# US 12,005,340 B2 · Suspension systems for an electric skateboard > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,005,340 B2 - Document ID: US12005340B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/248,214 - Filed: 2021-09-15 - Published: 2023-11-30 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2020-10-06 - Assignees: Future Motion, Inc. - Applicants: Future Motion, Inc. - Inventors: Kyle Jonathan Doerksen; Maximilian Fredrick Ballenger Sluiter - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12005340B2 ## CPC - A63C 17/12: with driving mechanisms - A63C 17/0046: {with shock absorption or suspension system} - A63C 17/08: single-wheel type {with single axis} - B62K 11/007: {Automatic balancing machines with single main ground engaging wheel or coaxial wheels supporting a rider} - A63C 2203/12: Electrically powered or heated - A63C 2203/20: Shock or vibration absorbing - A63C 2203/42: Details of chassis of ice or roller skates, of decks of skateboards - B62K 25/04: for mounting axles resiliently on cycle frame or fork (for sidecars, forecars or the like B62K27/06) - A63C: SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE (water skis B63B32/00, B63B34/00) - B62K: CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDECARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE ## Abstract A self-propelled, one-wheeled vehicle may include a suspension system configured to dampen up and down motion of a board relative to the axle of a central wheel assembly when the vehicle encounters obstacles and bumps on a riding surface. Illustrative suspension systems include a shock absorber, a rocker, a pushrod, bell cranks, and/or a swingarm that couple the axle to the board. The suspension system may be disposed completely below a foot deck of the vehicle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A self-balancing electric vehicle comprising: a wheel having an axis of rotation; a board including a frame having an aperture to accommodate the wheel, such that the board is tiltable about the wheel, first and second deck portions of the board each configured to receive a left or right foot of a rider oriented generally perpendicular to a direction of travel of the board; an electric hub motor configured to drive the wheel; a motor controller configured to receive orientation information indicating an orientation of the board and to cause the hub motor to propel the board based on the orientation information; and a suspension system including: a swingarm coupling an axle of the wheel to the frame of the board, such that the board is configured to be movable up and down relative to the axle; and a shock absorber oriented transverse to the direction of travel of the board and coupled at each end to the swingarm, such that the shock absorber is configured to dampen up and down movement of the board relative to the axle, wherein an entirety of the shock absorber is disposed below the first deck portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the shock absorber is coupled at each end to the swingarm by a respective bell crank. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the bell cranks are disposed entirely below the first deck portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the shock absorber is coupled at each end to the swingarm by a respective bell crank, and the bell cranks are each coupled to the swingarm by a respective push rod. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein a cross member of the swingarm is pivotably connected to the frame. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein legs of the swingarm are fixed at distal ends to respective end portions of the axle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The vehicle of claim 6, wherein each leg of the swingarm forms a first class lever with a force applied at the axle and a load disposed at a push rod coupling the swingarm to the shock absorber. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The vehicle of claim 7, wherein a cross member of the swingarm is pivotably coupled to the frame and forms a fulcrum of the first class lever. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the frame is coupled to the axle by only the suspension system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the shock absorber is coupled at each end to the swingarm by a respective bell crank each of the bell cranks is coupled to the board at a respective fixed pivot joint. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The vehicle of claim 10, wherein each of the bell cranks has a first floating pivot joint rotatably coupled to a respective end of the shock absorber and a second floating pivot joint rotatably coupled to a respective pushrod, each pushrod connecting the respective bell crank to the swingarm. ### Claim 12 A method of operating a self-balancing electric vehicle, the method comprising: controlling a motor of a self-balancing electric vehicle using a motor controller configured to receive orientation information measured by at least one sensor and to cause the motor to rotate a wheel of the vehicle based on the orientation information, wherein the orientation information corresponds to orientation of a frame of the vehicle, the frame comprising a first deck portion disposed at a first end portion of the frame, and a second deck portion disposed at a second end portion of the frame, the first and second deck portions each configured to receive a left or right foot of a rider oriented generally perpendicular to a direction of travel of the vehicle; and damping up and down movement of the frame relative to an axle of the wheel using a suspension system coupling the axle to the frame, the suspension system including a shock absorber oriented transverse to the direction of travel, wherein an entirety of the shock absorber is disposed below the first deck portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the suspension system further comprises: a swingarm pivotable about a fulcrum coupled to the frame, the swingarm including at least one leg coupled to the axle; a first bell crank spaced from a second bell crank, wherein each of the bell cranks is coupled (a) to the frame at a respective fixed pivot joint, (b) to the shock absorber at a first floating pivot joint, and (c) to a respective push rod at a second floating pivot joint, such that each of the bell cranks is connected to the swingarm by the respective push rod. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the swingarm is coupled to the axle on an opposite side of the fulcrum with respect to the push rods, forming a first class lever. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the fulcrum comprises a cross member of the swingarm pivotably connected to the frame. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one leg of the swingarm includes a first leg and a second leg, wherein the first and second legs are fixed at distal ends to respective end portions of the axle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the bell cranks are disposed entirely below the first deck portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the frame is coupled to the axle by only the suspension system. ### Claim 19 A self-balancing electric vehicle comprising: a wheel driven by a hub motor about an axis of rotation; a board including a frame having an aperture to accommodate the wheel, such that the board is tiltable about the wheel, first and second deck portions of the board each configured to receive a left or right foot of a rider oriented generally perpendicular to a direction of travel of the board; a motor controller configured to cause the hub motor to propel the board based on board orientation information; and a suspension system including: a swingarm coupling an axle of the wheel to the frame of the board, such that the board is movable up and down relative to the axle; and a shock absorber oriented transverse to the direction of travel of the board, such that the shock absorber is configured to dampen up and down movement of the board relative to the axle; wherein an entirety of the shock absorber is disposed below the first deck portion. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the shock absorber is coupled at each end to the swingarm by a respective pivoting mechanical linkage.