Treadle scooter

• US 7,111,860 B1
• Filed: 10/25/2002
• Issued: 09/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jorge Grimaldos
• Original Assignee: Jorge Grimaldos
• Inventors: Grimaldos, Jorge
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris, Lesley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUM VANNUCCI, LEE SIN YEE
• Application Number:
  US10/280,561
• Time in Patent Office: 1,432 Days
• Field of Search: 280/221, 280/253, 280256-261, 280 87041- 87043
• US Class Current: 280/253
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 1/28 characterised by the use of flexible drive members, e.g. chains

Abstract

A treadle scooter for providing mobility to a user. The treadle scooter includes a frame assembly comprising a front end and a rear end. A steering assembly is rotatably coupled to the front end of the frame assembly and is designed for being actuated for directing the frame assembly in a desired direction. A front wheel is rotatably coupled to the steering assembly. A rear wheel is rotatably coupled to the rear end of the frame assembly. A drive assembly is coupled to the frame assembly and operationally coupled to the rear wheel for rolling the rear wheel across the support surface when the drive assembly is actuated. A transition assembly is operationally coupled between the drive assembly and the rear wheel. The transition assembly is for rotating the rear wheel when the transition assembly is rotated by the drive assembly.

Claims

1. A treadle scooter for being ridden by a user, the treadle scooter comprising

a frame assembly comprising a front end and a rear end, said frame assembly being adapted for being stood upon by the user,

a steering assembly being rotatably coupled to said front end of said frame assembly, the steering assembly being adapted for being actuated by the user when the user wishes to direct said frame assembly in a desired direction,

a front wheel being rotatably coupled to said steering assembly, said front wheel being adapted for being rolled across a support surface such that rotation of said steering assembly with respect to said frame assembly allows the user to change direction of travel of said frame assembly,

a rear wheel being rotatably coupled to said rear end of said frame assembly, said rear wheel being adapted for being rolled across the support surface,

a drive assembly being coupled to said frame assembly, and operationally coupled to said rear wheel, said drive assembly being adapted for rolling said rear wheel across the support surface when said drive assembly is actuated by the user,

a transition assembly being operationally coupled between said drive assembly and said rear wheel, said transition assembly being for rotating said rear wheel when said transition assembly is rotated by said drive assembly when said drive assembly is actuated by the user, and,

said transition assembly comprising a first gear portion and a second gear portion, said first gear portion being operationally coupled to said drive assembly, said second gear portion being operationally coupled to said rear wheel, said first gear portion selectively engaging said second gear portion for transferring rotation of said first gear portion to said second gear portion when said first gear portion engages said second gear portion, said second gear portion being rotatable independently of said first gear portion for permitting said rear wheel to be rotated in the opposite direction to back up the frame assembly when the first gear portion is disengaged from said second gear portion.

2. The treadle scooter as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

said drive assembly comprising a pair of pedal assemblies, each of said pedal assemblies being pivotally coupled to said frame assembly, each of said pedal assemblies being operationally coupled to said rear wheel, each of said pedal assemblies being adapted for being actuated by a foot of the user such that actuation of each of said pedal assemblies by the user rotates said rear wheel with respect to said frame assembly when the user wishes to propel said frame assembly across the support surface, one of said pedal assemblies being pivotally isolated from the other of said pedal assemblies such that one of said pedal assemblies may pivoted with respect to said frame assembly independent of the other of said pedal assemblies for propelling the frame assembly across the support surface.

3. The treadle scooter as set forth in claim 2, further comprising:

each of said pedal assemblies comprising a pedal portion, said pedal portion being pivotally coupled to said frame assembly, a free end of said pedal portion being adapted for being engaged by one of the feet of the user such that the user pushes down on said free end of said pedal portion with the foot to rotate said rear wheel when said frame assembly is be propelled across the support surface.

4. The treadle scooter as set forth in claim 3, further comprising:

each of said pedal assemblies comprising an actuation chain, said actuation chain being coupled to said pedal portion of an associated one of said pedal assemblies, said actuation chain being operationally coupled to a pair of actuation gears such that each of said actuation gears is rotatably coupled to said frame assembly for being rotated when said pedal portion of the associated one of said pedal assemblies is pushed on by the foot of the user.

5. The treadle scooter as set forth in claim 4, further comprising:

each of said pedal assemblies comprising a pedal biasing member, said pedal biasing member being coupled to said actuation chain opposite said pedal portion of the associated one of said pedal assemblies and said frame assembly, said pedal biasing member biasing said pedal portion of the associated one of said pedal assemblies into a raised position when the user lifts the foot from said pedal portion.

6. The treadle scooter as set forth in claim 4, further comprising:

said drive assembly comprising a transfer gear, said transfer gear being operationally coupled to one of said actuation gears of each of said pedal assemblies such that rotation of the associated one of said actuation gears of said pedal portions in a first direction rotates said transfer gear in the first direction, said transfer gear being operationally coupled to said rear wheel for rotating said rear wheel when said pedal portions of each of said pedal assemblies is acutated by the user.

7. The treadle scooter as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

said first gear portion comprising a sleeve member and a first gear member, said first gear member of said first gear portion being operationally coupled to said drive assembly, said first gear member being coupled to said sleeve member of said first gear portion;

said second gear portion comprising a shaft member and a second gear member, said second gear member being coupled to said shaft member, said second gear member being operationally coupled to said rear wheel, said shaft member slidably extending through said sleeve member such that said sleeve member is slidably positionable along a length of said shaft member, said sleeve member selectively engaging said second gear member for transferring rotation of said first gear member to said second gear member for rotating said rear wheel.

8. The treadle scooter as set forth in claim 7, further comprising:

said transition assembly comprising a gear biasing member, said gear biasing member being positioned between said sleeve member of said first gear portion and said shaft member of said second gear portion, said gear biasing member biasing said sleeve member of said first gear portion against said second gear member of said second gear portion.

9. The treadle scooter as set forth in claim 7, further comprising:

said transition assembly comprising a yoke portion, said yoke portion engaging said sleeve member of said first gear portion, said yoke portion sliding said first gear portion along said shaft member of said second gear portion for disengaging said sleeve member of said first gear portion from said second gear member when said yoke portion is actuated by the user.

10. The treadle scooter as set forth in claim 9, further comprising:

said yoke portion of said transition assembly comprising a pair of arm members and a lever member, each of said arm members extending around said sleeve member of said first gear portion and being positioned in an annular channel of said sleeve member of said first gear portion, said lever member being coupled to said arm members and pivotally coupled to said frame assembly, a free end of said lever member being adapted for being selectively actuated by the user for pivoting said arm members away from said second gear member of said second gear portion such that said sleeve member of said first gear portion disengages said second gear member of said second gear portion when the user wishes to disengage said rear wheel from said drive assembly to roll said frame assembly backwards.

11. The treadle scooter as set forth in claim 7, further comprising:

said first gear portion comprising a plurality of engagement tabs, each of said engagement tabs being positioned at a distal end of said sleeve member of said first gear portion such that each of said engagement tabs selectively engages one of a plurality of engagement apertures of said second gear member of said second gear portion for transferring rotational motion of said first gear portion to said second gear portion for rotating said rear wheel.

12. The treadle scooter as set forth in claim 11, further comprising:

each of said engagement tabs having an angled face and an engaging face, said angled face being for forcing said sleeve member away from said second gear member when said second gear member is rotated opposite of said first gear member, said engaging face engaging an interior face of said engagement apertures for transferring rotational movement of said first gear member to said second gear member.

13. The treadle scooter as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a shroud portion being coupled to said frame assembly, said shroud portion being positioned over a portion of said drive assembly such that said shroud portion is adapted for preventing clothing of the user from becoming entangled in said portion of said drive assembly.

14. The treadle scooter as set forth in claim 13, further comprising:

said shroud portion comprising a main member and a fender member, said main member is adapted for being positioned over said portion of said drive assembly such that said main member is adapted for preventing clothes of the user from becoming tangled in said portion of said driver assembly, said fender member extending from said main member such that said fender member is aligned with said rear wheel, said fender member being adapted for deflecting debris shed from said rear wheel away from the user.

15. The treadle scooter as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one brake assembly being coupled to said steering assembly, said brake assembly being operationally coupled to said rear wheel such that said brake assembly slows rotation of the rear wheel when said brake assembly is actuated by the user.

16. A treadle scooter for being ridden by a user, the treadle scooter comprising:

a frame assembly comprising a front end and a rear end, said frame assembly being adapted for being stood upon by the user;

a steering assembly being rotatably coupled to said front end of said frame assembly, said steering assembly being adapted for being actuated by the user when the user wishes to direct said frame assembly in a desired direction;

a front wheel being rotatably coupled to said steering assembly, said front wheel being adapted for being rolled across a support surface such that rotation of said steering assembly with respect to said frame assembly allows the user to change direction of travel of said frame assembly;

a rear wheel being rotatably coupled to said rear end of said frame assembly, said rear wheel being adapted for being rolled across the support surface;

a drive assembly being coupled to said frame assembly and operationally coupled to said rear wheel, said drive assembly being adapted for rolling said rear wheel across the support surface when said drive assembly is actuated by the user;

said drive assembly comprising a pair of pedal assemblies, each of said pedal assemblies being pivotally coupled to said frame assembly, each of said pedal assemblies being operationally coupled to said rear wheel, each of said pedal assemblies being adapted for being actuated by a foot of the user such that actuation of each of said pedal assemblies by the user rotates said rear wheel with respect to said frame assembly when the user wishes to propel said frame assembly across the support surface, one of said pedal assemblies being pivotally isolated from the other of said pedal assemblies such that one of said pedal assemblies may pivoted with respect to said frame assembly independent of the other of said pedal assemblies for propelling the frame assembly across the support surface;

each of said pedal assemblies comprising a pedal portion, said pedal portion being pivotally coupled to said frame assembly, a free end of said pedal portion being adapted for being engaged by one of the feet of the user such that the user pushes down on said free end of said pedal portion with the foot to rotate said rear wheel when said frame assembly is propelled across the support surface;

each of said pedal assemblies comprising an actuation chain, said actuation chain being coupled to said pedal portion of an associated one of said pedal assemblies, said actuation chain being operationally coupled to a pair of actuation gears such that each of said actuation gears is rotatably coupled to said frame assembly for being rotated when said pedal portion of the associated one of said pedal assemblies is pushed on by the foot of the user;

each of said pedal assemblies comprising a pedal biasing member, said pedal biasing member being coupled to said actuation chain opposite said pedal portion of the associated one of said pedal assemblies and said frame assembly, said pedal biasing member biasing said pedal portion of the associated one of said pedal assemblies into a raised position when the user lifts the foot from said pedal portion;

said drive assembly comprising a transfer gear, said transfer gear being operationally coupled to one of said actuation gears of each of said pedal assemblies such that rotation of the associated one of said actuation gears of said pedal portions in a first direction rotates said transfer gear in the first direction, said transfer gear being operationally coupled to said rear wheel for rotating said rear wheel when said pedal portions of each of said pedal assemblies is actuated by the user;

a transition assembly being operationally coupled between said transfer gear of said drive assembly and said rear wheel, said transition assembly being for rotating said rear wheel when said transition assembly is rotated by said drive assembly when said drive assembly is actuated by the user;

said transition assembly comprising a first gear portion and a second gear portion, said first gear portion being operationally coupled to said drive assembly, said second gear portion being operationally coupled to said rear wheel, said first gear portion selectively engaging said second gear portion for transferring rotation of said first gear portion to said second gear portion when said first gear portion engages said second gear portion, said second gear portion being rotatable independent of said first gear portion for permitting said rear wheel to be rotated in the opposite direction to back up the frame assembly when said first gear portion is disengaged from said second gear portion;

said first gear portion comprising a sleeve member and a first gear member, said first gear member of said first gear portion being operationally coupled to said drive assembly, said first gear member being coupled to said sleeve member of said first gear portion;

said second gear portion comprising a shaft member and a second gear member, said second gear member being coupled to said shaft member, said second gear member being operationally coupled to said rear wheel, said shaft member slidably extending through said sleeve member such that said sleeve member is slidably positionable along a length of said shaft member, said sleeve member selectively engaging said second gear member for transferring rotation of said first gear member to said second gear member for rotating said rear wheel;

said transition assembly comprising a gear biasing member, said gear biasing member being positioned between said sleeve member of said first gear portion and said shaft member of said second gear portion, said gear biasing member biasing said sleeve member of said first gear portion against said second gear member of said second gear portion;

said transition assembly comprising a yoke portion, said yoke portion engaging said sleeve member of said first gear portion, said yoke portion sliding said first gear portion along said shaft member of said second gear portion for disengaging said sleeve member of said first gear portion from said second gear member when said yoke portion is actuated by the user;

said yoke portion of said transition assembly comprising a pair of arm members and a lever member, each of said arm members extending around said sleeve member of said first gear portion and being positioned in an annular channel of said sleeve member of said first gear portion, said lever member being coupled to said arm members and pivotally coupled to said frame assembly, a free end of said lever member being adapted for being selectively actuated by the user for pivoting said arm members away from said second gear member of said second gear portion such that said sleeve member of said first gear portion disengages said second gear member of said second gear portion when the user wishes to disengage said rear wheel from said drive assembly to roll said frame assembly backwards;

said first gear portion comprising a plurality of engagement tabs, each of said engagement tabs being positioned at a distal end of said sleeve member of said first gear portion such that each of said engagement tabs selectively engages one of a plurality of engagement apertures of said second gear member of said second gear portion for transferring rotational motion of said first gear portion to said second gear portion for rotating said rear wheel;

each of said engagement tabs having an angled face and an engaging face, said angled face being for forcing said sleeve member away from said second gear member when said second gear member is rotated opposite of said first gear member, said engaging face engaging an interior face of said engagement apertures for transferring rotational movement of said first gear member to said second gear member;

a shroud portion being coupled to said frame assembly, said shroud portion being positioned over a portion of said drive assembly such that said shroud portion is adapted for preventing clothing of the user from becoming entangled in said portion of said drive assembly;

said shroud portion comprising a main member and a fender member, said main member is adapted for being positioned over said portion of said drive assembly such that said main member is adapted for preventing clothes of the user from becoming tangled in said portion of said driver assembly, said fender member extending from said main member such that said fender member is aligned with said rear wheel, said fender member being adapted for deflecting debris shed from said rear wheel away from the user;

a plurality of brake assemblies being coupled to said steering assembly, one of said brake assemblies being operationally coupled to said rear wheel such that the associated one of said brake assemblies slows rotation of the rear wheel when the associated one of said brake assemblies is actuated by the user, the other of said brake assemblies being operationally coupled to said front wheel such that the associated one of said brake assemblies slows rotation of said front wheel when the associated one of said brake assemblies is actuated by the user.