Compact Mobile Device Having Adjustable Drive Mode

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018354576-A1
Application number	US-201715804117-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 6, 2017
Priority date	Jun 9, 2017
Publication date	Dec 13, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A compact mobility device has an adjustable drive mode. The device includes a base panel and a number of drive wheels rotatably provided at opposite ends of the base panel. The drive wheels are configured to rotate by receiving torque from a driving unit. A column is constituted by a plurality of links connected in series to be foldable and is configured such that a lower end of a lower link is rotatably coupled to the base panel with an upper end of an upper link being provided with a steering handle. An auxiliary wheel is provided between the links constituting the column and is configured to roll along with the drive wheels by coming into contact with a ground when the links are folded.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A compact mobility device having an adjustable drive mode, the compact mobility device comprising:
a base panel; a plurality of drive wheels rotatably provided at opposite ends of the base panel, the drive wheels configured to rotate by receiving torque from a driving unit; a column constituted by a plurality of links connected in series to be foldable, the column configured such that a lower end of a lower link is rotatably coupled to the base panel, and an upper end of an upper link is provided with a steering handle; and an auxiliary wheel provided between the plurality of links constituting the column, the auxiliary wheel configured to roll along with the drive wheels by coming into contact with a ground when the plurality of links is folded.

2 . The compact mobility device of claim 1 , wherein the column is configured to be bent forward from a lower to an upper end thereof in an unfolded state.

3 . The compact mobility device of claim 1 , wherein the steering handle is rotatably coupled to the upper link.

4 . The compact mobility device of claim 3 , further comprising an encoder between the steering handle and the upper link, the encoder configured to measure a steering angle of the steering handle based on the upper link.

5 . The compact mobility device of claim 1 , wherein the steering handle is provided with a speed controller that is configured to receive a desired speed of the drive wheels from an operator.

6 . The compact mobility device of claim 1 , wherein the base panel is provided with a back plate, the back plate being configured to be rotated based on the base panel, so as to constitute a footrest by being accommodated in the base panel, or so as to constitute a backrest by being opened from the base panel.

7 . The compact mobility device of claim 1 , further comprising a foot plate is provided at a location near the auxiliary wheel, the foot plate being configured to be rotated based on the link to be accommodated in or opened from the link, thereby constituting a footrest.

8 . The compact mobility device of claim 1 , wherein the compact mobility device is configured to go straight when the plurality of drive wheels is at a same speed, and to corner when a speed difference occurs between the plurality of drive wheels.

9 . The compact mobility device of claim 1 , wherein
the auxiliary wheel is an omni-directional wheel constituted by a plurality of rotating wheels relatively rotatable with each other; an installation direction of the auxiliary wheel is fixed in a straight direction; and steering is achieved by each of the rotating wheels having a relative wheel speed when cornering by a speed difference between the plurality of drive wheels.

10 . The compact mobility device of claim 9 , wherein the steering handle is rotatably coupled to the upper link.

11 . The compact mobility device of claim 10 , further comprising an encoder between the steering handle and the upper link, the encoder configured to measure a steering angle of the steering handle based on the upper link.

12 . The compact mobility device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a connector being in a shape that surrounds an outer circumferential surface of the upper link, the connector being rotatably coupled to the upper link; wherein the auxiliary wheel and the upper link are rotated together as the steering handle is rotated; and wherein an outer circumferential surface of the connector is coupled to the lower link.

13 . The compact mobility device of claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of bars rotatably provided between the connector and the lower link, such that the upper link and the lower link are folded or unfolded.

14 . The compact mobility device of claim 13 , wherein the connector and the lower link are coupled to each other in a four-bar link structure.

15 . The compact mobility device of claim 12 , further comprising an encoder provided between the upper link and the connector, wherein the encoder is configured to a rotation angle between the upper link and the connector.

16 . The compact mobility device of claim 1 , wherein
the lower link is coupled to the base panel so that a rolling between the lower link and the base panel is possible; and the lower link, the upper link, and the auxiliary wheel are rolled together as the steering handle is rolled.

17 . The compact mobility device of claim 16 , further comprising an encoder provided between the lower link and the base panel, wherein the encoder is configured to measure a rolling angle between the lower link and the base panel.

18 . A compact mobility device having an adjustable drive mode, the compact mobility device comprising:
a base panel; a driving unit; a plurality of drive wheels rotatably provided at opposite ends of the base panel, the drive wheels configured to rotate by receiving torque from the driving unit; a column constituted by a plurality of links connected in series to be foldable, the column configured such that a lower end of a lower link is rotatably coupled to the base panel, and an upper end of an upper link is provided with a steering handle; and an omni-directional wheel provided between the plurality of links constituting the column, the omni-directional wheel constituted by a plurality of rotating wheels relatively rotatable with each other so that steering can be achieved by each of the rotating wheels having a relative wheel speed when cornering by a speed difference between the plurality of drive wheels.

19 . The compact mobility device of claim 18 , further comprising a connector surrounding an outer circumferential surface of the upper link, the connector being rotatably coupled to the upper link, wherein the omni-directional wheel and the upper link are rotated together as the steering handle is rotated, and wherein an outer circumferential surface of the connector is coupled to the lower link.

20 . A compact mobility device having an adjustable drive mode, the compact mobility device comprising:
a base panel; a first wheel attached to a first end of the base panel; a second wheel attached to a second end of the base panel, the second end being opposite the first end; a lower link extending away from the base panel, a first end of the lower link being rotatably coupled to an edge of the base panel; an upper link having a first end foldably coupled to a second end of the lower link; a steering handle coupled to a second end of the upper link; and an auxiliary wheel located between the second end of the lower link and the first and of the upper link; wherein the compact mobility device is configured to operate in a first mode as a two-wheel device using the first wheel and second wheel; and wherein the compact mobility device is configured to operate in a second mode as a three-wheel device using the first wheel, the second wheel and the auxiliary wheel.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Motors Corp

Inventors

• Park Jun Hwan

Classifications

• B62K21/12

  Handlebars; Handlebar stems · CPC title

• B62K2015/005

  having additional wheels for use when folded or collapsed · CPC title

• B62K15/008

  foldable about 2 or more axes · CPC title

• B62K11/007 Primary

  Automatic balancing machines with single main ground engaging wheel or coaxial wheels supporting a rider · CPC title

• B62K13/04 Primary

  to a tricycle · CPC title