Vehicle

• US 7,198,280 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2004
• Issued: 04/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Inventors: Hara, Nobuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Shriver; J. Allen
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLLADO, CYNTHIA FRANCISCA
• Application Number:
  US10/538,987
• Publication Number:
  US 20060213711A1
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 280/87.042, 280/87.041, 280/87.021, 280/87.01, 280/29
• US Class Current: 280/87.042
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/0033 with a castor wheel, i.e. a swiveling follow-up wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/01 Skateboards A63C17/02 - A63C17/28 take precedence; rolling devices on skis A63C5/035
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/016 with wheels arranged in one track
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/12 with driving mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/223 Wheel hubs
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/24 with ball-shaped or spherical running surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/52 characterised by DC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

An electric skateboard is capable of detecting a load applied from a rider accurately without influence from various positions of the rider on the board and without influence from various road conditions. The electric skateboard includes a board arranged to receive a load from the rider, a load detection sensor arranged to detect the load received by the board, a front wheel provided on a lower surface of the board, an arm which rotatably supports the front wheel, a first frame connected with the arm, a second frame fixed to the board, and a shaft connecting the first and second frames. The load detection sensor is sandwiched by the first and second frames. A rear wheel is provided on the lower surface of the board and has a construction that is similar to that of the front wheel.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a load receiver including a first main surface arranged to receive a load from a rider;

a load detector arranged to detect the load received by the load receiver;

a wheel provided on a side of a second main surface of the load receiver and driven in accordance with the load detected by the load detector;

a wheel support provided between the load receiver and the wheel and arranged to rotatably support the wheel;

a first frame provided between the wheel support and the load receiver and connected with the wheel support;

a second frame provided between the first frame and the load receiver and fixed to the load receiver; and

a connecting member connecting an end region of the first frame with an end region of the second frame, enabling the second frame to pivot with respect to the first frame in directions that are substantially perpendicular to the first main surface of the load receiver;

wherein

the load detector is sandwiched by the first frame and the second frame.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the first frame and the second frame position the connecting member closer to an outer end of the load receiver than the wheel.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the second frame pivots with respect to the first frame in directions included in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the first main surface of the load receiver and includes longitudinal directions of the load receiver.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising an urging member arranged to urge the first frame toward the load receiver.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the load detector includes at least one of a strain gauge load cell, an electric capacitance sensor and a potentiometer including a gear.

6. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the load detector includes an elastic member and a position sensor arranged to detect displacement of the elastic member caused by the load.

7. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a drive controller operatively connected to the wheel to drive the wheel.

8. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the load receiver is a board and the wheel support includes an arm.

9. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the arm includes at least one groove arranged to contain the wheel in a variable position so as to change a turning characteristic of the vehicle.

10. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the connector member is defined by a hinge mechanism.

11. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an electric skateboard.

12. A vehicle comprising:

a load receiver including a first main surface arranged to receive a load from a rider;

a load detector arranged to detect the load received by the load receiver;

a wheel provided on a side of a second main surface of the load receiver and driven in accordance with the load detected by the load detector;

a wheel support provided between the load receiver and the wheel and arranged to rotatably support the wheel;

a first frame provided between the wheel support and the load receiver and connected with the wheel support;

a second frame provided between the first frame and the load receiver and fixed to the load receiver; and

a regulating member arranged to regulate a position of the second frame, enabling the second frame to move in load detecting directions with respect to the first frame;

wherein

the load detector is sandwiched between the first frame and the second frame.

13. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the second frame pivots with respect to the first frame in directions included in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the first main surface of the load receiver and includes longitudinal directions of the load receiver.

14. The vehicle according to claim 12, further comprising an urging member arranged to urge the first frame toward the load receiver.

15. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the load detector includes at least one of a strain gauge load cell, an electric capacitance sensor and a potentiometer including a gear.

16. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the load detector includes an elastic member and a position sensor arranged to detect displacement of the elastic member caused by the load.

17. The vehicle according to claim 12, further comprising a drive controller operatively connected to the wheel to drive the wheel.

18. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the load receiver is a board and the wheel support includes an arm.

19. The vehicle according to claim 18, wherein the arm includes at least one groove arranged to contain the wheel in a variable position so as to change a turning characteristic of the vehicle.

20. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the vehicle is an electric skateboard.