A ski having vents for venting snow from beneath the ski to a location above the ski and a modified keel that provides for greater and easier directional control over the ski relative to a conventional ski.

A ski having vents for venting snow from beneath the ski to a location above the ski and a modified keel that provides for greater and easier directional control over the ski relative to a conventional ski.

A self-propelled, one-wheeled vehicle may include a board having two deck portions each having a concave front footpad configured to receive a foot of a rider, and a wheel assembly disposed between the deck portions. The concave front footpad has a rider detection sensor in the form of a membrane switch conforming to the shape of the footpad (e.g., facilitated by one or more slots formed in the membrane switch). A motor assembly drives the vehicle in response to board orientation and rider detection information.

A self-balancing vehicle includes a vehicle body having a housing with left and right sides which are independently moveable. A unitary support bar is disposed within the housing, and a left drive wheel and an opposed right drive wheel are each coupled to the support bar. A bracket encircles the support bar; the bracket has a cylindrical body formed with a slot through the body. A set screw is fixed to the support bar and is received within the slot to limit rotational movement of the support bar with respect to the bracket.

A personal self-propelled vehicle for travelling on snow using ski comprises a closed-loop flexible ribbon configured to envelope the ski over its length so as to pass under at least a portion of a sliding surface, two rollers and configured for installation on longitudinally opposite ends of the ski and to interact with the ribbon. The roller is a driving roller and is engaged with a motor comprising a control means and with the ribbon to transfer force for translational movement thereof. The roller is a guiding roller. The ribbon canvas has multiple via openings divided by webs and substantially constitutes a lattice. Dimensions and positions of the openings and parameters of the webs between them are selected so the sliding surface of the ski abuts on snow through the openings during motion of the vehicle, while the webs sink in snow under load of the vehicle bearing the user and provide repulsion from snow packed by the ski, thus assuring the ski sliding in longitudinal direction.

Method and apparatus directed to cushioned concave pads, cushioned traction pads, and grip tape for self-balancing vehicles. The method and apparatus includes front cushioned pads and/or front cushioned traction pads having top surfaces and bottom surfaces; attaching the bottom surfaces of the front cushioned pads and/or the front cushioned traction pads to a first deck portion disposed at a first end of a frame; selecting rear cushioned pads and/or rear cushioned traction pads having top and bottom surfaces. The top surfaces of the rear cushioned pads and/or rear cushioned traction pads can have a rear kicktail extending integrally upwardly and rearwardly. The method and apparatus further include attaching the bottom surfaces of the rear cushioned pads and/or the rear cushioned traction pads to a second deck portion disposed at a second end of the frame.

Snow vehicle is disclosed. The snow vehicle includes a pair of runners configured to support the snow vehicle travelling over snow and/or ice, an electric motor, and a traction wheel, powered by the electric motor, and configured to cause a propulsion for the snow vehicle while rolling in contact with the snow and/or the ice. The traction wheel is positioned in front of the pair of runners.

The present disclosure provides an approach to propelling an activity board. The approach involves, for example, a propulsion device comprising a driver transitionable between a first position and a second position, a motor operatively connected to the driver, and a power source operatively connected to the motor. The driver, when in the first position, is above a plane of an activity board and when in the second position, is below the plane of the activity board. A mount may apply a force to the driver. The approach also involves, for example, an activity board comprising a mount coupled to the activity board, a driver connected to the mount, the driver driven by a motor, and a power source operatively connected to the motor. The activity board comprises a top surface and a bottom surface configured to traverse a terrestrial surface. The driver is transitionable between a first position and a second position and, when in the first position, is located above the bottom surface, and, when in the second position, is located below the bottom surface. The approach further involves, for example, a method for propelling an activity board comprising transitioning a driver from a first position to a second position characterized by the driver engaging a terrestrial surface and actuating a motor operatively connected to the driver, the motor coupled to the activity board via a mount. The motor is powered by a power source mounted to the activity board.

A self-stabilizing, one-wheeled electric skateboard may include improved features. In some examples, the vehicle includes a status indicator viewable through a slot formed in an upper surface of the board. In some examples, the vehicle includes a convertible carrying handle transitionable between stowed and deployed positions. In some examples, the vehicle includes an interchangeable fender and fender substitute that may be removably coupled to an upper surface of the board. In some examples, a motor controller of the vehicle may operate a field-oriented control (FOC) scheme configured to control the electric motor by manipulating a direct current aligned with a rotating rotor flux angle and a quadrature current defined at ninety degrees from the rotating rotor flux angle. In some examples, the motor controller may be configured to permit intuitive dismounting of the vehicle by tilting and/or moving the vehicle backward.

A self-balancing vehicle includes a vehicle body having a housing with a top cover and a bottom cover. It includes a unitary support bar disposed between the top and bottom covers, about which the top and bottom covers are mounted, and which extends entirely along the top and bottom covers between opposed left and right ends of the unitary support bar. The vehicle includes a left drive wheel and an opposed right drive wheel, each indirectly coupled to the unitary support bar. The vehicle further includes a battery electrically coupled to the left and right drive wheels, wherein the battery includes a central depression receiving the unitary support bar and spacing apart two opposed lobes of the battery about the unitary support bar.