Adaptive wheelchair joystick

• US 20060070477A1
• Filed: 10/03/2005
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Roger Serzen
• Original Assignee: Roger Serzen
• Inventors: Serzen, Roger
• Application Number:
  US11/243,480
• Publication Number:
  US 20060070477A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/488
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/06 Details of their grip parts G05G1/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2028 Handle bar type

Abstract

An adaptive wheelchair joystick comprising: (a) means for operably coupling the joystick to the control components of a motorized wheelchair; (b) a handle operable with the means for coupling, wherein the handle is configured to support an extremity of a user of the wheelchair and to facilitate manipulation of the adaptive wheelchair joystick; (c) a first tower extending from a first end of the handle; (d) a second tower extending from a second end of the handle, wherein the first and second towers provide lateral support to the extremity of the user; (e) a retention strap releasably secured between the first and second towers to restrict the upward lift of the extremity of the user; and (f) a thumb rest extending from the handle and configured to receive and support a thumb of the user, wherein the thumb rest also facilitates the manipulation of the adaptive wheelchair joystick.

Claims

1. An adaptive wheelchair joystick comprising:

means for operably coupling said joystick to the control components of a motorized wheelchair;

a handle operable with said means for coupling, said handle configured to support an extremity of a user of said wheelchair and to facilitate manipulation of said adaptive wheelchair joystick;

at least one tower extending from said handle, said tower providing lateral support for said extremity of said user; and

a thumb rest extending from said handle and configured to receive and support a thumb of said user, said thumb rest also facilitating the manipulation of said adaptive wheelchair joystick.

2. The adaptive wheelchair joystick of claim 1, wherein said means for operably coupling comprises a stem.

3. The adaptive wheelchair joystick of claim 2, wherein said stem is configured to be adjustable to vary a height of said handle with respect to a portion of said wheelchair.

4. The adaptive wheelchair joystick of claim 1, wherein said handle comprises a grip-improving surface.

5. The adaptive wheelchair joystick of claim 1, wherein said handle comprises an ergonomic design.

6. The adaptive wheelchair joystick of claim 1, wherein said handle is configured with a flat surface to assist in the support of said extremity.

7. The adaptive wheelchair joystick of claim 1, wherein said thumb rest is removably coupled to said handle.

8. The adaptive wheelchair joystick of claim 1, wherein said thumb rest is attachable to either end of said handle to accommodate left or right hand users.

9. The adaptive wheelchair joystick of claim 1, further comprising means for securing said extremity.

10. The adaptive wheel chair joystick of claim 9, wherein said means for securing comprises a retention strap configured to extend over said extremity.

11. The adaptive wheelchair joystick of claim 10, wherein said retention strap is configure to couple to at least one of said handle and said at least one tower.

12. An adaptive wheelchair joystick comprising:

means for operably coupling said joystick to the control components of a motorized wheelchair;

a handle operable with said means for coupling, said handle configured to support an extremity of a user of said wheelchair and to facilitate manipulation of said adaptive wheelchair joystick;

a first tower extending from a first end of said handle;

a second tower extending from a second end of said handle, said first and second towers providing lateral support to said extremity of said user; and

a retention strap operable with said handle and said first and second towers to restrict the upward lift of said extremity of said user and to alter the sensitivity of said joystick in response to movements to said joystick by said user.

13. The adaptive wheelchair joystick of claim 12, wherein said retention strap is secured between said first and second towers.

14. The adaptive wheelchair joystick of claim 12, wherein said retention strap is secured between said handle and at least one of said first and second towers.

15. The adaptive wheelchair joystick of claim 12, wherein said retention strap is releasable.

16. The adaptive wheelchair joystick of claim 12, wherein said retention strap is at least partially elastic.

17. An adaptive wheelchair joystick comprising:

means for operably coupling said joystick to the control components of a motorized wheelchair;

a handle operable with said means for coupling, said handle configured to support an extremity of a user of said wheelchair and to facilitate manipulation of said adaptive wheelchair joystick;

a first tower extending from a first end of said handle;

a second tower extending from a second end of said handle, said first and second towers providing lateral support to said extremity of said user;

a retention strap operable with said handle and said first and second towers to restrict the upward lift of said extremity of said user and to alter the sensitivity of said joystick in response to movements to said joystick by said user; and

a thumb rest extending from said handle and configured to receive and support a thumb of said user, said thumb rest also being configured to facilitate the manipulation of said adaptive wheelchair joystick.

18. A method for controlling the movements of a motorized wheelchair comprising:

coupling an adaptive wheelchair joystick to the control components of a motorized wheelchair;

interfacing an extremity with a handle of said adaptive wheelchair joystick located between first and second towers extending from said handle;

securing a retention strap between said first and second towers to restrict the upward lift of said extremity of a user and to provide a degree of sensitivity to said adaptive wheelchair joystick in response to movements to said adaptive wheelchair joystick by said user; and

manipulating said handle in a variety of ways to initiate a command to said control components, said command causing said wheelchair to move in an intended, pre-determined manner.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing a thumb rest extending from an end of said handle, said thumb rest being configured to receive and support a thumb of said user and to facilitate the manipulation of said adaptive wheelchair joystick.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising adjusting said retention strap to alter said sensitivity of said adaptive wheelchair joystick in response to the movements of said hand of said user.