IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,319,446
Granted Patent B2
US 12,319,446 · App. 18/495,549 · Granted Jun 3, 2025

Modular flying vehicle

Inventors: Ryan Joseph Bohm (Logan, UT); Daniel Garrett (Cottage Grove, MN)
B64U20/40B60L50/60B64U10/16B64U30/29B64U50/30B64U80/86B60L2200/10B64U2101/61
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,319,446
App. No.
18/495,549
Granted
Jun 3, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A flying vehicle that is compact and portable and can be carried over the roof rack of a passenger car. The flying vehicle includes an upper chassis and a lower chassis removably mounted to the upper chassis. The lower chassis is positioned below the upper chassis. Eight rotors, a battery pack, and a control unit are mounted to the upper chassis. A seat for the rider is mounted to the lower chassis directly below the battery pack. Such a position of the seat allows a rider to egress from the vehicle safely without requiring the vehicle to land and turn off the rotors.

Claims (46)

1. A flying vehicle comprising:

an upper chassis;

a lower chassis removably mounted to the upper chassis, the lower chassis positioned below the upper chassis;

a plurality of rotors mounted to the upper chassis, wherein the plurality of rotors comprises four upper rotors and four lower rotors, wherein the four lower rotors are mounted below the respective four upper rotors;

a battery pack mounted to the upper chassis;

a control unit mounted to the upper chassis; and

a seat mounted to the lower chassis,

wherein the four upper rotors are connected to a first power supply and the four lower rotors are coupled to a second power supply, the first power supply and the second power supply are different, wherein the first power supply is connected to a first set of batteries of the battery pack and the second power supply is connected to a second set of batteries of the battery pack,

wherein each rotor is removably coupled to the upper chassis.

2. The flying vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the seat is removably mounted to the lower chassis.

3. The flying vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the battery pack is positioned along a central axis of the flying vehicle, and the seat is mounted below the battery pack.

4. The flying vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the seat is configured to be removed from the lower chassis, and the lower chassis is configured to be dismantled for storage.

5. The flying vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein one or more tubular members of the upper chassis are made from a conducting material and coupled to the battery pack, wherein the one or more tubular members are configured to couple to a charging apparatus for charging the battery pack.

6. A method for transportation of a person, the method comprising:

providing a flying vehicle comprising:

an upper chassis;

a lower chassis removably mounted to the upper chassis, the lower chassis positioned below the upper chassis;

a plurality of rotors mounted to the upper chassis, wherein the plurality of rotors comprises four upper rotors and four lower rotors;

a battery pack mounted to the upper chassis;

a control unit mounted to the upper chassis; and

a seat mounted to the lower chassis,

wherein the four upper rotors are connected to a first power supply and the four lower rotors are connected to a second power supply, the first power supply and the second power supply are different, wherein the first power supply is connected to a first set of batteries of the battery pack and the second power supply is connected to a second set of batteries of the battery pack,

wherein each rotor is removably coupled to the upper chassis;

receiving the person on the seat; and

egressing the person from the seat while the flying vehicle is airborne.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the seat is removably mounted to the lower chassis.

8. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the battery pack is positioned along a central axis of the flying vehicle, and the seat is mounted below the battery pack.

9. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the seat is configured to be removed from the lower chassis, and the lower chassis is configured to collapse for storage.

10. The method according to claim 6 , wherein each rotor comprises a motor and propellers.

11. The method according to claim 6 , wherein one or more tubular members of the upper chassis are made from a conducting material and coupled to the battery pack, wherein the one or more tubular members are configured to couple to a charging apparatus for charging the battery pack.

12. A method for transportation of a person, the method comprising:

providing a flying vehicle comprising:

an upper chassis;

a lower chassis removably mounted to the upper chassis, the lower chassis positioned below the upper chassis;

a plurality of rotors mounted to the upper chassis;

a battery pack mounted to the upper chassis;

a control unit mounted to the upper chassis; and

a seat mounted to the lower chassis,

receiving the person on the seat;

egressing the person from the seat while the flying vehicle is airborne;

landing the flying vehicle over a flat surface;

removing the seat and a seat frame from the lower chassis, the seat is mounted over the seat frame of the lower chassis;

landing of the flying vehicle over a roof of a road vehicle; and

removing the lower chassis from the upper chassis for transporting the flying vehicle by the road vehicle.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises:

autonomous charging of the battery pack of the flying vehicle, wherein tubular members of the upper chassis and/or lower chassis acts as charging point.

Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63449433 · Mar 2, 2023
Related Publication 20240294280A1 · Sep 5, 2024
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Cited By (1)
US 12,617,563