A foot-deck-based vehicle includes a support structure having a longitudinal axis, a first foot-deck portion, and a second foot-deck portion. Each of the first foot-deck portion and the second foot-deck portion have a foot support surface. The foot support surfaces of the first and second foot-deck portions are positioned to support first and second feet of a rider respectively. The foot-deck-based vehicle further includes at least one wheel that is rotationally connected to the support structure for rotation about a lateral axis. The first and second foot-deck portions are movably connected at least indirectly to each other and are movable between a use position and a stowage position.

FIELD

The disclosure relates generally to a personal transport apparatus, and in particular, to a compactable foot-deck-based vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

One-wheeled skateboards have become quite popular with teens and young adults. It is not always convenient for a rider to carry a one-wheeled skateboard in his/her arms when the skateboard is not in use. Additionally, such skateboards can occupy more space than is desired when being stored.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In an aspect, there is provided a foot-deck-based vehicle, comprising: a support structure having a longitudinal axis, a first foot-deck portion, and a second foot-deck portion, each of the first foot-deck portion and the second foot-deck portion having a foot support surface; and at least one primary wheel rotationally connected to the support structure for rotation about a lateral axis, wherein the first and second foot-deck portions are movably connected at least indirectly to each other and are movable between a use position and a stowage position, wherein in the use position, the first and second foot-deck portions are positioned longitudinally forward and rearward of the at least one primary wheel respectively, with the foot support surfaces of the first and second foot-deck portions being oriented to support first and second feet respectively of a rider thereon, and in the stowage position, the foot support surface of the first foot-deck portion is closer to the foot support surface of the second foot-deck portion are closer to one another than when the first and second foot-deck portions are in the use position.

The foot-deck-based vehicle can further include a handle aperture on at least one of the first and second foot-deck portions, wherein the handle aperture is positioned to be graspable by a user for carrying the vehicle when the first and second foot-deck portions are in the stowage position.

The first and second foot-deck portions can be pivotally connected at least indirectly to each other and can be pivotable between the use position and the stowage position. Both the first and second foot-deck portions can pivot about a single pivot axis relative to each other.

The support structure can include at least one axial member that is parallel to the lateral axis, wherein each of the first and second foot-deck portions has two arms that are pivotally coupled to the at least one axial member.

The first and second foot-deck portions can each have two arms that extend to couple to the at least one axial member, wherein a first one of the arms from the first foot-deck portion couples to the at least one axial member laterally outside a first one of the arms from the second foot-deck portion, and wherein a second one of the arms from the first foot-deck portion couples to the at least one axial member laterally inside a second one of the arms from the second foot-deck portion.

The foot-deck-based vehicle can further comprising a motor that is operatively connected to the at least one primary wheel, and a control system that is operatively connected to the motor to drive the at least one primary wheel to maintain the vehicle in balance with a rider on board.

In the stowage position, the foot support surfaces of the first and second foot-deck portions can face one another.

The support structure can further include a support structure base pivotally coupled to at least one of the first and second foot-deck portions. Both the first and second foot-deck portions can be pivotable relative to the support structure base. In the use position, further pivoting of the foot support surface of the first foot-deck portion away from the foot support surface of the second foot-deck portion can be limited by abutment of the first foot-deck portion with at least one of the second foot-deck portion and the support structure base.

In another aspect, a foot-deck-based vehicle is provided. The foot-deck-based vehicle includes a support structure having a longitudinal axis, and having a first foot-deck portion and a second foot-deck portion. The surfaces of the first and second foot-deck portions are positioned to support first and second feet of a rider respectively. The foot-deck-based vehicle further includes at least one wheel that is generally longitudinally centrally positioned relative to the support structure and is rotationally connected to the support structure for rotation about a lateral axis. The first and second foot-deck portions of the support structure are movably connected at least indirectly to each other and are movable between a use position and a stowage position. In the use position, the first and second foot-deck portions are positioned on a front side and a rear side of the wheel respectively, and the surfaces of the first and second foot-deck portions face in a common direction for receiving a first and second feet of the rider. While in the stowage position, the first and second foot-deck portions are both on one of the front and rear sides of the wheel, or the first and second foot-deck portions in close proximity to each other at any positions between the front and rear sides of the wheel.

In a further aspect, a foot-deck-based vehicle is provided, and includes a support structure having a longitudinal axis, and having a first foot-deck portion and a second foot-deck portion, and at least one primary wheel that is generally longitudinally centrally positioned relative to the support structure and is rotationally connected to the support structure for rotation about a lateral axis. The first and second foot-deck portions are movably connected at least indirectly to each other and are movable between a use position and a stowage position. In the use position the first and second foot-deck portions are positioned forward and rearward of the wheel respectively, and face in a common direction for receiving the first and second feet of the rider, and in the stowage position, the foot support surface of the first foot-deck portion is closer to the foot support surface of the second foot-deck portion are closer to one another than when the first and second foot-deck portions are in the use position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is made toFIGS. 1 and 2which show a compactable foot-deck-based vehicle10(which may also be referred to simply as the vehicle10, for ease of readability). The foot-deck-based vehicle10may be a self-balancing vehicle, such as an electrically powered one-wheel self-balancing skateboard, and may be movable between a use configuration, shown inFIG. 1, and a stowage configuration, shown inFIG. 2. In the use configuration, the vehicle10may be ridden by a rider12as shown inFIG. 4. In the stowage configuration, the vehicle10may be relatively smaller in at least one dimension than in the use configuration and thus may be more manageably carried by a user. The vehicle10is described as follows.

FIGS. 1 to 5show the vehicle10having a support structure20and a primary wheel assembly30. The vehicle10has a longitudinal axis ALong, defined by the direction of travel of the vehicle10, and a lateral axis ALat which is transverse to the longitudinal axis ALong. The support structure20includes a first foot-deck portion201, a second foot-deck portion202, and a support structure base203. Each foot-deck portion201,202has a foot support surface204thereon that is oriented facing upwards when the vehicle10is being ridden, in order to support the feet (shown at12aand12binFIG. 2) of the rider12during use.

The first and second foot-deck portions201and202are movably connected to each other at least indirectly, for movement between a use position and a stowage position, which correspond to the use and stowage configurations of the vehicle10. In the example shown, each of the foot-deck portions201and202are pivotable relative to the support structure base203via a pair of axial members in the form of pins218that pass through apertures (not shown) in two arms214and216that extend out from the foot-deck portions201and202respectively. While, in the illustrated embodiment, the foot-deck portions201,202pivot about a single pivot axis defined by the pins218that is coaxial with the lateral axis ALat, the foot-deck portions201,202can pivot about other axes that are parallel to the lateral axis ALat. Further, the foot-deck portions201,202can pivot about separate pivot axes in other embodiments.

In the example shown, a first one of the arms214is laterally outside of a first one of the arms216on one lateral side of the wheel assembly30, while, on the other lateral side of the wheel assembly, a second one of the arms214is laterally inside a second one of the arms216. This permits at least some parts of the foot-deck portions201and202to be identical, thereby reducing the number of different components that are involved in manufacturing the vehicle10.

When the foot-deck portions201,202are in the use position, they are positioned longitudinally forward or rearward of the wheel assembly30. Each foot-deck portion201,202is supported on a corresponding one of two foot-deck portion support surfaces207on the support structure base203.

Further pivoting of the foot support surface204of the first foot-deck portion201away from the foot support surface204of the second foot-deck portion202is limited by abutment of the first foot-deck portion201with at least one of the second foot-deck portion202and the support structure base203. In the illustrated embodiment, the support structure base203acts as a support for limiting pivoting of the foot support surfaces204of the foot-deck portions201,202away from each other via abutment of the foot-deck portions201,202with foot-deck portion support surfaces207, thereby maintaining the foot support surfaces204of the foot-deck portions201,202generally co-planar when the foot-deck portions are in the use position. In the embodiment shown in the figures, both foot-deck portions201and202are movable relative to the support structure base203so that either of the first or second foot-deck portions201and202may be lifted off the corresponding support surface207and folded over onto the other of the first and second foot-deck portions201and202. In some alternative embodiments, however, the support structure base203may be integrally incorporated within one of the first and second foot-deck portions201and202, such that the said one of the first and second foot-deck portions201and202cannot separate from it, while the other of the first and second foot-deck portions201and202could still move relative to it between a use position and a stowage position. For example, the support structure base203could be incorporated integrally as part of the first foot-deck portion201so that the foot-deck portion201is fixedly connected with the support structure base203, while the second foot-deck portion202can pivot between a use position in which the second foot-deck portion202is supported on the support surface207of the base, and a stowage position in which the foot support surface of the first foot-deck portion is closer to the foot support surface of the second foot-deck portion are closer to one another than when the first and second foot-deck portions are in the use position. In the example shown, in the stowage position the first and second foot-deck portions201and202face one another. In other embodiments, the foot-deck portions can be provided with abutment surfaces that limit their pivoting relative to one another.

At least one of the first and second foot-deck portions201and202has a handle aperture220that is used as a handle that is graspable by a user for picking up the vehicle10when the first and second foot-deck portions201and202are in the stowage position. In the example shown, both the first and second foot-deck portions201and202have handle apertures, which pass through the respective foot-deck portions201and202and which are aligned with one another to form a handle222.

The primary wheel assembly30is supported by the support structure20and is positioned in an opening200that is present in the support structure20. The primary wheel assembly30includes at least one primary wheel302positioned in the opening200. In the example shown, there is a single primary wheel302. The primary wheel302is generally longitudinally centrally positioned relative to the support structure20when the first and second foot-deck portions201and202are in the use position, and is rotationally connected to the support structure20for rotation about the lateral axis ALat. In embodiments in which a plurality of primary wheels302is provided, the plurality of wheels302may all rotate about the lateral axis ALat. In other words, the lateral axis ALat would be common to all of the plurality of primary wheels302.

The primary wheel302includes a wheel hub306which may be formed from two mating wheel hub portions306aand306b, and a tire308that is supported on the wheel hub306.

A motor310is used for driving the primary wheel302. The motor310may be operatively connected to the primary wheel302by any suitable structure. For example, the stator311of the motor310may include the motor shaft, which is shown at312. The motor shaft312is connected to the support structure20. In the example shown, the motor shaft312is fixedly connected to the support structure base203. The rotor of the motor310is shown at316and may be radially outside the stator and rotatably supported on the motor shaft312. The rotor316has the wheel hub306mounted to it (e.g., via threaded fasteners shown at320). The rotor316may be rotatably mounted to the shaft312via a plurality of bearings (not shown).

The vehicle10includes one or more battery packs400for supplying power to the motor310. In the example shown, one battery pack400is provided in each foot-deck portion201and202. An electrical conduit213may extend from each battery pack400along one arm214,216to the motor shaft312. The electrical conduit213may extend into the motor shaft312to a motor controller (not shown) that may be mounted in association with the stator311of the motor310, so as to supply power to the motor310.

In the embodiments shown, a battery charge indicator402may be provided on each foot-deck portion201and202so as to indicate the charge of the battery pack400contained therein. The charge indicator402(FIG. 2) may include an activation button403(FIG. 2) which is used to control a suitable controller or circuit, and a plurality of LEDs404to indicate the battery charge level of the associated battery pack400.

In the embodiments shown, a lighting strip500is provided around the edge of each foot-deck portion201and202. The lighting strip500may be powered from the associated battery pack400for each of the foot-deck portions201and202. The lighting strip500may help to illuminate the vehicle10to make it more visible in the dark and as a decorative feature for the vehicle10.

While not shown, it is optionally possible for one or both of the foot-deck portions201and202to include one or more secondary wheels that engage the ground G in the event that the rider tips the vehicle10forward or rearward by more than a selected number of degrees. By providing such secondary wheels, the vehicle10is inhibited from stopping abruptly due to frictional engagement with the ground, thereby permitting the rider to retain greater stability on the vehicle10. Such secondary wheels may be provided at distal ends of the foot-deck portions201and202. For greater certainty, it will be understood that, even if the vehicle10includes such secondary wheels, it may still be considered a one-wheeled skateboard.

A control system600is operatively connected to the motor310to drive the at least one primary wheel302to maintain the vehicle10in balance with a rider12on board. The control system600may include a single controller602, which includes a memory602aconfigured for storing instructions and a microprocessor602bconfigured for reading and writing as needed to the memory602aand for carrying out the instructions. Alternatively, the control system600may comprise a plurality of individual controllers602. The control system600shown in the figures includes a single controller602, which receives signals from a suitable angle sensor604for the vehicle10that is positioned to determine the angular orientation of the support structure20relative to horizontal. The angle sensor604may be any suitable type of angle sensor, such as, for example, an accelerometer and/or a gyroscope similar to those found in smartphones. The control system600may be programmed to control the current to the motor310from the battery packs400based on the angular orientation of the support structure20relative to horizontal. When stationary, as the rider tips either the forward or rearward foot-deck portion201,202(depending on the direction of travel) of the support structure20downwards, at causing the support structure20to pivot on the wheel302, the control system600interprets the angular orientation of the support structure20as an intention to move in the forward or rearward direction, wherein the speed of the motor310is selected based on the angular orientation of the support structure20. If the rider increases the downward angle of the support structure20in the direction of travel, the control system600increases the current to the motor310. If the rider decreases the downward angle of the support structure20in the direction of travel, the control system600decreases the current to the motor310. In addition, the control system600may be programmed to accelerate and decelerate the vehicle10in an attempt to maintain the rider12in a balanced state on the vehicle10in the fore-aft directions.

The controller602may be provided in one of the foot-deck portions201or202. In the embodiment shown, the controller602is provided in the foot-deck portion202, and suitable circuitry is provided inside the motor310to permit the controller602to control current flow from the battery pack400in the foot-deck portion201to the motor310. Alternatively, the angle sensor604can be separated from the controller602and disposed in the support structure20, and the controller602may be located in the wheel assembly30or elsewhere in the support structure20.