GB2363175A

GB2363175A - Braking system for scooters

Info

Publication number: GB2363175A
Application number: GB0020718A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wah Sing Tse
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-06-06
Filing date: 2000-08-22
Publication date: 2001-12-12
Anticipated expiration: 2020-08-22
Also published as: GB2363175B; CN1326887A; CN1154594C; HK1042874B; GB2363175A8; HK1042874A1; GB0020718D0

Abstract

A braking system 100 for the rear wheel 13 of a scooter 10, comprises an inverted U-shaped frame 120 pivotally connected by bars 130 to the rear end of shaft 15 forming part of the scooter body (11, Fig. 1). The frame has a top part 124 which acts as a pedal for pressing down by the foot of a user, against bias of springs 160, to move the frame to the braking position in which friction pads 140 engage the ground, thereby applying friction to the ground for slowing down or stopping the scooter. In an alternative embodiment, the legs (222, Fig.8) of the frame slide in sleeves (230) welded to the shaft 15.

Description

2363175 BRAKING SYSTEM FOR SCOOTERS The present invention relates to a

braking system suitable for use in a scooter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Scooters are becoming increasingly popular. In a typical construction, the scooter has an oblong platform on which 10 a user stands, said platform including front and rear wheels at opposite ends for free rolling on the ground like a skateboard. The scooter includes a steering mechanism for the front wheel, which has a pair of handle bars at the top end for the user.

Braking is usually achieved by means of a spring-loaded bracket which extends over the top side of the rear wheel. Upon pressing down by the foot of the user, the bracket is urged against the rear wheel, thereby applying friction to 20 the rear wheel for slowing down or stopping the rear wheel and hence the scooter. While the rear wheel is being slowed down in this manner, it is subject to considerable friction by the ground, which causes the rear wheel to wear out comparatively much faster than the front wheel.

25 Replacement of the rear wheel is expensive.

The invention seeks to mitigate or at least alleviate such a problem by providing an improved braking system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided a braking 5 system for a scooter having a body having a rear end incorporating a rear wheel, which system comprises a braking body, a connector for connecting the braking body to the rear end of said scooter body such that the braking body is movable between an upper rest position and a lower 10 braking position, and resilient means for biassing the braking body towards the rest position, said braking body having a top part which acts as a pedal for pressing down by the foot of a user of said scooter to move the braking body to the braking position and a bottom part which is 15 provided with a friction member for engaging the ground when the braking body is moved to the braking position, thereby applying friction to the ground for slowing down or stopping said scooter.

20 Preferably, the braking body is arranged to extend on at least one lateral side of said rear wheel, with the top part above said rear wheel and the bottom part close to the ground.

25 More preferably, the braking body comprises an inverted Ushaped frame having opposite limbs arranged to extend on the left and right sides of said rear wheel respectively, said limbs having bottom ends together providing the said bottom part, and a member extending across top ends of the limbs to provide the said top part and over said rear wheel.

5 In a first preferred embodiment, the braking body is arranged to be connected by the connector to the rear end of said scooter body such that the braking body is pivotable between the rest position and the braking position.

Preferably, the braking body is arranged to be connected by a pair of said connectors to the rear end of said scooter body such that the braking body is pivotable between the rest position and the braking position, with 15 the connectors connected at first ends to the limbs respectively and hinged at second ends to the rear end of said scooter body.

In a second preferred embodiment, the braking body is 20 arranged to be connected by the connector to the rear end of said scooter body such that the braking body is slidable between the rest position and the braking position.

25 Preferably, the braking body is arranged to be connected by a pair of said connectors to the rear end of said scooter body such that the braking body is slidable between the rest position and the braking position, with the connectors being in the form of sleeves connected to the rear end of said scooter body and the limbs extending through the sleeves respectively for sliding support.

5 It is preferred that the resilient means is provided by a spring for coaction between the braking body and the rear end of said scooter body to bias the braking body upwards.

It is preferred that the friction member is in the form of 10 a pad made of rubber or resin material.

The invention also provides a scooter having a body including front and rear wheels at opposite ends, incorporating the aforesaid braking system.

is BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying 20 drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a scooter incorporating a first embodiment of a braking system in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged side view of the braking system of Figure 1, said system being in an inoperative condition; Figure 3 is an end view of the braking system of Figure 2; Figure 4 is an enlarged side view of the braking system of Figure 1, said system being in an operative condition; Figure 5 is an end view of the braking system of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a side view of a second embodiment of a braking system in accordance with the invention used in a 10 scooter; Figure 7 is a top plan view of the braking system of Figure 6; and 15 Figure 8 is an end view of the braking system of Figure 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring initially to Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings, 20 there is shown a first braking system 100 embodying the invention for use in a scooter 10. The scooter 10 has a horizontal oblong metal body 11, a pair of wheels 12 and 13 supported at the front and rear ends of the body 11, and a steering mechanism 14 for the front wheel 12. The 25 body 11 is formed by a shaft 15 and a platform 16 mounted on the shaft 15, said shaft 15 having a vertical sleeve 17 at its front end and supporting the rear wheel 13 at its bifurcate rear end. The steering mechanism 14 is formed by a vertical metal column 18 which passes through the sleeve 17 for turning relative thereto and supports the front wheel 12 at its bifurcate bottom end. A pair of metal handle bars 19 is included, which extends across the top 5 end of the column 18.

The braking system 100 has a metal body 110 which comprises a rectangular inverted U-shaped frame 120 and a pair of inclined straight connecting bars 130 on opposite 10 left and right sides. The frame 120 has a pair of left and right arcuate limbs or legs 122 and a horizontal pedal bar 124 extending across top ends 126 of the legs 122.A friction pad 140, which may be made of rubber or resin material, is attached to a bottom end 128 of each leg 122.

Each connecting bar 130 has a first end 132 and a second end 134. The connecting bar 130 is connected with its first end 132 to the top end 126 of a respective leg 122 at a position slightly below the pedal bar 124. The rest 20 of the connecting bar 130, including its second end 134, extends outwards at a dipping angle of approximately 300 on the concave side of the frame 120.

The braking body 110 is pivotably connected, by means of a 25 horizontal hinge pin 150, to the rear end of the shaft 15 of the scooter body 11. More specifically, the braking body 110 is placed with the second ends 134 of its connecting bars 130 on opposite sides of the shaft 15, at a position in f ront of the rear wheel 13. The pin 150 passes through the second ends 134 and the shaft 15 in between, such that the frame 120 is pivotable slightly upwards and downwards relative to the scooterbody 11.

The braking system 100 includes a compression coil spring 160 which is provided between the scooter shaft 15 and each of the connecting bars 130 at about mid-length for co-action. The springs 160 are sufficiently strong to 10 resiliently support the braking body 110 in a rest position (Figures 2 and 3) such that the friction pads 140 are slightly off the ground, when the braking system 100 is not in operation.

15 For braking, the user on the scooter 10 should press by one of his feet on the pedal bar 124, whereby the body 110 of the braking system 100 is pivoted downwards against the action of the springs 160 into a braking position (Figures 4 and 5). This results in the pads 140 engaging the ground 20 and thus applying friction therewith to slow down, and then if desired stop, the scooter 10. Upon release, the braking body 110 automatically returns to the rest position under the action of the springs 160.

25 The scooter platform 16 is bent at its rear end 16A, which extends upwards at an angle of approximately 300 to cover about half of the rear wheel 13 and reach short of and below the pedal bar 124. The rear end 16A acts as a f ixed guard for the rear wheel 13 against accidental access by the user on the scooter 10.

Referring now to Figures 6 to 8 of the drawings, there is 5 shown a second braking system 200 embodying the invention, which is also suitable for use in the same scooter 10 as an alternative. The braking system 200 has a body 210 in the form of a rectangular inverted U-shaped metal frame 220 and includes a pair of vertical connecting sleeves 230 10 also made of metal. The frame 220 has a pair of left and right straight limbs or legs 222 and a horizontal pedal bar 224 extending across top ends 226 of the legs 222. A rubber friction pad 240 is attached to a bottom end 228 of each leg 222.

Each connecting sleeve 230 is welded to opposite left and right sides of the rear end of the scooter shaft 15, at a position behind the axle of the rear wheel 13. The frame 220 is supported by the sleeves 230, with its legs 222 20 passing through the sleeves 230 respectively, for limited upward and downward sliding movement relative to the scooter body 11.

A compression coil spring 260 is disposed on the top end 25 226 of each leg 222, which co-acts between an annular flange 227 formed around the leg end 226 and the upper end of the associated sleeve 230. The springs 260 are sufficiently strong to resiliently support the frame 220 in a rest position such that the pads 240 are slightly off the ground, when the braking system 200 is not in operation.

5 For braking, the user on the scooter 10 should press by one of his feet on the pedal bar 224, whereby the frame 220 is slid downwards against the action of the springs 260. This results in the pads 240 engaging the ground and thus applying friction therewith to slow down or stop the scooter 10. Upon release, the frame 220 automatically returns to the rest position under the action of the springs 260.

In either braking system 100/200, after the braking pads 140/240 have worn out through use, they should be replaced with new pads which are relatively inexpensive.

In either braking system 100/200, the braking body 110/210 has a symmetrical construction about a vertical central plane of the scooter 10, which enables the application of balanced braking on opposite sides such that the scooter may be slowed down or stopped in a stable manner. This construction also allows the use of two friction pads 140/240, whereby the braking surface is doubled.

Although the braking system 100/200 is operable to apply braking actions on both sides of the scooter 10 for stability, it is envisaged that, in certain situations or for simplicity in structure or cost consideration, the braking system of the subject invention may be constructed to apply a single braking action on only one side, or at a central position right behind the rear wheel of the 5 scooter.

The invention has been given by way of example only, and various other modifications of and/or alterations to the described embodiments may be made by persons skilled in 10 the art without departing from the scope of the invention as specified in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A braking system for a scooter having a body having a rear end incorporating a rear wheel, which system 5 comprises a braking body, a connector f or connecting the braking body to the rear end of said scooter body such that the braking body is movable between an upper rest position and a lower braking position, and resilient means for biassing the braking body towards the rest position, 10 said braking body having a top part which acts as a pedal for pressing down by the foot of a user of said scooter to move the braking body to the braking position and a bottom part which is provided with a friction member for engaging the ground when the braking body is moved to the braking is position, thereby applying friction to the ground for slowing down or stopping said scooter.

2. The braking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the braking body is arranged to extend on at least one lateral 20 side of said rear wheel, with the top part above said rear wheel and the bottom part close to the ground.

3. The braking system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the braking body comprises an inverted Ushaped frame having 25 opposite limbs arranged to extend on the left and right. sides of said rear wheel respectively, said limbs having bottom ends together providing the said bottom part, and a member extending across top ends of the limbs to provide -12the said top part and over said rear wheel.

4. The braking system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the braking body is arranged to be' connected by 5 the connector to the rear end of said scooter body such that the braking body is pivotable between the rest position and the braking position.

5. The braking system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the 10 braking body is arranged to be connected by a pair of said connectors to the rear end of said scooter body such that the braking body is pivotable between the rest position and the braking position, with the connectors connected at first ends to the limbs respectively and hinged at second 15 ends to the rear end of said scooter body.

6. The braking system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the braking body is arranged to be connected by the connector to the rear end of said scooter body such 20 that the braking body is slidable between the rest position and the braking position.

7. The braking system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the braking body is arranged to be connected by a pair of said 25 connectors to the rear end of said scooter body such that the braking body is slidable between the rest position and the braking position, with the connectors being in the form of sleeves connected to the rear end of said scooter body and the limbs extending through the sleeves respectively for sliding support.

8. The braking system as claimed in any one of claims 1 5 to 7, wherein the resilient means is provided by a spring for co-action between the braking body and the rear end of said-scooter body to bias the braking body upwards.

9. The braking system as claimed in any one of claims 1 10 to 8, wherein the friction member is in the form of a pad made of rubber or resin material.

10. A braking system for a scooter, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 or 15 Figures 6 to 8 of the accompanying drawing.

11. A scooter having a body including front and rear wheels at opposite ends, incorporating the braking system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10.