Battery-powered, remote-controlled, motor-driven, steerable roller skates

• US 7,204,330 B1
• Filed: 06/08/2006
• Issued: 04/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nick Lauren
• Original Assignee: Nick Lauren
• Inventors: Lauren, Nick
• Primary Examiner(s): Bottorff; Christopher
• Application Number:
  US11/449,322
• Time in Patent Office: 313 Days
• Field of Search: 280/11.115, 280/11.27, 280/87.042, 180/180, 180/181
• US Class Current: 180/181
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/02 with wheels arranged in two pairs A63C17/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/12 with driving mechanisms

Abstract

Battery-powered, remote-controlled, motor-driven, steerable roller skates. Each skate includes a boot, a transmitter, a base, a driving mechanism, a steering mechanism, a controller, and a receiver. The boot is worn on a foot of a user. The transmitter is battery-powered, is held by the user, and transmits wireless signals for controlling speed, steering, forward and reverse motion, and combinations thereof. The base has the boot sitting thereon. The driving mechanism is battery-powered, motor-driven, and operatively connected to, and selectively moves, the base with the boot thereon. The steering mechanism is battery-powered, motor-driven, and operatively connected to, and selectively steers, the base with the boot thereon. The controller is battery powered, disposed in the base, and operatively connected to, and selectively activates, the driving mechanism and the steering mechanism. The receiver is battery-powered, disposed in the base, and operatively connected to, and selectively activates, the controller by receipt of the wireless signals from the transmitter so as to allow the base with the boot thereon to move and steer by remote-control.

Claims

1. Battery-powered, remote-controlled, motor-driven, steerable roller skates, each of which comprising:

a) a boot;

b) a transmitter;

c) a base;

d) a driving mechanism;

e) a steering mechanism;

f) a controller; and

g) a receiver;

wherein said boot is for wearing on a foot of a user;

wherein said transmitter is battery-powered;

wherein said transmitter is for holding by the user;

wherein said transmitter transmits wireless signals;

wherein said wireless signals are for controlling speed, steering, forward and reverse motion, and combinations thereof;

wherein said base has said boot sitting thereon;

wherein said driving mechanism is battery-powered;

wherein said driving mechanism is motor-driven;

wherein said driving mechanism is operatively connected to, and selectively moves, said base with said boot thereon;

wherein said steering mechanism is battery-powered;

wherein said steering mechanism is motor-driven;

wherein said steering mechanism is operatively connected to, and selectively steers, said base with said boot thereon;

wherein said controller is battery powered;

wherein said controller is disposed in said base;

wherein said controller is operatively connected to, and selectively activates, said driving mechanism and said steering mechanism;

wherein said receiver is battery-powered;

wherein said receiver is disposed in said base;

wherein said receiver is operatively connected to, and selectively activates, said controller by receipt of said wireless signals from said transmitter so as to allow said base with said boot thereon to move and steer by remote-control;

wherein said base forms a sole of, and attaches to, said boot;

wherein said base has a generally center portion;

wherein said base has a generally rear portion;

wherein said base has a generally front portion;

wherein said steering mechanism comprises a housing;

wherein said steering mechanism comprises a motor;

wherein said steering mechanism comprises a gear drive;

wherein said steering mechanism comprises a pair of wheels;

wherein said housing of said steering mechanism depends from said generally front portion of said base;

wherein said housing of said steering mechanism houses said motor of said steering mechanism;

wherein said gear drive of said steering mechanism is operatively connected to an end of said motor of said steering mechanism; and

wherein said pair of wheels of said steering mechanism are operatively connected to said housing of said steering mechanism.

2. The skate of claim 1, wherein said generally center portion of said base has a chamber depending therefrom;

wherein said chamber in said base houses said controller;

wherein said chamber in said base houses said receiver;

wherein said chamber in said base houses a battery interface; and

wherein said battery interface is for interfacing with batteries for powering said battery-powered, remote-controlled, motor-driven, steerable roller skate.

3. The skate of claim 1, wherein said driving mechanism comprises a housing;

wherein said driving mechanism comprises a motor;

wherein said driving mechanism comprises a pair of gear drives;

wherein said driving mechanism comprises a pair of wheels;

wherein said housing of said driving mechanism depends from said generally rear portion of said base;

wherein said housing of said driving mechanism houses said motor of said driving mechanism;

wherein said pair of gear drives of said driving mechanism are operatively connected to respective ends of said motor of said driving mechanism; and

wherein said pair of wheels of said driving mechanism are operatively connected to said pair of gear drives of said driving mechanism, respectively.

4. The skate of claim 3, wherein said housing of said driving mechanism comprises a generally horizontal portion;

wherein said housing of said driving mechanism comprises a generally vertical portion;

wherein said housing of said driving mechanism comprises a pair of reinforcing ribs;

wherein said generally horizontal portion of said housing of said driving mechanism has an axis;

wherein said generally horizontal portion of said housing of said driving mechanism stationarily houses said motor of said driving mechanism;

wherein said generally vertical portion of said housing of said driving mechanism forms a support post that suspends said generally horizontal portion of said housing of said driving mechanism from said generally rear portion of said base; and

wherein said pair of reinforcing ribs of said housing of said driving mechanism extend from opposite sides of said generally vertical portion of said housing of said driving mechanism to, and along said axis of, said generally horizontal portion of said housing of said driving mechanism.

5. The skate of claim 3, wherein said motor of said driving mechanism is in electrical communication with said controller via a cable;

wherein said motor of said driving mechanism comprises brushes;

wherein said motor of said driving mechanism comprises a rotor;

wherein said rotor of said motor of said driving mechanism has a shaft;

wherein said shaft of said rotor of said motor of said driving mechanism has a pair of ends;

wherein one end of said shaft of said rotor of said motor of said driving mechanism is operatively connected to a cooling fan and then to one gear drive of said driving mechanism; and

wherein the other end of said shaft of said rotor of said motor of said driving mechanism is operatively connected to the other gear drive of said driving mechanism.

6. The skate of claim 3, wherein each gear drive of said driving mechanism comprises a planetary gear set;

wherein said planetary gear set of each gear drive of said driving mechanism comprises a sun gear;

wherein said planetary gear set of each gear drive of said driving mechanism comprises three planetary gears operatively connected to said sun gear of said planetary gear set of an associated gear drive of said driving mechanism; and

wherein said planetary gear set of each gear drive of said driving mechanism comprises a ring gear operatively connected to said three planetary gears of said planetary gear set of the associated gear drive of said driving mechanism;

wherein said sun gear of said planetary gear set of said associated gear drive of said driving mechanism is disposed on, and rotates with, a respective end of said shaft of said planetary gear set of said associated gear drive of said driving mechanism;

wherein said three planetary gears of said planetary gear set of said associated gear drive of said driving mechanism are rotatably attached to corners of a generally triangular plate having a stub shaft extending centrally and axially outwardly therefrom to, and to rotate, a respective wheel of said driving mechanism; and

wherein said ring gear of said planetary gear set of said associated gear drive of said driving mechanism is stationarily affixed to said generally horizontal portion of said housing of said driving mechanism so as to allow said three planetary gears of said planetary gear set of said associated gear drive of said driving mechanism to rotate around said sun gear of said planetary gear set of said associated gear drive of said driving mechanism and also around in said ring gear of said planetary gear set of said associated gear drive of said driving mechanism.

7. The skate of claim 1, wherein said housing of said steering mechanism comprises a generally horizontal portion;

wherein said housing of said steering mechanism comprises a generally vertical portion;

wherein said housing of said steering mechanism comprises a pair of reinforcing ribs;

wherein said generally horizontal portion of said housing of said steering mechanism has an axis;

wherein said generally vertical portion of said housing of said steering mechanism comprises a stationary portion;

wherein said generally vertical portion of said housing of said steering mechanism comprises a movable portion;

wherein said stationary portion of said generally vertical portion of said housing of said steering mechanism forms a support post stationarily housing said motor of said steering mechanism;

wherein said movable portion of said generally vertical portion of said housing of said steering mechanism is rotatably attached to, and receives, said stationary portion of said housing of said steering mechanism by having a groove extending partially therearound rotatably receive a tab extending partially around said stationary portion of said generally vertical portion of said housing of said steering mechanism;

wherein said movable portion of said generally vertical portion of said housing of said steering mechanism suspends said generally horizontal portion of said housing of said steering mechanism from said generally front portion of said base; and

wherein said pair of reinforcing ribs of said housing of said steering mechanism extend from opposite sides of said movable portion of said generally vertical portion of said housing of said steering mechanism to, and along said axis of, said generally horizontal portion of said housing of said steering mechanism.

8. The skate of claim 1, wherein said motor of said steering mechanism comprises brushes;

wherein said motor of said steering mechanism comprises a rotor;

wherein said rotor of said motor of said steering mechanism has a shaft;

wherein said shaft of said rotor of said motor of said steering mechanism has a pair of ends;

wherein said motor of said steering mechanism is in electrical communication with said controller via a cable;

wherein one end of said shaft of said rotor of said motor of said steering mechanism is operatively connected to a cooling fan; and

wherein the other end of said shaft of said rotor of said motor of said steering mechanism is operatively connected to said gear drive of said steering mechanism.

9. The skate of claim 1, wherein said gear drive of said steering mechanism comprises a planetary gear set;

wherein said planetary gear set of said gear drive of said steering mechanism comprises a sun gear;

wherein said planetary gear set of said gear drive of said steering mechanism comprises three planetary gears operatively connected to said sun gear of said planetary gear set of said gear drive of said steering mechanism;

wherein said planetary gear set of said gear drive of said steering mechanism comprises a ring gear operatively connected to said three planetary gears of said planetary gear set of said gear drive of said steering mechanism;

wherein said sun gear of said planetary gear set of said gear drive of said steering mechanism is disposed on, and rotates with, the other end of said shaft of said rotor of said motor of said steering mechanism;

wherein said three planetary gears of said planetary gear set of said gear drive of said steering mechanism are rotatably attached to corners of a generally triangular plate having a stub shaft extending centrally and axially outwardly therefrom to, and to rotate, said movable portion of said generally vertical portion of said housing of said steering mechanism so as to allow said pair of wheels of said steering mechanism to steer; and

wherein said ring gear of said planetary gear set of said gear drive of said steering mechanism is stationarily affixed to said stationary portion of said generally vertical portion of said housing of said steering mechanism so as to allow said three planetary gears of said planetary gear set of said gear drive of said steering mechanism to rotate around said sun gear of said planetary gear set of said gear drive of said steering mechanism and also around in said ring gear of said planetary gear set of said gear drive of said steering mechanism.