Motorized Cycle

• US 20080271938A1
• Filed: 05/01/2008
• Published: 11/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: BPG Recreational Inc.
• Original Assignee: BPG Recreational Inc.
• Inventors: Gulak, Benjamin
• Application Number:
  US12/113,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20080271938A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/220
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 11/003 Electric or electronic control systems
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 11/04 by means of separate power sources
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 37/00 Stabilising vehicle bodies without controlling suspension arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 61/00 Motor vehicles or trailers, characterised by the arrangement or number of wheels, not otherwise provided for, e.g. four wheels in diamond pattern
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/00 Motorcycles, engine-assisted cycles or motor scooters with one or two wheels fairings or streamlining parts not forming part of the frame B62J; transmission of drive from engines to wheels B62M
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/007 Automatic balancing machines with single main ground engaging wheel or coaxial wheels supporting a rider
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 17/00 Cycles not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1221 Multiple gyroscopes

Abstract

There is provided a motorized cycle comprising a frame, a seat mounted upon the frame, a plurality of suspensions mounted to the frame, a plurality of wheels each coupled to a suspension wherein the operation of the motorized cycle is based on the physical position and movements of the rider. Also provided is a suspension system for a motorized cycle comprising a plurality of suspensions each coupled to the frame of the motorized cycle, and a plurality of wheels each coupled to a suspension such that each wheel is able to move relative to the other wheels and the frame. According to another aspect, there is provided a rider positioning system for a motorized cycle comprising handle bars and a seat wherein the movement of the handle bars affects the movement of the seat. There is also provided a control system for operating a motorized cycle comprising a control board including software, a plurality of sensors providing inputs to the control board, a plurality of wheels wherein each wheel is instructed by the control board to accelerate or decelerate to maintain the center of gravity of the motorized cycle.

Claims

1. A motorized cycle comprising:

a frame having a front, a back and two sides,

a seat mounted on the frame for supporting a rider seated on the motorized cycle,

handle bars coupled to the frame,

a plurality of suspensions coupled to the frame,

a plurality of wheels, each wheel coupled to one of the plurality of suspensions,

one or more motors connected to the wheels for causing the wheels to rotate,

a control mechanism for allowing the rider to operate the motorized cycle,

wherein at least two of the plurality of wheels are laterally displaced relative to each other.

2. The motorized cycle of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of wheels is driven independently by a motor in response to the side-to-side movement and the front-back movement of the rider to maintain the center of gravity of the motorized cycle.

3. The motorized cycle of claim 2 wherein each suspension interconnects one wheel with the frame for allowing the wheel to move relative to the frame.

4. The motorized cycle of claim 3 further comprising a first gyroscope for sensing the front-back movement of the rider and for causing the one or more motors to accelerate or decelerate depending on the front-back movement.

5. The motorized cycle of claim 4 further comprising a second gyroscope for sensing the side-to-side movement of the rider and for causing the one or more motors to accelerate or decelerate depending on the side-to-side movement of the rider.

6. The motorized cycle of claim 5 further comprising a control board including software for instructing the one or more motors to accelerate or decelerate.

7. The motorized cycle of claim 6 wherein the handle bars are moveable and are operatively connected to the seat such that the movement of the handle bars causes the seat to move.

8. A motorized cycle comprising:

a frame having a front, a back and two sides,

a seat mounted to the frame for supporting a rider of the motorized cycle,

handle bars coupled to the frame,

a plurality of suspensions coupled to the frame,

a plurality of wheels, each coupled to one of the plurality of suspensions,

one or more motors connected to the wheels for causing the wheels to rotate,

a control mechanism for allowing the rider to operate the motorized cycle;

wherein each of the suspensions is able to move relative to each of the other suspensions.

9. The motorized cycle of claim 8 wherein each of the suspensions is connected to the frame at a pivot point and each of the suspensions is able to rotate around the pivot point.

10. The motorized cycle of claim 9 further comprising a first gyroscope for sensing the front-back movement of the rider and for causing the one or more motors to accelerate or decelerate depending on the front-back movement.

11. The motorized cycle of claim 10 further comprising a second gyroscope for sensing the side-to-side movement of the rider and for causing the one or more motors to accelerate or decelerate depending on the front-back movement.

12. The motorized cycle of claim 8 wherein each of said plurality of wheels is driven independently by a motor in response to the side-to-side movement and the front-back movement of the rider to maintain the center of gravity of the motorized cycle.

13. The motorized cycle of claim 11 further comprising a control board including software for instructing the one or more motors to accelerate or decelerate.

14. The motorized cycle of claim 13 wherein the software is operable to maintain the center of gravity of the motorized cycle while the motorized cycle is operating.

15. The motorized cycle of claim 15 wherein the handle bars are moveable and are operatively connected to the seat such that the movement of the handle bars causes the seat to move.

16. A motorized cycle comprising:

a frame having a front, a back and two sides,

a seat mounted on the frame for supporting the rider of the motorized cycle,

handle bars coupled to the frame,

a plurality of suspensions coupled to the frame,

a plurality of wheels where each is coupled to a suspension,

a plurality of motors connected to the wheels for causing the wheels to rotate,

and a driving mechanism whereby the motorized cycle is controlled by the physical position of the rider in the front-back direction and the side-to-side direction.

17. The motorized cycle of claim 16 further comprising a first gyroscope for sensing the front-back movement of the rider and for causing the plurality of motors to accelerate or decelerate depending on the front-back movement.

18. The motorized cycle of claim 17 further comprising a second gyroscope for sensing the side-to-side movement of the rider and for causing the plurality of motors to accelerate or decelerate depending on the side to side movement.

19. The motorized cycle of claim 16 wherein each of said plurality of wheels is driven independently by a motor in response to the side-to-side movement and the front-back movement of the rider to maintain the center of gravity of the motorized cycle.

20. The motorized cycle of claim 18 further comprising a control board including software for instructing the plurality of motors to accelerate or decelerate.

21. The motorized cycle of claim 20 wherein the software of the control board executes an algorithm based on the inputs of the gyroscopes and instructs the plurality of motors to respond based on the result of the algorithm.

22. The motorized cycle of claim 21 wherein the software is operable to maintain the center of gravity of the motorized cycle while the motorized cycle is operating.

23. The motorized cycle of claim 22 wherein the handle bars are moveable and are operatively connected to the seat such that the movement of the handle bars causes the seat to move.

24. In a motorized cycle comprising a frame and a plurality of wheels laterally displaced relative to each other, a suspension system comprising:

a plurality of elements each movably coupled to the frame at one end and one of the plurality of wheels at another end such that each of the plurality of elements can move relative to the frame and each of the other elements.

25. The suspension system of claim 24 further including one or more dampening devices to cushion the movement of the elements.

26. The suspension system of claim 25 wherein the elements are coupled to the frame at a pivot such that the elements are able to rotate independently in a radius about the pivot such that the wheels.

27. In a motorized cycle comprising a frame and a plurality of wheels laterally displaced relative to each other, a rider positioning system comprising:

a seat coupled to the frame,

handle bars coupled to the frame,

wherein the seat and the handle bars are able to move relative to each other while the motorized cycle is operational.

28. The rider positioning system of claim 27 wherein the handle bars and the seat are linked to each other such that the movement of the handle bars affects the movement of the seat.

29. The rider positioning system of claim 28 further including a rack and pinion coupled to the seat.

30. The rider positioning system of claim 29 wherein the movement of the handle bars causes the rack and the seat to move in the front-back direction.

31. In a motorized cycle comprising a frame and a plurality of wheels laterally displaced relative to each other, a control system for operating the motorized cycle, comprising:

a control board including an algorithm,

a plurality of sensors providing inputs to the control board,

a plurality of motors receiving instructions from the control board,

wherein the algorithm is operable to maintain the center of gravity of the motorized cycle by instructing the motors to accelerate or decelerate.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein the plurality of sensors include at least one sensor for measuring the side-to-side tilt of the motorized cycle and at least one sensor for measuring the front-back tilt of the motorized cycle.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein the plurality of sensors includes gyroscopes.

34. The system of claim 33 further including a feedback loop from at least one sensor to the control board.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein the algorithm provides instructions to each of the plurality of motors based on the feedback loop to maintain the center of gravity of the motorized cycle.