CN212473777U - Scooter - Google Patents

Abstract

The application relates to a scooter, scooter include running-board, front wheel axle, turn to subassembly, biasing means and locking device, and this scooter can realize the switching of two kinds of modes through locking device, and a mode has the automatic re-setting function that turns to, and a mode can realize easily turning to the function with less power.

Description

Scooter

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of sports vehicles, and more particularly to a scooter.

Background

The scooter is a popular sports apparatus in the current market, can be used as a body-building sports apparatus for leisure and entertainment, can also be used as a temporary transportation and transportation tool, has small volume, light weight and convenient carrying, and is deeply favored by teenagers and children at home and abroad.

The existing partial scooter has a steering automatic reset function, and the steering automatic reset function is realized by arranging a biasing device to bias the front wheel shaft of the scooter towards a position vertical to the scooter. Due to the biasing action of the biasing means, a large force needs to be applied to the scooter to overcome the force of the biasing means when steering is required. However, in some use scenarios, a user wants to control the steering of the scooter in a labor-saving manner, and the existing scooter with the automatic steering reset function cannot meet the user's requirement.

Content of application

In view of the above, it is necessary to provide a scooter with a steering automatic return function, which is not capable of controlling the steering of the scooter in a labor-saving manner.

In one aspect, there is provided a scooter comprising: a footrest having a front portion and a rear portion, the rear portion having a rear wheel connected thereto; a front axle rotatable relative to a steering axis, the front axle having a plurality of front wheels connected thereto; a steering assembly including a first portion connected to the front portion, a second portion connected to the front axle, and a third portion engaged between the first portion and the second portion; a biasing device disposed between the second portion and the third portion, positioned to bias the front axle toward a position where the front axle is perpendicular to the footrest; a locking device disposed between said first portion and said third portion operable between permitting relative rotation of said first portion and said third portion and preventing relative rotation of said first portion and said third portion.

The scooter of the embodiment can realize the switching of two modes through the locking device. The first mode is one in which the locking means operates to prevent relative rotation of the first and third portions of the steering assembly, the first mode being one in which the scooter is steered under the force applied by the user and automatically returns to straight travel due to the biasing action of the biasing means when the applied force is released, the first mode requiring the user to apply a greater force to steer against the force of the biasing means. The second mode is where the locking means operates to allow the first and third portions of the steering assembly to be relatively rotated, and in this second mode, steering of the scooter is achieved by applying less force to rotate the first and third portions, which results in less effort, as rotation between the first and third portions is easier than rotation between the second and third portions. The user can realize the switching of the two modes by operating the locking device, thereby meeting different requirements.

In one embodiment, the biasing means is operable between a released condition and a twisted condition, the biasing means being twisted from the released condition to the twisted condition when a force is applied to the steering assembly to steer the front axle, the biasing means returning to the released condition when the force applied to the steering assembly is released.

In one embodiment, the biasing means is selected from a biasing spring or a resilient member made of silicone rubber.

In one embodiment, the first outer surface of the third portion is formed with a first protrusion, and the second outer surface of the second portion is formed with a first stopper groove corresponding to the first protrusion, the first stopper groove being configured to engage with the first protrusion to limit the steering angle of the front axle to some extent.

In one embodiment, the first part has a cavity for receiving the locking means, the first and third parts being prevented from relative rotation when the locking means is engaged with the cavity and allowed to rotate when the locking means is disengaged from the cavity.

In one embodiment, the locking means is a polygonal hollow sleeve, the locking means having a circumferential outer surface opposite a first inner surface of the first part, the respective first inner and circumferential outer surfaces preventing the first and third parts from being rotated relative to each other when the locking means is engaged with the cavity.

In one embodiment, the locking means has a circumferential inner surface opposite to a third outer surface of the third part, the respective third outer surface and the circumferential inner surface allowing the locking means to slide along the third outer surface when the locking means is disengaged from the cavity.

In one embodiment, the locking device is a hexagonal hollow sleeve.

In one embodiment, the locking device is provided with a spring buckle, the third outer surface is provided with a first buckle groove and a second buckle groove corresponding to the spring buckle, the first buckle groove is arranged on the upper portion of the third outer surface, the second buckle groove is arranged on the lower portion of the third outer surface, after the locking device is connected with the cavity, the spring buckle and the first buckle groove buckle to prevent the locking device from sliding off, and after the locking device is separated from the cavity and slides off, the spring buckle and the second buckle groove buckle to prevent the locking device from moving.

In one embodiment, a second protrusion is formed on a fourth outer surface of the third portion, and a second retaining groove corresponding to the second protrusion is formed on a second inner surface of the first portion, the second retaining groove being configured to engage with the second protrusion to limit a steering angle of the first portion and the third portion to a certain extent.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiments of the application and, together with the description, serve to explain the application and are not intended to limit the application.

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the drawings needed to be used in the description of the embodiments are briefly introduced below, and it is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present application, and it is obvious for those skilled in the art to obtain other drawings based on these drawings without creative efforts.

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view of a scooter according to one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a portion of the structure of the scooter of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the structure of the scooter A-A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the front axle, second portion and third portion of the steering assembly of the scooter of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a third portion of the steering assembly;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of first and third portions of the steering assembly of the scooter of FIG. 1, a locking device;

fig. 7 is a schematic structural view of the locking device.

Detailed Description

In order to make the aforementioned objects, features and advantages of the present application more comprehensible, embodiments accompanying the present application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present application. This application is capable of embodiments in many different forms than those described herein and that modifications may be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the application and it is therefore not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

As shown in fig. 1, 2 and 3, the scooter of the preferred embodiment of the present application includes a footboard 30, a support bar 40, two front wheels 10 and a rear wheel 11. The front and rear wheels are connected to the front 32 and rear 34 of the footrest 30, respectively. The number of front wheels and rear wheels in this embodiment is merely an example.

The front wheel 10 is connected to a front wheel axle 50. The front wheel axle 50 has a pivot 51 and a steering axis 56, while the front wheels 10 and the front wheel axle 50 can be steered with respect to the pivot 51 and the steering axis 56. The steering axis 56 is inclined toward the front of the foot board 30 such that it forms a predetermined adjacent angle 53 with the upward axis 55 perpendicular to the foot board 30. The adjacent angle 53 is greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees, preferably the adjacent angle 53 is 19 degrees, but the adjacent angle may be greater or less than the examples given herein.

One end of the steering assembly 60 is disposed on the front axle 50 along the steering axis 56 for steering the front axle 50 to one side of the steering assembly 60 when a force is applied to the same side. The other end of the steering assembly 60 is connected to the bottom of the front portion 32 of the footrest 30. In this embodiment, the steering assembly 60 includes a first portion 62 attached to the bottom of the front portion 32 of the footrest 30, a second portion 64 attached to the front axle 50, and a third portion 66 located between the first and second portions 62, 64.

As an example, in this embodiment, the second portion 64 is connected at the front axle 50 as an extension of the front axle 50, but the second portion 64 may be connected to the front axle 50 in other ways or at other locations. The steering assembly 60 must be connected to the front axle 50 so that when a force is applied to the steering assembly 60, the force can be transmitted to steer the front axle 50.

As shown in fig. 2 and 4, in this embodiment, the second and third portions 64, 66 of the steering assembly 60 each have a cavity for receiving a biasing device 70, the biasing device 70 being positioned to bias the front axle 50 toward a position where the front axle 50 is perpendicular to the foot board 30. The biasing device 70 is operable between a released state and a twisted state. The biasing device 70 turns from the released state to the twisted state when a force is applied to the steering assembly 60 to steer the front axle 50, and the biasing device 70 returns to the released state when the force applied to the steering assembly 60 to steer the front axle 50 is released.

As a non-limiting example, the biasing means 70 may comprise two biasing springs, each having one end fitted on the third portion 66, and a pressing piece 72 for pressing the biasing spring is provided on the third portion 66. The other end of each biasing spring is inserted through the cavity of the third portion 66 and into the cavity of the second portion 64. The number of biasing springs in this embodiment is merely an example.

The biasing means 70 may be of other forms, such as a hexagonal cylindrical resilient member made of silicone rubber, and in this embodiment the biasing means 70 has a circumferential surface corresponding to the inner surfaces of the second and third portions 64, 66, which may cause the biasing means 70 to operate between the released and twisted states. The biasing device 70 may also be a helically shaped biasing spring or otherwise coupled to the steering assembly 60. The form of the cavity of the second body 64 and the third portion 66 for receiving the biasing device 70 may be adapted accordingly, as selected by the form of the biasing device 70, and should be understood to be within the scope of the present application.

As a non-limiting example, as shown in fig. 4 and 5, the first outer surface 61 of the third portion 66 is formed with a pair of first protrusions 612, the second outer surface 63 of the second portion 64 is formed with a first stopper groove 632 corresponding to the first protrusions 612, and the first stopper groove 632 is configured to engage with the first protrusions 612 to limit the steering angle of the front axle 50 to some extent. It should be understood that the positions of the protrusion and the position-limiting groove can be reversed.

As shown in fig. 2 and 6, a locking device 80 is provided at the junction of the first portion 62 and the third portion 66 along the pivot 51 and the steering axis 56, the locking device 80 being operable between allowing the first portion 62 and the third portion 66 to be relatively rotated and preventing the first portion 62 and the third portion 66 from being relatively rotated. In this embodiment, the first portion 62 of the steering assembly 60 may have a cavity for receiving the locking device 80, the locking device 80 being operable between engaging the cavity of the first portion 62 and disengaging the cavity of the first portion 62. Relative rotation between first portion 62 and third portion 66 is prevented when locking device 80 is engaged with the cavity of first portion 62 and relative rotation between first portion 62 and third portion 66 is allowed when locking device 80 is disengaged from the cavity of first portion 62.

By way of non-limiting example, the locking device 80 may be a polygonal hollow sleeve. In this embodiment, the locking device 80 has a circumferential outer surface 82 opposite the first inner surface 65 of the first portion 62 and a circumferential inner surface 84 opposite the third outer surface 67 of the third portion 66, the respective first and circumferential outer surfaces 65, 82 prevent relative rotation of the first and third portions 62, 66 at their junction when the locking device 80 engages the cavity of the first portion 62, the respective third and circumferential inner surfaces 67, 84 allow the locking device 80 to slide down the third outer surface 67 of the third portion 66 when the locking device 80 is disengaged from the cavity of the first portion 62, and allow rotation between the first and third portions 62, 66 when the locking device 80 slides down out of the junction of the first and third portions 62, 66.

By way of non-limiting example, the locking device 80 may be a hexagonal hollow sleeve, and the cavity of the first portion 62 is a hexagonal cavity. Of course, the locking device 80 may also be a pentagonal hollow sleeve, a heptagonal hollow sleeve, or the like.

As a non-limiting example, as shown in fig. 4 and 7, the locking device 80 may be provided with a pair of snap-hooks 86, the third outer surface 67 of the third portion 66 may be provided with two sets of first and second snap- slots 672 and 674 corresponding to the snap-hooks 86, the first snap-slot 672 may be provided at an upper portion of the third outer surface 67, the second snap-slot 674 may be provided at a lower portion of the third outer surface 67, and when the locking device 80 slides upwards along the third outer surface 67 to engage with the cavity of the first portion 62, the snap-hook 86 snaps the first snap-slot 672 to prevent the locking device 80 from sliding off. The user may disengage the latch 86 from the first catch 672 by pulling downward hard, and lock the locking device 80 in this position when the locking device 80 slides downward until the latch 86 engages the second catch 674, preventing the locking device 80 from shifting due to ground bumps during the scooter's travel.

As a non-limiting example, as shown in fig. 4 and 6, the fourth outer surface 68 of the third portion 66 is formed with a pair of second projections 682 thereon, and the second inner surface 69 of the first portion 62 is formed with second retaining grooves 692 corresponding to the second projections 682 thereon, the second retaining grooves 692 being configured to engage with the second projections 682 to limit the angle of rotation of the first portion 62 and the third portion 66 to some extent.

When locking means 80 is engaged with the cavity of first portion 62, first portion 62 and third portion 66 cannot be turned between, when the scooter is in a straight position, the weight of the user is equally distributed over the two front wheels 10 and the balance of forces prevents front axle 50 from rotating about pivot 51 and steering axis 56 and the scooter will travel straight. When the user shifts his weight or center of gravity to one side, force will be applied from the foot pedal 30 to the steering assembly 60, causing the second portion 64 and the third portion 66 to be rotated, thereby steering the front axle 50 to the same side and causing the front wheels 10 to turn. As the front axle 50 rotates relative to the inclined steering axis 56, the foot board 30 will be allowed to tilt downwards towards the turning side. When a user applies a force on the steering assembly 60 to steer the front axle 50, the biasing means 70 twists from the released condition to the twisted condition, and when the user releases his or her force on the steering assembly 60, the biasing means 70 returns to the released condition such that the front axle 50 is straightened back and the front wheel 10 returns to the straight position to allow the scooter to travel straight.

When locking means 80 is disengaged from the cavity of first portion 62, first portion 62 and third portion 66 can be rotated, and when a user is unable to apply a significant force to the scooter or wishes to steer the scooter in a relatively effort-saving manner, second portion 64 and third portion 66 will be less likely to rotate or steer with a relatively large effort due to the biasing action of biasing means 70, where easy steering can be achieved by rotation between first portion 62 and third portion 66. Typically, this scenario of use is where the user pulls the scooter by means of a pull cord attached to the front axle 50, where the scooter is driven in a straight line when the pull cord is perpendicular to the front axle 50, and where the user shifts direction to pull the pull cord so that the pull cord is not perpendicular to the front axle 50, the pull cord is not strong enough to rotate between the second portion 64 and the third portion 66, but is strong enough to rotate the first portion 62 and the third portion 66, thereby turning the front axle 50 to the same side as the direction in which the pull cord is being pulled and turning the front wheel 10. Since the turning of first and third portions 62, 66 is easier than the turning of second and third portions 64, 66, in this scenario, turning of first and third portions 62, 66 will already effect steering of the scooter, no turning will occur between second and third portions 64, 66, the scooter will not have an automatic return function without the aid of biasing means 70, and the user must apply his or her own force to steering assembly 60 alone to turn front axle 50 and front wheel 10 back to the straight position. The above application scenarios are only examples, and the present application does not exclude other application scenarios that can achieve the same effect.

The support bar 40 is held by the user as a handle for better balance, rather than for stiffening the scooter. Thus, the scooter may be operated with or without a support bar.

As shown in fig. 2, bearings 92 and 94 are provided at the rotational connection of the first and third portions 62 and 66, and the third and second portions 66 and 64, respectively, to reduce the rotational friction coefficient.

As shown in FIG. 2, a stop nut 512 and a stop nut 514 are mounted on both ends of the pivot shaft 51 to limit the axial play of the pivot shaft 51.

The embodiments described in this specification and the disclosure therein are provided by way of illustration only. The present application is equally applicable to other types of scooters.

While the present application has been described in detail with reference to the disclosed embodiments, various modifications within the scope of the present application will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. It should be understood that features described with respect to one embodiment may generally be applied to other embodiments.

Claims (10)

1. A scooter, comprising: a footrest having a front portion and a rear portion, the rear portion having a rear wheel connected thereto; a front axle rotatable relative to a steering axis, the front axle having a plurality of front wheels connected thereto; a steering assembly including a first portion connected to the front portion, a second portion connected to the front axle, and a third portion engaged between the first portion and the second portion; a biasing device disposed between the second portion and the third portion, positioned to bias the front axle toward a position where the front axle is perpendicular to the footrest; a locking device disposed between said first portion and said third portion operable between permitting relative rotation of said first portion and said third portion and preventing relative rotation of said first portion and said third portion.

2. A scooter according to claim 1 wherein the biasing means is operable between a released condition and a twisted condition, the biasing means being twisted from the released condition to the twisted condition when a force is applied to the steering assembly to steer the front wheel shaft, the biasing means returning to the released condition when the force applied to the steering assembly is released.

3. A scooter according to claim 2 wherein the biasing means is selected from a biasing spring or a resilient member of silicone rubber.

4. A scooter according to claim 1 wherein the first outer surface of the third portion is formed with a first projection and the second outer surface of the second portion is formed with a first retaining groove corresponding to the first projection, the first retaining groove being configured to engage with the first projection to limit the steering angle of the front axle to a certain extent.

5. A scooter according to claim 1 wherein the first part has a cavity for receiving the locking means, the first and third parts being prevented from relative rotation when the locking means is engaged with the cavity and permitted to rotate when the locking means is disengaged from the cavity.

6. A scooter according to claim 5, wherein the locking means is a polygonal hollow sleeve having a circumferential outer surface opposite the first inner surface of the first part, the respective first inner and circumferential outer surfaces being adapted to prevent relative rotation of the first and third parts when the locking means is engaged with the cavity.

7. A scooter according to claim 6, wherein the locking means has a circumferential inner surface opposite a third outer surface of the third portion, the respective third outer surface and circumferential inner surface allowing the locking means to slide along the third outer surface when the locking means is disengaged from the cavity.

8. A scooter according to claim 7 wherein the locking means is a hexagonal hollow sleeve.

9. A scooter according to claim 7, characterized in that the locking means is provided with a snap fastener, the third outer surface is provided with a first and a second snap fastener corresponding to the snap fastener, the first snap fastener is arranged on the upper part of the third outer surface, the second snap fastener is arranged on the lower part of the third outer surface, the snap fastener and the first snap fastener engage to prevent the locking means from sliding down after the locking means is engaged with the cavity, and the snap fastener and the second snap fastener engage to prevent the locking means from moving after the locking means is disengaged from the cavity and slides down.

10. A scooter according to claim 1 wherein the third portion has a second projection formed on a fourth outer surface thereof and a second retaining groove corresponding to the second projection formed on a second inner surface thereof, the second retaining groove being configured to engage with the second projection to limit the steering angle of the first and third portions to a certain extent.

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