Stairway climbing device

• US 4,200,161 A
• Filed: 02/10/1976
• Issued: 04/29/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: George W. Penington Jr
• Original Assignee: George W. Penington Jr
• Inventors: Penington, George W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schrecengost, Randall A.
• Application Number:
  US05/656,788
• Time in Patent Office: 1,540 Days
• Field of Search: 280/5.2, 280/5.26, 280/5.28, 180/8 A, 180/8 B, 180/8 AB, 180/DIG. 3, 301/40 R, 301/40 S, 301/41 R
• US Class Current: 180/8.2
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/061 for climbing stairs
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/065 with three or more wheels mounted on a rotary cross member, e.g. spiders or spoked wheels with small wheels at the end of the spokes
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2205/10 Detachable wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/026 with spiders or adapted wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 57/00 Vehicles characterised by having other propulsion or other ground- engaging means than wheels or endless track, alone or in addition to wheels or endless track sledges B62B; motor sledges B62M

Abstract

A device is disclosed which is capable of moving on a stairway comprised of a plurality of steps and comprises a power source and a plurality of spoked wheels which are moveable by the power source whereby each of the plurality of spokes contacts one of the plurality of steps and moves the device along the stairway.

Claims

1. A device capable of moving on a stairway comprised of a plurality of steps comprising:

(a) power means secured on said device;

(b) a plurality of front and rear spoked wheels secured on said device, said plurality of spoked wheels comprising a plurality of spokes being movable by said power means;

each of said plurality of spokes being spaced apart, extending from a center section, and comprising a rigid end section which contacts one of said plurality of steps while said device is moving, each end section comprising a spoke tip which is a rigid piece axially aligned with each of said plurality of spokes and mounted at the distal end from the hub on each of said plurality of spokes;

said plurality of spoked wheels further comprising a plurality of axle extensions, each secured to and extending outward from one of said center sections of the wheel;

said power means providing power to said center section to provide movement for each of said plurality of spokes;

(c) a plurality of round wheels each of which may be secured to one of said plurality of spoked wheels whereby said device may smoothly move over a level area and each of said plurality of round wheels may be secured on each of said plurality of axle extensions

whereby each of said plurality of spokes contacts one of said plurality of steps when said device is moving along said stairway.

2. A device capable of moving on a stairway comprised of a plurality of steps comprising:

(a) power means secured on said device;

(b) a plurality of front and rear spoked wheels secured on said device, said plurality of spoked wheels comprising a plurality of spokes being movable by said power means;

each of said plurality of spokes being spaced apart, extending from a center section, and comprising a rigid end section which contacts one of said plurality of steps while said device is moving, each end section comprising a spoke tip which is a rigid piece axially aligned with each of said plurality of spokes and mounted at the distal end from the hub on each of said plurality of spokes;

said plurality of spoked wheels further comprising a plurality of axle extensions, each secured to and extending outward from one of said center sections of wheel;

said power means providing power to said center section to provide movement for each of said plurality of spokes;

(c) a plurality of round wheels each of which may be secured to one of said plurality of spoked wheels whereby said device may smoothly move over a level area and each of said plurality of round wheels may be secured on each of said plurality of axle extensions;

(d) steering means secured to said plurality of spoked wheels and controlling the direction of movement of said device

whereby each of said plurality of spokes contacts one of said plurality of steps when said device is moving along said stairway.

3. A device according to claim 2 further comprising:

(a) a plurality of axles;

(b) a plurality of hydraulic cylinders each secured to one of said plurality of axles and controlled by said power means; and

(c) seat means secured to said plurality of hydraulic cylinders whereby the position of said seat means can be controlled by said power means.

4. A device according to claim 3 further comprising a plurality of hub assemblies each secured to the end of one of said plurality of axles, and capable of holding one of said plurality of spoked wheels.

5. A device capable of moving on a stairway comprised of a plurality of steps comprising:

(a) power means secured on said device;

(b) a plurality of front and rear spoked wheels secured on said device, said plurality of spoked wheels comprising a plurality of spokes being movable by said power means;

each of said plurality of spokes being spaced apart, extending from a center section, and comprising a rigid end section which contacts one of said plurality of steps while said device is moving, each end section comprising a spoke tip which is a rigid piece axially aligned with each of said plurality of spokes and mounted at the distal end from the hub on each of said plurality of spokes;

said plurality of spoked wheels further comprising a plurality of axle extensions, each secured to and extending outward from one of said center sections of wheel;

said power means providing power to said center section to provide movement for each of said plurality of spokes;

(c) steering means secured to said plurlaity of spoked wheels and controlling the direction of movement of said device;

(d) a plurality of axles;

(e) a plurality of hydraulic cylinders each secured to one of said plurality of axles and controlled by said power means;

(f) seat means secured to said plurality of hydraulic cylinders whereby the position of said seat means can be controlled by said power means;

(g) control means operative to control, through said power means, the functions of driving and steering said device and the positioning of said seat means;

(h) directional control means operative to drive said device in either direction perpendicular to said plurality of axles;

(i) said device has two axles with hub assemblies at the end of each axle, four spoked wheels, each of said spoked wheels attached to a hub assembly, four hydraulic cylinders supporting said seat means with two of said four hydraulic cylinders secured to each axle

whereby each of said plurality of spokes contacts one of said plurality of steps when said device is moving along said stairway.