Ridable Kart with Concealed Wheels and Lean Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ridable vehicles, such as karts, often require complex steering mechanisms and visible wheels, which can be cumbersome and unsuitable for smaller riders, especially children, and lack visual effects that enhance their aesthetic appeal.
Innovation Solution
A ridable kart design featuring a body with a concealed wheel configuration, allowing steering through leaning and providing a visual effect of floating or hovering, with a fixed front wheel and movable rear wheels driven by an electric motor, positioned within a horizontal boundary defined by the kart's edges to conceal the wheels from view.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional steering mechanisms are used, then steering control is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The kart enables self-steering through the rider's natural leaning motion. The rider's body movement directly controls the steering mechanism without requiring manual input to a steering wheel or handlebars, making the system self-regulating and intuitive to operate
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical steering systems (steering wheels, handlebars, linkages) with a lean-based steering mechanism. The rider's leaning action activates sensors or mechanical linkages that automatically adjust wheel orientation, substituting complex manual mechanical control with a simpler automated system
2Stability of the object's composition
If wheels are positioned to provide stability, then riding stability is improved, but visual effect of floating is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The wheels are nested within recesses or cavities in the kart body, positioned below the horizontal boundary defined by the kart's edges. This nesting allows the wheels to remain functional for stability while being visually concealed to create the floating effect
Solution Approach 2:
The kart body features localized recesses or concave areas at the wheel positions, creating different visual qualities in different regions. The areas around the wheels have modified geometry to conceal them, while other parts of the kart maintain their normal structure for stability and aesthetics
3Adaptability or versatility
If kart size is reduced for smaller riders, then accessibility to children is improved, but structural strength may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The kart utilizes composite materials or optimized material distributions that provide high strength-to-weight ratio. This allows the kart to be scaled down in size for child riders while maintaining sufficient structural strength through efficient material usage rather than simply reducing material quantity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design simplifies steering, reduces manufacturing costs, enhances safety, and creates a visually appealing 'floating' effect, making the kart more appealing and accessible to smaller riders while maintaining reliability and safety.
Implementation Method 1
The kart can include a compressible material between the motor and the body that allows the motor to move relative to the body so that the rear wheels can move for steering purposes
Data Source
AI summary
A ridable kart can have a body that supports a front wheel and movable rear wheels. The kart can include a motor that supports and drives the rear wheels. The motor and rear wheels are configured to tilt and rotate relative to the body of the kart. The body of the kart includes a concave space in which the front and rear wheels are positioned so that they are at least partially concealed by the body when viewed from the side of the kart.