Mechanical improvements to a personal vehicle

• US 7,131,706 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2004
• Issued: 11/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Brindley, Thomas Alan, Nisbet, Marc A., Ambrogi, Robert R., Heinzmann, Richard Kurt, Langenfeld, Christopher C., Smith, Stanley B. III, Kamen, Dean L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris, Lesley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUM VANNUCCI, LEE SIN YEE
• Application Number:
  US10/818,386
• Publication Number:
  US 20040183272A1
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 280/250.1, 280/304.1, 301/111.03, 301/131, 301/134, 403/1, 403/22, 403/374.1, 403/409.1
• US Class Current: 301/111.03
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/12 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/14 Joysticks
• 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 5/041 having a specific drive-type
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/061 for climbing stairs
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1059 adjusting the height of the seat
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/107 positioning the whole seat forward or rearward
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1078 with shock absorbers or other suspension arrangements between wheels and frame
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1083 Quickly-removable wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1089 Anti-tip devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/12 Rests specially adapted therefor, e.g. for the head or the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/125 for arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/128 for feet
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/16 Single-axle vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/24 Personal mobility vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/34 Wheel chairs
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/145 Structure borne vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/60 using power supplied by batteries in combination with fuel cells B60L50/75
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 1/00 Unicycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/007 : Automatic balancing machines with single main ground engaging wheel or coaxial wheels supporting a rider
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 180/907 : Motorized wheelchairs

Abstract

Improvements to personal vehicles including self-propelled and balancing personal vehicles. Ready detachability of a seat, footrest, seat back, control unit, wheels and caster assembly is provided using quick disconnect mechanisms.

Claims

1. A self-pulling mechanism for a wheel having a tapered axle bore and a hub, the mechanism comprising:

a. an axle having a taper corresponding to the bore of the wheel and a threaded end;

b. a retaining ring seated on an inside groove of the hub of the wheel; and

c. a wheel nut having a threaded bore corresponding to the threaded end of the axle such that upon tightening the wheel is retained on the axle and upon loosening a force is applied to the retaining ring for removing the wheel from the axle.

2. A self-pulling mechanism in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a wheel nut retention clip for retaining the wheel nut against rotation with respect to the hub.

3. A self-pulling mechanism in accordance with claim 1, wherein the hub includes a retaining snap ring capable of being snapped into an annular groove behind the wheel nut.