초록 ▼

The wheeled personal transportation device includes a frame member having opposed front and rear ends having front and rear wheels rotatably mounted thereto. An air cushion has upper and lower ends, the lower end being supported by the frame member. A foot platform is mounted on the upper end of the

The wheeled personal transportation device includes a frame member having opposed front and rear ends having front and rear wheels rotatably mounted thereto. An air cushion has upper and lower ends, the lower end being supported by the frame member. A foot platform is mounted on the upper end of the air cushion, the foot platform being adapted for supporting a foot of a user. A pneumatic motor is mounted on the front end of the frame member and is in communication with the front wheel for selectively driving rotation thereof. The pneumatic motor is in fluid communication with the air cushion such that compression of the air cushion by the user's foot drives the pneumatic motor to drive rotation of the front wheel. A pneumatic brake is further in communication with the rear wheel for selective braking thereof. Alternatively, the front wheel may be powered mechanically by spring-biased gears.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A wheeled personal transportation device, comprising: a frame member having a front end and a rear end, the frame member having a first pivot axle rigidly attached to the rear end thereof;a plurality of ground-engaging wheels attached to the frame member, including a front wheel mounted at the fr

1. A wheeled personal transportation device, comprising: a frame member having a front end and a rear end, the frame member having a first pivot axle rigidly attached to the rear end thereof;a plurality of ground-engaging wheels attached to the frame member, including a front wheel mounted at the front end of the frame member, a rear wheel mounted at the rear end of the frame member, and at least one intermediate wheel mounted between the front end and the rear end;a foot platform disposed above the frame member, the foot platform being adapted for supporting a user's foot, the foot platform having a front end and a rear end, the foot platform having a second pivot axle fixed to the rear end thereof;a scissors linkage connecting the frame member and the foot platform, the scissors linkage having:a first pair of parallel scissors arms having a first end and a second end, the first end being pivotally mounted on the first pivot axle and the second end being slidably and pivotally attached to the front end of the foot platform;a second pair of parallel scissors arms having a first end and a second end, the first end being pivotally mounted on the second pivot axle and the second end being slidably and pivotally attached to the front end of the frame member; anda pivot pin extending through a central portion of the first pair of scissors arms and the second pair of scissors arms between the first and second ends of the scissors arms, the scissors linkage being pivotal between a lowered position and a raised position when the foot platform is raised and lowered by the user; andmeans for converting energy expended when lowering the foot platform into powered rotation of the front wheel;wherein the means for converting energy including a flexible air cushion extending between the foot platform and the frame;a pneumatic motor mounted on the frame, the pneumatic motor having a shaft, the front wheel being mounted on the pneumatic motor shaft; anda tube extending from the air cushion to the pneumatic motor;wherein the air cushion is inflated when the foot platform is raised above the frame, the air being compressed when the foot platform is lowered to the frame, the compressed air being transmitted to the pneumatic motor through the tube to rotate the pneumatic motor shaft and the front wheel. 2. The wheeled personal transportation device according to claim 1, further comprising a boot permanently mounted on the foot platform. 3. The wheeled personal transportation device according to claim 1, further comprising means for releasably attaching a user's shoe to the foot platform. 4. A wheeled personal transportation device, comprising: a frame member having opposed front and rear ends;a front wheel rotatably mounted to the front end of the frame member;a rear wheel rotatably mounted to the rear end of the frame member;an air cushion having upper and lower ends, the lower end being supported by the frame member;a foot platform mounted on the upper end of the air cushion, the foot platform being adapted for supporting a foot of a user;a pneumatic motor mounted on the front end of the frame member and being in communication with the front wheel for selectively driving rotation thereof, the pneumatic motor being in fluid communication with the air cushion such that compression of the air cushion drives the pneumatic motor to drive rotation in the front wheel; anda pneumatic brake in communication with the rear wheel for selective braking thereof. 5. The wheeled personal transportation device as recited in claim 4, further comprising a shoe for receiving the foot of the user, the shoe being mounted on the foot platform. 6. The wheeled personal transportation device as recited in claim 4, further comprising: a brake actuator mounted in the shoe for selective actuation by the foot of the user; anda brake line extending from the brake actuator to the pneumatic brake for actuation thereof. 7. The wheeled personal transportation device as recited in claim 6, further comprising a tube in fluid communication with the air cushion and the pneumatic motor for fluid transfer therebetween. 8. The wheeled personal transportation device as recited in claim 7, further comprising: a one-way valve mounted in the tube; anda secondary brake line extending from the brake line to the one-way valve, such that the one-way valve seals the tube when the brake actuator is actuated by the user. 9. The wheeled personal transportation device as recited in claim 4, further comprising first and second linkages centrally pivotally secured to one another about a central pivot in an X-type configuration, an upper end of the first linkage being slidably mounted to a front end of the foot platform, a lower end of the first linkage being pivotally secured to a rear end of the frame member, an upper end of the second linkage being pivotally secured to the rear end of the foot platform, and a lower end of the second linkage being slidably mounted to the front end of the foot platform. 10. The wheeled personal transportation device as recited in claim 9, wherein the first linkage comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion being pivotally secured to the lower portion about the central pivot. 11. The wheeled personal transportation device as recited in claim 10, further comprising a brake line extending from the upper portion of the first linkage to the pneumatic brake for actuation thereof when the foot platform is pivoted such that the rear end of the foot platform is lowered and the front end of the foot platform is raised. 12. The wheeled personal transportation device as recited in claim 10, further comprising at least one pin secured to a lower end of the upper portion of the first linkage, adjacent the central pivot, to limit rotation thereof with respect to the lower portion of the first linkage. 13. The wheeled personal transportation device as recited in claim 12, wherein the upper and lower portions of the first linkage are spring-biased with respect to one another.