Drivable steerable platform for industrial, domestic, entertainment and like uses

Patent 4733737 Issued on March 29, 1988. Estimated Expiration Date:

August 29, 2005. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

1026122

1266904

3232005

Drivable, steerable platform for lawnmower and the like
Patent #: 4463821
Issued on: 08/07/1984
Inventor: Falamak

Omnidirectional drive system
Patent #: 4519466
Issued on: 05/28/1985
Inventor: Shiraishi

Control apparatus for omnidirectional, polar coordinated platform for lawnmower and the like Patent #: 4533998
Issued on: 08/06/1985
Inventor: Falamak

Inventor

Falamak, Reza

Application

No. 06/770729 filed on 08/29/1985

US Classes:

180/7.1, SPECIAL DRIVING DEVICE180/252, HAVING AT LEAST ONE WHEEL BOTH DRIVEN AND STEERABLE180/255, Pivotable portion of means has additional structure of gearlike nature in driving engagement with corresponding structure on wheel74/665C, Nonparallel74/665NSpur

Examiners

Primary: Love, John J.
Assistant: Diederiks, Everett G. Jr.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Arnold, White & Durkee

International Classes

B62D 57/00 (20060101)
B62D 7/00 (20060101)
B62D 7/02 (20060101)

Abstract

This invention comprises a driveable, steerable platform for industrial, domestic, entertainment and related uses. A frame member travels on a plurality of wheels which can be turned 360° to steer the platform in a desired direction. Separate endless drive means in the form of gear-driven concentric shafts drive and steer the wheels. The platform travels substantially parallel to the terrain traversed. The entire platform may be housed in a hollow sphere to cause the sphere to selectively roll, providing the platform the ability to move about on radically uneven terrain including the ability to climb steps of height equal to approximately one-half the sphere's diameter. The wheels engage the inner surface of the rolling sphere to drive and steer the rolling sphere.