Low-Profile Two-Wheeled Self-Balancing Vehicle with Exterior Foot Platforms
First Claim
1. A two-wheeled personal vehicle, comprising:
- a first and a second wheel arranged substantially side-by-side about a center plane;
first and second foot platforms respectively coupled on the exterior side of each of the first and second wheels;
a linkage assembly the first and second wheels and configured to hold the wheels in a substantially parallel arrangement as the wheels tilt from side to side;
first and second motors respectively coupled to the first and second wheels;
a side-to-side tilt sensor; and
control logic coupled between the sensor and the first and second motors;
wherein in response to a sensed sideways tilt of the wheels, the control logic drives the first and second motors at different speeds so that the vehicle affects a turn.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A personal vehicle having two wheels that are arranged substantially side-by-side and connected by a linkage mechanism to one another. The linkage mechanism supports the wheels in a substantially parallel relationship as the two wheels tilt from side to side. A foot placement platform is associated with each wheel, as is a motor to drive the wheels. Gyroscopic sensors are used to in driving the wheels to maintain an upright position. Various embodiments are disclosed including folding platforms, a parallelogram linkage structure, handles and/or seats that may extend above the wheels, lower leg contact surface, and other features.
88 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A two-wheeled personal vehicle, comprising:
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a first and a second wheel arranged substantially side-by-side about a center plane; first and second foot platforms respectively coupled on the exterior side of each of the first and second wheels; a linkage assembly the first and second wheels and configured to hold the wheels in a substantially parallel arrangement as the wheels tilt from side to side; first and second motors respectively coupled to the first and second wheels; a side-to-side tilt sensor; and control logic coupled between the sensor and the first and second motors; wherein in response to a sensed sideways tilt of the wheels, the control logic drives the first and second motors at different speeds so that the vehicle affects a turn. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A two-wheeled personal vehicle, comprising:
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a first and a second wheel arranged substantially side-by-side about a center plane; first and second foot platforms respectively coupled on the exterior side of each of the first and second wheels; a linkage assembly the first and second wheels and configured to hold the wheels in a substantially parallel arrangement as the wheels tilt from side to side; and first and second leg pads respectively positioned above the first and the second foot platforms and configured so as to contact the side yet not the front or back of a users leg that is standing on the first and second foot platforms, astride the first and second wheels. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A two-wheeled personal vehicle, comprising:
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a first and a second wheel arranged substantially side-by-side about a center plane; first and second foot platforms respectively coupled on the exterior side of each of the first and second wheels; and a linkage assembly the first and second wheels and configured to hold the wheels in a substantially parallel arrangement as the wheels tilt from side to side; wherein the first and second wheels respectively rotate about a first and a second shaft and a first and second strut member are respectively coupled to each of the shafts, the strut members extending substantially downward to a greater extent than upward; and further wherein the first foot platform is coupled toward a bottom of the first strut member and the second foot platform is coupled toward a bottom of the second strut member. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification