Inverted pendulum type vehicle

1. An inverted pendulum type vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle body frame extending in a vertical direction;

a propulsion unit mounted in a lower part of the vehicle body frame and including a main wheel configured to be actuated by an inverted pendulum control;

a drive unit mounted in a vertically intermediate part of the vehicle body and configured to actuate the main wheel;

a seat mounted on an upper part of the vehicle body frame;

a battery case mounted on the vehicle frame behind the drive unit, and having an access opening extending at least in an upper end thereof;

a battery configured to be received in the battery case; and

a lid pivotally supported by the battery case so as to be moveable between an open position exposing the access opening and a closed position closing at least an upper part of the access opening and engaging a part of the battery,

wherein the battery case includes an engagement portion provided in a bottom wall thereof and a bottom end of the battery includes a corresponding engagement portion configured to cooperate with the engagement portion of the battery case whereby the battery is prevented from lateral movement.

2. The inverted pendulum type vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the lid includes an engagement portion provided in an inner surface thereof and a top end of the battery includes a corresponding engagement portion configured to cooperate with the engagement portion of the lid when the lid is in the closed position whereby the battery is prevented from lateral movement.

3. The inverted pendulum type vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein one of the engagement portions comprises a recess and the other of the engagement portions comprises a projection configured to be fitted into the recess when the battery is placed in the battery case and the lid is in the closed position.

4. The inverted pendulum type vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein the lid is provided with a latch that cooperates with a corresponding latch catch provided in an upper end of the battery for selectively holding the lid in the closed position.

5. The inverted pendulum type vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the lid is connected to an upper part of the battery case adjacent to a forward end of the opening thereof via a hinge having a hinge axis extending in a lateral direction.

6. The inverted pendulum type vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the access opening extends from the upper end of the battery case to at least a vertically middle part of a rear end of the battery case.

7. The inverted pendulum type vehicle according to claim 6 , wherein the access opening extends from the upper end of the battery case to a lower part of the rear end of the battery case.

8. An inverted pendulum type vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle body frame extending in a vertical direction;

a propulsion unit mounted in a lower part of the vehicle body frame and including a main wheel configured to be actuated by an inverted pendulum control;

a drive unit mounted in a vertically intermediate part of the vehicle body and configured to actuate the main wheel;

a seat mounted on an upper part of the vehicle body frame;

a battery case mounted on the vehicle frame behind the drive unit, and having an access opening extending at least in an upper end thereof;

a battery configured to be received in the battery case; and

a lid pivotally supported by the battery case so as to be moveable between an open position exposing the access opening and a closed position closing at least an upper part of the access opening and engaging a part of the battery,

wherein the battery case is configured such that the battery is tilted rearward when the battery is fully received in the battery case, and

wherein the battery is vertically elongated.

9. An inverted pendulum type vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle body frame extending in a vertical direction;

a propulsion unit mounted in a lower part of the vehicle body frame and including a main wheel configured to be actuated by an inverted pendulum control;

a drive unit mounted in a vertically intermediate part of the vehicle body and configured to actuate the main wheel;

a seat mounted on an upper part of the vehicle body frame;

a battery case mounted on the vehicle frame behind the drive unit, and having an access opening extending at least in an upper end thereof;

a battery configured to be received in the battery case; and

a lid pivotally supported by the battery case so as to be moveable between an open position exposing the access opening and a closed position closing at least an upper part of the access opening and engaging a part of the battery,

wherein the seat is moveable between a lower operating position and an upper non-operating position, and the seat is located so as to prevent the lid from moving from the closed position when the seat is in the lower operating position and allow the lid to move to the open position when the seat is in the upper non-operating position.