Micromobility electric vehicle ergonomics

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12179875-B2
Application number	US-202017025594-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 18, 2020
Priority date	Sep 23, 2019
Publication date	Dec 31, 2024
Grant date	Dec 31, 2024

Abstract

A micromobility vehicle for use in a vehicle share system includes a frame, a footboard fixed to the frame, a seat fixed to the frame, handlebars, and a computing device. The frame includes a horizontal portion and an angled portion. The seat is separated from the footboard in a vertical direction by a fixed distance. The handlebars are separated from the footboard in the vertical direction by a fixed distance. A cargo storage location is at least partially disposed between the seat and the footboard. The computing device is fixed to the frame and capable of executing a transportation matching system application.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electric micromobility vehicle for use in a vehicle share system associated with a transportation matching system, wherein the electric micromobility vehicle is configured for seating users of different sizes, the electric micromobility vehicle comprising:
a column;
handlebars coupled to the column;
a continuous frame comprising a horizontal portion and an angled portion, wherein the horizontal portion and the angled portion are joined by a bent portion of the continuous frame, and the angled portion has a terminating end that defines an end of the continuous frame;
a footboard with a flat portion coupled to the horizontal portion of the continuous frame;
a seat coupled to the terminating end of the angled portion of the continuous frame, the angled portion of the continuous frame making an acute angle with the flat portion of the footboard, wherein the footboard and the seat are fixed and separated by a first vertical distance, and the footboard and the handlebars are fixed and separated by a second vertical distance;
a cargo storage location defined by (1) the footboard and the angled portion of the continuous frame and (2) the first vertical distance separating the seat and the footboard, wherein at least a portion of the cargo storage location is disposed between the seat and the footboard, wherein the footboard has a length between the column and the cargo storage location; and
a computing device affixed to the continuous frame, wherein the computing device is capable of executing a transportation matching system application for communicatively connecting the electric micromobility vehicle to the transportation matching system for executing a ride request for a user.

2. The electric micromobility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the footboard comprises a compartment containing a battery and a motor controller.

3. The electric micromobility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the handlebars further comprise an electronic device holder including spring-loaded arms capable of applying a spring-based force for gripping an electronic device.

4. The electric micromobility vehicle of claim 3 , wherein at least part of one or more of the spring-loaded arms are configured to selectively retract into the handlebars.

5. The electric micromobility vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the electronic device is wirelessly coupled to the computing device of the electric micromobility vehicle, wherein the computing device receives commands from the electronic device.

6. The electric micromobility vehicle of claim 3 , further comprising a display, wherein the display is configured to present a first set of information and the electronic device is configured to display a second set of information that is different from the first set of information.

7. The electric micromobility vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a provider device provided by the user or integrated with the electric micromobility vehicle and capable of executing a provider application for enabling transportation matching between a transportation requester associated with the user and the transportation matching system.

8. The electric micromobility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the bent portion of the continuous frame is a single bent portion between the footboard and the angled portion making the acute angle with the flat portion of the footboard.

9. The electric micromobility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the continuous frame is formed of a one continuous piece of material.

10. The electric micromobility vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the continuous frame comprises multiple pieces of material that are rigidly joined together to prevent adjustment of the multiple pieces relative to each other.

11. An electric micromobility vehicle associated with a transportation management system, wherein the electric micromobility vehicle is configured for a user, the electric micromobility vehicle comprising:
a continuous frame comprising a column;
a stem coupled to the column;
handlebars coupled to the stem;
a footboard coupled to the continuous frame;
a seat coupled to a terminating end of an angled portion of the continuous frame, the angled portion of the continuous frame making an acute angle with a flat portion of the footboard, wherein the footboard and the seat are fixed and separated by a first vertical distance, and the footboard and the handlebars are fixed and separated by a second vertical distance;
a cargo storage location defined by (1) the footboard and the angled portion of the continuous frame and (2) the first vertical distance between the seat and the footboard, wherein at least a portion of the cargo storage location is disposed between the seat and the footboard, wherein the footboard has a length between the column and the cargo storage location; and
a computing device affixed to the continuous frame, wherein the computing device is capable of executing a transportation management system application for communicatively connecting the electric micromobility vehicle to an electronic device associated with the user.

12. The electric micromobility vehicle of claim 11 , further comprising an electronic device holder coupled to the handlebars, the electronic device holder including spring-loaded arms capable of applying a spring-based force for gripping the electronic device, wherein the electronic device is wirelessly coupled to the computing device of the electric micromobility vehicle, wherein the computing device receives commands from the electronic device.

13. The electric micromobility vehicle of claim 11 , further comprising a display coupled to the stem, wherein the display is configured to present a first set of information and the electronic device is configured to display a second set of information that is different from the first set of information.

14. The electric micromobility vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the continuous frame is a non-adjustable frame.

15. The electric micromobility vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the seat is supported by the continuous frame based on a cantilever arrangement.

Assignees

• Lyft Inc

Inventors

• Van Houten Lucas Jon
• Murphy Conrad Xavier
• Delsaer Nathalie
• Holveck Mark Phillip
• Vandenbussche Gregoire Ludovic Vincent
• Reimer Andrew Michael
• Goldstein Daniel Lami
• Luedtke Peter Rex

Classifications

• B62J45/20

  Cycle computers as cycle accessories · CPC title

• B62L1/00

  Brakes {(back-pedalling brakes B62L5/00)}; Arrangements thereof · CPC title

• B62K2202/00

  Motorised scooters · CPC title

• B62J1/08

  Frames for saddles; Connections between saddle frames and seat pillars; Seat pillars (attaching seat pillars to cycle frames B62K19/36) · CPC title

• B62J99/00

  Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title