COLLAPSIBLE SCOOTER WITH ROTATABLE DECK FOR COMPACT PACKAGING AND ASSOCIATED METHODS

1 . A scooter, comprising:

a front frame assembly comprising a handlebar connected to a steering tube that includes a front wheel supported by a front fork; and

a rear frame assembly, comprising:

a neck assembly including a head tube, the steering tube being rotatably coupled to the head tube to define a steering axis about which the front frame rotates relative to the rear frame;

a rear wheel assembly including a rear wheel supported by a rear fork and a deck tube that extends a length from the rear fork to a terminal end, the terminal end of the deck tube being attached to the neck assembly; and

a deck supported by the deck tube;

wherein the deck is selectively rotatable about the deck tube between at least an operative position wherein the deck is configured to support a rider and a stowed position.

2 . The scooter of claim 1 , wherein the deck includes a support surface that is configured to receive the rider, the support surface defining a support surface plane, wherein the support surface plane is horizontal when the deck is rotated to the operative position, and the support surface plane is non-horizontal when the deck is rotated to the stowed position.

3 . The scooter of claim 1 , wherein the deck is secured in the operative position with one or more fasteners received through the deck and the deck tube.

4 . The scooter of claim 1 , wherein the deck tube extends along a length of the deck.

5 . The scooter of claim 1 , wherein the deck tube includes a circular cross-sectional profile.

6 . The scooter of claim 1 , wherein the deck extends a length between a first end and an opposite second end, the deck including a channel that extends from an opening at the first end of the deck to an opening at the second end of the deck, wherein the deck tube is received through the channel.

7 . The scooter of claim 4 , wherein the channel defines a bore through the deck.

8 . The scooter of claim 1 , wherein the head tube of the neck assembly is arranged externally along a sidewall of the steering tube.

9 . The scooter of claim 1 , wherein the steering tube defines a steering tube axis, the steering tube axis being offset from the steering axis.

10 . The scooter of claim 1 , wherein the steering axis is located outside the steering tube.

11 . The scooter of claim 1 , wherein the neck assembly is selectively foldable about a hinge joint to place the scooter in at least an upright position, wherein the steering tube is approximately perpendicular to the deck tube, and a collapsed position, wherein the steering tube is approximately parallel to the deck tube.

12 . The scooter of claim 11 , wherein the deck is selectively rotatable to the stowed position when the scooter is in the collapsed position.

13 . A method for packaging a scooter, comprising:

providing a carton;

providing the scooter, comprising:

a front frame assembly comprising a handlebar, a steering tube, and a front wheel supported by a front fork; and

a rear frame assembly, comprising:

a neck assembly operatively coupled to the front frame assembly such that the front frame assembly is rotatable about a steering axis relative to the rear frame assembly, the neck assembly being selectively foldable about a hinge joint;

a rear wheel assembly including a rear wheel supported by a rear fork and a deck tube that extends a length from the rear fork to a terminal end, the terminal end of the deck tube being attached to the neck assembly; and

a deck supported by the deck tube, the deck being rotatable relative to the deck tube;

assembling the scooter into a packaged configuration, comprising:

folding the scooter at the hinge joint to place the scooter in a collapsed position; and

rotating the deck about the deck tube to place the deck in a stowed position; and

inserting the scooter into the carton once the scooter is assembled to the packaged configuration.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the steering tube is approximately parallel to the deck tube when the scooter is in the packaged configuration.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the deck extends a width between a pair of side edges that extend along a length of the deck, wherein when the scooter is in the packaged configuration at least one of the pair of side edges is disposed in a space between the steering tube and the deck tube.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein assembling the scooter into the packaged configuration further comprises:

placing the handlebar in a space between the steering tube and the deck of the scooter.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the deck extends a width between a pair of side edges that extend along a length of the deck, wherein when the scooter is in the packaged configuration the handlebar is arranged between at least one of the pair of side edges and the steering tube.

18 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

attaching the scooter to a backing panel wherein the scooter is maintained in the packaged configuration by the backing panel; and

inserting the backing panel and the scooter into the carton.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the deck includes a support surface that is configured to receive the rider, the support surface defining a support surface plane, wherein the support surface plane is approximately parallel to a plane defined by the backing panel when the scooter is attached to the backing panel.

20 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the carton is a peggable carton.