Patent Application
20110233894
The invention described herein relates generally to a guard for accessible clearances between movable segments. More specifically, the invention described herein relates to a wheel guard insert for non-motorized foot board scooters for use in reducing the axial gap between a wheel of the scooter and its associated support structure.
Non-motorized foot board scooters are known in the art. These scooters generally include a front wheel aligned with a back wheel, with each of the wheels being attached to a frame. The frame generally comprises a flat surface located between the two wheels for the rider to stand on and a steering column rising vertically relative to the front end of the flat surface. The steering column is attached at one end to the front wheel for front wheel steering of the scooter and terminates at the other end in handle bars for the rider to use to steer the scooter. Forward movement of these non-motorized foot board scooters is normally achieved by the rider taking one foot off the flat surface and pushing against the ground with the foot removed from the flat surface to begin forward movement of the scooter.
Because scooters are usually marketed toward children, there are particular safety concerns associated with scooters. Of course, one concern is the safe operation of scooters, which is enhanced through supervision and the use of proper safety gear such as helmets and knee pads. Regarding the design of scooters, there are several areas of concern including durability, brakes, proper warning labels, and pinching hazards. Indeed, the American Society of Standards and Testing (ASTM) has promulgated a standard consumer safety specification directed to non-powered scooters which sets safety requirements for these aspects of scooter design (ASTM F2264). One area of particular interest here is the clearance between the wheel of a scooter and its associated support structure, such as the clearance between the spokes of the front wheel and the arms of the fork. Such clearance has the potential to pinch, crush, and/or trap a child's fingers.
Accordingly, there exists a need to eliminate or reduce such accessible clearances between the wheel and support structures of scooters and other wheeled vehicles.
Described herein are various embodiments of a wheel guard insert for use in reducing the axial gap between a wheel and its associated support structure. Generally, the wheel guard comprises a base portion attachable to the support structure between the support structure and the wheel and one or a pair of protrusions extending between the base portion and a contoured surface that substantially matches an axial face contour of the wheel.
The base portion and the protrusion may be integrally formed from a plastic material, rubber, or sheet metal. The base portion may also be contoured so that it follows a surface of the support structure. Preferably, the contoured surface is located within 5 mm of the axial face. The base portion may be attached to the support structure with fasteners that engage apertures formed through the base portion that are sized and configured to receive the fastener.
Also contemplated is a scooter incorporating wheel guards according to the disclosure. Such a scooter comprises a frame including opposed front and rear end portions with a deck extending along at least a majority of the frame. A steering assembly is pivotably disposed on the front end portion and a rear wheel is rotatably mounted on the rear end portion. The steering assembly includes a handlebar, a steering support structure, a front wheel rotatably mounted to the steering support structure, and a pair of front wheel guards interposed between the steering support structure and the front wheel. The steering support structure may be in the form of a fork comprising a pair of arms, wherein the front wheel guards are attached to the inner surface of each fork arm. In another embodiment, the wheel guards may be integral with the fork arms. Preferably, the scooter includes a pair of rear wheel guards interposed between a rear support structure and the axial face of the rear wheel.
Also disclosed herein is an improvement to a scooter that has an accessible axial clearance between one of its wheels and its chassis. The improvement comprises an insert means interposed between an axial face of the wheel and the chassis. The insert means is preferably configured as described herein to closely conform to the contour of the axial face of the wheel thereby reducing the clearance between the wheel and the chassis.
The foregoing and other features, utilities, and advantages of the wheel guard will be apparent from the following more particular description of the embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate multiple embodiments of a wheel guard insert and together with the description, serve to explain the principles thereof. Like items in the drawings are generally referred to using the same numerical reference.
a and 4b are perspective views of a wheel guard according to a first exemplary embodiment;
a and 5b are perspective views of a wheel guard according to a second exemplary embodiment; and
The following disclosure describes various embodiments of a wheel guard insert for use in reducing the axial gap between a wheel and its associated support structure.
Frame 20 includes opposed front and rear end portions, 24 and 26 respectively. Front end portion 24 includes gooseneck 27 and a head tube 25 supported thereon. The steering assembly 30 is pivotably disposed on front end portion 24. Specifically, steering assembly 30 extends through head tube 25 which provides a bearing for the steering assembly to pivot. Steering assembly 30 includes a steering support structure 40, otherwise known as a front fork, a stem 33, and handlebars 34. Handlebars 34 are attached to stem 33 with a clamp 35 as is known in the art.
With further reference to
Wheel 50 includes a tire portion 52 which extends around rim 54. Rim 54 is supported by a plurality of spokes 56 which extend radially from hub 58. Preferably, hub 58 houses a pair of bearings 57 for providing a durable rotational attachment of the front wheel to front fork 40. As can be appreciated with reference to the figure, axial gaps 47′ and 47″ exist between the axial faces of wheel 50 and the inside of support arms 46′ and 46″. Referring once again to
Referring to
Base portion 72 may optionally include a contoured surface 78 which matches the contoured portion 43 of steering support arms 46. Contours 43 represented on support arms 46 are exemplary in nature and other contours are contemplated, including but not limited to, no contour at all. As shown in
a and 5b illustrate a second exemplary embodiment of the wheel guard insert 170. In this embodiment wheel guard insert 170 includes a base portion 172 with a protrusion 174 extending therefrom. Protrusion 174 includes a contoured surface 176 which corresponds with, or matches, the axial face contour of wheel 50. As perhaps best shown in
In a third exemplary embodiment, the wheel guards are integral with the support arms as a means to reduce the gap between the wheel and the chassis. As shown in
While the various embodiments of the wheel guard insert whether separate or integrated have been described with respect to a steering support structure, such as a fork, the concepts and principles described herein apply equally to the rear end portion support structure of a scooter. Moreover, it is contemplated that the wheel guard inserts described herein could be applied to various vehicles where accessible clearances between movable segments exist. Examples of such vehicles might include bicycles, tricycles, and other wheel vehicles.
Accordingly, the wheel guard insert has been described with some degree of particularity directed to the exemplary embodiments. It should be appreciated, though, that the present invention is defined by the following claims construed in light of the prior art so that modifications or changes may be made to the exemplary embodiments without departing from the inventive concepts contained herein.
