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Scooters including a body having a rider platform, a rear wheel, and a front wheel pivotally supported by the body about a steering axis. In some scooters, the axle of the front wheel is positioned rearward of the steering axis, and in some scooters the steering axis extends upwardly and divergently

Scooters including a body having a rider platform, a rear wheel, and a front wheel pivotally supported by the body about a steering axis. In some scooters, the axle of the front wheel is positioned rearward of the steering axis, and in some scooters the steering axis extends upwardly and divergently away from the rider platform. Some scooters include a steering stabilizer configured to bias the front wheel toward a neutral, or straight, steering configuration. Some scooters include a steering stabilizer that is configured to dampening the pivoting of the front wheel and/or limit an angle of pivot of the front wheel. Some scooters include a rear truck. Some scooters include a rider platform that extends beneath, or closer to a ground surface, than the tops of the scooters' front and/or rear wheels.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A scooter, comprising: a body, wherein the body includes a rider platform having an upper surface configured for a rider to stand on with one foot while contacting a ground surface with the rider's other foot;at least one rear wheel rotatingly coupled to the body;at least one front wheel rotating

1. A scooter, comprising: a body, wherein the body includes a rider platform having an upper surface configured for a rider to stand on with one foot while contacting a ground surface with the rider's other foot;at least one rear wheel rotatingly coupled to the body;at least one front wheel rotatingly coupled to the body and pivotally coupled relative to the body about a steering axis, wherein an axis of rotation of the at least one front wheel is positioned rearward of the steering axis;a steering shaft coupled to the at least one front wheel and extending upwardly away from the at least one front wheel to a gripping member that is configured to be grasped by the rider standing on the rider platform during use of the scooter; anda steering stabilizer configured to bias the at least one front wheel toward a neutral steering position, wherein the steering stabilizer is further configured to dampen the pivoting of the at least one front wheel, and further wherein the steering stabilizer includes an elastomeric member that is configured to provide at least one of a biasing force that urges the at least one front wheel toward the neutral steering position and a dampening force that dampens the pivoting of the at least one front wheel. 2. The scooter of claim 1, wherein the steering stabilizer includes an elastomeric member that is configured to provide both of a biasing force that urges the at least one front wheel toward the neutral steering position and a dampening force that dampens the pivoting of the at least one front wheel. 3. The scooter of claim 1, wherein the steering axis projects from the at least one front wheel upwardly and divergently away from the rider platform. 4. The scooter of claim 1, wherein the scooter is configured to be steered by the rider in the following manners: by the rider leaning to the left or right on the upper surface of the rider platform;by the rider pivoting the steering shaft to the left or right relative to the ground surface; andby the rider rotating the steering shaft relative to the body about the steering axis. 5. The scooter of claim 1, wherein the steering shaft is pivotally coupled relative to the body and configured to pivot about the steering axis. 6. The scooter of claim 1, wherein the steering shaft is a fixed shaft that is fixed relative to the body and not coupled for pivoting about the steering axis. 7. The scooter of claim 1, wherein the steering stabilizer is further configured to limit an angle of pivot of the at least one front wheel relative to the neutral steering position. 8. The scooter of claim 7, wherein the angle of pivot is limited to less than 80 degrees to the left and less than 80 degrees to the right of the neutral steering position. 9. The scooter of claim 1, wherein the axis of rotation of the at least one front wheel is positioned rearward of the steering axis by a distance of at least 1.5 cm. 10. The scooter of claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the rider platform extends at least partially between the at least one front wheel and the at least one rear wheel. 11. The scooter of claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the rider platform extends completely below the level of the top of the at least one front wheel and the level of the top of the at least one rear wheel. 12. The scooter of claim 1, wherein the at least one rear wheel includes at least two rear wheels, wherein the at least two rear wheels are pivotally supported by the body, and wherein the at least two rear wheels are biased toward a neutral steering position of the at least two rear wheels. 13. The scooter of claim 12, further comprising: a truck, upon which the at least two rear wheels are mounted to form a rear wheel assembly. 14. A scooter comprising: a body, wherein the body includes a rider platform having an upper surface configured for a rider to stand on with one foot while contacting a ground surface with the rider's other foot;at least one rear wheel rotatingly coupled to the body;at least one front wheel rotatingly coupled to the body and pivotally coupled relative to the body about a steering axis, wherein an axis of rotation of the at least one front wheel is positioned rearward of the steering axis by at least 1.5 cm;a head tube supported by the body, wherein the head tube defines an opening; anda steering shaft coupled to the at least one front wheel, extending through the head tube, rotatingly coupled relative to the head tube, and configured to rotate about the steering axis, wherein the steering shaft is positioned for engagement by the rider's hands, and wherein the steering shaft includes an engagement surface adjacent the opening; andmeans for biasing the at least one front wheel toward a neutral steering position, wherein the means for biasing includes an elastomeric member engaged with the engagement surface and a cap that is coupled to the head tube and that captures the elastomeric member between the cap and the engagement surface. 15. The scooter of claim 14, further comprising: means for limiting an angle of pivot of the at least one front wheel relative to the neutral steering position to less than 80 degrees to the right of the neutral steering position and less than 80 degrees to the left of the neutral steering position. 16. The scooter of claim 14, wherein the engagement surface extends forward of the steering axis, and thus closer to the cap than the steering axis. 17. The scooter of claim 14, wherein the steering axis intersects the engagement surface. 18. The scooter of claim 14, wherein the steering axis projects from the at least one front wheel upwardly and divergently away from the rider platform. 19. The scooter of claim 14, wherein the scooter is configured to be steered by the rider in the following manners: by the rider leaning to the left or right on the upper surface of the rider platform;by the rider pivoting the steering shaft to the left or right relative to the ground surface; andby the rider rotating the steering shaft relative to the body about the steering axis. 20. The scooter of claim 14, wherein the axis of rotation of the at least one front wheel is positioned rearward of the steering axis by a distance of at least 1.5 cm. 21. The scooter of claim 14, wherein the at least one rear wheel includes at least two rear wheels, wherein the at least two rear wheels are pivotally supported by the body, and wherein the at least two rear wheels are biased toward a neutral steering position of the at least two rear wheels. 22. The scooter of claim 21, further comprising: a truck, upon which the at least two rear wheels are mounted to form a rear wheel assembly.