Electric balance vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12214841-B2
Application number	US-202318320794-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 19, 2023
Priority date	Dec 22, 2017
Publication date	Feb 4, 2025
Grant date	Feb 4, 2025

Abstract

Various electric balance vehicles are described. In some embodiments, the vehicle has first and second housings with platforms to support a user's feet. The first and second housings can be rotatable relative to each other. The vehicle can have first and second wheel assemblies. A support member can extend within tapered portions of the first and second housings. In some embodiments, one of the first and second housings can rotate relative to the support member and the other of the housings can be rotationally fixed relative to the support member. The vehicle can balance and provide locomotion to the user. The vehicle can be light, compact, and/or have a low center of gravity.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A self-balancing vehicle configured to drive in a front direction and a rear direction, the vehicle comprising:
a first section comprising:
a first platform configured to receive and support a first foot of a user;
a first wheel comprising a first electric motor; and
a first controller configured to control the first electric motor;

a second section rotatably coupled to the first section, the second section comprising:
a second platform configured to receive and support a second foot of the user;
a second wheel comprising a second electric motor; and
a second controller configured to control the second electric motor;

wherein the first and second sections are rotatably connected such that the first and second sections are configured to rotate relative to one another about an axis A;
wherein the first and second wheels are configured to rotate about an axis B; and
wherein the axis A intersects at least one of the first and second controllers and the axis B does not intersect the first and second controllers.

2. The self-balancing vehicle of claim 1 , wherein:
a diameter of the first wheel is less than a maximum front-to-rear width of the first platform; and
a diameter of the second wheel is less than a maximum front-to-rear width of the second platform.

3. The self-balancing vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the first and second wheels comprise a generally square front profile such that each of the first and second wheels has a width that is at least 50% of the respective diameter.

4. The self-balancing vehicle of claim 3 , further comprising:
a fender extending at least partly over the first wheel; and
an overall length measured along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and an overall height measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and from a bottom of the first wheel to a top of the fender;
wherein the ratio of the overall length to the overall height is at least 4:1.

5. The self-balancing vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first and second sections each further include a headlight or light strip.

6. The self-balancing vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first section includes a first fender and the second section includes a second fender, the diameter of the first wheel is less than a front-to-rear width of the first fender, and the diameter of the second wheel is less than a front-to-rear width of the second fender.

7. The self-balancing vehicle of claim 1 , wherein an axial thickness of the first wheel is approximately equal to a vertical thickness of the first platform, and wherein an axial thickness of the second wheel is approximately equal to a vertical thickness of the second platform.

8. The self-balancing vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a first gyroscope or accelerometer configured to sense rotation of the first section.

9. The self-balancing vehicle of claim 8 , further comprising a second gyroscope or accelerometer configured to sense rotation of the second section.

10. The self-balancing vehicle of claim 1 , wherein an inside of the first platform comprises a connection base, and wherein an axle of the first electric motor of the first wheel is coupled to the connection base.

11. The self-balancing vehicle of claim 10 , further comprising a bolt fixedly connecting the axle and the connection base.

12. The self-balancing vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the inside of the first platform further comprises a plurality of ribs supporting the connection base.

13. The self-balancing vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first platform comprises a textured rubber or silicone anti-sliding surface, and wherein the diameter of the first wheel is less than a maximum front-to-rear width of the anti-sliding surface.

14. The self-balancing vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first platform is coupled to a first lower housing, wherein a vertical distance between a top of the first wheel and the first platform is less than a vertical clearance between a bottom of the first lower housing and a bottom of the first wheel.

15. The self-balancing vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first and second platforms are made of injection molded hard plastic.

Assignees

• Razor Usa Llc

Inventors

• Desberg Ian
• Hadley Robert
• Chen Robert

Classifications

• B62M7/12

  with the engine beside or within the driven wheel · CPC title

• B62K2202/00

  Motorised scooters · CPC title

• B62K2204/00

  Adaptations for driving cycles by electric motor · CPC title

• B62J43/16

  on motorcycles or the like · CPC title

• B62J45/413

  Rotation sensors · CPC title