Personal electric vehicle mount

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9994142-B2
Application number	US-201615203789-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 6, 2016
Priority date	Jul 6, 2016
Publication date	Jun 12, 2018
Grant date	Jun 12, 2018

Abstract

An apparatus for an amusement park includes a mounting device for use in a transportation vehicle in the amusement park, wherein the mounting device is configured to retain a personal electric vehicle (PEV). The apparatus for the amusement park also includes a base assembly of the mounting device configured to secure the mounting device to a floor of the transportation vehicle. The apparatus for the amusement park further includes an arm of the mounting device including a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion of the arm is pivotally coupled to the base assembly via a hinge assembly and the second portion of the arm is coupled to a retaining assembly of the mounting device configured to retain the PEV, and wherein the first portion and the second portion are coupled to one another at a joint.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for an amusement park, comprising:
a mounting device for use in a transportation vehicle in the amusement park, wherein the mounting device is configured to retain a personal electric vehicle (PEV);
a base assembly of the mounting device configured to secure the mounting device to a floor of the transportation vehicle;
an arm of the mounting device including a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion of the arm is pivotally coupled to the base assembly via a hinge assembly and the second portion of the arm is coupled to a retaining assembly of the mounting device configured to retain the PEV, and wherein the first portion and the second portion are coupled to one another at a joint.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the base assembly of the mounting device comprises a first bar and a second bar perpendicularly bisecting the first bar, wherein each of the first bar and the second bar has a substantially square cross section such that a bottom surface of the base assembly is configured to lay flat on the floor of the transportation vehicle.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the base assembly of the mounting device comprises an adjustable locking mechanism configured to secure the mounting device to the floor of the transportation vehicle such that the mounting device is able to be adjustably secured on the floor at various locations.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the adjustable locking mechanism comprises adjustable locks, each received by a corresponding recess on the floor of the transportation vehicle.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the arm is configured to rotate in a first rotational direction to enable the mounting device to be transformed from a stowed position to a deployed position, wherein the first portion of the arm is configured to be oriented substantially perpendicular to the floor of the transportation vehicle in the deployed position.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the arm is configured to rotate in a second rotational direction to enable the mounting device to be transformed from the deployed position to the stowed position.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first portion and the second portion of the arm are coupled to one another at an angle between about 90 degrees and about 180 degrees.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the arm is pivotally coupled to the second portion of the arm at the joint.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the arm is removably coupled to the second portion of the arm at the joint.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the retaining assembly of the mounting device is configured to retain the PEV at a portion of an elongated body of the PEV.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the retaining assembly of the mounting device is configured to retain the PEV via one or more fastener straps, each fastener strap being configured to loop around the portion of the elongated body of the PEV.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the arm of the mounting device comprises a biasing assembly configured to bias the retaining assembly toward the floor.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the biasing assembly is spring biased.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mounting device comprises wedge members configured to retain a pair of wheels of the PEV, wherein the wedge members are coupled to an affixing feature of the arm of the mounting device via strings.

15. A transportation system for an amusement park, comprising:
a transportation vehicle comprising a floor having a stationary rail and configured to carry passengers between locations associated with the amusement park; and
a mounting device configured to retain a personal electric vehicle (PEV) on the floor of the transportation vehicle, wherein the mounting device comprises:
a base assembly of the mounting device securing the mounting device to the floor of the transportation vehicle via the stationary rail;
an arm of the mounting device including a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion of the arm is pivotally coupled to the base assembly via a hinge assembly, and the second portion of the arm is coupled to a retaining assembly of the mounting device configured to retain the PEV, and wherein the first portion and the second portion are coupled to one another at a joint.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the first portion and the second portion of the arm are pivotally coupled to one another at the joint, wherein an angle between the first portion and the second portion of the arm is adjustable, and the angle approximately between 90 degree and 180 degree.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the first portion of the arm is permanently coupled to the second portion of the arm at the joint.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the arm is configured to rotate in a first rotational direction when the mounting device is transformed from a stowed position to a deployed position, and to rotate in a second rotational direction when the mounting device is transformed from the deployed position to the stowed position.

19. A method for retaining a personal electric vehicle (PEV) using a mounting device, comprising:
rotating an arm of the mounting device in a first rotational direction to transform the mounting device from a stowed position to a deployed position in which the mounting device is configured to retain the PEV, wherein the arm of the mounting device comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is pivotally coupled to a base assembly of the mounting device via a hinge assembly enabling rotation, and the second portion is coupled to a retaining assembly of the mounting device configured to retain the PEV;
positioning the PEV adjacent to the mounting device such that an elongated body of the PEV is adjacent the mounting device; and
retaining the PEV via one or more fastener straps of the retaining assembly configured to loop around a portion of the elongated body of the PEV, wherein the elongated body of the PEV extends in a longitudinal direction from between a pair of wheels and to a handle of the PEV.

20. The method of claim 19 , comprising retaining the pair of wheels of the PEV by wedge members, wherein the wedge members are coupled to an affixing feature of the arm of the mounting device via strings.

Assignees

• Universal City Studios Llc

Inventors

• Rugg John

Classifications

• B60P7/0823

  Straps; Tighteners · CPC title

• B60P3/073

  Vehicle retainers {(specially adapted for fixing semi-trailers on railway vehicles B61D45/004)} · CPC title

• B60P7/15 Primary

  the load bracing means comprising a movable bar · CPC title

• B60P3/079

  Tie-down retainers (B60P3/075 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60P3/077

  Wheel cradles, chocks, or wells · CPC title