Mechanized tail for mobile devices
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A wireless wheeled vehicle comprising:
- a first portion opposite a second portion;
a body;
one or more drive wheels operable to propel the wireless wheeled vehicle across a driving surface, the one or more drive wheels being mounted on the body at one or more mount locations positioned in between the first portion and the second portion, the wireless wheeled vehicle being in a first orientation while being propelled across the driving surface by the one or more drive wheels, the wireless wheeled vehicle being in a second orientation when the wireless wheeled vehicle is upside-down with respect to the first orientation; and
a member having a base portion opposite a free end portion, the base portion being pivotably mounted to the second portion of the wireless wheeled vehicle and spaced outwardly from the one or more mount locations, the base portion being pivotable to move the free end portion into and out of contact with the driving surface when the wireless wheeled vehicle is in the first orientation, the base portion being pivotable to move the free end portion into and out of contact with the driving surface when the wireless wheeled vehicle is in the second orientation;
an attachment configured to be attached to the member and be movable thereby; and
at least one actuator mounted on the body and connected to the base portion of the member,(a) when the wireless wheeled vehicle is in the first orientation and has become stuck on at least one obstacle, the at least one actuator being configured to;
pivot the base portion in a first direction causing the free end portion to contact the driving surface while the wireless wheeled vehicle is in the first orientation,after the first portion contacts the driving surface, continue pivoting the base portion in the first direction causing the member to lift the one or more drive wheels above the driving surface, and position the first portion into contact with the driving surface, andafter the first portion contacts the driving surface, pivot the base portion in a second direction causing the free end portion to rotate away from the driving surface to thereby lower the one or more drive wheels into contact with the driving surface and reposition the one or more drive wheels with respect to the driving surface,(b) when the wireless wheeled vehicle is in the second orientation, the at least one actuator being configured to;
pivot the base portion in a third direction to thereby position the free end portion in contact with the driving surface,cause the member to lift the one or more drive wheels off the driving surface, andcause the member to flip the wireless wheeled vehicle from the second orientation to the first orientation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mobile device (e.g., wireless wheeled vehicle) that includes one or more propulsion mechanisms (e.g., one or more drive wheels) and a member (e.g., a mechanized tail). The propulsion mechanism(s) are operable to propel the mobile device across a driving surface. The member is positionable to maintain or change an orientation of the mobile device with respect to the driving surface. The member has a base portion opposite a free end portion. The base portion is pivotably mounted to a portion of the mobile device. The base portion is pivotable to move the free end portion toward and away from the driving surface.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A wireless wheeled vehicle comprising:
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a first portion opposite a second portion; a body; one or more drive wheels operable to propel the wireless wheeled vehicle across a driving surface, the one or more drive wheels being mounted on the body at one or more mount locations positioned in between the first portion and the second portion, the wireless wheeled vehicle being in a first orientation while being propelled across the driving surface by the one or more drive wheels, the wireless wheeled vehicle being in a second orientation when the wireless wheeled vehicle is upside-down with respect to the first orientation; and a member having a base portion opposite a free end portion, the base portion being pivotably mounted to the second portion of the wireless wheeled vehicle and spaced outwardly from the one or more mount locations, the base portion being pivotable to move the free end portion into and out of contact with the driving surface when the wireless wheeled vehicle is in the first orientation, the base portion being pivotable to move the free end portion into and out of contact with the driving surface when the wireless wheeled vehicle is in the second orientation; an attachment configured to be attached to the member and be movable thereby; and at least one actuator mounted on the body and connected to the base portion of the member, (a) when the wireless wheeled vehicle is in the first orientation and has become stuck on at least one obstacle, the at least one actuator being configured to; pivot the base portion in a first direction causing the free end portion to contact the driving surface while the wireless wheeled vehicle is in the first orientation, after the first portion contacts the driving surface, continue pivoting the base portion in the first direction causing the member to lift the one or more drive wheels above the driving surface, and position the first portion into contact with the driving surface, and after the first portion contacts the driving surface, pivot the base portion in a second direction causing the free end portion to rotate away from the driving surface to thereby lower the one or more drive wheels into contact with the driving surface and reposition the one or more drive wheels with respect to the driving surface, (b) when the wireless wheeled vehicle is in the second orientation, the at least one actuator being configured to; pivot the base portion in a third direction to thereby position the free end portion in contact with the driving surface, cause the member to lift the one or more drive wheels off the driving surface, and cause the member to flip the wireless wheeled vehicle from the second orientation to the first orientation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method performed by a wireless wheeled vehicle comprising a front portion, a back portion, a body, one or more drive wheels operable to propel the wireless wheeled vehicle across a driving surface, a member having a base portion opposite a free end portion, an attachment, and at least one actuator mounted on the body and connected to the base portion of the member, the attachment being configured to be attached to the member and be moved thereby, the one or more drive wheels being mounted on the body at one or more mount locations positioned in between the front portion and the back portion, the wireless wheeled vehicle being in a first orientation while being propelled across the driving surface by the one or more drive wheels, the wireless wheeled vehicle being in a second orientation when the wireless wheeled vehicle is upside-down with respect to the first orientation, the base portion being pivotably mounted to the back portion of the wireless wheeled vehicle and spaced outwardly from the one or more mount locations, the base portion being pivotable to move the free end portion into and out of contact with the driving surface when the wireless wheeled vehicle is in the first orientation, the base portion being pivotable to move the free end portion into and out of contact with the driving surface when the wireless wheeled vehicle is in the second orientation, the method comprising:
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(a) when the wireless wheeled vehicle is in the first orientation and has become stuck on at least one obstacle while driving on the driving surface; pivoting, with the at least one actuator, the base portion in a first direction to move the free end portion into contact with the driving surface while the wireless wheeled vehicle is in the first orientation; after the free end portion contacts the driving surface, continuing to pivot, with the at least one actuator, the base portion in the first direction to lift the one or more drive wheels above the driving surface, and position the front portion into contact with the driving surface; and after the front portion contacts the driving surface, pivoting, with the at least one actuator, the base portion in a second direction causing the free end portion to rotate away from the driving surface to thereby lower the one or more drive wheels into contact with the driving surface and reposition the one or more drive wheels with respect to the driving surface; and (b) when the wireless wheeled vehicle is in the second orientation; pivoting, with the at least one actuator, the base portion in a third direction to thereby position the free end portion in contact with the driving surface, causing, with the at least one actuator, the member to lift the one or more drive wheels off the driving surface, and causing, with the at least one actuator, the member to flip the wireless wheeled vehicle from the second orientation to the first orientation. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification