Stair climbing wheelchair
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A surface climbing and descending vehicle, comprising:
- a base for supporting a platform to be maintained in a generally horizontal orientation;
means for causing said platform to be maintained in a generally horizontal orientation;
a pair of endless belts normally to be maintained in driving engagement with said surface; and
means for deforming said endless belts to conform to said surface throughout climbing and descending;
said surface deforming means including at least one truck assembly having a pair of trucks associated with each of said endless belts to conform to irregularities in said surface.
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Abstract
In order to provide safe and effective surface climbing and descending vehicles, the vehicle includes a base for supporting a platform to be maintained in a generally horizontal orientation. The mechanism automatically raises and lowers the platform as the vehicle is descending or climbing the surface, respectively, in order to maintain the platform in the generally horizontal orientation. With this arrangement, the vehicle further includes a pair of endless belts normally to be maintained in driving engagement with the surface in a manner to conform to the surface during climbing and descending.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A surface climbing and descending vehicle, comprising:
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a base for supporting a platform to be maintained in a generally horizontal orientation; means for causing said platform to be maintained in a generally horizontal orientation; a pair of endless belts normally to be maintained in driving engagement with said surface; and means for deforming said endless belts to conform to said surface throughout climbing and descending; said surface deforming means including at least one truck assembly having a pair of trucks associated with each of said endless belts to conform to irregularities in said surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A surface climbing and descending vehicle, comprising:
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a base for supporting a platform to be maintained in a generally horizontal orientation; means for causing said platform to be maintained in a generally horizontal orientation including means for automatically raising and lowering said platform as said vehicle is descending or climbing said surface, respectively; a pair of endless belts normally to be maintained in driving engagement with said surface; and means for causing said endless belts to conform to said surface during climbing and descending including at least one truck assembly having a pair of trucks associated with each of said endless belts to conform to irregularities in said surface. each of said endless belts being carried on a plurality of pulleys mounted on each of said truck assemblies and said belts having inner cleats that mesh with teeth on each of said pulleys and outer cleats that grip said surface. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A surface climbing and descending vehicle, comprising:
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a base for supporting a platform to be maintained in a generally horizontal orientation; means for causing said platform to be maintained in a generally horizontal orientation including means for automatically raising and lowering said platform as said vehicle is descending or climbing said surface, respectively; a pair of endless belts normally to be maintained in driving engagement with said surface; means for causing said endless belts to conform to said surface during climbing and descending including at least one truck assembly having a pair of trucks associated with each of said endless belts to conform to irregularities in said surface; each of said endless belts being carried on a plurality of pulleys mounted on each of said truck assemblies and said belts having inner cleats that mesh with teeth on each of said pulleys and outer cleats that grip said surface; said pulleys carrying each of said endless belts being aligned in a row from front to back with a pair of said truck assemblies being operatively associated with each of said endless belts and with each of said truck assemblies being comprised of a pair of said pulleys operatively associated with each of said trucks; an idler pulley associated with a forward end of each of said endless belts and means for extending and retracting said idler pulleys to adjust belt angle and belt tension; a drive pulley associated with a rearward end of each of said endless belts and motor means for imparting rotation to said drive pulleys to thereby impart movement to said endless belts. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification