STEERING SYSTEM AND SCOOTER INCLUDING THIS

Abstract

STEERING SYSTEM AND SCOOTER INCLUDING THEREOF The invention relates to a steering system (1) comprising: a base (10) including a first structure and an axial hole defining an axial direction; a shaft rotatably inserted in the axial hole; a rotating seat (30) including a second structure located on one side of the rotating seat (30) opposite the base (10), the rotating seat (30) being connected to the shaft and movable with it; and at least one elastic element disposed around the axial direction and abutting against and between the first and second structures, when the rotating seat (30) rotates relative to the base (10), the at least one elastic element being constrained by the first and second structures and generating a deformation around the axial direction. The invention also relates to a scooter including the steering system (1). Figure to be published with the abstract: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: STEERING SYSTEM AND SCOOTER COMPRISING SAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a steering system and a scooter comprising the same.

[0002] 2. Description of the prior art

[0003] Scooters have become increasingly popular and widely used as portable means of transportation or as sports equipment. Some of the conventional scooters lack a steering recovery mechanism, so the steering mechanism of the scooter must be manually restored after turning, which is not convenient.

[0004] In some conventional scooters, a spring is arranged between the front end of the platform and the front wheel shaft to restore the steering mechanism after turning. However, this type of restoring mechanism is entirely arranged outside the steering rod, and there is no direct interaction between the spring of the conventional structure and the steering rod. Therefore, the restoring effect and response speed are not satisfactory. In addition, the conventional restoring structure is complicated, has a relatively unstable configuration, and has poor restoring ability.

[0005] The present invention therefore aims to avoid or at least mitigate the aforementioned drawbacks. Summary of the invention

[0006] The main objective of the present invention is to provide a steering system and a scooter comprising the same, which can effectively generate better restoring force, which can be restored efficiently and quickly, and which has a simple structure and is easy to assemble and disassemble.

[0007] To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention provides a steering system, the steering system comprising: a base comprising a first structure and an axial hole, the axial hole defining an axial direction; a shaft rotatably inserted into the axial hole; a rotary seat comprising a second structure, the second structure being located on one side of the rotary seat opposite the base, the rotary seat being connected to and movable with the shaft; and at least one elastic member disposed around the axial direction and abutting against and between the first structure and the second structure, wherein, when the rotary seat rotates relative to the base, the at least one elastic element is constrained by the first structure and the second structure and generates a deformation around the axial direction.

[0008] Advantageously, the shaft and the rotary seat are engaged with each other in the axial direction.

[0009] Advantageously, the shaft comprises at least one slot, and the rotary seat further comprises at least one protrusion inserted axially into the at least one slot.

[0010] Advantageously, the first structure comprises at least one projection, the second structure comprises at least one locking portion, and the at least one elastic element abuts against and between the at least one projection and the at least one locking portion.

[0011] Advantageously, the rotary seat further comprises a recess arranged around the axial direction, the at least one locking portion is received in the recess, and the at least one elastic element extends inside and along the recess.

[0012] Advantageously, the at least one projection extends to be inside the recess.

[0013] Advantageously, the at least one projection is in correspondence with the at least one radially locking portion.

[0014] Advantageously, the deformation of the at least one elastic element is centered around the axial direction, the at least one elastic element comprises two elastic elements, the at least one projection comprises two projections radially separated from each other, the at least one locking portion comprises two locking portions radially separated from each other, and the two elastic elements abut against and between opposite sides of the two locking portions, respectively.

[0015] Advantageously, the at least one elastic element is a helical compression spring, and the at least one elastic element is applied with a prestressing force and abuts against and between the at least one projection and the at least one locking portion; the at least one locking portion projects radially outwardly, and the at least one projection is located radially outside the at least one locking portion; the recess extends centrally around the axial direction.

[0016] To achieve the above and other objectives, the present invention also relates to a scooter, the scooter comprising a steering system as described above, and further comprising: a platform connected to the base; a steering mechanism comprising the shaft; and a plurality of wheels connected to the platform and the rotatable seat, respectively.

[0017] The present invention will become more clearly apparent from the following description, in light of the accompanying drawings which show, by way of illustration only, the preferred embodiment(s) according to the present invention. Brief description of the drawings

[0018] [Fig-1] is a stereogram of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] [Fig.2] is an exploded drawing of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] [Fig.3] is another exploded drawing of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] [Fig.4] is a sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] [Fig.5] is a drawing showing the operation of a steering system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

[0023] [Fig.6] is a stereogram of a scooter according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Figures 1 to 5 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A steering system 1 of the present invention comprises a base 10, a shaft 20, a rotatable seat 30 and at least one elastic element 40.

[0026] The base 10 comprises a first structure 11 and an axial hole 12, and the axial hole 12 defines an axial direction A. The shaft 20 is rotatably inserted into the axial hole 12. The rotary seat 30 comprises a second structure 31, the second structure 31 is located on one side of the rotary seat 30 opposite the base 10, and the rotary seat 30 is connected to and movable with the shaft 20. The at least one elastic member 40 is disposed around the axial direction A, and abuts against and between the first structure 11 and the second structure 31. When the rotary seat 30 rotates relative to the base 10, the at least one elastic member 40 is constrained by the first structure 11 and the second structure 31 and generates a deformation around (preferably centrally around) the axial direction A.Thus, the at least one elastic member 40 can effectively generate a better restoring force in the rotation direction of the rotary seat 30, such that the rotary seat 30 can be restored efficiently and quickly and such that it provides a simple structure and is easy to assemble and disassemble.

[0027] In this embodiment, the shaft 20 and the rotary seat 30 are engaged with each other in the axial direction A such that they are stably assembled and can rotate almost simultaneously. Alternatively, the shaft 20 and the rotary seat 30 may be connected to each other by pinning, locking, snap-fitting, warping, welding or the like. Preferably, at least one bearing 50 is provided between the shaft 20 and the rotary seat 30, which is smoothly rotated with a low wear. More specifically, the shaft 20 comprises at least one slot 21, the rotary seat 30 further comprises at least one protrusion 32, and the at least one protrusion 32 is axially inserted into the at least one slot 21. Preferably, the shaft 20 comprises two slots 21 radially separated from each other, and the rotary seat 30 comprises two protrusions 32 radially separated from each other, thereby achieving high structural strength and good rotary drive performance. It may be noted that the rotary seat 30 may comprise the at least one protrusion 32, while the shaft 20 comprises the at least one slot 21.

[0028] The first structure 11 comprises at least one projection 111, the second structure 31 comprises at least one locking portion 311, and the at least one elastic member 40 abuts against and between the at least one projection 111 and the at least one locking portion 311. The rotary seat 30 further comprises a recess 33 disposed around the axial direction A, the at least one locking portion 311 is received in the recess 33, and the at least one elastic member 40 extends inside and along the recess 33. The recess 33 can stably hold the at least one elastic member 40, and can effectively and reliably guide the at least one elastic member 40 to generate reliable elastic deformation around the axial direction A.

[0029] More specifically, the at least one locking portion 311 projects radially outward, the at least one projection 111 is located radially outside the at least one locking portion 311, the recess 33 is centrally disposed about the axial direction A, the at least one projection 111 extends to be inside the recess 33, and the at least one projection 111 is in correspondence with the at least one locking portion 311 radially (or may be axially). Thus, the at least one projection 111 and the at least one elastic element 40 abut against each other in a large contact area, thereby effectively stabilizing and deforming the at least one elastic element 40.Preferably, at least one intermediate element may be interposed between the at least one projection 111 and the at least one elastic element 40 and / or between the at least one locking portion 311 and the at least one elastic element 40, such that it may apply a more regular and more effective force to the at least one elastic element 40.

[0030] In this embodiment, the steering system 1 comprises two elastic members 40, the first structure 11 comprises two projections 111 radially separated from each other, the rotary seat 30 comprises two locking parts 311 radially separated from each other, and the two elastic members 40 abut against and between opposite sides of the two locking parts 311, respectively. Thus, it provides an identical, stable, and double restoring force in opposite directions (as shown in [Fig. 5]). The at least one elastic member 40 is a helical compression spring; however, the at least one elastic element 40 may be a tension spring, a rubber elastic body, an elastic reed, or other elastic elements. The at least one elastic element 40 is preferably applied with a prestressing force and abutted against and between the at least one projection 111 and the at least one locking portion 311, such that it can increase the restoring force and ensure that the steering system 1 is effectively restored when unstressed.

[0031] Referring to [Fig.6], the invention further provides a scooter 100. The scooter 100 comprises the steering system 1, and further comprises a platform 60, a steering mechanism 70 and a plurality of wheels 80. The platform 60 is connected to the base 10, the steering mechanism 70 comprises the shaft 20, and the plurality of wheels 80 are connected to the platform 60 and the rotating seat 30, respectively.

[0032] Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims

1. Steering system (1) for a scooter, characterized in that it comprises: a base (10) comprising a first structure (11) and an axial hole (12), the axial hole (12) defining an axial direction (A); a shaft (20) rotatably inserted in the axial hole (12); a rotary seat (30) comprising a second structure (31), the second structure (31) being located on one side of the rotary seat (30) opposite the base (10), the rotary seat (30) being connected to the shaft (20) and movable therewith; and at least one elastic element (40) arranged around the axial direction (A) and abutting against and between the first structure (11) and the second structure (31), wherein, when the rotary seat (30) rotates relative to the base (10), the at least one elastic element (40) is constrained by the first structure (11) and the second structure (31) and generates a deformation around the axial direction (A).

2. Steering system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the shaft (20) and the rotary seat (30) are engaged with each other in the axial direction (A).

3. Steering system (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the shaft (20) comprises at least one slot (21), and the rotary seat (30) further comprises at least one protuberance (32) inserted axially into the at least one slot (21).

4. Steering system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first structure (11) comprises at least one projection (111), the second structure (31) comprises at least one locking portion (311), and the at least one elastic element (40) abuts against and between the at least one projection (111) and the at least one locking portion (311).

5. Steering system (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the rotary seat (30) further comprises a recess (33) arranged around the axial direction (A), the at least one locking portion (311) is received in the recess (33), and the at least one elastic element (40) extends inside and along the recess (33).

6. Steering system (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the at least one projection (111) extends to be inside the ren- sinking (33).

7. Steering system (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the at least one projection (111) is in correspondence with the at least one locking portion (311) radially.

8. Steering system (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the deformation of the at least one elastic element (40) is centered around the axial direction (A), the at least one elastic element (40) comprises two elastic elements (40), the at least one projection (111) comprises two projections (111) radially separated from each other, the at least one locking portion (311) comprises two locking portions (311) radially separated from each other, and the two elastic elements (40) abut against and between opposite sides of the two locking portions (311), respectively.

9. Steering system (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the at least one elastic element (40) is a helical compression spring, and the at least one elastic element (40) is applied with a prestressing force and abuts against and between the at least one projection (111) and the at least one locking portion (311); the at least one locking portion (311) projects radially outwardly, and the at least one projection (111) is located radially outside the at least one locking portion (311); the recess (33) extends centrally around the axial direction (A).

10. Scooter (100) characterized in that it comprises a steering system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, and further comprising: a platform (60) connected to the base (10); a steering mechanism (70) comprising the shaft (20); and a plurality of wheels (80) connected to the platform (60) and to the rotating seat (30), respectively.

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