Inverted pendulum type vehicle

• US 8,381,859 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2009
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Hamaya, Kazushi, Waita, Hironori, Gomi, Hiroshi, Shin, Joonheon, Akimoto, Kazushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Assistant Examiner(s): Condra, Darlene P
• Application Number:
  US13/496,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20120175176A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• Field of Search: 180/21, 180/187, 180/208, 180/218, 280/291, 280/293
• US Class Current: 180/208
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/52 characterised by DC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 1/005 Saddles having a seating area with multiple separate weight bearing surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 1/00 Unicycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/007 Automatic balancing machines with single main ground engaging wheel or coaxial wheels supporting a rider
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 15/008 foldable about 2 or more axes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

An inverted pendulum type vehicle (1) includes a lower frame incorporated with load sensor having an input portion 60 for receiving an external force and an upper frame (3) provided with a saddle 11 for supporting a load of a rider or a cargo and a grip handle (31) for enabling a user not riding the vehicle to support the vehicle (1), the upper frame being connected to the lower frame via the input portion of the load sensor. Therefore, in the vehicle including the lower frame supporting a propelling unit for the vehicle and the upper frame detachably attached to the lower frame, by using a single force sensor, not only the force acting on a load support portion of the upper frame can be detected in an accurate manner, but also the force acting on the load support portion when the user is transporting the vehicle can be detected.

Claims

1. An inverted pendulum type vehicle, comprising a lower frame supporting a propelling unit for the vehicle, and an upper frame detachably connected to the lower frame, wherein:

the lower frame is provided with a force sensor including an input portion for receiving an external force; and

the upper frame is provided with a load supporting part for supporting a load of a rider or a cargo and a support part for enabling a user not riding the vehicle to support the inverted pendulum type vehicle, the upper frame being connected to the lower frame via the input portion of the force sensor.

2. The inverted pendulum type vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the load supporting part is moveable between a deployed position that allows the load supporting part to be used and a retracted position that does not allow the load supporting part to be used, the load supporting part at least partly covering the support part when in the deployed position.

3. The inverted pendulum type vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the support part is located above the load supporting part when the load supporting part is in the retracted position.