Wheelchair transporter

• US 20060243500A1
• Filed: 02/24/2006
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dane Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dane Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Holtan, Paul D., Wiff, James W.
• Application Number:
  US11/361,136
• Publication Number:
  US 20060243500A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/047 by a modular detachable drive system
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/10 Parts, details or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1051 Arrangements for steering
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2202/90 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0026 Propulsion aids
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/005 Detachably mounted motor units
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 49/04 modified to take pushing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 51/06 Uniaxle walk-type tractors

Abstract

The present invention is a device adapted to transport wheelchairs. The device comprises a body, a motor driven wheel coupled to the body, and a hitch mechanism coupled to the body. The hitch mechanism includes a first wheelchair engagement member displaceable relative to rest of the hitch mechanism.

Claims

1. A device adapted to transport wheelchairs, the device comprising:

a body;

a motor driven wheel coupled to the body; and

a hitch mechanism coupled to the body and including a first wheelchair engagement member displaceable relative to rest of the hitch mechanism.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a second wheelchair engagement member, wherein the first and second wheelchair engagement members are displaceable relative to each other.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the wheelchair engagement members displace away from each other to engage the wheelchair.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the wheelchair engagement members displace towards each other to engage the wheelchair.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first wheelchair engagement member is manually caused to displace relative to the rest of the hitch mechanism.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a motorized actuator, wherein the actuator causes the first wheelchair engagement member to displace relative to the rest of the hitch mechanism.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first wheelchair engagement member is adapted to engage a vertical frame member of the wheelchair.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the first wheelchair engagement member is adapted to engage a horizontal frame member of the wheelchair.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the first wheelchair engagement member is adapted to engage a diagonal frame member of the wheelchair.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the first wheelchair engagement member is configured to be capable of engaging both vertical and horizontal frame members of a wheelchair.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the hitch mechanism is displaceable relative to the body.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the hitch mechanism is laterally displaceable relative to the body.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein at least one spring biases the hitch mechanism to a laterally centered position relative to the body.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the hitch mechanism is manually caused to displace relative to the body.

15. The device of claim 11, further comprising a motorized actuator, wherein the actuator causes the hitch mechanism to displace relative to the body.

16. A device adapted to transport wheelchairs, the device comprising:

a body;

a motor driven wheel coupled to the body; and

a hitch mechanism coupled to the body and including at least one wheelchair engagement member, wherein the hitch mechanism is displaceable relative to the body.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the hitch mechanism is laterally displaceable relative to the body.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the hitch mechanism is biased to a laterally centered position relative to the body.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein the hitch mechanism is manually caused to displace relative to the body.

20. The device of claim 16, further comprising a motorized actuator, wherein the actuator causes the hitch mechanism to displace relative to the body.

21. A device adapted to transport wheelchairs, the device comprising:

a body;

a motor driven wheel coupled to the body; and

a hitch mechanism coupled to the body and including means for engaging the hitch mechanism to the wheelchair.

22. The device of claim 21, further comprising means for displacing the hitch mechanism relative to the body.

23. A method of transporting a wheelchair, the method comprising:

approaching the wheelchair with a wheelchair transporter including a body, a powered drive wheel coupled to the body, and a hitch mechanism coupled to the body, wherein the hitch mechanism includes a wheelchair engagement member;

displacing the wheelchair engagement member relative to the body; and

engaging the wheelchair with the wheelchair engagement member.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising displacing the hitch mechanism relative to the body.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein displacing the wheelchair engagement member relative to the body results from displacing the wheelchair engagement member relative to the rest of the hitch mechanism.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein displacing the wheelchair engagement member relative to the body results from displacing the hitch mechanism relative to the body.