Device for skating and related method of functioning

Abstract

Skating device (1) provided with a plurality of wheels (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d), comprising: an electric motor (3) operatively coupled with at least one wheel (2a) of said plurality of wheels; at least one acceleration sensor (4) operatively coupled with at least one wheel (2a) of said plurality of wheels (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d); at least one speed sensor operatively coupled with at least one wheel (2a) of said plurality of wheels (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d); and at least one control unity adapted to actuate the operations of said electric motor (3) at least when said acceleration sensor (4) detects positive acceleration of said at least one wheel (2a), wherein the amount of electric power supplied by said electric motor to said at least one wheel (2a) is calculated according to the speed measured by said at least one speed sensor (5), at least when said acceleration sensor (4) detects said positive acceleration.

Claims

1. Skating system (100) comprising two skating devices (1) and at least one remote device (8), each skating device being provided with a plurality of wheels (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) and comprising: an electric motor (3) operatively coupled with at least one wheel (2a) of said plurality of wheels; at least one acceleration sensor (4) operatively coupled with at least one wheel (2a) of said plurality of wheels (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d); at least one speed sensor (5) operatively coupled with at least one wheel (2a) of said plurality of wheels (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d); at least one control unit (6) adapted to actuate the operations of said electric motor (3) at least when said acceleration sensor (4) detects positive acceleration of said at least one wheel (2a), wherein the amount of electric power supplied by said electric motor to said at least one wheel (2a) is calculated according to the speed measured by said at least one speed sensor (5), at least when said acceleration sensor (4) detects said positive acceleration; means (7) for wireless connection of said control unit (6) to a remote device (8) with a dedicated application and/or to other control unit of a further skating device, a supporting frame (10), wherein said at least one electric motor (3) is arranged on said supporting frame; and one or more batteries (12) to be housed on said supporting frame for supplying power to at least said electric motor, said control unit, said speed sensor and said acceleration sensor; said two skating devices (1) being respectively combined with the right foot and the left foot of the user, wherein the wireless connection means (7) of said control unit (6) of said two skating devices (1) communicate with said remote device (8) by means of a dedicated application and/or between one another to exchange information on the status of the two devices (1), the level of the respective one or more batteries (12), the respective speed, and the thrust latency.

2. Skating system according to claim 1, characterized in that said skating device comprises first regeneration means (15) for regenerating said one or more batteries, said first regeneration means being operatively combined with one or more of said wheels.

3. Skating system according to claim 2, characterized in that said skating device comprises a braking system provided with second regeneration means for regenerating said one or more batteries.

4. Skating system according to claim 1, characterized in that said skating device comprises a roller-skate.

5. Method of operation of a skating system (100) according to claim 1, wherein said skating system comprises two skating devices (1) and at least one remote device (8) the method of operation of each skating device comprising the steps of: a. detecting, by means of said acceleration sensor (4), the positive acceleration of at least one wheel (2a) of said skating device (1); b. measuring, by means of said speed sensor (5), the speed achieved by said skating device (1), at least when positive acceleration of said skating device is detected during said step a) of the method; c. supplying, by means of said electric motor (2), electric power to said at least one wheel (2a), calculated according to the speed measured during said step b); wherein said two skating devices (1) being respectively combined with the right foot and the left foot of the user, wherein the wireless connection means (7) of said control unit (6) of said two skating devices (1) communicate with said remote device (8) by means of a dedicated application and/or between one another to exchange information on the status of the two devices (1), the level of the respective one or more batteries (12), the respective speed, the thrust latency.

6. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that said step c) is carried out only if said speed measured during said step b) falls within a predetermined speed window.

7. Method according to claim 6, wherein said thrust intensity is selected so that to develop a torque at the electric motor so that to increase, maintain or decrease the speed of said skating device with respect to the speed measure in said step b) of the method.

8. Method according to claim 7, wherein said thrust intensity is selected so that to develop a torque at the electric motor so that to increase, maintain or decrease the speed of said skating device with respect to the speed measured in said step b) of the method.

9. Method according to claim 5, characterized by comprising the step of d) braking said wheeled device.

10. Method according to claim 9, characterized by comprising the step of e) regenerating said one or more batteries during said step d) of the method.

11. Method according to claim 5, characterized by comprising the step of e) regenerating said one or more batteries (12) by the rotation of one or more wheels.

12. Skating system device according to claim 1, characterized in that the thrust latency and/or thrust length and/or thrust intensity of said electric motor (3), and/or the minimum speed for actuating the operations of said electric motor are parameters the user can set.

13. Skating system device according to claim 1, characterized in that said skating device comprises gear wheel transmission means (11) for the direct or indirect mechanical coupling between said at least one wheel (2a) and the drive shaft (3a) of said at least one electric motor (3).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) These and other aspects of the present invention will become clearer by the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment provided herein by way of example only and without limitations, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic top view of the skating device according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic top view of the skating system according to the invention.

(4) With reference to the figures above, a skating device 1 according to the invention is depicted.

(5) As briefly shown in FIG. 1, the skating device 1, which in the specific case is of the roller-skate type provided with four wheels 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d coupled by two to two distinct rotation axes 31 and 32. Therefore, in a known way, the first rotation axis 31 comprises, at its ends 31a and 31b, the wheels 2a and 2b, respectively, whereas the second axis 32 comprises, at its ends 32a and 32b, the wheels 2c and 2d, respectively, the device 1 comprises an electric motor 3 of the direct current type, indirectly coupled with the two wheels 2a and 2b and the first axis 31 of the skating device 1. This electric motor 3 is adapted to generate assisted skating understood as a set of control functions and actuation commands implemented with dedicated circuitry and preloaded programs so that to produce thrusts adapted to the skating conditions of the user and generated exactly when the user is in the appropriate posture for receiving them.

(6) It should be noted that a skating device that also only has three wheels, or five in a row, would anyhow fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

(7) The skating device 1 comprising an acceleration sensor 4 also coupled with the wheel 2a and, therefore, also with the wheel 2b that shares the same first axis 31 with the wheel 2a. The wheel 2a is in turn operatively coupled with the electric motor 3. This acceleration sensor 4 is useful in distinguishing, by means of a predetermined positive acceleration, either the stride of the skater, i.e. the forward thrust for skating, after which, as will be better explained below, the power from the electric motor 3 to the wheel 2a is supplied when the skater is in a forward position with all of the weight loaded on the leg driving the thrust, or, if a skateboard is used, the thrust of the user at the side of the skateboard on the ground.

(8) Moreover, the skating device 1 comprises a speed sensor 5, also operatively coupled with the wheel 2a or with the wheel 2b of the device 1, which is used to calculate the exact amount of electric power supplied by the electric motor 3. The diameter of the wheels 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d, identical for all, can be entered as an input parameter of the control unit 6. Finally, the skating device 1 comprises a control unit 6 adapted to actuate the operations of the electric motor 3, at least when the acceleration sensor 4 detects positive acceleration of the wheel 2a with which it is coupled. The amount of electric power supplied by the electric motor 3 to the wheel 2a with which it is operatively coupled is calculated according to the speed measured by the speed sensor 5, at least when the acceleration sensor 4 detects the aforesaid positive acceleration. As stated above the diameter of the wheel 2a, with which the speed sensor 5 is operatively coupled, can be provided to improve the speed measurement.

(9) Although here and hereunder, both the acceleration sensor 4 and the speed sensor 5 are coupled with the same wheel 2a with which the electric motor 3 is coupled, it should be noted that in an alternative embodiment not shown herein, the acceleration sensor 4 can be coupled with a wheel, for example the wheel 2a, different than the wheel 2c with which the speed sensor 5 could be coupled, without however departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

(10) According to the invention, the thrust latency and/or thrust length and/or thrust intensity of the electric motor 3, and the minimum speed for actuating the operations of the electric motor 3, the speed being detected by the speed sensor 4, are parameters the user can set. This allows the skating assistance to be adapted to the user on the basis of his preferences.

(11) Moreover, the skating device 1 comprises means 7 for the wi-fi connection of the control unit 6 to a remote device 8 with a dedicated application. This remote device 8 comprises a server 8a and an antenna 8b for the transmission/reception of data. This allows to select the aforesaid parameters available to the user and, possibly, to download information in/from the control unit 6. The skating device 1 also comprises an appropriate antenna 7a for the reception and transmission of data towards the remote device 8.

(12) In other embodiments, the communication means 7 can be of the Bluetooth type, anyhow wireless, without however departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

(13) A skating system 100 that comprises two skating devices 1 of the type comprising two roller-skates is shown in FIG. 2. These roller-skates 1 each comprise means 7 for the wireless connection of the respective control unit 6 to a remote device 8 with a dedicated application. The wireless connection means 7, for example wi-fi, of the two skating devices 1 communicate with one another while the user is skating to exchange information on the status of the device, i.e. on the skating assistance received (latency time, thrust intensity, thrust length, etc.), speed of each skate, thrust latency, length and other values.

(14) In other embodiments not described in detail herein, the connection between the skating device 1 and the remote device 8, or between two skating devices 1, can occur also by Bluetooth connection means 7, without however departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

(15) Moreover, the skating device 1 comprises a supporting frame 10. The electric motor 3 is arranged on the supporting frame 10. Moreover, the skating device 1 comprises gear wheel transmission means 11 for the mechanical coupling between the wheel 2a and the drive shaft 3a of the electric motor 3. These gear means 11 comprise a revolution adapter that is in turn directly coupled with the first drive shaft 31 in turn coupled with two wheels 2a and 2b.

(16) The skating device 1 comprises a battery 12 to be housed on the supporting frame 10 for supplying the electric motor 3, the control unit 6, the speed sensor 5 and the acceleration sensor 4. In order to favor the readability of the accompanying figures, the electric connections between the battery 12 and the aforesaid components are not shown in the accompanying figures, however, it is clear to the technician of the sector that the battery 12 will somehow be electrically connected to the electric motor 3, the control unit 6, the speed sensor 5 and the acceleration sensor 4, so that to be able to supply them appropriately.

(17) Furthermore, the skating device 1 comprises first means 15 for regenerating the battery 12. These first regeneration means 15 are operatively combined with two wheels 2c, 2d not coupled with the electric motor 3. It should be noted that, in other embodiments of the patent not shown herein, these first regeneration means 15 can be operatively combined with only one wheel 2c not coupled with the electric motor 3, without however departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

(18) In other embodiments, the first regeneration means 15 are also coupled with the wheels coupled with the electric motor 3.

(19) According to the invention, the skating device 1 can further comprise a braking system 20.

(20) According to an embodiment not shown herein, the skating device 1 is provided with second means for regenerating the battery 12, which are connected to the braking system 20.

(21) Although a skating device 1 of the classic skate type, i.e. with two couples of wheels arranged in the front and back of the skating device 1, has been described up to this point, this solution can however also be used with a skateboard.

(22) The method of operation of the skating device 1 as described above is described below. This method comprises the steps of:

(23) a. detecting the positive acceleration of at least one wheel 2a of the skating device 1 by means of the acceleration sensor 4;

(24) b. measuring, by means of the measuring sensor 5, the speed achieved by the skating device 1, at least when positive acceleration of the skating device 1 is detected during the step a) of the method;

(25) c. supplying, by means of the electric motor 3, electric power to the wheel 2a with which the electric motor 3 is coupled; wherein such electric power supplied is calculated according to the speed measured during step b) by the speed sensor 5 and, preferably, also according to the diameter of the wheel 2a coupled with the same speed sensor 5. This diameter value is entered as a parameter in the control unit 6.

(26) In practice, when the user leans the skating device 1, i.e. the roller-skate, on the ground and generates a thrust with the leg, the acceleration sensor 4 detects positive acceleration. At this point, the speed sensor 5 is enabled to measure the speed of the skate 1. The control unit 6 then acquires the value of this speed and, depending on its value and, preferably, on the value of the diameter of the wheel 2a combined with the speed sensor 5, calculates the power that the electric motor 3 will have to provide to the wheel 2a coupled with the electric motor 3. It should be noted that the speed can be measured by the sensor 5 at any time, however, the speed used to calculate the power that the electric motor 3 will have to supply to the wheel 2a is the one acquired from the moment positive acceleration is detected.

(27) Moreover, still according to the present invention, step c) is only performed if the speed measured during step b) by the speed sensor 5 falls within a predetermined speed window. This predetermined speed window is between 10 and 70 km/h, preferably between 20 and 60 km/h.

(28) Moreover, the latency time and/or thrust length and/or thrust intensity for supplying the electric power of the electric motor 3 and/or the minimum speed for actuating the operations of the electric motor 3 during step c) are parameters the user can set.

(29) Therefore, according to the invention, the user can select different assistance parameters. In practice, the supply of the electric power to the wheel 2a can last from a few tenths, such as for example 5 tenths, to a few seconds, such as for example 10 seconds, the latency, i.e. the delay from the moment the acceleration sensor 4 detects positive acceleration, can be selected between a zero second value to a 3-second value, while the thrust intensity can be selected so that to increase the speed of the skating device 1 of a few kilometers, or to maintain it constant with respect to the one measured from the moment the positive acceleration was detected, or to decrease it but according to a different gradient than the one there would be without any assistance and, therefore, with friction only.

(30) Still according to the invention, the method comprises the step of d) braking the skating device 1.

(31) Advantageously, the method further comprises the step of e) regenerating the battery 12 or batteries 12 in case of a plurality of them, during the step d) of the method, i.e. during the braking itself of the device 1, thanks to appropriate power regeneration means that exploit the braking force exerted by the user.

(32) In alternative, the method comprises the step of e) regenerating the battery 12, or several batteries 12, by the rotation of the wheels 2c and 2d not coupled with the electric motor 3 during the skating of the wheeled device 1. In practice, the wheels would act like a classic alternator present in cars.

(33) It should be noted that, in another embodiment not shown herein, the method comprises the step of e) regenerating the battery 12, or several batteries 12, by the rotation of the wheels 2a and 2b coupled with the electric motor 3 during the skating of the wheeled device 1, without however departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

(34) This regeneration method e) could also work in combination with the previously described regeneration method e).