Two-wheel battery-powered vehicle for one person

• US 7,303,032 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2006
• Issued: 12/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Reinhard Ansorge, Ulrich Kahlert
• Original Assignee: Reinhard Ansorge, Ulrich Kahlert
• Inventors: Kahlert, Ulrich, Ansorge, Reinhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Shriver; J. Allen
• Assistant Examiner(s): AVERY, BRIDGET D
• Application Number:
  US11/357,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20060202439A1
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.1, 180/21, 180/7.1, 180/218, 180/907, 180/13, 280/208, 280/78, 280/209, 280/205, 280/266, 280/282, 280/87.041
• US Class Current: 180/65.1
• 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 two-wheel battery-powered vehicle has a platform and two wheels connected to the platform, wherein a battery-powered wheel drive drives the wheels. An attachment is connected to the platform and a sensor device is arranged in the platform. A person standing on the platform and engaging the attachment moves the platform into an angle position corresponding to a body position of the person. Based on the angle position of the platform, the sensor device controls the wheel drive such that, by acceleration or deceleration, the vehicle and the person standing on it are kept in a balanced position. A right/left control controls turning of the vehicle in a traveling direction by driving the wheels at different speed. The attachment has a leg support device for at least one leg of the person standing on the platform for keeping the platform at a desired angle position.

Claims

1. A two-wheel battery-powered vehicle comprising:

a platform;

two wheels connected to the platform;

a battery-powered wheel drive driving the two wheels;

an attachment connected to the platform;

a sensor device arranged in the platform;

a right/left control;

wherein a person standing on the platform and engaging the attachment moves the platform into an angle position corresponding to a body position of the person, wherein, based on the angle position of the platform relative to a horizontal position, the sensor device controls the wheel drive such that the wheel drive, by acceleration or deceleration, keeps the vehicle and the person standing on the platform in a balanced position;

wherein the right/left control controls turning of the vehicle to the left or to the right in a traveling direction by driving the wheels at different speed;

wherein the attachment has a leg support device for at least one leg of the person standing on the platform in order to keep the platform at a desired angle position.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the attachment ends above the knee of the person.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the leg support device of the attachment comprises a shell that is curved or angled, wherein the shell contacts a first leg of the person.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein above lateral areas of the platform on opposed sides of the attachment space for the legs of the person is provided for leaving the platform to the sides and toward the front.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1, comprising a replacement part comprising the leg support device for the at least one leg, wherein the replacement part is adapted to connect to a base column of a commercially available vehicle and to replace a height-adjustable column provided with handles of the commercially available vehicle.

6. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the right/left control is foot-operated.

7. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a support for an object to be transported, wherein the support is mounted to be pivotable to the front and the rear of the vehicle, wherein the support is connectable to the body of the person.

8. The vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the shell contacts the first leg laterally.

9. The vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the shell contacts an inner side of the first leg.

10. The vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the leg support device comprises a flat support plate for the second leg, wherein the flat support plate is arranged such that the person presses with the second leg the shell against the first leg.

11. The vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the replacement part comprises a box-shaped column and a height-adjustable holder connected to the column, wherein the leg support device is connected to the holder, wherein the replacement part further comprises a slantedly positioned socket connected to the column and connected to the base column.

12. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the leg support device comprises a shell contacted by a first leg of the person and a flat support plate contacted by a second leg of the person.

13. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the shell and the flat support part have an adjustable spacing relative to one another.

14. The vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the leg support device comprises two pivotable holding arms connected to the shell and the flat support plate, respectively, wherein the two holding arms are adapted to be secured in different spread-apart positions.

15. The vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the right/left control comprises two pedals.

16. The vehicle according to claim 6, comprising a replacement part comprising the leg support device for the at least one leg, wherein the replacement part is adapted to connect to a base column of a commercially available vehicle and to replace a height-adjustable column provided with handles of the commercially available vehicle, wherein on the replacement part a rocker device with pedals is mounted, wherein the rocker device has an arm that projects upwardly and operates an electric control member of the right/left control, which control member is mounted on the replacement part.

17. The vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the control member is taken from a rotary handle of the attachment of a commercially available vehicle.

18. The vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the replacement part has an downward extension positioned adjacent to the base column on which extension the rocker device is arranged.

19. The vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the support is mounted on or near a wheel axle of the wheels.

20. The vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the support is bow-shaped and comprises an angle member engaging the body of the person on one side.