Wheelchair-mounted control apparatus
First Claim
1. In combination with a wheelchair, wheelchair-mounted control apparatus, which comprises:
- a. a periodic energy field source mounted on said wheelchair,b. eneergy field radiating means connected to said source and disposed on said wheelchair in a location to be adjacent to major body portions of an individual using said wheelchair, whereby said energy field may be radiated into the wheelchair user'"'"'s body,c. a field pickup element mounted to said wheelchair and adapted for receiving said energy field from the wheelchair user'"'"'body when the user momentarily contacts said element with his exposed skin,d. detecting means connected to said element for detecting said energy field received thereby from said wheelchair user, thereby causing detecting means output signals in response to said detected energy field,e. at least one function performing means mounted in said wheelchair, andf. controlling means connected to said function performing means and said detecting means for controlling operations of said function performing means in response to said detecting means output signals.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wheelchair mounted control system may be activated to enable propelling of the wheelchair at different predetermined speeds, to cause portions of the wheelchair to recline or be elevated, or to cause a signal to be generated to operate other apparatus such as a book page turner, a light switch or a television tuner, merely by positioning the neck or other skin-exposed body portion of a person in the wheelchair who is otherwise largely incapable of movement. Particular structure includes a periodic electric field source and a pair of field pickup elements adapted to be selectively contacted by the skin of a movable portion of the disabled person'"'"'s body to cause, for example, activation of stepping switches and associated control relays whereby wheelchair drive motor speed is preselected and recline/elevation motor apparatus is activated for effecting the desired control of various adjustable portions of the wheelchair.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. In combination with a wheelchair, wheelchair-mounted control apparatus, which comprises:
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a. a periodic energy field source mounted on said wheelchair, b. eneergy field radiating means connected to said source and disposed on said wheelchair in a location to be adjacent to major body portions of an individual using said wheelchair, whereby said energy field may be radiated into the wheelchair user'"'"'s body, c. a field pickup element mounted to said wheelchair and adapted for receiving said energy field from the wheelchair user'"'"'body when the user momentarily contacts said element with his exposed skin, d. detecting means connected to said element for detecting said energy field received thereby from said wheelchair user, thereby causing detecting means output signals in response to said detected energy field, e. at least one function performing means mounted in said wheelchair, and f. controlling means connected to said function performing means and said detecting means for controlling operations of said function performing means in response to said detecting means output signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A wheelchair control apparatus, which comprises:
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a. a wheelchair, b. propelling means mounted on said wheelchair for causing propelling thereof, said propelling means including motor means and means for controlling the power supplied to said motor means and thus to the wheels of said wheelchair, said motor means having selectable first and second drive speeds, c. periodic energy field source means mounted on said wheelchair, said sorce means including radiating means disposed on portions of said wheelchair in a location to be proximate to major body portions of an individual using said wheelchair, whereby said energy field from said source means is caused to be radiated into the user'"'"'s body, d. a field pickup element mounted on said wheelchair and adapted for receiving said energy field from a wheelchair user'"'"'s body when a user momentarily contacts said element with his exposed skin, e. detecting means having portions connected to said elements for detecting said energy field when received thereby from said wheelchair user and for causing an output signal in response to said detected energy field, and f. selecting means responsive to said output signal for selecting either of said first and second motor speeds in response to a preselected sequence of said output signals, said selecting means including a stepping switch having a first fixed contact connected for selecting said first speed and a second connected for selecting said second speed, and having a movable contact movably responsive to said output signal, a predetermined sequence of said output signals causing movement of said movable contact between said first and second fixed contacts. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification