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US 11,534,675 B2Granted
Auto-balacing transportation device with stable platform pivot axes
OwnerShane Chen, Ywanne Cheninventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An auto-balancing transportation device having a wheel structure and foot platforms that pivot between an in-use and a stowed position. The pivot axis for each platform is provided within the wheel structure so that the force exerted by a rider when stepping on a foot platform is applied to the wheel structure at a point within the wheel structure, as opposed to external to it, which is unstable and may cause the device to tip over.
Claims20
An auto-balancing transportation device, comprising:
- a wheel structure having at least a first tire and a first rim to which the first tire is mounted;
- a motor that drives the wheel structure;
- first and second foot platforms that are located on opposite sides of the wheel structure and that pivot between an in-use position and a stowed position;
- a position sensor and a control circuit, the control circuit driving the motor towards auto-balancing the device based on data from the position sensor;
- a first mounting arm structure that mounts the first foot platform to a first pivot axis and a second mounting arm structure that mounts the second foot platform to a second pivot axis, the first and second pivot axes located within the envelope of the wheel structure;
- wherein the first rim has an inner diameter and the longitudinal length of the first foot platform is greater than that inner diameter;
- and
- wherein, when the device is vertical and in the in-use position, the level of the first foot platform is below the level of the first pivot axis and the level of the second foot platform is below the level of the second pivot axis.
5 more elements
An auto-balancing transportation device, comprising:
- a wheel structure having a motor that drives the wheel structure;
- first and second foot platforms that are located on opposite sides of the wheel structure and that pivot between an in-use position and a stowed position;
- a first mounting arm structure coupled to and supporting the first foot platform and a second mounting arm structure coupled to and supporting the second foot platform;
- a position sensor and a control circuit, the control circuit driving the motor towards auto-balancing the device based on data from the position sensor;
- wherein the first mounting arm structure includes a first pivot mount member that affords, at least in part, pivotal movement of the first foot platform between the in-use and the stowed positions, the first mounting arm structure extending outwardly from the first pivot mount member and then downwardly toward the top of the first foot platform;
- and
- wherein the second mounting arm structure includes a second pivot mount member that affords, at least in part, pivotal movement of the second foot platform between the in-use and the stowed positions, the second mounting arm structure extending outwardly from the second pivot mount member and then downwardly toward the top of the second foot platform.
4 more elements
An auto-balancing transportation device, comprising:
- a wheel structure having at least a first tire and a rim structure to which the first tire is mounted;
- a motor that drives the wheel structure;
- first and second foot platforms that are located on opposite sides of the wheel structure and that pivot between an in-use position and a stowed position;
- a first mounting arm structure coupled to and supporting the first foot platform and a second mounting arm structure coupled to and supporting the second foot platform;
- a position sensor and a control circuit, the control circuit driving the motor towards auto-balancing the device based on data from the position sensor;
- wherein a first pivot axis for the first foot platform is located within the envelope of the wheel structure and a second pivot axis for the second foot platform is located within the envelope of the wheel structure;
- wherein the riding surfaces of the first and second foot platforms are located outside of the envelope of the rim structure;
- and
- wherein the first and second pivot axes are non-colinear.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.