Dynamic Balancing Vehicle with a Seat
First Claim
1. A device for transporting a human subject over a surface, the device comprising:
- a platform defining a fore-aft plane, the platform supporting a payload including the human subject;
a ground contacting module, including a ground-contacting member movably coupled to the platform, the device including the payload having a center of gravity, the center of gravity having a position defined with respect to the ground-contacting member;
a moveably mounted seat for supporting the subject, the seat coupled to the platform to permit variation of the position of the center of gravity in the fore-aft plane by simultaneous translation and rotation of the seat, and a drive, coupled to the ground-contacting module, for delivering power to the ground-contacting module responsive to the position of the center of gravity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for transporting a human subject over a surface. The device is a dynamically balancing vehicle having a control loop for providing balance. The device includes a platform defining a fore-aft plane. The platform supports a payload including the human subject. A ground contacting module is included which may include one or more wheels. A ground-contacting member is movably coupled to the platform. The platform and the ground-contacting module form an assembly having a center of gravity that is defined with respect to the ground-contacting member and which includes any loads on the device. The device further includes a support. The support may be a seat for supporting the subject and the support is coupled to the platform in such a manner as to permit variation of the position of the center of gravity in the fore-aft plane by translation and rotation of at least a portion of the support. In one embodiment, translation and rotation of the seat of the device are mechanically coupled together.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device for transporting a human subject over a surface, the device comprising:
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a platform defining a fore-aft plane, the platform supporting a payload including the human subject;
a ground contacting module, including a ground-contacting member movably coupled to the platform, the device including the payload having a center of gravity, the center of gravity having a position defined with respect to the ground-contacting member;
a moveably mounted seat for supporting the subject, the seat coupled to the platform to permit variation of the position of the center of gravity in the fore-aft plane by simultaneous translation and rotation of the seat, and a drive, coupled to the ground-contacting module, for delivering power to the ground-contacting module responsive to the position of the center of gravity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A device for transporting a human subject over a surface, the device comprising:
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a platform defining a fore-aft plane, the platform supporting a payload including the human subject;
a ground contacting module, including a ground-contacting member movably coupled to the platform, the platform and the ground-contacting module being components of an assembly having a center of gravity including the payload, the center of gravity having a position defined with respect to the ground-contacting member;
a seat for supporting the human subject, the seat moveably coupled to the platform to permit variation of the position of the center of gravity in the fore-aft plane by motion of the seat;
the seat having a pivot allowing rotational motion of the seat about an axis substantially transverse to the fore-aft plane, the pivot capable of translation movement within the fore-aft plane; and
a drive, coupled to the ground-contacting module, for delivering power to the ground-contacting module in a manner responsive to the position of the center of gravity;
- View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A transportation device, the transportation device having an associated center of gravity including a payload on the device, the device comprising:
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a platform;
a motor;
a ground contacting module coupled to the motor for propelling the transportation device;
a control module coupled to the motor for providing a control signal to the motor that is based at least in part on the center of gravity of the device; and
a seat for positioning a human subject, the seat having a pivot.
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Specification