Scooter Deck Grind Plate and Butted Steer Tube
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Solution Overview
Problem
Freestyle scooters face issues with frequent deck cracking, weight increase from thickening steer tube or handlebars to address stress points, and misalignment problems due to play in the handlebar assembly, while existing deck savers are cumbersome and do not adequately protect the scooter deck during grinding tricks.
Innovation Solution
A deck assembly with a grind plate that slidably attaches to the scooter deck using interlocking dovetail slide-in features, providing protection to the bottom and side surfaces, and a butted steer tube with varying wall thickness for added strength without increased weight, along with an anti-torque system to maintain alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional metal deck savers are used to protect the scooter deck, then the deck is protected from damage, but the attachment process becomes tedious and time-consuming due to multiple bolts and locknuts
Solution Approach 1:
The deck saver is divided into multiple segments corresponding to different zones of the deck (bottom surface and side surfaces). Each segment can be independently attached using simple adhesive bonding, eliminating the need for complex mechanical fastening systems while providing comprehensive protection across all vulnerable areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical fastening system (bolts and locknuts) with a chemical bonding system (adhesive). This substitution eliminates the complexity of multiple fasteners while maintaining secure attachment, significantly reducing the time and effort required for installation and removal.
2Reliability
If metal deck savers are used to protect the deck, then the deck is protected, but grinding performance is hindered due to metal-on-metal contact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the deck saver from metal to a non-metallic material (such as polymer or composite). This material substitution eliminates the harmful metal-on-metal contact during grinding, allowing riders to perform grinding tricks without the deck saver interfering with performance or causing excessive speed.
3Strength
If the wall thickness of the steer tube or handlebars is increased to address stress at the down tube attachment point, then the structural strength is improved, but the scooter weight increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local reinforcement only at the specific high-stress area where the down tube attaches to the deck, rather than uniformly thickening the entire steer tube or handlebars. This localized approach provides the necessary structural strength at the critical attachment point while minimizing the overall weight increase of the scooter.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials (such as carbon fiber or fiber-reinforced polymers) at the down tube attachment point to achieve high strength-to-weight ratio. This allows the attachment point to withstand significant stresses without requiring substantial increases in wall thickness, thereby avoiding significant weight gain.
4Strength
If traditional scooter decks made of metal are used, then the deck provides structural strength, but the deck cracks frequently due to wear and tear from freestyle activities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a deck saver that can be easily replaced when worn or damaged. Rather than attempting to make the main deck indestructible, the solution uses a sacrificial protective layer that absorbs the wear and tear from freestyle activities, allowing the main deck to remain intact and the deck saver to be simply swapped out when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials for the deck saver that provide superior resistance to cracking and wear compared to traditional metal decks. These composite materials (such as reinforced polymers) maintain structural integrity under the high-stress conditions of freestyle scooting while being lighter and more resistant to fatigue failure.
Data Source
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AI summary
A deck assembly (10) for a scooter comprises a deck (12) having a top surface (36), a bottom surface (38), and two side surfaces (40a,40b), and a grind plate (14) having a front end (46), a rear end (48), a mating surface (50), and a grinding surface (52). The grind plate (14) may be slidably attachable to the deck (12) such that the mating surface (50) of the grind plate (14) mates with the bottom surface (38) of the deck (12), and the bottom surface (38) of the deck and at least a portion of each side surface (40a,40b) of the deck are covered by the grind plate (14).