Inverted pendulum type vehicle

• US 8,522,902 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2009
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• 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: Gomi, Hiroshi, Kobashi, Shinichiro, Koyama, Taiji, Izumi, Hideharu, Kuwabara, Kazuya, Takenaka, Toru
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Freedman, Laura
• Application Number:
  US13/395,578
• Publication Number:
  US 20120168235A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,446 Days
• Field of Search: 180/7.1, 180/21, 180/65.1, 180/208, 180/273, 180/282, 280/47.3, 280/47.32, 280/205, 701/22, 701/49, 701/70, 701/93, 701/99, 701/124
• US Class Current: 180/21
• 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 15/00 Collapsible or foldable cycles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

In an inverted pendulum type vehicle configured to travel on a ground surface while maintaining an upright posture under an inverted pendulum control, comprising a base frame supporting a propulsion unit, the propulsion unit including a main wheel configured to roll on the ground surface, and a seat unit provided on the base frame for supporting hips of a rider, the seat unit includes a saddle having at least a center located ahead of an axial line extending between a rotational center line of the main wheel and a gravitational center of the inverted pendulum type vehicle. Thereby, even when there is an obstacle on the ground surface behind the vehicle, the main wheel rolling on the ground surface is prevented from coming into contact with the obstacle, and the boarding of the rider on the vehicle is facilitated.

Claims

1. An inverted pendulum vehicle configured to travel on a ground surface while maintaining an upright posture under an inverted pendulum control, comprising:

a base frame supporting a propulsion unit, the propulsion unit including a main wheel configured to roll on the ground surface; and

a seat unit provided on the base frame for supporting hips of a rider;

wherein the seat unit includes a saddle having at least a center located ahead of an axial line extending between a rotational center line of the main wheel and a gravitational center of the inverted pendulum vehicle; and

wherein the saddle is provided with a seating surface which tilts forwards with respect to a horizontal line when the base frame is in the upright posture without a rider.