Patent Publication Number: US-2019168835-A1

Title: Personal mobility kit

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Personal mobility vehicles, such as scooters, wheelchairs, and bikes, are often used to commute from one location to another. However, these vehicles can only be used conveniently in limited environments. Accordingly, personal mobility vehicles may be used in conjunction with other vehicles, e.g., automobiles, busses, trains, etc. In other words, the personal mobility device may be used as one mode of a multimodal transportation system. For example, in this system, an operator may drive the personal mobility vehicle to the other vehicle, and the other vehicle may transport both the operator and the personal mobility vehicle to a destination. When the destination is reached, the personal mobility vehicle may be driven to a final destination. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a partially exploded view of a kit including a deck and a plurality of occupant supports alternately connectable to the deck. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the kit in a forward operating position. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the kit in the forward operating position where the occupant support is a bicycle saddle. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the kit in the forward operating position where the occupant support is a bench seat. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the kit in the forward operating position where the occupant support is a captain chair. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the kit in a rearward operating position where the occupant support is a captain chair. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a multimodal transportation system including the kit and an automobile, with the captain chair alternately connectable to the deck and to the automobile. 
         FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of the kit being inserted into the automobile for transportation and charging. 
         FIG. 8B  is a magnified view of the kit of  FIG. 8A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, a kit  10  includes a deck  12 , which has two mounting holes  14  spaced along a longitudinal axis L of the deck  12 , and a plurality of wheels  22  supported by the deck  12 . The kit  10  includes an occupant support  24  that has a post  26  alternately and removably engageable with the mounting holes  14 . A handlebar  16  extends away from the deck  12  along a handlebar axis R and is rotatable about the handlebar axis R between a forward operating position (as shown in  FIGS. 2-5 ) and a rearward operating position (as shown in  FIG. 6 ). 
     Since the occupant support  24  is alternately and removeably engageable with the two mounting holes  14 , the kit  10  can be reconfigurable by moving the occupant support  24  between the mounting holes  14 . In addition, the handlebar  16  may be selectively rotated about the handlebar axis R between the forward and rearward operating positions based on the position of the occupant support  24  in the mounting holes  14  and the intended use of the kit  10 , as described further below. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , the kit  10  may include a plurality of occupant supports  24 , each interchangeably engageable with the deck  12 . Each of the occupant supports  24  may include the post  26 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . The kit  10  may be reconfigurable into a plurality of configurations by changing which occupant support  24  is engaged with the deck  12 , which mounting hole  14  the occupant support  24  is engaged with, and which position the handlebar is positioned in. Some examples of the various configurations are shown in  FIGS. 2-6 . However, the kit  10  may be reconfigured into any suitable configuration. 
     The post  26  supports the occupant support  24  and other components of the kit  10  on the deck  12 . The post  26  is detachable from the deck  12  and can be engaged in two different positions on the deck  12 , i.e., in either of the mounting holes  14 . 
     The post  26  may be removeably engaged with the deck  12  in any suitable way. For example, the post  26  may be inserted into the selected mounting hole  14 . The deck  12  may include additional features in the mounting holes  14  for engaging the post  26 , e.g., another post (not shown) in the mounting hole  14  that telescopically engages the post  26  when the post  26  is inserted into the selected mounting hole  14 . 
     The kit  10  may include a lock  28  on the deck  12  releasably engageable with the post  26 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 6 . The lock  28  may be of any suitable type. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 3-6 , the lock  28  may include a pin (not numbered) in each mounting hole  14  that retractably engages the post  26  when the post  26  is in the respective mounting hole  14 . The lock  28  may be actuated between a locked position engaged with the post  26  or an unlocked position disengaged with the post  26  in any suitable manner, e.g., any suitable electronic way or any suitable manual way. The lock  28  may engage the post  26  in any suitable way, e.g., frictional engagement, interlocking engagement, etc. 
     The deck  12  may include pivot block  60  defining the mounting holes  14 . The pivot blocks  60  are pivotally supported by the rest of the deck  12  and releasably engagable with the post  26 , i.e., in the mounting holes  14 . The pivot block  60  may pivot relative to the rest of the deck  12  between an upright position, as shown in  FIGS. 1-7  and a stowed position, as shown in  FIGS. 8A-B . The pivot block  60  may be releasably locked in the upright position and the stowed position in any suitable manner, e.g., pins, locks, etc. 
     The deck  12  may define a groove  62  extending from one of the pivot blocks  60  to the other of the pivot blocks  60 . The groove  62  may be semi-cylindrical in shape, or, alternatively, may be any suitable shape. The groove  62  may receive the post  26  in the stowed position, as shown in  FIGS. 8A-B . 
     As set forth above, the handlebar  16  of the kit  10  is removably attached to the deck  12 . For example, the deck  12  may include a hole (not numbered) that removeably receives the handlebar  16 . The handlebar  16  may be foldable relative to the deck  12 , as shown in  FIGS. 8A-B . The deck  12  and/or the handlebar  16  may, for example, include a pivoting feature (not numbered) that allows the handlebar  16  to pivot toward the deck  12  for storage and/or ease of transportation. The handlebar  16  is positioned at an end (not numbered) of the deck  12 . 
     As set forth above, the handlebar  16  is rotatable around the handlebar axis R between the forward operating position and the reverse operating position. The forward operating position constitutes the kit  10  being operated from someone on the deck  12  and the reverse operating position constitutes the kit  10  being operated from off of the deck  12 . 
     The length of the handlebar  16  is adjustable along the handlebar axis R. For example, the handlebar  16  may include telescoping tubes that telescopically extend and retract relative to each other. The handlebar  16  may be elongated to an extended position (as shown in  FIGS. 1-4 and 6 ) and may be retracted to a retracted position (as shown in  FIG. 5 ). 
     The kit  10  includes two pegs  30  supported by the deck  12 . Specifically, the deck  12  defines a plurality of slots  32  spaced along the longitudinal axis L. The slots  32  are configured to removeably support the pegs  30 . The slots  32  allow for the pegs  30  to be placed in different positions along the deck  12  depending on the desired configuration of the kit  10 . For example, the pegs  30  may be removed completely (as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ), moved to a forward position (as shown in  FIG. 6 ), moved to a rearward position (not shown), or moved to a double position (as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). The deck  12 , specifically, includes two sets of slots  32  spaced from each other along the longitudinal axis L, and the two pegs  30  are alternately and removeably engageable with the two sets of slots  32 . In other words, one peg  30  may be inserted into one slot  32 , and may be selectively moved to unoccupied slots  32 . In the alternative to discrete slots  32 , the deck  12  may include a single elongated slot (not shown), and a single peg may be slideably engaged in the elongated slot and moveable along the slot to any suitable position. 
     The kit  10  may be manually powered and/or may include a motor  50  supported by the deck  12 . As one example, the motor  50  may be a hub motor on one or more of the wheels  22 . In other words, the motor  50  may be supported on the wheel to rotate an outer member, e.g., a tire, relative to an inner member, e.g., a hub. As another example, the motor  50  may be directly connected to the deck  12  or may be connected to the deck  12  through an intermediate component (not shown), such as in the case of the hub motors. The motor  50  may be electrically powered. Alternatively the motor  50  may be of any suitable type. 
     The kit  10  may include a battery  52  supported by the deck  12  and in electrical communication with the motor  50 . The battery  52  may be directly connected to the deck  12  or may be connected to the deck  12  through an intermediate component. The battery  52  may also power other devices on the kit  10  in addition to the motor, e.g., a charging port  54  for a mobile phone. The battery  52  may be rechargeable and may be of any suitable type. 
     As set forth above, the kit  10  may include a plurality of occupant supports  24 . For example, one of the occupant supports  24  may be a bicycle saddle  42 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . As another example, one of the occupant supports  24  may be a bench seat  38 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . As another example, one of the occupant supports  24  may be a captain chair  40 , as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , and as described further below, the captain chair  40  may be installed into an automobile  36  for seating an occupant of the automobile  36 . As another example, one of the occupant supports  24  may be a bassinet  44 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . Alternatively, or in addition to the types of occupant supports  24  described above, the occupant supports  24  may be of any suitable type. 
     The kit  10  may be rearranged into a variety of configurations, e.g., a first configuration, a second configuration, etc. The adjectives “first,” “second,” etc . . . , are used herein as identifiers and are not intended to indicate order or importance. As one example, with reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , in one configuration, one of the occupant supports  24  is engaged with one of the mounting holes  14  and the handlebar  16  is in the forward operating position (as shown in  FIG. 5 ); and in another configuration, the occupant support  24  is engaged with the other of the mounting holes  14  and the handlebar  16  is in the rearward position (as shown in  FIG. 6 ). As another example, with reference to  FIGS. 2-4 and 6 , in one configuration, one of the occupant supports  24  is engaged with one of the mounting holes  14  and the handlebar  16  is in the forward operating position (as shown in each of  FIGS. 2-4 ); and in another configuration, a different one of the occupant supports  24  is engaged with the other of the mounting holes  14  and the handlebar  16  is in the rearward operating position (as shown in  FIG. 6 ). In these different configurations, the handlebar  16  may be moved between the extended position and the retracted position, as desired, and the pegs  30  may be engaged with any of the slots  32 , as desired. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the kit  10  may take the form of a scooter  46 . In this configuration none of the occupant supports are engaged with the deck  12 . The user of the scooter  46  may stand on the deck  12 . In this configuration, the handlebar  16  may be positioned in the forward operating position and may be adjusted to the desired height for operation. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the bicycle saddle  42  may be engaged with the deck  12 . In this configuration, the handlebar  16  may be positioned in the forward operating position and may be adjusted to the desired height for operation. The bicycle saddle  24  may also be engageable with a frame of a bicycle (not shown). Accordingly, the bicycle saddle  24  may be interchangeably used with the deck  12  and the bicycle, e.g., in a multimodal transportation system. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the bench seat  38  may be engaged with the deck  12 . In this configuration, the handlebar  16  may be positioned in the forward facing position and may be adjusted to the desired height for operation. In this configuration, the pegs  30  may be omitted, as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the captain chair  40 . In this configuration, the post  26  may be engaged with the mounting hole  14  furthest from the handlebar  16 . In this configuration, the handlebar  16  may be positioned in the forward operating position and may be adjusted to the desired height for operation, e.g., the extended position. In this configuration, the pegs  30  may be omitted, as shown in  FIG. 5 . In the configuration shown in  FIG. 5 , the kit  10  may be operated by the occupant as a wheelchair  48 . As another, in the configuration shown in  FIG. 6 , the kit may be operated as a wheelchair  48  by a person other than the occupant. 
     Specifically, in the configuration shown in  FIG. 6 , the post  26  of the captain chair  40  may be supported in the mounting hole  14  nearest the handlebar  16 . In this configuration, the handlebar  16  may be positioned in the rearward operating position and may be adjusted to the desired height for operation, e.g., the retracted position. In this configuration, pegs  30  may be positioned in the forward position. 
     The captain chair  40  may have a seat back  56  and armrests  58 . The armrests  58  may be removable from the seatback, as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 7 , and as introduced above, the captain chair  40  may be interchangeable between the kit  10  and the automobile  36 . Specifically, the automobile  36  may include an interior  38  configured to receive the captain chair  40  when disengaged with the deck  12 . In other words, the captain chair  40  may be detached from the deck  12  and attached to the interior  38  of the vehicle  36 . In this configuration, the armrests  58  may be attached to the seatback for use with the deck  12 , and may be removed from the seatback for use in the automobile. 
     With reference to  FIG. 8 , components of the kit  10  may be stored in the automobile  36 . Specifically, the deck  12  may be stored in a trunk of the automobile  36 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . In this configuration, the automobile  36  may include a charging dock  54  in the trunk. The deck  12  and the charging dock may be configured such that the battery  52  of the kit  10  may be electrically connected to the charging dock to charge the battery  52  with a battery of the automobile  36 . Other components of the kit  10  may also be stored in the trunk, e.g., the post  26 , the handlebar  16 , the armrests  58 , etc. 
     The disclosure has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the present disclosure are possible in light of the above teachings, and the disclosure may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.