Electrically integrated scooter with dual suspension and stowage mechanism

• US 6,347,681 B1
• Filed: 08/27/1999
• Issued: 02/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Patmont Motor Werks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Patmont Motor Werks, Inc.
• Inventors: Chow, Timothy, Patmont, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lerner, Avraham H.
• Application Number:
  US09/384,854
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 180/287, 180/219, 180/220, 180/221, 180/227, 180/228, 180/180, 180/181, 180/65.1, 180/65.8, 280/87.01, 280/87.021, 280/87.03, 280/87.041, 280/87.05, 318/139, 318/362, 318/376, 318/371, 318/270, 318/274
• US Class Current: 180/220
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2204/00 Adaptations for driving cycles by electric motor for driving electrically assisted bicycles B62M6/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 3/002 without a seat, i.e. the rider operating the vehicle in a standing position, e.g. non-motorized scooters; non-motorized scooters with skis or runners
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/45 Control or actuating devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/75 power-driven by friction rollers or gears engaging the ground wheel

Abstract

An electric scooter having batteries concealed below the standing platform in a multipurpose battery pan, an anti-lock brake, a dual suspension, a stow and carry feature, integrated electronics including brake control, throttle control, safety measures and theft protection. The dual suspension scooter includes a chassis; a steering column; a front wheel rotatably mounted on a front axle assembly; a rear wheel rotatably mounted on a rear axle assembly; a front cantilevered suspension mechanism mounted between the steering column and the front axle assembly; and a rear suspension mechanism mounted between the rear end of the chassis and the rear axle assembly.

Claims

1. An electric scooter with integrated electronic control having an electric motor for accelerating the electric scooter comprising:

throttle lever, wherein movement of the throttle lever is indicative of desired acceleration of the electric scooter;

a brake lever;

a brake sensor proximate to the brake lever, wherein the brake sensor senses the position of the brake lever;

a throttle control circuit coupled between the throttle lever and the electric motor and coupled to the brake sensor, wherein the throttle control circuit controls the acceleration of the electric scooter by the electric motor based upon movement of the throttle lever and is disabled when the brake sensor senses that the brake lever is in a braking position; and

an electronic brake control coupled between the brake sensor and the motor, wherein the electronic brake control causes the electric motor to act as an electric brake when the brake sensor senses that the brake lever is in a braking position.

2. The electric scooter recited in claim 1 further comprising:

an anti-theft key;

a power cut-off circuit electrically coupled to the anti-theft key

wherein the electric scooter is electrically disabled upon removal of the anti-theft key.

3. The electric scooter recited in claim 2 further comprising:

an indicator light coupled to the anti-theft key, wherein the indicator light when lit indicates that the scooter is energized and will accelerate upon movement of the throttle lever.

4. The electric scooter recited in claim 1 further comprising:

a charging unit coupled to the throttle control circuit wherein the throttle control unit is disabled while the charging unit is in operation.

5. The electric scooter recited in claim 1 further comprising:

a throttle mechanism coupled between the throttle lever and the throttle control wherein the throttle mechanism converts mechanical movement of the throttle lever to electrical signals recognized by the throttle circuit.

6. The electric scooter recited in claim 1 further comprising:

a safety circuit; and

a throttle sensor coupled between the throttle mechanism and the safety circuit;

wherein the safety circuit prevents acceleration of the scooter when there is no movement of the throttle lever indicative of acceleration.

7. The electric scooter recited in claim 1 wherein movement of the brake lever indicative of braking simultaneously causes friction braking of a front wheel and electric braking of a rear wheel.

8. The electric scooter recited in claim 1 wherein the electronic brake control cycles the electric brake on and off to cause the electric brake in an anti-lock manner.

9. The electric scooter recited in claim 8 wherein the electronic brake control cycles the electric brake on and off at approximately a 65% duty cycle.

10. The electric scooter recited in claim 1, further comprising

a current limit circuit coupled between the throttle control circuit and the electric motor.

11. The electric scooter recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a battery pan for holding and protecting batteries wherein the battery pan is an RF shield for at least portions of the throttle control circuit and the battery pan is a heat sink for a battery charging unit.

12. The electric scooter recited in claim 11, wherein the battery pan is constructed of aluminum.

13. The electric scooter recited in claim 1, further comprising:

means for holding and protecting batteries;

means for RF shielding at least portions of the throttle control circuit; and

means for dissipating heat generated by a battery charging unit.

14. The electric scooter recited in claim 13, wherein the means for holding and protecting, the means for RF shielding and the means for dissipating heat comprise a single structure.

15. The electric scooter recited in claim 14, wherein the single structure is constructed of aluminum.