 , a clamping member  12 , a supporting rod  13 , an urging member  14  and a handlebar holder  15 . The supporting rod  13  is inserted within the steering rod  20 , and the urging member  14  is disposed around an upper portion of the steering rod  20  and configured to releasably urge the supporting rod  13  so that the supporting rod  13  is adjustable in length. The clamping member  12  is secured to the supporting rod  13 , and the two handlebars  11  are detachably secured by the clamping member  12 . The handlebar holder  15  is mounted to the steering rod  20 , and the handlebar holder  15  includes two clamps configured to hold the two handlebars  11  detached from the clamping member  12  ( FIG. 4 ). As a result, it is good for storage. After the two handlebars  11  are detached from the clamping member  12 , a pad  121  is clamped in the clamping member  12 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the folding control mechanism  60  includes a slidable member  61 , a lever  62 , a driving member  63 , a linking member  64 , a second shaft  65 , a first pin  661 , a second pin  662 , a third pin  663  and a pin member  68 . The slidable member  61  includes a through hole  611  at an lower portion thereof, the bracket  32  is a hollow tubular member. Each of the two sides of the bracket  32  further includes an elongate hole  322 , the pin member  68  is disposed through the through hole  611 , and the slidable member  61  further includes a fastener  69  which is inserted or screwed within the bottom side of the slidable member  61  to position the pin member  68 . The slidable member  61  is slidably disposed in the bracket  32 . At least one engaging portion  610  is disposed on the slidable member  61 , slidable along the guiding groove  712  and releasably blocked within the unfolding positioning slot  713  or releasably blocked within the folding positioning slot  714 . The slidable member  61  further includes a main body  613 , the pin member  68  is disposed laterally through the main body  613 , the main body  613  is slidably disposed in the bracket  32 , and two ends of the pin member  68  are protrusive from the main body  613  to form the at least one engaging portion  610 . Each of two ends of the pin member  68  (engaging portion  610 ) is slidably inserted within one said elongate hole  322 . The lever  62 , the driving member  63  and the linking member  64  form a linkage mechanism to drive the slidable member  61  to move relative to the bracket  32  for a stroke limited by the elongate hole  322 . The driving member  63  and the linking member  64  are disposed in the bracket  32 , and the lever  62  is disposed outside the bracket  32  and is connected with the driving member  63 . Specifically, the driving member  63  includes a driving portion  631 , a connecting portion  632  and a lever mounting portion  633 . The driving portion  631  is rotatably connected with the linking member  64  by the second pin  662 , the linking member  64  is rotatably connected with the slidable member  61  by a third pin  663 , and the connecting portion  632  is connected to the bracket  32  by the second shaft  65  which is disposed through two second shaft hole  323  on two sides of the bracket  32 . The lever  62  is rotatably connected with the lever mounting portion  633  by the first pin  661 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , the lever  62  includes a lever main body  621  and an abutting portion  622  abuttable against the lever mounting portion  633  of other part of the driving member  63  on a rotation direction of the lever  62  to drive the driving member  63 . In this embodiment, the lever  62  is freely rotatable relative to the driving member  63  between a first position and a second position so as to provide an idling rotation stroke of the lever  62 , and the idling rotation stroke is preferably of traveling for a range about 30 degrees. The idling rotation stroke ensures that the foldable scooter is not folded until the lever  62  is swung over a larger angle (for example, about 90 degrees) to unlock the folding control mechanism  60 , which provides most reliable safety in riding the foldable scooter. When the lever  62  is located in the first position, the lever  62  is adjacent to or contacts the bracket  32  and the abutting portion is distanced from the driving member  63  in the rotation direction of the lever  62 . When the lever  62  is rotated away from the bracket  32  from the first position to be located in the second position, the lever  62  is abutted against the driving member  63  in the rotation direction of the lever  62 , and the driving member  63  is driven to move by the lever  62  as the lever  62  is rotated away from the bracket  32  from the second position. The linkage mechanism further includes a resilient member  625  disposed around the first pin  661  and biasing the lever  62  toward the first position so that the lever  62  contacts the bracket  32 . 
     In this embodiment, the lever  62  is rotated upwardly to drive the driving member  63  to rotate, and the driving member  63  rotates to pull the linking member  64  so as to move the slidable member  61  upwardly so that respective one of two ends of the pin member  68  slides along one said elongate hole  322 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , each said plate  71  further includes one said guiding groove  712  extending around the first shaft hole  711 , and the respective one of two ends of the pin member  68  slides along one said guiding groove  712 . Each said guiding groove includes an unfolding positioning slot  713  and a folding positioning slot  714 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , as the foldable scooter is kept in the unfolding state, the pin member  68  (engaging portion  610 ) is releasably blocked within the unfolding positioning slot  713  ( FIG. 10 ). As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , to fold the foldable scooter, the lever  62  is rotated to drive the slidable member  61  to move upward so that the pin member  68  is moved to disengage from the unfolding positioning slot  713  and movable along the guiding groove  712 , and the foldable scooter can be folded. As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , as the foldable scooter is kept in the folding state, the pin member  68  is blocked by the slidable member  61  and releasably blocked within the folding positioning slot  714  ( FIG. 13 ). Since the lever  62  is incorporated with the very important safety mechanism (idling rotation stroke), the lever  62  is hardly to be rotated by user&#39;s foot over an angle (about 90 degrees) sufficient to disengage the pin member  68  from the folding positioning slot  714 . This provides excellent safety for scooter riding. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3, 5 and 6 , in this embodiment, the folding control mechanism  60  further includes an elastic member  67 , the slidable member  61  further includes an inner chamber  612  in which the elastic member is disposed, and the first shaft  75  is disposed through the inner chamber  612  so that the slidable member  61  is movable relative to the first shaft  75 , and the elastic member  67  is abutted between the first shaft  75  and an inner face of the inner chamber  612 . When the slidable member  61  moves upward, the elastic member  67  is compressed ( FIGS. 6-8 ); and when the external force is removed from the slidable member  61 , the elastic member  67  urges the slidable member  61  to move downward and return to its original position ( FIGS. 5 and 9 ). 
     It is noted that the operation of the lever  62  includes two steps. In the first step, the lever  62  is moved to compress the resilient member  625  and completes the idling rotation stroke of the lever  62  ( FIGS. 10 and 11 ), and the abutting portion  622  is abutted against the lever mounting portion  633 . In the first step, during the idling rotation stroke the foldable scooter cannot be unlocked and is not foldable, so the user is absolutely safe during riding. In the second step, the lever  62  keeps moving, the driving member  63  is rotated to drive the slidable member  61  to move upward so as to disengage the first shaft  75  from the unfolding positioning slot  713  or the folding positioning slot  714  ( FIG. 12 ). The operation of the lever  62  may be preferably carried out by one foot or by one hand. 
     Specifically, the lever  62  further includes a notch  623  and a flange  624  which are arranged in interval, the notch  623  receives part of the lever mounting portion  633 , and the flange  624  includes the abutting portion  622  and is abuttable against the lever mounting portion  633  on the rotation direction of the lever  62  to drive the driving member  63 . 
     The lever main body  621  extends away from the pin member  661 , the lever main body  621  includes a convex portion  626  abuttable against the side  323  of the bracket  32  facing toward the rear end of the deck body  70 , and the pin member  661  and the distal end of the lever main body  621  are located at opposite sides of the convex portion  626 . A gap G is formed between a distal end of the lever main body  621  and the side  323  of the bracket  32 , which is convenient to operate the lever  62 . 
     A concave  614  is formed on an upper portion of the inner face of the inner chamber  612  and receives the first shaft  75 . The side  323  of the bracket  32  includes an opening  324 , the linking member  64  extends arcuately, and the driving member  63  and the linking member  64  are partially protrusive out of the bracket  32  via the opening  324  when the lever  62  is located in the second position, which avoiding jamming of the folding control mechanism  60 . 
     The lever  62  further includes a recess  627  between the notch  623  and the flange  624 , the lever mounting portion  633  includes a projection  634  projecting within the recess  627 , and the flange  624  is abuttable against the projection  634  on the rotation direction of the lever to drive the driving member  63 . The main body  613  of the slidable member  61  is generally cuboid and has a cross-section corresponding to the tubular bracket  32  in shape, and thus the slidable member  61  can stably move along the tubular bracket  32 . 
     Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.