Patent ID: 12202561

NUMBERING REFERENCE

10—Scooter Stand100—Vertical Frame102—Inner Vertical Bar102a—Top End102b—Bottom End104—Outer Vertical Bar104a—Top End104b—Bottom End106—Support110—First Aperture112—Adjusting mechanism/First Locking Mechanism120—Yoke122—Arm124—Connecting Member130—Strap132—Side Release Buckle140—Linking Bar200—Horizontal Frame200a—Front End200b—Rear End202—Front Horizontal Frame202a—Front End202b—Rear End204—Rear Horizontal Frame204a—Front End204b—Rear End204c—Side206—Bottom Plate206a—Base206b—Extensions210—Second Aperture212—Second Locking Mechanism220—Front Bar222—Intermediate Bar224—Rear Bar230—Ramp230a—Groove232—Ramp Frame232a—Ridge Portion232b—Oblique Surface234—Wheel Stop236—Receptacle240—Helmet Hanger242—Podium244—Linking Member250—Non-skid Pads300—Scooter302—Scooter Stem304—Horizontal Deck306—Front Wheel308—Rear Wheel310—Helmet

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description and accompanying drawings provide a comprehensive disclosure of an exemplary embodiment for the purpose of facilitating one of ordinary skill in the relevant art to make and use the invention. As such, the detailed description and illustration of the one or more exemplary embodiments presented herein are purely exemplary in nature and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention or its protection in any matter. It is further noted that the drawings may not be to scale, and in some cases, certain details may be omitted which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention, such as conventional details of fabrication and assembly. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description.

For purposes of description herein, various spatial terms, such as “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “rear”, “horizontal”, “vertical” and derivatives thereof may be used to describe relative positions of one element and another element with respect to the drawings and shall relate to the device as oriented inFIG.1. However, it should be understood that these terms are not intended to be limiting or absolute.

A non-limiting, exemplary embodiment (hereinafter as “the exemplary embodiment”) of a scooter stand10is disclosed herein. The scooter stand10provides support to a foldable scooter by holding a folded scooter in a vertical position, thereby minimizing storage space. Moreover, the scooter stand10is also adjustable to accommodate various scooters which may vary in size and in diameter of the front wheel.

Referring initially toFIG.1, a scooter stand1is illustrated in accordance with the exemplary embodiment. The scooter stand1generally comprises an adjustable vertical frame100, a horizontal frame200, a ramp230, and a wheel stop22. The vertical frame100may extend in a vertical direction z that is perpendicular to a longitudinal direction y and a transverse direction x. The horizontal frame200may extend in the transverse direction x. Preferably, the vertical frame100is coupled to a front portion of the horizontal frame200. The vertical frame100further comprises two outer vertical bars104parallelly separated by a predetermined distance, and two inner vertical bars102. Each of the outer vertical bars104and the inner vertical bars102has a top end102a,104aand a bottom end102b,104b. Each of the inner vertical bars102has a smaller width than each of the vertical frame100and is partially disposed and movable within the outer vertical bars104in the vertical direction z. A first locking mechanism112, such as utilizing nuts and bolts with apertures110, as shown inFIG.1, is positioned at an overlapping portion of the outer vertical bar102and the inner vertical bar104for locking the vertical frame100to a locking position. Each of the inner vertical bars104and the outer vertical bars102comprises a plurality of apertures110aligned in a column along the vertical direction z configured to receive the first locking mechanism120. As a result, the inner vertical bars102may be adjusted to a desired height having one of the apertures110of the inner vertical bar102aligned with one of the apertures110of the inner vertical bar104, such that the bolt may be inserted through the aligned apertures110and be fastened by the nut. The first locking mechanism112may alternatively include, but is not limited to screws, latches, button locks, and any suitable adjustable fasteners known in the art. Although the arrangement of the exemplary embodiment shown inFIG.1, preferably locates the inner vertical bar102being movable along the top end104aof the outer vertical bar104, this arrangement may be opposite, having the outer vertical bar104being movable along the top end102aof the inner vertical bar102.

With continue reference toFIG.1and in conjunction withFIG.2, the horizontal frame200has a front end220aand a rear end220band further comprises a front horizontal frame202, a rear horizontal frame204, and a bottom plate206. To increase steadiness and securement, the exemplary embodiment further comprises at least one support160, a front bar220and an intermediate bar222, thereby mitigating the risk of the scooter stand10tilting or tipping over. It is preferable that the at least one support160has a substantial triangular configuration having a right angle positioned at a joining portion of the vertical frame100and the horizontal frame200, with a first side coupling to the vertical frame100, and a second side adjacent to the first side coupling the horizontal frame200. The front bar220and the intermediate bar222extend in the longitudinal direction y and are coplanar to the horizontal frame200. The front bar220is coupled to a front end202aof the front horizontal frame202, and the intermediate bar222is coupled to a rear end202aof the horizontal frame202and a front end204aof the rear horizontal frame204. The ramp230is mounted on the bottom plate206which is, in turn, coupled to the rear end of the horizontal frame. The wheel stop234is disposed on the horizontal frame200and in between the intermediate bar222and the ramp230. The wheel stop234, the ramp230and the horizontal frame200form a receptacle configured to receive a front wheel of the scooter. Although the bottom plate206is fixed to the horizontal frame204in the exemplary embodiment, it is anticipated that the bottom plate206may be slidably movable along the horizontal frame202in the transverse direction x. With reference toFIG.5, the receptacle comprises a centroidal axis a-a orthogonal to the horizontal and vertical frame200,100, and a distance from the centroidal axis a-a to the joining portion of the vertical frame100and the horizontal frame200is less than a height of the vertical frame203.

Turning toFIG.4and in conjunction withFIG.2, the bottom plate206further comprises a base206aand extensions206bextending upwards from both sides of the base206. Each of the extensions206bfurther includes a notch206c. The two notches206are configured to receive a rear bar224which extends along the longitudinal direction y. The rear bar224has a length greater than a width of the horizontal frame200. In addition, a ramp frame232having a substantial slope configuration is disposed on the bottom plate206and below the ramp230to provide additional support to the ramp230. The ramp frame232further has a ridge portion232aextending along the longitudinal direction y and coupled to the rear bar224, and two oblique surface232bsloping down from two sides of the ridge portion232aand coupled to the base206aof the glide plate206. The ramp230also has a substantial slope configuration similar to the ramp frame232. The ramp230further comprises a groove230aelongating along the transverse direction x to guide the movement of the scooter. It is preferable that the ramp230be constructed of flexible materials providing a non-slip surface to the front wheel of the scooter. It is anticipated that the shape of the ramp230and the wheel stop234could vary.

Referring again toFIGS.1and2, the scooter stand10further comprises a yoke120and a concaved linking bar140. The yoke120and the linking bar140are positioned on paralleled xy-planes and have substantially U-shaped profiles with opening ends facing towards the rear end200bof the horizontal frame200. The yoke120is attached to the top ends102aof the inner vertical tube102, and the linking bar140is disposed on the vertical frame100and between the yoke120and the at least one support106. Preferably, the yoke120has two arms122and a slightly curved connecting member124connecting the two arms122. Each of the inner vertical tubes102is coupled to a middle portion of one of the arms122, respectively. The linking bar240connects the two outer vertical bars104forming a space to accommodate a scooter bag that may be attached to the scooter. Moreover, the linking bar240may further include a helmet hanger240. The helmet hanger240has a podium242and a linking member244connecting the podium240to the linking bar140.

Additionally, several accessories may be added to the scooter stand10to fit a user's need. As shown inFIGS.1,2and5, a strap130may be used to tie a stem of the scooter to the vertical frame100. The strap132connects to each of the outer vertical tubes104and extends rearwardly therefrom, as well as includes a releasably securing means, such as a side release buckle or hook-and-loop surfaces. To provide frictional resistance and to protect floors from scratching, a plurality of non-skid pads250may be added beneath surfaces of the horizontal frame200, as can be seen inFIG.2. It is also anticipated that that a foam rest (not shown) may be added to the yoke to act as a buffer to reduce impact and thereby protecting the scooter. It is anticipated that a plurality of scooter stands10can be linked together at the front bar202by an optional connector. The scooter stand10further may include a scooter cover for the scooter, a drip tray under the horizontal frame200, and a cleaning kit.

Referring toFIG.5, an exemplary method of using the scooter stand10is presented herein to further demonstrate the convenience of storing a compacted scooter300and the customization of the scooter stand10. It is anticipated that several steps may be sequentially interchangeable and equivalent application of one or more permutations of such sequentially interchangeable steps does not alter the spirit of the invention in any meaningful way.

A typical foldable scooter300comprises a foldable scooter stem302connected to a horizontal deck304. A front wheel306and a rear wheel308are rotatably coupled to two ends of the horizontal deck304.

The scooter stand10provides a vertical adjustment to accommodate scooters300of various heights. To find the perfect fit for the scooter300, an exemplary user first guides the scooter300towards the scooter stand10, such that the receptacle236accommodates the front wheel306. Next, the exemplary user raises or lowers the vertical frame100in the vertical direction z to a desired height and fix the vertical frame100at the desired height by the first locking mechanism112. The exemplary user can repeat the steps to find the best fit for their scooter300, thereby stabilizing the scooter300using minimal floor space. Upon completion of adjusting the scooter stand10, the scooter stand10is prepared for further storage of the scooter300.

To store the scooter300, the exemplary user may first take off a helmet302and place the helmet302on the helmet hanger140. Next, direct the scooter300to move in the transverse direction x and roll the front wheel306of the scooter300along the groove230aof the ramp230until the front wheel of the scooter300is placed within the receptacle236. Still Next, the exemplary user folds the scooter stem302down close to being aligned parallelly to the horizontal deck304of the scooter300and locks the scooter stem302down in place. Then the exemplary user lifts the rear end of the scooter300into the scooter stand10, such that the scooter300is in a vertical position and held by gravity. Lastly, the exemplary user may tighten the strap132around the stem of the scooter to secure the scooter300to the scooter stand10.

To remove the scooter300from the scooter stand10, the exemplary user reverses the above steps. First, the exemplary user unbuckles the strap130. Next, the exemplary user lowers the rear end of the scooter100towards the ground, such that the horizontal deck304is parallel to the horizontal frame200. Then the exemplary user unfolds the scooter stem302and rolls the front wheel306out of the receptacle236.

While the embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, certain modifications may be made by those skilled in the art to modify the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention.