초록 ▼

A preferred embodiment of a device for securing a personal-transport vehicle to a mounting surface includes one of a plow bracket and a bracket member for mounting on one of the personal-transport vehicle and the mounting surface, and a receptacle for mounting on the other of the personal transport

A preferred embodiment of a device for securing a personal-transport vehicle to a mounting surface includes one of a plow bracket and a bracket member for mounting on one of the personal-transport vehicle and the mounting surface, and a receptacle for mounting on the other of the personal transport vehicle and the mounting surface and for mating with and receiving the one of a plow bracket and a bracket member. The receptacle includes a panel and a docking lever pivotally coupled to the panel and movable between a first position wherein docking lever retains the one of a plow bracket and a bracket member so that the receptacle and the one of a plow bracket and a bracket member remain in a mated condition, and a second position.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A device for securing a personal-transport vehicle to a mounting surface, comprising: one of a plow bracket and a bracket member for mounting on one of the personal-transport vehicle and the mounting surface; a receptacle for mating with the one of a plow bracket and a bracke

What is claimed is: 1. A device for securing a personal-transport vehicle to a mounting surface, comprising: one of a plow bracket and a bracket member for mounting on one of the personal-transport vehicle and the mounting surface; a receptacle for mating with the one of a plow bracket and a bracket member and comprising (i) a yoke bracket for mounting on the other of the personal-transport vehicle and the mounting surface and receiving the one of a plow bracket and a bracket member; and (ii) a first and a second docking lever pivotally coupled to the yoke bracket and movable about a common axis between a first position wherein the first and second docking levers can securely engage the one of a plow bracket and a bracket member and thereby retain the receptacle and the one of a plow bracket and a bracket member in a mated condition, and a second position; and a pawl pivotally coupled to the yoke bracket so that the pawl can pivot between an engaged position wherein the pawl restrains the first docking lever in the first position, and a disengaged position. 2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a spring for biasing the pawl toward the engaged position. 3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a spring for biasing the first docking lever toward the second position. 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the spring moves the first docking lever toward the second position when the pawl moves to the disengaged position. 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the yoke bracket comprises a first and a second side panel each having a slot formed therein, and the first and second docking levers are pivotally coupled to the respective first and second side panels. 6. The device of claim 5, wherein: the plow bracket comprises a mounting portion for mounting on the one of the personal-transport vehicle and the mounting surface, and a first and a second trunnion fixedly coupled to the mounting portion; the slots formed in the first and second side panels of the yoke bracket receive the respective first and second trunnions when the receptacle and the plow bracket are mated; and the first and second docking levers retain the respective first and second trunnions in the slots when the first and second docking levers are in the first position. 7. The device of claim 6, wherein the first and second docking levers each have an indentation formed therein for receiving the respective first and second trunnions when the first and second docking levers are in the first position, and interference between the first and second trunnions and the respective first and second docking levers retains the first and second trunnions in the slots. 8. The device of claim 5, wherein the plow bracket further comprises a first and a second wing member adjoining the respective first and second side panels, each of the wing members having a substantially v-shaped forward portion for substantially aligning the yoke bracket and the plow bracket during mating of the receptacle and the plow bracket. 9. The device of claim 8, wherein the first and second wing members intersect planes of rotation of the respective first and second docking levers so that the first and second wing members inhibit the first and second docking levers from pivoting past their respective first positions. 10. The device of claim 5, wherein the first and second panels face each other and are spaced apart so that the one of a plow bracket and a bracket member is received between the first and second panels when the receptacle and the one of a plow bracket and a bracket member are mated. 11. The device of claim 5, wherein the yoke member further includes a bottom panel that adjoins the first and second side panels. 12. The device of claim 5, wherein the first and second docking levers can move from the second position to the first position only when the plow bracket is fully inserted in the slots of the first and second side panels. 13. The device of claim 1, further comprising a limit switch and an indicator light, wherein the pawl actuates the limit switch when the pawl is in the engaged position and the indicator light is responsive to the actuation of the limit switch. 14. The device of claim 1, further comprising a mounting bracket for securing the yoke bracket to the other of the personal-transport vehicle and the mounting surface, the mounting bracket including a bottom panel secured to a bottom panel of the yoke bracket, and a side panel extending from the bottom panel of the mounting bracket so that the side panel covers the docking lever and the pawl. 15. The device of claim 1, wherein the pawl has a pin secured thereto for manually actuating the pawl between the engaged and disengaged positions. 16. The device of claim 1, wherein the yoke arm comprises a first and a second side panel and a top panel that adjoins the first and second side panels, the first and second side panels define a channel that houses the first docking lever and the pawl, and the first docking lever is pivotally coupled to the first side panel. 17. The device of claim 1, wherein the yoke arm comprises a third and a fourth side panel and a second top panel that adjoins the third and fourth side panels, the third and fourth side panels define a channel that houses the second docking lever and a second pawl, and the second docking lever is pivotally coupled to the third side panel. 18. The device of claim 1, further comprising a second pawl pivotally coupled to the yoke bracket so that the second pawl can pivot between an engaged position wherein the second pawl restrains the second docking lever in the first position, and a disengaged position, wherein the pawls can move from their respective disengaged positions to their respective engaged positions only when the first and second docking levers are in their respective first positions. 19. The device of claim 18, wherein the first and second docking levers can move to their respective first positions only when the one of a plow bracket and a bracket member is fully mated with the receptacle. 20. A device for securing a personal-transport vehicle to a mounting surface, comprising: one of a plow bracket and a bracket member for mounting on one of the personal-transport vehicle and the mounting surface; a receptacle for mounting on the other of the personal transport vehicle and the mounting surface and for mating with and receiving the one of a plow bracket and a bracket member, the receptacle comprising a first panel; a first docking lever pivotally coupled to the panel; a second panel; and a second docking lever pivotally coupled to the second panel, wherein the first and second docking levers are movable between a first position wherein the first and second docking levers each receive and retain a portion of the one of a plow bracket and a bracket member so that the receptacle and the one of a plow bracket and a bracket member remain mated, and a second position; and a pawl pivotally coupled to the yoke bracket so that the pawl can pivot between an engaged position wherein the pawl refrains the first docking lever in the first position, and a disengaged position. 21. The device of claim 20, wherein the first and second panels face each other and are spaced apart so that the one of a plow bracket and a bracket member is received between the first and second panels when the receptacle and the one of a plow bracket and a bracket member are mated. 22. The device of claim 20, wherein the yoke arm further comprises a top panel that adjoins the first and second panels; and the first, second, and top panels define a channel that houses the first docking lever and the pawl. 23. A device for securing a personal-transport vehicle to a mounting surface, comprising: one of a plow bracket and a bracket member for mounting on one of the personal-transport vehicle and the mounting surface; a receptacle for mating with the one of a plow bracket and a bracket member and comprising (i) a yoke bracket for mounting on the other of the personal-transport vehicle and the mounting surface and receiving the one of a plow bracket and a bracket member; and (ii) a docking lever pivotally coupled to the yoke bracket and movable between a first position wherein the lever can securely engage the one of a plow bracket and a bracket member and thereby retain the receptacle and the one of a plow bracket and a bracket member in a mated condition, and a second position; a pawl pivotally coupled to the yoke bracket so that the pawl can pivot between an engaged position wherein the pawl restrains the docking lever in the first position, and a disengaged position; and a trigger pivotally coupled to the yoke bracket and the docking lever so that the trigger pivots in a first direction and moves the docking lever from the second position to the first position in response to contact between the trigger and the one of the plow bracket and the bracket member as the one of the plow bracket and the bracket member is moved toward the yoke bracket during mating of the receptacle and the one of the plow bracket and the bracket member. 24. The device of claim 23, further comprising a first spring for biasing the pawl toward the engaged position, wherein the pawl engages the first docking lever in response to the bias of the first spring when the first docking lever reaches the first position. 25. The device of claim 24, further comprising a second spring for biasing the first docking lever toward the first position, wherein the trigger rotates in a second direction and the first docking lever moves toward the second position in response to the bias of the second spring when the pawl is in the second position and the one of the plow bracket and the bracket member is moved in a direction away from the yoke member as the receptacle and the one of the plow bracket and the bracket member are unmated, thereby releasing the one of the plow bracket and the bracket member from the receptacle. 26. The device of claim 23, wherein the trigger is substantially L-shaped. 27. The device of claim 23, wherein the trigger is pivotally coupled to the bracket by a first pin, and the first docking lever and the trigger are pivotally coupled by a second pin that transfers torque between the first docking lever and the trigger. 28. The device of claim 27, wherein the docking lever has a slot formed therein and the first pin extends through the slot so that the first docking lever can translate pivotally and linearly in relation to the pin. 29. A device for securing a personal-transport vehicle to a mounting surface, comprising: one of a plow bracket and a bracket member for mounting on one of the personal-transport vehicle and the mounting surface; a receptacle for mating with the one of a plow bracket and a bracket member and comprising (i) a yoke bracket for mounting on the other of the personal-transport vehicle and the mounting surface and receiving the one of a plow bracket and a bracket member; and (ii) a docking lever pivotally coupled to the yoke bracket and movable between a first position wherein the lever can securely engage the one of a plow bracket and a bracket member and thereby retain the receptacle and the one of a plow bracket and a bracket member in a mated condition, and a second position; and a pawl pivotally coupled to the yoke bracket so that the pawl can pivot between an engaged position wherein the pawl restrains the docking lever in the first position, and a disengaged position, wherein the pawl has an indentation formed therein for receiving a portion of the docking lever, the indentation is defined by a surface portion of the pawl, and the surface portion of the pawl engages a surface portion of the docking lever having a substantially identical profile to the surface portion of the pawl when the pawl restrains the docking lever. 30. The device of claim 29, wherein the electric solenoid further comprises a spring for biasing the shaft to extend out of the body. 31. The device of claim 29, wherein the electric solenoid further comprises a timer for activating the electric solenoid for a predetermined period of time so that the shaft restrains the pawl in the disengaged position for the predetermined period of time. 32. The device of claim 29, further comprising a palmbutton switch for activating the electric solenoid. 33. A device for securing a personal-transport vehicle to a mounting surface, comprising: one of a plow bracket and a bracket member for mounting on one of the personal-transport vehicle and the mounting surface; a receptacle for mating with the one of a plow bracket and a bracket member and comprising (i) a yoke bracket for mounting on the other of the personal-transport vehicle and the mounting surface and receiving the one of a plow bracket and a bracket member; and (ii) a first and a second docking lever pivotally coupled to the yoke bracket and movable between a first position wherein the first and second levers can securely engage the one of a plow bracket and a bracket member and thereby retain the receptacle and the one of a plow bracket and a bracket member in a mated condition, and a second position; a first and a second pawl pivotally coupled to the yoke bracket so that the first and second pawls can pivot between an engaged position wherein the first and second pawls restrain the respective first and second docking levers in the first position, and a disengaged position; and a shaft secured to the first and second pawls for transferring torque between the first and second pawls. 34. A device for securing a personal-transport vehicle to a mounting surface, comprising: one of a plow bracket and a bracket member for mounting on one of the personal-transport vehicle and the mounting surface; a receptacle for mating with the one of a plow bracket and a bracket member and comprising (i) a yoke bracket for mounting on the other of the personal-transport vehicle and the mounting surface and receiving the one of a plow bracket and a bracket member; and (ii) a docking lever pivotally coupled to the yoke bracket and movable between a first position wherein the docking lever can securely engage the one of a plow bracket and a bracket member and thereby retain the receptacle and the one of a plow bracket and a bracket member in a mated condition, and a second position; a pawl pivotally coupled to the yoke bracket so that the pawl can pivot between an engaged position wherein the pawl restrains the docking lever in the first position, and a disengaged position; and an electric solenoid for moving the pawl from the engaged position to the disengaged position, the electric solenoid comprising a body fixedly coupled to the yoke member, and a shaft pivotally coupled to the pawl, the shaft extending out of and retracting into the body.