Battery powered motor vehicle and method of use

• US 6,907,949 B1
• Filed: 06/25/2004
• Issued: 06/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Q-Global Inc.
• Original Assignee: Q-Global Inc.
• Inventors: Wang, John Baron
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris, Lesley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUM VANNUCCI, LEE SIN YEE
• Application Number:
  US10/877,251
• Time in Patent Office: 361 Days
• Field of Search: 180/6.32, 180/6.48, 180/6.5, 180 191- 193, 180/21, 180/65.1, 180/65.3, 180/65.5
• US Class Current: 180/65.51
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 51/02 the driver standing in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A battery powered motor vehicle for transporting a rider in a standing position can be steered by either selective distribution of the riders weight, or alternative by turning a steering console. By attaching a cargo rack, the battery powered motor vehicle can be converted to a hand truck for transporting cargo. In the hand truck mode, the battery powered motor vehicle can either be powered wherein the vehicle moves in reverse, or manually pushed wherein the vehicle is in a neutral state.

Claims

1. A method for steering a battery powered motor vehicle, comprising:

(a) providing a battery powered motor vehicle, including;

a body having a platform for a rider to stand upon, said platform having a right side and an opposite left side;

a steering column having a top end and an opposite bottom end, said bottom end of said steering column rotatably connected to said body, said steering column rotatable about a first vertical axis;

a steering console connected to said top end of said steering column;

a right front wheel connected to said right side of said body, said right front wheel having a right hub electric motor;

a left front wheel connected to said left side of said body, said left front wheel having a left hub electric motor;

said right hub electric motor mechanically and electrically independent from said left hub electric motor;

a right back wheel rotatable about a second vertical axis;

a left back wheel rotatable about a third vertical axis, said left back wheel spaced apart from and parallel to said right back wheel;

said right and left back wheels mechanically linked to said steering column so that when said steering column is rotated to the right about said first vertical axis, said right and left back wheels rotate to the left about said second and third vertical axes respectively, and when said steering column is rotated to the left about said first vertical axis, said right and left back wheels rotate to the right about said second and third vertical axes respectively;

said battery powered motor vehicle power movable in either a forward or reverse direction;

(b) causing said battery powered motor vehicle to move in said forward direction;

(c) the rider performing at least one of the following four maneuvers;

(1) placing a majority of the riders'"'"'s weight upon said right side of said platform, thereby causing an increased mechanical load to be placed on said right hub electric motor and a decreased mechanical load to be placed on said left hub electric motor, thereby causing said battery powered motor vehicle to turn gradually to the right;

(2) placing a majority of the riders'"'"'s weight upon said left side of said platform, thereby causing an increased mechanical load to be placed on said left hub electric motor and a decreased mechanical load to be placed on said right hub electric motor, thereby causing said battery powered motor vehicle to turn gradually to the left;

(3) turning said steering console to the right wherein said steering column rotates to the right about said first vertical axis causing said right and left back wheels to rotate to the left about said second and third vertical axes respectively, thereby causing said battery powered motor vehicle to turn sharply to the right; and

,

(4) turning said steering console to the left wherein said steering column rotates to the left about said first vertical axis causing said right and left back wheels to rotate to the right about said second and third vertical axes respectively, thereby causing said battery powered motor vehicle to turn sharply to the left.

2. A method for a user to move cargo using a battery powered motor vehicle, comprising:

(a) providing a battery powered motor vehicle, including;

a body having a platform, said platform having a right side and an opposite left side;

a steering column having a top end and an opposite bottom end, said bottom end of said steering column rotatably connected to said body, said steering column rotatable about a first vertical axis;

a steering console connected to said top end of said steering column;

a right front wheel connected to said right side of said body, said right front wheel having a right hub electric motor;

a left front wheel connected to said left side of said body, said left front wheel having a left hub electric motor;

said right hub electric motor mechanically and electrically independent from said left hub electric motor;

said battery powered motor vehicle power movable in either a forward or reverse direction;

a right back wheel rotatable about a second vertical axis;

a left back wheel rotatable about a third vertical axis, said left back wheel spaced apart from and parallel to said right back wheel;

a cargo rack selectively connectable to said battery powered motor vehicle;

(b) connecting said cargo rack to said battery powered motor vehicle thereby converting said battery powered motor vehicle into a hand truck;

(c) placing cargo upon said platform;

(d) tilting said battery powered motor vehicle so that said right and left back wheels are off of the ground;

(e) the user grasping said steering console and causing said battery powered motor vehicle to move in said reverse direction; and

,

(f) the user walking behind said battery powered motor vehicle to transport said cargo to a desired location.

3. A method for a user to move cargo using a battery powered motor vehicle, comprising:

(a) providing a battery powered motor vehicle, including;

a body having a platform, said platform having a right side and an opposite left side;

a steering column having a top end and an opposite bottom end, said bottom end of said steering column rotatably connected to said body, said steering column rotatable about a first vertical axis;

a steering console connected to said top end of said steering column;

a right front wheel connected to said right side of said body, said right front wheel having a right hub electric motor;

a left front wheel connected to said left side of said body, said left front wheel having a left hub electric motor;

said right hub electric motor mechanically and electrically independent from said left hub electric motor;

said battery powered motor vehicle having a neutral state wherein said right and left front wheels freely rotate in either a forward or reverse direction;

a right back wheel rotatable about a second vertical axis;

a left back wheel rotatable about a third vertical axis, said left back wheel spaced apart from and parallel to said right back wheel;

a cargo rack selectively connectable to said battery powered motor vehicle;

(b) connecting said cargo rack to said battery powered motor vehicle thereby converting said battery powered motor vehicle into a hand truck;

(c) placing cargo upon said platform;

(d) tilting said battery powered motor vehicle so that said right and left back wheels are off of the ground;

(e) the user grasping said steering console and causing said battery powered motor vehicle to be in said neutral state; and

,

(f) the user walking behind said battery powered motor vehicle and pushing said battery powered motor vehicle in a reverse direction to transport said cargo to a desired location.

5. The battery powered motor vehicle according to claim 3, further including:

said body having a rear portion; and

,

when said battery powered motor vehicle is not moving, said steering column selectively positionable with respect to said body from a substantially vertical position to a substantially horizontal position wherein said steering column is directed toward said rear portion of said body.

7. The battery powered motor vehicle according to claim 3, further including:

said body having a rear portion; and

,

when said battery powered motor vehicle is not moving, said steering column selectively positionable with respect to said body from a substantially vertical position to a substantially horizontal position wherein said steering column is directed toward said rear portion of said body.

4. A battery powered motor vehicle for transporting a rider, comprising:

a body having a platform for a rider to stand upon, said platform having a right side and an opposite left side;

a steering column having a top end and an opposite bottom end, said bottom end of said steering column rotatably connected to said body, said steering column rotatable about a first vertical axis;

a steering console connected to said top end of said steering column;

a right front wheel connected to said right side of said body, said right front wheel having a right hub electric motor;

a left front wheel connected to said left side of said body, said left front wheel having a left hub electric motor;

said right hub electric motor mechanically and electrically independent from said left hub electric motor;

a right back wheel rotatable about a second vertical axis;

a left back wheel rotatable about a third vertical axis, said left back wheel spaced apart from and parallel to said right back wheel;

said right and left back wheels mechanically linked to said steering column so that when said steering column is rotated to the right about said first vertical axis, said right and left back wheels rotate to the left about said second and third vertical axes respectively, and when said steering column is rotated to the left about said first vertical axis, said right and left back wheels rotate to the right about said second and third vertical axes respectively;

said battery powered motor vehicle power movable in either a forward or reverse direction;

wherein when said battery powered motor vehicle is moving forward, the rider may selectively place a majority of his/her weight upon said right side of said platform, thereby causing an increased mechanical load to be placed on said right hub electric motor and a decreased mechanical load to be placed on said left hub electric motor, thereby causing said battery powered motor vehicle to turn gradually to the right;

wherein when said battery powered motor vehicle is moving forward, the rider may selectively place a majority of his/her weight upon said left side of said platform, thereby causing an increased mechanical load to be placed on said left hub electric motor and a decreased mechanical load to be placed on said right hub electric motor, thereby causing said battery powered motor vehicle to turn gradually to the left;

wherein when said battery powered motor vehicle is moving forward, the rider may selectively turn said steering console to the right wherein said steering column rotates to the right about said first vertical axis causing said right and left back wheels to rotate to the left about said second and third vertical axes respectively, thereby causing said battery powered motor vehicle to turn sharply to the right; and

,

wherein when said battery powered motor vehicle is moving forward, the rider may selectively turn said steering console to the left wherein said steering column rotates to the left about said first vertical axis causing said right and left back wheels to rotate to the right about said second and third vertical axes respectively, thereby causing said battery powered motor vehicle to turn sharply turn to the left.

6. A battery powered motor vehicle for either transporting a rider or for transporting cargo, comprising:

a body having a platform for a rider to stand upon, said platform having a right side and an opposite left side;

a steering column having a top end and an opposite bottom end, said bottom end of said steering column rotatably connected to said body, said steering column rotatable about a first vertical axis;

a steering console connected to said top end of said steering column;

a right front wheel connected to said right side of said body, said right front wheel having a right hub electric motor;

a left front wheel connected to said left side of said body, said left front wheel having a left hub electric motor;

said right hub electric motor mechanically and electrically independent from said left hub electric motor;

a right back wheel rotatable about a second vertical axis;

a left back wheel rotatable about a third vertical axis, said left back wheel spaced apart from and parallel to said right back wheel;

said right and left back wheels mechanically linked to said steering column so that when said steering column is rotated to the right about said first vertical axis, said right and left back wheels rotate to the left about said second and third vertical axes respectively, and when said steering column is rotated to the left about said first vertical axis, said right and left back wheels rotate to the right about said second and third vertical axes respectively;

said battery powered motor vehicle power movable in either a forward or reverse direction;

wherein when said battery powered motor vehicle is moving forward, the rider may selectively place a majority of his/her weight upon said right side of said platform, thereby causing an increased mechanical load to be placed on said right hub electric motor and a decreased mechanical load to be placed on said left hub electric motor, thereby causing said battery powered motor vehicle to turn gradually to the right;

wherein when said battery powered motor vehicle is moving forward, the rider may selectively place a preponderance of the his/her weight upon said left side of said platform, thereby causing an increased mechanical load to be placed on said left hub electric motor and a decreased mechanical load to be placed on said right hub electric motor, thereby causing said battery powered motor vehicle to turn gradually to the left;

wherein when said battery powered motor vehicle is moving forward, the rider may selectively turn said steering console to the right wherein said steering column rotates to the right about said first vertical axis causing said right and left back wheels to rotate to the left about said second and third vertical axes respectively, thereby causing said battery powered motor vehicle to turn sharply to the right;

wherein when said battery powered motor vehicle is moving forward, the rider may selectively turn said steering console to the left wherein said steering column rotates to the left about said first vertical axis causing said right and left back wheels to rotate to the right about said second and third vertical axes respectively, thereby causing said battery powered motor vehicle to turn sharply turn to the left;

a cargo rack selectively connectable to said battery powered motor vehicle for converting said battery powered motor vehicle into a hand truck, wherein when said cargo rack is connected to said battery powered motor vehicle, a user may (1) place cargo upon said platform, (2) tilt said battery powered motor vehicle so that said right and left back wheels are off of the ground, (3) grasp said steering console and cause said battery powered motor vehicle to move in said reverse direction, and (4) walk behind said battery powered motor vehicle to transport said cargo to a desired location.