Stair-climbing apparatus for a wheel chair or similar mobile transport means

• US 4,411,330 A
• Filed: 08/20/1981
• Issued: 10/25/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/1980
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thyssen Dereus BV
• Original Assignee: J de REUS BV
• Inventors: Blokland, Adriaan
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US06/294,541
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 180/8 A, 180/6.5, 180/9.24 R, 180/9.44, 180/198, 180/DIG. 3, 280/5.22, 280/5.28, 280/5.3, 280/DIG. 10
• US Class Current: 180/8.2
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/061 for climbing stairs
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/066 with endless belts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 280/10 Stair climbing chairs

Abstract

A stair-climbing apparatus for a wheel chair or the like mobile transport means, which apparatus is provided with an undercarriage, a plurality of pulleys mounted in the undercarriage, at least one endless track extending along a way defined by at least two pulleys, a drive mechanism adapted for engagement of at least one of the pulleys and a frame for supporting the wheel chair or a similar mobile transport means, whereby the frame comprises a platform which relatively to the undercarriage is adapted for swiveling movement about a shaft extending at the climbing side of the undercarriage parallel to the pulley axes through drive means adapted for coaction with a steering mechanism which is adapted for keeping the platform horizontal independently of the position of the undercarriage. The drive mechanism is retarded when the platform deviates a set angle from the horizontal.

Claims

1. A stair-climbing apparatus for a wheel chair or the like mobile transport means, which apparatus is provided with an undercarriage, a plurality of pulleys mounted on the undercarriage, at least one endless track extending along a way defined by at least two of the pulleys, a drive mechanism for driving at least one of the pulleys and a frame for supporting the wheel chair or other mobile transport means, characterized in that the frame comprises a platform, means for adjusting the position of the platform relative to the undercarriage for maintaining the platform in a substantially horizontal position, the adjusting means comprising an elongated element including a counter-element member and a screwed spindle member receivable in the counter-element member and rotatable relative to the counter-element member to adjust the length of said elongated element, one of the members being pivotably connected to the undercarriage and the other of the members being pivotably connected to the platform, a motor for driving the screwed spindle member for varying the length of the elongated element, and means for controlling the drive mechanism to retard the drive mechanism in response to deviation of the platform from the horizontal.

2. A stair-climbing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the platform is provided with at least one hinged section for facilitating moving the wheel chair on or off the platform.

3. A stair-climbing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the controlling means disconnects the drive mechanism when the deviation of the platform from the horizontal exceeds a first given angle and does not influence the drive mechanism when the deviation is below a second given angle.

4. A stair-climbing apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the value of said first given angle is 6°

-8°

, and the value of said second given angle is 2°

-3°

.