Walk-with apparatus
View Patent ↗Walk-with apparatus ( 101 ), e.g. a powered golf-caddy ( 101 ), has a reference member ( 18 ), a handle ( 1 ) adapted to be used to hold and guide the apparatus, and rotary mechanical damping means ( 13, 14 ), the handle 1 being movable in a forwards and backwards direction ( 103 ) relative to the reference member ( 18 ) to produce electric signals ( 104 ) to vary the speed of the (apparatus 101 ), under the effect of the damping means ( 13, 14 ) thereby to inhibit hunting. In addition to spring means ( 6, 8 ) and a DC motor controller ( 110 ) with an acceleration ramp, the damping means ( 13, 14 ) is needed to give smooth motion. The handle ( 1 ) has rotary cam means ( 80, 81, 90 ) to lock it in any position along direction ( 103 ), with a 45° rotation either way at any angle. The handle ( 1 ) has a fold-flat articulation means ( 21 a , 23 a , 84 - 88 ) comprising two interengaging cogged parts ( 21 a, 23 a ), each having a pivot ( 87 ), one part ( 23 ) a for handle land the other part ( 21 a ) for a support member ( 21 ) (on the main part of caddy ( 101 )) for handle ( 1 ), and a tie ( 84, 84 ) tying the two pivots ( 87, 87 ) together. The handle ( 1 ) can swivel sideways (under rotary mechanical damping means ( 200 a , 210, 210 a )) to steer the caddy ( 101 ), with a potentiometer ( 207 ) to generate electric steering signals ( 104 ), e.g. to operate differentially the caddy's wheels ( 101 a , 101 b ) for steering.
1. A walk-with apparatus comprising:
a reference member,
a handle adapted to be used to hold and guide the apparatus, and
a damper, the handle being movable in a forwards and backwards direction relative to the reference member to produce electric signals to vary the speed of the apparatus, under the effect of the damper which is configured to selectively hold the position of the handle in at least one of a plurality of incremental positions and thereby selectively hold the speed of the apparatus thereby to inhibit hunting.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , in which the handle has a forward range of movement in which it can move forwards to control an increase in forward speed of the apparatus and incrementally backwards to control a reduction in the forward speed and wherein the damper is a viscous damper.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , in which the handle has a zero position corresponding to zero speed.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , in which the handle has a backwards range of movement in which it can move in a backwards direction to control an increase in backwards speed of the apparatus and incrementally forwards to control a reduction in the backwards speed.
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 , in which the forward range, zero position and backwards range allow a smooth transition of the electric signal from a forward-controlling signal to a backward controlling signal.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , in which the apparatus is adapted to match the speed of the apparatus smoothly to the walking pace of an operator walking with said apparatus.
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , in which the handle is adapted to have sideways movement to enable control of the direction of movement of said apparatus.
8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , in which said damper comprises rotary damping means.
9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , comprising a DC motor controller adapted to provide an acceleration ramp for the motor.
10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , in which the damper and the acceleration ramp controller are adapted for adjustment in combination to enable the speed of travel of the apparatus to be regulated to match the speed of an operator walking with the apparatus simply by the operator holding the handle, smoothly and so as to inhibit hunting.
11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , comprising speed-control means for the apparatus which comprise means to produce said electric signals from movements of said handle, the speed-control means having been, or being adapted to be, retrofitted to the apparatus.
12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , which further comprises electrically operated and/or electrically controlled steering means to steer the apparatus.
13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 , in which said handle is movable in a sideways direction relative to the reference member to produce electric signals suitable to vary the direction of motion of such apparatus for steering the same.
14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 , further comprising damping means to control the sideways movement of the handle.
15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising wheels operable differentially to steer the apparatus.
16. The apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the damper is configured to prevent hunting.
17. A walk-with apparatus comprising:
a reference member;
a handle adapted to be used to hold and guide the apparatus; and
a damper, the handle being movable in a forwards and backwards direction relative to the reference member to produce electric signals to vary the speed of the apparatus, under the effect of the damper, wherein the damper is a viscous damper configured thereby to inhibit hunting.
18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17 , in which the handle is adapted to have sideways movement to enable control of the direction of movement of said apparatus.
19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17 , in which the damper and the acceleration ramp controller are adapted for adjustment in combination to enable the speed of travel of the apparatus to be regulated to match the speed of an operator walking with the apparatus simply by the operator holding the handle, smoothly and so as to inhibit hunting.
20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17 , in which said handle is movable in a sideways direction relative to the reference member to produce electric signals suitable to vary the direction of motion of such apparatus for steering the same.
21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17 , wherein said damper is a sideways damper which is configured to control the sideways movement of the handle.
22. The apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the damper is configured to reduce hunting.