Abstract:
A system and method for providing added functionality to a personal transporter by way of adding increased lighting, sound, and cargo carrying options is described. The system can include front, side, and rear lighting and an audio alert system. The system can further include flatbed structures for carrying hazardous or other materials, as well as cargo organizing systems for carrying supplies and equipment.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/099,907, filed Sep. 24, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, including but not limited to those portions that specifically appear hereinafter, the incorporation by reference being made with the following exception: In the event that any portion of the above-referenced provisional application is inconsistent with this application, this application supercedes said above-referenced provisional application. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Personal transporters have become increasingly popular and widely used. They are being used in the private and public sectors with broad ranges of applications. They are being used with increasing regularity by public departments, for example by emergency personnel. The most popular example of a personal transporter is made by Segway, Inc. In an emergency, every second counts, and maneuvering through a crowd takes extra time. A personal transporter, with the ability to negotiate tight spaces gets emergency personnel where they need to be and at greater speeds. Riding off of the ground gives emergency personnel the advantage of viewing and assessing the scene much earlier and as they approach. 
     Current iterations offer little by way of lighting options and sound alert options, leaving the emergency personnel to use voice commands, or use inadequate lighting products to try to gain recognition in a usually hectic environment. Often bystanders and onlookers are so affected by what is happening that they hinder emergency personnel from getting into proper position for action by standing in the way. Because personal transporters move at a much greater speed than a pedestrian walks, and because they can operate at such low sound levels, average pedestrians may not notice the approaching emergency worker. 
     Personal transporters currently offer little by way of cargo carrying capacity. Many may have standard side bags that limit the size and shape of items that can go inside them. For example, an emergency worker may arrive on the scene of an accident to find that some large oddly shaped item needs to be transported away from the area. The current iteration of personal transporter cargo holds would be limiting in this situation, leaving personnel to either remove the item by hand, bring in a second standard type vehicle, or leave the item where it lies. In a situation where the item is dangerous leaving it where it is may not be an option. Moving it on foot may be too slow and waiting for a second vehicle may also take too long. Additionally, handling of the item may be dangerous and as such placing the item into a side bag may require too much handling. 
     The prior art is thus characterized by several disadvantages that are addressed by the present disclosure. The present disclosure minimizes, and in some aspects eliminates, the above-mentioned failures, and other problems, by utilizing the methods and structural features described herein. 
     With the limitations noted above, what is needed is a system that makes personal transporters more usable to emergency and security personnel by providing increased lighting and sound alert options in addition to more effectual cargo handling characteristics. One of the key advantages of a personal transporter is that it has a small footprint and any additions should compliment this minimal footprint. In an emergency situation where cargo should be moved, the addition of a cargo carrying surface would aid service workers in handling odd sized or dangerous materials. A tray configuration may be useful for providing a carrying surface as well as providing a platform for work lighting or signal lighting. 
     The features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description that follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the embodiments without undue experimentation. The features and advantages of the embodiments may be realized and obtained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An illustrative embodiment of the present invention comprises a system for providing visual and audio alerts on a personal transporter, the system comprising:
         a light bar assembly disposed on the personal transporter, the light bar assembly comprising a bracket and a forward-facing light, a side-facing light, and a rear-facing light, wherein each of said forward-facing light, side-facing light, and rear-facing light is disposed on the bracket;   a user control panel disposed on the personal transporter and electrically connected to the forward-facing, side-facing, and rear-facing lights;   a light housing assembly disposed on the personal transporter and electrically connected to the user control panel, the light housing assembly having a head light, a signal light, and an audio alert system disposed thereon; and   means for supplying electrical power to said control panel, forward-facing light, side-facing light, rear-facing light, head light, signal light, and audio alert system.       

     The user control panel can comprise a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver that is electrically connected to the forward-facing light, side-facing light, rear-facing light, head light, signal light, and audio alert system. Further, the user control panel may be configured for activating the forward-facing light, side-facing light, and rear-facing light in one or more predetermined patterns. The forward-facing light may be configured for emitting white light and the side-facing and rear-facing lights may be configured for emitting colored light. The forward-facing light, side-facing light, rear-facing light, head light, and signal light may comprise light emitting diodes. The light emitting diodes may be configured for emitting a plurality of colors of light. Further, the light emitting diodes may be clustered into pluralities of light emitting diodes. 
     In another illustrative embodiment of the invention wherein the personal transporter comprises one or more side bags, the system further comprises a side bag organizer configured for being transported in the one or more side bags, the side bag organizer comprising:
         a housing comprising a first portion and a second portion joined to each other by a flexible connector, the housing defining an inner compartment;   a zipper disposed on the first portion and the second portion for permitting releasable sealing of the inner compartment;   at least one handle disposed on the first portion or the second portion or on both the first portion and second portion;   at least one container sized and shaped to fit within the inner compartment, the at least one container further comprising a transparent portion for viewing contents of the container.       

     Still another illustrative embodiment of the present invention comprises a system for providing light and cargo carrying capacity on a personal transporter, the system comprising:
         a tray system disposed on the personal transporter, the tray system comprising
           a tray platform comprising a substantially horizontal surface and comprising front and side edges,   a plurality of light bars, each comprising a bracket having a work light disposed thereon, the plurality of light bars disposed adjacent to the front and side edges of the tray platform;   
           a user control panel disposed on the personal transporter and electrically connected to the work light of each of the plurality of light bars; and   means for supplying electrical power to the user control panel and each work light.
 
The tray platform may comprise a retainer wall disposed adjacent to the front and side edges. The system may further comprise:
   a light housing assembly disposed on the personal transporter, the light housing assembly having a head light, a signal light, and an audio alert system disposed thereon;   wherein the head light, the signal light, and the audio alert system are electrically connected to the user control panel and the means for supplying electrical power.       

     The user control panel may comprise a wireless transmitter, and a wireless receiver may be electrically connected to each work light. The plurality of work lights, the head light, and the signal light may comprise light emitting diodes. The light emitting diodes may be configured for emitting a plurality of colors of light, and the light emitting diodes may be clustered into pluralities of diodes. 
     Another illustrative embodiment of the invention comprises a system for providing visual and audio alerts on a personal transporter, the system comprising:
         a light housing assembly disposed on the personal transporter, the light housing assembly having a head light, a signal light, and an audio alert system disposed thereon;   a user control panel disposed on the personal transporter and electrically connected to the head light, the signal light, and the audio alert system; and   means for supplying electrical power to the user control panel, head light, signal light, and audio alert system.       

     The user control panel may comprise a wireless transmitter, and a wireless receiver may be electrically connected to the head light, signal light, and audio alert system. The user control panel may also be configured for activating the signal light in one or more predetermined pattern. The forward-facing light may be configured for emitting white light and the side-facing and rear-facing lights may be configured for emitting colored light. The forward-facing light, side-facing light, rear-facing light, head light, and signal light may comprise light emitting diodes. The light emitting diodes may be configured for emitting a plurality of colors of light. The light emitting diodes may be clustered into pluralities of diodes. 
     Still another illustrative embodiment of the present invention comprises a system for providing visual alerts on a personal transporter, the system comprising:
         a light bar assembly configured for being disposed on the person transporter, the light bar assembly comprising a bracket and a forward-facing light, a side-facing light, and a rear-facing light, wherein each of said forward-facing light, side-facing light, and rear-facing light is disposed on the bracket; and   a user control panel configured for being disposed on the personal transporter and electrically connected to the forward-facing, side-facing, and rear-facing lights.       

     Yet another illustrative embodiment of the present invention comprises a system for providing audio and visual alerts on a personal transporter, the system comprising:
         a light housing assembly configured for being disposed on the personal transporter, the light housing assembly having a head light, a signal light, and an audio alert system disposed thereon;   a user control panel configured for being disposed on the personal transporter and electrically connected to the head light, the signal light, and the audio alert system.       

     A still further illustrative embodiment of the present invention comprises a tray system for a personal transporter, the tray system comprising:
         a tray platform configured for being disposed on the personal transporter, the tray system comprising a substantially horizontal surface, front and side edges, and a plurality of light bars, each of the plurality of light bars comprising a bracket having a work light disposed thereon, the plurality of light bars disposed adjacent to the front and side edges of the tray platform; and   a user control panel configured for being disposed on the personal transporter and electrically connected to the work light of each of the plurality of light bars.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent from a consideration of the subsequent detailed description presented in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a personal transporter according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a personal transporter according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a bracket according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a light bar according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a light housing according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a light housing mounted on a personal transporter according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a light housing and a cargo tray mounted on a personal transporter according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a cargo tray mounted on a personal transporter according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of a cargo tray mounted on a personal transporter according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a rear perspective view of a cargo tray mounted on a personal transporter according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 11  shows a side bag organizer according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles in accordance with the disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe them. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the disclosure as illustrated herein, which would normally occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the claims. 
     Illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is a personal transporter  10  augmented with a system  12  of providing visual and audio alerts mounted thereon. An illustrative embodiment of the system  12  may comprise two light bars  13 , each having a plurality of lights thereon. For example, the light bar  13  may comprise a bracket  24  for attaching an array of lights to the personal transporter  10 . The light bar  13  may comprise a forward facing light  14  attached to said bracket  24  for attracting the attention of bystanders that may be generally in front of the personal transport  10 . The light bar  13  may further comprise lateral or side facing lights  16  for attracting the attention of bystanders that are generally located to the side of the personal transport  10 . The light bar  13  may comprise a rearward facing light  18  (see  FIG. 4 ) for alerting those behind the personal transport  10 . The system  12  may further include a secondary front light  20  disposed on the front of the personal transporter  10 . In addition, the system  12  may comprise two side bags  15  for carrying cargo and supplies. The side bags  15  may each have reflective identifying decals  17  thereon. A side bag  15  may comprise an interior open space for accommodating cargo and allowing a greater number of uses for the personal transporter  10 . A light housing  26  may also be disposed on the front of the personal transporter for providing visual and audio alerts for the personal transporter  10 . The light housing  26  may comprise a head light  30  and a signal light  28 . The housing  26  may further include an audio alert system  32  for producing audio alerts. The system  12  may also include a user control panel  22 . 
     The user control panel  22  may be hardwired and electrically connected to the other components of the system. Alternatively, the user control panel may wirelessly communicate with a receiver that is configured to receive a wireless signal from a transmitter in the user control panel  22 , and wherein the receiver is electronically connected to the remaining components. A user control panel  22  maybe configured to operate the lights in a predetermined pattern or a plurality of predetermined patterns. A user may be able to control all the functions of the system  12  with a remote control (not shown). In an illustrative embodiment, the user control panel  22  may be removable from the personal transporter  10  to be taken by the user and used from a distance. 
       FIG. 3  shows a detailed view of an illustrative bracket  24  used for constructing a light bar  13 . The bracket  24  is used for attaching lights to a personal transporter  10 . For mounting the bracket  24  to a personal transporter  10  there are mount holes  36  provided therein. Fasteners may extending through these mount holes for attaching the bracket  24  to structure on the personal transporter. Examples of fasteners include screws, bolts, rivets, and the like. For attaching lights on to the bracket there are light mount holes  38  provided thereon. Other structures such as protrusions, for example, may be used in place of holes and are contemplated to be within the scope of this disclosure. Any manner of fixtures known in the art may be used for securing lights in the holes. Also provided on the bracket are openings  39  for accommodating wires therethrough so that the wiring for the lights may be hidden. The opening may also provide protection for the wiring so that the wiring is not exposed on the exterior of the bracket  24 . Additionally, the light bar may comprise an indented portion  37  such that lights mounted therein do not protrude beyond the natural perimeter of the bracket  24 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a light bar  13  in greater detail with lights mounted thereon. The light bar  13  of the embodiment includes a forward facing light  14 , side facing lights  16   a ,  16   b , and a rear facing light  18  mounted on the bracket  24 . The lights are mounted into their respective mount holes  38  (shown in  FIG. 3 ). The mount holes  38  are not seen in  FIG. 4  because the lights are covering them. The forward facing light  14  may be used for path illumination purposes, much like a head light, or the forward facing light may be used as a signal light. Any of the lights in the application may be white, colored, or multi colored. The forward facing light  14  may comprise a bulb type light or it may comprise a light emitting diode. As shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , the forward facing light is a light emitting diode  48 . The lights of the light bar  13  may also contain a side facing light  16   b  having a cluster  45  of bulbs or LEDs to function in unison and in concert to create more lighting options. For example a single light in the cluster  45  may be used in less demanding circumstances to conserve battery power. On the other hand when the circumstances demand, all the lights in the cluster  45  can be turned on for greater brilliance. A side facing light  16   a  may comprise a single light  40  wherein said single light may be of bulb type or of diode type. Light bar  24  may comprise a rearward facing light  18  having a single or plural number of lights therein. With the desired lights in place on the light bar  13  the light bar can be mounted to a personal transporter and electrically connected to a user control panel and power source for operation. 
     Electrical connectivity may come by way of a dedicated power source such as a battery for the alert system that does not share power with the personal transporter power source. In another embodiment, electrical connectivity may by achieved by accessing the battery of the personal transporter. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a light bag housing  26  is shown in detail. The light bag housing  26  may comprise a signal light  28  mounted thereto for providing elevated signal light positioning for a signal light  28 . The light bag housing  26  is generally mounted near the hand controls  29  (see  FIG. 6 ) of the personal transporter  10 , so it can be located relatively high when compared to the light bars  13  as discussed above. The signal light  28  may comprise a single light or plurality of lights. The bulbs or LEDs comprising the signal light  28  may be clustered together. The lights may be of bulb type and may be of LED type. Generally, LED type lights provide the advantage of very low power drain from the electrical system. This is important in a personal transporter because light and locomotion both use the available electrical power of the personal transporter. Thus, the more energy used for providing light, the less energy is available for locomotion. The converse is also true; the more energy used for providing locomotion, the less energy is available for providing light. 
     The light bag housing  26  may also comprise a headlight  30  that generally faces forward, and in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5  has an adjustable mount  52  for mounting the light to the light bag housing  26  and for allowing the headlight  30  to be adjusted vertically. The light bag housing  26  may also comprise an audio alert system  32 . In an illustrative embodiment of the invention, the audio alert system  32  may be a siren, speaker, clicker, or any manner of audio alerting device. The light bag housing  26  may have a forward facing portion  50  made from hard material while the remainder of the housing may be pliant. The hard material facilitates the mounting of hardware thereon. The light bag housing may comprise a battery (not shown) that electrically activates the audio alert system  32 , the headlight  30 , and the signal light  28 . The light bag may also be configured to be electrically connected to the power supply of the personal transporter to draw power therefrom. An illustrative embodiment of the invention may comprise a charging circuit and charging port so that the light bag housing  26  does not have to be removed from the personal transporter for charging. The light bag housing  26  may also include a user control panel (not shown) or be electrically connected to a user control panel. The user control panel may be hardwired and electrically connected to the other components of the system. Alternatively, the user control panel may wirelessly communicate with a receiver that is configured to receive a wireless signal from a transmitter in the user control panel, and wherein the receiver is electronically connected to the remaining components. A user control panel maybe configured to operate the lights in a predetermined pattern, or a plurality of predetermined patterns. A user may be able to control all the functions of the system with a remote control (not shown). In an illustrative embodiment, the user control panel may be removable from the personal transporter to be taken by the user and used from a distance. 
       FIG. 6  shows an illustrative embodiment of the invention wherein the light bag housing  26  is mounted on a typical personal transporter. As can be seen in the figure, headlight  30 , signal light  28 , and audio alert system  32  can be seen relative to the placement of the light bag housing  26 .  FIG. 6  also illustrates a system for providing audio and visual alert functionality without the presence of any side bags or light bars. 
       FIGS. 7-10  illustrate a system for providing visual and audio alerts for a personal transporter along with cargo carrying capacity. A light bag housing  26  having the features described above may be disposed near the hand controls  29  of the personal transporter, such as is shown in  FIG. 7 . Alternatively, the light bag housing  26  may be omitted, as shown in  FIG. 8 . In an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the personal transporter may have a tray system  82  for providing a tray platform  83  having front  86  and side  88  vertically extending edges. The tray system  82  may further comprise a plurality of light bars  84  similar to those described above. Each of the light bars may have a bracket that has a work light disposed thereon. The light bars  84  or a plurality of light bars  84  may be disposed adjacent to said front and side edges of said tray platform. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a personal transporter  80  with a tray system  82  for providing a substantially horizontal tray platform having front and side edges. The tray system  82  may further comprise a plurality of light bars  84  as described above. Each of the light bars may have a bracket that has a work light  90  disposed thereon. The light bars  84 , or a plurality of light bars  84 , may be disposed adjacent to said front and side edges of said tray platform. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a more detailed view of the tray system  82 . An embodiment of the tray system  82  may comprise upwardly directed protrusions  98  at the edges of the tray platform portion  83 , such that items placed on the platform portion  83  can not readily fall off the platform  83  while maneuvering the personal transporter  80 . The light bars  84  may be configured with work lights  90  in addition to signal lights, or the light bars  84  may only comprise work lights  90  allowing a user to see objects. The tray system  82  may include attachment structures for attaching to a personal transporter. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a back view of a personal transporter having a tray system  82  and a light bar including a rearward facing work light  90  for illuminating objects behind the personal transporter. It can easily be seen that by using the tray system  82  and work lights  90  of this embodiment a user will have the ability carry tools and parts out to a location on the tray system  82  and work by the light of the work lights  90 . 
     Illustrated in  FIG. 11  is a side bag organizer  110  for organizing cargo containers or side bags on a personal transporter. The side bag organizer  110  comprises a housing  111  comprising a first portion  113  and a second portion  115  joined to each other by a flexible connector  117 . The flexible connector  117  permits the first portion  113  and the second portion  115  to move in relation to each other while remaining joined. A zipper  116  is disposed on the first portion  113  and the second portion  115  to permit releasable sealing of the first portion  113  and the second portion  115  to each other along edges thereof. The housing  111  defines an inner compartment  114  comprising a space therein. The inner compartment  114  can be closed and sealed by the zipper  116 . A plurality of containers  118  are configured to reside in the inner compartment  114  and hold various selected tools and supplies. The containers  118  may comprise a transparent portion  120  to aid a user in rapidly finding the supplies he needs. The container  118  may also be color coded for ease of use. The side bag organizer may further comprise a handle  112  to aid in its use. Locks may be disposed on the side bags  15  (for example,  FIG. 1 ), housing  111 , and containers  118  to achieve a triple lock system required under certain regulations for safeguarding certain materials that may be transported with the personal transporter when the personal transporter is unattended. 
     The publications and other reference materials referred to herein to describe the background of the disclosure, and to provide additional detail regarding its practice, are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties, with the following exception: In the event that any portion of said reference materials is inconsistent with this application, this application supercedes said reference materials. The reference materials discussed herein are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothing herein is to be construed as a suggestion or admission that the inventors are not entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior disclosure, or to distinguish the present disclosure from the subject matter disclosed in the reference materials. 
     It must be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
     In describing and claiming the present disclosure, the following terminology will be used in accordance with the definitions set out below. 
     As used herein, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” “characterized by,” and grammatical equivalents thereof are inclusive or open-ended terms that do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps. 
     As used herein, the phrase “consisting of” and grammatical equivalents thereof exclude any element, step, or ingredient not specified in the claim. 
     As used herein, the phrase “consisting essentially of” and grammatical equivalents thereof limit the scope of a claim to the specified materials or steps and those that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic or characteristics of the claimed disclosure. 
     It will be appreciated that the structure and apparatus disclosed herein are merely examples of embodiments for audio and visual alerts for personal transporters, It will be appreciated that the structure and apparatus disclosed herein are merely examples of embodiments for audio and visual alerts with work lights and a cargo tray for personal transporters, and it should be appreciated that any structure, apparatus or system for providing more usability for a personal transporter that performs functions the same as, or equivalent to, those disclosed herein are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure, including those structures, apparatus or systems for providing alerts and additional cargo capacity which are presently known, or which may become available in the future. Anything which functions the same as, or equivalently to, for providing alerts and additional cargo capacity for a personal transporter falls within the scope of this element. 
     In the foregoing Detailed Description, various features of the present disclosure are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed disclosure requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description of the Disclosure by this reference, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present disclosure. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and the appended claims are intended to cover such modifications and arrangements. Thus, while the present disclosure has been shown in the drawings and described above with particularity and detail, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications, including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use may be made without departing from the principles and concepts set forth herein.