Drive wheel and tiller for a patient transporter

• US 5,810,104 A
• Filed: 12/01/1995
• Issued: 09/22/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Patient Easy Care Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Patient Easy Care Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Campbell, Peter M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lerner, Avraham
• Application Number:
  US08/565,993
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 180/12, 180/13, 180/19.1, 180/19.2, 180/19.3, 180/332, 180/333, 74/488, 74/489, 280/DIG. 11, 414/921
• US Class Current: 180/19.3
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 51/04 the driver walking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20287 Flexible control element

Abstract

A device for controllably moving a vehicle that includes a drive wheel. The device includes a drive motor that provides energy for moving the drive wheel, a steering tiller conjoined to the drive wheel for changing vehicle direction and a control grip attached to the steering tiller for increasing and decreasing power to the drive motor. The present invention also includes a control grip.

Claims

1. A device for controllably moving a three-wheel vehicle that includes a drive wheel, comprising:

a drive motor that provides energy for moving the drive wheel;

a steering tiller conjoined to the drive wheel for changing vehicle direction;

a control grip attached to the steering tiller for increasing and decreasing power to the drive motor, the control grip comprising a potentiometric main body for acceleration control of the drive motor and a control shaft that encloses the main body wherein the control shaft moves clockwise and counter-clockwise about the main body, the control grip further comprising a single spring attached to the control shaft, the single spring positioned in an annulus between the control shaft and the main body, wherein the spring applies a tension to the control shaft when the control shaft is moved clockwise and counter-clockwise.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the spring is a half-coil spring.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the spring is a quarter-coil spring.