Mechanical improvements to a personal vehicle

• US 20070051543A1
• Filed: 11/06/2006
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: DEKA Research & Development
• Inventors: Kamen, Dean, Langenfeld, Christopher, Smith, Stanley, Ambrogi, Robert, Heinzmann, Richard, Brindley, Thomas, Nisbet, Marc
• Application Number:
  US11/593,415
• Publication Number:
  US 20070051543A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/12 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/14 Joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/04 motor-driven A61G5/06 takes precedence; motor-operated rests A61G5/12; for vehicles with handlebars, equipped with three or more wheels B62K5/003, B62K5/023
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/041 having a specific drive-type
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/061 for climbing stairs
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1059 adjusting the height of the seat
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/107 positioning the whole seat forward or rearward
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1078 with shock absorbers or other suspension arrangements between wheels and frame
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1083 Quickly-removable wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1089 Anti-tip devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/12 Rests specially adapted therefor, e.g. for the head or the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/125 for arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/128 for feet
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/16 Single-axle vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/24 Personal mobility vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/34 Wheel chairs
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/145 Structure borne vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/60 using power supplied by batteries in combination with fuel cells B60L50/75
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• 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: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 180/907 : Motorized wheelchairs

Abstract

Improvements to personal vehicles including self-propelled and balancing personal vehicles. Ready detachability of a seat, footrest, seat back, control unit, wheels and caster assembly is provided using quick disconnect mechanisms.

Claims

1. A belt tensioning mechanism for tensioning a belt that transmits torque from a motor to a rotary member having an axis of rotation, the belt tensioning mechanism comprising:

a. a motor having a roller for engaging the belt;

b. a cam plate having a slot ridge for receiving the motor, a rotation ridge disposed eccentrically with respect to the slot ridge, and a plurality of circumferential sprocket teeth; and

c. transmission plate fixed with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotary member, the motor having a rotational orientation defined with respect to the transmission plate, the transmission plate having a substantially elliptical cam plate rotation shelf for receiving the cam plate rotation ridge such that a lateral position of the motor with respect to the transmission plate may be changed by rotation of the cam plate while the rotational orientation of the motor remains substantially constant.

2. A self-pulling mechanism for a wheel having a tapered axle bore and a hub, the mechanism comprising:

a. an axle having a taper corresponding to the bore of the wheel and a threaded end;

b. a retaining ring seated on an inside groove of the hub of the wheel; and

c. a wheel nut having a threaded bore corresponding to the threaded end of the axle such that upon tightening the wheel is retained on the axle and upon loosening a force is applied to the retaining ring for removing the wheel from the axle.

5. A self-pulling mechanism in accordance with claim 2, further comprising a wheel nut retention clip for retaining the wheel nut against rotation with respect to the hub.

6. A self-pulling mechanism in accordance with claim 2, wherein the hub includes a retaining snap ring capable of being snapped into an annular groove behind the wheel nut.

3. A method for informing the user of a personal vehicle of a current mode of operation of the personal vehicle, the method including displaying on a display monitor an icon corresponding to the current mode of operation.

4. A vehicle for carrying a payload, the vehicle comprising:

a. a support for bearing the payload;

b. a ground-contacting module coupled to the support;

c. a motorized drive arrangement coupled to the ground-contacting module for powered operation of the vehicle, and

d. a power module including battery packs, each pack held in place by a retaining latch such that power from a battery pack is always interrupted when its retaining latch is open.