Decoupled Steering Scooter Footrest for Ergonomic Height Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing scooter footrest arrangements are ergonomically unsuitable for drivers of varying heights and pose safety risks due to their design, which restricts stability and increases the risk of injury during vehicle operation.
Innovation Solution
A footrest arrangement with a 'decoupled' steering system, where the first and second axes of rotation are non-coaxial, allowing for a longer wheelbase and adjustable footrest positioning, enabling ergonomic and safe seating for drivers of different sizes, with the footrests positioned laterally to the second axis of rotation and optionally tilted for improved ergonomics and crash protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional footrest arrangement with vertical positioning is used, then the footrest is suitable for drivers of medium height, but the ergonomic use is impaired for very tall or very short drivers
Solution Approach 1:
The footrest arrangement is designed to be tiltable about a second axis of rotation that intersects the footrest arrangement. This allows the footrest surfaces to be adjusted from a vertical position to a tilted position, enabling drivers of different heights to achieve ergonomic seating positions. The dynamic adjustment capability resolves the contradiction by allowing the same footrest to serve both medium-height drivers (vertical position) and tall/short drivers (tilted position).
2Ease of operation
If the footrest is positioned for upright seating, then the driver can sit vertically, but the driver must lift feet off the footrest to stop the vehicle, restricting stability
Solution Approach 1:
The tiltable footrest arrangement allows the driver to adjust the footrest angle based on operational needs. For normal driving, the footrest can be positioned for comfortable upright seating. When stopping is required, the driver can tilt the footrest to a more horizontal position, allowing feet to remain in contact with the ground while maintaining stability. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between upright seating comfort and stopping stability.
3Ease of operation
If the footrest is positioned close to the road surface, then ground contact is easier, but the driver's foot risks being pinched between the road surface and the footrest in case of tip-over
Solution Approach 1:
The tiltable footrest arrangement enables dynamic positioning to balance ground contact accessibility with safety. When the footrest is tilted to a more horizontal position, it remains accessible for ground contact during normal operation but creates a larger safety margin between the footrest surface and the road, reducing pinching risk during tip-over. This resolves the contradiction by allowing the footrest to be positioned optimally for each operational context.
4Ease of operation
If a decoupled steering arrangement with non-coaxial axes is used, then a longer wheelbase and ergonomic seating position are achieved, but the steering system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The decoupled steering arrangement uses a single steering column that performs multiple functions: it provides the primary steering input and simultaneously controls the tilting mechanism of the footrest arrangement through mechanical coupling. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate control mechanisms, thereby mitigating the complexity increase while achieving both ergonomic seating and footrest adjustment capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The steering column and footrest tilting mechanism are merged into a single integrated system. The steering column, when rotated, transmits motion through a transmission means that simultaneously adjusts the footrest angle. This merging of functions allows the decoupled steering arrangement to achieve ergonomic seating positions without requiring entirely separate control systems, thus managing complexity while improving ergonomics.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a scooter (10) having: a foot rest arrangement (13) comprising a left foot rest surface (13a) and a right foot rest surface (13b); a steerable front wheel guide (14) that mounted in a head tube (15) so as to be rotatable about a first axis of rotation (D1); and a steering column (16) that can be rotated about a second axis of rotation (D2), wherein the steering column and the front wheel guide are spaced apart from each other and are operatively coupled to each other to transfer a steering movement. The second axis of rotation intersects the foot rest arrangement at an intersection point (S) in such a way that the left and right foot rest surfaces are arranged on either side of the intersection point.