WO2015059662A1

WO2015059662A1 - Portable multifunction scooter

Info

Publication number: WO2015059662A1
Application number: PCT/IB2014/065565
Authority: WO
Inventors: Quang Chi WANG
Original assignee: Wang Quang Chi
Priority date: 2013-10-23
Filing date: 2014-10-23
Publication date: 2015-04-30
Also published as: AU2013248199A1

Abstract

The invention relates to the device Portable Multifunction Scooter, the device integrates many devices and many functions into one single, light weight, foldable and portable device. The device consists of the main frame (Fig 1), seat 16 (Fig 6), front wheels 63 & 64, Motor 58, back wheel 59, balancing and anti-tipping wheels 50 & 51, steering column 45, and pushing handles 38 & 39; the device can be quickly and easily folded or unfolded into one only single device. The device integrates many devices such as electric scooter, walking frame, pushing frame, wheel chair, carry tray, portable chair, glider, and trolley into one only single light weight, foldable, and portable device; (Fig 6) shows the device, and (Fig 7) shows the device when it is folded.

Description

THE INVENTION IS DESCRIBED IN THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT

Existing Devices

Traditionally and historically, there is no single device such as an electric scooter, a wheel chair, a pushing frame, a walking frame, a trolley, or a carry tray, which can be designed to include more than one function and/ or more than one device into one single device. And most, if not all of the devices are bulky, large, and very heavy, and none can be readily and easily folded or unfolded into one single simple device, and it is difficult, if not impossible, for one person, especially an elderly person to lift, to carry, and/ or to load any one or more of these devices and put them into a boot of a small car.

In general different devices serve different functions, and none of them have been integrated together into one single device with multi-functions, which are light weight, foldable into one single device, and portable. Each device only serves only one function, for a person who needs different functions and/ or different devices for different occasions, s/he has to purchase many and/ or all of each and individual device, for example, a pushing Frame, a walking frame, an electric scooter, a carry tray, a pushing trolley, or a portable chair, and to take and/ or carry any one, several, or all of the mentioned devices in a car is impossible because of their sizes, and weight.

Other very important factors are that for a person to be able to use any one, or some, or all of these devices at a different locations or venues other than normal home environment, or in the vicinity near to home, and to take these devices with them and to transport them to a not too far distance in a car is impossible; that means for an elderly person, or a user who wishes to take his or her these devices, mobility devices, mobility aid devices with them to a different locations so that s/he can use them, is not possible due to the restriction of heavy weight, sizes, and portability of these existing devices.

The new invention Portable Multifunction Scooter

The new invention of the Portable Multifunction Scooter can eliminate all the above mentioned of the difficulties, restrictions and limitations of most, if not all of the existing available devices, particularly with heavy weight, large sizes, foldable single device, portable, and multifunction devices. The invention can be described in the following statements:-

The invention relates to the Portable Multifunction scooter.

The portable multifunction scooter is a light weight, single foldable, and portable device, which includes one to more integrated devices of the electric scooter, electric pushing frame, electric glider, electric wheel chair, electric trolley, electric carry tray, manual pushing frame, manual wheel chair, manual carry tray, manual trolley, glider, foldable device, portable chair, and portable device; the Portable Multifunction Scooter, from now on referred to as PMS.

The PMS comprises the main frame (Fig 1), the seat frame (Fig 2) is assembled to the main frame, and the seat back support (Fig 3) is assembled to the seat frame, the pushing handles 38 & 39 (Fig 3) is assembled so that they can be used as the pushing or pulling handles for the PMS.

The balancing and anti-tipping casters 50 & 51 (Fig 5) are assembled to the main frame and can be extended or contracted along the head-tubes 8 & 9 (Fig 1) so that the PMS can be converted to different devices, and used as different functions.

The steering column (Fig 4) has the folding joint 44 (Fig 4) where the whole column can be folded down, the upper column 43 can be slid along lower column 42 to adjust the length, the steering bar has sections at 47 & 48 where throttle, and brakes handles are attached.

The front wheels 63 & 64 (Fig 6) can be assembled to the main frame at head- tubes 5 & 6 (Fig 1); the motor 58 is assembled to the back wheel 59 (Fig 6) and assembled to the main frame; the battery and electronic controller for motor can be stored at 99 (Fig 6).

The folding down of the Steering Column (Fig 4), the seat back support (Fig 3), and the seat frame (Fig 2) will result in the PMS being folded into one single piece device, which will make PMS to become flat, compact, and portable as shown in (Fig 7).

The balancing and anti-tipping wheels 50 & 51 (Fig 5), combined with the extendable arms 48 & 49 to form the Balancing-Anti-tipping Wheels, from now on referred to as BAW, which has the BAW-L, and BAW-R sides 56 & 57 (Fig 5) respectively. The BAW can be adjusted in length such that when the casters are off the ground by a small gap, it is referred to as the BAW being in the Neutral position, and when the BAW is adjusted such that the casters will lift the back wheel 59 (Fig 6) completely off the ground by a small gap, in this position, BAW is said to be in the Extending position. Such BAW positions of Neutral and Extending can convert and/ or switch the PMS into many different devices and/ or functions.

The casters 50 & 51 (fig 5) of BAW can be Omni-Directional Wheels, rotational wheels, or wheels, but not limit to these type of wheels, where they can provide the required functions for BAW or PMS.

When the BAW is in the Neutral mode, the PMS can be operated in Electric mode or Manual mode; when BAW is in the Extending position, PMS can be operated in the Manual mode.

The PMS can be switched or changed from one mode to another very quickly and easily, and the PMS can be switched or changed from on device, or devices to another devices or devices quickly and easily also.

When the BAW is locked in the Neutral position, the PMS can be used in the electric (E) and manual (M) operating modes.

In the (E) or electric mode, the PMS can be operated from the back throttle 84 (Fig 8) to control the speed of movement, or from the front throttle 82.

In the (M) or manual mode, the back handles 38 & 39 can be used, or the front steering bar 45 (Fig 6) & (Fig 8) can be used to manually pushing and controlling the movement of PMS.

The Handles 38 & 39, and/ or the steering bar 45 are used to control to direction change and movement of the PMS.

In either Electric mode (E) or Manual mode (M), the PMS can be converted and used as the following devices (Fig 8) and (Fig 6):

1. E-Scooter

2. E-Pushing Frame

3. E-Glider

4. E- Wheel Chair

5. E-Trolley

6. E-Carry Tray

7. M-Pushing Frame 8. M-Wheel Chair

9. M-Carry Tray

10. M-Trolley

11. Glider

12. Portable Chair

When the BAW are locked in the Extending position (Fig 9), the PMS can be used in the (M) Manual mode, the back handles 38 & 39 can be used, or the front steering bar 45 can be used to manual pushing, puling and controlling the direction and movement of PMS. In this mode, the PMS can be used as the following devices:

1. M-Pushing Frame

2. M- Wheel Chair

3. M-Carry Tray

4. M-Trolley

5. Glider

6. Portable Chair

The Seat Frame has the safety thigh fastener belts 17 & 18 (Fig 2) which are attached to the middle left and right of the seat 16. By using these safety thigh belts 17 & 18, the assembled of the arm rests may be not required or necessary, because these thigh belts can be used to replace the arm rests, and have similar safety functions of the arm rests.

In one form of the PMS, BAW can be designed such that, to change the BAW in the Neutral or Extending positions, the Head-tubes 7 & 8 (Fig 1) can be rotated, but not fixed welded to the Back Beam 4; such rotation will create the differences in length for the BAW-L 56 & BAW-R 57 (Fig 5).

In one form of the PMS, BAW can be assembled in the middle of the frame, in front of the Back Wheel 59 (Fig 6) such that the Neutral or the Extending position of the BAW create the same effect for PMS, in which case, the anti- tipping wheels are still required as shown in (Fig 11a).

In one form of the PMS, BAW can be assembled as a single caster in the middle of the frame (Fig 10) in front of the Back Wheel 59 (Fig 6) where it can be locked in the Neutral or Extending position, in which case, the anti-tipping and balancing wheels can be assembled as shown in (Fig 10). In one form of PMS, the front wheels 63 & 64 (Fig 6) are replaced with the casters 73 & 74 (Fig 4a) which have casters rotation locks 71 & 72 (Fig 4a), when the casters are locked, the caster cannot be rotated and can be used as normal wheels as that of 63 & 64 (Fig 6), the casters 71 & 72 and used in placed of front wheels 63 & 64. When the casters are unlocked and can rotate freely, the PMS can be used as the devices in the manual mode as described above.

In one form of PMS, the BAW-L 56 & BAW-R 57 (Fig 5) can be contracted to be in the neutral position, or folded to reduce the sizes, depending on which version of BAW installed, after all these parts are folded down, PMS will be compact and flat in size as shown in Fig 7.

The PMS can move in the forward, reverse, left, right, and all directions.

The number of folding seat legs can be between one, two, three, four, or five legs, depending on the version of PMS (Fig 12a), (Fig 12), (Fig 6) or (Fig 12b).

The number wheels for PMS can be from three, four, five, six, seven, or eight wheels, depending on the number of motors used, and depending on where BAW are assembled (Fig 10a), (Fig 6), (Fig 10), (Fig 11), and Fig (11a); an example of one form of PMS where PMS has eight wheels (Fig 11), is when BAW are assembled in the middle of the frame, two anti-tipping wheels are required to be assembled at the back of the frame to provide anti-tipping function.

In one form of the PMS, when the Seat Frame (Fig 2) and the Seat Back

Support (Fig 3) are removed, the PMS is converted into an electric glider, or a glider (Fig 4b).

In one form of the PMS, when the Seat Frame (Fig 2), the Seat Back Support (Fig 3), and the back wheels 59 (Fig 6) are removed, the PMS is converted into a manual glider (Fig 4b).

PMS has climate covers and protections from wind, rain, Sun, or temperature, for the comfort and safety of user.

PMS uses Green technologies such as Solar panel charger, Lithium battery and many other green technologies where applicable, for the good of the

environment. PMS can be driven by other means such as Petrol engine, or steam engine, or solar panel, or wind energy, but not limited to these methods. PMS can be driven by one or more electric motors, but not limited to one motor. PMS has seat which can be adjustable in height for user comfort and safety and rotatable to left or right for ease mounting.

PMS has baskets, attachment, trays, and/ or straps where bags can be attached for storage and / or for carrying personal belongings and shopping.

PMS has ports and interfaces for lights, horn, and display panel, multimedia devices, GPS, mobile phone, charger, but not restricted to these devices, to enhance functions of PMS.

The device is design with material such as aluminium, timber, carbon, plastic, alloys, and/ or a combination of these materials, and the design is done in such manner that it give the device a sound strong structure, compact, and foldable on each parts or component where applicable to reduce the overall size, and weight, such that it is also foldable, thus easily portable.

The device is assembled with the safety Seat belt, either assembled to the back support, or the seat frame, safety seat belt is to safety keep the user from moving forward, and to some extends, side way to left or right. Safety seat belt can be fastened with Velcro and/ or buckles, but not limited to these methods.

In one form of PMS, the direction movement of the PMS can be controlled by controlling the motors, where two motors are used, and the back wheel 59 (Fig 6) is replaced with two wheels with motors to the Left bracket 90 and Right bracket 91 (Fig 1) respectively, the controlling of the movement and direction turning for PMS can be controlled by the electronic controller of these two motors to controller the turning and direction movement of PMS, without needing to use of a steering column.

In the following, the invention is further explain how the device PMS can be operated and used, with the illustration of the figures.

Figure 8 show the PMS when it is in fully unfolded, and can be operated with BAW in the Neutral position, that is, when the balancing and anti-tipping wheels are off the ground and not making any contact with the ground.

User can sit on the device, and drive in the normal manner, where the throttle (82) is used to accelerate or and move the PMS forward.

There is a switch at the throttle where when the user wishes to move in the reverse direction, this switch can be pushed, and when the throttle is twisted, the PMS moves backward. The user can control the steering bar (45) (Fig 8) to turn left or right as wishes.

Similarly when the PMS is used as the Electric pushing frame, user can stand behind the PMS, and control the throttle at 84 (Fig 8) to move forward or backward by turning the switch at 84 to forward or backward.

The Electric pushing frame can also be used and controlled from the front at the Steering handle 45, by controlling the throttle at 82, in which case, the PMS is moving in the opposite direction, where user is now standing in the front part of the PMS.

Similarly, the Manual Pushing frame can be used in the similar manner as above, without using the electric motor to do the driving of the device PMS.

The electric wheel chair can be operated and used when the user either sitting on the PMS, and operates the PMS himself/ herself, in which case it is used in the similar manner as a scooter described above, or when another person assist the user, while the user is sitting on the PMS, another person can push the PMS by controlling the throttle 84 from behind the PMS; or if the other person is using the front steering bar 45, the throttle 82 can be used. In any three possible ways, the PMS can be operated as an electric wheel chair.

Similarly in the similar manner, as above, the PMS can be operated and used, assisted by another person, either operates the PMS from the back or the front, the PMS can be used as the manual wheel chair; when the assist person is at the back, the pushing handles 38 & 39 are used, when operated from the front, the steering bar 45 is used.

The PMS can be used as an Electric Trolley where the driving is assisted by the motor, where the seat or the seat back support is folded down (Fig 8 a), user can use the seat or the back of the seat back support folded down to carry things.

In the similar manner as above, the PMS can be used as the electric carry tray with the assist of the driving motor. A tray can be attached to the steering bar (45), or the seat can be used as the tray, or when the seat back support is folded down (Fig 8b)

For the manual carry tray, and the manual trolley, they can be operated and used in the similar as the above mentioned electric trolley and electric tray respectively, without the assist of the motor, but by manually operating and driving.

Since the PMS is light weight, and portable, it can be easily taking away anywhere any time, thus can be very suitable to be used as a Portable Chair.

In another form of the PMS, when the PMS is completely folded down (Fig 7), and with the seat back support is folded backward instead of forward (Fig 7a), the PMS can be used in two forms, (a) as a manual trolley, where a holder is attached to the Beam-Front 3 (Fig 1), where luggage, or basket, bag can be attached and things can be carried here; or (b) the PMS is a trolley for itself, where it can be wheeled, pushed or pulled along, and user does not need to carry the whole full load of PMS. When the Seat Back support is folded back, there are fasteners and/ or lockers to fasten and / or to lock the Pusher handles 38 & 39 (Fig 6) in place, or the seat belts can be used as fastener for this fastening.

In one form of the PMS, when BAW is in the Extending position, because the back wheel with motor is completely lifted off the ground, the manual operating of pushing frame, wheel chair, carry tray, trolley, portable chair are used in the similar manners as already describe above.

When the Seat frame (Fig 2) and the Seat Back support (Fig 3) are removed, the PMS is converted into an Electric Glider. In the similar manner, when the back wheel is removed, PMS can be used as the manual glider Fig (4b).

Figures numbers and parts numbers

Claims

The Claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. The portable multifunction scooter is a device which includes one to

more functions, and integrates many devices into one single device; the devices such as electric scooter, electric glider, electric pushing frame, electric wheel chair, electric trolley, electric carry tray, manual pushing frame, glider, manual wheel chair, manual carry tray, manual trolley, portable chair, foldable device, and portable device are all integrated into this one only single device called the Portable Multifunction Scooter, the said device is from now on referred to as PMS; the PMS comprises the main frame (Fig 1), which has the left and right supporting beams 1 & 2, the front and rear supporting beams 3 & 4, the seat supporting brackets 10, 11, 12 & 13, and the back wheel supporting brackets 90 & 91 respectively, the seat frame (Fig 2) has the seat board 16 (Fig 2) assembled to the two seat supporting beams 14 & 15, which have the brackets 23, 24, 25 & 26, the seat 16 has two seat back supporting joints 21 & 22, with two joints lockers 21a and 22a respectively at the back, the thigh belts 17 & 18 are attached to the seat supporting beams 14 & 15, the seat can be joined to the main frame via the matching brackets 23, 24, 25, & 26 (Fig 2) to main frame brackets 10, 11, 12, 13 (Fig 1) respectively, the seat back support (Fig 3) has the support board 27, which is

assembled to the two arms with joints 32 and 33, and joints locker 34 & 35 to match to with the seat joints and lockers 21, 22, 21a, 22a of the Seat Frame (Fig 2) respectively, the two joints and lockers 36, 37, 36a, & 37 (Fig 3) can be joined with the pushing arms joints 30, 31, 30a & 31a respectively, the handles 38 & 39 where throttle and brake handles can be assembled are assembled to two arms 28 & 29, the seat belt 97 & 98 are assembled to the seat back support, the balancing and anti-tipping casters 50 & 51 (Fig 5) are assembled to the extendable arms 48 & 49 where they can be locked at the lockers 52 & 53 (Fig 5), the arms 52 & 53 can be extended or contracted along the head-tubes 8 & 9 (Fig 1), the steering column (Fig 4) has the folding joint 44 where the column can be folded down, the upper part of the column 43 can be slid along lower part of the column 42 to adjust the length, the steering bar 47 & 48 where throttle and brakes handles can be attached, the front wheels 63 & 64 (Fig 6) can be attached to the main frame at head-tubes 5 & 6 (Fig 1), the motor 58 is assembled to the back wheel 59 (Fig 6) and assembled to the main frame at the brackets 90 & 91 respectively, the battery and electronic controller for motor can be stored at 99 (Fig 6), the seat frame (2) linked to the main frame (Fig 1) with four legs 92, 93, 94 & 95 (Fig 6) where it can be folded via the brackets 10, 11, 12 & 13 (Fig 1), and brackets 23, 24, 25 & 26 of the seat frame (Fig 2) respectively, after the pusher arms 28 & 29 (Fig 3), the seat back support (Fig 3), the seat frame (Fig 2) and the Steering column (Fig 4) are folded down, the device is folded into the flat and compact device as shown in Fig 7.

2. The PMS recited in claim 1 wherein the balancing and anti-tipping

wheels 50 & 51 (Fig 5), combined with the extendable arms 48 & 49 to form the Balancing- Anti-tipping Wheels, from now on these combined parts are referred to as the Balancing & Anti-tipping Wheel or BAW, the BAW has the BAW-Left 56 and BAW-Right 57 (Fig 5) respectively, the arms of the BAW 48 & 49 can be adjusted in length such that when the casters are off the ground by a small gap, it is referred to as the BAW in Neutral position (Fig 8), similarly, when the BAW is adjusted such that the casters lift the back wheel 59 (Fig 6) completely off the ground by a small gap, BAW is said to be in the Extending position (Fig 9), such BAW positions of Neutral and Extending can convert, or change the PMS into many different devices and functions.

3. The PMS recited in claim 1 & 2 wherein when the BAW are locked in the Neutral position, the PMS can be used in the Electric "E", and Manual "M" operating modes; in the "E" mode, the PMS can be converted and used as the following devices:

(a) E-Scooter

(b) E-Pushing Frame

(c) E-Glider

(d) E- Wheel Chair

(e) E-Trolley

(f) E-Carry Tray

(g) M-Pushing Frame

(h) M- Wheel Chair

(i) M-Carry Tray

(j) M-Trolley

(k) Glider

(1) Portable Chair

4. The PMS recited in claim 1 & 2 wherein when the BAW are locked in the Extending position (Fig 9), the PMS can be used in the Manual "M" mode, the PMS can be converted and used as the following devices:

(a) M-Pushing Frame

(b) M-Wheel Chair

(c) M-Carry Tray

(d) M-Trolley

(e) Glider

(f) Portable Chair

5. The PMS recited in claim 1 wherein the PMS can employed the Thigh Belts 17 & 18 (Fig 2), as the safety belts where these belts can be used to replace the use of the arm rests, which can still provide the same functions and effect of the arm rests.

6. The PMS recited in claims 1 & 2 wherein one form of the BAW can be designed such that, to change the BAW to the Neutral or Extending positions, the Head-tubes 8 & 9 (Fig 1) can be designed to that they can be rotated, such rotation will create the differences in length for the BAW-L 56 & BAW-R 57 (Fig 5).

7. The PMS recited in claims 1 & 2 wherein one form of the BAW can be assembled further in front (Fig 1 la) of the back wheel 59 (Fig 6) such that the Neutral or the Extending position of the BAW will create the same effect as when they are assembled at the back, in which case, the anti-tipping wheels and balancing wheel can be assembled as shown in (Fig 11a).

8. The PMS recited in claims 1 & 2 wherein one form of the BAW can be in the form of a single caster (Fig 10), where it is assembled in front of the Back Wheels 85 & 86 (Fig 10) where there are two back wheels; or in case where the PMS has the form of as shown in (Fig 6), the caster is in front of wheel 59 (Fig 6), and the caster can be adjusted in length and can be locked in the Neutral or Extending position as recited in Claim 2 above, in which case, the anti-tipping and balancing wheels can be assembled as shown in (Fig 10).

9. The PMS recited in claims 1, 2, 3, & 4 wherein for one form of PMS, the front wheels 63 & 64 (Fig 6) are replaced with the casters 73 & 74 (Fig 4a), these casters have rotation locks 71 & 72 (Fig 4a), when the casters are locked from being rotated, the casters are used as the normal front wheels, and can be converted and used as different devices as recited in claim 3 and claim 4, when the casters are unlocked and can rotate 360, the PMS can be used as manual mode.

10. The PMS recited in claim 1 wherein the PMS can move in the forward, reverse, left, right, and all directions.

1 l .The PMS recited in claim 1 wherein the number of assembled seat legs can be in the forms of 1 leg (Fig 12a), 2 or 3 legs (Fig 12), or 4 legs (Fig

6), or 5 legs (Fig 12b).

12. The PMS recited in claims 1 & 2 wherein the number wheels for PMS can be 3 or 4 wheels (Fig 10a), 5 wheels (Fig 6), 6 or 8 wheels (Fig 11), or 7 wheels (Fig 10), depending which forms of PMS is used, or the number of motors used, or where BAW are assembled.

13. The PMS recited in claim 1 wherein when the Seat Frame (Fig 2) and the Seat Back Support (Fig 3) are removed, the PMS is converted into an electric glider 76 (Fig 4b), or a glider 78 (Fig 4b).

14. The PMS recited in claim 1 wherein the pushing handle (Fig 3) can be folded backward (Fig 7a), the PMS can be used as a trolley, and the holding brackets 79 (Fig 7a) maybe attached where luggage or things can be carried.

15. The PMS recited in claims 1, 2, 3 & 4 wherein the pusher handles 38 & 39 (Fig 3) can be directly assembled in the following forms as the means to push, pull, and to control the PMS, (a) to the main frame (Fig 1), (b) to the seat back support (Fig 3), or (c) to the seat frame (Fig 2).

16. The PMS recited in claim 1 wherein one form of the frame for PMS is designed in triangular shape (Fig la), but not restricted to this shape.

17. The PMS recited in claim 1 wherein one form of the frame for PMS is a flat surface platform where wheels, brackets and accessories can be attached to form the PMS as recited in claim 1, but not restricted to only this shape.

18. The PMS recited in claim 1 wherein the PMS can be folded and unfolded into only one single piece device, the folding and unfolding are done from the Seat 16 (Fig 6), from the Main Frame Brackets 10, 11, 12 & 13 (Fig 1) via the four Seat Legs 92, 93, 94 & 95 (Fig 6) joining at Brackets 23, 24, 25 & 26 (Fig 2), from the Seat Back Support at joints 32 & 33 (Fig 3) where they are joined to Seat at joints 21 & 22 (Fig 2), from the Pusher Arms 28 & 29 (Fig 3) joins 30 & 31, and from the Steering Column at joint 44 (Fig 4), after all these parts are folded down, PMS will be compact and flat in size as shown in Fig 7.

19. The PMS recited in claims 1 to 18 wherein the PMS is portable one single piece device, light weight, compact device, PMS can be easily lifted, and/ or carried with, to any locations, anywhere, and at any time without having to remove any parts of the device.

20. The PMS recited in claim 1 wherein the material to make the PMS can be made out of lightweight materials, aluminium, timber, plastic, steel, stainless steel, carbon, but not restricted to these kinds of materials, and the PMS can be substantially described with references to the given figures 1 to 12b of the accompany drawings.