Power driven wheel chair

• US 5,409,250 A
• Filed: 05/06/1994
• Issued: 04/25/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Master's Way Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Gyula Csotonyi
• Inventors: Csotonyi, Gyula
• Primary Examiner(s): Focarino, Margaret A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JOHNSON, VICTOR E
• Application Number:
  US08/239,131
• Time in Patent Office: 354 Days
• Field of Search: 180/6.2, 180/6.48, 180/6.66, 180/8.2, 180/8.3, 180/24.13, 180/907, 180/21, 280/250.1, 280/304.1, 280/290, 280/98, 280/763.1, 280/766.1, 280/767, 280/43.23, 280/43.22, 297/DIG. 10, 297/DIG. 9, 5/81.1, 5/83.1
• US Class Current: 280/304.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/14 Joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/042 Front wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/046 at least three driven wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/061 for climbing stairs
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/063 with eccentrically mounted wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1059 adjusting the height of the seat
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/107 positioning the whole seat forward or rearward
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1075 tilting the whole seat backwards tilting forwards for standing-up or sitting-down aids A61G5/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/14 Standing-up or sitting-down aids
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1015 Cables, chains or cords
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1051 Flexible harnesses or slings
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1061 Yokes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 180/907 Motorized wheelchairs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 297/10 Occupant-arising assist

Abstract

A power driven wheel chair is described which includes a rear wheel support frame and at least two ground engaging rear wheels mounted in spaced relation to opposed sides of the rear wheel support frame. A front wheel support frame is pivotally secured to the rear wheel support frame for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis. At least two ground engaging front wheels are mounted in spaced relation to opposed sides of the front wheel support frame. A drive motor provides motive force to at least one wheel of one of the pairs of at least two ground engaging wheels. A chair is mounted on one of the rear wheel support frame and the front wheel support frame. The wheel chair, as described, has added stability as relative pivoting of the rear wheel support frame and the front wheel support frame maintains the wheels in contact the ground at all times.

Claims

1. A power driven wheel chair, comprising:

a. a rear wheel support frame;

b. at east two ground engaging rear wheels mounted in spaced relation to opposed sides of the rear wheel support frame;

c. a front wheel support frame secured to the rear wheel support frame;

d. at least two ground engaging front wheels mounted in spaced relation to opposed sides of the front wheel support frame;

e. a drive motor for providing motive force to at least one wheel of one of the ground engaging rear wheels and the ground engaging front wheels;

f. a chair having a back portion and a seat portion mounted on one of the rear wheel support frame and the front wheel support frame; and

g. a crane secured to the back portion of the chair, whereby a person is lifted on to and off of the seat potion of the chair, the crane having a mounting assembly pivotable about an axis substantially perpendicular to the back portion of the chair, such that the crane is pivotable between an operative position with a boom of the crane positioned above the seat portion of the chair and a stored position with the boom of the crane positioned adjacent to the seat of the chair.

2. The power driven wheel chair as defined in claim 1, wherein the front wheel support frame is pivotally secured to the rear wheel support frame for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis and each ground engaging wheel is mounted by means of a walking beam which includes a ground engaging companion wheel.

3. The power driven wheel chair as defined in claim 1, wherein each ground engaging wheel is driven by motive force supplied by the drive motor.

4. The power driven wheel chair as defined in claim 1, wherein the chair is mounted on the rear wheel support frame by means of a telescopic member, such that the telescopic member expands and contracts to maintain the chair in a substantially horizontal orientation regardless of the relative orientation of the rear wheel support frame.

5. The power driven chair as defined in claim 2, wherein a castor wheel is mounted by means of a telescopic member to the rear wheel support frame, such that in an extended position the telescopic member lifts the rear ground engaging wheels off a ground surface, a cable extending from the telescopic member to the walking beam of the front wheel support frame, such that as the telescopic member is telescopically extended the cable exerts a force upon the walking beam of the front wheel support frame to raise the ground engaging companion wheel off the ground surface.

6. The power driven wheel chair as defined in claim 1, wherein telescopically extendible stabilizing legs depend from the front wheel support frame.

7. A power driven wheel chair, comprising:

a. a rear wheel support frame;

b. walking beams pivotally mounted in spaced relation to opposed sides of the rear wheel support frame, each walking beam including a ground engaging wheel and a ground engaging companion wheel;

c. a front wheel support frame pivotally secured to the rear wheel support frame for pivotally movement about a substantially horizontal axis;

d. walking beams pivotally mounted in spaced relation to opposed sides of the front wheel support frame, each walking beam including a ground engaging wheel and a ground engaging companion wheel;

e. a drive motor for providing motive force to each ground engaging wheel and ground engaging companion wheel;

f. a chair having a back portion and a seat potion mounted on the rear wheel support frame by means of a telescopic member, such that the telescopic member expands and contracts to maintain the chair in a substantially horizontal orientation regardless of the relative orientation of the rear wheel support frame; and

g. a crane secured to the back portion of the chair, whereby a person is lifted on to and off of the seat portion of the chair, the crane having a mounting assembly pivotable about an axis substantially perpendicular to the back portion of the chair, such that the crane is pivotable between an operative position with a boom of the crane positioned above the seat portion of the chair and a stored position with the boom of the crane positioned adjacent to the seat of the chair.

8. The power driven wheel chair as defined in claim 7, wherein a castor wheel is mounted by means of a telescopic member to the rear wheel support frame, such that in an extended position the telescopic member lifts the rear ground engaging wheels off a ground surface, a cable extending from the telescopic member to the walking beam of the front wheel support frame, such that as the telescopic member is telescopically extended the cable exerts a force upon the walking beam of the front wheel support frame to raise the ground engaging companion wheel off the ground surface.

9. The power driven wheel chair as defined in claim 7, wherein telescopically extendible stabilizing legs depend from the front wheel support frame.

10. A power driven wheel chair, comprising:

a. a rear wheel support frame;

b. walking beams pivotally mounted in spaced relation to opposed sides of the rear wheel support frame, each walking beam including a ground engaging wheel and a round engaging companion wheel;

c. a front wheel support frame pivotally secured to the rear wheel support frame for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis;

d. walking beams pivotally mounted in spaced relation to opposed sides of the front wheel support frame, each walking beam including a ground engaging wheel and a ground engaging companion wheel;

e. a drive motor for providing motive force to each ground engaging wheel and ground engaging companion wheel;

f. a chair having a back potion and a seat potion mounted one the rear wheel support frame by means of a telescopic member, such that the telescopic member expands and contracts to maintain the chair in a substantially horizontal orientation regardless of the relative orientation of the rear wheel support frame;

g. a castor wheel mounted of a telescopic member to the rear wheel support frame, such that in an extended position the telescopic member lifts the rear ground engaging wheels off a ground surface, a cable extending from the telescopic member to the walking beam of the front wheel support frame, such that as the telescopic member is telescopically extended the cable exerts a force upon the walking beam of the front wheel support frame to raise the ground engaging companion wheel off the ground surface;

h. a crane secured to the back portion of the chair, whereby a person is lifted on to and off of the seat portion of the chair, the crane having a mounting assembly pivotable about an axis substantially perpendicular to the back portion of the chair, such that the crane is pivotable between an operative position with a boom of the crane positioned above the seat portion of the chair and a stored with the boom of the crane positioned adjacent to the seat of the chair; and

i. telescopically extendible stabilizing legs depending from the front wheel support frame.