Disassemblable riding scooter

• US 5,036,938 A
• Filed: 03/13/1989
• Issued: 08/06/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alsup J. Douglas, Bedford F. Peeples, David L. Kimbro, Henry L. Lackey, Lloyd M. Yardley, Ronald J. Mosetich, Samuel C. Crosby, Wendell G. Blount, William J. Saunders
• Original Assignee: Alsup J. Douglas, Bedford F. Peeples, David L. Kimbro, Henry L. Lackey, Lloyd M. Yardley, Ronald J. Mosetich, Samuel C. Crosby, Wendell G. Blount, William J. Saunders
• Inventors: Saunders, William J., Alsup, J. Douglas, Crosby, Samuel C., Mosetich, Ronald J., Lackey, Henry L., Kimbro, David L., Yardley, Lloyd M., Peeples, Bedford F., Blount, Wendell G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, David M.
• Application Number:
  US07/322,491
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 180/11, 180/16, 180/907, 180/208, 180/215, 180/216, 180/217, 180/68.5, 180/65.1, 180/210, 280/287, 280/278
• US Class Current: 180/208
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 61/08 with single front wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 15/00 Collapsible or foldable cycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2015/001 Frames adapted to be easily dismantled
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/025 power-driven
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 180/907 Motorized wheelchairs

Abstract

A riding scooter that may be assembled and dis-assembled without the use of tools is formed of components of a size and weight such that they may be handled by a person of modest physical strength. The scooter'"'"'s front and rear sections have overlapping interengaging parts that are biased together in the operative position by the weight of the sections alone. Batteries for electrical power are contained within casings which are cooperatively retained within a battery housing and which also permit the batteries to be simultaneously electrically connected to the vehicle electrical system upon insertion of the battery casings within the battery housing. A steering tiller is detachably mounted to the front steering yoke being retained in an operative position by a quick release locking collar. Control for forward and reverse movement is accomplished through linkage which permits convenient manipulation of the control handle while providing maximum adjustment of an electric potentiometer which controls the electric motor; and, the seat assembly is designed to retain a selected adjustment from disassembly to assembly and further acts to reinforce the biased engagement of the front and rear sections of the scooter.

Claims

1. A disassemblable scooter, comprising front and rear frame sections, first wheel means supporting the front frame section, second wheel means supporting the rear frame section, tiller means connected to said first wheel means said front frame section having a rear portion with a laterally extending engageable means positioned forwardly of its rear extremity, said rear frame section having a forward portion with a laterally extending engaging member positioned adjacent to its forward extremity, said engaging member being positioned and adapted to engage said engageable member to connect said front and rear frame sections in operative relationship, a first tube means mounted to said forward portion of said rear frame section and spaced rearwardly of said engageable member, a second tube means mounted to said rear portion of said front frame section nd spaced rearwardly of said engaging member, said first and second tube means being aligned in end to end and axial relationship when said engaging member and said engageable member are engaged to hold said front and rear frame sections together in overlapping relation for the normal operation of said scooter, and post means insertable within said first and second tube means for thereby preventing said front and rear frame sections from being disengaged.

2. The invention of claim 1, in which said engageable member is a rod means and said engaging member is an inverted channel means having a substantially U-shaped cross section which defines an elongated access opening, the opening being oriented upwardly and rearwardly relative to the rear frame section.

3. The invention of claim 2, in which said front frame section rear portion overlies said rear frame section forward portion when said engaging member and said engageable member are engaged.

4. The invention of claim 1 in which said first tube means has an outer surface forming an abutment means on said forward portion of said rear frame section and another abutment means mounted on said second tube means on said rear portion of said front frame section, said abutment means abutting one another when said engaging member and said engageable member are engaged with one another.

5. The invention of claim 4 in which said post means extending through said first and second tube means includes a seat post having upper and lower ends, said lower end of said post in operative position extending down through said first and second tube means, and a seat mounted to said upper end of said seat post.

6. The invention of claim 5 including a removable pin means extending laterally through at least two opposing opening in said seat post, said second tube means having upper and lower portions, a pair of opposing notches formed in said upper portion thereof, said pin means being seated within said notches in order to support said seat post relative to said first and second tube means.

7. The invention of claim 6 in which said pin means is extendible through a plurality of vertically spaced opposing openings in said seat post whereby the height of said seat post may be adjusted.

8. The invention of claim 1 which said front frame section supports battery means, said rear frame section having a rear portion, an electric motor means, said second wheel means being mounted on a single axle extending laterally of and connected to said rear frame section, said electric motor means being so position with respect to said axle with its rear position down and its forward portion up when it is not connected to said front frame section.

9. The invention of claim 1 in which said front frame section includes battery mounting means, a battery means, said rear frame section having electric motor means, said front frame section having first electric contact means positioned adjacent its rear portion and being electrically connected to said battery means, said rear frame section having second electric contact means positioned adjacent its forward portion, said first and second electric contact means being positioned to engage each other when said engaging member and said engageable member are engaged to thereby provide power to said electric motor means.

10. The invention of claim 9 in which said first and second contact means include a plurality of spaced conducting blades.

11. The invention of claim 9 wherein said battery mounting means includes an electric socket means for connection to a battery, said electric socket means being connected to said first electric contact means.

12. The invention of claim 1 in which said second wheel means include at least two spaced wheels having a rear portion and mounted on an axle, said rear frame section, being tilted about said axle so that said forward portion thereof is elevated with respect to said rear portion when said rear frame section is not connected to said front frame section.

13. The invention of claim 9 in which said battery mounting means includes guide means on said front frame section having a pair of opposed first ribs, said first ribs being inclined toward each other from one end toward another toward said rear portion of said front frame section and a third rib extending across the forward portions of said first ribs, and said battery means having a lower surface with second rib means adapted simultaneously to engage said first ribs of the battery mounting means as the battery means is slid rearwardly on said battery mounting means, and said battery means having means to engage said third rib.

14. The invention of claim 13 in which said battery mounting means includes a rear wall, first electric connector means mounted in said rear wall, said battery means having a complementary second electric connector means whereby when said battery means is slid rearwardly on said battery mounting means to bring said battery means into juxtaposition with said rear wall of said battery mounting means, said first and second connector means interengage.

15. The invention of claim 13 including a generally horizontal wall means overlying said battery mounting means, enclosure means at the forward end of said horizontal wall means and pivotally connected thereto.

16. The invention of claim 1 including an electric motor means, said tiller means having a handle means, electric control means mounted on said tiller means adjacent to said handle means, said electric control means including potentiometer mean, said potentiometer means being electrically connected to said electric motor means, lever means mounted adjacent to said handle means, linkage means connecting said lever means to said potentiometer means, said lever means being manually movable to cause a proportional movemental of said potentiometer means in opposite directions.

17. The invention of claim 16 in which said linkage means includes a first arm portion connected to said lever means so that said first arm is pivotable in opposite directions with respect to a neutral position, said first arm portion having an outer end, a slot defined in said outer end of said first arm portion, said potentiometer means including an adjustable shaft means, a second arm portion securely mounted to said adjustable shaft means, said second arm portion having an outer end, a pin means carried by said outer end of said second arm portion, said pin means being engageable within said slot in said outer end of said first arm portion, whereby as said first arm is pivoted by said lever means, said second arm will be pivoted to a greater degree as said pin means transverses said slot.

18. The invention of claim 17 including resilient means connected to said first and second arm means, said spring means normally urging said first arm means to said neutral position.

19. The invention of claim 1 in which said tiller means includes a lower portion, a pin means disposed through the lower portion of said tiller means so as to extend outwardly on either side thereof, said first wheel means including a wheel mounting yoke means, said wheel mounting yoke means including a post means, said post means having an upper end portion, a pair of opposing notches formed in said upper end of said post means, said lower portion of said tiller means being receivable with said post means with said pin means being seated within said opposing notches, a locking collar means movably mounted on said lower portion of said tiller means, said collar means having upper and lower portions, at least two lug means extending outwardly from said upper end portion of said post means and spaced downwardly with respect to said notches, said locking collar means having an inner surface portion, a first pair of opposing vertically extending channels defined in said inner surface portion and having uppermost portions, a second channel associated with each of said first channels and extending radially outwardly with respect to said upper portions thereof, third channels spaced from said first channels and having upper portions, a fourth channel extending radially from said upper portions of each of said third channels, said pin means being slideably receivable within said pair of first channels and thereafter selectively receivable within said second channel means by rotation of said collar means relative to said lower portion of said tiller means, said lug means being receivable within said third channels when said pin means is retained within said second channels with said pin means engaged in said opposing notches in said post means, and said lug means being locked within said collar means by rotating said collar means so as to urge said collar means so that said lug means extend into said fourth channels whereby said collar means abuts said lug means to thereby prevent the withdrawal of said lower portion of said tiller means from said post means.

20. The invention of claim 19 in which said pin means has a first diameter, said upper portion of said first channels having a width dimension which is slightly less than said first diameter, and each said second and fourth channels including a retention cavity in which said pin means and said lug means may be selectively retained.

21. The invention of claim 14 in which said battery means includes a battery, a housing having upper and lower sections, said battery being mounted within said upper and lower sections of said housing, said lower section having a lower wall portion, said second rib means and said means to engage said third rib being formed in said lower surface of said housing, said housing having front and rear portions, said second electrical connector means being mounted within said rear portion of said housing, and means for connecting said second electrical connector means with said battery.

22. The invention of claim 21 including a strap means extending across said front portion of said housing.

23. The invention of claim 22 including a projection portion in said rear portion of said housing, said second electrical connector means being mounted through said projection portion of said housing.

24. A scooter, comprising a front frame section, first wheel means supporting the front frame section, a rear frame section, second wheel means supporting the rear frame section, tiller means coupled to the front frame section, said tiller means engaging said first wheel means for steering it, said front frame section having a rear portion with a first engageable means positioned forwardly of its rear extremity, said rear frame section having a forward portion with a second engageable means positioned adjacent to its forward extremity, said second engageable means being positioned and adapted to engage said first engageable means to connect said front and rear sections in operative relation, said rear portion of said front frame section having a first abutment means mounted rearwardly of said first engageable means, said forward portion of said rear frame section having a second abutment means mounted rearwardly of said second engageable means, said first and second abutment means being position to engage each other when said first and second engageable means are engaged to hold said front and rear frame sections together in overlapping relation for the normal operation of said scooter, said rear frame section having a rear portion, an electric motor means, said second wheel means being mounted on a single axle extending laterally of and connected to said rear frame section, said electric motor means being so positioned with respect to said axle that said rear frame section tilts around said axle with its rear portion down and its forward portion up when it is not connected to said front frame section, said front and rear frame sections being disengageable by lifting said front frame section rear portion so that said first abutment means disengages said second abutment means.

25. A scooter, comprising a front frame section, first wheel means supporting the first frame section, a rear frame section, second wheel means supporting the rear frame section, tiller means for steering said first wheel means, said front frame section having a rear portion with a laterally extending engageable member positioned forwardly of its rear extremity, said rear frame section having a forward portion with a laterally extending engaging member adjacent its forward extremity, said engaging member being position to engage said engageable member to connect said front and rear sections in operative relationship, said rear portion of said front frame section having a first abutment surface located rearwardly of its engageable member, said forward portion of said rear frame section having a second abutment surface located of its engaging member, said first and second abutment surfaces engaging each other when said engaging member and said engageable member are engaged to hold said front and rear frame section together in overlapping relation for the normal operation of the scooter, a first tube means mounted on said forward portion of said rear frame section and a second tube means mounted on said rear portion of said front frame section, said first and second tube means being axially aligned in end to end relationship when said engaging member and said engageable member are engaged to hold said front and rear sections together, and means extending through said first and second tube means to thereby prevent said front and rear frame sections from being separated.

26. The scooter of claim 25 in which said means extending through said first and second tube means is a seat post tube having upper and lower portions, a seat carried by said upper portion, and stop means for selectively positioning said lower portion within said first and second tube means.

27. An electrically powered invalid scooter, comprising a front section, first wheel means supporting the front section, a rear section, second wheel means supporting the rear section, steering tiller means, manually releasable connecting means for connecting said tiller means to said first wheel means, said front section having a rear portion with a laterally extending engageable member positioned forwardly of its rear extremity, said rear section having a forward portion with a laterally extending engaging member positioned adjacent to its forward extremity, said engaging member being positioned and adapted to engage said engageable member to connect said front and rear sections in operative relation, said rear portion of said front section having a first abutment surface rearwardly of its engageable member, said forward portion of said rear section having a second abutment surface rearwardly of tis engaging member, said first and second abutment surface being positioned to engage each other when said engaging member and said engageable members are engaged to hold said front and rear sections together in overlapping relation for the normal operation of said scooter, a first tube means mounted on said forward portion of said rear frame section and a second tube means mounted on said rear portion of said front frame section, said first and second tube means being axially aligned in end to end relationship when said engaging member and said engageable member are engaged to hold said front and rear sections together, and means extending through said first and second tube means to thereby prevent said front and rear frame sections from being separated, an electrical motor carried by said rear section, battery means carried by said front section, and means for electrically connecting said battery means to said electrical motor when said front and rear sections are engaged together.

28. The scooter of claim 27 in which said means extending through said first and second tube means is a seat post tube having upper and lower portions, a seat carried by said upper portion, and stop means for selectively positioning said lower portion within said first and second tube means.

29. A scooter, comprising a front frame section, first wheel means supporting the front frame section, a rear frame section, second wheel means supporting the rear frame section, tiller means coupled to the front frame section, said tiller means engaging said first wheel means for steering it, said front frame section having a rear portion with a first engageable means positioned forwardly of its rear extremity, said rear frame section having a forward portion with a second engageable means positioned adjacent to its forward extremity, said second engageable means being positioned and adapted to engage said first engageable means to connect said front and rear section in operative relation, said rear portion of said front frame section having a first abutment means mounted rearwardly of said first engageable means, said forward portion of said rear frame section having a second abutment means mounted rearwardly of said second engageable means, said first and second abutment means being positioned to engage each other when said first and second engageable means are engaged to hold said front and rear frame sections together in overlapping relation for the normal operation of said scooter, said front frame section including a battery mounting means, a battery, said rear frame section having electric motor means, said front frame section having first electric contact means positioned adjacent its rear portion and being electrically connected to said battery, said rear frame section having second electric contact means positioned adjacent its forward portion, said first and second electric contact means being positioned to engage each other when said first and second engageable means and said first and second abutment means are both engaged to thereby provide power to said electric motor means, said front and rear frame sections being disengageable by lifting said front frame section rear portion so that said first abutment means disengages said second abutment means.

30. The invention of claim 29 in which said battery mounting means includes guide means on said front frame section having a pair of opposed first ribs, said first ribs being inclined toward each other from one end toward another toward said rear portion of said front frame section and a third rib extending across the forward portions of said first ribs, and said battery means having a lower surface with second rib means adapted simultaneously to engage said first ribs of the battery mounting means as the battery means is slid rearwardly on said battery mounting means, and said battery means having means to engage third rib.