阅读说明：本技术 中心轮结构的自平衡装置 (Self-balancing device of center wheel structure ) 是由 陈星� 于 2018-01-30 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种符合人体工程学的、与骑行者友好的自平衡个人输运装置。它有一个装有一条或多条轮胎的中心轮结构,以及还有可启用的脚踏板,位于中心轮结构的相对两边。踏板可与一条手柄相连,拉起手柄就能收拢脚踏板,松开手柄就会启用脚踏板。轮胎尺寸与踏板尺寸的设定,是要使装置容易被踏上,而且要减小下车时离地面的距离。提出了双轮胎与单个宽轮胎的实施方案。也透露了该装置允许不同的或多重的骑行方向,以及其他方案与特征。(An ergonomic, rider-friendly, self-balancing personal transport device. It has a central wheel structure with one or more tires and openable foot pedals located on opposite sides of the central wheel structure. The pedal can be connected with a handle, the pedal can be folded by pulling up the handle, and the pedal can be started by loosening the handle. The tire size and the pedal size are set so that the apparatus can be easily stepped on and the distance from the ground when getting off the vehicle can be reduced. Embodiments of dual tires and single wide tires are presented. It is also disclosed that the device allows for different or multiple riding directions, as well as other aspects and features.)

1. A self-balancing conveying device is composed of the following components:

a wheel structure;

a first foot pedal and a second foot pedal located on opposite sides of the wheel structure and movable between an open position and a closed position;

a motor, a control circuit and a sensor are matched, and the motor partially drives the wheel to rotate according to the data of the sensor, so that the device tends to be self-balanced;

a mechanism coupled to the first and second foot pedals that allows the foot pedals to move at least once without the user's body directly touching the foot pedals, (1) from a stowed position to an activated position, and (2) from the activated position to the stowed position.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the mechanism allows additional movement of the foot pedal from the stowed position to the activated position and from the activated position to the stowed position.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the mechanism comprises a mechanical linkage.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the mechanical linkage comprises a cable.

5. The device of claim 3, further comprising a handle movable relative to the wheels and coupled to a mechanical linkage, the mechanical linkage being disposed with the foot board such that movement of at least a portion of the handle causes the foot board to move in conjunction therewith.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a releasable latch mechanism which, when engaged, holds the foot pedal in the closed position.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism comprises at least one of an electromechanical mechanism or a hydraulic mechanism.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a housing covering at least a portion of the wheel structure, and a user-engageable member mounted adjacent the housing, the member and mechanism being configured such that user engagement of the member triggers movement of the foot pedal.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wheel structure comprises two tires.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the two tyres are interconnected by an air duct for equalising their air pressure.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wheel structure comprises a tread-extended tire.

12. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein with the device upright, the maximum height of a footboard above the ground when the footboards are stowed in a substantially vertical position is at least 75% or more of the height of the wheel structure above the ground.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the foot pedals has an outer edge, at least a portion of the outer edge being shaped to define a curve that is substantially vertically aligned with the center of the wheel at a maximum distance from the wheel structure when the foot pedals are activated.

14. A self-balancing conveying device is composed of the following components:

a wheel structure;

a first foot pedal and a second foot pedal disposed on opposite sides of the wheel structure and movable between an open position and a closed position;

a motor, a control circuit matched with the motor and a position sensor, wherein the motor partially drives the wheels to rotate according to the data of the position sensor, so that the device tends to be self-balanced; and

a mechanism coupled to the first and second foot pedals that automatically causes the foot pedals to move at least once to an activated position and to a stowed position under specified conditions.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the mechanism comprises a mechanical linkage.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a handle movable relative to the wheels and coupled to a mechanical linkage, the mechanical linkage being disposed with the foot board such that at least partial movement of the handle causes the foot board to move in conjunction therewith.

17. The device of claim 14, further comprising a releasable latch mechanism to hold the foot pedal in a stowed position, the latch mechanism releasing the foot pedal under specified conditions.

18. A self-balancing conveying device is composed of the following components:

a wheel structure;

a first foot pedal and a second foot pedal disposed on opposite sides of the wheel structure and movable between an open position and a closed position;

a motor, a control circuit and a sensor are matched, and the motor partially drives the wheel to rotate according to the data of the sensor, so that the device tends to be self-balanced;

a mechanism coupled to the first and second foot pedals for moving the foot pedals to the activated position and the closed position at least once; and

a release member that holds the foot pedal in a given position and that moves when touched by the user for release.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the release member comprises at least one of:

a handle;

a latch;

a biasing pin;

a magnet; and

a cam-based mechanism.

20. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the release member and the foot pedal are arranged such that when the release member is touched by a user for release, the foot pedal is released under the influence of gravity.

21. The device of claim 18, wherein the mechanism is capable of collapsing the foot pedal from the activated position to the stowed position.

22. A self-balancing conveying device is composed of the following components:

a wheel structure;

a first foot pedal and a second foot pedal disposed on opposite sides of the wheel structure and movable between an open position and a closed position;

a motor, a control circuit and a sensor are matched, and the motor partially drives the wheel to rotate according to the data of the sensor, so that the device tends to be self-balanced; and

further comprises at least one of the following features:

when the device is erected and the footrests are stowed in a substantially vertical position, the maximum height of at least one of the footrests above the ground is 75% or more of the height of the wheel structure above the ground;

wherein at least one of the footrests has an outer edge, at least a part of the outer edge being shaped as a curve which, when the footrests are activated, is at a maximum distance from the wheel structure, viewed from above, substantially aligned with the centre of the wheel.

23. A self-balancing conveying device is composed of the following components:

a wheel structure;

a first pedal and a second pedal arranged on two opposite sides of the wheel structure;

a motor, a control circuit and a sensor are matched, and the motor partially drives the wheel to rotate according to the data of the sensor, so that the device tends to be self-balanced;

wherein the foot pedals are configured to allow a rider to stand and ride in different orientations relative to the line of travel of the device.

24. The device of claim 23, further comprising a mechanism for coupling to the wheel structure and a mechanism for coupling to the foot pedal; the wheel structure and the foot board coupling mechanism are releasably and clampingly coupled to each other, which allow a user to release and re-clamp the foot board relative to the wheel structure, and to ride in at least two different riding orientations (relative to the device's operating line) relative to the device's operating line.

25. The device of claim 23, wherein the foot rest has a large foot-rest surface that extends to multiple orientations relative to the wheel structure, thereby allowing the rider to ride in different oriented positions (relative to the line of travel of the device).

26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a position sensor.

Scope of the invention

The invention relates to a device for personal transportation, in particular to a small self-balancing device, which can have the following characteristics: the device may be provided with a foot pedal and have a lightweight, compact, ergonomic shape, and the foot pedal may have a different orientation than the direction of travel, among other features.

Background

Self-balancing personal transportation devices, including the Segway predecessor technology, have been described in U.S. patent to Kamen et al (U.S. Pat. No. 6,302,230 personal mobile vehicle and method). In recent years, predecessors, including Solowheel, have been described in the inventor's Shane Chen U.S. patent (U.S. Pat 8,807,250 powered single wheel self-balancing vehicle for standing use). This document will be described with full reference to the' 250 patent.

When improvements are made to the transport techniques in those devices disclosed in the' 250 patent, they may exhibit a number of disadvantages. One of these is that these devices become quite bulky and heavy, are somewhat cumbersome, and present difficulties in handling or storage. For example, it is difficult for a person who needs to travel to and from a location to transport and store the device by a single person when not in use, in a bus, train or office. Accordingly, there is a need for a personal transportation device that is lighter in weight and/or better shaped.

Furthermore, the increased size of the device is more frightening to a new user by effectively adding a cross bar, and therefore, there is a need for a smaller profile device that is easy for the user to step on, and the overall device has a stylish, unappealing appearance, and a more stable device is also popular.

There is also a need for an arrangement for enabling and collapsing the foot pedals when the user is enabling or disembarking, including arrangements in which the foot pedals are automatically or nearly automatically enabled and collapsed.

Furthermore, for a variant configuration with two pairs of wheels, or a variant configuration with a single wheel structure with two tires, there is a need to require pressure equalization between the tires. This need will improve the shock absorbing performance of the device, the steering of the direction, the efficiency of the turn and the stability of the device.

Among the various configurations, it is desirable for a user to enhance the riding experience by allowing the rider to stand in different orientations relative to the device's path of travel while still riding the device. Thus, there is a need for a footrest that can move relative to the direction of travel, and a footrest of a larger shape in preparation for the need to provide multiple standing orientations.

Summary of The Invention

As mentioned above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a personal transportation device capable of retracting a foot pedal, wherein the retracting function of the foot pedal can be performed by a connecting mechanism or other mechanisms.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a personal transportation device that has a "pleasant appearance" and configuration for the user, especially for a new rider for the first time, which is an attractive, non-intimidating device. It is also in fact easier to use.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a personal transportation device having a dual tire construction. For a tire of this construction, it has balanced air pressure and/or a wide tread.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a personal transportation device in which a user can select the orientation of the foot pedal relative to the direction of operation of the device.

The above-mentioned object of the present invention is achieved by a personal transportation device using a center wheel structure.

The foregoing and related advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.