Balancing personal vehicle
US6929080B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 26, 2003 |
| Grant date | Aug 16, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 26, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB62K2204/00
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A transportation vehicle for transporting an individual over ground having a surface that may be irregular. The vehicle has a support platform for supporting the subject and the support platform is coupled to a ground-contacting module at a pivot. While the ground-contacting module may be statically stable, balance of the support platform with respect to the ground-contacting module is maintained by motion of the ground-contacting module in response to leaning of the support platform. A motorized drive coupled to the ground-contacting module causes locomotion of the vehicle and the subject therewith over the surface, while a control loop, in which the motorized drive is included, dynamically enhances stability in the fore-aft plane by operation of the motorized drive in connection with the ground-contacting module. In the event of failure of the control loop, the pivot connection of the support platform to the ground-contacting module may be locked, thereby ensuring stability of the static assembly.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.