Scooter Steering Column Folding Mechanism for Compact Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing scooter-type wheeled vehicles fail to maintain a minimal size when folded, as the steering column remains bulkier due to its folded position being remote from the platform, affecting storage and transport efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A scooter design featuring a steering column that pivots and folds towards the platform, with a connecting member and arms that position the column parallel to the platform, along with a locking mechanism to secure it in place, ensuring minimal bulk during storage and easy conversion to a luggage mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the steering column is folded towards a position extending parallel to the platform, then the vehicle bulk is reduced, but the steering column remains remote from the platform causing significant vehicle size
Solution Approach 1:
The steering column is nested within the angle formed by the handlebar arms when folded, with the lower end of the steering column positioned within the angle formed by the two arms of the handlebar. This nesting arrangement allows the steering column to be compactly stored close to the platform rather than extending outward, significantly reducing the vehicle's overall bulk while maintaining a minimal folded size.
2Volume of moving object
If the steering column is positioned in the immediate vicinity of the platform parallel to it, then the vehicle size is minimized, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The handlebar arms serve multiple functions: they provide the steering mechanism, form the structural framework, define the nesting angle for the folded steering column, and create the geometric constraint that positions the steering column in the immediate vicinity of the platform. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional structural elements, minimizing device complexity while achieving compact vehicle size.
Solution Approach 2:
The angle formed by the handlebar arms is designed to be identical to the angle between the connecting member and the platform, creating a geometric equipotential condition. This angular equivalence ensures that when the steering column is folded, it naturally positions itself in the immediate vicinity of the platform parallel to it, achieving minimal vehicle size through geometric design rather than complex mechanical constraints.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a scooter-type vehicle (1) with caster wheels, comprising: a platform (2) having a rear wheel (4) mounted to the rear thereof, and a steering column (3), of which the upper longitudinal end (12) is connected to handlebars (13) and the lower end (15) is connected to a fork (9) carrying a front wheel (10), the platform (2) and the steering column (3) being connected by a connecting body (7). The vehicle is characterised in that the connecting body comprises a stem (8) to which the nose of the fork (9) is attached by means of a rotation shaft, and the steering column is pivotably mounted on the fork so that it can be folded towards the platform (2).