GB2362362A - Foldable scooter - Google Patents

Abstract

The scooter includes a horizontal board 11, a handlebar support, and a collapsing device 2 connected between the front board end and a lower tubular portion 210 of the support, to permit collapsing of it on the board 11. The device 2 consists of a U-shaped base 20 fixed on the board, a T-shaped connector 21 on the portion 210 and a locking unit 22 with a threaded rod 220 acted on by a spring S in a lower connecting part 211 of the connector 21 but movable against spring bias to facilitate movement along curved upper edge of the base 20 between two sets of grooves 203 to enable the support to move between upright and collapsed positions.

Description

2362362 1 Title: Collapsible Slidinq Board

DESCRIPTION

This invention relates to a collapsible sliding board.

Recently, the use of sliding boards has become a popular leisure activity, along with other kinds of activities, such as flying kites, dancing, martial arts, roller skating etc.. However, in order to become proficient at using a sliding board, the user must first practice until they have the necessary skill required to stay on the sliding board without falling off. In using a sliding board, there is a danger of the user failing off, possibly causing injury, especially in the early stages.

Therefore, sliding boards with a vertical frame and a handle thereon have been made to make the sliding board safer and easier to use, thereby helping the user to gain confidence. However, sliding boards with a vertical frame and handle take more space to store, which may be a little inconvenient.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a sliding board, which may be easily collapsed for carrying and storage purposes.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention provides a collapsing sliding board comprising a collapsing device, said sliding board comprising in the open position a substantially vertical front elongate frame at the front of a horizontal board on wheels, said collapsing device comprising a base, a Tshaped connector and a locking unit, said base being U-shaped to have two parallel side walls and a bottom wall, each of said two side walls having at least 2 second groove, and a position hole, therein, said T-shaped connector having an upper sleeve portion, and a lower connecting rod extending slopingly from said upper sleeve and pivotally connected with said base, said lower connecting rod having a hollow interior to receive a spring, the connecting rod having a slot and a position hole bored therethrough, said locking unit having an elongate threaded rod, with threads formed on a lower end thereof, said elongate threaded rod passing through said slot bored in the connecting rod from one side to the other to locate with a nut, said elongate threaded rod also locating in said first or second groove in said side walls of said base, the position holes of said base and said lower connecting rod having a bolt or the like passing therethrough, said bolt acting as a pivot, whereby when the sliding board is in the open position, the threaded rod locates in the first groove under the action of the spring, and to collapse the sliding board, said threaded rod of said locking unit is moved in the slot of the lower connecting rod, thereby compressing said spring in said lower connecting rod to separate the threaded rod from said first groove of said base, which is the open position of said collapsing device and moving along top edges of said two side walls -of said base to fit in said second groove of said base under the action of said spring, which is the collapsed position of said collapsing device.

. It is preferable that the front substantially vertical elongate frame has a lower tubular portion and an upper rod portion of a smaller diameter than said lower tubular portion. Preferably, the lower tubular portion locates inside the upper sleeve portion of the T-shaped connector, and it is further preferable that 3 the lower tubular portion has its lower end connected with a front wheel. Preferably, the top of the upper rod portion is formed with a grip, and it is further preferable that the horizontal board is connected at its rear end to a rear wheel.

It is preferable that the two side walls of said base have convex top edges to enable said threaded rod of said locking unit to pivot smoothly. Preferably, the grooves in the side walls of the base are located in an upper portion thereof, and the position hole is located in a lower central portion thereof. It is preferable that the bottom wall of the U- shaped base has at least one position hole bored therein, whereby a screw or the like is screwed through said hole into the horizontal board of the sliding board to secure the collapsing device thereto. It is further preferable that the elongate threaded rod has at its upper end a handle to facilitate clamping of the connecting rod to the side walls of the base, by way of tight ening the nut on the elongate threaded rod.

The present invention will now be described further hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:Figure 1 is a side view of a collapsible sliding board in the open position, in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of a collapsing device in accordance with the present invention; Figure 3 is a side view of a collapsing device in accordance with the present invention; 4 Figure 4 is a side view of a collapsing device in accordance with the present invention, with phantom lines indicating the collapsing device in its collapsed condition; and Figure 5 is a side view of a collapsible sliding board in the collapsed condition in accordance with the present invention.

A preferred embodiment of a collapsible sliding board 1 in accordance with the present invention, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, includes a front vertical elongate frame 10, a horizontal board 11, a collapsing device 2 positioned on a front end of the horizontal board 11 and movably connected to a lower portion of the front vertical elongate frame 10, a front wheel 100 fixed with a lower end of the front frame 10, and a rear wheel 12 fixed at a rear end of the horizontal board 11. The front elongate frame has an upper rod portion 101 of a smaller diameter than the lower tubular portion and the upper rod portion is telescopically mounted in the lower tubular portion. Further, the horizontal board 11 has a plurality of threaded holes 110 bored in the front section.

The collapsing device 2 is connected between the front end of the horizontal board 11 and a lower portion of the front vertical elongate frar-ne 10, the collapsing device consisting of a U-shaped base 20, a Tshaped connector 21, a locking unit 22 and a spring S. The base 20 has a plurality of holes 200 in the bottom wall aligned with the threaded holes 110 of the horizontal board 11 for screws to secure the base on the horizontal board 11. The base 20 has two opposite side walls 201, which have respectively a convex top edge 202 and two grooves 203 in the top edge 202, a position hole 204 substantially in the centre of each of the two side walls 201. The position holes 204 are aligned. The Tshaped connector 21 has an upper sleeve 210 and a lower connect rod 211 extending down from the middle section of the upper sleeve 210. The lower connect rod 211 has a hollow interior to receive a spring S, and two opposite holes 212 bored in two sides near the lower end and aligned with the position holes 204 of the base 20 for bolts N to pivotally connect the lower connecting rod 211 with the base 20. The lower connecting rod 211 further has two aligned slots 213 in intermediate portions of the two sides for a threaded rod 220 of the locking unit 22 to pass through to screw with a nut 222 to connect the locking unit 22 with the lower connecting rod 211. The threaded rod 220 has a grip 221 combined with an outer end of the threaded rod 220.

In assembling the collapsible sliding board, referring to Figures 1 to 4, first, the spring S is inserted in the connecting rod 211 of the collapsing device 2, and next, the threaded rod 220 is inserted through the slots 213, limiting the spring S inside the connecting rod 211, and the nut 222 is screwed onto the threaded end of the threaded rod 220 protruding out of the slot 213 of the connecting rod 211. Then the connecting rod 211 is inserted between the two side walls 201 of the base 20, aligning the position holes 204 and 212 with each other, for the bolts N to secure the base 20 with the connecting rod 211. Then the threaded rod 220 of the locking unit 22 is fitted in the first groove 203 of the base 20, finishing assemblage of the collapsing device 2, as shown in Figure 3, keeping the front elongate frame 10 in the open condition for use. Then the sleeve 210 of the device 2 is fitted around the lower tubular portion of the front 6 elongate frame 10 and then the device 2 is screwed tightly onto the front end of the horizontal board 11, through the holes 200 in the base 20. Then the collapsing device 2 is completely assembled with the sliding board, as shown in Figure 1.

In using the collapsible sliding board, it must first be ensured that the threaded rod 220 is securely inserted in the first (the left one on Figure 2) groove 203 of the base 20, as shown in Figure 3, and next, the grip 221 is rotated to enable the threaded rod 220 to screw with the nut 222 tightly so as to clamp onto the side wall 201 of the base 20. Thus, the locking unit 22 is firmly secured in the first groove 203 in the open position, with the front frame 10 standing firmly to enable a user to hold the grip 102 and run the sliding board, as shown in Figure 1.

In the situation where the slide board is to be collapsed, referring to Figures 3, 4 and 5, first, the grip 221 is rotated, which rotates the threaded rod 220, thereby loosening the nut 222. Then the threaded rod 220 is pushed up to compress the spring S in the connecting rod 211 to let the threaded rod 220 leave the first groove 203. Then the rod 220 is pushed along the convex edge 202 to firmly locate in the second (rear) groove 203, as shown in Figure 4. At the same time, the front frame 10 is pushed downwards towards the horizontal board 11, to lie on the horizontal board 11, as shown in Figure 5, finishing collapsing the sliding board for easy carrying or storage.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications rnay be 7 made therein and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

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Claims (13)

1. A collapsing sliding board comprising a collapsing device, said sliding board comprising in the open position a substantially vertical front elongate frame positioned at the front of a horizontal board on wheels, said collapsing device comprising a base, a T-shaped connector and a locking unit, said base being Ushaped to have two parallel side walls and a bottom wall, each of said two side walls having at least a first groove and a second groove, and a position hole, therein, said T-shaped connector having an upper sleeve portion, and a lower connecting rod extending slopingly from said upper sleeve and pivotally connected with said base, said lower connecting rod having a hollow interior to receive a spring, the connecting rod having a slot and a position hole bored therethrough, said locking unit having an elongate threaded rod, with threads formed on a lower end thereof, said elongate threaded rod passing through said slot bored in the connecting rod from one side to the other to locate with a nut, said elongate threaded rod also locating in said first or second groove in said side walls of said base, the position holes of said base and said lower connecting rod having a bolt or the like passing therethrough, locating with a nut, said bolt acting as a pivot, whereby when the sliding board is in the open position, the threaded rod locates in the first groove under the action of the spring, and to collapse the sliding board, said threaded rod of said locking unit is pulled from the first slot of the lower connecting rod, thereby compressing said spring in said lower connecting rod to separate the threaded rod from said first groove of said 9 base, which is the open position of said collapsing device and moving along top edges of said two side walls of said base to fit in said second groove of said base under the action of said spring, which is the collapsed position of said collapsing device.
2. 2. A collapsing sliding board as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front substantially vertical elongate frame of the sliding board has a lower tubular portion and an upper rod portion of a smaller diameter than said lower tubular portion.
3. 3. A collapsing sliding board as claimed in claim 2, wherein the lower tubular portion locates inside the upper sleeve portion of the T-shaped connector.
4. 4. A collapsing sliding board as claimed in any one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the lower tubular portion of the sliding board has its lower end connected with a front wheel.
5. 5. A collapsing sliding board as claimed in any one of claims 2, 3 or 4, wherein the top of the upper rod portion of the sliding board is formed with a grip.
6. 6. A collapsing sliding board as claimed in any one of claims I to 5, wherein the horizontal board of the sliding board is connected at its rear end to a rear wheel.
7. 7. A collapsing sliding board as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the two side walls of the base of the collapsing device have convex top edges to enable the threaded rod of the locking unit to pivot smoothly.
8. 8. A collapsing sliding board as claimed in any one of claims I to 7, wherein the grooves in the side walls of the base of the collapsing device are located in an upper portion thereof, and the position hole is located in a lower central portion thereof.
9. 9. A collapsing sliding board as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the bottom wall of the U-shaped base of the collapsing device, and the hoirizontal board have at least one position hole bored therein, whereby a screw, bolt or the like is screwed through said hole into a corresponding hole in the horizontal board of the sliding board to secure the collapsing device to the horizontal board.
10. 10. A collapsing sliding board as claimed in any one of claims I to 9, wherein the elongate threaded rod has at its upper end a handle.
11. 11. A collapsible slide board comprising a horizontal board, a vertical front elongate frame, and a collapsing device as main components, said front vertical elon-gate frame having a lower tubular portion and an upper rod portion of a smaller dia meter than said lower tubular portion to telescope therein, said lower tubular portion having its lower end connected with a front wheel, said upper rod portion having its top formed with a grip, said horizontal board having its rear end connected with a rear wheel; said collapsing device consisting of a base, a Tshaped connector and a locking unit, said base being U-shaped to have two parallel side walls and a bottom wall secured firmly on said horizontal board with bolts, said two side walls respectively having a first (or left) groove and a second (right) groove in an upper portion and a position wall in a center portion, said Tshaped connector having an upper sleeve portion fitting around said lower tubular portion and a lower connecting rod extending slopingly from said upper sleeve and connected pivotally with said base with a bolt nut, said lower 11 connecting rod having a hollow interior to receive a spring therein and two slots and two position holes bored in two opposite side walls, said locking unit having an elongate threaded rod with threads formed on a lower end, said elongate threaded rod passing through said two slots from the left side to the right side to screw with a nut and also fitting in said first or said second groove in said base in the open posiflon or the collapsed position; said base and said lower connecting rod connected pivotally with eachother with a bolt passing through said position holes of said base and said lower connecting rod so that lower connecting rod may swing back and forth with said bolt as a pivot, said threaded rod of said locking unit compressing said spring in said lower connecting rod to separate from said first groove of said base in the spread position of said collapsing device and moving along top edges of said two side walls of said base to fit in second groove of said base to the collapsed position of said collapsing device, thus said collapsible sliding board being collapsed, with said front elongate frame lying on said horizontal board.
12. 12. The collapsible sliding board as claimed in claim 11, wherein said two side walls of said base have convex top edges for said threaded rod of said locking unit to move back and forth smoothly.
13. 13. A collapsible sliding board substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.