Wheelchair systems and related methods

• US 10,182,952 B1
• Filed: 07/13/2018
• Issued: 01/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blanche Michelle Nelson-Herron
• Original Assignee: Blanche Michelle Nelson-Herron
• Inventors: Nelson-Herron, Blanche Michelle, Justice, Gary B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lau, Hoi C
• Application Number:
  US15/929,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20190021921A1
• Time in Patent Office: 193 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/10 Parts, details or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/005 automatically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/18 Edge-illuminated signs
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 17/00 Flags; Banners; Mountings therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A wheelchair system includes a chip assembly configured to be coupled with a wheelchair, the chip assembly including a wireless communication chip. The wireless communication chip is programmed to, in response to the chip assembly coming within a predetermined range of a dedicated short range communication (DSRC) device of an automobile, automatically communicate, through a telecommunications network, a notification signal to the DSRC device that the wheelchair is within the predetermined range. The chip assembly includes one or more chips configured to, in response to receiving an acknowledgment signal through the telecommunications network from the DSRC device, provide an acknowledgment notification to a user of the wheelchair that the notification signal was received. In implementations a geospatial algorithm is stored within memory of the chip assembly, the assembly programmed to determine, using the algorithm, when the wheelchair has experienced an accident event, and to automatically notify one or more persons.

Claims

1. A wheelchair system, comprising:

a chip assembly configured to be coupled with a wheelchair, the chip assembly comprising a wireless communication chip;

wherein the wireless communication chip is programmed to, in response to the chip assembly coming within a predetermined range of a dedicated short range communication (DSRC) device of an automobile, automatically communicate, through a telecommunications network, a notification signal to the DSRC device that the wheelchair is within the predetermined range;

wherein the chip assembly comprises one or more chips configured to, in response to receiving an acknowledgment signal through the telecommunications network from the DSRC device, provide an acknowledgment notification to a user of the wheelchair that the notification signal was received;

the wheelchair system further comprising a light communicatively coupled with the chip assembly, wherein the acknowledgment notification comprises illuminating the light.

2. A wheelchair system, comprising:

a chip assembly configured to be coupled with a wheelchair, the chip assembly comprising a wireless communication chip;

wherein the wireless communication chip is programmed to, in response to the chip assembly coming within a predetermined range of a dedicated short range communication (DSRC) device of an automobile, automatically communicate, through a telecommunications network, a notification signal to the DSRC device that the wheelchair is within the predetermined range;

wherein the chip assembly comprises one or more chips configured to, in response to receiving an acknowledgment signal through the telecommunications network from the DSRC device, provide an acknowledgment notification to a user of the wheelchair that the notification signal was received;

the wheelchair system further comprising a sound unit communicatively coupled with the chip assembly, wherein the acknowledgment notification comprises a sound generated by the sound unit.

3. A wheelchair system, comprising:

a chip assembly configured to be coupled with a wheelchair, the chip assembly comprising a wireless communication chip;

wherein the wireless communication chip is programmed to, in response to the chip assembly coming within a predetermined range of a dedicated short range communication (DSRC) device of an automobile, automatically communicate, through a telecommunications network, a notification signal to the DSRC device that the wheelchair is within the predetermined range;

wherein the chip assembly comprises one or more chips configured to, in response to receiving an acknowledgment signal through the telecommunications network from the DSRC device, provide an acknowledgment notification to a user of the wheelchair that the notification signal was received;

the wheelchair system further comprising a tactile unit communicatively coupled with the chip assembly, wherein the acknowledgment notification comprises a tactile notification generated by the tactile unit.

4. A wheelchair system, comprising:

a chip assembly configured to be coupled with a wheelchair, the chip assembly comprising a wireless communication chip;

wherein the wireless communication chip is programmed to, in response to the chip assembly coming within a predetermined range of a dedicated short range communication (DSRC) device of an automobile, automatically communicate, through a telecommunications network, a notification signal to the DSRC device that the wheelchair is within the predetermined range;

wherein the chip assembly comprises a memory having a geospatial algorithm stored therein, and wherein the chip assembly is programmed to determine, using the geospatial algorithm, when the wheelchair has experienced an accident event.

5. The wheelchair system of claim 4, wherein the chip assembly is programmed to, in response to determining that the wheelchair has experienced the accident event, automatically send an accident notification to a person whose contact information is stored within the database.

6. A wheelchair system, comprising:

a wheelchair;

a chip assembly coupled with the wheelchair, the chip assembly comprising a wireless communication chip, and;

a database communicatively coupled with the chip assembly through a telecommunications network;

wherein the wireless communication chip is programmed to, in response to the chip assembly coming within a predetermined range of a dedicated short range communication (DSRC) device of an automobile, automatically communicate, through the telecommunications network, a notification signal to the DSRC device that the wheelchair is within the predetermined range;

wherein the chip assembly comprises one or more chips configured to, in response to receiving an acknowledgment signal through the telecommunications network from the DSRC device, provide an acknowledgment notification to a user of the wheelchair, wherein the acknowledgment notification comprises one of a sound notification generated by a sound device coupled with the chip assembly, a tactile notification generated by a tactile unit coupled with the chip assembly, and a visual signal generated by a light coupled with the chip assembly.

7. A wheelchair system, comprising:

a wheelchair;

a chip assembly coupled with the wheelchair, the chip assembly comprising a wireless communication chip, and;

a database communicatively coupled with the chip assembly through a telecommunications network;

wherein the wireless communication chip is programmed to, in response to the chip assembly coming within a predetermined range of a dedicated short range communication (DSRC) device of an automobile, automatically communicate, through the telecommunications network, a notification signal to the DSRC device that the wheelchair is within the predetermined range;

wherein the chip assembly comprises a memory having a geospatial algorithm stored therein, wherein the chip assembly is programmed to determine, using the geospatial algorithm, when the wheelchair has experienced an accident event and to, in response to determining that the wheelchair has experienced the accident event, automatically send an accident notification to one of police, emergency personnel, and a contact person stored in the database.

8. A method of use of a wheelchair system, comprising:

providing a chip assembly configured to be coupled with a wheelchair, the chip assembly comprising a wireless communication chip;

providing a database communicatively coupled with the chip assembly through a telecommunications network;

in response to the chip assembly entering a predetermined range of a dedicated short range communication (DSRC) device of an automobile, automatically wirelessly communicating, through the telecommunications network, a notification signal from the wireless communication chip to the DSRC device that the wheelchair is within the predetermined range;

in response to the DSRC device receiving the notification signal, automatically wirelessly communicating an acknowledgment signal to the chip assembly from the DSRC device, and;

in response to the chip assembly receiving the acknowledgment signal, providing one of a sound notification, a tactile notification, and a visual notification to a user of the wheelchair.

9. A method of use of a wheelchair system, comprising:

providing a chip assembly configured to be coupled with a wheelchair, the chip assembly comprising a wireless communication chip;

providing a database communicatively coupled with the chip assembly through a telecommunications network, and;

in response to the chip assembly entering a predetermined range of a dedicated short range communication (DSRC) device of an automobile, automatically wirelessly communicating, through the telecommunications network, a notification signal from the wireless communication chip to the DSRC device that the wheelchair is within the predetermined range;

wherein the chip assembly comprises a memory having a geospatial algorithm stored therein, and wherein the method further comprises the chip assembly determining, using the geospatial algorithm, when the wheelchair has experienced an accident event and, in response to determining that the accident event has occurred, automatically sending an accident notification to a person whose contact information is stored within the database.