US20070175685A1

US20070175685A1 - Chain driven scooter

Info

Publication number: US20070175685A1
Application number: US11/342,463
Authority: US
Inventors: Huann-Jong Tserng
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-01-30
Filing date: 2006-01-30
Publication date: 2007-08-02

Abstract

The chain driven scooter has a body, a return device, a drive device, an operating device and a blocking device. The body has a baseboard and a rear wheel frame. The return device is mounted under the baseboard and has a jacket, a connector and a chain spring. The chain spring is attached to the connector. The drive device is mounted between the rear wheel frame and the connector and has a guide sprocket, a coaster drive sprocket and a chain. The chain is reeved around the guide sprocket and the coaster drive sprocket and connected to the return device. The operating device is mounted pivotally over the rear wheel and is connected to and pulls the chain when the operating device is pivoted backward. The blocking device is mounted over the rear wheel and keeps the operating device from over-rotating.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a scooter, and more particularly to a chain driven scooter that can be operated by pressing a lever backward to make the chain driven scooter move forward easily.
2. Description of Related Art
Scooters have become a popular mode of adult exercise in recent years, provide a transport function and can be operated and stored easily.
With reference to FIG. 5, a conventional scooter (80) is propelled by a person standing on the scooter (80) with one foot and pushing the scooter (80) with the other foot and has a baseboard (81), a handle assembly (82), a rear wheel frame (84) and a rear wheel (85).
The baseboard (81) is a flat board, on which a person stands and has a front end and a rear end.
The handle assembly (82) is connected pivotally and rotatably to the front end of the baseboard (81) and has a shaft, a handlebar, a fork (821) and a front wheel (83). The shaft is connected to the front end of the baseboard (81) and has a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the shaft is attached pivotally to the baseboard (81). The handlebar is mounted rotatably in the distal end of the shaft. The fork (821) is mounted rotatably in the proximal end of the shaft and is connected to the handlebar. The front wheel (83) is mounted rotatably in the fork (821).
The rear wheel frame (84) is attached to and protrudes from the rear end of the baseboard (81).
The rear wheel (85) is mounted rotatably in the rear wheel frame (84).
However, the conventional scooter (80) has the following shortcomings.
1. When a person operates the scooter (80), one foot must periodically contact the ground to propel the scooter (80). However, the person's foot pushing the scooter (80) is susceptible to being injured or getting wet when the riding surface has obstructions such as curbs or is wet.
2. The speed of the scooter (80) is restricted to speed that can be achieved by pushing the ground with a person's foot. Consequently, the scooter (80) is not a viable form of transportation for distances significantly longer than a few kilometers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a chain driven scooter that can be operated by pressing a lever backward to propel the chain driven scooter forward easily and make the chain driven scooter a viable form of transportation even in traffic.
The chain driven scooter has a body, a return device, a drive device, an operating device and a blocking device. The body has a baseboard and a rear wheel frame. The return device is mounted under the baseboard and has a jacket, a connector and a chain spring. The chain spring is attached to the connector. The drive device is mounted between the rear wheel frame and the connector and has a guide sprocket, a coaster drive sprocket and a chain. The chain is reeved around the guide sprocket and the coaster drive sprocket and connected to the return device. The operating device is mounted pivotally over the rear wheel and is connected to and pulls the chain when the operating device is pivoted backward. The blocking device is mounted over the rear wheel and keeps the operating device from over-rotating.
Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a chain driven scooter in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the chain driven scooter in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of the chain driven scooter in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an operational side view of the chain driven scooter in FIG. 1 with the chain driven scooter being propelled;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a conventional scooter in accordance with the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a chain driven scooter (10) in accordance with the present invention comprises a body (20), a return device (30), a drive device (40), an operating device (50) and a blocking device (60).
The body (20) comprises a baseboard (23), a frame (21), a handlebar assembly (22), a rear wheel (24), two guide brackets (25), two bracket caps (26), a rear wheel frame (27), two return stops (28) and an optional mudguard (29).
The baseboard (23) is a flat board, on which a person stands and comprises a top, a bottom and an optional kickstand (231). The kickstand (231) is attached pivotally to the baseboard (23) to hold the chain driven scooter (10) upright when the chain driven scooter (10) is not being used.
The frame (21) is U-shaped, is attached to the bottom of the baseboard (23) and has a closed front end, two rear ends and a rear axle (211). The rear axle (211) is mounted removably between the two rear ends of the frame (21).
The handlebar assembly (22) is connected pivotally to the frame (21) and has a lower end, a handlebar, a fork (221) and a front wheel (222). The handlebar is connected pivotally to the closed front end of the frame (21), and the fork (221) is mounted on the lower end of the handlebar assembly (22) and is connected to and turned by the handlebar. The front wheel (222) is mounted rotatably in the fork (221) of the handlebar assembly (22).
The rear wheel (24) is mounted rotatably on the rear axle (211) between the rear ends of the frame (21) and has a center and a wheel hub (241). The wheel hub (241) is hollow, is defined transversely through the center of the rear wheel (24) and is mounted rotatably on the axle (211) between the rear ends of the frame (21).
The guide brackets (25) are securely mounted respectively on the rear ends of the frame (21) and, each guide bracket (25) has an outer edge and a notch (251). The outer edge is formed on the guide bracket (25) opposite to the frame (21), and the notch (251) is formed in the outer edge of the guide bracket (25).
The bracket caps (26) are attached respectively to the outer edges of the guide brackets (25), and each bracket cap (26) has an inner edge and a notch (261). The notch (261) is formed in the inner edge, corresponds to and communicates with the notch (251) in the outer edge of the guide bracket (25) and forms a through hole.
The rear wheel frame (27) is an inverted V-shape, is connected to the frame (21) near the rear ends is connected rotatably to the wheel hub (241) of the rear wheel (24) and has two sides.
The return stops (28) are attached respectively to the two sides of the rear wheel frame (27) near the wheel hub (241).
The mudguard (29) is mounted over the rear wheel (24) and has a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is connected to the rear wheel frame (27).
The return device (30) is mounted on the bottom of the baseboard (23) and has multiple optional mounting tabs (31), a jacket (32), a connector (33), a chain spring (34) and a connecting pin (36).
The mounting tabs (31) are mounted on and protrude down from the bottom of the baseboard (23) inside the frame (21).
The jacket (32) is tubular, is attached to the bottom of the baseboard (23), may be attached to the mounting tabs (31) and has a front end, an open rear end, two sides, a through hole, an anchor and two through slots (35). The through hole extends transversely through the jacket (32) near the front end. The anchor is mounted in the through hole. The through slots (35) are longitudinally formed respectively through the sides of the jacket (32) and are aligned with each other.
The connector (33) is mounted slidably in the jacket (32) and has a front end, a rear end, an optional chain hole and a spring hole. The chain hole extends transversely through the connector (33) and aligns with the through slots (35). The spring hole is formed transversely through the connector (33) near the front end. The chain spring (34) is mounted slidably in the jacket (32) and has a front end and a rear end. The front end of the chain spring (34) is attached securely to the anchor near the front end of the jacket (32). The rear end of the chain spring (34) is attached securely to the spring hole in the connector (33).
The connecting pin (36) is mounted in the chain hole in the connector (33) and protrudes through and slides in the through slots (35).
The drive device (40) is mounted between the rear wheel frame (27) and the connector (33) and has an optional wing (43), a guide sprocket (41), a coaster drive sprocket (42) and a chain (44). The wing (43) is mounted on the rear wheel frame (27) near one of the return stops (28) and has a through hole. The guide sprocket (41) is attached rotatably to the rear wheel frame (27), may be attached rotatably to the wing (43) and has a central through hole and a mounting pin (411). The mounting pin (411) is mounted through central through hole in the guide sprocket (41) to hold the guide sprocket (41) rotatably on the rear wheel frame (27) and may be mounted through the through hole in the wing (43) to hold the guide sprocket (41) rotatably on the wing (43). The coaster drive sprocket (42) is mounted around the wheel hub (241) and is aligned with the guide sprocket (41) and has a unidirectional bearing (421) mounted between the wheel hub (241) and the coaster drive sprocket (42) to prevent the coaster drive sprocket (42) idle running. The chain (44) is reeved around and engages the guide sprocket (41) and the coaster drive sprocket (42), is connected to the return device (30) and has a front end and a rear end. The front end of the chain (44) is connected to the connector (33).
The operating device (50) is mounted over the rear wheel (24) and pivotally on the rear axle (211), is connected to and pulls the chain (44) and has a lever arm (52), two lever stops (53), two mounting rings (54), two lever springs (55), a push bar (56) and an optional horizontal bar (57). With further reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the lever arm (52) is U-shaped, is mounted over the rear wheel (24) and pivotally on the rear axle (211), is connected to the rear end of the chain (44), pulls the chain (44) that rotates the coaster drive sprocket (42) and the rear wheel (24) when the lever arm (52) is pivoted backward and has two lower ends, an upper end, a chain bracket (58) and a neck. The chain bracket (58) is attached to the lever arm (52), is aligned with the guide sprocket (41) and is connected to the rear end of the chain (44). The neck is formed at and protrudes forward from the upper end of the lever arm (52). The lever stops (53) are connected respectively to the lower ends of the lever arm (52) and align with and abut the return stops (28) when the lever arm (52) pivots forward, and each lever stop (53) has a pivot hole (531) and a protruding ear (532). The pivot holes (531) are formed respectively through the lever stops (53), face each other and are mounted rotatably on the rear axle (211). The protruding ears (532) are formed respectively on and protrude perpendicular out from the lever stops (53). The mounting rings (54) are attached respectively to the protruding ears (532) coaxially with the pivot holes (531) and are slidably mounted respectively through the through holes formed by the notches (251, 261) respectively in the guide brackets (25) and the bracket caps (26). The lever springs (55) are mounted respectively around the mounting rings (54) between the protruding ears (532) and the guide brackets (25), are compressed when the lever arm (52) is pivoted backward and pivot the lever arm (52) forward when the lever arm (52) is released. The push bar (56) is connected transversely to the neck of the lever arm (52). The horizontal bar (57) is U-shaped, is connect to and protrudes forward from the lever arm (52) between the push bar (56) and the lever stops (53) and allows a person riding the chain driven scooter to press the horizontal bar (57) backward with his or her foot.
The blocking device (60) is U-shaped, is mounted on the rear axle (211), keeps the operating device (50) from over-rotating and has two connecting arms (61) and a positive stop (62). The connecting arms (61) are attached to the rear axle (211), and each connecting arm (61) has a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal ends are attached to the rear axle (211). The positive stop (62) is connected to the distal ends of the connecting arms (61), may be aligned with the distal end of the mudguard (29) and blocks the lever arm (52) when the lever arm (52) is pivoted very far backward.
With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, when a user puts one foot onto and pushes the push bar (56), the lever arm (52) will be pivoted backward relative to the rear axle (21 1). Then, the chain bracket (58) will pull the chain (44) to move around the guide sprocket (41) and the coaster drive sprocket (42). Accordingly, the rear wheel (24) will be driven to rotate with the drive sprocket (42) to make the chain driven scooter (10) move forward. When the user removes the force applied onto the push bar (56), the lever springs (55) and the connector (33) will provide a force to make the lever arm (52) and the chain (44) go back to the original position to allow the user to push the push bar (56) repeatedly.
The chain driven scooter (10) as described has the following advantages.
1. To operate the chain driven scooter (10), a person only has to press the push bar (56) to make the chain driven scooter (10) move forward. Since operation of the chain driven scooter (10) does not require a person push the chain driven scooter (10) by pushing the ground with his or her foot, does not have to worry about hurting a foot or getting wet.
2. The chain driven scooter (10) is faster than a conventional scooter. Consequently, the chain driven scooter (10) is viable transportation even in traffic.
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. A chain driven scooter having

a body having

a baseboard being flat and having

a top; and

a bottom;

a frame being U-shaped, attached to the bottom of the baseboard and having

a closed front end;

two rear ends; and

a rear axle mounted removably between the two rear ends;

a handlebar assembly connected pivotally to the frame and having

a lower end;

a handlebar connected pivotally to the closed front end of the frame;

a fork connected to and turned by the handlebar; and

a front wheel mounted rotatably in the fork;

a rear wheel mounted rotatably on the rear axle between the rear ends of the frame and having

a center; and

a wheel hub being hollow, defined transversely through the center of the rear wheel and mounted rotatably on the axle between the rear ends of the frame;

two guide brackets securely mounted respectively on the rear ends of the frame, and each guide bracket having

an outer edge formed on the guide bracket opposite to the frame; and

a notch formed in the outer edge of the guide bracket;

two bracket caps attached respectively to the outer edges of the guide brackets, and each bracket cap having

an inner edge; and

a notch formed in the inner edge, corresponding to and communicated with the notch in the outer edge of a corresponding guide bracket and formed a through hole in cooperation with the notch in the corresponding guide bracket;

a rear wheel frame being an inverted V-shape, connected to the frame near the rear ends, connected to the wheel hub of the rear wheel and having two sides;

two return stops attached respectively to opposite sides of the rear wheel frame near the wheel hub; and

a return device mounted on the bottom of the baseboard and having

a jacket being tubular attached to the bottom of the baseboard and having

a front end;

an open rear end;

two sides;

a through hole extending transversely through the jacket near the front end;

an anchor mounted in the through hole; and

two through slots longitudinally formed respectively through the sides of the jacket and aligned with each other;

a connector mounted slidably in the jacket and having

a front end;

a rear end; and

a spring hole formed transversely through the connector near the front end;

a chain spring mounted slidably in the jacket and having

a front end attached securely to the anchor near the front end of the jacket; and

a rear end attached securely to the spring hole in the connector; and

a drive device mounted between the rear wheel frame and the connector and having

a guide sprocket attached rotatably to the rear wheel frame and having

a central through hole; and

a mounting pin mounted through the central hole in the guide sprocket;

a coaster drive sprocket mounted around the wheel hub and aligning with the guide sprocket and having a unidirectional bearing mounted between the wheel hub and the coaster drive sprocket; and

a chain reeved around and engaged the guide sprocket and the coaster drive sprocket, connected to the return device and having

a front end connected to the connector; and

a rear end;

an operating device mounted over the rear wheel and pivotally on the rear axle, connect to the chain and having

a lever arm being U-shaped, mounted over the rear wheel and pivotally on the rear axle, connected to the rear end of the chain and having

two lower ends;

an upper end;

a chain bracket attached to the lever arm, aligned with the guide sprocket and connected to the rear end of the chain; and

a neck formed at and protruding forward from the upper end of the lever arm;

two lever stops connected respectively to the lower ends of the lever arm and aligned with and abutting the return stops when the lever arm are pivoted, and each lever stop having

a pivot hole formed through the lever stop, face the other pivot hole and mounted rotatably on the rear axle; and

a protruding ear formed on and protruding perpendicular out from the lever stop;

two mounting rings attached respectively to the protruding ears coaxially with the pivot holes and slidably mounted respectively through the through holes formed by the notches respectively in the guide brackets and the bracket caps;

two lever springs mounted respectively around the mounting rings between the protruding ears and the guide brackets, compressed when the lever arm is pivoted;

a push bar connected transversely to the neck of the lever arm; and

a chain bracket mounted on the lever arm between the push bar and the lever stops and connected to the rear end of the chain near the guide sprocket;

a blocking device being U-shaped, mounted on the rear axle to keep the operating device from over-rotating and having

two connecting arms attached to the rear axle, and each connecting arm having

a proximal end attached to the rear axle; and

a distal end; and

a positive stop connected to the distal ends of the connecting arms.

2. The chain driven scooter as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the body further comprises a mudguard mounted over the rear wheel and having

a proximal end connected to the rear wheel frame; and

a distal end; and

the positive stop of the blocking device aligns with the distal end of the mudguard.

3. The chain driven scooter as claimed in claim 2, wherein

the baseboard further comprises a kickstand attached pivotally to the baseboard;

the return device further comprises multiple mounting tabs mounted on and protruding down from the bottom of the baseboard inside the frame; and

the jacket is attached to the mounting tabs.

4. The chain driven scooter as claimed in claim 3, wherein

the drive device further has a wing mounted on the rear wheel frame near one of the return stops and having a through hole;

the guide sprocket is rotatably attached to the wing; and

the mounting pin is mounted through the through hole in the wing to hold the guide sprocket rotatably on the wing.

5. The chain driven scooter as claimed in claim 4, wherein

the connector of the return device further has a chain hole extending transversely through the connector and aligning with the through slots; and

the return device further has a connecting pin mounted in the chain hole in the connector and protruding through and sliding in the through slots.

6. The chain driven scooter as claimed in claim 5, wherein the operating device further has a horizontal bar being U-shaped and connected to and protruding from the lever arm between the push bar and the lever stops.

7. The chain driven scooter as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the jacket is attached to the mounting tabs.

8. The chain driven scooter as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the guide sprocket is rotatably attached to the wing; and

9. The chain driven scooter as claimed in claim 1, wherein

10. The chain driven scooter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating device further has a horizontal bar being U-shaped and connected to and protruding from the lever arm between the push bar and the lever stops.