STATEMENT OF CORRESPONDING APPLICATIONS

This application is based on the Provisional specification filed in relation to New Zealand Patent Application Number 712081 , the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to improvements in and relating to personal transportation devices. In particular, the present invention relates to a manually powered personal transportation device akin to bicycles and scooters.

BACKGROUND ART

There has been, and remains, a need for improved and/or different forms of personal transportation. Particularly, there is a need for forms of personal transportation that include one or more of the following attributes:

• Fun to use;

• Environmentally friendly;

• Lightweight;

• Portable;

· Capable of providing a form of physical activity (i.e. exercise for user);

• Provides a different ride experience to known forms of personal transportation.

Personal transportation around crowded urban areas, is in particular, a problem which needs to be addressed. Particularly, in situations where, people want to use a personal transportation device to travel to/from a subway/train station, as part of their commute; yet require a light weight portable solution, which can be easily carried and stored, when not in use. Furthermore, there is also a need for a personal transportation device which is designed to easily and safely navigate crowded streets and other thoroughfares that may be encountered as part of a journey.

It would also be useful to have a personal transportation device which can be used and enjoyed by children and adults alike.

It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

All references, including any patents or patent applications cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. No admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. The discussion of the references states what their authors assert, and the applicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinency of the cited documents. It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior art publications are referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents form part of the common general knowledge in the art, in New Zealand or in any other country.

Throughout this specification, the word "comprise", or variations thereof such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps. Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a personal transportation apparatus which includes:

- a front wheel;

- a rear wheel wherein the rear wheel has a smaller diameter than the front wheel;

- a main frame member;

- a steering column which is connected to: · steering forks to which the front wheel is attached; and

• handle bars; -a seat stem and seat; wherein the axes of the seat stem and steering column are: substantially parallel to one another, and wherein the steering column is located proximate one end of the main frame member; and wherein at the other end of the main frame member, the rear wheel is attached.

Preferably, the personal transportation apparatus is powered by a user's feet contacting the ground, in order to impart forward motion, and occasionally rearward motion.

Preferably, the axes of the seat stem and the steering column are separated a distance X.

Preferably, the handle bars are configured to be positioned at a height which is taller than that of the seat.

Most preferably, the axis of the seat stem and steering column are parallel to one another. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a personal transportation apparatus wherein the apparatus does not include pedals.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a personal transportation apparatus wherein the diameter of the front wheel is substantially twice, or two and half times, that of the rear wheel. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a personal transportation apparatus wherein:

- the seat and seat stem are attached to the main frame member proximate an upper- region or mid-region thereof.

Preferably, the main frame member includes a hinge element.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a personal transportation apparatus wherein the main frame member includes a hinge element.

According to further aspect of the present invention there is provided a person transportation apparatus wherein at least one of the front or rear wheels is an electrically driven.

In another aspect of the present invention there is provided a personal transportation apparatus handle bar post and steering column arrangement are configured to enable the handle bar post to have a storage height where the post rests on, or near, a top portion of the front wheel.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided a person

transportation apparatus wherein the handle bar post and handle bars are configured to enable the handle bars to rotate, relative to the handle bar post, to a storage position wherein the axis of handle bars is substantially parallel to the steering axis of the front wheel. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a main frame member for a personal transportation apparatus which comprises:

- an upper region near a front end thereof;

- a steering column extending orthogonally from a distal end of the upper-region of the main frame member;

- a seat stem bounding the other proximal end of the upper-region;

- a downwardly curved lower-region extending rearwardly from the seat stem;

- an axle receiving portion at ,or near, the distal end of the downwardly curved lower- region.

In a still further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit of parts for a personal transportation apparatus including:

- a main frame member substantially as described above;

- a front wheel;

- a rear wheel;

- steering forks, steering column and associated handle bars; and

- a seat stem and seat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of one preferred embodiment of the present invention in an in-use configuration;

Figure 2 shows a side elevation of the embodiment in Figure 1 in a non-use

(transportation/storage) configuration;

Figure 3 shows the embodiment of the present invention in an in-use configuration for a smaller user; Figure 4 shows an underside perspective view of a preferred embodiment of handle bars and handle bar post in accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, when in an in-use configuration;

Figure 5 shows a schematic top view of the handle bars and handle bar post of Figure 4;

and

Figure 6 shows an underside perspective view of a preferred embodiment of handle bars and handle bar post, in accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, when in a non-use storage/ transportation configuration.

Steering column fits in head tube and is attached to the forks.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In relation to the drawings, except as otherwise noted, there is shown a personal transportation apparatus 1 , which resembles to some degree what could fairly be described as an actual "push bike" (i.e. as the "bike" has no pedals and requires a person to literally push the "bike" along with their legs and feet).

The personal transportation apparatus 1 has a front wheel 2 attached to the bottom end of left and right forks 3 (of which only one is shown). The forks 3 are connected at their upper ends to a lower end of a steering column 30 which is housed within head tube 4. At the opposite end of the steering column 30 there is a quick release clamp 31 which grips a handle bar post 10 which fits within the steering column 30. The handle bars 6 are mounted to the top of the handle bar post 10. The handle bar post 10 is free to slide all the way through the steering column 30 so as to rest on a top portion of the front wheel when the bike is to be stowed or transported.

Extending rearwardly from head tube 4 is a main frame member 5. The main frame member has a rear wheel 10 at a distal lower end thereof.

The main frame member 5 has a seat stem tube 60 which receives a seat stem 7 to which a seat 8 is affixed. A quick release clamp 61 enables the height of the seat 8 to be adjusted. The main frame member 5 also has a hinge 9 which enables the apparatus to fold away for carrying or storing when not in use. As can be seen the longitudinal axes of the steering column (shown by dashed line A) and seat stem 7 (shown by dashed line B) are substantially parallel to one another. The term substantially parallel as used herein should be understood to mean parallel in a general sense. The term substantially parallel therefore includes, but is not necessarily limited to, the respective axes of the seat stem and steering column having between substantially 1 degree to substantially 4 degrees of divergence (i.e. the respective axes angling away from one another in an upward direction up to around 4 degrees).

The axes A, B of the steering column and seat stem are separated from one another by a distance X which is around 200mm at the horizontal part of the frame.

When the seat is in its tallest position (shown in Figure 1 ), the height of the handle bars is taller than that of the seat as indicated by double-headed arrow Y. In this instance the height Y of the handle bars is around 150mm taller than the top of the seat.

The distance Z between the front and rear axles is around 460mm.

The respective longitudinal axes of the forks 3 and steering column may be co-axial with one another when the bike is viewed from the side. As shown the angle W between the longitudinal axes of forks and steering column is 15°. The angle N at which the mainframe member 5 intersects the head tube 4 is 90°.

When the seat is in its lowest position (shown in Figure 3) the height of the handle bars (at the lowest ridable height from the ground shown by arrow F is around 764mm, And the distance G from the top of the seat 8 to the top of the handle bars is around 185mm when the seat is in its lowest position. In relation to Figures 4 to 6 there are shown handle bars 6 and a handle bar post 10. The handle bar post 10 has a pin 1 1 , therein which extends out of the post 10, so it can located within a channel 14 in the handle bar stem 15. The pin 1 1 holds the handle bars 6 at 90 degrees to the steering axis K of the front wheel 16 so as to enable steering thereof, when a cam lock 13 is engaged, as shown in Figure 4, to keep pin 1 1 within channel 14. When cam lock 13 is disengaged, as shown in Figure 6, the channel 14 moves off said pin 1 1 , enabling the handle bars to rotate through 90 degrees, when (or after) the handle bars 6 are moved, to their lowest position, within the head tube 4. This enables, when the apparatus is folded about hinge 9, for the handle bars 6 to become substantially parallel, to the steering axis K of the front wheel - see Figure 2. This helps achieve a more compact transport and storage configuration of the apparatus 1 , than if the handle bars 6 remained, at 90 degrees to the steering axis K of the front wheel. DETAILED DISCUSSION OF ALTERNATE WAYS TO IMPLEMENT THE INVENTION

The front and rear wheels may have many different configurations - as would be apparent to a person skilled in the art - without departing from the present invention. The diameter of the front wheel may be substantially larger than that of the rear wheel.

In general the front wheel may be substantially twice, or substantially two and a half times, the diameter of the rear wheel.

The front wheel may preferably include an inner tube and an outer tyre arrangement.

The rear wheel may preferably have a solid tyre. In certain embodiments the rear wheel may also include an inner tube and outer tyre arrangement.

In certain other embodiments the rear wheel may include a pneumatic tubeless tyre.

The distance Y between the top of the handle bars and top of the seat when the seat is in the tallest position may vary. Preferably, the top of the handle bars may be higher than that of the seat.

Most preferably, the distance Y may be substantially between 150mm-200mm.

The distance G between the top of the handle bars and top of the seat when the seat is in the lowest position may vary.

Most preferably, the distance G may be substantially between 175mm-200mm. It will be appreciated that the distances Y and G may vary depending on different factors including the height, age or other characteristics of the user.

The distance X between the axes of the steering column and seat stem may vary.

Preferably, the distance X may be in the range of substantially 200mm - 215mm, dependent on the seat height, providing the user still has sufficient room to sit and steer the apparatus. Most preferably the distance X may be substantially 189mm.

The distance from the nose of the seat to the steering axis may be in the range of 20mm to 85mm. The main frame member may have a variety of different configurations and constructions without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In most embodiments the main frame member may be configured to allow the apparatus to have an extended in-use configuration or a collapsed non-use configuration. In some preferred embodiments the main frame member may include at least one hinge element which enables the frame to be folded to reduce the size of the apparatus.

In some embodiments telescoping tubes may be used on the main frame member instead of, or in combination with, the hinge.

In some embodiments at least a portion of the steering column may be adapted to telescope to further reduce the height when the apparatus is moved into its non-use configuration.

Conversely, the steering column can then have the said telescoping portion extended to increase the height when the apparatus is in the in-use position.

The distance Z between the respective axles of the front and rear wheels may vary. Preferably, the distance Z may be between substantially 460-480mm. Most preferably distance Z may be substantially 471 mm.

In some embodiments at least one wheel may be electrically driven.

The electric motor driving a wheel may be any suitable electric motor.

The electric motor may be also be associated with a power supply and/or storage device.

The storage device may be connected to a generator on the apparatus which creates an electrical charge - and transmits to the storage device to store said electric charge - when the apparatus is being moved, by the user pushing, so as to rotate the wheels.

ADVANTAGES

Preferred embodiments of the present invention can include one or more of the following advantages or notable differences to kick scooters and/or bicycles:

Kick Scooters

• It is faster. As rather than resting one leg and the other leg pushing the Levicle allows both legs to power horizontal motion. Will not scrape on uneven surfaces. The present invention allows a higher clearance of the frame from the ground.

Using 2 feet provides greater control and therefore will be safer as 2 feet can be grounded if there is a perceived risk of crashing.

Related to the point above the braking of a kick scooter is a metal guard that is pushed down on the rear wheel creating friction and reducing speed. This is a rudimentary form of braking. The present invention may have both standard bicycle front and rear wheel brakes which will have superior braking power and will be able to be used faster.

The present invention will use at least one pneumatic tyre which will give a more comfortable ride than the solid tyres used on a kick scooter

With larger wheels than most kick scooters the rolling resistance is less, meaning the wheels are more efficient.

Less passive than a scooter requiring more user energy to power thus providing a good form of exercise. s

The present invention is able to be adjusted to allow different sized people to ride it by a simple method of adjusting the seat and handle bars. The age range is targeting School age children to adults - i.e. 6 year plus.

The seat post and handle bars on the present invention are parallel and relatively proximate one another compared to bicycles, which gives the following benefits: allows the wheel base to be shorter, allows significant weight to be applied on the handle bars (emulating the shopping trolley "gliding" effect), a more upright posture similar to walking or running (whereas on a bicycle one hunches over putting stress on the lower back). The handle bars are positioned above the seat height which allows weight to be distributed between the handlebars and the seat.

Smaller wheels are used which reduces the weight and cost of manufacturer.

Very simple frame with only one main structural tube connecting the rear wheel to the steering mechanism.

No pedals.

The design has a hinge (or other method like telescopic tubing) on the frame which is used to collapse the present invention into a very compact size. Both the seat and the handle bars can be easily moved to further compact the present invention. • The rider is able to make fast sharp turns on the present invention by adjusting one's centre of mass and applying different forces to the handle bars and the seat, much easier for most than on a bicycle and scooter.

• Handlebars are shorter in width than standard bicycle handle bars which aid getting through crowds, so more like kick scooters.

• Manoeuvrability at low speeds is better than bicycles, which helps get through crowds, similar to a kick scooter.

• It is a clean device without a greasy chain.

• Cheap to manufacture with simple geometry and a lot of off the shelf parts from either a bicycle or kick scooter.

• Light weight due to the simple design.

The invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, in any or all combinations of two or more of said parts, elements or features. Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to integers or components having known equivalents thereof, those integers are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be included within the present invention.

The invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, in any or all combinations of two or more of said parts, elements or features. Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.