Micro Scooter

Prepared for: Dr. Jeganathan Prepared by: Samuel Weeks Date: 28/03/12 Student number: 0845965

Table of Contents
Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 2 Design brief ........................................................................................................................... 2 Design ideas .......................................................................................................................... 3
The Kick Scooter .......................................................................................................................... 3 Wide-handlebars ......................................................................................................................... 3 Shared Design Features ............................................................................................................. 4

Table of components ......................................................................................................... 5 Part drawings ....................................................................................................................... 5 Final design ........................................................................................................................... 8 2D drawing ............................................................................................................................ 9 Design features .................................................................................................................... 9
Angles.............................................................................................................................................10 Locking mechanism ..................................................................................................................11

Summary ............................................................................................................................. 12

Introduction
The first modern micro-scooter was the Razor which entered the market in the late 1990s, and instantly appealed to a generation of skateboarders and roller-skaters. With millions of units sold, microscooters have since become a popular and recognisable toy all around the world.

Design brief
Design a durable, fun and practical micro-scooter suitable for both adults and children and display using SolidWorks Computer Aided Design software package. The scooter should be aesthetically attractive as well as safe and lightweight. The scooter therefore should be of sturdy design, composed of appealing colours and built of strong materials. For safety the scooter should have a brake, which should ideally act on the rear wheels to avoid the possibility of sending the rider over the handlebars on application. For practicality the scooter should be foldable into a more compact shape, ideally with an obvious handle and lightweight, making it easy to carry.

Design ideas
The Kick Scooter
This scooter is controlled by tilting the handlebars rather than adjusting the direction of the front wheels using fixed handlebars. Manufacturers claim this improves the riding experience by encouraging the rider to lean with the board when taking corners and by allowing the rider to use the free hand for balance. This design therefore requires a more skillful and physically able rider to lean with the handle to determine direction, making it unsuitable for use by children. In addition the deck is made of a combination of fiberglass and wood which increases flexibility and adds an element of suspension to the design, however reduces durability.

Figure 1 - Kick Scooter - Image from Carfreedays.com

Wide-handlebars
The handlebar design uses a twisting motion to adjust the direction of the front wheels and so does not require excessive leaning to operate. This makes it more suitable for children and those less physically able. In addition the lack of rubber and flexible parts improves durability and strength of the design. The fixed nature of the design means that bumps and vibrations are not absorbed by the mechanism, improving the feel with the contact surface. This design also allows for a folding mechanism, which dramatically reduces the size of the scooter allowing it to fit, for example, into the boot of a car. In order for such a mechanism to work it is essential that the second hinge 3

pin (shown in components) can be fitted into a groove in the hinge support to prevent the scooter from closing unexpectedly during riding.

Figure 2 - Image from insidethewendyhouse.com

Shared Design Features

The first important design features to note in both models is the grip pad on the deck to prevent the foot from slipping. This improves control of the scooter and prevents slipping, improving safety Another design feature shared by both is the rear brake, fitted with a spring to apply a frictional force to the rear wheel when pressed by the users foot. It is important for the brake to be properly shaped to prevent uneven wear on the rear wheel. Finally all designs feature plastic wheels, for durability, and rubber tyres to provide maximum grip with the ground surface.

Table of components
Part number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Part Wheels (x2) Deck Foot brake Brake pin Hinge support (x2) Hinge fixed pin Hinge adjustable pin Handlebars Wheel clip Wheel pin (x2) Handlebar support 1 Handlebar support 2 Components Tyre, axle Board, grip pad Handlebar shaft, grips Material Synthetic rubber, PVC Steel, sandpaper substitute Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel, synthetic rubber Steel Steel Steel Steel

Part drawings
Part 1: Wheels Part 2: Deck

Part 4: Brake pin

Part 3: Foot brake

Part 5: Hinge support

Part 6: Hinge fixed pin (lower) Part 7: Hinge adjustable pin (upper)

Part 8: Handlebars

Part 9: Wheel clip

Part 10: Wheel pin Applied to rear:

Part 11: Handlebar support 1

Applied to front: Part 12: Handlebar support 2

Final design

Figure 3 - Final design open

Figure 4 - Final design closed

8 11 12 7 1 10 9 5 6 4 2 1

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Figure 5 - Final design exploded view

2D drawing

Design features
The first element of analysis to complete was a breakdown of the angles of the mechanism when open and closed to optimize riding position and minimize space when folded closed.

Angles
The angles between components are shown in this breakdown of the final design sketch. As can be seen, the handlebars are positioned at 10 degrees to the vertical for rider comfort and the handle support is at 30 degrees to the handle and deck when the scooter is closed.

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Figure 6 - Microscooter open with angle of 10 degrees to vertical

10

30

30

Figure 7 - Microscooter closed with angle of 30 degrees of handle support

Locking mechanism

Figure 8 - Image showing handle locking mechanism

The locking mechanism shown above consists of a pin that can be fastened in either of two slots and allows the scooter to be locked open or locked closed. This means that when the scooter is open the handlebars will not suddenly snap closed, possibly endangering the rider who is likely to lose control. The mechanism also allows the scooter to be closed securely so that it can be carried easily by holding the handlebar shaft.

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Handle Grips

Figure 9 - Handle grips

The handle grips were formed on SolidWorks by simply fileting the required edges of the part and colouring using the Appearance tool. A matt black colour was selected and applied to the appropriate sections.

Wheels

Figure 10 - Wheels

The wheels consist of a single part, however different aspects are highlighted using colouring. The tyre, shown in red, is made by fileting the sharp edge of a disk. The holes reduce the weight of the component as well as improve it aesthetically. For manufacturing efficiency the front and back wheels are identical.

Summary
In summary a viable microscooter design has been created the completed model was presented in 3D using SolidWorks Computer Aided Design package. This package was also used to translate the model into a fully annotated and dimensioned 2D drawing. A bill of materials has been drawn up and individual components presented alone in 3D drawings. The model, in standard .SLDPRT and .SLDANM formats, could easily be used with Computer Aided Manufacturing machinery to produce a working prototype.

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