4 ms·

IMHO everyone should be getting raided by the feds. Segway's patent from 2001 covers their 'inventions' handily. [1] http://www.google.com/patents/US6302230 ht

IMHO everyone should be getting raided by the feds. Segway's patent from 2001 covers their 'inventions' handily. [1] http://www.google.com/patents/US6302230 http://www.google.com/patents/US6302230

donatj 11y ago
Came here to say basically this. It's not a new invention just because the number of wheels changed.
- JoeAltmaier 11y ago
  Confused. The stability control system depends utterly on the number and arrangement of wheels. Such a change obviously constitutes a new invention.
  - donatj 11y ago
    Android and iOS are both smartphones, despite completely different software. The invention is the hardware.
    - oldmanjay 11y ago
      the implied analogy doesn't really seem applicable here. What are you trying to say?
  - dmicah 11y ago
    From the linked "Segway" Patent: FIG. 12 shows an alternate embodiment of a balancing vehicle with a single wheel central to the support platform of the vehicle and no handle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Take a look at figure 12: http://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/US6302230B1/US06302230-20011016-D00012.png http://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/US6302230B1/US063...
  - mullingitover 11y ago
    The patent covers pretty much every conceivable self-balancing device you can think of. They covered their bases with the patent, and I was shocked that all the current 'hoverboard' designs didn't get immediately sued to oblivion.
- soylentcola 11y ago
  The funny thing is that Ninebot (the company that bought Segway) has been making single-wheeled devices since at least 2014. They're quite a bit nicer than either of the devices mentioned in this article and can be had for $800-900. I only know because I did some halfassed window shopping for them before deciding that however fun they looked, I wouldn't really be able to ride one anywhere in town legally so it would end up being a pretty expensive toy to ride around the park with. (current example: http://www.ninebot.com/ninebot/NinebotOne/ http://www.ninebot.com/ninebot/NinebotOne/)
mattthebaker 11y ago
Only if Segway cares to exercise their patent.
- bonestamp2 11y ago
  Apparently they are mounting a case against hoverboards... stay tuned.

IMHO everyone should be getting raided by the feds. Segway's patent from 2001 covers their 'inventions' handily. [1] http://www.google.com/patents/US6302230 http://www.google.com/patents/US6302230

donatj 11y ago

Came here to say basically this. It's not a new invention just because the number of wheels changed.

JoeAltmaier 11y ago
Confused. The stability control system depends utterly on the number and arrangement of wheels. Such a change obviously constitutes a new invention.
- donatj 11y ago
  Android and iOS are both smartphones, despite completely different software. The invention is the hardware.
  - oldmanjay 11y ago
    the implied analogy doesn't really seem applicable here. What are you trying to say?
- dmicah 11y ago
  From the linked "Segway" Patent: FIG. 12 shows an alternate embodiment of a balancing vehicle with a single wheel central to the support platform of the vehicle and no handle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Take a look at figure 12: http://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/US6302230B1/US06302230-20011016-D00012.png http://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/US6302230B1/US063...
- mullingitover 11y ago
  The patent covers pretty much every conceivable self-balancing device you can think of. They covered their bases with the patent, and I was shocked that all the current 'hoverboard' designs didn't get immediately sued to oblivion.
soylentcola 11y ago
The funny thing is that Ninebot (the company that bought Segway) has been making single-wheeled devices since at least 2014. They're quite a bit nicer than either of the devices mentioned in this article and can be had for $800-900. I only know because I did some halfassed window shopping for them before deciding that however fun they looked, I wouldn't really be able to ride one anywhere in town legally so it would end up being a pretty expensive toy to ride around the park with. (current example: http://www.ninebot.com/ninebot/NinebotOne/ http://www.ninebot.com/ninebot/NinebotOne/)

mattthebaker 11y ago

Only if Segway cares to exercise their patent.

bonestamp2 11y ago
Apparently they are mounting a case against hoverboards... stay tuned.