Multi-terrain motorized wheelchair apparatus

• US 8,789,628 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2009
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Timmy R. Swenson
• Original Assignee: Timmy R. Swenson
• Inventors: Swenson, Timmy R.
• Primary Examiner(s): BOEHLER, ANNE MARIE M
• Application Number:
  US12/502,396
• Publication Number:
  US 20110011652A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,841 Days
• Field of Search: 180/6.5, 180/6.58, 180/6.7, 180/9.1, 180/9.23, 180/9.32, 180/9.34, 180/907, 280/DIG.100, 280/5.22, 280/6.154, 297/411.32
• US Class Current: 180/6.5
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/066 with endless belts
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/125 for arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1036 facilitating loading and unloading of the patient, e.g. using flaps or additional tilting
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/075 Tracked vehicles for ascending or descending stairs, steep slopes or vertical surfacesmagnetic or pneumatic ground-engaging parts B62D55/265; chairs or multi-track cycles specially adapted for invalids A61G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/10 Bogies; Frames track-tensioning means B62D55/30
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 180/907 Motorized wheelchairs

Abstract

A multi-terrain motorized wheelchair apparatus is disclosed that comprises a seating assembly for supporting a user in a seated position, a track assembly with the seating assembly being pivotable with respect to the track assembly. The track assembly includes a pair of track units positioned on opposite sides of the seating assembly. The apparatus comprises a seating orientation adjustment assembly configured to adjust an orientation of the seating assembly with respect to the track assembly. The apparatus includes at least one drive assembly mounted on the seating assembly and which has at least one drive shaft structure connected to the track units to drive the track units. The seating assembly is supported on the track units of the track assembly by the drive shaft structure.

Claims

1. A multi-terrain motorized personal transport apparatus, comprising:

a seating assembly for supporting a user in a seated position;

a track assembly for resting upon a ground surface, the seating assembly being pivotable with respect to the track assembly, the track assembly including a pair of track units positioned on opposite sides of the seating assembly, each of the track units including a plurality of wheel structures and a continuous track entrained on the wheel structures, the plurality of wheel structures being arranged so that an uppermost one of the wheel structures forms an upper apex in the continuous track;

a seating orientation adjustment assembly configured to adjust an orientation of the seating assembly with respect to the track assembly; and

at least one drive assembly carried on the seating assembly, the at least one drive assembly including a motor and at least one drive shaft structure connected to the motor and to the uppermost one of the wheel structures of the continuous track of the track units to drive the track units;

wherein the seating assembly and the motor of the at least one drive assembly are supported on the track units of the track assembly by the drive shaft structure so that the seating assembly and the motor pivot as a unit with respect to the track assembly about a common pivot axis of the drive shaft structure, the common pivot axis passing through the uppermost one of the wheel structures located at the upper apex of the continuous track;

wherein each track unit forms a ground contact surface extending continuously from a location forward of the seating assembly to a location rearward of the seating assembly; and

a stabilization assembly configured to enhance stability of the track assembly when the seating assembly is tilted rearwardly with respect to the track assembly.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one drive assembly comprises a pair of drive assemblies each configured to operate one of the track units independently of an other one of the drive assemblies operating an other one of the track units.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the track units comprises a track frame, the track frame having an upper apex, a forward apex, and a rearward apex, the track frame having a substantially triangular configuration.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the plurality of wheel structures of each of the track units comprises:

a drive wheel structure mounted on the track frame, the drive wheel structure being the uppermost one of the wheel structures and being mounted toward the upper apex of the track frame;

a forward apex wheel structure mounted at the forward apex of the track frame and a rearward apex wheel structure mounted at the rearward apex of the track frame;

at least one intermediate support wheel structure mounted on the track frame, the at least one intermediate support wheel structure being positioned forward of the rearward apex wheel structure or rearward of the forward apex wheel structure.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the track frame of each track unit is configured so that when the at least one intermediate support wheel structure is rested on a substantially horizontal ground surface, the apex wheel structures are raised above the ground surface.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the seating assembly includes an arm rest structure including an arm rest, the arm rest structure being movable between a use position and an entry position, the use position of the arm rest structure being characterized by the arm rest being oriented in a substantially vertical plane and the entry position being characterized by the arm rest being oriented in a substantially horizontal plane.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the arm rest structure further includes

a pivot shaft on which the arm rest is mounted such that the arm rest pivots on the pivot shaft;

and

at least one pivot mount receiving the pivot shaft, the at least one pivot mount being mounted on a support frame of the seating assembly.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the arm rest structure further comprises a lock member on the arm rest, the lock member being engageable with an aperture on the support frame when the arm rest is in the use position to hold the arm rest in the use position;

a biasing structure for biasing the lock member into the aperture when the arm rest is in the use position.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the seating assembly includes a support frame including a seat portion and a footrest portion with a footrest, and wherein a distance between the footrest of the footrest portion and seat portion is adjustable.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the orientation adjustment assembly comprises a telescopic actuator linked to the seating assembly and the track assembly.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one stabilization roller comprises a pair of laterally-spaced stabilization rollers.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the track of each of the track units has an inner edge defining a substantially vertical plane;

and

wherein the seating assembly is positioned completely between the substantially vertical planes.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the seating assembly is tiltable forwardly about the axis of the drive shaft structure with respect to the track units so that the seating orientation adjustment assembly is able to adjust a center of gravity of a person in the seat forwardly of the axis of the drive shaft structure.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the seating assembly includes a seat positioned above the axis of the drive shaft;

and a battery for supplying power to the drive assembly being mounted on the seat structure at a location below the axis of the drive shaft such that tilting the seating assembly in the forward or rearward directions causes movement of the battery in a direction opposite of the seat.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the track assembly remains in contact with the ground surface during any forward or rearward movement of the apparatus.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ground contact surface of the track units contacts the ground surface during any forward or rearward movement of the apparatus.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ground contact surface of each track unit has a substantially planar central portion and a pair of end portions positioned on opposite ends of the central portion.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein each of the end portions of the ground contact surface are substantially planar, and each of the substantially planar end portions are upwardly inclined from the central portion.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a height of the motor above a ground surface below the tracks is substantially equal to a height of the drive shaft above the ground surface.

20. A multi-terrain motorized wheelchair apparatus, comprising:

a seating assembly for supporting a user in a seated position;

a track assembly, the seating assembly being pivotable with respect to the track assembly, the track assembly including a pair of track units positioned on opposite sides of the seating assembly;

a seating orientation adjustment assembly configured to adjust an orientation of the seating assembly with respect to the track assembly; and

at least one drive assembly mounted on the seating assembly and including at least one drive shaft structure connected to the track units to drive the track units;

wherein the seating assembly is supported on the track units of the track assembly by the drive shaft structure and the seating assembly pivots with respect to the track assembly about an axis of the drive shaft structure;

wherein the at least one drive assembly comprises a pair of drive assemblies each configured to operate one of the track units independently of an other one of the drive assemblies operating an other one of the track units;

wherein each of the track units comprises a track frame, the track frame having an upper apex, a forward apex, and a rearward apex, the track frame having a substantially triangular configuration;

wherein each of the track units comprises

a drive wheel structure mounted on the track frame, the drive wheel structure being mounted toward the upper apex of the track frame;

a plurality of apex wheel structures mounted on the track frame and comprising a forward apex wheel structure located at the forward apex of the track frame and a rearward apex wheel structure located at the rearward apex of the track frame;

at least one intermediate support wheel structure mounted on the track frame, the at least one intermediate support wheel structure being positioned forward of the rearward apex wheel structure or rearward of the forward apex wheel structure; and

a continuous track entrained on the wheel structures;

wherein the track frame of each track unit is configured so that when the at least one intermediate support wheel structure is rested on a substantially horizontal ground surface, the apex wheel structures are raised above the ground surface;

wherein the seating assembly includes an arm rest structure including an arm rest, the arm rest structure being movable between a use position and an entry position, the use position of the arm rest structure being characterized by the arm rest being oriented in a substantially vertical plane and the entry position being characterized by the arm rest being oriented in a substantially horizontal plane;

wherein the arm rest structure further includes;

a pivot shaft on which the arm rest is mounted such that the arm rest pivots on the pivot shaft; and

at least one pivot mount receiving the pivot shaft, the at least one pivot mount being mounted on a support frame of the seating assembly;

wherein the arm rest structure further comprises a lock member on the arm rest, the lock member being engageable with an aperture on the support frame when the arm rest is in the use position to hold the arm rest in the use position;

a biasing structure for biasing the lock member into the aperture when the arm rest is in the use position;

wherein the seating assembly includes a support frame including a seat portion and a footrest portion with a footrest, and wherein a distance between the footrest of the footrest portion and seat portion is adjustable;

wherein the orientation adjustment assembly comprises a telescopic actuator linked to the seating assembly and the track assembly;

a stabilization assembly configured to enhance stability of the track assembly when the seating assembly is tilted with respect to the track assembly, the stabilization assembly being actuated by tilting of the seating assembly with respect to the track assembly;

wherein the stabilization assembly comprises at least one stabilization roller movable between a deployed position and a retracted position, the deployed position being characterized by the at least one stabilization roller extending rearwardly of the track assembly and the retracted position being characterized by the at least one stabilization roller not extending rearwardly of the track assembly;

wherein the at least one stabilization roller comprises a pair of laterally-spaced stabilization rollers;

wherein the stabilization assembly further comprises;

a swing arm pivotally mounted on the track assembly, the at least one stabilization roller being mounted on the swing arm at a location spaced on the swing arm from the track assembly; and

a linking arm configured to move the stabilization roller on the swing arm, the linking arm being connected to the swing arm and to the seating assembly to transfer tilt movement of the seating assembly to the swing arm and the stabilization roller mounted on the swing arm.

21. A multi-terrain motorized personal transport apparatus, comprising:

a seating assembly for supporting a user in a seated position;

a track assembly for resting upon a ground surface, the seating assembly being pivotable with respect to the track assembly, the track assembly including a pair of track units positioned on opposite sides of the seating assembly, each of the track units including a plurality of wheel structures and a continuous track entrained on the wheel structures, the plurality of wheel structures being arranged so that an uppermost one of the wheel structures forms an upper apex in the continuous track;

a seating orientation adjustment assembly configured to adjust an orientation of the seating assembly with respect to the track assembly; and

at least one drive assembly carried on the seating assembly, the at least one drive assembly including a motor and at least one drive shaft structure connected to the motor and to the uppermost one of the wheel structures of the continuous track of the track units to drive the track units;

wherein the seating assembly and the motor of the at least one drive assembly are supported on the track units of the track assembly by the drive shaft structure so that the seating assembly and the motor pivot as a unit with respect to the track assembly about a common pivot axis of the drive shaft structure, the common pivot axis passing through the uppermost one of the wheel structures located at the upper apex of the continuous track; and

wherein each track unit forms a ground contact surface extending continuously from a location forward of the seating assembly to a location rearward of the seating assembly;

wherein the pivot axis of the drive shaft structure about which the seating assembly pivot is located directly over a center point of the ground contact surface of the track units.

22. A multi-terrain motorized personal transport apparatus comprising:

a seating assembly for supporting a user in a seated position;

a track assembly, the seating assembly being pivotable with respect to the track assembly, the track assembly including a pair of track units positioned on opposite sides of the seating assembly;

a seating orientation adjustment assembly configured to adjust an orientation of the seating assembly with respect to the track assembly; and

at least one drive assembly mounted on the seating assembly and including at least one drive shaft structure connected to the track units to drive the track units;

wherein the seating assembly is supported on the track units of the track assembly by the drive shaft structure and the seating assembly pivots with respect to the track assembly about an axis of the drive shaft structure;

wherein the at least one drive assembly comprises a pair of drive assemblies each configured to operate one of the track units independently of an other one of the drive assemblies operating an other one of the track units;

wherein each of the track units comprises a track frame, the track frame having an upper apex, a forward apex, and a rearward apex, the track frame having a substantially triangular configuration;

wherein each of the track units comprises

a drive wheel structure mounted on the track frame, the drive wheel structure being mounted toward the upper apex of the track frame;

a plurality of apex wheel structures mounted on the track frame and comprising a forward apex wheel structure located at the forward apex of the track frame and a rearward apex wheel structure located at the rearward apex of the track frame;

at least one intermediate support wheel structure mounted on the track frame, the at least one intermediate support wheel structure being positioned forward of the rearward apex wheel structure or rearward of the forward apex wheel structure; and

a continuous track entrained on the wheel structures;

wherein the track frame of each track unit is configured so that when the at least one intermediate support wheel structure is rested on a substantially horizontal ground surface, the apex wheel structures are raised above the ground surface;

wherein the seating assembly includes an arm rest structure including an arm rest;

wherein the seating assembly includes a support frame including a seat portion and a footrest portion with a footrest, and wherein a distance between the footrest of the footrest portion and seat portion is adjustable; and

wherein the orientation adjustment assembly comprises a telescopic actuator linked to the seating assembly and the track assembly.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 additionally comprising a stabilization assembly configured to enhance stability of the track assembly, the stabilization assembly comprising at least one stabilization roller extending rearwardly of the track assembly.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the at least one stabilization roller comprises a pair of laterally-spaced stabilization rollers.

25. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the arm rest structure is movable between a use position and an entry position, the use position of the arm rest structure being characterized by the arm rest being oriented in a substantially vertical plane and the entry position being characterized by the arm rest being oriented in a substantially horizontal plane.

26. A multi-terrain motorized personal transport apparatus comprising:

a seating assembly for supporting a user in a seated position;

a track assembly, the seating assembly being pivotable with respect to the track assembly, the track assembly including a pair of track units positioned on opposite sides of the seating assembly;

a seating orientation adjustment assembly configured to adjust an orientation of the seating assembly with respect to the track assembly; and

at least one drive assembly mounted on the seating assembly and including at least one drive shaft structure connected to the track units to drive the track units;

wherein the seating assembly is supported on the track units of the track assembly by the drive shaft structure and the seating assembly pivots with respect to the track assembly about an axis of the drive shaft structure;

wherein the at least one drive assembly comprises a pair of drive assemblies each configured to operate one of the track units independently of an other one of the drive assemblies operating an other one of the track units;

wherein each of the track units comprises a track frame, the track frame having an upper apex, a forward apex, and a rearward apex, the track frame having a substantially triangular configuration;

wherein each of the track units comprises

a drive wheel structure mounted on the track frame, the drive wheel structure being mounted toward the upper apex of the track frame;

a plurality of apex wheel structures mounted on the track frame and comprising a forward apex wheel structure located at the forward apex of the track frame and a rearward apex wheel structure located at the rearward apex of the track frame;

at least one intermediate support wheel structure mounted on the track frame, the at least one intermediate support wheel structure being positioned forward of the rearward apex wheel structure or rearward of the forward apex wheel structure; and

a continuous track entrained on the wheel structures;

wherein the track frame of each track unit is configured so that when the at least one intermediate support wheel structure is rested on a substantially horizontal ground surface, the apex wheel structures are raised above the ground surface;

wherein the seating assembly includes an arm rest structure including an arm rest, the arm rest structure being movable between a use position and an entry position, the use position of the arm rest structure being characterized by the arm rest being oriented in a substantially vertical plane and the entry position being characterized by the arm rest being oriented in a substantially horizontal plane;

wherein the seating assembly includes a support frame including a seat portion and a footrest portion with a footrest, and wherein a distance between the footrest of the footrest portion and seat portion is adjustable;

wherein the orientation adjustment assembly comprises a telescopic actuator linked to the seating assembly and the track assembly; and

a stabilization assembly configured to enhance stability of the track assembly, the stabilization assembly comprising at least one stabilization roller extending rearwardly of the track assembly.