Hands-free electric scooter

• US 8,322,478 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2011
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robo3 Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Robo3 Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Joon Hyung
• Primary Examiner(s): Adams, Tashiana
• Assistant Examiner(s): STABLEY, MICHAEL R
• Application Number:
  US13/077,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20110303475A1
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 180/218, 180/7.1
• US Class Current: 180/218
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/16 Single-axle vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/007 Automatic balancing machines with single main ground engaging wheel or coaxial wheels supporting a rider

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hands-free electric scooter including: a bottom housing; a steering housing disposed on the bottom housing; a steering shaft having a pressurizing plate mounted along the lower periphery thereof, a horizontal protrusion formed on one side of the pressurizing plate, a manipulating rod mounted on the underside of the horizontal protrusion, and a stopper mounted along the intermediate periphery thereof; a steering jig having an insertion hole formed at one side thereof, a micro switch mounted at the rear side of the insertion hole and having a grounding stick disposed at one side thereof, and an installation hole formed at the front side of the insertion hole; and a potential meter adapted to control direction changes of the hands-free electric scooter.

Claims

1. A hands-free electric scooter having a bottom housing (10) into which a controller (13) on which a variety of sensors inclusive of a gyroscope sensor are arranged, batteries (12), and motors (11) are housed, and a pair of wheels (14) mounted on both sides of the bottom housing (10), thereby sensing an inclined angle of a rider'"'"'s body and performing riding according to the sensed result, the hands-free electric scooter comprising:

a steering housing (30) disposed on the bottom housing (10);

a steering shaft (41) insertedly disposed at the interior of the steering housing (30) in such a manner as to have a seat (40) mounted along the top portion thereof and to be assembled to a steering jig (50) along the lower portion thereof, the steering shaft (41) having a pressurizing plate (43) mounted along the lower periphery thereof, a horizontal protrusion (44) formed on one side of the pressurizing plate (43), a manipulating rod (45) mounted on the underside of the horizontal protrusion (44), and a stopper (42) mounted along the intermediate periphery thereof so as to prevent the steering shaft (41) from being escaped from the steering housing (30);

the steering jig (50) having an insertion hole (51) formed at one side thereof so as to insert the steering shaft (41) thereinto, a micro switch (63) mounted at the rear side of the insertion hole (51) so as to control the drive of the motors (11) and having a grounding stick (64) disposed at one side thereof, and an installation hole (53) formed at the front side of the insertion hole (51) so as to mount a potential meter (60) therealong; and

the potential meter (60) adapted to control direction changes of the hands-free electric scooter and having a manipulating plate (61) mounted along the top periphery thereof, the manipulating plate (61) having an elongated hole (62) formed at one side thereof, wherein if the steering shaft (41) is insertedly fitted to the insertion hole (51) of the steering jig (50), the pressurizing plate (43) serves to pressurize the grounding stick (64) of the micro switch (63), thereby allowing the manipulating rod (45) to be inserted into the elongated hole (62) of the manipulating plate (61).

2. The hands-free electric scooter according to claim 1, wherein between the horizontal protrusion (44) formed on one side of the pressurizing plate (43) and an upward protrusion (52) formed at the front side of the installation hole (53) of the steering jig (50) is interposed a first spring (46), and between the horizontal protrusion (44) formed on one side of the pressurizing plate (43) and a mounting hole (32) formed on the top portion of the steering housing (30) is interposed a second spring (47).