Falling shock absorbing device for wheelchair

• US 6,722,692 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2001
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Institute Of Industrial Safety Independent Administrative Institution, Osamu Tanaka, Prop Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Microstone Corporation, National Institute Of Industrial Safety Independent Administrative Institution, Osamu Tanaka, Prop Co., Ltd., Shinko, Inc.
• Inventors: Shiratori, Norihiko, Hosoya, Fumio, Fukaya, Kiyoshi, Taniuchi, Hidemi, Uchida, Mitsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US10/019,224
• Publication Number:
  US 20030071445A1
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 280/730.1, 280/730.2, 280/728.1, 280/304.1, 280/250.1, 180/65.1, 180/907, 180/7.1, 180/21, 241/3, 2DI/G 3
• US Class Current: 280/730.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/42 for inclination
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/723 Impact absorbing means, e.g. bumpers or airbags
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/10 Parts, details or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1054 Large wheels, e.g. higher than the seat portion

Abstract

A falling shock absorbing apparatus for a wheelchair is provided capable of absorbing shock to the user in the case of falling of a wheelchair. In other words, the falling shock absorbing apparatus for wheelchair of the present invention includes an inflatable air bag for covering a predetermined parts of the wheelchair user when inflating, an inflation apparatus for inflating the air bag, an inclination detecting apparatus for detecting inclination of the wheelchair relative to the surface upon which the wheelchair is moved, and a controller for activating the inflation apparatus to inflate the air bag when inclination of the wheelchair is detected by the inclination detecting apparatus. Thus, the air bag inflates to cover the predetermined parts of the wheelchair user when the wheelchair is tilted.

Claims

1. A falling shock absorbing apparatus for a wheelchair, said apparatus comprising:

an air bag for covering, upon inflating, predetermined parts of an user seated in the wheelchair;

an air bag inflating system for inflating the air bag;

an inclination detector for detecting inclination of the wheelchair relative to the surface upon which the wheelchair is moved; and

a control unit for activating the air bag inflating system to inflate the air bags, based on the detected inclination of the wheelchair;

wherein said inclination detector comprises plural distance sensors for measuring respective distances from plural points on the front and rear, and the right and left of the wheelchair to the surface so as to determine the inclination of the wheelchair based on differences in the distances measured by the front and rear distance sensors and by the right and left distance sensors, respectively.

2. The falling shock absorbing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said air bag is adapted to cover at least the head of the seated user upon inflating.

3. The falling shock absorbing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising body-worn gear adapted to be detachably fitted to the user, said air bag being attached to the body-worn gear.

4. The falling shock absorbing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said air bag is adapted to inflate out toward at least one of the back, front, right and left of the wheelchair upon activation of the air bag inflating system based on the detected inclination of the wheelchair.

5. A falling shock absorbing apparatus for a wheelchair, said apparatus comprising:

an air bag for covering, upon inflating, predetermined parts of a user seated in the wheelchair;

inflation means for inflating the air bag;

inclination detecting means for detecting inclination of the wheelchair relative to the surface upon which the wheelchair is moved; and

control means for activating the inflation means to inflate the air bag, based on the detected inclination of the wheelchair;

said inclination detecting means comprising an angular velocity sensor for measuring angular velocities on both the front-to-back and the left-to-right axes of the wheelchair so as to determine the inclination of the wheelchair based on the angular velocities measured by the angular velocity sensor.

6. The falling shock absorbing apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said air bag is adapted to cover at least the head of the seated user upon inflating.

7. The falling shock absorbing apparatus as set forth in claim 5, further comprising body-worn gear adapted to be detachably fitted to the user, said air bag being attached to the body-worn gear.

8. The falling shock absorbing apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said air bag is adapted to inflate out toward at least one of the back, front, right and left of the wheelchair upon activation of the air bag inflating system based on the detected inclination of the wheelchair.

9. A falling shock absorbing apparatus for a wheelchair, said apparatus comprising:

an air bag for covering, upon inflating, predetermined parts of a user seated in the wheelchair;

an air bag inflating system for inflating the air bag;

an inclination detector for detecting inclination of the wheelchair relative to the surface upon which the wheelchair is moved; and

a control unit for activating the air bag inflating system to inflate the air bag, based on the detected inclination of the wheelchair;

said inclination detector comprising

plural distance sensors for measuring respective distances from plural points on the front and rear, and the right and left of the wheelchair to the surface, and

an angular velocity sensor for measuring angular velocities on both the front-to-back and the left-to-right axes of the wheelchair so as to determine the inclination of the wheelchair based on differences in the distances measured by the front and rear distance sensors and by the right and left distance sensors, respectively, as well as on the angular velocities measured by the angular velocity sensor.

10. The falling shock absorbing apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said air bag is adapted to cover at least the head of the seated user upon inflating.

11. The falling shock absorbing apparatus as set forth in claim 9, further comprising body-worn gear adapted to be detachably fitted to the user, said air bag being attached to the body-worn gear.

12. The falling shock absorbing apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said air bag is adapted to inflate out toward at least one of the back, front, right and left of the wheelchair upon activation of the air bag inflating system based on the detected inclination of the wheelchair.