Powered wheelchair
First Claim
1. A powered wheel chair device, comprising:
- a motorized undercarriage;
a support seat for supporting a wheelchair occupantat least one support arm located adjacent the seat,a controller mounted on the arm, the controller including a joystick unit within reach of the occupant, the joystick being in communication with the motorized undercarriage for driving the undercarriage, the joystick including a collar having a periphery with a number of abutment regions located therealong;
obstacle detecting sensors peripherally positioned on the wheel chair; and
a number of actuators mounted relative to the collar and movable between a storage position distal to a corresponding abutment region and a deployed position adjacent the corresponding abutment region, each actuator being deployed responsive to a corresponding obstacle detecting sensor positioned near a corresponding peripheral region of the wheel chair for inhibiting travel of the joystick in a direction of an obstacle sensed by the corresponding sensor.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A powered wheel chair device comprises a motorized undercarriage and a support seat for supporting a wheelchair occupant. At least one support arm is located adjacent the seat. A controller is mounted on the arm, the controller including a joystick unit within reach of the occupant. The joystick is in communication with the motorized undercarriage for driving the undercarriage. The joystick includes an upstanding post with a collar, the collar having a periphery with a number of abutment regions located therealong. A number of actuators are provided, each movable from a storage position distal to the corresponding abutment region and a deployed position adjacent the corresponding abutment region. Each actuator is responsive to an obstacle detecting sensor near a corresponding peripheral region of the undercarriage.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A powered wheel chair device, comprising:
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a motorized undercarriage; a support seat for supporting a wheelchair occupant at least one support arm located adjacent the seat, a controller mounted on the arm, the controller including a joystick unit within reach of the occupant, the joystick being in communication with the motorized undercarriage for driving the undercarriage, the joystick including a collar having a periphery with a number of abutment regions located therealong; obstacle detecting sensors peripherally positioned on the wheel chair; and a number of actuators mounted relative to the collar and movable between a storage position distal to a corresponding abutment region and a deployed position adjacent the corresponding abutment region, each actuator being deployed responsive to a corresponding obstacle detecting sensor positioned near a corresponding peripheral region of the wheel chair for inhibiting travel of the joystick in a direction of an obstacle sensed by the corresponding sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for retrofitting a powered wheel chair device of the type having a motorized undercarriage, a support seat for supporting a wheelchair occupant, at least one support arm located adjacent the seat, and a controller mounted on the arm, the controller including a joystick unit within reach of the occupant, the joystick being in communication with the motorized undercarriage for driving the undercarriage, comprising:
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providing a collar member for attachment to the joystick, the collar member having a periphery including a number of abutment regions located therealong; providing a number of actuators mounted relative to the collar to be movable between a storage position distal to a corresponding abutment region and a deployed position adjacent the corresponding abutment region; providing obstacle detecting sensors for peripheral positioning on the wheel chair; and configuring each actuator to be responsive to a corresponding obstacle detecting sensor near a corresponding peripheral region of the wheel chair, so that when the corresponding sensor detects an obstacle, the actuator is moved to the deployed position, thereby presenting a barrier against travel of the joystick in the direction of the barrier.
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17. A kit for retrofitting a powered wheel chair device of the type having a motorized undercarriage, a support seat for supporting a wheelchair occupant, and a joystick unit within reach of the occupant, the joystick being in communication with the motorized undercarriage for driving the undercarriage, comprising:
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obstacle detecting sensors to be peripherally positioned on the wheel chair; a collar for attachment to the joystick, the collar having a periphery with a number of abutment regions located therealong; actuators each to be mounted around the collar to be movable between a storage position distal to a corresponding abutment region of the collar and a deployed position adjacent to the corresponding abutment region, and configured to be deployed responsive to a corresponding obstacle detecting sensor sensing an obstacle near a corresponding peripheral region of the wheel chair so to inhibit travel of the joystick in a direction of the obstacle. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification