Novel scooter folding mechanism

Abstract

The invention relates to a novel scooter folding mechanism which comprises a support assembly, a spring seat assembly, a spring, a locking limiting assembly and two folding unlocking driving mechanisms symmetrically arranged in the support assembly, the support assembly comprises a handle connecting frame and a pedal connecting frame which are arranged up and down, and the locking limiting assembly comprises a locking ring, a spring bolt and a connecting pin. The pedal connecting frame is provided with a spring bolt cavity and a lock ring cavity, the lower end of the lock ring is arranged in the lock ring cavity and can move up and down in the lock ring cavity, and the spring bolt is provided with a spring bolt hinge part and spring bolt parts extending from the two ends of the spring bolt hinge part to the lock ring. The folding unlocking driving mechanism can drive the lock ring to move upwards to be separated from the pedal connecting frame, meanwhile, the connecting pin drives the spring bolt to rotate, then the spring bolt part is separated from the spring bolt cavity, and the novel scooter folding mechanism is reliable in connection, high in safety and convenient to fold.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of scooter technology, and in particular to a novel scooter folding mechanism. Background Technology

[0002] A scooter is a vehicle that integrates multiple functions such as short-distance transportation and leisure entertainment. Its main features include small size, light weight, flexibility, environmental protection and energy saving. In order to facilitate storage and save storage space or carry it in the trunk of a car, folding scooters have also emerged.

[0003] In the existing technology of folding scooters, the folding structure is of two types. One type of structure is relatively complex and difficult to operate. It usually requires unlocking and lifting the handle to detach the upper pole structure from the lower pedal structure, which is very inconvenient for children to operate. The other type of structure is relatively simple and effortless, but the reliability of the folding locking connection is not high, making it easy to misoperate and resulting in poor safety. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the above problems, this invention proposes a novel scooter folding mechanism that features reliable connection, high safety, and convenient folding.

[0005] The present invention is achieved through the following technical solution: a novel scooter folding mechanism, comprising a bracket assembly, a spring seat assembly, a spring, a locking and limiting assembly, and a folding and unlocking drive mechanism disposed within the bracket assembly. The bracket assembly includes a handle connecting frame and a pedal connecting frame disposed vertically. The handle connecting frame and the pedal connecting frame are hinged together by a first pin, which is the hinge position of the two parts to be folded.

[0006] To improve the positioning accuracy between the handle connector and the pedal connector, the lower end face of the handle connector is provided with a beveled concave surface, and the upper end face of the pedal connector has a beveled convex surface that matches the beveled concave surface.

[0007] The locking and limiting assembly is used to limit the relative rotation between the handle connecting frame and the pedal connecting frame. It includes a locking ring, the pedal connecting frame has a locking ring cavity, the lower end of the locking ring is disposed in the locking ring cavity and can move up and down in the locking ring cavity, the upper part of the locking ring has a first spring countersunk hole, the spring seat assembly is centrally connected to the handle connecting frame, the spring is used to reset the locking and limiting assembly after folding, the upper part of the spring is disposed in the spring seat assembly and the lower part is disposed in the first spring countersunk hole.

[0008] To make folding and resetting smoother, the lower end of the locking ring is chamfered to serve as a guide.

[0009] To improve both structural compactness and connection reliability, the spring seat assembly includes a spring seat bracket and a spring seat. The spring seat bracket has a spring seat connecting portion and a plurality of bracket connecting portions extending downward from the spring seat connecting portion. The spring seat bracket is connected to the handle connecting frame through the bracket connecting portions. The spring seat is disposed on the lower plane of the spring seat connecting portion. The spring seat has a second spring countersunk hole, and the upper part of the spring is disposed in the second spring countersunk hole.

[0010] To improve connection reliability, it is preferable that the number of bracket connecting parts is 4 and they are evenly distributed around the circumference of the spring seat connecting parts. Depending on the actual situation, more or fewer bracket connecting parts can also be designed.

[0011] To improve the connection reliability of the folding part of the scooter and thus enhance safety, the locking and limiting assembly also includes a locking tongue and a connecting pin. The pedal connecting frame has a locking tongue cavity. The locking tongue has a locking tongue hinge and locking tongue portions extending from both ends of the locking tongue hinge towards the locking ring. The locking tongue hinge is hinged to the handle connecting frame via a second pin. The locking tongue portions are located in the locking tongue cavity of the pedal connecting frame. The locking tongue portions have a moving limiting groove. The lower end of the locking ring has connecting pin holes on both sides corresponding to the moving limiting groove. One end of the connecting pin is located in the connecting pin hole, and the other end is located in the moving limiting groove.

[0012] To better position the latch and improve connection reliability, the lock ring cavity further includes a latch limiting boss in the middle, with the two latch portions of the latch respectively located on both sides of the latch limiting boss.

[0013] In order to limit and support the locking tongue, and further improve the connection reliability and safety of the locking and limiting assembly when using the scooter, a fourth pin is provided in the locking tongue cavity of the pedal connecting frame on the side away from the first pin. The locking tongue hinge part of the locking tongue extends to the fourth pin and has a rotating part. The inner arc surface of the rotating part matches the fourth pin.

[0014] The folding unlocking drive mechanism is used to release the restriction on relative rotation between the handle connecting frame and the pedal connecting frame. The folding unlocking drive mechanism can drive the locking ring to move upward to disengage from the pedal connecting frame, and at the same time drive the locking tongue to rotate around the second pin shaft through the connecting pin, thereby causing the locking tongue to disengage from the locking tongue cavity.

[0015] To improve folding convenience, the folding unlocking drive mechanism further includes a locking block, two uprights symmetrically arranged on both sides of the locking block, and two flipping blocks. The handle connecting frame is U-shaped, with a connecting frame body and two symmetrically extending handle connecting parts. The uprights are arranged in the corresponding handle connecting parts and can move up and down within the cavities of the handle connecting parts. The upper end of the locking ring extends outward to form a limiting boss. The locking block has a locking interface in the middle, which is engaged with the lower plane of the limiting boss. Flipping connecting parts extend outward on both sides of the locking block. The flipping block has a flipping block hinge and flipping parts symmetrically extending to both sides from the flipping block hinge. The flipping block hinge is hinged to the handle connecting frame by a third pin. The upper plane of the outer flipping part corresponds to the lower end of the upright, and the upper plane of the inner flipping part abuts against the lower plane of the flipping connecting part of the locking block.

[0016] To limit the reset angle of the flip block, the handle connecting bracket is further provided with flip block windows on both sides. The outer flip part of the flip block extends through the flip block window to the bottom of the riser, and the upper surface of the outer flip part is close to the top of the flip block window.

[0017] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: This novel scooter folding mechanism, through the design of a locking and limiting component including a locking ring, locking tongue, and connecting pin, works in conjunction with a folding and unlocking drive mechanism, greatly improving the convenience of scooter folding and making operation convenient and effortless. The locking ring and locking tongue in the locking and limiting component play a dual role in restricting the relative rotation between the handle connecting frame and the pedal connecting frame, greatly improving the connection reliability of the scooter folding part, thereby enhancing safety. In addition, this novel scooter folding mechanism has a compact structure and is convenient to store. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1-3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the novel scooter folding mechanism of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the novel scooter folding mechanism of the present invention after concealing the support assembly; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the pedal connecting frame of the novel scooter folding mechanism of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the locking ring of the novel scooter folding mechanism of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the locking tongue of the novel scooter folding mechanism of the present invention; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the snap-fit ​​block of the novel scooter folding mechanism of the present invention; In the diagram: 1. Bracket assembly; 11. Handle connecting bracket; 111. Connecting bracket body; 112. Handle connecting part; 113. Beveled concave surface; 114. Flip block window; 12. Pedal connecting bracket; 121. Lock tongue cavity; 122. Lock ring cavity; 123. Beveled convex surface; 124. Lock tongue limiting boss; 2. Spring seat assembly; 21. Spring seat bracket; 211. Spring seat connecting part; 212. Bracket connecting part; 22. Spring seat; 221. Second spring countersunk hole; 3. Spring; 4. Locking limiting assembly; 41. Lock ring; 411. First spring countersunk hole; 412. Connecting pin hole; 413. Limiting boss; 414. Chamfer; 42. Lock tongue; 421. Lock tongue hinge part; 4211. Rotating part; 422. 4221. Locking tongue; 43. Moving limit groove; 5. Connecting pin; 6. Folding unlocking drive mechanism; 51. Riser; 52. Flipping block; 521. Flipping block hinge; 522. Flipping part; 53. Snap-fit ​​block; 531. Snap-fit ​​interface; 532. Flipping connecting part; 61. First pin; 62. Second pin; 63. Third pin; 64. Fourth pin. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, so that the advantages and features of the present invention can be more easily understood by those skilled in the art, thereby providing a clearer and more explicit definition of the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0020] like Figure 1-8 The present invention discloses a novel scooter folding mechanism, comprising a bracket assembly 1, a spring seat assembly 2, a spring 3, a locking and limiting assembly 4, and a folding and unlocking drive mechanism 5 disposed within the bracket assembly 1. The bracket assembly 1 includes a handle connecting frame 11 and a pedal connecting frame 12 disposed vertically. The handle connecting frame 11 and the pedal connecting frame 12 are hinged together by a first pin 61. The lower end face of the handle connecting frame 11 has a beveled concave surface 113, and the upper end face of the pedal connecting frame 12 has a beveled convex surface 123 that matches the beveled concave surface 113. The spring seat assembly 2 is centrally connected to the handle connecting frame 11. The spring seat assembly 2 includes a spring seat bracket 21 and a spring seat 22. The spring seat bracket 21 has a spring seat connecting portion 211 and four bracket connecting portions 212 extending downward from the spring seat connecting portion 211 and evenly distributed around the circumference of the spring seat connecting portion 211. The spring seat bracket 21 is connected to the handle connecting frame 11 through the bracket connecting portions 212. The spring seat 22 is disposed on the lower plane of the spring seat connecting portion 211 and has a second spring countersunk hole 221.

[0021] The locking and limiting assembly 4 includes a locking ring 41, a locking tongue 42, and a connecting pin 43. The pedal connecting frame 12 has a locking tongue cavity 121 and a locking ring cavity 122. The locking ring cavity 122 has a locking tongue limiting boss 124 in the middle. The lower end of the locking ring 41 has a chamfer 414. The lower end of the locking ring 41 is located in the locking ring cavity 122 and can move up and down within the locking ring cavity 122. The upper part of the locking ring 41 has a first spring countersunk hole 411. The upper part of the spring 3 is located in the second spring countersunk hole 221, and the lower part is located in the first spring countersunk hole 411. The locking tongue 42 has a locking tongue hinge part 421 and a locking tongue portion 422 extending from both ends of the locking tongue hinge part 421 towards the locking ring 41. The locking tongue hinge part 421 is hinged to the second pin 62. Inside the handle connecting frame 11, the locking tongue 422 is disposed in the locking tongue cavity 121 of the pedal connecting frame 12, and the two locking tongues 422 are respectively disposed on both sides of the locking tongue limiting boss 124. The locking tongue 422 has a moving limiting groove 4221. The lower end of the locking ring 41 has connecting pin holes 412 on both sides corresponding to the moving limiting groove 4221. One end of the connecting pin 43 is disposed in the connecting pin hole 412, and the other end is disposed in the moving limiting groove 4221. The folding unlocking drive mechanism 5 can drive the locking ring 41 to move upward to disengage from the pedal connecting frame 12. At the same time, the connecting pin 43 drives the locking tongue 42 to rotate around the second pin shaft 62, thereby causing the locking tongue 422 to disengage from the locking tongue cavity 121.

[0022] The folding unlocking drive mechanism 5 includes a locking block 53, two upright tubes 51 symmetrically arranged on both sides of the locking block 53, and two flipping blocks 52. The handle connecting frame 11 is U-shaped, having a connecting frame body 111 and two symmetrically extending handle connecting parts 112. The upright tubes 51 are disposed in the corresponding handle connecting parts 112 and can move up and down within the cavities of the handle connecting parts 112. The upper end of the locking ring 41 extends outward with a limiting boss 413. The locking block 53 has a locking mechanism in the middle. The locking interface 531 is engaged with the lower plane of the limiting boss 413. The locking block 53 has outwardly extending flip-connecting portions 532 on both sides. Each flip-block 52 has a flip-block hinge portion 521 and flip portions 522 extending symmetrically from the hinge portion 521 to both sides. The hinge portion 521 is hinged to the handle connecting frame 11 via a third pin 63. The upper plane of the inner flip portion 522 abuts against the lower plane of the flip-connecting portion 532 of the locking block 53. Flip-block windows 114 are provided on both sides of the handle connecting frame 11. The outer flip portion 522 of the flip block 52 extends through the flip-block window 114 to below the riser 51, corresponding to the lower end of the riser 51, and the upper plane of the outer flip portion 522 is close to the top of the flip-block window 114.

[0023] The locking tongue cavity 121 of the pedal connecting frame 12 is provided with a fourth pin 64 on the side away from the first pin 61. The locking tongue hinge 421 of the locking tongue 42 extends to the fourth pin 64 with a rotating part 4211. The inner arc surface of the rotating part 4211 matches the fourth pin 64.

[0024] The working principle of this new scooter folding mechanism is as follows: When the scooter needs to be folded and stored, release the folding lock on the scooter, then press down the handlebars. This causes the upright tube 51 to move downwards within the cavity of the handlebar connection 112, rotating the flip block 52. The flip block 52 drives the locking block 53 to move upwards, thereby causing the locking ring 41 to move upwards to disengage from the pedal connection frame 12. Simultaneously, the connecting pin 43 drives the locking tongue 42 to rotate around the second pin 62, causing the locking tongue 422 to disengage from the locking tongue cavity 121. This releases the restriction on relative rotation between the handlebar connection frame 11 and the pedal connection frame 12. The handlebar connection frame 11, along with the scooter handle on top of the handlebar connection frame 11, rotates around the first pin 61, thus completing the folding process.

[0025] When the scooter is needed, rotate the handlebar connector 11 together with the scooter handle on the upper part of the handlebar connector 11 in the opposite direction around the first pin 61 until it is upright. Under the action of the spring 3, the locking ring 41 is pushed to move downward until it returns to the locking ring cavity 122. At the same time, the locking tongue 42 is driven to rotate in the opposite direction around the second pin 62 through the connecting pin 43 and return to the locking tongue cavity 121. Locking the scooter's folding lock will ensure that the scooter runs safely and smoothly.

[0026] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "top", "bottom", "side", "end", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0027] Furthermore, in the description of the embodiments of the present invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installed," "connected," "linked," "set up," "equipped with," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the present invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0028] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are merely specific implementations of the present invention, used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit it. The scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that any person skilled in the art can still modify or easily conceive of changes to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention, or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features; and these modifications, changes, or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, and should all be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A novel scooter folding mechanism, characterized in that: The system includes a bracket assembly, a spring seat assembly, a spring, a locking and limiting assembly, and a folding unlocking drive mechanism disposed within the bracket assembly. The bracket assembly includes a handle connecting frame and a pedal connecting frame arranged vertically, hinged together by a first pin. The spring seat assembly is centrally connected to the handle connecting frame. The locking and limiting assembly includes a locking ring, a locking tongue, and a connecting pin. The pedal connecting frame has a locking tongue cavity and a locking ring cavity. The lower end of the locking ring is disposed within the locking ring cavity and can move vertically within it. The upper part of the locking ring has a first spring countersunk hole. The upper part of the spring is disposed within the spring seat assembly, and the lower part is disposed within the first spring countersunk hole. The latch has a latch hinge portion and latch portions extending from both ends of the latch hinge portion toward the lock ring. The latch hinge portion is hinged to the handle connecting frame via a second pin. The latch portions are disposed within the latch cavity of the pedal connecting frame. The latch portions have a movement limiting groove. The lower ends of the lock ring have connecting pin holes on both sides corresponding to the movement limiting groove. One end of the connecting pin is disposed in the connecting pin hole, and the other end is disposed in the movement limiting groove. The folding unlocking drive mechanism can drive the lock ring to move upward to disengage from the pedal connecting frame. At the same time, the connecting pin drives the latch to rotate around the second pin, thereby causing the latch portions to disengage from the latch cavity.

2. The novel scooter folding mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The folding unlocking drive mechanism includes a locking block, two uprights symmetrically arranged on both sides of the locking block, and two flipping blocks. The handle connecting frame is U-shaped, with a connecting frame body and two symmetrically extending handle connecting parts. The uprights are arranged in the corresponding handle connecting parts and can move up and down in the cavities of the handle connecting parts. The upper end of the locking ring extends outward to form a limiting boss. The locking block has a locking interface in the middle, which is locked onto the lower plane of the limiting boss. Flipping connecting parts extend outward on both sides of the locking block. The flipping block has a flipping block hinge and flipping parts that extend symmetrically to both sides from the flipping block hinge. The flipping block hinge is hinged to the handle connecting frame by a third pin. The upper plane of the outer flipping part corresponds to the lower end of the upright, and the upper plane of the inner flipping part abuts against the lower plane of the flipping connecting part of the locking block.

3. The novel scooter folding mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that: The handle connecting bracket has flip block windows on both sides. The flip part of the outer side of the flip block extends through the flip block window to the bottom of the riser, and the upper surface of the outer flip part is close to the top of the flip block window.

4. The novel scooter folding mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The locking tongue cavity of the pedal connecting frame is provided with a fourth pin on the side away from the first pin. The locking tongue hinge portion of the locking tongue extends to the fourth pin with a rotating portion, and the inner arc surface of the rotating portion matches the fourth pin.

5. The novel scooter folding mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The spring seat assembly includes a spring seat bracket and a spring seat. The spring seat bracket has a spring seat connecting portion and a plurality of bracket connecting portions extending downward from the spring seat connecting portion. The spring seat bracket is connected to the handle connecting frame through the bracket connecting portions. The spring seat is disposed on the lower plane of the spring seat connecting portion. The spring seat has a second spring countersunk hole, and the upper part of the spring is disposed in the second spring countersunk hole.

6. The novel scooter folding mechanism according to claim 5, characterized in that: The bracket has four connecting parts, which are evenly distributed around the circumference of the spring seat connecting parts.

7. The novel scooter folding mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lower end face of the handle connecting bracket has a beveled concave surface, and the upper end face of the pedal connecting bracket has a beveled convex surface that matches the beveled concave surface.

8. The novel scooter folding mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lower end of the locking ring is chamfered.

9. The novel scooter folding mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lock ring cavity has a locking tongue limiting boss in the middle, and the two locking tongue parts are respectively located on both sides of the locking tongue limiting boss.

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