Patent ID: 8500147

Claim:
A folding scooter comprising: a base; a rear wheel rotatably connected to the base; a base shaft connected to the base and having at least one lower locking hinge plate, the lower locking hinge plate comprising a central aperture, a first pair of locking apertures, and a second pair of locking apertures; a front wheel rotatably connected to the base shaft; a handlebar shaft having an upright position and a folded position, the handlebar shaft comprising at least a first locking hinge plate having a central aperture and a pair of locking apertures; and a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism comprising: a locking key having a handle, at least two locking pins, and a central pin that extends through the central apertures of the first locking hinge plate and the lower locking hinge plate; a push button, the button being at the terminal end of the locking key opposite the handle; a bias spring, the bias spring being located between the button and the first locking hinge plate, and exerting spring force on the button; said base shaft and said handlebar shaft pivoting with respect to the base so that the folding scooter may be steered; and a locking hinge housing covering said locking mechanism, said locking hinge housing including an upper section that engages the handlebar shaft and a lower section that is connected to the base shaft and is positioned adjacent to the base, the lower section including a button aperture through which the push button protrudes, and said upper and lower sections of the locking hinge housing pivoting with respect to the base when the folding scooter is steered and said upper section of the locking hinge housing sliding with respect to the lower section of the locking hinge housing as the handlebar shaft moves between the upright position and the folded position.