Mechanized tail for mobile devices
AssigneePetronics Inc.
InventorsDavid Jun, Michael Friedman, David Cohen, Dario Aranguiz, Russell Jones
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mobile device (e.g., wireless wheeled vehicle) that includes one or more propulsion mechanisms (e.g., one or more drive wheels) and a member (e.g., a mechanized tail). The propulsion mechanism(s) are operable to propel the mobile device across a driving surface. The member is positionable to maintain or change an orientation of the mobile device with respect to the driving surface. The member has a base portion opposite a free end portion. The base portion is pivotably mounted to a portion of the mobile device. The base portion is pivotable to move the free end portion toward and away from the driving surface.
Claims22
A wireless wheeled vehicle comprising:
- a first portion opposite a second portion;
- one or more drive wheels operable to propel the wireless wheeled vehicle across a driving surface;
- and
- a member having a base portion opposite a free end portion, the base portion being pivotably mounted to the second portion of the wireless wheeled vehicle, the base portion being pivotable to move the free end portion toward and away from the driving surface, the member being positionable to maintain or change an orientation of the wireless wheeled vehicle with respect to the driving surface.
A wireless vehicle comprising:
- one or more propulsion mechanisms positioned on a driving surface, the one or more propulsion mechanisms being configured to move the wireless vehicle across the driving surface;
- a back portion positioned above the drive surface by the one or more propulsion mechanisms;
- and
- a mechanized tail with a base portion opposite a free end portion, the base portion being pivotably mounted to the back portion, the base portion being pivotable in first and second directions, the first direction moving the free end portion toward the driving surface, the second direction being different from the first direction, the mechanized tail being configured to flip the wireless vehicle from a first orientation to a second orientation when:
- (a) the base portion is pivoted in the first direction thereby causing the free end portion to contact the driving surface, the mechanized tail to lift the one or more propulsion mechanisms off the driving surface, and the wireless vehicle to fall backwardly onto the mechanized tail, and
- (b) the base portion is pivoted in the second direction, after the wireless vehicle has fallen, at least until the wireless vehicle rotates about the back portion and into the second orientation.
A method performed by a mobile device when the mobile device is in an undesired orientation, the mobile device comprising a movable member with a base portion opposite a free end portion, the base portion being pivotably mounted to a pivot portion of the mobile device, the method comprising:
- (a) pivoting the movable member in a first direction to move the free end portion into contact with a driving surface and lift a lifted portion of the mobile device;
- (b) continuing to pivot the movable member in the first direction, at least until the lifted portion of the mobile device falls onto the movable member;
- and
- (c) pivoting the movable member in a second direction, after the lifted portion of the mobile device has fallen, at least until the mobile device rotates about the pivot portion and into a desired orientation, the second direction being different from the first direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.