US20030042059A1

US20030042059A1 - Transmission and drive-train systems of 2 wheel, 3 wheel and 4 weel exercise scooters incorporating (1) seesaw foot pedal and (2) left & right step foot pedals

Info

Publication number: US20030042059A1
Application number: US09/928,902
Authority: US
Inventors: Shu-Hsing Tsai
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-08-14
Filing date: 2001-08-14
Publication date: 2003-03-06

Abstract

Three types of free-wheel drive-train systems incorporated under the pedal of skate scooters that enables forward propulsion of the scooters through repetitive up and down foot motions. The drive-train systems of 2 wheel, 3 wheel and 4 wheel exercise step scooters consists of (1) Single Seesaw foot pedal with center pivot, (2) Rear-stepping, Right and Left foot pedals with Front pivot, (3) Front-stepping, Right and Left foot pedals with Rear pivot.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following invention incorporates a cartridge transmission system on skate scooters to transfer power to the rear wheels through a seesawing or stepping pedal motion. This new product enables a smooth, consistent forward momentum and true sense speed; thus avoiding the inherent kicking stop and go deficiencies of current step scooters. This innovative scooter provides hours of pleasure and exercise value to the entire family and surpasses the limited utility of the traditional step scooter.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Sales of the traditional skate scooter has declined drastically mainly because of the lack of exercise value. Most users of skate scooters would have one foot on the pedal and the other kicking the ground to propel it forward thus creating unequal force exertion on the right and left foot. It is mostly a stop and go motion and the step braking system is inadequate often requiring the user to step off the scooter completely. This new product will overcome the aforementioned weaknesses of the skate scooter. With the addition of a counter device on the seesaw pedal or step pedal, the intrinsic exercise value may be measured by the number of step cycles. The safety factor is on a par with most modern bicycles. We would like to revitalize the step scooter market with this invention. I would like to explore the inherent exercise value of the step scooter by incorporating my innovative invention to introduce added fun & recreation to the entire family.

The 1 ^stdrive train system consists of a seesawing plate on the stepping pedal, a cartridge is installed underneath the seesaw plate with freewheels built on both ends for a single rotational direction. A chain, cable or belt drive-train device is connected to a tension spring and installed under the seesaw pedal. The upward motion at one end of the seesaw pedal pulls the chain that rotates the freewheel; the corresponding downward motion at opposite end of the seesaw pedal pulls the chain back through its attached tension spring. The seesawing motion activates rear wheel rotation as the main free-wheel cartridge underneath the seesaw pedal incorporates a drive sprocket that is chain linked to the rear wheel's driven sprocket free-wheel.

The 2 ^nddrive train system consists of 2 rear stepping pedals with front pivots that operate in the same principle as the back pedal of the aforementioned seesawing system. The front pivot of each stepper consists of a crank arm connected to a chain and a tension spring. The cartridge is installed between the frame and the rear fork. Freewheels are installed on both sides of the cartridge for a single rotational direction Operating on the principle of a one-sided seesawing motion; once downward force is applied to the stepper, the crank arm rotates the freewheel through its chain. As the force is released, the tension spring pulls on the chain to return the stepper to its original position. The up and down motion of the steppers rotate the cartridge freewheel, its attached drive sprocket pulls on the chain drive train to rotate the rear freewheel gear assembly and thus the rear wheel.

The 3 ^rddrive train system consists of 2 front stepping pedals with rear pivots that operate in the same principle as the front pedal of the aforementioned seesawing system. Same as the 2^ndsystem, the up and down motion rotate the cartridge freewheel and in turn propels the rear wheel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

In order to allow for a clearer understanding of the purpose, key components, construction and unique features of this invention, the following consists of a brief functional explanation of the several views of the drawings. The drawing component indices are also listed in Part B of this section. [0006]
A. Drawings: [0007]
Drawing [0008] 1. Complete Top view and Left view of the Seesaw step scooter
Drawing [0009] 2. Complete Top view and Left view of the Front pivot Rear-step scooter
Drawing [0010] 3. Complete Top view and Left view of the Rear pivot Front-step scooter
Drawing [0011] 4. Complete view of the seesawing drive train system and structure.
Drawing [0012] 5. Complete view of the Front pivot Rear-stepping drive train system and structure.
Drawing [0013] 6. Complete view of the Rear pivot Front-stepping drive train system and structure.
* The ← arrow on drawing [0014] 4, 5, 6 indicates the rotational direction of each component.

B. Drawing Indices:



Drawing 1 and Drawing 4 of the Seesaw step scooter system.

	(10) Seesaw Plate	(101) FR. Chain Locker
	(102) RR. Chain Locker	(11) Cartridge Assembly
	(12) Seesaw Pedal Supporter	(13) FR. Chain
	(14) RR. Chain	(15) Front Chain Spring
	(16) RR. Chain Spring	(17) L/H. Free Wheel
	(18) R/H. Free Wheel	(19) RR. Mid Sprocket
	(20) FR. Mid Sprocket	(21) Drive Chain
	(22) Sub Cartridge Assembly	(23) Sub Drive Sprocket
	(24) Sub Drive Sprocket	(25) Sub Chain
	(26) RR. Free Wheel	(27) Main Shaft
	(28) Drive Sprocket	(29) Sub Shaft

Drawing 2 and Drawing 5 of the Front Pivot Rear-stepping system.

	(30) L/H Pedal	(301) L/H Crank Arm
	(31) R/H Pedal	(311) R/H Crank Arm
	(32) Supporter	(33) Pedal Shaft
	(34) L/H Drive Chain	(35) R/H Drive Chain
	(36) L/H Chain Spring	(37) R/H Chain Spring
	(38) L/H Drive Free Wheel	(39) R/H Drive Free Wheel
	(41) Cartridge	(42) Sprocket
	(43) Sub Chain	(44) RR. Free Wheel
	(45) Main Shaft

Drawing 3 and Drawing 6 of the Rear Pivot Front-stepping system.

	(50) L/H Pedal	(501) L/H Crank Arm
	(51) R/H Pedal	(511) R/H Crank Arm
	(52) Supporter	(53) Pedal Shaft
	(54) L/H Drive Chain	(55) R/H Drive Chain
	(56) L/H Chain Spring	(57) R/H Chain Spring
	(58) L/H Drive Free Wheel	(59) R/H Drive Free Wheel
	(60) Sprocket	(61) Sub Chain
	(62) RR. Free Wheel	(63) Cartridge
	(64) Main Shaft

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The 1[0016] ^sttype—seesaw pedal exercise scooter combines the typical skate scooter with a seesawing exercise motion that activates the rear wheel drive-train system. As downward step pressure is applied on the front seesaw pedal (10), the Front Chain (13) passes over the Front Mid-Sprocket (20) and R/H Freewheel (18) (the unidirectional freewheel is not activated and stays in its original position), and the Front Chain Spring (15) also remains in its original position and not activated. As the back seesaw pedal swings up; the Rear Chain (14) via Rear Mid-Sprocket (19) activates the L/H Freewheel (17) in an anti-clockwise direction and pulls on the Rear Chain Spring (16). Meanwhile, the L/H Freewheel is activated together with the Main Shaft (27) and its attached Sub Shaft (28) also begins to rotate. The rotation enables the Drive Chain (21) to pull on the Sub Shaft (29) and activates its associated Sub Drive Sprocket (23). The Sub Drive Sprocket (24) and Sub Drive Sprocket (23) is attached to the Sub Shaft (29); therefore enabling the rotation of the Sub Shaft (29) which pulls on the Sub Chain (25) and rotates the Rear Freewheel (26) to propel the skate scooter forward. As we step on the back seesaw pedal creating downward pressure, the Rear Chain (14) and its associated drive-train subassembly returns to its neutral position, and the Front Chain (13) and its associated drive-train subassembly initiates its aforementioned motion. Therefore; the repeated up and down movement of the pedals composes the genuine skate scooter with seesaw pedals. The aforementioned drive-train system may incorporate steel chains, steel tension rods, leather or rubber belts or other similar devices. Power transmission to the rear wheels may be chain-driven or gear shaft-driven.
The 2[0017] ^ndtype—Front pivot rear-stepping exercise scooter utilizes the stepping motion on the dual step pedals to activate the drive-train system on the rear wheels. As downward pressure is exerted on the L/H Pedal (30), its attached L/H Crank Arm (301) rotates the Pedal Shaft (33) initiating the L/H Drive Chain (34) to pull on the L/H Drive Freewheel (38) and Main Shaft (45). The Sprocket (42) on the Main Shaft (45) activates the Sub Chain (43) and the Rear Freewheel (44) thus enabling rotation of the rear wheel. In the mean time, the Right Pedal system remains motionless as the R/H Drive Freewheel (39) restraints its unidirectional movement. When downward pressure is applied to the R/H Pedal (31); the aforementioned drive-train operation is repeated but on the R/H side. As the L/H Pedal (30) is gradually released; the L/H Chain Spring (36) is pulled back thus activating the L/H Drive Chain (34) and the L/H Drive Freewheel (38) but the force is not transmitted due to its unidirectional power transmission design and the L/H Pedal (30) returns to its original position. The repeated left and right pedal movement composes the genuine skate scooter with step pedals.
The 3[0018] ^ndtype—Rear pivot front-stepping exercise scooter utilizes the stepping motion on the dual step pedals to activate the drive-train system on the rear wheels. As downward pressure is exerted on the L/H Pedal (50), its attached L/H Crank Arm (501) rotates the Pedal Shaft (53) initiating the L/H Drive Chain (54) to pull on the L/H Drive Freewheel (58) and Main Shaft (64). The Sprocket (60) on the Main Shaft (64) activates the Sub Chain (61) and the Rear Freewheel (62) thus enabling rotation of the rear wheel. In the mean time, the Right Pedal system remains motionless as the R/H Drive Freewheel (59) restraints its unidirectional movement. When downward pressure is applied to the R/H Pedal (51); the aforementioned drive-train operation is repeated but on the R/H side. As the L/H Pedal (50) is gradually released; the L/H Chain Spring (56) is pulled back thus activating the L/H Drive Chain (54) and the L/H Drive Freewheel (58), but the force is not transmitted due to its unidirectional power transmission design and the L/H Pedal (50) returns to its original position. The repeated left and right pedal movement composes the genuine skate scooter with step pedals.
The aforementioned 2[0019] ^ndand ₃ ^rddrive-train system may incorporate steel chains, steel tension rods, leather or rubber belts or other similar devices. Power transmission to the rear wheels may be chain-driven or gear shaft-driven.
This invention intends to incorporate the above 3 types of drive-train systems into improved versions of the step scooter with 2 wheels, 3 wheels and 4 wheels and improving its exercise value and fun factor. [0020]
As a whole, these 3 types of improved skate scooter drive-train mechanisms are applicable on any 2, 3 or 4 wheel scooters. I believe the aforementioned outstanding features and its innovative & practical design fall within the guidelines of a new patent application and in accordance, this application is hereby officially submitted for your review. [0021]

Claims

What I claim as my invention is: the 3 types of free-wheel drive-train systems incorporated under the pedal of skate scooters that enables forward propulsion of the scooters through repetitive up and down foot motions:

1. First type—the drive-train mechanism of the Seesaw pedal skate scooter, in accordance with the attached documents and graphs, consist of the following unique features: Seesaw pedal is installed on the skate scooter and the force generated by the repetitive up and down motion of the pedal is transferred to the rear wheels by the integral drive-train mechanism

2. Second type—the drive-train mechanism of the Front pivot rear-stepping skate scooter, in accordance with the attached documents and graphs, consist of the following unique features:

L/H and R/H foot pedals are installed on the skate scooter and the force generated by the stepping motion of the pedal is transferred to the rear wheels by the integral drive-train system.

3. Third type—the drive-train mechanism of the Rear pivot Front-stepping skate scooter, in accordance with the attached documents and graphs, consist of the following unique features: