GB2368324A

GB2368324A - Scooter provided with means to enhance manoeuverability thereof

Info

Publication number: GB2368324A
Application number: GB0027448A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Damain Mason
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-10-28
Filing date: 2000-11-10
Publication date: 2002-05-01
Also published as: JP3077901U; GB0027448D0

Abstract

The scooter comprises a footboard 20, a steering handlebar 40, a front wheel 50, and a rear wheel 30. The footboard has a shank 22, a front end 24, and a rear end 26. The shank 22 is provided at one longitudinal end thereof with a through slot, the steering handlebar being braced to the footboard with its bottom end fastened with the front wheel 50 via the through slot. The rear wheel 30 is pivoted to the underside of the other longitudinal end of the shank of the footboard 50, or is located in another through slot (Fig 7, not shown). The footboard 20 is wider than normal, optionally with an arcuate cross-section, the ends 24,26 optionally being sloped to engage objects for stunt actions.

Description

SCOOTER PROVIDED WITH MEANS TO ENHANCE MANEUVERABILITY THEREOF FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a scooter, and more particularly to a highly maneuverable scooter. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The conventional scooter consists of a low, narrow footboard with a wheel or wheels at each end thereof, and an upright handlebar for steering. The scooter is moved by a series of pushes made by one foot against the ground by a person riding thereon.

The conventional scooter is rather limited in maneuverability and can not be therefore used to perform difficult or intricate tricks. In light of its acrobatic limitation, people's passion for scooter is often shortlived. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a scooter which is maneuverable in various ways.

In keeping with the principle of the present invention, the foregoing objective of the present invention is attained by a scooter comprising a footboard, a rear wheel pivoted to the underside of the rear portion of the footboard, a steering handlebar fastened at the bottom end thereof with the front portion of the footboard, and a front wheel pivoted to the bottom end of the handlebar. The bottom end of the handlebar is put through a through slot of the footboard. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view taken along the direction indicated by a line 3-3 as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention in operation.

FIG. 5 shows another schematic view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention in operation.

FIG. 6 shows another schematic view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention in operation.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a side view of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As shown in FIGS. 1-3, a scooter 10 embodied in the present invention comprises a footboard 20, a rear wheel 30, a steering handlebar 40, and a front wheel 50.

The footboard 20 is made of a fiber-reinforced plastic material and is greater in width than the conventional scooter footboard. The footboard 20 has an arcuate cross section, as shown in FIG. 3, so as to enhance its maneuverability. The footboard 20 may be provided with a cover of a high friction coefficient. The footboard 20 has a shank 22 of a predetermined length, a front end 24 extending upwardly from one longitudinal end of the shank 22, and a rear end extending upwardly from other longitudinal end of the shank 22. One longitudinal end of the shank 22 is provided with a first through slot 28 and a reinforcing plate 29 which is made of a metal material, such as aluminum alloy, and is fastened to the underside of the front end 24.

The rear wheel 30 is pivoted to the underside of other longitudinal end of the shank 22 by a rear wheel frame 32.

The handlebar 40 is braced at the bottom end with the shank 22 such that the bottom end of the handlebar 40 is fastened with the front wheel 50 via the first through slot 28.

As shown in FIG. 1, the shank 22 of the footboard 20 is provided in the underside with two"B"areas and an"A"area located between the two"B"areas. These areas and the undersides of the front end 24 and the rear end 26 come in contact with obstacles in acrobatic performances, as illustrated in FIGS. 4,5, and 6.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a scooter 60 of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention is basically similarly in construction to the scooter 10 of the first preferred embodiment described above, except that the scooter 60 comprises a footboard 62 which is provided with a second through slot 70 and a rear wheel cover 74 which works as a device for slowing or stopping a rear wheel 72 in motion. The rear wheel 72 is pivoted to the footboard 62 such that the rear wheel 72 is received in the second through slot 70. The footboard 62 has a shank 64 located between the front end and the rear end 66.

The front end, the shank, and the rear end of the footboard of the present invention may be coplanar.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A scooter comprising: a footboard provided at one longitudinal end with a first through slot; a rear wheel pivoted to the underside of other longitudinal end of said footboard; a steering handlebar braced to said footboard; and a front wheel fastened pivotally to the bottom end of said handlebar via said first through slot.

2. The scooter as defined in claim 1, wherein said footboard has a shank, a front end extending from one longitudinal end of said shank, and a rear end extending from other longitudinal end of said shank.

3. The scooter as defined in claim 2, wherein said front end is reinforced with a reinforcing plate.

4. The scooter as defined in claim 1, wherein said footboard is provided with a cover of a high friction coefficient.

5. The scooter as defined in claim 1, wherein said footboard has an arcuate cross section.

6. The scooter as defined in claim 2, wherein said front end and said shank form a predetermined angle; wherein said rear end and said shank form a predetermined angle.

7. The scooter as defined in claim 2, wherein said front end, said shank, and said rear end are located in a coplanar manner.

8. A scooter comprising: a footboard having a front end, a rear end, and a shank located between said front end and said rear end, said shank being provided at one longitudinal end with a first through slot, said shank being provided at other longitudinal end with a second through slot; a steering handlebar braced to said footboard such that a bottom end of said handlebar is received in said first through slot; a front wheel fastened pivotally to said bottom end of said handlebar; and a rear wheel fastened pivotally in said second through slot of said shank of said footboard.

9. The scooter as defined in claim 8, wherein said footboard is provided with a cover made of a material having a high friction coefficient.

10. The scooter as defined in claim 8, wherein said front end is reinforced with a reinforcing plate.

11. The scooter as defined in claim 8, wherein said footboard has

an arcuate cross section.

12. The scooter as defined in claim 8, wherein said front end and said shank form a predetermined angle; wherein said rear end and said shank form a predetermined angle.

13. The scooter as defined in claim 8, wherein said front end, said shank, and said rear end are located in a coplanar manner.

14. The scooter as defined in claim 8, wherein said rear end of said footboard is provided with a rear wheel cover pivoted thereto such that said rear wheel cover is located over said rear wheel to work as a device for slowing or stopping said rear wheel in motion.

15. A scooter substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3, or Figures 7 and 8, of the accompanying drawings.