Foot pump scooter

A method for urging movement across a surface of a scooter having a steerable front wheel and a rear wheel, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) depressing a foot pad from an upper position to a lower position;
• b) rotating an initial sprocket in response to said step of depressing;
• c) urging rotation of the rear wheel in one direction by rotating a final sprocket;
• d) increasing the rate of rotation of the final sprocket relative to the initial sprocket with a gear mechanism;
• and
• e) further comprising:
• rotating the initial sprocket, the rear wheel and the final sprocket about a common axis of rotation.

A foot pump scooter comprising in combination:

• a) a frame for supporting a steerable front wheel, a rear wheel rotatable on a rear axle and a platform therebetween;
• b) an actuatable gear mechanism adapted to impart rotary motion to said rear wheel for urging forward motion of said scooter;
• c) a footpad adapted to be depressed by a rider's foot to pivot a spring returned lever assembly having an arcuate bar for actuating said gear mechanism;
• d) the gear mechanism comprising:
• (i) a first sprocket mounted for rotation on the rear axle and engaged by sprocket drive pins carried by the arcuate bar,
• (ii) a second sprocket mounted on the rear axle and coupled to the first sprocket to be driven thereby,
• (iii) a shaft carried by the frame and having a further pair of sprockets mounted thereon and connected for rotation together,
• (iv) a first chain linking the second sprocket in driving relation to one of the sprockets of the further pair of sprockets,
• (v) a second chain linking the remaining of the further pair of sprockets in driving relation to a final sprocket carried on the rear axle for rotation, and
• (vi) a one-way clutch carried on the rear axle and coupling the final sprocket to the rear wheel to rotate the rear wheel in one direction, impelling the scooter forward.

A foot pump scooter comprising:

• a) a frame supporting a steerable front wheel, a rear wheel and a rider support;
• b) a foot drive mounted to the frame;
• c) a gear mechanism interconnecting the foot drive and the rear wheel in driving relation to the rear wheel;
• d) the gear mechanism comprising:
• (i) an elongate member operatively connected in driven relation to the foot drive,
• (ii) the elongate member being connected in driving relation to a first rotary gear mounted for rotation about a first axis of rotation the same as that of the rear wheel,
• (iii) the first gear being linked in driving relation to a second, intermediate rotary gear mounted for rotation about a further axis,
• (iv) the second, intermediate gear being linked to a final rotary gear mounted for rotation about the first axis of rotation of the first rotary gear and the rear wheel and coupled in driving relation to the rear wheel.

A foot pump scooter comprising:

• a) a frame supporting a steerable front wheel, a rear wheel and a rider support;
• b) a foot drive mounted to the frame;
• c) a gear mechanism interconnecting the foot drive and the rear wheel in driving relation to the rear wheel;
• d) the gear mechanism comprising:
• (i) a sprocket linked to a one-way clutch in driving relation to the rear wheel for propelling the scooter in the forward direction;
• and
• (ii) an elongate sprocket-drive member engaging the sprocket and connected with the foot drive for movement by a user's foot engaging the foot drive;
• and
• (iii) the elongate member comprising at least one substantially rigid bar supporting a series of drive chain cross-members, the series being spaced lengthwise along the bar and engaging teeth of the sprocket for driving the sprocket upon activation of the foot drive and longitudinal movement of the bar.

A scooter including:

• a) a frame supporting a front wheel and a rear wheel,
• b) a platform supported on the frame between the front wheel and the rear wheel,
• c) a foot-operated drive including:
• (i) a single foot-operated lever biased by a spring to a position protruding above the platform and depressible downward by foot against the bias of the spring,
• (ii) a first pivotally mounted substantially rigid elongate drive member connected with the lever and having a run of gear engagement elements,
• (iii) a first rotatable gear engaged in driven relation by the gear engagement elements of the elongate drive member,
• (iv) at least one further drive member in driving relation to the rear wheel and driven by rotation of the first rotatable gear,
• d) the run of gear engagement elements moving substantially forward and backward of the scooter at the location of engagement with the first rotatable gear when the lever is depressed and released.