Scooters, in particular electric scooters, and methods for operating an electric scooter

Abstract

The invention relates to a scooter, in particular an electric scooter (1), with a tread (3) arranged between a rear wheel (6) and a front wheel (8). In order to increase safety during operation of the scooter, in particular electric scooter (1), the front wheel (8) is assigned a sliding device (10) with a sliding plane (12) which, in an activated state of the sliding device (10), is arranged obliquely to and in a forward direction of travel (19) in front of the front wheel (8).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a scooter, in particular an electric scooter, with a tread arranged between a rear wheel and a front wheel. The invention further relates to a method for operating such an electric scooter.

[0002] International patent applications WO 2020 / 082 089 A1 and WO 2020 / 240 352 A1 disclose methods for operating an electric scooter, wherein a sensor system of the electric scooter records data regarding the condition and configuration of traffic routes. American patent application US 11 623 707 B2 discloses a collision warning device for an electric scooter, wherein sensors of the electric scooter register a possible collision. American patent application US 2020 / 0 409 381 A1 discloses an autonomously driving bicycle with various sensors. German patent application DE 10 2019 119 597 A1 discloses an electric scooter with a sensor for detecting curbs.

[0003] AT 518 204 A1 further discloses a scooter with a safety device that prevents the scooter from tipping over. 10 2021 127 373 A1 discloses a walking aid that can lift a steered front wheel over obstacles. DE 20 2016 003 870 U1 and DE 10 2018 102 977 A1 further disclose climbing aid devices that can overcome obstacles using pivoting levers or lifting elements. CN 1 09 515 583 A discloses a scooter with roller elements on the underside for overcoming obstacles without touching the ground.

[0004] The object of the invention is to increase the safety during operation of a scooter, in particular an electric scooter, with a tread arranged between a rear wheel and a front wheel.

[0005] The problem is solved in a kick scooter, in particular an electric kick scooter, with a tread arranged between a rear wheel and a front wheel in that the front wheel is assigned a sliding device with a sliding plane, which, in an activated state of the sliding device, is arranged obliquely to and in front of the front wheel in a forward direction of travel. The sliding plane can theoretically be permanently arranged on the electric scooter in the claimed arrangement. In practice, the sliding device is equipped with a sliding plane that is attached to the electric scooter so that it can move between an active state and a passive state.Particularly in its activated state, the anti-skid device with its anti-skid plane advantageously prevents the electric scooter from getting stuck with its front wheel on an obstacle, such as a curb, but rather slides off, lifting the electric scooter with its front wheel over the obstacle, thus safely preventing an unwanted rollover of the electric scooter on the curb. The scooter is preferably designed as an electric scooter. However, it is also conceivable to equip a scooter without an electric motor drive with the anti-skid device described.

[0006] A preferred embodiment of the kick scooter, in particular the electric kick scooter, is characterized in that the sliding device comprises a runner on which the sliding plane is formed. The runner is made of a suitably stable material. The sliding plane can be flat on the runner. However, the runner can also be designed, for example, as a U-shaped gliding system. In this case, the sliding plane is only formed on a forward-facing sliding contour of the sliding device. When the sliding device is activated, the sliding plane is arranged at an angle of, for example, approximately 45 degrees to a roadway on which the electric scooter is ridden. The angle does not have to be exactly 45 degrees. The angle can be, for example, greater than 30 degrees and less than 70 degrees.

[0007] Another preferred embodiment of the kick scooter, in particular the electric kick scooter, is characterized in that the runner is attached to a front wheel suspension. The runner can be attached to a front wheel swing arm of the electric scooter. It is essential that, when the anti-skid device is activated, the runner is positioned in front of the front wheel of the electric scooter in such a way that the front wheel does not come into contact with the obstacle, in particular with a curb.

[0008] A further preferred embodiment of the kick scooter, in particular the electric scooter, is characterized in that the runner is pivotally mounted on the front wheel suspension between a passive position and an active position. In its passive position, the runner rests, for example, on the front wheel suspension, in particular on the front wheel swing arm. In its passive position, the runner of the sliding device is advantageously arranged such that it is not or hardly noticeable on the front wheel suspension. This is made possible in particular by the design of the runner as a sliding glide with its U-shaped configuration.

[0009] Another preferred embodiment of the kick scooter, in particular the electric scooter, is characterized in that the runner is held in its passive position by a holding mechanism and can be triggered by a sensor device. The sensor device comprises, for example, a camera or a comparable optical device with which an obstacle, such as a curb, is detected in the forward direction of travel in front of the electric scooter. When such an obstacle is detected, the anti-skid device is activated via the holding mechanism.

[0010] Another preferred embodiment of the kick scooter, in particular the electric scooter, is characterized in that the holding mechanism comprises an electromagnetically triggerable holding pin that holds the runner, pre-tensioned in an active position, in its passive position. The holding pin is pulled via a corresponding actuator, for example, when the sensor device detects an obstacle. The pre-tensioning of the runner is achieved, for example, by a corresponding pre-tensioning spring device.

[0011] A further preferred embodiment of the kick scooter, in particular the electric scooter, is characterized in that the runner is assigned at least one locking element that holds the runner in its active position. The locking element is advantageously pretensioned so that the runner is securely held in its active position. The locking element can then be released manually, for example, to unlock the runner so that the runner can be moved back into its passive position. Of course, the runner can also be unlocked from its active position automatically, for example, at the push of a button, e.g., via a Bowden cable.

[0012] Another preferred embodiment of the kick scooter, in particular the electric kick scooter, is characterized in that an additional runner with an additional sliding surface is arranged below a footboard. The additional runner is preferably fixedly arranged on the footboard. The additional runner with the additional sliding surface enables the electric scooter to continue sliding over the obstacle after this obstacle has already been overcome by the front wheel of the electric scooter.

[0013] In a method for operating a previously described scooter, in particular an electric scooter, the above-mentioned object is achieved alternatively or additionally by arranging the sliding plane of the activated sliding device between the front wheel and an obstacle detected by the sensor device at an angle such that the scooter, in particular an electric scooter, comes into contact with the obstacle with its runner in a sliding manner. This easily prevents an abrupt collision between the front wheel and the obstacle, as well as a resulting rollover of the scooter, in particular an electric scooter.

[0014] The invention further relates to a sliding device, in particular a runner, a retaining mechanism, in particular a retaining pin, a locking element, a sensor device, and / or a footboard, in particular a footboard with an additional runner, for a previously described scooter, in particular an electric scooter. The aforementioned parts are sold separately.

[0015] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in which various embodiments are described in detail with reference to the drawings. They show: Fig. 1 a simplified representation of an electric scooter with a sliding device in its activated state on an obstacle designed as a curb; Fig. 2 the electric scooter Fig. 1, after the obstacle has been overcome with one front wheel of the electric scooter; Fig. 3 an enlarged section of the electric scooter with the activated sliding device in a side view; Fig. 4 a perspective view of the electric scooter with the sliding device in a passive position; Fig. 5 a similar representation as in Fig. 4 with the sliding device in its active position; Fig. 6 the sliding device in its active position with a holding mechanism in section; Fig. 7 a similar representation as in Fig. 6 with the sliding device in its passive position; Fig. 8 an enlarged section of Fig. 7 with a locking element in its locking position; and Fig. 9 a retaining pin in its holding position.

[0016] In the Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 shows a side view of how an obstacle 13 with a curb 14 is overcome with an electric scooter 1 without an undesirable rollover. The electric scooter 1 is equipped with an electric motor drive, which is Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 is not shown in detail. Such electric scooters 1 are also referred to as e-scooters.

[0017] The electric scooter 1 comprises a supporting structure 2, also referred to as a frame. A footrest 3 for resting a foot is formed on the supporting structure 2. The footrest 3 is formed, for example, on a footboard 4, which is arranged between a rear wheel suspension 5 with a rear wheel swing arm 17 for a rear wheel 6 and a front wheel suspension 7 with a front wheel swing arm 16 for a front wheel 8.

[0018] The footboard 4, the front wheel suspension 7 and the rear wheel suspension 5 are part of the supporting structure 2. The supporting structure 2 further comprises a handlebar tube 9, on which Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 not shown upper end, for example a handlebar or a steering knob is provided.

[0019] An arrow indicates the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 indicates a forward direction of travel 19, in which the electric scooter 1 is driven on a roadway 15. The electric scooter 1 is equipped with a sliding device 10 on the front wheel suspension 7. The sliding device 10 comprises a runner 11 with a sliding plane 12. The runner 11 is designed as a sliding bracket 38 with a U-shaped configuration.

[0020] The runner 11 with the sliding plane 12 is, as can be seen in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, when an activated sliding device 10 is arranged in front of the front wheel 8 and at an angle to the roadway 15. In Fig. 1 it can be seen that the runner 11 with its sliding plane 12 slides against the curb edge 14 in such a way that the scooter, in particular the electric scooter, does not hit the obstacle 13 with the front wheel 8.

[0021] In Fig. 2 shows how the scooter 1 has overcome the obstacle 13 with its front wheel 8 without any contact between the front wheel 8 and the curb 14. In Fig. 2 shows how the scooter 1 slides along the curb 14 with an additional runner 18, which is equipped with an additional sliding surface 58. This makes driving over the obstacle 13 with the curb 14 even safer.

[0022] In the Fig. 3 and 5 to 7, it can be seen that the sliding device 10 is equipped with a guide device 20. The guide device 20 is, as can be seen in Fig. 4, is arranged in a manner not visible from the outside in the front wheel suspension 7 of the scooter 1. The front wheel 8 is mounted on the support structure 2 so as to be rotatable about a front wheel axle 21 by means of the front wheel suspension 7. The guide device 20 of the sliding device 10 comprises a total of four guide rods 22, 23, 24, which have the shape of circular arcs.

[0023] The guide rods 22 to 24 are guided in corresponding guide geometries 28, 29 within the front wheel suspension 7 in such a way that the skid 11 with its sliding plane 12 is positioned between the Fig. 3, Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 shown active position of the sliding device 10 and the Fig. 3 and Fig. 7, the sliding device 10 is pivotable into the passive position shown. Each of the guide rods 22 to 24 is advantageously assigned a preload spring 25, 26, 27. The preload springs 25 to 27 preload the skid 11 of the sliding device 10 into its active position.

[0024] The guide device 20 with the sliding device 10 is combined with a holding mechanism 30. The holding mechanism 30 is also accommodated in the area of the front wheel suspension 7 of the scooter 1. The holding mechanism 30 comprises a holding pin 31, which is guided to be movable back and forth within a piston 32. By means of a holding spring 42, the holding pin 31 is guided in the direction of a Fig. 7 and Fig. 9 pre-tensioned notch marked 41.

[0025] The notch 41 is formed in the guide rod 22. By energizing a magnetic coil 33, the retaining pin 31 can be released via a control 34, i.e. Fig. 7 and Fig. 9 can be pulled out of the notch 41 against the preload force of the retaining spring 42. The preload springs 25 to 27 of the guide device 20 then ensure that the runner 11 with the sliding plane 12 is held in its active position.

[0026] In Fig. 6 shows how the guide rods 22 and 24 are guided in corresponding guide geometries 28, 29 within the front wheel suspension 7. Activation of the anti-skid device 10 advantageously only occurs when an obstacle 13 in the forward direction 19 in front of the front wheel 8 of the scooter 1 is detected and recognized by a suitable sensor device 40. The anti-skid device 10 is then triggered by the sensor device 40 via the controller 34.

[0027] In Fig. 6 shows how the activated runner 11 of the sliding device 10 is held in its activated position by means of two locking elements 35, 36. The locking element 35 is, as can be seen in the Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, is integrally connected to a guide body 44, which serves to represent the guide geometry 28. The holding mechanism 30 with the holding pin 31, the piston 32, and the magnetic coil 33 can also be referred to as an actuator.

Claims

[1] Electric scooter (1) with a tread (3) arranged between a rear wheel (6) and a front wheel (8), characterized by in that the front wheel (8) is assigned a sliding device (10) with a sliding plane (12), which in an activated state of the sliding device (10) is arranged obliquely to and in a forward direction of travel (19) in front of the front wheel (8), wherein the sliding device (10) comprises a runner (11) on which the sliding plane (12) is formed, wherein the runner (11) is attached to a front wheel suspension (7), wherein the runner (11) is attached to the front wheel suspension (7) so as to be pivotable between a passive position and an active position, wherein the runner (11) is held in its passive position by a holding mechanism (30) and can be triggered via a sensor device (40). [2] Electric scooter (1) according to claim 1, characterized bythat the holding mechanism (30) comprises an electromagnetically triggerable holding pin (31) which holds the runner (11) pre-tensioned into an active position in its passive position. [3] Electric scooter (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the runner (11) is assigned at least one locking element (35) which holds the runner (11) in its active position. [4] Electric scooter (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that an additional runner (18) with an additional sliding plane (58) is arranged below a footboard (4). [5] Method for operating an electric scooter (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the sliding plane (12) of the activated sliding device (10) between the front wheel (8) and an obstacle (13) detected by the sensor device (40) is arranged at an angle such that the electric scooter (1) comes to rest with the runner (11) sliding against the obstacle (13). [6] Sliding device (10), holding mechanism (30), locking element (35, 36), sensor device (40) and / or footboard (4) for an electric scooter (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

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