Photoelectric-activated switch for a motorized wheelchair
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A motorized wheelchair with kill switch, comprising:
- a motorized wheelchair having a propulsion system, a first armrest, a second armrest, a back seat, a power source, a motion controller, and a joystick for directing said motion controller to control the motion of said motorized wheelchair;
a first adjustable mounting bracket attached to said first armrest;
a second adjustable mounting bracket attached to said second armrest;
a photoelectric sending unit attached to said first adjustable mounting bracket, said photoelectric sending unit for emitting a light beam;
a photoelectric receiving unit attached to said second adjustable mounting bracket, said photoelectric receiving unit for receiving said emitted light beam;
a photoelectric sending unit cable for applying electrical power from said power source to said photoelectric sending unit;
a photoelectric receiving unit cable for applying electrical power from said power source to said photoelectric receiving unit; and
,a relay for selectively applying electrical power to said motion controller if said photoelectric receiving unit does not receive said light beam.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A motorized wheelchair kill switch for improving the safety of motorized wheelchairs is described. The motorized wheelchair kill switch includes a photoelectric sending unit and a photoelectric receiving unit that are used to kill the operation of a wheelchair joystick. The photoelectric sending unit emits a light beam toward the photoelectric receiving unit along a path that will be broken if a user is safely seated in the wheelchair. If the light beam is detected a determination is made that the user is not properly seated. In that case the joystick operation is disabled, locking the wheelchair motor and preventing accidental movement.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A motorized wheelchair with kill switch, comprising:
-
a motorized wheelchair having a propulsion system, a first armrest, a second armrest, a back seat, a power source, a motion controller, and a joystick for directing said motion controller to control the motion of said motorized wheelchair; a first adjustable mounting bracket attached to said first armrest; a second adjustable mounting bracket attached to said second armrest; a photoelectric sending unit attached to said first adjustable mounting bracket, said photoelectric sending unit for emitting a light beam; a photoelectric receiving unit attached to said second adjustable mounting bracket, said photoelectric receiving unit for receiving said emitted light beam; a photoelectric sending unit cable for applying electrical power from said power source to said photoelectric sending unit; a photoelectric receiving unit cable for applying electrical power from said power source to said photoelectric receiving unit; and
,a relay for selectively applying electrical power to said motion controller if said photoelectric receiving unit does not receive said light beam. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A motorized wheelchair having a propulsion system, a first armrest, a second armrest, a back seat, a power source, a motion controller, and a joystick for directing the motion controller to control the motion of the motorized wheelchair using electrical power from said the power source, the motorized wheelchair further including;
-
a first adjustable mounting bracket attached to the first armrest; a second adjustable mounting bracket attached to the second armrest; a photoelectric sending unit for emitting a light beam across the back seat, said photoelectric sending unit attached to said first adjustable mounting bracket; a photoelectric receiving unit for receiving said emitted light beam, said photoelectric receiving unit attached to said second adjustable mounting bracket; and
,a power control means for selectively preventing motorized wheelchair motion based on an output of said photoelectric sending unit. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A motorized wheelchair kill switch, comprising:
-
a first adjustable mounting bracket for attaching to a first armrest; a second adjustable mounting bracket for attaching to a second armrest; a photoelectric sending unit for emitting a light beam, said photoelectric sending unit for attaching to said first adjustable mounting bracket; a photoelectric receiving unit for receiving said emitted light beam, said photoelectric receiving unit for attaching to said second adjustable mounting bracket; and
,a power control means for selectively preventing motorized wheelchair motion based on reception of said emitted light beam by said photoelectric sending unit. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification