Patent Application
20130001916
The present invention relates to a wheeled scooter.
Wheeled scooters are known for sliding across surfaces such as gymnasium floors or outdoor exercise or play areas. The wheeled scooter is non-motorized and is ridden by a user for exercise, playing games or entertainment purposes. Improvements are desired.
One aspect of the invention relates to a scooter including a main body having a triangular shape including three equal sides and three equal points, and three wheels. One of the wheels is located adjacent to each point. Each of the wheels includes a swivel caster wheel. Three handles are provided, wherein each handle is defined by an opening through the main body. One of the handles is located adjacent to a center of each side.
In one embodiment, the main body has a domed shaped top surface with a highest location adjacent to a center of the main body and a plurality of lower locations adjacent each of the three points.
In another embodiment, the top surface includes a textured surface.
In a further embodiment, the openings which form the handles are located within the outer perimeter of the main body, wherein the sides define outwardly bowed shapes extending between the points.
In one embodiment, the main body includes a central opening extending vertically through the main body. The central opening preferably includes an upper main diameter portion and a lower smaller diameter portion. The central opening allows stacking wherein the lower smaller diameter portion of a first scooter of a plurality of separate scooters is sized to be received in the upper main diameter portion of a second scooter of the plurality of the separate scooters positioned below the first scooter, wherein the wheels of the first scooter positioned above the second scooter do not interfere with the scooter below. In a preferred arrangement, the scooters are alternated in the stack wherein the alternating scooters are oriented at 60 degrees offset.
Another aspect of the invention relates to a scooter body including: a main body having a triangular shape including three equal sides and three equal points; three wheels mounts, one of the wheel mounts being located adjacent to each point; three handles, each handle defined by an opening through the main body, one of the handles being located adjacent to a center of each side. The main body has a domed shaped top surface with a highest location adjacent to a center of the main body and a plurality of lower locations adjacent each of the three points. The main body defines a carrying handle adjacent to each handle, the carrying handle having a thinner vertical dimension than portions of the sides on opposite ends of the carrying handle.
A further aspect of the invention relates to stack of scooters and a related method of stacking including a plurality of separate scooters, each scooter including:
a main body having a triangular shape including three equal sides and three equal points;
three wheels, one of the wheels being located adjacent to each point, each of the wheels including a swivel caster wheel;
three handles, each handle defined by an opening through the main body, one of the handles being located adjacent to a center of each side;
the main body having a domed shaped top surface with a highest location adjacent to a center of the main body and a plurality of lower locations adjacent each of the three points;
the main body having a central opening extending vertically through the main body, wherein the central opening including a upper main diameter portion and a lower smaller diameter portion;
wherein the scooters are stacked and alternated back and forth in a repeating pattern along central vertical axis, wherein the lower smaller diameter portion of a first scooter of the plurality of the separate scooters is sized to be received in the upper main diameter portion of a second scooter of the plurality of the separate scooters positioned below the first scooter, wherein the wheels of the first scooter positioned above the second scooter do not interfere with the scooter below, wherein the alternating scooters are oriented at 60 degrees offset.
In one embodiment of the stack of scooters, the main body of each scooter includes a carrying handle adjacent to each handle, the carrying handle having a thinner vertical dimension than portions of the sides on opposite ends of the carrying handle.
Referring now to the
Main body 12 has a generally triangular shape including three sides 20, 22, and 24. Main body 12 includes three corners or points 30, 32, 34. Points 30, 32, 34 together with sides 20, 22, 24 define the generally triangular shape. In the illustrated embodiment, scooter 10 is symmetrically shaped through an axis extending through one side and an opposite point. In the preferred embodiment, the scooter 10 is symmetrical through any axis through any side and its opposite point. Wheels 14 are located adjacent to a respective point 30, 32, 34. Preferably, the wheels 14 are recessed slightly inwardly from the outer periphery defined by main body 12, and do not protrude beyond the outer periphery of main body 12.
In the illustrated embodiment, sides 20, 22, 24 are slightly rounded or bowed outwardly. Further, in the illustrated embodiments, points 30, 32, 34 are rounded.
The triangular shape and three wheeled arrangement provides a stable design that is less tippable compared to designs with four or more wheels.
Main body 12 includes a plurality of handles or gripping portions 40, 42, 44 for gripping by at least one user of scooter 10. Handles 40, 42, 44 are spaced inwardly from sides 20, 22, 24. An opening 50, 52, 54 is defined adjacent to each respective handle 40, 42, 44 to allow for receipt of the user's hands. The user grips the handles 40, 42, 44 by inserting the user's hands into one or more of the openings 50, 52, 54, with palms inward and griping the top, the side and/or the bottom of handle 40, 42, 44. In one embodiment, handles 40, 42, 44 can accommodate two hands.
Top surface 60 of body 12 defines a seating surface for the user. The user then grips main body 12 at one or more handles 40, 42, 44 if desired. It is to be appreciated that top surface 60 can receive a plurality of users if desired. Further, top surface 60 can receive the user or users in a variety of positions including sitting, or laying across the top, such as by laying on the user's stomach.
Top surface 60 includes a generally domed shape wherein the highest upper portion is adjacent to a center opening 62, and the lower upper areas are adjacent to points 30, 32, 34.
Top surface 60 preferably includes a textured or roughened surface construction to prevent or reduce sliding of the user relative to the top surface 60. Such texturing can be applied during manufacture, such as by molding main body 12 from plastic and providing the texturing to the top surface.
Referring now to
Center opening 62 is provided with an upper main diameter portion 80 and a lower portion 82 having a smaller outer diameter. Referring to
In
With the noted storage feature, the scooters 10 are self-stacking in the preferred arrangement, in that no stacking pole or other storage cart is needed. Also, the compact fit allows more scooters 10 to be stored than if they were stacked bottom to top (bottom of the wheels to top of the underneath scooter) where there was no overlap.
Sides 20, 22, 24 of main body 12 include a main thickness 26 adjacent to each point 30, 32, 34 and a portion of each side 20, 22, 24. Along a center of sides 20, 22, 24 adjacent to each handle 40, 42, 44 is a thinner portion 28. Thinner portion 28 defines a carrying handle 94. Carrying handle 94 also protects the hands of the user or users in handles 40, 42, 44 from being contacted by walls, objects or another scooter.
Carrying handles 94 do not project outwardly from sides 20, 22, 24, and instead are part of the smooth curve of the sides 20, 22, 24 connecting the points 30, 32, 34. The non-protruding wheels protect the wheels from contacting walls, objects, or another scooter.
Wheels 14 each pivot about a wheel axis 92 so that scooter 10 can be moved in any direction, such as in a straight path or a curved path as directed by the user or someone pushing the user. The user moves the scooter 10 by pushing with the user's hands and/or feet, or with a stick or other oar-like object. Also, the user can be pushed by another person pushing on the scooter or the user.
The wheels 14 can be press-fit or snap mounted to main body 12. Different wheels can be provided for scooter 10, depending on cost, desired speed, type of surface the scooter 10 will be used on, or other factors.
Scooter 10 can be used in a variety of manners for exercise or entertainment, including racing, in games with balls or objects, and in agility training or testing.
