Scooter rack
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing popularity of electric scooters has led to unsightly pile-ups in public areas as users abandon them after use, and there is a need for a safe and secure way to dock and lock personal scooters in public spaces.
Innovation Solution
A scooter rack with a base portion and a rack plate featuring tapered slots and cutouts for various scooter neck diameters, allowing for stable upright docking and secure locking using conventional locking mechanisms, along with an optional rubberized exterior for protection and a modular design for easy assembly and use with various locking options.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If scooters are abandoned in public areas for the next user to pick up and use, then scooter sharing is enabled, but unsightly pile-ups occur in publicly available areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts scooters from random public areas and concentrates them in designated docking stations with limited space, removing the visual clutter from streets and sidewalks while maintaining scooter sharing availability
Solution Approach 2:
The docking station acts as an intermediary between scooter users and public spaces, providing a designated intermediate location where scooters can be temporarily stored without affecting the aesthetics of surrounding public areas
2Adaptability or versatility
If a rack is designed to accommodate various scooter neck diameters, then versatility is improved, but slot geometry complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the slot from a fixed uniform width to a tapered configuration where the width varies along the length of the slot, allowing the same slot to accommodate different neck diameters through a single continuous geometric form
Solution Approach 2:
The tapered slot design creates a universal docking interface that can accommodate multiple scooter types with different neck diameters, making the rack multi-functional without requiring separate slots for each scooter size
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the rack plate outer surface is rubberized, then scooter protection is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines rubber coating material with the metal rack plate substrate to create a composite structure where the rubber layer provides protective properties while the metal plate maintains structural integrity, achieving both protection and manufacturability
Data Source
AI summary
A rack for scooters is disclosed. The rack generally includes a base portion and a rack plate mounted to the base portion. The rack plate may include a top plate that is generally parallel to the ground and a front plate extending downward from the top plate. The top plate may include a plurality of slots, each of which is configured to receive a neck portion of a scooter. Each of the slots may be configured to support a scooter in an upright position when the scooter is placed therein. The slots may be tapered, allowing for scooters of varying designs to be supported therein. The rack plate may also include one or more apertures configured to receive a portion of a locking mechanism, such that the locking mechanism can be used to secure a scooter within a slot to prevent theft.