Powered single-wheeled self-balancing vehicle for standing user

• US 8,807,250 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2011
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shane Chen
• Original Assignee: Shane Chen
• Inventors: Chen, Shane
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wilhelm, Timothy
• Application Number:
  US13/044,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20110220427A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,259 Days
• Field of Search: 180/6.24, 180/6.5, 180/6.58, 180/65.51, 180/208, 180/21, 180/6.2
• US Class Current: 180/21
• 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 2015/003 having a foldable crank or pedal

Abstract

A powered, gyroscopically balanced unicycle device to be used while standing, having leg contact surfaces which are made of a yielding, slightly soft material whose mild friction against the user'"'"'s legs allows stable, precise control of the device without restraining the legs in any way. In one embodiment a single hubless wheel is driven by a friction drive mechanism which transmits torque from a motor through a drive wheel positioned below the foot platforms and in contact with the inner rim of the wheel. Various structures are provided for supporting the wheel and keeping it in place as it spins; absorbing small vertical movements of the wheel to prevent them from being transmitted to the foot platforms; enabling folding of the foot platforms; and facilitating carrying of the device by hand. Other embodiments are described and shown.

Claims

1. A powered unicycle device, comprising:

a single wheel having an axis of rotation and defining a central vertical plane in the line of direction of travel that is rotatably coupled to a seatless frame;

a motor which drives the wheel;

an electronic fore-and-aft balance control system which controls said motor;

first and second foot platforms coupled to the frame and each having a standing surface that is below the axis of rotation of the wheel;

a first leg contact surface that in its entirety extends substantially longitudinally in the line of travel of the device and is configured to be readily contactable by the side of a user'"'"'s leg, at or below the knee, when that user is standing on the first foot platform; and

a second leg contact surface that in its entirety extends substantially longitudinally in the line of travel of the device and is configured to be readily contactable by the side of a user'"'"'s leg, at or below the knee, when that user is standing on the second foot platform;

wherein the first and second foot platforms extend in a direction perpendicular to the central vertical plane of the wheel further than the contact surfaces extend perpendicular to the central vertical plane, and further wherein the leg contact surfaces are configured so as to not substantially encircle a user'"'"'s leg.

2. The powered unicycle device of claim 1, wherein said leg contact surfaces are adjustable to different heights.

3. The powered unicycle device of claim 1, wherein the first and second foot platforms extend substantially two times or more further than the contact surfaces from the central vertical plane.

4. The powered unicycle device of claim 1, wherein said leg contact surfaces include a yielding material.

5. The powered unicycle device of claim 1, wherein the longitudinally extending first and second leg contact surfaces extend from their front to back in the line of travel of the device two or more times further than they extend in a dimension perpendicular to the central vertical plane of the wheel.

6. The powered unicycle device of claim 1, wherein said wheel is hubless and the device further comprises at least two guide wheels, coupled to said frame, which contact an inner rim of the wheel and thereby hold the wheel in place as it spins.

7. The powered unicycle device of claim 1, wherein the single wheel defines first and second side planes that are parallel with and symmetric about the central vertical plane and respectively touch a first exterior side and a second exterior side of the wheel;

and

wherein the first and second foot platforms extend from the first and second vertical planes, respectively, in a direction perpendicular thereto a distance that is greater than the corresponding first and second contact surfaces extend in that direction.

8. The powered unicycle device of claim 7, wherein the first and second foot platforms extend a distance from the first and second vertical planes, respectively, that is two times or more the distance that the first and second contact surfaces respectively extend from those planes.

9. The powered unicycle device of claim 1, wherein the longitudinally extending first and second leg contact surfaces extend from their front to back in the line of travel of the device three or more times further than they extend in a dimension perpendicular to the central vertical plane of the wheel.

10. The powered unicycle device of claim 1, further comprising a drive wheel directly driven by the motor and in contact with an inner rim of the wheel, wherein the drive wheel transmits torque to the wheel by means of friction between the drive wheel and the inner rim of the wheel, and wherein the drive wheel is positioned beneath the foot platforms.

11. The powered unicycle device of claim 1, further comprising a handle at the top of the frame, above the wheel, for carrying the device.

12. A powered unicycle device, comprising:

a single wheel rotatably coupled to a frame;

a motor which drives said wheel;

an electronic fore-and-aft balance control system which controls said motor;

first and second foot platforms coupled to said frame; and

first and second leg contact surfaces disposed outwardly on the frame; and

further comprising a means for allowing said wheel to undergo small vertical displacements relative to said foot platform while biased toward a certain neutral position, thereby absorbing the effect of bumps in the riding surface.

13. A powered unicycle device, comprising:

a single wheel rotatably coupled to a frame;

a motor which drives said wheel;

an electronic fore-and-aft balance control system which controls said motor;

first and second foot platforms coupled to said frame; and

first and second leg contact surfaces disposed outwardly on the frame; and

further comprising means for automatically adjusting speed while executing a turn.

14. The unicycle device of claim 13, wherein the leg contact surfaces are configured to contact the sides of a user'"'"'s leg at or below the knee.

15. A powered unicycle device, comprising:

a single wheel rotatably coupled to a frame;

a motor which drives said wheel;

an electronic fore-and-aft balance control system which controls said motor;

first and second foot platforms coupled to said frame; and

first and second leg contact surfaces disposed outwardly on the frame;

a sideways lean sensor; and

means for automatically adjusting fore-aft pitch while executing a turn in response to detection of sideways leaning of the vehicle.

16. The unicycle device of claim 15, wherein the first and second leg contact surfaces are positioned above the first and second platforms, respectively, and each have a maximum length dimension parallel to the central vertical plane of the wheel that is greater than a maximum width dimension perpendicular to that plane so that in use it is the side of a user'"'"'s leg more than the front or back thereof that contacts the leg contact members to control the unicycle device.

17. The unicycle device of claim 15, wherein the leg contact surfaces are configured to contact the sides of a user'"'"'s leg at or below the knee.

18. A powered unicycle device, comprising:

a single wheel rotatably coupled to a seatless frame, the single wheel defining first and second side planes that are parallel with and symmetric about a central vertical plane of the wheel and respectively touch a first exterior side and a second exterior side of the wheel;

a motor which drives the wheel;

an electronic fore-and-aft balance control system which controls the motor;

first and second foot platforms;

first and second leg contact members that each, in its entirety, extends substantially longitudinally in the line of travel of the device and is configured to be readily contactable by the side of a user'"'"'s leg, at or below the knee, when that user is standing on the foot platforms; and

wherein the first and second foot platforms extend from the first and second vertical planes, respectively, in a direction perpendicular thereto a distance that is greater than the corresponding first and second contact members extend in that direction, and further wherein the leg contact members are configured so as to not substantially encircle a user'"'"'s leg.

19. The unicycle device of claim 18, wherein the first and second foot platforms extend a distance from the first and second vertical planes, respectively, that is two times or more the distance that the first and second contact members respectively extend from those planes.

20. The unicycle device of claim 18, wherein the foot platforms, frame and contact members are configured for a user to achieve turning and control of the vehicle with the user'"'"'s feet and lower legs and without a vertically ascending control handle.