TRANSPORTATION CART WITH EXTENDABLE ARM AND A THROTTLE COUPLED THERETO FOR CONTROLLING A MOTOR AND ASSOCIATED METHODS

• US 20090242285A1
• Filed: 05/01/2009
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Henry M. Whetstone Jr
• Original Assignee: Henry M. Whetstone Jr
• Inventors: Whetstone, Henry M. JR.
• Application Number:
  US12/434,351
• Publication Number:
  US 20090242285A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/19.200
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 49/0692 characterised by the particular arrangement of control devices, e.g. having more than one control stand, operable from vehicle extension (control devices or systems characterised by mechanical features only)
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 51/04 the driver walking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A vehicle is for riding and walking modes of use and includes at least one seat coupled to a frame. A plurality of wheels are rotatably coupled to the frame. At least one motor is for driving at least one wheel of the plurality thereof. A steering assembly is coupled to at least one wheel of the plurality thereof. A riding steering apparatus is coupled to the steering assembly for the riding mode of use. A riding throttle is coupled to the at least one motor for the riding mode of use. A walking steering apparatus is coupled to the steering assembly for the walking mode of use and includes an extendable arm. A walking throttle is coupled to the extendable arm to control the at least one motor for the walking mode of use based upon extension of the extendable arm.

Claims

1. A vehicle for riding and walking modes of use, the vehicle comprising:

a frame;

at least one seat coupled to said frame;

a plurality of wheels rotatably coupled to said frame;

at least one motor for driving at least one wheel of said plurality thereof;

a steering assembly coupled to at least one wheel of said plurality thereof;

a riding steering apparatus coupled to the steering assembly for the riding mode of use;

a riding throttle coupled to said at least one motor for the riding mode of use;

a walking steering apparatus coupled to said steering assembly for the walking mode of use and comprising an extendable arm; and

a walking throttle coupled to said extendable arm to control said at least one motor for the walking mode of use based upon extension of said extendable arm.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said extendable arm comprises a plurality of telescoping members.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said walking steering apparatus further comprises a biasing member for biasing said extendable arm in a retracted position.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said walking throttle comprises a throttle sensor coupled to said extendable arm to detect extension thereof.

5. The vehicle of claim 4 wherein said throttle sensor comprises a potentiometer.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a lockout switch carried by said walking steering apparatus to enable said walking throttle based upon contact with a user'"'"'s hand.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said walking steering apparatus is movable from a stowed position to an operational position;

wherein said riding throttle is disabled when said walking steering apparatus is in the operational position; and

wherein said walking throttle is disabled when said walking steering apparatus is in the stowed position.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a controller coupled to said riding throttle, said walking throttle, and said at least one motor;

and wherein said controller limits a speed of said at least one motor based upon the mode of use.

9. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising:

a braking system;

a riding brake coupled to said braking system for the riding mode of use; and

a walking brake coupled to said extendable arm to control said braking system for the walking mode of use and based upon extension of said extendable arm.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 wherein said walking steering apparatus is movable from a stowed position to an operational position;

wherein said riding brake is disabled when said walking steering apparatus is in the operational position; and

wherein said walking brake is disabled when said walking steering apparatus is in the stowed position.

11. The vehicle of claim 9 further comprising a controller coupled to said braking system;

wherein said riding brake is electrically coupled to said controller; and

wherein said walking brake is electrically coupled to said controller.

12. The vehicle of claim 9 wherein said braking system comprises a regenerative braking system;

and further comprising a rechargeable power supply carried by said frame and coupled to said regenerative braking system.

13. The vehicle of claim 9 wherein said braking system comprises a friction braking system.

14. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising:

a riding forward-neutral-reverse switch carried by said frame and coupled to said at least one motor; and

a walking forward-neutral-reverse switch carried by said walking steering apparatus and coupled to said at least one motor.

15. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said frame has a front end and a rear end;

wherein said plurality of wheels comprises a pair of rear wheels carried by the rear end, and a pair of front wheels carried by the front end; and

wherein said steering assembly is coupled to said pair of front wheels.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 wherein said at least one motor drives said pair of rear wheels.

17. A vehicle for riding and walking modes of use, the vehicle comprising:

a frame;

at least one seat coupled to said frame;

a plurality of wheels rotatably coupled to said frame;

at least one motor for driving at least one wheel of said plurality thereof;

a steering assembly coupled to at least one wheel of said plurality thereof;

a riding steering apparatus coupled to the steering assembly for the riding mode of use;

a riding throttle coupled to said at least one motor for the riding mode of use;

a walking steering apparatus coupled to said steering assembly for the walking mode of use and comprising an extendable arm including a plurality of telescoping members;

a walking throttle coupled to said extendable arm to control said at least one motor for the walking mode of use based upon extension of said extendable arm;

a braking system;

a riding brake coupled to said braking system for the riding mode of use; and

a walking brake coupled to said extendable arm to control said braking system for the walking mode of use and based upon extension of said extendable arm.

18. The vehicle of claim 17 wherein said walking steering apparatus further comprises a biasing member for biasing said extendable arm in a retracted position.

19. The vehicle of claim 17 wherein said walking steering apparatus is movable from a stowed position to an operational position;

wherein said riding throttle is disabled when said walking steering apparatus is in the operational position; and

wherein said walking throttle is disabled when said walking steering apparatus is in the stowed position.

20. The vehicle of claim 17 wherein said walking steering apparatus is movable from a stowed position to an operational position;

wherein said riding brake is disabled when said walking steering apparatus is in the operational position; and

wherein said walking brake is disabled when said walking steering apparatus is in the stowed position.

21. A method of making a vehicle for riding and walking modes of use, the method comprising:

coupling at least one seat coupled to a frame;

rotatably coupling a plurality of wheels to the frame;

coupling at least one motor to at least one wheel of the plurality thereof;

coupling a steering assembly to at least one wheel of the plurality thereof;

coupling a riding steering apparatus to the steering assembly for the riding mode of use;

coupling a riding throttle to the at least one motor for the riding mode of use;

coupling a walking steering apparatus to the steering assembly for the walking mode of use and comprising an extendable arm; and

coupling a walking throttle to the extendable arm to control the at least one motor for the walking mode of use based upon extension of the extendable arm.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the extendable arm comprises a plurality of telescoping members and a biasing member to bias at least one of the plurality of telescoping members in a retracted position.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising positioning a lockout switch to be carried by the walking steering apparatus to enable the walking throttle based upon contact with a user'"'"'s hand.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the walking steering apparatus is movable from a stowed position to an operational position;

wherein the riding throttle is disabled when the walking steering apparatus is in the operational position; and

wherein the walking throttle is disabled when the walking steering apparatus is in the stowed position.

25. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

coupling a riding brake to a braking system for the riding mode of use; and

coupling a walking brake to the extendable arm to control the braking system for the walking mode of use and based upon extension of the extendable arm.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the walking steering apparatus is movable from a stowed position to an operational position;

wherein the riding brake is disabled when the walking steering apparatus is in the operational position; and

wherein the walking brake is disabled when the walking steering apparatus is in the stowed position.