US 12,071,237 B2
Foldable multi-rotor aerial vehicle
Yumian Deng, Shenzhen (CN); Rongming Xiong, Shenzhen (CN); Tao Zhao, Shenzhen (CN); and Yin Tang, Shenzhen (CN)
Assigned to SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., Shenzhen (CN)
Filed by SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., Shenzhen (CN)
Filed on Aug. 29, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/822,901.
Application 17/822,901 is a continuation of application No. 16/849,518, filed on Apr. 15, 2020, granted, now 11,427,319.
Application 16/849,518 is a continuation of application No. 15/991,125, filed on May 29, 2018, granted, now 10,625,855, issued on Apr. 21, 2020.
Application 15/991,125 is a continuation of application No. PCT/CN2016/074302, filed on Feb. 22, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2022/0402607 A1, Dec. 22, 2022
Int. Cl. B64C 1/30 (2006.01); B64C 25/52 (2006.01); B64C 39/02 (2023.01); B64U 10/10 (2023.01); B64U 10/13 (2023.01); B64U 30/20 (2023.01); B64U 80/00 (2023.01)
CPC B64C 39/024 (2013.01) [B64C 1/30 (2013.01); B64C 25/52 (2013.01); B64U 10/10 (2023.01); B64U 10/13 (2023.01); B64U 30/20 (2023.01); B64U 80/00 (2023.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicle, comprising:
a central body;
a plurality of arms extendable from the central body, wherein each of the plurality of arms is configured to support one or more propulsion units, and configured to transform between (1) a movement configuration in which the arm is extending away from the central body, and (2) a compact configuration in which the arm is folded against the central body; and
one or more joints each configured to couple one of the plurality of arms to the central body,
wherein at least one of the one or more joints includes a sheath attached to an inner cavity at a proximal end of at least one of the plurality of arms, and an elastic element within an inner portion of the sheath, the proximal end of the one of the plurality of arms being attached to the central body, and the elastic element including a spring and being configured to cause the at least one of the plurality of arms to:
automatically retract when the at least one of the plurality of arms is reversibly folded to a first predetermined state, and
automatically extend when the at least one of the plurality of arms is reversibly extended to a second predetermined state.