Land vehicles – Wheeled – Occupant propelled type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-18
2001-08-07
Hurley, Kevin (Department: 3619)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Occupant propelled type
C280S221000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06270102
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to scooters, and, more particularly, to a scooter that includes a drive mechanism actuated by the scooter passenger.
A scooter generally is comprised of a rear wheel and a steerable front wheel joined by a chassis which supports a platform on which the rider stands. In its simplest form, the scooter is propelled by the rider using one foot to push rearwardly against the pavement in a one-leg stride, while the other leg supports most of the rider's weight on the platform. Although the rider can alternate the use of either leg to avoid fatigue, it is recognized that this form of propulsion is tiresome. Moreover, it is inefficient, in that increasing speed requires that the propelling foot be pushed rearwardly with concomitantly increasing speed to gain any propulsive effect. At relatively low speeds (compared to a bicycle), the rider can gain little acceleration by continuing to stride, even while the effort becomes arduous.
Because of this and other problems inherent in scooter designs, various scooter drive mechanisms have been devised in the prior art. For example, a pedal mounted on the platform may be connected to a rack gear that drives a pinion gear on the rear wheel shaft, whereby reiterative pedal depression may drive the rear wheel and produce forward motion. Likewise, the pedal may be joined to a drive link that is connected to a crank or eccentric on the rear wheel shaft to convert the oscillating motion of the pedal to rotational drive motion at the rear wheel. Various improvements to these concepts include compound gear drives, dual pedals, chain drives, and other mechanisms known in mechanical engineering.
One problem intrinsic to these designs is that their mechanisms generally extend below the scooter platform, so that the platform remains available to accommodate the feet of the rider. However, by projecting below the platform, the drive mechanisms reduce the ground clearance and invite the possibility of collision between the drive mechanism and relatively small obstacles on the pavement. Moreover, the ability to negotiate bumps, holes, curbs, and uneven pavement is reduced. Although the platform may be supported higher to accommodate the drive mechanism therebelow with sufficient ground clearance, this expedient raises the center of mass of the rider, which may cause instability, and renders stepping on and off the scooter platform more problematic.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally comprises a scooter having a rider-operated mechanism for driving the scooter in forward motion, and includes the use of an endless chain loop for transferring propulsion to one wheel of the scooter.
The scooter generally includes front and rear wheels joined to a chassis which supports a footboard or platform extending longitudinally between the two wheels. One of the wheels is steerable, and the other wheel is driven by the propulsive mechanism. Although the invention will be described with reference to a steerable front wheel and a propelled rear wheel, it may be noted that the rear wheel may be the steering element, and the front wheel may be propelled by the mechanism.
In one aspect, the invention includes a pedal pivotally mounted to the footboard, and a spring arranged to urge the pedal to extend obliquely upwardly from the footboard. A first sprocket wheel is mounted in a vertical plane below the footboard, and a drive link extends from the pedal to an eccentric mounting pin on the sprocket wheel. A second sprocket wheel assembly, including a ratchet gear, is mounted on the shaft that supports the driving wheel, and an endless loop chain extends about the two sprocket wheels below the footboard. When the pedal is depressed, the link rotates the first sprocket wheel and the chain, which in turn drives the second sprocket wheel to rotate the drive wheel and propel the scooter. The ratchet assembly allows the driving wheel to freewheel and glide on level or downhill surfaces. The spring returns the pedal to the oblique upwardly extending disposition, whereby the process is reiterated to propel the scooter forward smoothly and continuously.
In another embodiment, the invention includes a pedal pivotally mounted to the footboard, and a spring arranged to urge the pedal to extend obliquely upwardly from the footboard. A first sprocket wheel is mounted in a vertical plane below the footboard, and a second sprocket wheel assembly, including a ratchet gear, is mounted on the shaft that supports the driving wheel, with an endless loop chain extending about the two sprocket wheels below the footboard. A first gear wheel is mounted in a vertical plane below the footboard, and a second gear is mounted coaxially with the first sprocket wheel. and disposed to engage the first gear. A drive link extends from the pedal to an eccentric mounting pin on the first gear wheel. When the pedal is depressed, the drive link rotates the first gear wheel, which acts through the second gear to rotate the first sprocket wheel and the chain. As in the previous embodiment, the chain rotates the drive wheel and propels the scooter, and the ratchet gear allows the scooter to freewheel and glide when not being pedaled. The gear ratio of the two gears is chosen to provide greater velocity.
In a further embodiment, a pedal is provided as described previously. A first sprocket wheel is mounted in a vertical plane in a slot formed in the footboard, and a drive link extends from the pedal to an eccentric mounting pin on the sprocket wheel. A second sprocket wheel assembly, including a ratchet gear, is mounted on the shaft that supports the driving wheel, and an endless loop chain extends about the two sprocket wheels. The first sprocket wheel and chain occupy a very small portion of the space between the bottom of the footboard and the ground, thereby maximizing ground clearance of the scooter. When the pedal is depressed, the link rotates the first sprocket wheel and the chain, which in turn drives the second sprocket wheel to rotate the drive wheel and propel the scooter.
In an additional embodiment, a pedal is provided as in the previous embodiments, and a first sprocket wheel is mounted in a vertical plane in a slot formed in the footboard. A second sprocket wheel assembly, including a ratchet gear, is mounted on the shaft that supports the driving wheel, with an endless loop chain extending about the two sprocket wheels. A first gear wheel is mounted in a vertical plane in the slot in the footboard, and a second gear is mounted coaxially with the first sprocket wheel and disposed to engage the first gear. A drive link extends from the pedal to an eccentric mounting pin on the first gear wheel. When the pedal is depressed, the drive link rotates the first gear wheel, which acts through the second gear to rotate the first sprocket wheel and the chain. As in the previous embodiment, the chain rotates the drive wheel and propels the scooter, and the ratchet gear allows the scooter to freewheel and glide when not being pedaled. The chain, sprocket wheels and gears occupy a minimum of the space below the footboard to maximize ground clearance, and the gear ratio of the two gears is chosen to optimize the velocity characteristic of the scooter.
A unidirectional ratchet mechanism may be coupled to the gear wheel of any embodiment to permit the pedal and drive link to rotate the gear wheel only in the proper clockwise or counterclockwise direction and allow only forward propulsion. The ratchet mechanism includes a pin extending from the gear wheel, and a latch arm pivotally secured to the footboard and including a distal end disposed to engage the pin as the gear wheel rotates. The distal end of the latch arm includes a convex curved edge which enables the pin to rotate in one direction and impinge on and rotationally displace the distal end of the latch arm, and further includes a concave end portion which engages the pin when the gear wheel rotates in the opposite direction, causing further rotation in the opposite direction to be bloc
Cohen Howard
Hurley Kevin
LandOfFree
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