Patent ID: 12227119

It may be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various features illustrative of the basic principles of the present invention. The specific design features of the present invention as included herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes will be determined in part by the particularly intended application and use environment.

In the figures, reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several figures of the drawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the present invention(s) will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that the present description is not intended to limit the present invention(s) to those exemplary embodiments. On the other hand, the present invention(s) is/are intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

FIG.1is a diagram illustrating a storage vehicle for a small mobility according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.FIG.2is a diagram illustrating that a storage slot is opened in the storage vehicle for a small mobility and the small mobility stored in the storage slot is withdrawn from the storage slot according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.FIG.3AandFIG.3Bare diagrams illustrating the storage slot formed at a lower end portion of a seat in the storage vehicle for a small mobility according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.FIG.4A,FIG.4BandFIG.4Care diagrams illustrating various examples of a door in the storage vehicle for a small mobility according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.FIG.5is a diagram illustrating an operation of an auxiliary storage portion in the storage vehicle for a small mobility according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG.1is a diagram illustrating a storage vehicle for a small mobility according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The storage vehicle for a small mobility according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention includes a seat100provided in a vehicle, disposed to direct a seatback to face an external side of the storage vehicle, and spaced from a floor of the storage vehicle upward to form a separation space downward, a storage slot200formed in the separation space below the seat100, opened to the external side of the storage vehicle through a portion of a sidewall of the storage vehicle, and configured to store the small mobility, a door210provided in the opening portion of the storage slot200, and an opening/closing portion300provided on one side of the door210and configured to operate the door210upward or downward to open or close the opening portion of the storage slot200.

The storage vehicle for a small mobility according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention is a storage vehicle provided with the storage slot200in which the small mobility is stored, and a passenger may ride in an internal space of the storage vehicle and move to a destination, and before and after boarding the storage vehicle, use the small mobility stored in the storage slot200, easily transferring between the small mobility and the vehicle.

Furthermore, since the storage slot200in which the small mobility is stored utilizes an empty space at a lower end portion of the seat100in the internal space of the storage vehicle, it is efficient in terms of space utilization. Since the storage slot200utilizes a space formed along a seat back and a seat cushion of the seat100, the small mobility such as an electric kickboard is directly stored in the storage slot200without being folded or deformed so that storage and withdrawal may also be performed easily and rapidly.

FIG.2is a diagram illustrating that the storage slot is opened in the storage vehicle for a small mobility and the small mobility stored in the storage slot is withdrawn from the storage slot according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.FIG.3AandFIG.3Bare diagrams illustrating the storage slot formed at a lower end portion of a seat in the storage vehicle for a small mobility according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention. In the storage vehicle for a small mobility according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the seat100is disposed to direct the seatback to face the external side of the storage vehicle, and the seatback is located at a position spaced from the sidewall of the storage vehicle so that an interspace may be formed between the sidewall and the seatback of the storage vehicle, and the separation space formed by the seat cushion being spaced upwards from the floor may be connected to the interspace.

Furthermore, in the storage vehicle for a small mobility according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the storage slot200is provided in the separation space and the interspace, and when the small mobility is stored, a scaffold of the small mobility may be located in the separation space and a handle of the small mobility may be located in the interspace. Therefore, the small mobility may be directly stored in the storage slot200without folding the handle and the scaffold, and the small mobility is folded and stored, as necessary, so that other luggage may be stored in the storage slot200.

Meanwhile, in the storage vehicle for a small mobility according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the door210may be provided on the sidewall of the storage vehicle to form a portion of the sidewall and may have a shape extending from an upper end portion of the seat100to the floor of the vehicle.

Furthermore, in the storage vehicle for a small mobility according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the opening/closing portion300includes an actuator provided on an upper end portion of the door210, and as the actuator rotates in one direction or the other direction, the door210slides upward or downward so that an opening portion may be opened and closed.

In the storage vehicle for a small mobility according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the actuator may be coupled to the door210through a support320extending downwardly from the actuator and supported on a center portion of the door210, and the support320may push the door210to the external side of the storage vehicle according to the rotation of the actuator to slide the door210upward or pull the door210to an internal side of the storage vehicle according to the rotation of the actuator to slide the door210downward.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the actuator may include a step motor305.

FIG.5is a diagram illustrating an operation of an auxiliary storage portion in the storage vehicle for a small mobility according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention. In the storage vehicle for a small mobility according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, an auxiliary storage portion220is provided at a lower end portion of the opening portion of the storage slot200, and when the door210is opened, the auxiliary storage portion220may connect the floor of the storage vehicle to the ground to assist storage of the small mobility into the storage slot or withdrawal of the small mobility out of the storage slot.

In the storage vehicle for a small mobility according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the auxiliary storage portion220has a shape of plate protruding from the lower end portion of the opening portion to an upper end portion thereof, and one end portion of the auxiliary storage portion220may be rotatably coupled to the floor and the other end portion thereof may be supported on the ground when rotated. Furthermore, in the storage vehicle for a small mobility according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, an elastic member310is provided on an end portion of the auxiliary storage portion220toward the floor, and when the door210is opened, the auxiliary storage portion220may be rotated to the external side of the storage vehicle due to an elastic force of the elastic member310and the other end portion of the auxiliary storage portion220may be supported on the ground.

That is, the auxiliary storage portion220is configured as a bridge for connecting the ground to the floor of the storage vehicle, and thus the passenger does not lift the small mobility separately from the ground and store the small mobility in the storage slot200, but wheels of the small mobility are easily and naturally stored in or withdrawn from the auxiliary storage portion220.

Meanwhile, referring toFIG.3AandFIG.3B, step motors305and315may be provided at an upper end portion and the lower end portion of the opening portion, and the door210may be pushed to the external side of the storage vehicle to slide upward through control of the step motor305at the upper end portion of the opening portion or may be pulled to the internal side of the storage vehicle to slide downward. Furthermore, the step motor315at the lower end portion of the opening portion may be connected to the auxiliary storage portion220to rotate the auxiliary storage portion220.

Through the control of the step motors305and315as described above, when the passenger transmits a usage request signal from a personal terminal to a server of the storage vehicle before boarding, after the storage vehicle is stopped, the server of the storage vehicle may control to sequentially apply power to the step motor305at the upper end portion of the opening portion and the step motor315at the lower end portion thereof and drive the step motors305and315to open the door210of the storage slot200which is empty. After the passenger fixes the small mobility to a fixing portion of the small mobility and then transmits a usage termination signal to the server of the storage vehicle, the server of the storage vehicle may control to sequentially apply power to the step motor305at the upper end portion of the opening portion and the step motor315at the lower end portion thereof and drive the step motors305and315to close the door210.

Furthermore, when the passenger gets off and when the passenger transmits a get-off and usage request signal to the server of the storage vehicle through the personal terminal of the passenger or a control unit in the storage vehicle, after the storage vehicle is stopped, the doors210of the used storage slots200may be controlled to be sequentially opened. After the passenger releases the fixing of the small mobility, terminates the recovery of the small mobility, and transmits a usage termination signal to the server of the storage vehicle, the door210may be controlled to be closed before the storage vehicle departs.

FIG.4A,FIG.4BandFIG.4Care diagrams illustrating various examples of the door in the storage vehicle for a small mobility according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention. ReferringFIG.4A,FIG.4BandFIG.4C, in the storage vehicle for a small mobility according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the door210may be configured as shown inFIG.4A,FIG.4BandFIG.4C. In the storage vehicle for a small mobility according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the door210includes an upper end portion and a lower end portion, and the opening/closing portion300slides the upper end portion of the door210upward or downward, and when the upper end portion of the door210slides upward, the lower end portion of the door210may be rotated to the external side of the storage vehicle to connect the floor of the storage vehicle to the ground, assisting storage or withdrawal of the small mobility. The above description corresponds toFIG.4B. In the instant case, the lower end portion of the door210is configured as the auxiliary storage portion220without a separate component for the auxiliary storage portion220.

Furthermore, in the storage vehicle for a small mobility according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the door210is rotatably provided based on one side thereof, and the opening/closing portion300may rotate the door210in a lateral direction to open or close the opening portion of the storage slot200. The above description corresponds toFIG.4C. As described above, the door210may open or close the opening portion of the storage slot200in various manners and various shapes.

Meanwhile, in the storage vehicle for a small mobility according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a fixing portion(F) is provided at a lower end portion of the storage slot200. When the small mobility is stored in the storage slot200, the fixing portion(F) may fix a lower end portion of the small mobility, and when the opening portion is opened, the fixing portion(F) may release the fixing. When the small mobility is stored in the storage slot200, the fixing portion(F) may lock the wheels or the scaffold of the small mobility to fix the small mobility.

Furthermore, in the storage vehicle for a small mobility according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a charging portion(C) is provided in the storage slot200. When the small mobility is stored in the storage slot200, the charging portion(C) may charge a battery of the small mobility. Consequently, even when the passenger does not separately charge the small mobility, while moving using the storage vehicle, the passenger may be able to charge the battery of the small mobility, and after using the storage vehicle, the passenger may use the small mobility again in which the battery is charged.

The storage vehicle for a small mobility according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention may have various effects in that, when the usage of the storage vehicle is not possible, the PBV is used as a storage space in a situation of bad weather of snow, rain, and the like in a condition of pursuing component integration and a usage condition of the small mobility, business responsiveness and the like are improved by maximizing movement convenience through movement connectivity between a last mile and a purpose built vehicle (PBV) (realization of door-to-door transportation) and securing a small mobility storage space, usage flexibility of the personal mobility and the shared mobility and configuring a modular storage and withdrawal mechanism and a space in the PBV for securing connectivity between a personal mobility (PM) (personal small mobility), the PBV, a Hub, and a urban air mobility (UAM).

In accordance with a storage vehicle for a small mobility according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, when a passenger gets off a vehicle and transfers from a small mobility to the storage vehicle, a passenger can store the used small mobility in an internal space of the storage vehicle and use the small mobility again, a storage slot configured for storing the small mobility may be formed in the internal space of the storage vehicle, in which the passenger rides, using a space below a seat, and the small mobility may be stored in the storage slot on a lower end portion of a passenger seat and thus a battery of the small mobility may be charged.

Furthermore, the term related to a control device such as “controller”, “control unit”, “control device” or “control module”, etc refers to a hardware device including a memory and a processor configured to execute one or more steps interpreted as an algorithm structure. The memory stores algorithm steps, and the processor executes the algorithm steps to perform one or more processes of a method in accordance with various exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The control device according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be implemented through a nonvolatile memory configured to store algorithms for controlling operation of various components of a vehicle or data about software commands for executing the algorithms, and a processor configured to perform operation to be described above using the data stored in the memory. The memory and the processor may be individual chips. Alternatively, the memory and the processor may be integrated in a single chip. The processor may be implemented as one or more processors. The processor may include various logic circuits and operation circuits, may process data according to a program provided from the memory, and may generate a control signal according to the processing result.

The control device may be at least one microprocessor operated by a predetermined program which may include a series of commands for carrying out the method included in the aforementioned various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

The aforementioned invention can also be embodied as computer readable codes on a computer readable recording medium. The computer readable recording medium is any data storage device that can store data which may be thereafter read by a computer system. Examples of the computer readable recording medium include hard disk drive (HDD), solid state disk (SSD), silicon disk drive (SDD), read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy discs, optical data storage devices, etc and implementation as carrier waves (e.g., transmission over the Internet).

In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, each operation described above may be performed by a control device, and the control device may be configured by multiple control devices, or an integrated single control device.

In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the control device may be implemented in a form of hardware or software, or may be implemented in a combination of hardware and software.

For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in the appended claims, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “inner”, “outer”, “up”, “down”, “upwards”, “downwards”, “front”, “rear”, “back”, “inside”, “outside”, “inwardly”, “outwardly”, “interior”, “exterior”, “internal”, “external”, “forwards”, and “backwards” are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of such features as displayed in the figures. It will be further understood that the term “connect” or its derivatives refer both to direct and indirect connection.

The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described to explain certain principles of the present invention and their practical application, to enable others skilled in the art to make and utilize various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as well as various alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended that the scope of the present invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents.