Anti-tipping mechanism

• US 6,062,600 A
• Filed: 07/14/1997
• Issued: 05/16/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Langenfeld, Christopher C., Smith, Stanley B. III, Kamen, Dean L., Ambrogi, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, J. J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZEENDER, FLORIAN M
• Application Number:
  US08/892,566
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 280/755, 280/763.1, 280/304.1, 280/298, 280/304, 280/6.15, 280/765.1, 280/250.1, 280/764.1, 280/766.1
• US Class Current: 280/755
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/36 for motion
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/04 motor-driven A61G5/06 takes precedence; motor-operated rests A61G5/12; for vehicles with handlebars, equipped with three or more wheels B62K5/003, B62K5/023
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/06 with obstacle mounting facilities, e.g. for climbing stairs, kerbs or steps
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/10 Parts, details or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1089 Anti-tip devices
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/007 Automatic balancing machines with single main ground engaging wheel or coaxial wheels supporting a rider

Abstract

An anti-tipping mechanism for a vehicle that provides a strut actively deployed by rotation from a retracted position so as to bring a wheel into ground contact to inhibit tipping of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An anti-tipping vehicle, the vehicle characterized by a center of mass and a direction of travel, the vehicle comprising:

a. a frame;

b. a pair of wheels rotating in laterally spaced planes, the pair of wheels dynamically maintaining stability of the vehicle with respect to fore-aft tipping during normal operation;

c. a strut coupled to the frame in such a manner as to permit rotation of the strut from a retracted position to a deployed position about an axis, the axis having a component perpendicular to the direction of travel of the vehicle;

d. a wheel mounted to an end of the strut;

e. a sensor responsive to motion of the center of mass in one of a forward and backward direction;

f. an actuator for rotating the strut from the retracted position to the deployed position; and

g. a controller, in communication with the sensor, for activating the actuator in response to a specified motion of the center of mass in one of the forward and backward directions.

2. An anti-tipping mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising an engagement mechanism for bringing the wheel mounted to the end of the strut into ground contact.

3. An anti-tipping mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the engagement mechanism is provided by an extendable member coupled to said strut.

4. An anti-tipping mechanism according to claim 2, wherein said extendable member is an arm received into a sleeve in said strut.

5. An anti-tipping mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is an inclinometer.