Multiple-passenger transporter

• US 6,969,079 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2003
• Issued: 11/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Field, J. Douglas, Heinzmann, John David, Kamen, Dean L.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHRIVER II, JAMES A
• Application Number:
  US10/618,914
• Publication Number:
  US 20040016584A1
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 180/218, 180/21, 280/204, 280/292, 280/492, 280/494, 280/504, 280/400, 280/458, 280/456.1, 280/426
• US Class Current: 280/204
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/24 Personal mobility vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 51/02 the driver standing in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 61/00 Motor vehicles or trailers, characterised by the arrangement or number of wheels, not otherwise provided for, e.g. four wheels in diamond pattern
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/007 Automatic balancing machines with single main ground engaging wheel or coaxial wheels supporting a rider

Abstract

A transporter for transporting a first person and one or more riders over a surface. The transporter includes a first support platform for supporting the first person, the first support platform having left and right sides and defining a fore-aft vertical plane and a lateral plane. At least one ground-contacting element is coupled to the first support platform such that the first support platform is capable of tilting in the fore-aft plane about a tilt axis. The at least one ground-contacting element is driven by a motorized drive arrangement so as to cause locomotion of the transporter. A controller commands the motorized drive arrangement. The controller is configured so that at least one of fore and aft sustained motion of the transporter is based at least on fore-aft tilting of the first support platform. One or more passenger platforms support one or more riders, the passenger platforms coupled to the first support platform such that fore-aft tilting of the first support platform is substantially independent of the one or more passenger platforms.

Claims

1. A transporter for transporting a first user and at least one additional rider over a surface, the transporter comprising:

a first support platform for supporting the first user, the first support platform having left and right sides and defining a fore-aft vertical plane and a lateral plane;

at least one ground-contacting element coupled to the first support platform such that the first support platform is capable of tilting in the fore-aft plane about a tilt axis;

a motorized drive arrangement for driving the at least one ground-contacting element so as to cause locomotion of the transporter;

a controller for commanding the motorized drive arrangement, the controller configured so that at least one of fore and aft sustained motion of the transporter is based at least on fore-aft tilting of the first support platform; and

one or more passenger platforms for supporting the at least one additional rider.

2. The transporter according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the passenger platforms is pivotally coupled to the first support platform in such a manner that fore-aft tilting of the first support platform is substantially independent of the passenger platforms.

3. The transporter according to claim 1, wherein the first support platform includes a pivot member characterized by a pivot axis proximate to said tilt axis for coupling at least one of the passenger platforms to the first support platform, the pivot axis being perpendicular to the fore-aft plane.

4. The transporter according to claim 3, wherein the pivot axis coincides with the tilt axis.

5. The transporter according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the passenger platforms includes an arm having an end for coupling to the pivot member.

6. The transporter according to claim 5, wherein the arm is shaped to avoid contact with the first platform when the first platform is tilting.

7. The transporter according to claim 1, wherein at least one auxiliary ground-contacting element is coupled to each of the passenger platforms.

8. The transporter according to claim 7, wherein the at least one auxiliary ground-contacting element is a wheel.

9. The transporter according to claim 7, wherein the wheel can swivel about a vertical axis in response to turns made by the transporter.

10. The transporter according to claim 7, wherein weight of a rider on one of the passenger platforms is borne primarily by the at least one auxiliary ground-contacting element.

11. The transporter according to claim 7, wherein the at least one auxiliary ground-contacting element is one of a ski and a skid.

12. The transporter according to claim 1, wherein at least one passenger platform includes at least one seat.

13. The transporter according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the passenger platforms is coupled to the first platform via a ball joint.

14. The transporter according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the passenger platforms is coupled to the first platform via a U-joint.

15. The transporter according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the passenger platforms includes a substantially vertical support column.

16. The transporter according to claim 1, wherein the controller commands the motorized drive arrangement such that stability of the first support platform is dynamically maintained.

17. A method of using a transporter to transport a first user and at least one rider over a surface, the method comprising:

supporting the user on a first support platform, the first support platform defining a fore-aft vertical plane and a lateral plane, the first support platform coupled to at least one ground-contacting element such that the first support platform is capable of tilting in the fore-aft plane;

supporting the at least one rider on one or more passenger platforms; and

controlling a motorized drive arrangement coupled to the at least one ground-contacting element such that sustained motion of the transporter is based at least on fore-aft tilting of the first support platform.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein controlling the motorized drive arrangement is based at least on maintaining dynamic stability of the first support platform.

19. The method according to claim 17, further including attaching at least one of the passenger platforms to the first support platform such that fore-aft tilting of the first support platform is substantially independent of the at least one of the passenger platforms.

20. The method according to claim 17, further including attaching at least one auxiliary ground unit to at least one of the passenger platforms.