Transport vehicle and method
First Claim
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1. A transport vehicle capable of displacement between a first condition for transferring an associated cargo and a second condition for transporting the associated cargo, said transport vehicle comprising:
- a self-balancing vehicle base including a carrier structure having a balancing axis, a ground-engaging component operatively connected to said carrier structure, and a base structure rotatably supported on said carrier structure for displacement about said balancing axis between a first orientation corresponding to said first condition of said transport vehicle and a second orientation that is different from said first orientation and corresponds to said second condition of said transport vehicle;
a platform moveably supported on said vehicle base and displaceable relative thereto in a direction transverse to said balancing axis between a first position corresponding to said first orientation of said vehicle base and a second position corresponding to said second orientation of said vehicle base, said platform including a first end pivotally connected to said base structure and a second end spaced from said first end in said direction transverse to said balancing axis, said second end being free from said base structure such that said platform can be maintained in an approximately fixed orientation during displacement of said base structure between said first and second orientations; and
,a support device engaging said second end of said platform and supporting at least a portion thereof during displacement between said first position and said second position such that said platform can be maintained in said approximately fixed orientation during displacement of said base structure between said first and second orientations;
wherein a free end of said support device travels beneath at least a portion of said base structure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A transport vehicle includes a self-balancing vehicle base. A platform is supported on the base and is displaceable relative thereto between a first position and a second position. A support device engages the platform and supports at least a portion thereof during displacement between the first position and the second position. A method is also included.
68 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A transport vehicle capable of displacement between a first condition for transferring an associated cargo and a second condition for transporting the associated cargo, said transport vehicle comprising:
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a self-balancing vehicle base including a carrier structure having a balancing axis, a ground-engaging component operatively connected to said carrier structure, and a base structure rotatably supported on said carrier structure for displacement about said balancing axis between a first orientation corresponding to said first condition of said transport vehicle and a second orientation that is different from said first orientation and corresponds to said second condition of said transport vehicle; a platform moveably supported on said vehicle base and displaceable relative thereto in a direction transverse to said balancing axis between a first position corresponding to said first orientation of said vehicle base and a second position corresponding to said second orientation of said vehicle base, said platform including a first end pivotally connected to said base structure and a second end spaced from said first end in said direction transverse to said balancing axis, said second end being free from said base structure such that said platform can be maintained in an approximately fixed orientation during displacement of said base structure between said first and second orientations; and
,a support device engaging said second end of said platform and supporting at least a portion thereof during displacement between said first position and said second position such that said platform can be maintained in said approximately fixed orientation during displacement of said base structure between said first and second orientations;
wherein a free end of said support device travels beneath at least a portion of said base structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A vehicle for transporting an associated cargo over a discontinuous surface, said transport vehicle comprising:
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a self-balancing vehicle base operative to traverse a discontinuous surface and displaceable between a first condition for transporting the associated cargo and a second condition for transferring the associated cargo, said vehicle base including a carrier structure having an axis, a ground-engaging component operatively connected to said carrier structure, and a base structure rotatably supported on said carrier structure for displacement relative thereto about said axis between a first orientation corresponding to said first condition of said vehicle base and a second orientation corresponding to said second condition of said vehicle base; a platform moveably supported on said vehicle base for receiving the associated cargo, said platform displaceable in a direction transverse to said axis between a retracted position for transporting the associated cargo and an extended position for transferring the associated cargo, said platform including a first end pivotally connected to said base structure and a second end spaced from said first end in said direction of displacement, said second end being free from said base structure such that said platform can be maintained in an approximately fixed orientation during displacement of said base structure between said first and second orientations; and
,a support member operatively connected between said vehicle base and said second end of said platform, said support member operative to support said second end of said platform during displacement of said platform between said retracted position and said extended position such that said platform can be maintained in said approximately fixed orientation during displacement of said base structure between said first and second orientations;
wherein a free end of said support member travels beneath at least a portion of said base structure. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A transport vehicle capable of displacement between a first condition for transferring an associated payload having an associated orientation and a second condition for transporting the associated payload in the associated orientation, said transport vehicle being capable of traversing a plurality of stairs carrying the associated payload while maintaining the associated payload in the associated orientation, said transport vehicle comprising:
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a self-balancing vehicle base including; a base structure including an upper end wall, opposing sides, an axis extending between said opposing sides, a base axle extending along said axis, and a motor in operative association with said base axle; first and second carrier members supported along said opposing sides of said base structure such that said base structure can be rotated about said axis relative to said first and second carrier members, at least one of said first and second carrier members being operatively connected to said base axle such that rotation of said base structure with respect to said first and second carrier members can be selectively controlled, said first and second carrier members having opposing ends and a wheel axle supported on each of said opposing ends; a wheel assembly supported on each of said wheel axles; a rotational motion source operatively connected between said base structure and said first and second carrier members; and
,a control system in electrical communication with said rotational motion source and operative to selectively energize said rotational motion source to; 1) displace said base structure into a first alignment corresponding to said first condition of said transport vehicle in which said upper end wall of said base structure is disposed at a non-zero angle relative to horizontal; 2) displace said base structure into a second alignment corresponding to said second condition of said transport vehicle in which said upper end wall of said base structure is disposed approximately horizontally; and
,3) maintain said base structure in approximately said second alignment during traversal of a plurality of stairs; a platform moveably supported along said upper end wall of said vehicle base and displaceable in a direction transverse to said axis between a first position and a second position, said platform including a first end pivotally connected to said base structure and a second end spaced from said first end in said direction transverse to said axis, said second end being free from said base structure such that said platform can be maintained in an approximately horizontal orientation during displacement of said base structure between said first and second orientations; and
,a flexible force transmitting device connected to said second end of said platform and adapted to engage said vehicle base such that said platform can be maintained in said approximately horizontal orientation during displacement of said base structure between said first and second alignments;
wherein a free end of said flexible force transmitting device travels beneath at least a portion of said base structure. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A transport vehicle capable of traversing a plurality of stairs carrying an associated payload, said transport vehicle comprising:
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a self-balancing vehicle base including a base structure having opposing sides, an axis extending between said opposing sides, a base axle extending along said axis, and a motor in operative association with said base axle; first and second carrier members supported along said opposing sides of said base structure for rotation about said axis, at least one of said first and second carrier members being operatively associated with said base axle, said first and second carrier members having opposing ends and a wheel axle supported on each of said opposing ends; a wheel assembly supported on each of said wheel axles, said wheel assembly including a wheel, an engagement member rotatably supported adjacent said wheel, and a keying device selectively engagable between said wheel and said engagement member, said keying device including a spring-biased keying member, said engagement member including a passage adapted to receive a portion of said keying member and thereby prevent relative rotation between said wheel and said engagement member; a platform supported on said vehicle base and displaceable between a first position and a second position; and
,a flexible force transmitting device supportable on said platform and adapted to engage one of said vehicle base or at least one of said wheel assemblies on one of said first and second carrier members, said flexible force transmitting device including a plurality of track segments hingedly connected to one another.
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20. A method of transporting a payload comprising:
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a) providing transport vehicle that includes; a self-balancing vehicle base operative to traverse a discontinuous surface and displaceable between a first condition for transporting the associated cargo and a second condition for transferring the associated cargo, said vehicle base including a carrier structure having an axis, a ground-engaging component operatively connected to said carrier structure, and a base structure rotatably supported on said carrier structure for displacement relative thereto about said axis between a first angular orientation corresponding to said first condition of said vehicle base and a second angular orientation corresponding to said second condition of said vehicle base; a displaceable platform moveably supported on said vehicle base for receiving the payload, said platform displaceable in a direction transverse to said axis between a retracted position for transporting the payload and an extended position for transferring the payload, said platform including a first end pivotally connected to said base structure and a second end spaced from said first end in said direction of displacement, said second end being free from said base structure such that said platform can be maintained in an approximately fixed orientation during displacement of said base structure between said first and second orientations, and, a support device operatively connected between said vehicle base and said second end of said platform, said support device operative to support said second end of said platform during displacement of said platform between said retracted position and said extended position such that said platform can be maintained in said approximately fixed orientation during displacement of said base structure between said first and second orientations; b) moving said vehicle base from said first angular orientation to said second angular orientation; c) moving said platform from said retracted position to said extended position; d) transferring the payload to or from said platform; e) returning said platform to said retracted position; and
,f) returning said vehicle base to said first angular orientation;
wherein a free end of said support device travels beneath at least a portion of said base structure. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification