GB2410226A

GB2410226A - Vehicle with rocking platform

Info

Publication number: GB2410226A
Application number: GB0401526A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Craig Schofield
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-01-23
Filing date: 2004-01-23
Publication date: 2005-07-27
Also published as: WO2005070752A1; GB0401526D0

Abstract

A manually propelled vehicle (10) has the platform (11) upon which a rider stands adapted for rocking about a central pivot in order to drive the wheels (13,14) in a forward direction (C). The drive mechanism (15) includes a first toothed portion (19) meshing with a cogwheel (20) acted on by the rocking motion of the platform.

Description

24 0226 Manually Propelled Vehicle The present invention relates to a

manually propelled vehicle.

Manually propelled vehicles, particularly for recreational transport uses, like scooters, are well known. These vehicles are operated by standing on a platform with handle bars extending therefrom and using a foot to push off the ground and move forward on freely rotating wheels. Chain drive sprocket mechanisms, such as commonly found on bicycles are not used.

Scooters are also known that employ a motor acting directly or through a gear mechanism on the back wheel to enable forward movement. Such devices require some form of fuel and maintenance.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a further type of manually propelled vehicle and/or a drive mechanism for such a manually propelled vehicle.

In one broad aspect of the present invention the vehicle includes a platform adapted for pivotal (e.g. rocking) movement, front and rear wheels and a drive mechanism associated with a wheel such that a pivoting motion of the platform will impart forward movement to the vehicle.

Preferably the drive mechanism includes an arcuate toothed member extending from the platform and in communication with a cogwheel/sprocket mounted coaxially with a wheel.

Preferably the arcuate member is mounted for pivoting movement at an end adjacent the platform. Preferably a resilient means is associated with a second end of the arcuate member.

Preferably the cogwheel is mounted to be freewheeling in one direction.

In a second broad aspect of the invention there is provided a drive mechanism for use with a vehicle wherein said drive mechanism includes a first toothed member and a second toothed member interlinked with the first member such that movement of the first member from a first position to a second position causes movement of the second toothed member wherein the second toothed member is mounted for unresisted freewheeling movement in an opposite direction as a resilient means causes the first toothed member to return from the second position to the first position.

The manually propelled vehicle according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment, wherein: Figure 1 is a general sketch view of a manually propelled vehicle according to the present invention, in a first stage of operation, and Figure 2 is a general sketch view in a second stage of operation.

The manually propelled vehicle 10 as illustrated by figures 1 and 2 includes a platform 11, handle bars 12, front wheel 13, rear wheel(s) 14 and a drive mechanism on the rear wheel generally denoted 15. Platform 11 is somewhat similar to a skateboard deck and, with handle bar 12, the vehicle 10 looks somewhat like a scooter.

First and second chassis wishbone members 16 and 17 join at a pivot point in the form of a shaft 18 fixed to the underside of the platform 11. Shaft 18 is at a mid-point of and perpendicular to the general longitudinal axis of platform 11. Note that platform 11 is intended to be in ghost outline in the figures to show detail of wishbones 16/17 and the drive mechanism 15.

The propulsion mechanism is best described by use with reference to the drawings.

A user (rider) of the scooter-like vehicle stands on platform 11 with one foot either side of the pivot 18.

Accordingly stirrups may be provided for foot placement.

Referring to figure 1, downward pressure P on the rear end (i.e. above the wheel(s) 14) causes a toothed arcuate member 19 to contact and drive a cogwheel 20 mounted coaxially with wheel 14. Toothed portion 19 is mounted on a pivoting arm 21 extending from the underside of platform 11 (towards its rear distal end) and swings generally towards the front end of the vehicle.

The swinging motion of arm 21 is regulated by a spring loaded extension 22 (somewhat like a shock absorber) mounted via a pivot mount 23. In this way, when pressure P is released at the end of compression (Figure 2), the position of the platform 11 returns to that illustrated by Figure 1. The spring loaded nature of extension 22 also helps to keep member 19 in contact with cogwheel 20 at all times.

It will be apparent that the arcuate movement (arrow A) of the toothed portion 19 will cause movement in a converging direction (arrow B) for cog wheel 20 and subsequently wheel 14. This drives the overall vehicle 10 forward in the direction of the arrow C. In order for the drive mechanism to return to rest (figure 1) by virtue of extension 22, the cogwheel 20 must be mounted for unresisting freewheel movement relative to the ground contacting wheel 14 in one direction, i.e. counter clockwise in the illustration (opposite to arrow B). Freewheeling of this type is common to bicycle chain drive sprockets (in that situation it is necessary to prevent pedals turning by action directly of the turning wheel when a rider is not intending to be pedalling). The form of a freewheeling mechanism (usually incorporating a ratchet system) within a hub is therefore well known.

Overall operation of the vehicle requires a "see-saw" action on platform 11 about the pivot 18, however, by virtue of the freewheeling cogwheel 20 this need not be a constant "see-saw" action. The rider may apply pressure P only as needed to drive the vehicle forward.

An additional spring (around the handle bar 12 extending from the front wheel forks 23 to the underside of platform 11) provides a spring loading action to the front portion of platform 11 to bias against the user when weight is shifted to the front foot.

Further features of the propulsion system can include a gear mechanism located in the hub (again, known from bicycle technologies) and operated from the handle bars, e.g. by turning a handle 12a. As speed builds these gears can be engaged to enable the ratio of "see-saw" actions to revolutions of a wheel in a given time to increase.

Conventional brakes can also be employed.

A manually propelled vehicle that uses a drive mechanism according to the present invention can have a variety of different forms. For example, the vehicle can have two, three or four wheels. Furthermore, the handlebars are not mandatory in that the drive could be incorporated with a fourwheel skateboard that uses tilting of the platform to effect turning.

Pivot 18 is preferably somewhere in the mid-region of platform 11, although it could be at the front end so long as spring 22 is sufficient to return the vehicle to the initial state analogous to figure 1. In such an embodiment it would be necessary to "jump" up and down on the rear of platform 11 as opposed to a "see-saw" action.

The vehicle can be easily disassembled for storage or convenient space saving.

The present invention provides an alternative propulsion means for manually operated small vehicles, like scooters or skateboards.

Claims

What I Claim is: 1. A vehicle including a platform adapted for pivotal

(e.g. rocking) movement, front and rear wheels and a drive mechanism associated with a wheel such that a pivoting motion of the platform will impart forward movement to the wheels of the vehicle through the drive mechanism.
2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the platform is mounted with a wishbone chassis, the chassis providing pivotal movement for the platform at a midpoint (in the longitudinal direction of said platform).
The vehicle of claim 1 or 2 wherein the drive mechanism includes an arcuate toothed member extending from the platform in communication with a cog/sprocket mounted coaxially with a wheel.
4. The vehicle of claim 3 wherein the arcuate member is mounted for pivoting movement at an end adjacent the platform.
5. The vehicle of claim 3 or 4 wherein a resilient means is associated with an end of the arcuate member.
6. The vehicle of any one of claims 3 to 5 wherein the cog/sprocket is mounted to be freewheeling in one direction.
7. The vehicle of any one of the preceding claims including a handle means extending from or through a front end of the platform.
8. The vehicle of any one of the preceding claims wherein the platform includes stirrups to accommodate the feet of a user.
9. A drive mechanism for use with a vehicle including a first toothed member and a second toothed member interlinked with the first member such that movement of the first member from a first position to a second position causes rotational movement of the second toothed member and wherein the second toothed member is mounted for unresisted freewheeling movement in an opposite direction as a resilient means causes the first toothed member to return from the second position to the first position.
10. The drive mechanism of claim 9 wherein a load is applied periodically to cause the first toothed member to move from the first position to the second position.
11. The drive mechanism of claim 9 or 10 wherein the first toothed member is mounted for pivoting movement.
12. The drive mechanism of any one of claims 9 to 11 wherein the first toothed member includes an arcuate edge where the teeth are located.
13. A method of use of a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein a user stands upright on the platform.
14. The method of use of claim 13 wherein the user rocks back and forth along the direction of travel of the vehicle to impart power to the drive mechanism.
15. A vehicle substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
16. A drive mechanism substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.