Granted Patent B2

US 12,479,521 · App. 17/828,739 · Granted Nov 25, 2025

Inventors: Mark Christopher Schmidt (Windermere, FL); Edward Joel Rodriguez (Kissimmee, FL); Marc Maxwell Barber (Deltona, FL)

Assignee: ScooterBug, Inc.

B62D39/00B60L50/60B60Q5/00B60W30/09B62D1/14B62D1/16G06Q30/02B60W2420/408G01S15/931G01S19/51

Abstract

Claims (31)

1 . An electrically-powered entertainment vehicle system comprising:

an animal-shaped character head assembly formed about a first bracket assembly and fabricated using plastics, foam and/or other molding materials; and

a vehicle chassis supporting a set of front wheels connected to a framework by way of steering linkage, and a set of rear wheels operably connected to the framework and driven by an electric motor and a power train;

a steering handle assembly connected to said steering linkage, and about which a second bracket assembly is mounted for rotation about a virtual axis of rotation passing through the vehicle chassis;

wherein said first bracket assembly and said second bracket assembly are releasably connected together, so as to allow said animal-shaped character head assembly to rotate about said virtual axis of rotation as said steering assembly is rotated to steer the course of travel of said electrically-powered entertainment vehicle system during system operation; and

an animal body skin covering said vehicle chassis and forming an animal character body portion generally matching with the characteristics of said animal-shaped character head assembly;

wherein said animal character body portion further comprises a motor-driven tail portion and a motor-driven chest portion, each adapted for being driven into animation during vehicle operation to emulate animal-like behavior.

2 . The electrically-powered entertainment vehicle system of claim 1 , which further comprises a GPS-tracked wireless-networked electrically-powered entertainment vehicle resembling an animal character and being provided with QR code-driven access control, using the GPS-tracking wireless vehicle access control system network.

3 . The electrically-powered entertainment vehicle system of claim 1 , which further comprises:

a snap-fit smartphone and/or tablet holder mounted within driver's field of view (FOV) near said steering handle assembly, for use while operating the vehicle;

wireless communication interface installed within the steering console and linkable to the guest operator's smartphone or tablet computer, enabling guests to use their smartphone/tablet computer running mobile apps to support GUIs and system operations,

a transducer for producing animal sounds when triggered from a button on said steering handle assembly.

4 . The electrically-powered entertainment vehicle system of claim 1 , which further comprises:

lighting effects integrated into said animal character head assembly and/or animal character body assembly, for expressing animal behaviors that promote enjoyment and a fun ride experience.

5 . The electrically-powered entertainment vehicle system of claim 1 , which further comprises:

audio-speakers integrated into said animal head assembly and other body portions for playing music from a mobile smartphone application wirelessly connected.

6 . The electrically-powered entertainment vehicle system of claim 1 , which further comprises:

one or more digital video/still camera systems integrated into said animal character head assembly, with a field of view (FOV) oriented in one or more directions, for capturing and photo and/or videos within the FOVs for transmission to a specified email address.

7 . The electrically-powered entertainment vehicle system of claim 1 , which further comprises:

an e-ink bumper display, allowing guest to display messages via wireless communication link established with the guest's mobile smartphone device.

8 . The electrically-powered entertainment vehicle system of claim 1 , which further comprises:

electronically-controlled ultrasonic vapor, steam and/or smoke generators mounted in said animal character head assembly and/or said animal character body portion, and actuatable by the guest rider and/or passenger and/or other GPS-trackable event so as to initiate and emulate certain animal behaviors when using said electrically-powered entertainment vehicle system.

9 . The electrically-powered entertainment vehicle system of claim 1 , which further comprises: an electric beverage cooler and/or personal electronically-locked safe module option mounted aboard said vehicle chassis.

10 . The electrically-powered entertainment vehicle system of claim 1 , which further comprises: a GPS-tracking module aboard the vehicle chassis, and a GPS-electronic fence-based system supporting the marketing of services/goods to the guests driving rented vehicles.

11 . The electrically-powered entertainment vehicle system of claim 1 , which further comprises: maximum vehicle speed control limits set by a GPS-tracking system network when said vehicle is GPS-tracked and automatically located within particular predefined zones within a facility.

12 . The electrically-powered entertainment vehicle system of claim 1 , which further comprises:

GPS-tracking/RFID-enabled wristbands worn by authorized drivers linked to specific vehicle, and detected by a steering wheel proximity detector to automatically enable system operation only when a GPS-tracking/RFID-banded guest is sitting in operator/driver's seat.

13 . The electrically-powered entertainment vehicle system of claim 1 , which further comprises:

GPS-tracking/RFID-enabled family wristbands worn by a group of family members, and being GPS-tracked along with the rented vehicle by the GPS-tracking system network so to maintain the family within a locally managed distance about the rented vehicle moving within the facility.

14 . The electrically-powered entertainment vehicle system of claim 1 , which further comprises:

a LIDAR-based automated collision avoidance system integrated into said vehicle and/or a Sonar-based automated collection avoidance system integrated into said vehicle, and further adapted for automatically stopping the vehicle's motion when in proximity of an object located within a first specified range from the vehicle's front bumper during forward motion, or when in proximity of an object located within a second specified range from the vehicle's rear bumper during backward motion.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (3)

References Cited (400)