 |
|
|
|
|
|
 Title: |
US5135063:
Power unit for driving manually-operated wheelchair
[ Derwent Title ]
|
| Country: |
US United States of America
|
| |
| Inventor: |
Kropf, Walter K.; Harrisburg, OR
|
| Assignee: |
Smucker Manufacturing, Inc., Harrisburg, OR
other patents from SMUCKER MANUFACTURING, INC. (684652) (approx. 2)
News, Profiles, Stocks and More about this company
|
| Published / Filed: |
1992-08-04
/ 1990-08-30
|
| Application Number: |
US1990000575344
|
| IPC Code: |
Advanced:
A61G 5/04;
IPC-7:
B60K 1/02;
|
| ECLA Code: |
A61G5/04D; K61G5/10G; K61G203/14;
|
| U.S. Class: |
Current:
180/013;
180/907;
280/304.1;
Original:
180/013;
180/907;
280/304.1;
|
| Field of Search: |
180/907,13,65.2,15
280/250.1,304.1,DIG. 2,DIG. 6,DIG. 10
|
| Priority Number: |
| 1990-08-30 |
US1990000575344 |
|
| Abstract: |
This invention relates to a power drive unit which is attachable to, and detachable from, a conventional wheelchair. Thus, a conventional manually-powered wheelchair can be converted into a power driven wheelchair employing the subject apparatus for driving and directing the movement of a manually-driven wheelchair having a plurality of wheels riding on an underlying surface. The subject apparatus comprises a drive and steering wheel which rides on the underlying surface for driving and for directing the path of operation of the wheelchair, as well as for powering the drive wheel. The apparatus is attachable to, and detachable from the wheelchair and is located rearwardly of the wheelchair so that the weight on the drive and steering wheel will substantially only be the weight of the apparatus. On the other hand, the weight of a person sitting in the wheelchair will be substantially the only weight imparted to the wheelchair wheels. The power steering and driving operations are continuously conducted using the drive wheels, without regard to substantial direct downward forces imparted to the drive wheels by the wheelchair user. The unit preferably comprises a single rear-wheel drive motor and wheel unit.
|
| Attorney, Agent or Firm: |
Marger, Johnson, McCollom & Stolowitz ;
|
| Primary / Asst. Examiners: |
Marmor, Charles A.; Boehler, Anne Marie
|
| Maintenance Status: |
E1 Expired Check current status
CC Certificate of Correction issued
|
| INPADOC Legal Status: |
Show legal status actions
|
| Family: |
None
|
First Claim:
Show all 9 claims |
I claim:
1. An apparatus for driving and steering a manually-driven wheelchair having a frame an a plurality of wheels which ride on an underlying driving surface, which comprises
- a pivoting drive and steering wheel which rides on the underlying driving surface for driving and steering said wheelchair;
- a drive motor assembly for powering said drive and steering wheel, said drive motor assembly being controllable by the user for driving said wheelchair forward and backward;
- said drive motor assembly comprising a single drive motor, a driving hub drivably connected to said drive motor and to said driving and steering wheel, and motor controlling means for controlling said drive motor, said motor controlling means being controllably connected to a drive motor assembly controlling means;
- said driving hub having a first setting in which said drive motor is drivably connected to said drive and steering wheel, and a second setting for disengaging said drive and steering wheel from said drive motor, thereby allowing the wheelchair to be operated manually without detaching said wheelchair driving and steering apparatus from said wheelchair;
- means for pivoting said drive and steering wheel, said drive motor assembly controlling means and said pivoting means together comprising a control lever assembly and a rheostat;
- said control lever assembly including a single control lever movable in a forward and backward direction for electrically controlling said drive motor assembly to drive the wheelchair in a forward and backward direction, said control lever assembly being movable in a left and right direction for mechanically pivoting said drive and steering wheel to steer the wheelchair in a left and right direction;
- said rheostat being electrically connected to said drive motor assembly for controlling the speed of said wheelchair;
- said rheostat having a plurality of settings for selecting one of a plurality of constant driving speeds, thereby providing a choice of safe driving speeds for users with impaired motor skills;
- said wheelchair driving and steering apparatus being attachable to, and detachable from said wheelchair; and
- said wheelchair driving and steering apparatus being pivotally attachable to said wheelchair frame so that the weight on the drive and steering wheel means will substantially only be the weight of said apparatus, and so that the weight of a person sitting in said wheelchair will be substantially the only weight imparted to said wheelchair wheels, whereby the powered steering and driving operations are continuously conducted with the respective wheelchair wheels and the drive wheels remaining on the ground and without regard to the weight of the person sitting in the wheelchair.
|
| Background / Summary: |
Show background / summary
|
| Drawing Descriptions: |
Show drawing descriptions
|
| Description: |
Show description
|
| Forward References: |
Show 18 U.S. patent(s) that reference this one
|
