Threadless fork compression system and method for kick style scooter

#The present disclosure is directed to the field of mechanical couplers for differently sized diameter objects. More particularly, it is directed to a compression based coupler for robustly binding together the handle bar stem and fork tube of a bicycle or kick style scooter.

#Non-motorized scooters, particularly of the sort typified by kick scooters are rapidly entering competitive circles for stunt performances and other extreme forms of competition. Most popular of the kick scooters is the Razor® scooter. The force of activities on a typical scooter will often result in various parts of the scooter to fail. As can be imagined, because of the inherent danger of these stunts, a failed scooter component can result in serious injury to the rider. Therefore, there has been an increasing interest in ruggedizing various components of the scooter.

#One particular area where little attention has been devoted is the joint between the stem of the handle bars and the fork of the front wheel. No one has successfully devised a coupling mechanism that secures the stem-to-fork joint from breaking or severing under extreme loads. In view of this deficiency, various systems and methods are disclosed herein that provide a simple and yet robust solution to the stem-to-fork joint problem for bicycles, or kick scooters.

#The features and nature of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which reference characters identify corresponding items and processes throughout.

#FIG. 1 is an illustration of a kick scooter with an exemplary coupling attached thereto.

#FIG. 2 is an expanded view illustration of an exemplary coupling embodiment.

#The disclosed methods and systems below may be described generally, as well as in terms of specific examples and/or specific embodiments. For instances where references are made to detailed examples and/or embodiments, it should be appreciated that any of the underlying principals described are not to be limited to a single embodiment, but may be expanded for use with any of the other methods and systems described herein as will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art unless otherwise stated specifically.

#FIG. 1 is an illustration of a freestyle kick scooter 10 with an exemplary compression coupling 16 attached thereto. An exemplary compression coupling 16 is externally mounted to a threadless stem-to-fork joint and spans a greater surface area of the stem 14 and fork (shown internal to head tube 18) resting on headset bearings 17. Handlebar alignment channel 15, as further described below, is shown on the bottom of stem 14. With more secured surface area, the exemplary coupling 16 provides a simple and robust coupling mechanism, enabling stunt activities to performed without fear of separation of the stem-to-fork joint. Various details of exemplary embodiments of the compression coupling 16 are expounded upon below.

#FIG. 2 is an illustration of an expanded view of an exemplary compression coupler 20, having optional threaded compression bolt 25, compression washer 29 and threaded fork insert 27. The exemplary compression coupler 20 of this embodiment is shown as an open ended compression sleeve 31 having an inner opening 32 with an interior profile (not shown) of two different bore diameters for matching differently sized stem and fork tubing, and a compression accommodating gap 33. Optional keyway 34 is provided in opening 32 for an optional alignment key 35 to allow aligning the tubings, as further detailed below.