Kickscooter with detachable electric drive module with hub-center steering and vibration dampening wheel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9914500-B2
Application number	US-201514789586-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 1, 2015
Priority date	Jul 1, 2015
Publication date	Mar 13, 2018
Grant date	Mar 13, 2018

Abstract

A number of variations may include a foldable scooter comprising a first frame component, wherein the first frame component comprises a steering column and a handlebar, wherein the steering column is integrated with an electric drive unit speed controller which is constructed and arranged to operatively control a removeable electric drive module; a second frame component, wherein the second frame component is rotatably attached to the first frame component so that the first frame component can fold onto the second frame component and wherein the second frame component includes a deck; a front wheel operatively connected to the first frame component; and a rear wheel operatively connected to the second frame component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A foldable scooter comprising:
a first frame component, wherein the first frame component comprises a steering column and a handlebar, wherein the steering column is integrated with an electric drive unit speed controller which is constructed and arranged to operatively control a removeable electric drive module;
a second frame component, wherein the second frame component is rotatably attached to the first frame component so that the first frame component can fold onto the second frame component and wherein the second frame component includes a deck;
a front wheel operatively connected to the first frame component;
a rear wheel operatively connected to the second frame component; and
wherein the first frame component and the second frame component form a knuckle joint constructed and arranged so that the handlebar controls the direction of the scooter.

2. The foldable scooter of claim 1 further comprising a removable electric drive module, wherein the electric drive module comprises a battery, a motor, a motor controller, a pivot arm, a charger point, and a housing which surrounds at least a portion of the battery, the motor, the controller, the pivot arm, and the charger point; and wherein the electric drive module is attached to the foldable scooter and controlled by the electric drive unit speed controller.

3. The foldable scooter of claim 1 wherein the electric drive unit speed controller wirelessly controls a motor controller.

4. The foldable scooter of claim 1 wherein the electric drive unit speed controller is electrically connected to a motor controller through one or more cables.

5. The foldable scooter of claim 1 further comprising at least one electric drive module bracket attached to at least one of the first frame component or the second frame component.

6. The foldable scooter of claim 1 wherein the foldable scooter is constructed and arranged so that when the foldable scooter is in a folded position the foldable scooter may be towed on the front wheel.

7. The foldable scooter of claim 1 wherein the deck is integrated with a deck bar so that it is one single continuous and uniform component.

8. The foldable scooter of claim 1 wherein the deck is a separate component which is attached to a deck bar.

9. The foldable scooter of claim 1 wherein at least one of the front wheel or the rear wheel comprises an integrated hub, wherein the integrated hub comprises a rim, wherein the rim comprises a first set of cutouts and a second set of cutouts which are spaced circumferentially around the rim, wherein the rim comprises a first material and the first and second cutouts are filled with a second material, and wherein the first material is harder than the second material, and wherein the integrated hub is constructed and arranged to reduce vibrations while maintaining axial rigidity.

10. A foldable scooter comprising:
a frame, wherein the frame comprises a first frame component and a second frame component, wherein the first frame component is constructed and arranged to form a steering column and a handlebar and is operatively attached to a front hub of a front wheel and wherein the second frame component includes a deck portion and is operatively attached to a rear hub of a rear wheel;
a knuckle joint located within the front hub which is operatively attached to the first frame component and the second frame component, and which is constructed and arranged so that rotation of the handlebar around a vertical axis controls the direction of the foldable scooter; and
wherein the first frame component and the second frame component are constructed and arranged so that the first frame component can fold onto the second frame component.

11. The foldable scooter of claim 10 wherein the deck portion is a deck integrated with a deck bar so that it is one single continuous and uniform component.

12. The foldable scooter of claim 11 wherein the deck portion is formed by hydroforming and is filled with a foam filler.

13. The foldable scooter of claim 10 wherein at least one of the front wheel or the rear wheel comprises an integrated hub, wherein the integrated hub comprises a rim, wherein the rim comprises a first set of cutouts and a second set of cutouts which are spaced circumferentially around the rim, wherein the rim comprises a first material and the first and second cutouts are filled with a second material, and wherein the first material is harder than the second material.

14. The foldable scooter of claim 13 wherein a tire surrounds the integrated hub, and wherein the integrated hub is constructed and arranged to reduce vibrations while maintaining axial rigidity.

15. The foldable scooter of claim 10 wherein the foldable scooter comprises an electronic drive system comprising: an electric drive controller operatively attached to the handlebar; a removeable electric drive module comprising an electric motor, a battery operatively connected to the electric motor, and an electric motor controller operatively connected to the electric motor to control the speed of the motor; and wherein the electric drive controller is operatively connected to the electric motor controller to control the electric motor controller.

16. The foldable scooter of claim 15 wherein the removable electric drive module is attached to the foldable scooter through one or more brackets.

17. The foldable scooter of claim 10 wherein the foldable scooter is constructed and arranged so that in a folded position the foldable scooter can be towed on the front wheel.

18. The foldable scooter of claim 10 wherein the deck portion includes a deck and a deck bar, and wherein the deck is a separate component from the deck bar and is attached to the deck bar.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Gerencsér Gábor

Classifications

• B60B19/12

  Roller-type wheels (B60B19/06 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B62M6/45

  Control or actuating devices therefor · CPC title

• B60B9/26 Primary

  comprising resilient spokes · CPC title

• B62K2202/00

  Motorised scooters · CPC title

• 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