Convertible Scooter-Trolley with Segmented Wheels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional scooter-trolleys are cumbersome, prone to breakage, and require physical effort to operate, with limited capacity and inability to steer or navigate curved paths due to their design and configuration.
Innovation Solution
A scooter-trolley with a rectangular parallelepiped body featuring wheels on one side, an extendable handle, and additional wheels on another side, allowing conversion into a vehicle with steerable wheels and motorized traction, enabling effortless movement and increased capacity while maintaining a compact size for airline storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a footboard hinged to the trolley body is used to enable the trolley to work as a vehicle, then the trolley can support a user and move as a scooter, but the footboard is susceptible to breakage or wear and requires physical effort to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the wheel system into two independent sets: wheels (4a) fixed to the trolley body for trolley mode, and further wheels (4b) mounted on the footboard for scooter mode. This segmentation allows each wheel set to be optimized for its specific function, reducing the mechanical stress and wear on the footboard while maintaining convertibility between modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The footboard is designed to be movable between a rest position (by the side of the trolley body) and an operating position (opened so that the further wheel is in contact with the ground). This dynamic positioning reduces the load on the footboard hinge mechanism, improving reliability while maintaining versatility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a footboard hinged to the trolley body is used to enable the trolley to work as a vehicle, then the trolley can support a user and move as a scooter, but the user must make physical effort to move aboard the suitcase
Solution Approach 1:
The footboard is configured to be substantially coplanar with the fourth side (19) of the trolley body when in the operating position. This creates a level, continuous surface from the trolley body to the footboard, eliminating steps or height differences that would require physical effort to overcome, thereby easing boarding while maintaining scooter functionality.
3Speed
If the wheels are configured for basic movement, then the trolley can be transported, but the configuration does not allow to steer or perform curved trajectories
Solution Approach 1:
The further wheels (4b) on the footboard are configured to be steerable, allowing the scooter to perform curved trajectories and maneuverability. This dynamic steering capability is activated when in scooter mode, while the fixed wheels (4a) provide stable movement when in trolley mode, thus achieving both basic movement and steering adaptability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A trolley (100) comprises a body (1) provided with a handle (2), connected to at least one extendable rod (3), and wheels (4a) adapted to facilitate the movement thereof without requiring a lifting, said at least one extendable rod (3) being slidably coupled to said body (1) for being extracted and inserted into the body (1). The trolley (100) comprises further wheels (4b) installed in a side (15) of the body (1) and said extendable rod (3), once extracted from the body (1), is configured to rotate with respect to said body (1) about an axis perpendicular to the direction of the rod (3), so that said handle (2) and a further side (19) of said body (1), which is opposite to said side (15), are a handlebar and a footboard of a vehicle (110) movable on said wheels (4a, 4b), respectively.