Foldable Scooter Wheel Enclosure and Dirt Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Foldable scooters tend to transfer dirt from wet roads to clothing and vehicle interiors when folded, due to exposed wheels, which is undesirable for cleanliness and convenience.
Innovation Solution
The scooter design features longitudinally extending shield elements on the second frame section to shield the rear wheels and a collapsible steering mechanism that allows the front wheel to be partially or fully enclosed between these elements when folded, reducing the scooter's length and preventing soiling, while maintaining structural integrity and handling performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the scooter is designed with exposed wheels for easy access and maintenance, then ease of operation is improved, but dirt transfer to clothing and vehicle interiors occurs, worsening cleanliness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the wheel assembly from the main body by providing a removable wheel cover that can be detached to access the wheels for maintenance while protecting them during normal use. This allows the wheels to be accessible when needed but shielded otherwise, preventing dirt transfer to clothing and vehicle interiors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs flexible wheel covers made of material that can be removed or adjusted. These flexible covers shield the wheels from contact with clothing and vehicle interiors during transport and storage, while allowing easy access when wheel maintenance or adjustment is required.
2Volume of moving object
If the scooter is designed with a compact folded state for easy transportation, then volume is reduced, but the wheels become exposed and cause soiling, worsening cleanliness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested structure where the wheels are positioned within the frame structure when folded, and wheel covers provide an additional nested protective layer. This nested arrangement allows the scooter to maintain a compact folded volume while keeping the wheels enclosed and protected from causing soiling during transportation.
Solution Approach 2:
Flexible wheel covers act as protective thin films that enclose the wheels in the folded state, preventing dirt transfer while maintaining compact dimensions for easy transportation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If shield elements are added to enclose the wheels, then dirt transfer is prevented, improving cleanliness, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of integrating complex enclosed shields into the frame, the patent extracts the shielding function into separate, removable wheel covers. This simplifies the overall device complexity while maintaining the dirt transfer prevention function, as the covers can be easily attached and removed without complicating the frame structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses simple flexible wheel covers rather than rigid shield elements, reducing device complexity. These covers provide effective dirt transfer prevention through their flexible enclosure design, which is simpler to implement and maintain than rigid shielding structures.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the front wheel is pivoted to be enclosed between shield elements, then dirt transfer is reduced, improving cleanliness, but the steering mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the wheel enclosure function from the steering mechanism by using separate wheel covers. This allows the front wheel to be pivoted for steering without requiring the steering mechanism itself to become more complex, while still achieving dirt transfer reduction through the protective covers.
Solution Approach 2:
Flexible wheel covers provide the enclosure function without interfering with the steering pivoting motion, maintaining simple steering mechanics while reducing dirt transfer through the flexible protective barrier.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design significantly reduces the risk of soiling by enclosing the wheels, allows for a more compact folded state, and enhances the scooter's structural load-bearing capacity and driving performance, while enabling easy transportation in a compact, clean form.
Implementation Method 1
a first frame section (101') comprising the footrest of the base (101), the first frame section (101') comprising a first face and a second face, being provided with the at least one rear wheel, and being hingedly connected to a second frame section (101'')
Implementation Method 2
the foldable scooter comprises a locking organ for locking the foldable scooter in the first unfolded state
Implementation Method 3
the second frame section has its first face from which two longitudinally extending, spaced-apart shield elements extend
Implementation Method 4
the at least one front wheel being pivoted about an axis that is parallel to the axis of rotation of a rear wheel such that the front wheel is at least partially between the sides defined by the shield elements
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a foldable scooter capable of being in a first, unfolded state for transporting a person and in a second, folded state, the foldable scooter comprising a frame having a base comprising a first face capable of serving as a footrest and a second face opposite of the first face, at least one rear wheel being provided at said second face of the base; the foldable scooter further comprising a steering organ and at least one front wheel attached to the steering organ. According to the invention the frame comprises a first frame section comprising the base, the first frame section being hingedly connected to a second frame section, the second frame section having a first face from which two longitudinally extending, spaced-apart shield elements extend, and the foldable scooter comprises a locking organ for locking the foldable scooter in the first unfolded state, wherein in the second, folded state the first face of the base is folded such that the first face of the frame faces the first face of the second frame section with the at least one rear wheel between sides defined by the shield elements, the at least one front wheel being rotated about an axis that is parallel to the axis of rotation of a rear wheel such that it is at least partially between the sides defined by the shield elements.