BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawing is included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and constitutes a part of this specification. The drawing illustrates an embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, serves to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawing,
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a conventional scooter;
FIG. 2 is an another perspective view of a conventional power scooter;
FIG. 3 is a perspective diagram showing the transmission structure of the conventional power scooter;
FIG. 4 is a perspective diagram showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a perspective diagram showing the drive assembly and the transmission assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a perspective diagram showing the one-way transmission bearing of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a cross-section view showing the one-way transmission bearing engaging with second sprocket wheel of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is perspective diagram showing the present invention being folded according to the preferred embodiment; and
FIG. 9 and 10 is a perspective view showing the transmission assembly rotating of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIG. 4, the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises one frame 51, one steering rod 52, a plurality of wheels 53, one drive assembly 54 and two transmission assemblies 55. The steering rod 52 is pivotally disposed on the frame 51, and the steering rod 52 is disposed on the handlebar 521. Further, the wheels 53 are pivotally coupled to the frame 51 and the steering rod 52 to control the advancing direction with the steering rod 52.
Referring to FIG. 5, the drive assembly 54 comprises one pedal 541 disposed on the frame 51 pivotally, and one elastic body 542(such as spring) coupled between the said pedal 541 and the said frame 51. A mudguard 543 is disposed on the frame 51 and extends to the wheel 53. While an external force applies to the pedal 541, it will return to the original position due to the reverse force of the elastic body 542. Meanwhile, the splash dirt from the wheel 53 will be blocked by the mudguard 543.
Referring to FIG. 5 and 6, said two transmission assemblies 55 are disposed on each of the two sides of the said wheel 53. Each of the transmission assemblies 55 comprises a curved rack 551 connected to the pedal 541, a first sprocket wheel 552 engaged with the curved rack 551, a second sprocket wheel 553 engaged with the first sprocket wheel 552, a third sprocket wheel 554 disposed to the wheel 53 and engaged with the second sprocket wheel 553, and a one-way transmission bearing 555 disposed between the first and second sprocket wheels 552, 553.
Accompanying with FIG. 7, the aforesaid one-way transmission bearing 555 comprises a retaining sheath 556, a spindle 557 located through the retaining sheath 556, a plurality of rollers 558 disposed in the retaining sheath 556, and a rotated sheath 559 disposed outside the retaining sheath 556 and driven by the second sprocket wheel 553. The retaining sheath 556 has a plurality of apertures 5561 thereon to retain the said rollers 558. A plurality of recesses 5591 are disposed inside the rotated sheath 559. Furthermore, each said recess 5591 has a bottom wall 5592, a side surface 5593 extending upwardly from the bottom wall 5592, and an inclined surface 5594 extending upwardly from the bottom wall 5592 and connecting with the side surface 5593 at the adjacent recess.
While the second sprocket wheel 553 is operating, the first sprocket wheel 552 rotates, which in turn pushes the spindle 557 circling, further to make the rollers 558 move toward the inclined surface 5594, and finally get held in between the space between the spindle 557 and inclined surface 5594. Thus, the first sprocket wheel 552 delivers power through the roller 558 to push the second sprocket wheel 553. In contrast, while circling in counter-clockwise direction, the spindle 557 pushes rollers 558 into the recesses 5591 (as the imagination line showing). Therefore, the power of the first sprocket wheel 552 can not deliver through the rollers 558, causing the first sprocket wheel 552 idling.
Referring to FIG. 8, while the pedal scooter 5 is not used, the steering rod 52 can be bent down to connect with frame 51 for convenient storage. When in use, a user only needs to pull up the steering rod 52 so the pedal scooter 5 can be unfold as showing in FIG. 4. Referring to FIG. 9, the user holds the steering rod 52 in hand to control the moving direction. Further, the user steps on the pedal 541 with one foot as the interlock state showing in FIG. 9 and 10. That is, relying on the reversing power of the elastic body 542 for supporting, the pedal 541 will be pushed upwardly to make the curved rack 551 move up and down to rotate the first sprocket wheel 552, which in turn pushes the second sprocket wheel 553 to rotate right away. The rotating of first sprocket wheel 552, which moves the second sprocket wheel 553, is made possible by the one-way transmission bearing 555 disposed between the two sprocket wheels; the one-way bearing 555 makes the first sprocket wheel 552 rotate the second sprocket wheel 553 in one direction only, not allowing for rotating in a reverse direction, which would counteract the rotating power of second sprocket wheel 553. As a result, the second sprocket wheel 553 moves the third sprocket wheel 554, which in turn rotates the wheel 53 as a forwarding power, enhancing the controlling stabilities while the two transmission assemblies 55 are still delivering power. In addition, a user's weight applied to the pedal repeatedly in operation also achieves the exercising effect.
To sum up, the invention makes use of the drive assembly to rotate the two transmission assemblies disposed on the frame; therefore, it could move the wheel rotate more stably than prior arts. Moreover, whenever a user wants to move the scooter forwards, he only needs to step on the drive assembly repeatedly to rotate the transmission assemblies for advancing the scooter, also achieving an exercising effect.
While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Patent Application
20080088109
