ADAPTABLE VEHICLE
First Claim
1. An adaptable vehicle, comprising:
- (a) a pair of primary rollers for rolling along a surface on which the vehicle is travelling, wherein at least one of the rollers is rotatably powered;
(b) two sets of linking arms, one of which is coupled to one of the rollers and the other of which is coupled to the other of the rollers such that moving the sets of linking arms can shift the axes of rotation of the rollers without impeding rotation of the rollers; and
(c) an actuatable hub to which the sets of linking arms connect and about which the sets of linking arms are rotatable, wherein actuation of the hub causes at least one set of the linking arms to rotate about the hub and shifts the axis of rotation of at least one of the rollers to allow the vehicle to adapt to its surroundings.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure is directed at an adaptable vehicle that includes a pair of primary rollers for rolling along a surface on which the vehicle is travelling. At least one of the rollers is rotatably powered. The adaptable vehicle also includes two sets of linking arms, one of which is coupled to one of the rollers and the other of which is coupled to the other of the rollers such that moving the sets of linking arms can shift the axes of rotation of the rollers without impeding rotation of the rollers. The sets of linking arms are connected to and rotatable about an actuatable hub. Actuation of the hub causes at least one set of the linking arms to rotate about the hub and shifts the axis of rotation of at least one of the rollers to allow the vehicle to adapt to its surroundings.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An adaptable vehicle, comprising:
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(a) a pair of primary rollers for rolling along a surface on which the vehicle is travelling, wherein at least one of the rollers is rotatably powered; (b) two sets of linking arms, one of which is coupled to one of the rollers and the other of which is coupled to the other of the rollers such that moving the sets of linking arms can shift the axes of rotation of the rollers without impeding rotation of the rollers; and (c) an actuatable hub to which the sets of linking arms connect and about which the sets of linking arms are rotatable, wherein actuation of the hub causes at least one set of the linking arms to rotate about the hub and shifts the axis of rotation of at least one of the rollers to allow the vehicle to adapt to its surroundings. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An adaptable vehicle for climbing an object, the vehicle comprising:
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(a) a pair of primary rollers positioned to roll along a surface of one portion of the object, wherein at least one of the rollers is rotatably powered; (b) an actuatable hub comprising a hub roller positioned to roll along a surface of another portion of the object, wherein the hub is actuatable in expanding and contracting directions; and (c) two sets of linking arms each rotatably coupling one of the primary rollers to the hub such that actuation of the hub in the expanding direction causes the primary and hub rollers to press against the object when the object is around the vehicle, and actuation of the hub in the contracting direction causes the primary and hub rollers to clamp the object when the object is located between the primary and hub rollers. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification