Triptych Folding Scooter with Retractable Wheels and Telescopic Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional folding scooters compromise on robustness and volume reduction, often failing to maintain sufficient length for adult use while minimizing size, and lack front wheel protection, making them unsuitable for acrobatic tricks and jumps.
Innovation Solution
A triptych folding scooter design with retractable wheels, featuring a central plate with aligned openings for the front and rear parts, telescopic steering column, and radial foot brake, allowing for compact folding and robust construction to support acrobatic use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the scooter is designed with direct connection of front wheel support with the deck for strength, then robustness is improved, but volume reduction possibilities are eliminated
Solution Approach 1:
The scooter is divided into three separable parts (front deck, central deck, rear deck) that can be folded independently. The front wheel support is separated from the central deck, allowing the front deck to fold back without compromising the structural integrity of the main support structure. This segmentation enables volume reduction while maintaining robustness through strategic reinforcement of connection points.
Solution Approach 2:
The front deck is designed to nest within the central deck when folded, with the front wheel support structure collapsing into a compact configuration that fits within the overall scooter body. The telescopic steering column also nests within itself, further reducing the folded volume while maintaining structural strength through controlled collapse mechanisms.
2Strength
If the front wheel support is securely connected to the deck, then manufacturing strength is improved, but assembly complexity increases due to welding requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the front wheel support and the central deck is merged with the hinge mechanism that allows folding. The hinge pins serve dual functions: providing structural support and enabling folding motion. This eliminates the need for separate welding operations while maintaining structural integrity through the robust hinge design.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge acts as an intermediary element between the front wheel support and the central deck, providing a pre-engineered connection solution that requires no welding. The hinge pin and bearing assembly provide both structural strength and folding capability, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining robustness through standardized, pre-assembled components.
3Volume of moving object
If the wheel diameter is reduced for children, then folded volume is reduced, but suitability for adult use is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The scooter features a telescopic steering column that can be adjusted in length to accommodate different user heights and ages. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the same scooter with fixed wheel diameter to serve both children and adults effectively, maintaining versatility while achieving compact folding dimensions through the adjustable geometry rather than variable wheel size.
4Ease of operation
If the scooter structure is simplified for easy folding, then ease of operation is improved, but front wheel protection is eliminated
Solution Approach 1:
The front deck is merged with the central deck through a hinge connection that serves dual purposes: providing structural support and enabling the folding action. When folded, the front deck naturally covers and protects the front wheel area without requiring additional protective structures, maintaining simplicity while providing protection through the integrated folding design.
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 scooter achieves the smallest possible folded volume while maintaining suitable length for adults and children, ensuring robustness for acrobatic tricks and jumps, with enhanced safety features like hinge protection and adjustable height.
Implementation Method 1
the rear wheel (r') fitted with a radial foot brake (s), secured to (c) by a known means return spring
Data Source
Figure 1~1bis
Figure 2~3bis
Figure 4~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a three-part foldable scooter, the front (r) and rear (r') wheels of which (fig.l/pl.l) are mounted onto two lateral plates (b) and (c) (fig.l/pl.l), each of said plates being pivotable relative to a central plate (a) (fig.l/pl.l) provided with two oblong openings (m) and (n) (fig.l/pl.l), wherein the wheels (r) and (r') respectively retract when (b) and (c) are folded flat against (a), the front wheel (r) being vertically mounted onto a rotating platen (u) (fig.l/pl.l) trapped in a rolling cage provided in (b), said platen being vertically connected, via screws, to the base of a steering column provided in three parts, the first of which is a yoke (d) (fig.l/pl.l), and the other two of which consist of two telescopic tubes, one of which is stationary (e) (fig.l/pl.l) and the other of which is movable (f) (fig.l/pl.l), and which lead up to handlebars (g) (fig.l/pl.l), said steering column being arranged by means of the plates (b) and (c) being folded, on either side, onto (a) via simple universal joints (k) and (k') (fig.3bis/pl.2) and (p) (fig.3bis/pl.2), the hinges of which are kept in line or released by threaded sleeves, said universal joints and sleeves being replaceable, both at the base of the yoke (fig.24/pl.l3) and above same (fig.22/pl.l2) by hinge systems that can be rapidly locked and unlocked using ball pins (fig.20 et 21 / pl.11).