Lightweight maneuverable power chair

• US 6,273,212 B1
• Filed: 02/12/2000
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Royce H. Husted
• Original Assignee: Royce H. Husted
• Inventors: Husted, Royce H., Husted, Joel P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, J. J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUM VANNUCCI, LEE SIN YEE
• Application Number:
  US09/503,068
• Time in Patent Office: 549 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.1, 180/6.48, 180/205, 180/221, 180/222, 180/907, 280/250.1
• US Class Current: 180/65.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/045 Rear wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1018 on the running surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1035 manipulated by wheelchair user
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1054 Large wheels, e.g. higher than the seat portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1089 Anti-tip devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 180/907 Motorized wheelchairs

Abstract

A lightweight, easily maneuverable and transportable power chair, that may be manually propelled, includes a pair of freely rotatable wheels and a corresponding pairs of friction rollers and braking surfaces that are selectively engageable therewith to effect propulsion and steering of the chair. A pair of toggle levers are operated by a corresponding pair of control handles for selectively engaging the friction rollers and brake surfaces with the wheels. A single caster wheel is vertically rotatable at the front of the power chair frame. This forms a tricycle rolling system that always maintains a load on each of the driving wheels.

Claims

1. A drive system for a power chair having a frame with a front and a rear, two freely rotatable traction wheels on opposite sides of said frame adjacent said rear, a freely movable caster wheel pivotally mounted to said front of said frame and forming a triangular configuration with said traction wheels for providing continuous ground contact with each of said traction wheels, and a seat positioned between said traction wheels and rearwardly of said caster wheel, comprising:

a power unit movably supported on said frame;

a pair of rocker levers pivotally mounted to said frame;

a pair of rotatable friction rollers flexibly supported on said rocker levers, respectively, and drivingly coupled to said power unit;

a pair of friction brake surfaces supported on said rocker levers and engageable with said traction wheels; and

a pair of manual control arms, mounted adjacent said seat, coupled to said rocker levers for causing selective engagement between said traction wheels and said friction rollers and between said traction wheels and said friction brake surfaces to effect propulsion and steering of said power chair.

2. The drive system of claim 1, wherein said power unit includes:

a motor, including a drive pulley;

a drove axle coupled to said drive pulley;

said rocker levers being situated on each end of said drive axle; and

said drive axle being supported on said frame for rotational movement, and for translational movement toward said traction wheels.

3. The drive system of claim 2, further comprising;

a pair of bushings rotatably supporting said drive axle on said frame at two spaced apart points; and

a flexible member supporting said power unit at a third point on said frame.

4. The drive system of claim 3, wherein said traction wheels include resilient tires and wherein said friction rollers are forcibly moved by said manual control arms into engagement with one or both of said resilient tires for propelling and steering said power chair.

5. The drive system of claim 4, wherein said power unit further comprises:

and

said bushings being flexibly mounted on said rocker levers.

6. The drive system of claim 1, wherein said seat is removable and wherein the diameters of said pair of traction wheels are selected to enable said power chair, with said seat removed, to be transportable in the trunk of a compact automobile.

7. The drive system of claim 1, wherein said power unit comprises a 4 cycle gasoline engine and further comprising:

a pair of bushings flexibly mounted to said rocker levers;

a drive axle affixed to said pair of friction rollers and rotatably supported by said pair of bushings; and

a flexible support affixed between said engine and said frame.