Kick scooter steering control mechanism

• US 6,382,646 B1
• Filed: 01/24/2001
• Issued: 05/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Athony Shaw
• Original Assignee: Athony Shaw
• Inventors: Shaw, Athony
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AVERY, BRIDGET D
• Application Number:
  US09/767,697
• Time in Patent Office: 468 Days
• Field of Search: 280/11.28, 280/87.01, 280/87.041, 280/87.042, 280/87.043, 280/87.05, 280/266, 280/267, 280/263, 280/14.27, 280/14.28, 280/124.111, 280/124.179
• US Class Current: 280/87.041
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 21/10 Mechanisms for restoring steering device to straight-ahead position
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 3/002 without a seat, i.e. the rider operating the vehicle in a standing position, e.g. non-motorized scooters; non-motorized scooters with skis or runners

Abstract

A kick scooter steering control mechanism includes a five-bar linkage formed of a bracket, two toggle members and two follower levers to achieve a three-dimensional linking effect for enabling the front wheels of the kick scooter to be turned smoothly to change the steering direction.

Claims

1. A kick scooter steering control mechanism installed in the footplate of a kick scooter having two front wheels and adapted to control the steering of the kick scooter, comprising:

a bracket fixedly provided at the front side of the footplate of said kick scooter, said bracket comprising a top beam and a bottom beam;

two toggle members respectively fastened to the front wheels of said kick scooter and pivoted to said bracket and disposed at two sides between said top beam and said bottom beam, said toggle members each comprising an arm, which is moved horizontally when the front wheels are turned through an angle;

spring members respectively coupled between said toggle members and said top beam of said bracket to impart a downward pressure to said toggle members;

two follower levers respectively coupled between the arms of said toggle members and the footplate of said kick scooter and movable vertically upon horizontal movement of the arms of said toggle members, said follower levers each having a first end coupled to the footplate of said kick scooter and a second end coupled to the arm of one of said toggle members.

2. The kick scooter steering control mechanism of claim 1, wherein the footplate of said kick scooter comprises two spherical connectors disposed at a front side thereof, and said follower levers each have a ball socket provided at the respective first end and coupled to one spherical connector of the footplate of said kick scooter.

3. The kick scooter steering control mechanism of claim 1, wherein the arms of each of said toggle member comprises a spherical connector disposed at one end, and said follower levers each have a ball socket provided at the respective second end and coupled to the spherical connector of the arm of one of said toggle members.

4. The kick scooter steering control mechanism of claim 1 further comprising two guide rods respectively inserted through said toggle members and said spring members and bilaterally connected between said top beam and said bottom beam.

5. The kick scooter steering control mechanism of claim 4, wherein said guide rods have a non-circular cross section and are respectively mounted with a respective axle cap respectively supported between said spring members and said toggle members, said axle cap having a non-circular axial hole fitting the non-circular cross section of the respective guide rod and an uneven bottom edge;

said toggle members each have at least one raised portion respectively fitting the uneven bottom edge of the axle cap on each of said guide rods.

6. The kick scooter steering control mechanism of claim 1, wherein said spring members are compression springs.