Scooter with rotational connection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11383786-B2
Application number	US-202016950617-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 17, 2020
Priority date	Feb 11, 2015
Publication date	Jul 12, 2022
Grant date	Jul 12, 2022

Abstract

A scooter device that can be propelled by side to side movement of a user is disclosed. The scooter device includes at least a first front wheel, at least a second and a third rearward located wheel, a frame structure through which the first wheel is coupled to the second and third wheels, wherein the second and third rearward located wheels are mounted in a biased direction arrangement and a steering mechanism that has a vertically ascending control member and is coupled to the first wheel such that turning of the steering mechanism achieves a turning of the first wheel, the steering mechanism further coupled to the frame structure such that the steering mechanism may be tilted relative to the frame structure. The frame structure can includes a first foot placement platform extending above the second wheel and a second foot placement platform extending above the third wheel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A personal mobility vehicle comprising:
a front wheel;
a steering mechanism comprising a steering shaft;
a plurality of rear wheels freely rotatable about their respective rotation axes and pivotable about their respective pivot axes;
a motor configured to drive the front wheel;
a frame structure comprising a front end and two rear ends, wherein the front end comprises a joint structure, wherein the distance between the two rear ends does not change; and
a first platform and a second platform connected to the frame structure and spaced apart from each other, the first platform having an upper surface configured to support a first foot of a user and the second platform having an upper surface configured to support a second foot of the user,
wherein each of the plurality of rear wheels is connected to a respective one of the two rear ends of the frame structure,
wherein the steering mechanism is connected to the joint structure such that the steering mechanism may be tilted relative to the frame structure.

2. The personal mobility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the joint structure comprises a first member and a second member and the second member is configured to rotate with respect to the first member.

3. The personal mobility vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the second member slides within an end of the first member.

4. The personal mobility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the steering mechanism further comprises a handlebar including two handgrip portions.

5. The personal mobility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the pair of rear wheels are caster wheels mounted in a forward tilted arrangement with respect to the first and second platforms.

6. The personal mobility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the steering mechanism further comprises a steering support member positioned between the steering shaft and the frame structure.

7. The personal mobility vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the steering support member couples the steering mechanism to the frame structure.

8. The personal mobility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is configured such that an application of a lateral force on the steering mechanism results in tilting of the steering mechanism relative to the frame structure.

9. The personal mobility vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the steering mechanism is biased to return to an initial position when the application of the lateral force is removed.

10. The personal mobility vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a brake assembly configured to selectively apply a braking force to the front wheel.

11. A personal mobility vehicle comprising:
a front wheel;
a steering mechanism comprising a steering shaft;
a plurality of rear wheels freely rotatable about their respective rotation axes and pivotable about their respective pivot axes;
a frame structure comprising a front end and two rear ends, wherein the front end comprises a joint structure, wherein the joint structure comprises a first member and a second member configured to rotate with respect to the first member, the two rear ends of the frame structure and the first member of the joint structure being fixedly connected to each other, wherein the distance between the two rear ends does not change; and
a first platform and a second platform connected to the frame structure and spaced apart from each other, the first platform having an upper surface configured to support a first foot of a user and the second platform having an upper surface configured to support a second foot of the user,
wherein each of the plurality of rear wheels is connected to a respective one of the two rear ends of the frame structure,
wherein the steering mechanism is connected to the joint structure such that the steering mechanism may be tilted relative to the frame structure.

12. The personal mobility vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the second member slides within an end of the first member.

13. The personal mobility vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the steering mechanism further comprises a handlebar including two handgrip portions.

14. The personal mobility vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the pair of rear wheels are caster wheels mounted in a forward tilted arrangement with respect to the first and second platforms.

15. The personal mobility vehicle of claim 11 , further comprising a power mechanism configured to provide power to the front wheel, wherein the power mechanism includes an electric motor that drives the front wheel.

16. The personal mobility vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the steering mechanism further comprises a steering support member positioned between the steering shaft and the frame structure.

17. The personal mobility vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the steering support member couples the steering mechanism to the frame structure.

18. The personal mobility vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the vehicle is configured such that an application of a lateral force on the steering mechanism results in tilting of the steering mechanism relative to the frame structure.

19. The personal mobility vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the steering mechanism is biased to return to an initial position when the application of the lateral force is removed.

20. The personal mobility vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the two rear ends are spaced apart from each other by an acute angle.

21. The personal mobility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the two rear ends are spaced apart from each other by an acute angle.

Assignees

• Razor Usa Llc

Inventors

• Desberg Ian
• Griggs William

Classifications

• B62K3/002

  without a seat, i.e. the rider operating the vehicle in a standing position, e.g. non-motorized scooters; non-motorized scooters with skis or runners · CPC title

• B62K23/06

  Levers · CPC title

• B62K2204/00

  Adaptations for driving cycles by electric motor · CPC title

• B62K5/10 Primary

  with means for inwardly inclining the vehicle body on bends · CPC title

• B62J43/16

  on motorcycles or the like · CPC title