US 6,572,128 B2Granted

Ratchet propulsion system for scooters

OwnerHorst Grafinventor

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A scooter propulsion system is provided both as a kit for retrofitting and as an improved original manufacture. A foot pedal pivots forwardly and rearwardly as the user presses on a front foot pedal portion and rear foot pedal portion, respectively. A ratchet bar is pulled forward when the front pedal portion is pressed and rearward when the rear pedal portion is pressed. A free-wheeling sprocket-like gear on the rear wheel axle is rotated forward by rack-like ratchet bar teeth when the ratchet bar is pulled forward thus engaging spring pawls of the rear wheel axle gear with a rear wheel hub. A ratchet bar guard biases the ratchet bar against the rear wheel axle gear. When the rear pedal portion is pushed the rear wheel axle gear freewheels backwards as the ratchet bar moves rearwardly. A smooth portion of the ratchet bar rests against the rear wheel axle gear when the rear pedal portion is pressed to its down position.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A scooter propulsion system for a scooter of the type having a frame upon which the rider places at least one foot, a steering assembly having a front wheel, and a rear wheel having a hub to rotate around an axle attached to the frame, the system comprising:

a free wheeling rear wheel axle gear having attached spring pawls engageable for forward rotation with the rear wheel hub, the rear wheel axle gear having teeth;
a foot pedal having a front pedal portion and a rear pedal portion;
a foot pedal support bracket attached to the scooter frame, the foot pedal being attached to the foot pedal support bracket and adapted for pivoting on said bracket;
a ratchet bar assembly attached to the front pedal portion, the ratchet bar assembly having an elongated ratchet bar extending to and beyond the scooter rear wheel axle gear, the ratchet bar pivoting with respect to the front pedal portion, the ratchet bar moving rearward when the rear pedal portion is pressed toward the scooter frame, the ratchet bar moving forward when the front pedal portion is pressed toward the scooter frame, the ratchet bar further having a plurality of teeth;
and
a ratchet guard having an angular top plate, the ratchet guard being attached to the rear wheel axle such that the top plate biases the ratchet bar against the rear wheel axle gear, the ratchet bar teeth engaging the rear wheel axle gear teeth and turning the rear wheel axle gear as the ratchet bar moves forward.

3 more elements

An improved scooter of the type having a frame upon which the rider places at least one foot, a steering assembly having a front wheel, and a rear wheel having an axle attached to the frame, the improvement comprising:

a freewheeling rear wheel axle gear having spring pawls engageable with the rear wheel hub to provide the axial rotation thereof, the rear wheel axle gear having teeth;
a foot pedal having a front pedal portion and a rear pedal portion;
a foot pedal support bracket attached to the scooter frame, the foot pedal being attached to the foot pedal support bracket and adapted for pivoting on said bracket;
a ratchet bar assembly attached to the front pedal portion, the ratchet bar assembly having an elongated ratchet bar extending to and beyond the scooter rear wheel axle gear, the ratchet bar pivoting with respect to the front pedal portion, the ratchet bar moving rearward when the rear pedal portion is pressed toward the scooter frame, the ratchet bar moving forward when the front pedal portion is pressed toward the scooter frame, the ratchet bar further having a plurality of teeth;
and
a ratchet guard having an angular top plate, the ratchet guard being attached to the rear wheel axle such that the angular top plate biases the ratchet bar against the rear wheel axle gear, the ratchet bar teeth engaging the rear wheel axle gear teeth and turning the rear wheel axle gear as the ratchet bar moves forward thereby engaging the spring pawls with the rear wheel hub resulting in the forward rotation of the attached rear wheel.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/845,871Filed 29 Apr 2001
Published: US 2002/0158440 A131 Oct 2002
Granted: 3 Jun 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

B62M 1/30
With reciprocating levers, e.g. foot levers: characterised by the use of intermediate gears
B62K 3/002
Bicycles: without a seat, i.e. the rider operating the vehicle in a standing position, e.g. non-motorized scooters; non-motorized scooters with…
B62M 1/32
With reciprocating levers, e.g. foot levers: characterised by directly driving the wheel axle, e.g. by using a ratchet wheel
B62M 5/00
Foot-driven levers as pedal cranks which can be immobilised as foot-rests