Creating an adult bike that can carry two children

This design project is about creating an adult bike that can carry two children (under 8 years) bikes . This task is about researching (in the U.K market) how the following categories were assessed as to how our would fulfil their requirements : cost, documentation. Check part 2.3 in the sample proposal report attached for a similar example.

School of Engineering
Design Proposal Report - PDS

MECH212 Design 2 (2018-19)

Kick Scooter Design Project
Group No. 7

Authors:

ANON

02/11/18

Academic Guide:

Summary

A scooter can be both a motor driven vehicle similar to a motorcycle or a small light self-propelled mode of transportation traditionally associated with being a children's toy. This project will focus upon the development of the latter as its definition has extended to be a more general-purpose conveyance also targeted at adults.
The Kick Scooter Design project details the production of an innovative, human powered scooter with a brake. A target market and must be decided upon in terms of demographic and primary usage, as well as exploring potential consumers who are not being catered to by the sector.
The development of the project will be carried out in a series of sections. The first task in the project is producing a proposal report for the kick scooter design. This includes information concerning market research, product specification and legislation and patents. A design poster is then to be completed containing the initial design of the kick scooter. Multiple designs will be considered in this section and the best features from multiple sketches analysed. Once the chosen design is set, it must then be constructed in 3D CAD form using CREO, this will give a visual representation of the design and a full guide into its folding mechanisms and other key features including the brake. Finally, a final design report is to be completed. This contains the completed design and all the information surrounding it so that it is suitable for sale.
The project has many underlying risks, however the most significant risk present within the project is ensuring the kick scooter remains in line with current UK legislation and patents. UK legislation regarding kick scooters details the importance of meeting safety regulations, including testing requirements for the deck, wheels, bearings and axles for durability and strength. Another hazard is that, without enough research, intellectual property may be infringed upon and cause additional costs or the cancellation of the project. Additionally, if the scooter is not manufactured at a sensible cost, the final sale price may be prohibitive to the target market, and result in a wasted investment. One significant danger is that excessive features and over-engineering could result in an expensive product that does not represent value for money when compared to other forms of transport. Through a series of market research, an appropriate performance specification for the kick scooter can be produced which enables the correct balance of innovation and risk to create a desirable product.
 

Table of Contents

Section Page
Summary 1
Contents 2

1. Introduction 3
2. Product Design Specification 4
   2.1 General Product Description 4
   2.2 Commercial Considerations 4
   2.2.1 The Customer 4
   2.2.2 The Market 5
   2.2.3 Competitors 6
   2.3 Performance Specifications 10
   2.4 Performance Specification Table 12
   2.5 Regulatory Requirements 13
   2.5.1 Legislation 13
   2.5.2 Patents 14
   References 16
   Appendix 17
3. Introduction

The Kick Scooter Design project involves the production of an innovative, lightweight, manually kick powered scooter with a brake, targeted towards professional adults. The project is aimed at three main gaps in the scootering market; urban commuting, recreation and light shopping in urban centres. With this in mind, the target demographic is young professionals in the age range of 20-35 years. Our project concerns the development of urban commuting scooters and how they can be an affordable way to decrease commuting times, reduce inner city traffic and improve city air quality. Furthermore, we want to promote exercise and healthy living, with up to 42% of our target demographic being overweight or obese [5. UK Gov Obesity statistics].
We will be using CREO CAD package and rapid prototyping to help us design our scooter, as well as applying our own knowledge along with the knowledge of lab technicians to help manufacture the scooter. Emphasis on ergonomic design, especially of the handlebars, deck and overall riding posture is a main priority. Careful consideration will also be paid to the materials, manufacturing processes and construction to help minimise the cost of production and the durability of the scooter.
The development of a commuter scooter comes with risks, some that we have considered for this project concern the safety of the scooter when traveling over rough ground. Design features of the scooter can be optimised to increase rough terrain performance over competitors highlighted in the market research. Factors such as decreasing the distance between the deck and the ground and wheel choice can aid this, however there are effects on other parts of the scooter and the overall design must conform to safety legislation. Above all, there will be a focus on ensuring the scooter meets the stringent safety legislation from both the UK and EU, as well as the design team’s performance and durability expectations. Some design issues we will have to overcome will be balancing feature and complexity with cost, to not make the scooter too overpriced for our target demographic, and how to make the prospect of being a scooter commuter appealing for the general populous.

2. Product Design Specification
   2.1 General Product Description This PDS sets out the requirements the final scooter design should fulfil. The scooter will be targeted initially at the UK market, predominantly at adults aged 21-39. The design should be focused primarily around commuting short distances, potentially in conjunction with other forms of transport. Using two larger wheels, folding mechanism and brake, this scooter should be easily folded away and stored when not in use, likely at a customer’s place of work. Adhering to these main points should allow the product to be used not only by individuals but give the potential to be used by third parties for urban rental schemes.
   2.2 Commercial Considerations

2.2.1 The Customer

Despite 61% of all trips made in the UK in the last two years being made by car, over half of the UK population between the ages of 17-49 walk trips that are over 20 minutes long more than three times a week [12. Department for Transport Statistics]. Kick scooters would be ideal for these people to make those short trips more quickly. These journeys are made for various reasons such as visiting friends, leisure, shopping and commuting. The latter in particular is an area where the scooter could solve the ‘last mile’ problem, allowing for quicker travel from public transport connection to final destination; or from the home to public transport of course. Specifically, those who live in urban areas are among the most likely not to own a car or multiple cars per household.
One segment of the market which appears not to be conspicuously catered for, is the adult female market. The average woman between the ages of 30-39 makes more trips by foot than any other demographic of the population [7.Independent Article]. There is however a perception around scooters that they are for children, and where exceptional products are aimed at adults [4. Money Article], these are marketed with traditionally masculine aesthetics or as gadgets. Breaking these stigmas around the product may be difficult and designing around a more traditionally feminine aesthetic is unlikely to produce results. Given that there is a growing societal trend toward improved health and fitness, emphasising the physical nature and health benefits of choosing to scoot over driving may help us to enter this market. A design allowing the addition of compatible fitness accessories could help generate this appeal.
By evaluating a range of adult scooters currently on the market, prices range from around £20 to £300 for an adult kick scooter, and around £180 for standard large wheeled offering from a market leader, Micro. The more expensive electric scooters are only likely to start at the high end of this range, middling around £350-£450, whilst able to far exceed this figure when equipped with larger batteries and more powerful motors. Whilst these ranges represent what is likely to be the least and most that customers are willing to pay for the current available models, by aiming our product at younger commuters, we expect their budgets to fall in line more within the £100-£150 area. This price range falls below what most adults would expect to pay for another main form of transport, the bicycle.

2.2.2 The Market

As shown in the most recent UK Government produced statistics, The National Travel Survey, the data suggests that there is an increase in the amount of people commuting to work. However, one section in particular concerning ‘other’ modes of transport has increased by two percent from 2016; this is any mode of transport other than: car, walking, bus, train or cycling. One potential reason for an increase in this ‘other’ mode of transport is due to an increase in popularity of adult scooters. In recent years the adult commuter scooter has been recognised by London Evening Standard as a reliable alternative method of transport, and its market is rapidly rising. With over 8.3 billion trips completed by the UK pubic last year and information about the breakdown of travel type and reason, is estimated around 527 million trips are made by bus, rail, walking or other in order to commute. These journeys all lend themselves to being replaced or at least partially completed by scooter.
The size of the market is currently small in comparison with the primary form of commuting, the car. However, given the increasing density of population within the UK’s major urban conurbations and growing awareness of the need to reduce pollution and cut emissions, there is great potential for future grown in the sector of self-propelled transportation; including the scooter.
Realistically, the maximum percentage share of the market realistically achievable would be in the region of five to ten percent. With a growth of two percent from 2016-2018 in the government’s analytics of ‘other’ modes of transport, the trend shows growth in this section, however the Commuter Scooter could be an ideal alternative to walking. According to the report written By Martha C. White, in 2016,“Micro Kickboard’s US distribution arm offered just six adult scooter models five years ago, but now has 14 different ones to choose from. It says adult scooter sales have skyrocketed from 4% to 25% of that company’s business. The popular Razor brand has seen sales of its $100 adult scooter grow by more than double for the past three years” This suggests brands such as razor and micro are currently popular, profitable and growing fast.
Currently most Commuter Scooters can be purchased from major retailers such as Amazon. They have a reasonably expensive upfront cost, however in the long term they could potentially save a lot of money. In the case of developing a new type of commuter scooter is possible to design for compatibility with a scooter rental system seen in some areas of the US and similar to the principle of city bike rental schemes already available in the UK. These arrangements see docking systems set up around urban areas that experience high usage during commuting hours such as train stations and bus stops.
Many new lines of adult scooter have been differentiated from those designed for leisure or children by the choice of colours and increased amount of more complex features, this tends to result in a higher price.

2.2.3 Competitors

There are a plethora of scooter manufacturers catering to children’s scooters, however there are fewer that choose to cater more specifically to adults. Some chosen competitors aimed at the adult user are shown in table 1 below, along with their recommended retail prices (RRP). Following this is a table 2 which lists some strengths and weaknesses for the chosen models. Examples have been chosen to cover both kick scooters and electric scooters to better reflect the options available to the consumer. Information has been taken from the manufacturer’s websites.

Table 1: Product prices

Competitor products Price (RRP)
Samsonite: Scooter Luggage £299.95
Micro-scooter: Pedalflow £289.95
Micro-scooter: E-micro one £799.95
Micro-scooter: Classic (Big Wheels) £184.95
Amish: kick scooter £242.12
Swifty: SwiftyONE MK3 £599.00
Swifty: SwiftyMARINE £849.00
Oxelo: Town 7XL Adult Scooter £89.99

Table 2: Strengths and Weaknesses

Scooter Strengths Weaknesses
Samsonite

Scooter Luggage  The combination of scooter and suitcase allows the rider to carry more on their journey.
 Specifically, this scooter caters to frequent flyers as the design is approved as hand luggage for major airlines.
 The total capacity is 26 litres.
 The scooter has an adjustable handlebar.
 Samsonite brand is well known for making suitcases.
 The capacity is not suitable for larger shopping trips.
 The suitability for longer trips is limited when another case must be taken to the airport.
 A high price for a kick scooter.
 Targeting of the design at a very specific market may lessen its wider appeal.

Micro-scooter

Pedalflow  Hybrid design which spans scooter and bicycle improves the mechanical advantage the user has over walking.
 Association between bikes and fitness means the product can be marketed more easily with a growing sector of consumers.
 The Pedalflow is lighter than a full bicycle.
 The Pedalflow is more easily stowed than a bike once arriving at the users destination.  An unusual and awkward riding position could lead users to easily lose balance.
 Folding mechanism relies on the user tightening the handlebars into place using a screw by hand; insufficient tightening could lead to safety issues.
 The design of the folding mechanism may also lead to irritation from instability or noise (creaking).
 Handlebar height is non-adjustable.
 Rubber tyres require pumping and replacements will not be widely available due to non-standard sizing.
Micro-scooter

e-micro one  Electric motor improves speed (15mph) and reduces physical effort of the rider.
 It uses motion detection sensors to detect driver's push or a kick.
 It automatically increases the speed when riding up an incline.
 Lithium polymer battery is neatly incorporated into the deck.
 Wide rear wheel increases stability and brake effectiveness.
 Electric motor greatly increases sale price.
 Only has short range on one charge (7.5 miles).
 Must be charged at least once every 3 months to prevent battery from discharging.
 Complex electric components may be less durable over rougher terrain.
 Still requires user effort to utilise electric motor (no throttle).
 Heavy for a scooter (7.5kg).
Micro-scooter

Classic (Big Wheels)  Adjustable handlebars with wide range (30cm).
 Collapsible handlebars.
 Largest wheels (200mm).
 Kickstand included.
 Optional extra to have built in lock.
 Narrow handlebars can make steering challenging on uneven terrain.
 Minimal sized deck limits foot position and posture of the rider (12x33cm)
 Relatively expensive for specification.
Scooter Strengths Weaknesses
Amish-made

Kick Scooter  Able to take heavy loads.
 Includes basket for shopping.
 Has front wheel hand brake, familiar to cyclists.
 Relatively light in weight despite the large size.
 Full mudguards for protecting the rider.  Large size means it must be stored with bikes.
 Expensive compared to the smaller scooter and full bikes.
 Currently only available to buy as a US import in the UK.
 Tyres vulnerable to puncture and will require pumping to maintain performance.
Swifty

SwiftyONE MK3  Extra-large wheels improve glide distance (305mm).
 Tyres provide cushioning for the rider against uneven terrain.
 Large deck improves rideability and comfort (16x44cm).
 High Maximum load for category (150kg)
 Maintains relatively low weight for functionality (8.3kg).
 Has front handbrake and rear foot brake.  Expensive, well into price range of well higher specification road bikes (Aluminium frame, disk brakes)
 Limited foldability (volume when folded 1065x160x660mm).
 High deck height increases need for the rider to bend supporting leg.
 Tyres vulnerable to puncture and will require pumping to maintain performance.

Swifty

SwiftyONE MARINE  Limited edition, lower weight version of the MK3.
 Stainless steel components replace steel to improve corrosion resistance.
 Luxury material finish.  Even more expensive than MK3.
 Limited production run at any one time.
Oxelo

Town 7XL  Has suspension front and back to improve ride feel.
 At the lighter end of kick scooters (5.6kg).
 Much more affordable price.
 Fitted with hand brake on front wheel and foot brake on rear.
 Rubber handlebars may be more weather resistant than foam.  Rear footbrake has simple design and may lack effectiveness.
 Warranty does not cover most likely to wear parts.
 Rubber deck cover likely to lose grip in wet weather use.

Analysis

Looking at the chosen competitors, there are advantages and cost implications between choosing certain solutions to the problems posed by the performance specification. The clearest divisions are choices between: hand brakes or foot brakes, tyres or polyurethane wheels and wheel size. It is evident that the choices associated with bikes, hand brakes and tyres, also correlates with a higher RRP. One exception is the Oxelo, which remains competitive on price, yet also offers suspension and a front hand brake. If implementing similar features could be shown to be cost effective, this would be worth looking into. Additionally, electric motors and energy recovery systems reduce exertion for the rider, but the higher prices may drastically reduce their appeal to younger buyers. Other features which were of note that could be included in our final design were: collapsible handlebars, added baggage space, mudguards, kickstands and a built in lock. These extras would all increase the overall production cost and therefore retail price of the design, but some could be considered as optional extras in a more modular and customisable product.
As the market for adult scooters has grown in recent years, it can be expected that new competitors will release new products, as well as current manufacturers improving their offering. The growth of start-ups in the US such as Bird and Lime using scooters as part of public transport in cities has resulted in the growing acceptance of the scooter as a commuter vehicle. Established manufacturers with improved economies of scale may choose to either lower their prices or proceed to add more features to their standard products. If growth in the scooter market reduces the sales of other self-propelled vehicles, i.e. bikes/skateboards, manufacturers of those products may choose to enter the sector. Fortunately, with the Amish community is by definition unwilling to embrace technology and so this competitor is unlikely to become a large player in hits area.
To maintain a unique selling point (USP) for our product in an expanding market, it would be prudent to plan ahead. One idea would be to use a dynamo or energy recovery system not to aid propulsion of the scooter, but to charge devices or battery packs through universal serial bus (USB) connections. Using electricity produced by people for smaller applications is seen as another potential aid to reducing climate change, a key issue with rising importance for the majority in countries such as the UK. Another idea would be to improve functionality by having different parts available to be used for different situations, such as wheels for rougher terrain.
Although Samsonite has previously published information about the growth of its business this does not give specific breakdown into their scooter sales [Samsonite (2014)]. Micro-scooter Ltd (UK) have not currently made information public on their turnover and profits via Companies House since 2016 when their turnover was £14.67m [Companies House 2016].

2.3 Performance Specification

The following 13 categories were assessed as to how our design would fulfil their requirements.

Environment
First to consider is the environment in which the product will be used. As the scooter will be designed primarily for the UK market and to be used all year round. It is therefore expected that the typical operating temperature will fall between the average minimum and average maximum temperatures for the UK climate; -0.2°C to 20.4°C [Met Office, Climate Averages 1971-2000, 1981-2010, England & Scotland]. Being outdoors in an urban environment means the scooter will be exposed to moisture from precipitation and dirt from the street, and so material and component choice must reflect this. Pavements around the UK are mostly constructed of tarmac or paving slabs, this means the scooter will be subjected to vibrations and shocks and must be able to endure such treatment. The urban environment will also involve using the scooter in and around roads and traffic, and so this will impact upon safety considerations.
Performance
As this scooter is to be aimed at commuters, it’s performance should allow a reasonable mechanical advantage over walking. This will require larger wheels (150mm+) and high-quality bearings to ensure maximum glide distance per kick, in addition to attaining speeds of around 8-10 mph. The brake on the scooter should be achieve comparable performance to that expected of road bicycles, slowing to a stop from ten miles per hour in around six metres.
Life in Service
The expectation is that the scooter will be used for regular commuting, around ten journeys per week, over distances of up to around two miles per journey. As long as advisory user weight limits are observed, this would be defined as ‘reasonable but regular use’. Assuming this level of usage, the scooter should aim to last at least four years with enough maintenance to represent value for money for the consumer.
Maintenance
The primary elements of maintenance on the scooter will be the oiling of the wheel bearings and folding mechanism. It is expected that the scooter should have to undergo this no more regularly than every two months. Additionally, the polyurethane wheels are liable to wear down over time, replacement should not be needed until at least two years. These assumptions are to be based upon the reasonable but regular use.
Packaging and Transit
As the design will be required to withstand the vibration and knocks from use as a vehicle, it must also be sure to successfully survive similar stresses when folded during transportation before sale. Packaging should aim to be as small as possible to minimise transport costs, around 0.03-0.06m3, whilst ensuring no damage is done to the paint/finish during transit.
Quantity
After market research and using information UK government statistics on travel, an initial production volume has calculated to be around 8000-12000. This figure reflects the potential for the product, its current growth in popularity, as well as a need to maintain sufficient economy of scale.

Size
To ensure this product is to appeal to a wide range of consumers, the adjustable handlebars should accommodate riders from between 3’4 (100cm) up to 6’2” (188cm). To ensure easy storage it is normally found that the length of scooter from front to back should be comparable to minimum handlebar height to ensure most compact shape when folded. Finally, for optimal comfort during commuting, the deck should be between 10-20 cm wide, and 30-40 cm long. These dimensions also allow those with up to size 11 feet to easily use the scooter.
Weight
Commonly most kick scooters weigh between 4-8kg, to be lightweight to transport and move around. Kick scooters should generally support a maximum weight of between 100-120kg (roughly 15st 9lbs and 18st 13lbs respectively)
Aesthetics
Through market research the main selling point of certain scooters was due to their aesthetics mostly concerning the colour of the scooter. Hence the main bodywork should be able to be painted to give options for the consumer and add brightly coloured areas to improve the visibility of the scooter to pedestrians. Likewise, the design should attempt to be non-gender specific.
Material
Through market research it was found that it would be ideal to construct the main bodywork of the Kick Scooter from Aluminium of grades likely to be 6061 or 7005. The use of polyurethane to construct the wheels was also commonly the material used in other kick scooters, which seems a viable option. Finally, for comfort and grip the handlebar covers will be manufactured from foam.
Safety
To ensure safety when using and storing the Kick Scooter, it is vital that all EU regulations are met. Specifically, an area of potential risk is the folding system. It is important that the folding system must be sufficiently strong to not collapse whilst the scooter is in use. Likewise given the expected nature of the stresses exerted on the scooter whilst in use, with a desire for low maintenance, a factor of safety of at least two is to be used.
Cost
To ensure the cost of the kick scooter remains competitive whilst not breaching the upper price scale and potentially clash with other manually operated devices such as bikes. The final sale price for the scooter will be aimed at the £100-£150 price range, cheaper than an entry level road bike and within the price range of those at the lower end of our intended age range. Through market research this price range seems suitable for our target audience.
Documentation
The documentation included with the kick scooter must detail all appropriate safety warnings and clearly state the limitations of the product, with respect to appropriate use and users.
Provided the Kick Scooter conforms with EU legislation and patents, the documentation should be printed in multiple languages for potential buyers from outside the UK.

2.4 Performance Specification Table

Below is a table condensing the salient points from the performance specification.

Performance Specification
No. Description Importance Low (1-5) High Notes
1 Environment 4 -0.2°C to 20.4°C. Resistant to water damage. Resistant to vibration and shocks. Bearings resistant to dirt.
2 Performance 4 150mm+ wheels. Low resistance bearings. Achieve 8-10mph. Brake in 6m from 10mph.
3 Life in service 3 At least 4 years, 10 journeys per week, around 2 miles.
4 Maintenance 4 Oiling of bearings and folding mechanism every 2 months at most. Wheels replaced no sooner than 2 years. Foam handles replaced no sooner than 4 years.
5 Packaging and transit 3 Robust whilst folded. Packaging volume around 0.03-0.06m3. Avoid damage to paint/finish.
6 Quantity 3 Initial production plan 8000-12000.
7 Size 2 Riders from 3’4 (100cm) up to 6’2” (188cm). Minimum handlebar height ≈ length of base. Deck between 10 and 20 cm wide, and 30 and 40 cm long.
8 Weight 3 Scooter weight 4-8kg. Support 100-120kg maximum load.
9 Aesthetics 3 Non-gender specific. Ability to paint bodywork, potentially brightly coloured at least in part.
10 Materials 3 Bodywork in Aluminium, 6061 or 7005 most likely. Polyurethane wheels.
Foam handlebar covers.

11 Safety 5 Sturdy folding mechanism must not collapse in use. Factor of safety at least 2. Conform to EU regulations and British Standards.
12 Cost 4 Final sale price £100-150
13 Documentation 5 Appropriate safety warnings. Potential translation to minority UK/major EU languages.

2.5 Regulatory Requirements
2.5.1 Legislation

British Standards
Kick scooters are for users weighing more than 20kg and up to 100kg. Any protruding components of the scooter that may cause injuries to users during regular use of the scooter need to be constructed in a way that reduces the risk of injuries to the user. Any other protruding parts that can cause injury to or entrap the user need to be protected by something that will be able to withstand any testing done on the scooter. Handlebars must also be covered and be free sharp edges in order to be safe for use. The distance between accessible moveable parts of the scooter must be either smaller than 5mm or larger than 18mm, but this doesn’t apply to the wheels/spokes/wheel support and the foot brake. Any folding mechanisms on the kick scooter must be safe, simple and pass any tests done on it. Any springs used to construct the scooter should not have any two consecutive spirals that allow a rod of 5mm in at a depth of 10mm. When it comes to the steering system, it should be constructed so that the wheels on it do not come into contact with other parts of the scooter during normal use and adjusting the height of the handlebars won’t accidentally creating openings. Additionally, the steering column should have markings that show the minimum insertion depth, are equivalent to 2.5x its diameter and do not affect its strength. The handlebars should have grips or plugs that can resist a tensile load of 70kN in the loosening direction. The deck, wheels, bearings and axles must all be able to withstand a series of testing and remain functional without any loosening, deformities or displacement. The deck needs an anti-slide surface on it of an area no smaller than 200mm² and the wheels must be made of a material with a coefficient of adhesion equal to or larger than 0.3. For any self-locking nuts, the entire thread must be in contact with the bolt. All self-locking fixings that can be loosened for modification should be fit for purpose. Using the braking system should not cause any fixings of the scooter to become undone or loose and the brake shouldn’t bring the scooter to an abrupt halt, but smoothly reduce its speed. Testing should not make functional parts of the scooter fail to meet relevant requirements to meet British Standards.

CE Marking
According to scooters require a CE marking due to scooters being categorised as machinery. “CE Marking is most probably required if you export to the 27 European Union (EU) and 3 European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member states the following 20 groups of products -” [3. CE Marketing]

Definition of Machinery within the context of CE marking:
“9. Machinery: The "machinery" means: an assembly of linked parts or components, at least one of which moves, with the appropriate actuators, control and power circuits, etc., joined together for a specific application, in particular for the processing, treatment, moving or packaging of a material, an assembly of machines which, in order to achieve the same end, are arranged and controlled so that they function as an integral whole, interchangeable equipment modifying the function of a machine, which is placed on the market for the purpose of being assembled with a machine or a series of different machines or with a tractor by the operator himself in so far as this equipment is not a spare part or a tool.”

Testing
Approval testing does exist for this type of product and according to ASTM F2264-14, Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Non-Powered Scooters, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2014, www.astm.org the following tests must be done:
Test methods for a non-powered scooter include:

1. Deck Test
2. Handle/Stem Compression Test
3. Handle/Stem Fatigue Test
4. Grip Retention Test/ Handle Retention Test
5. Curb Impact Test
6. Dynamic Strength Test
7. Brake Test
8. Latching Mechanisms for Prevention of Unintentional Folding Test
9. Warning Labels Test

Based on tests above, the following can be considered as main hazards associated with this product:

1. Deck breaking due to unexpected load.
2. Handle breaking during use.
3. Grip hitting the user when in an accident leading to injury.
4. Brake failing during high speeds.
5. Unintentional folding of scooter leading to injury.

2.5.2 Patents

It is first significant to consider any patents that are related to the current product, or which may be similar, as they may have implications for the product’s development. This analysis of related patents will provide a full understanding of what similar products are available on the market, which this product will complete with, as well as preventing any overlap with existing patents. Such overlap would cause legal conflict or could infringe on existing patents. These patents will all be directly related to scooter development and ensuring that the patent for the new scooter is legally compliant. The patents selected for analysis are all relevant in some way, with elements that are related to the current product development. Further analysis of their similarities is needed to avoid the negative consequences mentioned previously, as increased costs later could lead to the project being deemed a failure. It is likely that this analysis will heavily impact the final development and design of the new scooter.

Table 3: Patent table

Patent Application Title Publication Number Application Number Detail
Luggage scooter devise 20130001911 13/527950 Inventor: Porri, Federico

Assignees: Irish patent office

Date of application filed: 20/06/2012
Wheeled Scooter 8899604 13/175609 Inventors: Orenstein, Amber ; Polk, III, Louis F. ; Ness, Jason

Assignees: The Prophet Corporation

Date of application filed: 01/07/2011
Foldable Scooter 0887852 13/979827 Inventors: Schaap, Antonius Bernardus

Assignees: Trikelet B.V

Date of application filed: 08/02/2012
Suspension for a Scooter 8789641 13/933737 Inventors: Urquhart, Paul Jeffery

Primary Examiner: Rocca, Joseph M

Date of application filed: 02/07/2013
Scooter including brake system 8091906 12/839447 Inventors: Chen, Wang-Chuan

Primary Examiner: Shriver, II, J.Allen

Date of application filed: 20/07/2010

3. References
4. ATSM (2014) ‘Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Non-Powered Scooters’ http://www.astm.org/cgi-bin/resolver.cgi?F2264-14
5. BSI (2015) ‘Roller sports equipment — Kick scooters — Safety requirements and test methods’
6. Ce-marking.org. (2018). CE-Marking: Does my product need CE Marking?. [online] Available at: http://www.ce-marking.org/what-product.html [Accessed 30 Oct. 2018].
7. Chen, Wang-Chuan. Patent Application: 12/839447. Filed: July 20, 2010. Published: January 26, 2012. , Database: USPTO Patent Applications https://eds-a-ebscohost-com.liverpool.idm.oclc.org[ Accessed 31 Oct 2018]
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Appendix
Project Schedule

Task Name Duration Start Finish
Proposal report 22 days Thu 04/10/18 Fri 02/11/18
Conduct Market Research 4 days Fri 05/10/18 Wed 10/10/18
Analysis 17 days Fri 05/10/18 Mon 29/10/18
Product and performance specification 3 days Mon 08/10/18 Wed 10/10/18
Edit report for submission 1 day Thu 01/11/18 Thu 01/11/18
Design poster 17 days Thu 15/11/18 Fri 07/12/18
Brainstorming 2 days Fri 16/11/18 Mon 19/11/18
Concept generation and evaluation 5 days Thu 22/11/18 Wed 28/11/18
Sketching 2 days Wed 28/11/18 Thu 29/11/18
CVA 1 day Fri 30/11/18 Fri 30/11/18
WBS 2 days Mon 03/12/18 Tue 04/12/18
Oral Defence of Poster 39 days Fri 07/12/18 Wed 30/01/19
3D CAD Assembly 31 days Fri 08/02/19 Fri 22/03/19
Final Design Report 31 days Fri 22/03/19 Fri 03/05/19
Materials and manufacturing process selection 10 days Mon 25/03/19 Fri 05/04/19
2D sketches 5 days Thu 28/03/19 Wed 03/04/19

Project Gantt Chart

Sample Solution