Automatic wheelchair lock, lock plates, hub connector, magnetic persistent driver, and rotation mechanism, and systems and method using the same

• US 10,568,789 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2019
• Issued: 02/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark Mccoll
• Original Assignee: Mark Mccoll
• Inventors: McColl, Mark, Brackett, Clayton
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc-Coleman, Marthe Y
• Application Number:
  US16/381,710
• Publication Number:
  US 20190314229A1
• Time in Patent Office: 320 Days
• Field of Search: 701 70
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/101 of the parking brake type, e.g. holding the wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1021 engaging specific brake elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1035 manipulated by wheelchair user
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0404 automatic
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches

Abstract

An automatic wheelchair locking system comprising: a first touch sensor configured to detect a touch of a first wheel of a wheelchair; a first lock for the first wheel; a first motor configured to engage and disengage the first lock; at least one processor configured to communicate with the first touch sensor and control the first motor; and a memory having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, control the at least one processor to: in response to receiving sensor information indicative of a user touching the wheel while the first lock is engaged, control the first motor to disengage the first lock; and in response to receiving sensor information indicative of no user touching the wheel while the first lock is disengaged, control the first motor to engage the first lock.

Claims

1. An automatic wheelchair locking system comprising:

a first touch sensor configured to detect a touch of a first wheel of a wheelchair;

a first lock for the first wheel;

a first motor configured to engage and disengage the first lock;

at least one processor configured to communicate with the first touch sensor and control the first motor; and

a memory having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, control the at least one processor to;

in response to receiving sensor information from the first touch sensor indicative of a user touching the first wheel while the first lock is engaged, control the first motor to disengage the first lock; and

in response to receiving sensor information from the first touch sensor indicative of no user touching the first wheel while the first lock is disengaged, control the first motor to engage the first lock.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a motion sensor configured to detect movement of the first wheel, wherein

the at least one processor is further configured to communicate with the motion sensor, and

the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, control the at least one processor to, in response to receiving sensor information indicative of no touching of the first wheel and the first wheel no longer being in motion while the first lock is disengaged, control the first motor to engage the first lock.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a second touch sensor configured to detect a touch of a second wheel of the wheelchair;

a second lock for the second wheel; and

a second motor configured to engage and disengage the second lock,

wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further control the at least one processor to;

in response to receiving sensor information from the second touch sensor indicative of a user touching the second wheel while the second lock is engaged, control the second motor to disengage the second lock; and

in response to receiving sensor information from the second touch sensor indicative of no user touching the second wheel while the second lock is disengaged, control the second motor to engage the second lock.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, control the at least one processor to:

engage and disengage the first lock independently from the second lock based on sensor information from the first touch sensor; and

engage and disengage the second lock independently from the first lock based on sensor information from the second touch sensor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first touch sensor comprises a capacitive touch sensor configured to be connected to a hand rim of the first wheel.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein lock comprises:

a first locking plate configured to be disposed on the first wheel, and

a second locking plate configured to be disposed on an axel of the wheelchair.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the second locking plate is disposed on a locking pin configured to be driven by the first motor.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the first locking plate comprises a substantially circular disk with a circular pattern of teeth disposed thereon.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein

the first lock comprises a magnetic persistent driver including at least one magnet, the magnetic persistent driver having a first rotational state of the at least one magnet and a second rotational state of the at least one magnet,

in the first rotational state, the magnetic persistent driver provides a persistent magnetic force to engage the first lock, and

in the second rotational state, the magnetic persistent driver provides a persistent magnetic force to disengage the first lock.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising a release configured to control disengagement of the first lock.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising a transceiver, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, control the at least one processor to:

receive commands, through the transceiver, from an external device external to the automatic wheelchair system, the commands instructing engagement or disengagement of the first lock, and

control engagement and disengagement of the first lock based on the commands from the external device.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, control the at least one processor to adjust a sensitivity of the first touch sensor based on local weather.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first motor, the at least one processor, and a portion of the first lock are configured to be attached to an axel of the wheelchair.

14. The system of claim 1 further comprising a hub connector configured to mount to ends of spokes of the first wheel, wherein at least one of the first touch sensor and a portion of the first lock are attached to the hub connector.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the first lock comprises at least one from among a scissor lock, a wheel hub lock, a push/pull lock, a disc brake, a drum brake, a rotor brake, and a pneumatic brake.

16. The system of claim 1 further comprising an inclination sensor configured to sense an angle of incline of the wheelchair,

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine an elevation gain of the wheelchair based on the angle of incline sensed by the inclination sensor.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the external device comprises a smartphone of the user.

17. An automatic wheelchair locking system comprising:

a touch sensor configured to detect a touch of a wheel of a wheelchair;

a motion sensor configured to detect motion of the wheelchair;

a lock for the wheel; and

a motor configured to;

disengage the lock in response to detection signals from the touch sensor indicating that the wheel is being touched while the lock is engaged, and

engage the lock in response to detection signals from the touch sensor indicating that the wheel is not being touched and detection signals from the motion sensor indicating that the wheelchair is substantially still while the lock is disengaged.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising a transceiver configured to receive instructions from an external device external to the automatic wheelchair system, wherein the system is configured to, based on the instructions from the external device, perform at least one from among:

adjustment of a sensitivity of the touch sensor,

adjustment of a sensitivity of the motion sensor, and

adjustment of a delay time before engaging or disengaging the lock in response to the detection signals from the touch sensor and the motion sensor.

19. An automatic wheelchair locking system comprising:

means for determining whether a hand is touching a wheel of a wheelchair;

means for determining whether the wheel is in motion;

a locking mechanism for locking the wheel; and

means for automatically engaging the locking mechanism when the wheel is not in motion and a hand is not touching the wheel while the locking mechanism is disengaged, and

means for automatically disengaging the locking mechanism when a hand touches the wheel while the locking mechanism is engaged.