dave27
11-21-2002, 02:03 PM
http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html&r=5&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PG01&s1=sunstein&OS=sunstein&RS=sunstein
(Heinzmann also works on balancing vehicles w/Kamen)
United States Patent Application 20020170754
Kind Code A1
Heinzmann, Richard K. November 21, 2002
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Controlled balancing toy
Abstract
A balancing toy having a chassis and a pair of laterally disposed wheels coupled to the chassis for motor-driven rotation with respect to the chassis. A circuit governs wheel rotation to maintain balance of the toy on the basis of chassis tilt as measured by a sensor. The sensor may include a gyroscope, and the balancing toy may have a single motor driving both wheels, or separate motors driving each wheel.
What is claimed is:
1. A balancing toy comprising: a. a chassis incapable of supporting a person, the chassis characterized by an instantaneous tilt in a fore/aft plane with respect to a vertical direction; b. a pair of laterally disposed wheels coupled to the chassis for motor-driven rotation with respect to the chassis; c. a sensor for measuring the tilt of the chassis; and d. a circuit for governing wheel rotation to maintain balance of the toy on the basis of the tilt of the chassis.
2. A balancing toy according to claim 1, further including a second sensor for measuring the angular rate of change of tilt of the chassis.
3. A balancing toy according to claim 2, wherein the second sensor is a gyroscope.
4. A balancing toy according to claim 1, further comprising a motor for driving the wheels.
5. A balancing toy according to claim 1, further comprising a first motor for driving one of the wheels and a second motor for driving another of the wheels.
6. A balancing toy comprising: a. a chassis incapable of supporting a person, the chassis characterized by a center of gravity; b. a pair of laterally disposed wheels rotatable about an axis, the wheels rotatably coupled to the chassis and the axis disposed beneath the center of gravity of the chassis; and c. a motor for driving the wheels in such a manner as to maintain balance of the toy with respect to tipping in a fore/aft direction during operation.
-dave
(Heinzmann also works on balancing vehicles w/Kamen)
United States Patent Application 20020170754
Kind Code A1
Heinzmann, Richard K. November 21, 2002
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Controlled balancing toy
Abstract
A balancing toy having a chassis and a pair of laterally disposed wheels coupled to the chassis for motor-driven rotation with respect to the chassis. A circuit governs wheel rotation to maintain balance of the toy on the basis of chassis tilt as measured by a sensor. The sensor may include a gyroscope, and the balancing toy may have a single motor driving both wheels, or separate motors driving each wheel.
What is claimed is:
1. A balancing toy comprising: a. a chassis incapable of supporting a person, the chassis characterized by an instantaneous tilt in a fore/aft plane with respect to a vertical direction; b. a pair of laterally disposed wheels coupled to the chassis for motor-driven rotation with respect to the chassis; c. a sensor for measuring the tilt of the chassis; and d. a circuit for governing wheel rotation to maintain balance of the toy on the basis of the tilt of the chassis.
2. A balancing toy according to claim 1, further including a second sensor for measuring the angular rate of change of tilt of the chassis.
3. A balancing toy according to claim 2, wherein the second sensor is a gyroscope.
4. A balancing toy according to claim 1, further comprising a motor for driving the wheels.
5. A balancing toy according to claim 1, further comprising a first motor for driving one of the wheels and a second motor for driving another of the wheels.
6. A balancing toy comprising: a. a chassis incapable of supporting a person, the chassis characterized by a center of gravity; b. a pair of laterally disposed wheels rotatable about an axis, the wheels rotatably coupled to the chassis and the axis disposed beneath the center of gravity of the chassis; and c. a motor for driving the wheels in such a manner as to maintain balance of the toy with respect to tipping in a fore/aft direction during operation.
-dave