Wheelchair motorizing apparatus

• US 20030183428A1
• Filed: 03/27/2002
• Published: 10/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nils Hedeen
• Original Assignee: Nils Hedeen
• Inventors: Hedeen, Nils
• Granted Patent: US 6,805,209 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/9.32
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/045 Rear wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/061 for climbing stairs
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/066 with endless belts
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1075 tilting the whole seat backwards tilting forwards for standing-up or sitting-down aids A61G5/14
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2301/256 by using endless belts
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/02 providing for travelling up or down a flight of stairs chairs or multi-track cycles specially adapted for invalids A61G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/085 Resting seats
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/075 Tracked vehicles for ascending or descending stairs, steep slopes or vertical surfacesmagnetic or pneumatic ground-engaging parts B62D55/265; chairs or multi-track cycles specially adapted for invalids A61G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 180/907 Motorized wheelchairs

Abstract

A wheelchair motorizing apparatus employs an articulated tread drive in combination with front support wheels and rear drive wheels. The tread drive is used to provide traction during the ascent or descent of stairs or the traversing of obstacles, the front support wheels are used to raise and lower the front of the wheelchair, and the rear drive wheels are used to raise and lower the rear of the wheelchair in addition to providing drive traction and steering. A positioning mechanism integral with the tread drive acts to keep the treads in contact with the terrain or stairs.

Claims

1. A wheelchair motorizing apparatus for providing locomotion along a contact surface comprising:

a wheelchair base member; and

an articulated tread drive affixed to said wheelchair base member for causing selective locomotion of said wheelchair.

2. The wheelchair apparatus of claim 1 further comprising front wheels and rear wheels for selective engagement with the contact surface.

3. The wheelchair apparatus of claim 2 further comprising retraction means for selectively raising and lowering said front and rear wheels of said wheelchair apparatus.

4. The wheelchair apparatus of claim 3 further comprising means for providing driving torque to said rear wheels.

5. The wheelchair apparatus of claim 4 further comprising means for swiveling said rear drive wheels for sideward steering.

6. The wheelchair apparatus of claim 1 wherein said articulated tread drive comprises front and rear tread drives.

7. The wheelchair apparatus of claim 6 wherein said rear tread drive comprises a pair of left and right independently driven tread drive mechanisms.

8. The wheelchair apparatus of claim 7 further comprising pivot means for causing said rear tread drive to selectively pivot into and out of driving engagement with the contact surface.

9. The wheelchair apparatus of claim 8 wherein said front tread drive comprises a pair of left and right independently driven tread drive mechanisms.

10. The wheelchair apparatus of claim 9 wherein said left front tread drive and said left rear tread drive are driven in concert, and wherein said right front tread drive and said right rear tread drives are driven in concert.

11. A wheelchair apparatus for assisting in locomotion along a contact surface comprising:

a base for supporting an individual occupant and for supporting the wheelchair apparatus; and

a rear tread drive affixed to said base for causing selective locomotion of said wheelchair, wherein said rear tread drive is arranged to selectively engage the contact surface.

12. The wheelchair apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a rear wheel drive arranged for selective driving contact with the contact surface.

13. The wheelchair apparatus of claim 12 wherein said rear wheel drive comprises paired rear wheels, and said wheelchair apparatus further comprises front support wheels for selective engagement with the contact surface.

14. The wheelchair apparatus of claim 13 further comprising retraction means for selectively raising and lowering said front and rear wheels.

15. The wheelchair apparatus of claim 14 further comprising means for providing driving torque to said rear wheels.

16. The wheelchair apparatus of claim 15 further comprising means for swiveling said rear drive wheels for sideward steering.

17. The wheelchair apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a front tread drive.

18. The wheelchair apparatus of claim 11 wherein said rear tread drive comprises a pair of independently driven tread drive mechanisms.

19. The wheelchair apparatus of claim 17 wherein said front tread drive comprises a pair of independently driven tread drive mechanisms.

20. The wheelchair apparatus of claim 19 wherein said front tread drive is arranged to be selectively locked into position.