Abstract:
The present invention provides an easy turning and highly accurate personal vehicle. This is accomplished by providing a frame with at least one hubless wheel, wherein the passenger&#39;s foot may be contained. As such, the foot may accurately and safely steer and at the same time provide support. According to a preferred embodiment, there may be a frame, a first wheel with a first foot support in a center portion and a second wheel with a second foot support in a center portion. Also, there may be a human powered drive mechanism that allows the foot to be in the center portion of the wheel and yet still capable of providing human power to the personal vehicle. In this way a human powered, stable, highly accurate and fast personal vehicle is achieved as never previously accomplished within the art.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention generally relates to personal vehicles including self-propelled stand-on personal vehicles. Numerous personal vehicles are known within the art. These may include bicycles, rollerblades, skateboards and the like. Stand-on transportation devices are also known within the art. By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,975,229 issued to Hosoda, discloses a stand-on transportation device with shafts to which the front wheel and the rear wheel are assembled and the frame connects these shafts. The rider is support by a footboard along the frame.  
           [0002]    Also, known within the art are foot driven vehicles. By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,079,727 issued to Fan discloses a foot driven vehicle. The &#39;727 patent discloses the use of a foot pedal along a frame portion and connected to a crank. However, the &#39;727 patent and similar devices do not provide stability at higher speeds. Cranking the foot pedal while traveling at high speeds and remaining stable would be difficult and dangerous, with the passenger risking falling off and injury.  
           [0003]    Another foot driven vehicle is U.S. Pat. No. 4,761,014, issued to Huang. The &#39;014 patent discloses a scooter with a ratchet mechanism for driving the rear wheel of the scooter, a stepping lever for transferring the stepping force of the rider to the ratchet mechanism and a retrieving means for raising the stepping lever as the stepping force is released. In this way the scooter can be propelled by the intermittent stepping force of the rider to advance forwardly. However, such a system is unstable at higher speeds. Also, it is difficult to coast and step on the lever at the same time. This results in the need to remove your foot from the lever, which can be unstable and cause the passenger to slow.  
           [0004]    Also known within the art is The Wheelman. The Wheelman is a complicated, cumbersome, heavy, large, and expensive motorized personal vehicle. Because of the motorized nature of The Wheelman, it is loud, not safe for younger children, produces emissions, and is cost prohibitive.  
           [0005]    Another disadvantage of the prior art, is the inability to mimic surfing and snowboarding. All previous devices have tried to mimic the surfing and snowboarding feel on land but are merely skateboards with somewhat of a surfing or snowboarding feel. In both snowboarding and surfing the riders feet are on the board at all times. None of these previous devices have allowed a rider to keep both feet on the device during propulsion, while retaining rider control and the feel of snowboarding or surfing.  
           [0006]    Accordingly, what is needed is a stable, easy to turn device that may be human powered, remain stable at higher speeds and allow the rider to keep both feet on the device while providing a drive mechanism.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    One aspect of the present invention is a personal vehicle for carrying a passenger, with a frame and at least two wheels rotatably attached to the frame. At least one wheel may have a foot support in a center portion of the wheel. There may also be a drive mechanism, so as to allow a passenger to have their foot on the foot support, yet provide power such as to rotate at least one of the wheels of the vehicle.  
           [0008]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a personal vehicle for carrying a passenger is disclosed comprised of a frame and at least two wheels wherein at least one of the wheels is a hubless wheel comprised of a rotationally stationary inner rim, an outer rim and at least two bearings. The inner rim may be in communication with the frame. The outer rim may have an outside surface and a bearing engaging surface in communication at least two bearings. There may also be at least one foot support in a center portion of the hubless wheel.  
           [0009]    According to a further aspect of the present invention, a personal vehicle for carrying a passenger is disclosed comprising a frame, a first wheel, a first foot support, a second wheel, and a second foot support. The first wheel may be comprised of a rotationally stationary inner rim, a rotatable outer rim and at least two bearings. The inner rim may be in communication with the frame. The outer rim may have an outside surface and a bearing engaging surface in communication with at least two bearings. The first foot support may be in a center portion of the first wheel and in communication with the inner rim of the first wheel. The first wheel may have a horizontal axis. The first foot support may have a centerline substantially perpendicular to this horizontal axis. There may also be a second wheel with at least two bearings, a rotationally stationary inner rim and a rotatable outer rim with a bearing engaging surface and an outside surface. The inner rim may be in communication with the frame. At least two bearings may be in communication with the bearing engaging surface of the second wheel. A second foot support may be in a center portion of the second wheel and in communication with the inner rim of the second wheel. The second wheel having a horizontal axis and the second foot support having a centerline substantially perpendicular to the horizontal axis. A drive mechanism comprised of a lever, a spring device, and at least one gear may cause the vehicle to move in a forward or backward motion. The lever may be substantially horizontal and move in an up and down motion. The spring device may effectuate substantially linear movement of the lever. Alternatively, the spring device may effectuate substantially linear movement of a support, which in turn moves the lever. At least one gear translates and amplifies the linear movement of the lever, to provide rotational force. This rotational force may be utilized to turn another gear, or turn at least one wheel.  
           [0010]    According to yet another embodiment, a personal vehicle for carrying a passenger is disclosed comprising a frame, a first wheel, a first foot support, a second wheel, a second foot support, and a human powered drive mechanism. The first wheel may have a horizontal axis and be comprised of a rotationally stationary inner rim, a rotatable outer rim and at least two bearings. The inner rim may be in communication with the frame. The rotatable outer rim may have an outside surface and a bearing engaging surface, wherein the bearing engaging surface may be in communication with at least two bearings. The first foot support may be in a center portion of the first wheel and have a centerline and a lateral axis. The lateral axis being at an angle between 0 and 45 degrees from the horizontal axis of the first wheel and the centerline being substantially perpendicular to the horizontal axis of the first wheel. The second wheel may have a horizontal axis and be comprised of a rotationally stationary inner rim, a rotatable outer rim and at least two bearings. The inner rim is in communication with the frame. The rotatable outer rim having an outside surface and a bearing engaging surface in communication with at least two bearings. A second foot support may be in a center portion of the second wheel and have a centerline and a lateral axis. The second foot support may move so that lateral axis moves at an angle relative to the horizontal axis of the second wheel between 0 and 80 degrees. The centerline of the second foot support may be substantially perpendicular to the horizontal axis of the second wheel. The human powered drive mechanism comprised of a lever, a spring device, an engagement slip, a first gear, a second gear and a protruding gear. The lever may be substantially parallel to a horizontal axis of the second wheel and in communication with a second foot support. The spring device may be in communication with the second support. The engagement slip may be in communication with the lever. The first gear may be in rotating communication with the engagement slip. The second gear may be in communication with the first gear and a protruding gear. The protruding gear being fixedly attached to the inner rim of the second wheel.  
           [0011]    According to still yet another embodiment, a method of providing a stable, easy to turn personal vehicle is disclosed. This method includes the steps of coupling an inner rim of a hubless wheel to a frame, wherein the hubless wheel has a center portion; providing a movable foot support in a center portion of a hubless wheel, which may move in a stepping motion; providing a lever in communication with the movable foot support to translate stepping motion into a rotational force; providing a first gear in communication with the lever to translate and amplify rotational force; and providing a protruding gear to translate rotational force and turn the hubless wheel. A number of different gears may be utilized to amplify and translate rotational force.  
           [0012]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1A is a side view of a personal vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1B is a bottom view of a personal vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2A is a side view of a personal vehicle with a human powered drive mechanism according to the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2B is a side view of a personal vehicle with a human powered drive mechanism according to the present invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is side view of a personal vehicle with a tire shield;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is a side view of a hubless wheel detached from the vehicle;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is a radial partial cross-sectional view, taken along line  5 - 5  of FIG. 4; and  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 is a detailed side view of a hubless wheel according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.  
         [0022]    The present invention discloses a personal vehicle for carrying a passenger. This may be for recreational purposes. Also, it may be utilized to replicate snowboarding, as in the case of off-season training. This vehicle may comprise a frame and at least two wheels rotatably attached to the frame. At least one wheel may have a foot support in a center portion of at least one wheel. It should be understood that many different embodiment are envisioned. There may be a standard wheel, and a hubless wheel with a foot support in the center. Many different combinations are claimed and disclosed herein.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 1A depicts a vehicle  10  according to the present invention. The wheels  22  and  23  be hubless. As depicted by wheels  22  and  23 , there may be a rotationally stationary inner rim  12 , a rotatable outer rim  15  and bearings  18 . The outer rim  15  having a bearing engaging surface  16  and a outside surface  14 . There may be a removable tire  19  in communication with the outside surface  14 . There should be at least two bearings  18  in sliding communication with the bearing engaging surface  16  of outer rim  15  of the wheel  22  of the vehicle  10 . The bearings  18  allow the rotatable outer rim  15  to rotate around the rotationally stationary inner rim  12 . The rotationally stationary inner rim  12  may be attached to a portion of frame  20 . The frame  20  may also have a pivot  24  to allow the vehicle  10  to turn. As shown, there may be a passenger  30  with a front foot  32  and a back foot  34 . The front foot  32  may be in communication with a foot support  38 . The foot support  38  may be supported by the rotationally stationary inner rim  12 . There may also be a back foot support  40  which may be in communication with back foot  34  so as to provide support for passenger  30 .  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1B depicts a bottom view of vehicle  10  according to the present invention. As shown, the centerline  52  of foot support  38  may be substantially perpendicular to horizontal axis  56 . By substantially perpendicular it is intended that the foot support  38  support the foot  32  in such a manner that the foot  32  be in a position similar to that of snowboarding or skateboarding, yet be in the center portion  60  of the wheel  22 . The centerline  62  of foot support  40  is also substantially parallel to horizontal axis  56 . Also, shown is pivot  24 , which allows the vehicle  10  to turn. The wheel  22  may turn 175 degrees in either direction from the centerline  56 . The wheel  23 , according to this embodiment does not turn along the centerline  56 .  
         [0025]    It should be noted that there may also be only one foot support without departing from the present invention. By way of example, there may be foot support  38  which supports front foot  32  and the back foot  34  may be supported on a portion of the frame  20 . According to another embodiment, there may be a back foot support  40  in communication with a back foot  34  and the front foot  32  may rest upon a portion of the frame  20 . There may also be a pivot  24 , to allow a wheel  22  to pivot relative to another wheel  23 . There may also be a folding mechanism along the frame  20 , without departing from the present invention, so as to fold the vehicle for easy carrying and storage.  
         [0026]    As shown in FIG. 2A, there may also be a human powered drive mechanism  42  which allows the passenger  30  to move the vehicle  10  in a substantially linear motion forwards or backwards and accurately turn the vehicle. The back foot support  40  may be within the center portion  60  of a wheel  23 . The support  40  may be depressed by back foot  34 , which in turn depresses the lever  43 . A spring  44  may be attached to the inner rim  12 , so as to allow the passenger to pump the foot support  40  in an up and down motion. The foot support  40  may have a lateral axis  64 . The back foot  34 , may depress the support  40 , which has the spring  44  placing an upward pressure on the support  40 , so that the back foot may pump or move up and down the support  40 . The angle 200 of the lateral axis  64  relative to the horizontal axis  56  of the wheel may be between 0 and 60 degrees, preferably 30 degrees. The support  40  is in communication with the lever  43  and causes the lever  43  to move in a substantially linear up and down motion. The lever  43  is in communication with engagement slip  68 , which is in turn in communication with first gear  46 . The engagement slip  68  allows stepping force of lever  43  to be continuously translated and amplified. When the lever  43  is depressed the engagement slip  68  engages the first gear  46  to cause the rotation of the first gear  46 . When the lever  43  is released, as may occur when the spring  44  causes the lever  43  to return to a starting position, the engagement slip  68  disengages the first gear  46 . The first gear  46  may then engage the second gear  48 , which in turn engages the protruding gear  50 . The protruding gear  50  is attached to the outer rim  15  and causes the outer rim  15  of the wheel  23  to turn. The foot support  38  may also have a lateral axis  54  which may be at an angle relative to the horizontal axis  56  of the wheel  22 . The angle may be between 0 and 45 degrees, preferably less than 10.  
         [0027]    Referring to FIGS.  1 - 2 A, and by way of providing an example, the length  100  of the vehicle  10  may be between two and five feet, preferably 3 feet 5 inches. The outer rim  15  may have an outer diameter  102  of between 8 and 16 inches, preferably 9 inches. The inner rim  12  may have an outer diameter between 4 inches and 14 inches, preferably 8 inches. The bearings may have a width of ⅜ inches, with an inner diameter of {fraction (3/16)}, and an outer diameter of {fraction (11/32)} inches and a a {fraction (3/16)} inch diameter stem. As discussed supra, the stepping force, by the passenger, to a lever  43 , may be translated to a number of gears. In the example shown, the lever  43  may be 6 inches long and be in communication with the substantially circular first gear  46 , wherein the first gear  46  may have an outer diameter between 2 inches and 10 inches, preferably 4 inches. The linear motion of the lever  43  may be transferred into an rotating motion by first gear  46 , which may in turn cause a second gear  48  to rotate. The second gear  48  may be between 1 and 8 inches, preferably 3 inches. The second gear  48  may be in communication with a protruding gear  50  which may be a part of or attached to the outer rim  15 . In this way, the liner motion up and down, or stepping motion of the passenger, may be translated to the lever  43 , a first gear  46 , a second gear  48 , and finally a protruding gear  50  attached to the outer rim  15  of the wheel  22 . It should be noted that the lever  43  may also be located along the frame  20 . In this way the user may pump the lever, yet coast or cruise with their feet supported by at least one foot support in a center portion of at least one wheel.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 2B depicts an alternate embodiment of the gears according to the present invention. Pressure on the foot support  40  causes the lever  43  to angularly move and cause the engagement slip  68  to engage the first gear  102  and rotate the first gear  102 . The first gear  102  engages a second gear  104 , which engages a third gear  106 , which engages a fourth gear  108 , which turns protruding gear  50 . The protruding gear  50 , or any other engaging device known within the art, may be along the outer rim  15  or against a tire  19 . Any of the gears may be in direct contact with another gear, or as shown by second gear  104 , the first gear  102  may engage an inner portion  104   a  of second gear  104  and an outer portion  104   b  of second gear  104  may make contact with the third gear  106 . Where there is no downward pressure placed on the engagement slip  68 , it will disengage and the spring  44  may cause the lever  43  to return to initial position. In this way, the lever  43  can constantly translate and cause the first gear  102  to rotate as long as there is an up and down, or stepping force on the lever  43 . When there is not a downward pressure on the lever  43 , the engagement slip  68  will be disengaged. In this way, it is possible to continuously drive the gears and in turn the vehicle.  
         [0029]    The first gear  102  causes the rotation of a second gear  104 . Depending on the size of the gears relative to one another, the gear may amplify and translate the rotational force of one gear relative to another. It should be understood that a number of different gear types and sizes may be utilized without departing from the present invention.  
         [0030]    As shown in FIG. 3, there may also be at least one tire shield  70 . The tire shield  70  may serve many purposes. It may shield the passenger from any moving gears and the moving tire. Also, the tire shield  70  allows the passenger to steer using not only their foot, but their shin, ankle or any other portion of the leg. This enables the passenger to turn at higher speeds, while remaining stable. This is because the tire shield may provide added support to the passenger along their ankle, shin or any other portion of the leg or foot. The tire shield  70  may be attached to the inner rim  12  and above the foot support  40  and frame  20 . The passengers foot may then be in the center portion  60  and utilize the tire shield  70  to steer the vehicle.  
         [0031]    For explanation purposes, wheel  22  is shown in FIG. 4 removed from vehicle  10 . Wheel  22  may be comprised of frame  20 , a rotationally stationary inner rim  12 , and a rotatable outer rim  15 . Frame  20  may be attached to inner rim  12  such that the inner rim  12  does not revolve or otherwise experience rolling rotation during vehicle  10  operation. The inner rim  12  may be attached to the frame  20  by any means known within the art including screws, welding, composites and the like. The inner rim  12  may also be fabricated so as to provide a solitary piece that has both an inner rim  12  portion and a frame  20  portion. The outer rim  15  may freely rotate around the inner rim  12 , along the bearing engaging surface and provides the outside surface  14 . A removable tire  19  may in communication or attached to the outside surface  14 . A protruding gear  50  may be a part of or attached to the outer rim  15 .  
         [0032]    Referring now to FIG. 5, outer rim  15  includes an outside surface  14  which may be in communication with replaceable tire  19 . The outer rim  15  may have the inner rim  12  on one side and freely rotate within the frame  20 . Along the outer rim  15  may be the protruding gear  50  which also freely rotates within the frame  20 . The protruding gear  50  may be in communication with a drive mechanism (not shown) so as to turn the wheel. The drive mechanism may be human powered or any combustion electric or fuel cell engine known within the art. The bearing engaging surface  16  is in communication with at least two bearings  18 , and the bearings are fixedly attached to the inner rim  12 . The bearings  18  may be fixedly attached to the inner rim  12  by a stem  23 . There must be at least two bearings  18 , and preferably four bearings. The bearings  18  may have a width of ⅜ inches and an outer diameter of {fraction (11/32)} inches. The stem  23 , according to a preferred embodiment, is {fraction (3/16)} of an inch in diameter. The stem  23  may be assembled to go through the bearings  18  and the inner rim  12 , so as to allow the bearings  18  to freely rotate, yet be fixed to the inner rim  12 . The bearings  18  allows the outer rim  15  to rotate.  
         [0033]    Outer rim  15  is fabricated to provide a high strength, yet low weight exterior shell. The frame  20  and outer rim  15  may be made of a composite. The term “composite” refers to the product resulting from the a pplication to a binder of a liquid which cures to a solid. In a preferred construction, frame  20  is made of aluminum. The inner rim  12  may be made of composite or steel and the outer rim  15  may be made of composite or steel. Exterior shell of outer rim  15  is a composite. Various composites, carbon fiber, Kevlar™, boron fiber and glass fiber may also be applied as a binder to various portions of the present invention to provide stability and are intended to be within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 6 depicts a side view of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention. As shown, the protruding gear  50  may be attached to the outer rim  15 . A tire  19  may be attached to the outer rim  15 , which rotates around the inner rim  12  according to a groove along the bearing engaging surface  16 . The stem  23  may secure the bearing  18  to the inner rim  12 .  
         [0035]    It is envisioned that any enhancement device known within the art may be utilized without departing from the present invention. For example, reflectors, brake, handlebars, lights, a speedometer, an odometer may all be added to the vehicle.  
         [0036]    The present invention also envisions a method of providing a stable, easy to turn personal vehicle. This method includes the steps of coupling an inner rim of a hubless wheel to a frame, wherein the hubless wheel has a center portion; providing a movable foot support in a center portion of a hubless wheel, which may move in a stepping motion; providing a lever in communication with the movable foot support to translate stepping motion into a rotational force; providing a first gear in communication with the lever to translate and amplify rotational force; and providing a protruding gear to translate rotational force and turn the hubless wheel. A number of different gears may be utilized to amplify and translate rotational force. The method may also comprise the step of providing a second foot support in a center portion of a second hubless wheel for added steering the vehicle.  
         [0037]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to preferred embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.