Power apparatus for wheelchairs

• US 7,204,328 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2004
• Issued: 04/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edmund F. Lopresti
• Original Assignee: Edmund F. Lopresti
• Inventors: LoPresti, Edmund F.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, HAU VAN
• Application Number:
  US10/873,024
• Publication Number:
  US 20050279551A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 180/316, 180/65.8, 180/65.1, 180/65.2, 180/907, 180/167, 180/169, 318/16, 318/269, 318/139, 367/116, 367/910, 367/96, 382/263, 382/106, 382/107, 340/407.1, 340/825.36
• US Class Current: 180/6.5
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/048 Power-assistance activated by pushing on hand rim or on handlebar
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1054 Large wheels, e.g. higher than the seat portion
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 180/907 Motorized wheelchairs

Abstract

The disclosed invention used power-assist wheelchair hubs and an array of sensors to provide obstacle-avoidance features on a wheelchair. In a power-assisted manual wheelchair, the traditional rear wheels are replaced with motorized hubs that magnify the force applied to the rear wheels by the user. The present invention uses sensors to detect obstacles and drop-offs near the wheelchair, and uses the power-assist hubs to alter wheelchair movement in response to these sensor readings.

Claims

1. A power-assisted manual wheelchair comprising:

(a) means for detecting forces applied to each power-assisted wheel pushrim to determine a user'"'"'s desired direction and speed of travel;

(b) at least one sensor capable of detecting obstacles and environmental voids;

(c) means for controlling a motor and brake to each power-assisted wheel; and

(d) a controller that

(i) receives and processes information about the detected forces applied to each power-assisted wheel pushrim and about the detected obstacles and environmental voids from said sensor;

(ii) determines the user'"'"'s risk of collision with the detected obstacles; and

(iv) alters the forces applied to said wheel pushrims to avoid the user colliding with said detected obstacles.

2. A power-assisted manual wheelchair comprising:

(a) means for detecting forces applied to a power-assisted wheel pushrim to determine a user'"'"'s desired direction and speed of travel in said wheelchair;

(b) a plurality of sensors capable of detecting obstacles and environmental wherein such sensors are selected from a group consisting of ultrasound sensors, infrared sensors, laser range finder sensors, touch sensitive sensors and imaging based sensors;

(c) means for controlling a motor and brake to each power-assisted wheel; and

(d) a controller that

(i) receives and processes information about the detected forces applied to each power-assisted wheel pushrim and about obstacles and environmental voids detected by said plurality of sensors;

(ii) determines the user'"'"'s risk of collision with the detected obstacles; and

(iii) alters the forces applied to said wheel pushrims for the user to avoid colliding with said detected obstacles.