Safety device for stair-climbing systems

• US 6,336,642 B1
• Filed: 05/24/2000
• Issued: 01/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: OTTO BOCK Orthopadische Industrie Besitz und Verwaltungs KG
• Original Assignee: OTTO BOCK Orthopadische Industrie Besitz und Verwaltungs KG
• Inventors: Carstens, Bernt
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): YEAGLEY, DANIEL S
• Application Number:
  US09/555,059
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: 180/8.1, 180/8.2, 180/8.3, 180/8.7, 180/9.22, 180/9.32, 280/5.2, 280/5.22, 280/5.24, 280/5.26, 280/5.28, 280/DIG.10, 280/5.32, 280/47.12, 280/47.2
• US Class Current: 280/5.22
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/02 providing for travelling up or down a flight of stairs chairs or multi-track cycles specially adapted for invalids A61G5/00

Abstract

A safety device for stairway elevator systems (10) used for transporting apparatus and goods, especially wheelchairs (9) with persons who are unable to walk. The device is characterized in that the stairway elevator (10) or wheelchair (9) is fitted with a mounting device (20) equipped with a rotation pin (21). A support bracket (30) is mounted on the rotation pin (21) and a braking and blocking device (40) is attached to both the support bracket (30) and mounting device (20). A sensor (70) controls the braking and blocking device (40) in such a way that it blocks the support bracket (30) as soon as the stairway elevator (10) is at risk of tipping over and down the stairs (1) and releases the support bracket (30) when the stairway elevator (10) is placed at a correct angle to the stairs(1).

Claims

1. A safety device to be used with stair-climber systems for conveying equipment and goods, and adapted for use with wheelchairs with handicapped persons, comprising:

a mounting system for attaching to the stair-climber system or to the wheelchair;

a hinge pin hingedly attached to the mounting system;

a support arm rotatably mounted on the hinge pin and adapted to extend below said wheel chair or stair climber;

a braking and blocking system attached to the support arm on one end and to said mounting system on an end thereof; and

a sensor for determining an angle of inclination of the stair-climber in order to control the braking and blocking system to block the support arm when the stair-climber and the wheelchair begin to tip over when ascending or descending a stairway, and release the support arm when the stair-climber and wheelchair are inclined properly relative to the stairway.

2. The safety device according to claim 1, further comprising:

devices attached in a lower end area of the support arm which bring about a support action impacting substantially vertically on a stepping surface of a next stair down or on a stair below the next step down.

3. The safety device according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least two support feet mounted or molded on a free end of the support arm, one of the at least two support feet supports itself on the stepping surface of a step when the stair-climber and wheelchair begin to tip over.

4. The safety device according to claim 3 wherein:

the support feet are divided into a lower unit and an upper unit, wherein;

the upper unit is mounted sliding and pivoting on the support arm against a spring; and

a blocking system blocks the upper unit as soon as a force brought to bear on the stairway as overcome the force of the spring.

5. The safety device according to claim 4, wherein the blocking device includes:

a pin on the support arm;

an elongated hole on the movable unit;

teeth on the support arm; and

a tooth on the movable unit.

6. The safety device according to claim 3 wherein:

the support feet are divided into two units, wherein;

one unit of the two is mounted sliding and pivoting on the support arm against a spring; and

a blocking system blocks the one unit as soon as a force brought to bear on the stairway has overcome the force of the spring.

7. The safety device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a runner mounted parallel to the support arm; and

a tension spring pulling the support arm into the runner in such a way that when the stair-climber is inclined properly relative to the stairway only a front edge of the runner rests on the edges of the stairs.

8. The safety device according to claim 7, wherein the runner has a U-shaped cross-section.

9. The safety device according to claim 7, wherein the front edge of the runner is coated with a sliding material.

10. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a pendulum mounted on the stair-climber or on the mounting system.

11. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein the braking and blocking system includes:

a ratchet wheel; and

a ratchet which engages said ratchet wheel.

12. The safety device according to claim 11, wherein a center of the ratchet wheel is situated in a center of the hinge pin, and the ratchet is designed as a pendulum and is mounted swinging on the mounting system around an axle.

13. The safety device according to claim 12, wherein the ratchet includes a low-mass part and a high-mass part, and a spring pulls both the low mass part and the high mass part together.

14. The safety device according to claim 11, wherein:

the center of the ratchet wheel is offset relative to the hinge pin;

the ratchet is mounted swiveling on the mounting system around an axle; and

a spring between the ratchet and the mounting system defines a home position of the ratchet.

15. The safety device according to claim 11, wherein an angle of the ratchet wheel relative to the support arm is adjustable.

16. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein the braking and blocking system is a lockable tension bar of finite length between the support arm and the mounting system or the stair-climber.

17. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein the braking and blocking system is a shoe brake.

18. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein the braking and blocking system is a spring band brake.

19. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein the braking and blocking system is an electric coupling.

20. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein the braking and blocking system is a lockable cylinder piston unit.

21. The safety device according to claim 20, wherein the lockable cylinder piston unit has an internal fluid circuit and a check valve controlled by the sensor in the fluid circuit.

22. The safety device according to claim 1, further comprising a support spring provided parallel to the braking and blocking system, wherein the support spring is powerless when the stair-climber is properly inclined relative to the stairway.

23. The safety device according to claim 22, further comprising:

the support spring being weaker than a tension spring which pulls the support arm in a first direction into a runner in such a way that when the stair-climber is inclined uprightedly relative to the stairway only a front edge of the runner rests on the edges of the stairs.

24. The safety device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a drive provided parallel to the braking and blocking system, wherein the drive is controlled by at least one of a difference between a desired and an actual position of the support arm relative to the stair-climber and a pressure force of the support arm on the stairway.

25. The safety device according to claim 24, wherein the drive and the braking and blocking system are integrated into a single unit.

26. The safety device according to claim 1, further comprising a continuous creeper band attached to the support arm.

27. The safety device according to claim 26, wherein the continuous creeper band is motor-driven.

28. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein a turnstile with at least two support wheels is attached at a free end of the support arm.

29. The safety device according to claim 28, wherein the turnstile is motor-driven.

30. The safety device according to claim 29, wherein the motor-driven turnstile is synchronized with a lift mechanism of the stair-climber.

31. The safety device according to claim 1, further comprising a paternoster lift mechanism attached to a free end of the support arm.

32. The safety device according to according to claim 1, wherein:

the support arm is pivotally attached so as to be freely rotating on the hinge pin, and the hinge pin is rigidly attached to the mounting system.