# US 8,740,230 B2 · User-propelled vehicle having a channel to receive an illuminatable means > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,740,230 B2 - Document ID: US8740230B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/703,810 - Filed: 2010-02-11 - Published: 2010-06-10 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2004-05-05 - Assignees: H. Grossman Limited - Applicants: Martin Grossman - Inventors: Martin Grossman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8740230B2 ## CPC - B62K 3/002: {without a seat, i.e. the rider operating the vehicle in a standing position, e.g. non-motorized scooters; non-motorized scooters with skis or runners} - B62J 6/015: using electrical power not supplied by the cycle motor generator, e.g. using batteries or piezo elements - B62J 6/06: Arrangement of lighting dynamos or drives therefor - B62J 6/26: warning or informing other road users, e.g. police flash lights - B62K 15/006: {the frame being foldable} - A63C 2203/14: Lighting means - Y10S 362/80: Light emitting diode - B62K: CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDECARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE - B62J: CYCLE SADDLES OR SEATS; AUXILIARY DEVICES OR ACCESSORIES SPECIALLY ADAPTED TO CYCLES AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. ARTICLE CARRIERS OR CYCLE PROTECTORS - A63C: SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE (water skis B63B32/00, B63B34/00) - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A vehicle has a footboard 116 with side edge channels 130, each housing a rod or tube 112 forming illumination. The rods or tubes are connected to power means that include a battery or dynamo. Each rod or tube can include a transparent or translucent polymeric sheath for a series of LEDs. A switch provides on/off control and can provide different modes of illumination of the LEDs. The vehicle can be a foldable micro-scooter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A scooter comprising: at least one front wheel, at least one rear wheel, a steering column and handlebars, a metal platform for supporting a foot or feet of a user, the platform having an upperside and an underside; at least one illuminatable means; first and second longitudinal edges, first and second channels each associated with at least a portion of a respective longitudinal edge, at least one of first and second channels being configured to receive and entrap the at least one illuminatable means, and first and second walls depending from the underside of the platform away from the upperside of the platform so as to define a space between the walls, the first wall defining a void and the second wall defining a further void, each void having a length that is substantially equal to the length of the space, wherein the first wall comprises a first portion that extends from the underside of the platform and a second portion that extends at an angle between the first portion and the first channel and is spaced from the underside of the platform, wherein the second wall comprises a first portion that extends from the underside of the platform and a second portion that extends at an angle between the first portion of the second wall and the second channel and is spaced from the underside of the platform, wherein the at least one illuminatable means comprises an elongate member providing a plurality of illumination devices therein, and the first and second channels comprises an elongate channel, and wherein a height or width of an inner portion of at least one of first and second channels is greater than a height or width of an opening of the at least one of first and second channels, and a height or width of the at least one illuminatable means is greater than the height or width of the opening of the at least one of first and second channels. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A scooter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the platform has first and second substantially parallel longitudinal edges, the first and second channels being provided on or mounted adjacent to at least a portion of each respective longitudinal edge, and the at least one illuminatable means including first and second illuminatable means received within and retained by the respective first and second channels. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A scooter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one of first and second channels has a generally “C”-shaped cross-section. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A scooter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one illuminatable means is releasably retained in the at least one of first and second channels. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A scooter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the platform is an extruded metal platform. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A scooter as claimed in claim 5, wherein the metal is substantially aluminium or an alloy thereof. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A scooter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one illuminatable means comprises an illuminatable rod or tube. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A scooter as claimed in claim 7, wherein the illuminatable rod or tube is at least part transparent or translucent. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) A scooter as claimed in claim 7, wherein the illuminatable rod or tube comprises a polymeric sheath enclosing or encapsulating a plurality of electrically connected illumination devices comprising light emitting diodes (LEDs). ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) A scooter as claimed in claim 7, wherein the illuminatable rod or tube is made substantially from polyvinylchloride (PVC). ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) A scooter as claimed in claim 8, wherein the illuminatable rod or tube comprises a hollow tube containing a plurality of illumination devices or a solid rod encapsulating the illumination devices. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A scooter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the scooter includes control means for the user to select a desired operation mode of the illuminatable means. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A scooter as claimed in claim 12, wherein the control means comprises switch means. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) A scooter as claimed in claim 12, wherein the control means is programmed to operate the illuminatable means in at least one of an off mode, an on mode, a continuous mode, a flashing mode and a strobing mode. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A scooter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the illuminatable means is powered by one or more batteries. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A scooter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the scooter includes a power generator for powering the illuminatable means. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A scooter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one illuminatable means is received within the at least one of first and second channels either from an end of the at least one of first and second channels or by snapping the at least one illuminatable means into the at least one of first and second channels. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A scooter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the scooter is a micro-scooter or collapsible micro-scooter. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A scooter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one illuminatable means and the at least one of said first and second channels have a snap-fit connection. ### Claim 20 A platform for supporting a user on a scooter, the platform having an upperside and an underside and comprising: a footplate, first and second longitudinal edges, first and second channels each associated with at least a portion of a respective longitudinal edge, at least one of first and second channels being configured to receive and entrap an illuminatable means, and first and second walls depending from the underside of the platform away from the upperside of the platform so as to define a space between the walls, the first wall defining a void and the second wall defining a further void, each void having a length that is substantially equal to the length of the space, wherein the first wall comprises a first portion that extends from the underside of the platform and a second portion that extends at an angle between the first portion and the first channel and is spaced from the underside of the platform, wherein the second wall comprises a first portion that extends from the underside of the platform and a second portion that extends at an angle between the first portion of the second wall and the second channel and is spaced from the underside of the platform, wherein the at least one illuminatable means comprises an elongate member providing a plurality of illumination devices therein, and the first and second channels comprises an elongate channel, wherein a height or width of an inner portion of at least one first and second channels is greater than a height or width of an opening of the at least one of first and second channels, and a height or width of the at least one illuminatable means is greater than the height or width of the opening of the at least one of first and second channels, and wherein the platform is a metal platform. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A platform as claimed in claim 20, wherein the platform is manufactured as a unitary component. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) A platform as claimed in claim 20, wherein the platform is an extruded metal platform. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) A platform as claimed in claim 22, wherein the metal is substantially aluminium or an alloy thereof. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) A platform as claimed in claim 20, wherein said first and second channels are substantially parallel to one another. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) A platform as claimed in claim 24, wherein the at least one of said first and second channels has a generally “C” cross-section. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) A platform as claimed in claim 20, wherein the platform is a platform for a micro-scooter or collapsible micro-scooter. ### Claim 27 A method of manufacturing a metal platform for a scooter, the platform having an upperside and an underside and comprising a footplate, first and second longitudinal edges, first and second channels each associated with at least a portion of a respective longitudinal edge, at least one of first and second channels being adapted to receive and entrap an illuminatable means, and first and second walls depending from the underside of the platform away from the upperside of the platform so as to define a space between the walls, the first wall defining a void and the second wall defining a further void, each void having a length that is substantially equal to the length of the space, wherein the first wall comprises a first portion that extends from the underside of the platform and a second portion that extends at an angle between the first portion and the first channel and is spaced from the underside of the platform, wherein the second wall comprises a first portion that extends from the underside of the platform and a second portion that extends at an angle between the first portion of the second wall and the second channel and is spaced from the underside of the platform, wherein the at least one illuminatable means comprises an elongate member providing a plurality of illumination devices therein, and the first and second channels comprises an elongate channel, and wherein a height or width of an inner portion of the at least one of first and second channels is greater than a height or width of an opening of the at least one of first and second channels, and a height or width of the at least one illuminatable means is greater than the height or width of the opening of the at least one of first and second channels, the method comprising the step of: extruding the metal platform as a unitary component. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) A method of manufacturing a platform for a scooter as claimed in claim 27, wherein the platform is extruded from metal substantially comprising aluminium or an alloy thereof. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) A method of manufacturing a platform for a scooter as claimed in claim 27 further comprising snapping each illuminatable means into a corresponding channel to secure the illuminatable means to the channels.