Personal mobility vehicles and methods

• US 7,370,713 B1
• Filed: 06/04/1999
• Issued: 05/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Kamen, Dean L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley; Kevin
• Application Number:
  US09/325,976
• Time in Patent Office: 3,266 Days
• Field of Search: 180/7.1, 180/8.2, 180/8.3, 180/65.1, 180/218, 180/21, 180/8.1, 180/65.8
• US Class Current: 180/7.1
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/12 with driving mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/00 Disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel roller-skate driving mechanisms A63C17/12
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2036 Electric differentials, e.g. for supporting steering vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/14 Vehicles with one wheel only
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/16 Single-axle vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/22 Microcars, e.g. golf cars
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/46 Wheel motors, i.e. motor connected to only one wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/22 Yaw angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/461 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 57/00 Vehicles characterised by having other propulsion or other ground- engaging means than wheels or endless track, alone or in addition to wheels or endless track sledges B62B; motor sledges B62M
• 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 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 180/907 Motorized wheelchairs

Abstract

A class of transportation vehicles for carrying an individual over ground having a surface that may be irregular. This embodiment has a motorized drive, mounted to the ground-contacting module that causes operation of the vehicle in an operating position that is unstable with respect to tipping when the motorized drive arrangement is not powered.

Claims

1. A device for carrying a user characterized by a characteristic area in a plane parallel to an underlying surface, the device comprising:

a. a platform for supporting the user;

b. a ground-contacting module which propels the platform over the underlying surface, the ground-contacting module including separately rotatable ground-contacting members and having an area substantially equal to the characteristic area of the user; and

c. a motorized drive arrangement coupled to the ground-contacting module which causes, when powered, operation of the device in an operating position that allows for leaning and that is unstable with respect to tipping in the fore-aft plane when the motorized drive arrangement is not powered, in such a manner that leaning of the device is not cancelled while the device is in motion.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the ground-contacting members are wheels.

3. A device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the ground-contacting members are exactly two laterally disposed wheels.

4. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein the motorized drive arrangement is controllable by the user.

5. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein the motorized drive arrangement is controllable by leaning of the user.

6. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein the motorized drive arrangement is controlled solely by leaning of the user.

7. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the motorized drive arrangement is controlled by an orientation of the user with respect to the platform.

8. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the motorized drive arrangement is controllable by a user input device for receiving an indication from the user of a direction of desired movement.

9. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the motorized drive arrangement is controllable by a user input device for receiving an indication from the user of a direction of desired movement of the vehicle and for causing in response thereto the device to lean in the direction of desired movement.

10. A device in accordance with claim 1, further including a motorized drive arrangement controller that causes the vehicle to be propelled at a specified velocity wherein such specified velocity may be arbitrarily close to zero velocity.

11. A vehicle in accordance with claim 10, wherein the specified velocity is specifiable by the user.

12. A device in accordance with claim 10, wherein the specified velocity is specifiable by a user input device.

13. A device in accordance with claim 10, wherein the specified velocity is specifiable by leaning of the user on the ground-contacting module.

14. A device in accordance with claim 10, wherein the specified velocity is specifiable by orientation of the user with respect to the ground-contacting module.

15. A device in accordance with claim 10, wherein the specified velocity is specifiable by a distribution of weight of a payload including the user with respect to the ground-contacting module.

16. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein operation of the device includes locomotion.

17. A device in accordance with claim 1, further including a motorized drive arrangement controller that causes the device to stand substantially at a specified location.

18. A device in accordance with claim 10, wherein the motorized drive arrangement controller is capable of causing the device to stand substantially at a specified location.

19. A method for using a vehicle to carry a user having two feet, the feet of the user defining a characteristic area in a standing position, the method comprising:

a. positioning the user on a platform, the platform coupled to a ground-contacting module which propels the platform over an underlying surface, the ground-contacting module including separately rotatable ground-contacting members and having an area substantially equal to the characteristic area of the user; and

b. operating a motorized drive arrangement coupled to the ground-contacting module which causes, when powered, operation of the device in an operating position that allows for leaning and that is unstable with respect to tipping in the fore-aft plane when the motorized drive arrangement is not powered and in such a manner than leaning of the device is not cancelled while the device is in motion.

20. A method in accordance with claim 19, wherein the ground-contacting members are wheels.

21. A method in accordance with claim 19, wherein the ground-contacting members are exactly two laterally disposed wheels.