Patent ID: 7621547

Claim:
In a scooter having a platform for supporting a rider and front and rear wheels for ground-engaging rolling translation, an improved propulsion mechanism, including: a wheel axle mounted on the bottom surface of the platform, and a rear wheel secured to said wheel axle; a plurality of rotating propulsion components, including at least one secured to said wheel axle; means for mounting said rotating propulsion components on the bottom surface of the platform; a slot extending vertically in the platform, through which at least one of said rotating propulsion components extend upwardly to enable sufficient ground clearance; a pedal mounted on the upper surface of the platform, and a rigid link extending from said pedal to said rotating propulsion components to turn said rotating propulsion components and propel the scooter; a first axle mounted on the bottom surface of the platform, a first gear wheel secured on said first axle, said rigid link secured eccentrically to said first gear wheel to rotate said first gear wheel in concert with reiterative depression of said pedal; a second axle mounted on the bottom surface of the platform rearwardly of said first axle, and a second gear wheel mounted on said second axle and disposed to mesh with said first gear wheel; further including a third gear wheel secured to said second axle for rotation in common therewith, and a fourth gear wheel secured to said wheel axle for rotation in common therewith, said third and fourth gear wheels disposed to mesh and rotate together; said rear wheel being aligned with a longitudinal axis of the scooter, and said first and second gear wheels being disposed offset to one side of the longitudinal axis, and said third and fourth gear wheels are disposed offset to the other side of the longitudinal axis.