Multi-point mobility device

• US 6,250,409 B1
• Filed: 09/01/1999
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Glenn D. Wells
• Original Assignee: Glenn D. Wells
• Inventors: Wells, Glenn D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US09/388,005
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 180/9.5, 180/9.52, 180/9.1, 180/9.32, 180/9.34, 180/9.36, 180/6.48, 180/6.5, 180/6.54, 180/907
• US Class Current: 180/9.52
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/14 Joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/042 Front wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/061 for climbing stairs
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/066 with endless belts
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/02 with tracks and additional ground wheels for multi-purpose tractors B62D49/0635

Abstract

A multi-point mobility device that is capable of navigating over rough terrain without difficulty, including snow, say and, and mud, and which is able to reconfigure the two belt track assemblies so as to minimize lateral friction by the belts with indoor floor surfaces or carpets.

A separate rear wheel, located behind the side mounted track assemblies is able to be lowered when desired, so as to raise the rear portion of the multi-point mobility device off of the ground surface. In addition, the central wheel of the track assembly is also able to be raised or lowered, giving for possible track belt configurations including the normal track configuration, a second track configuration in which the front portion of the track is raised off of the ground surface, a third track configuration in which the rear wheel is lowered, along with the central wheel, to provide a three-point contact with the ground surface, and a fourth configuration in which the rear wheel is lowered raising a standard track configuration so that they three-point contact is achieved with the ground surface, providing turning ability at the extreme front-end of the device.

Claims

1. A multi-point mobility device, capable of providing a plurality of ground surface contact points, comprising:

a. A pair of track belt assemblies, with each one positioned on either side of a supporting frame, in which each track assembly has a front wheel, a rear wheel and a central wheel upon which a track belt is able to rotate around;

b. Two independent drive motors, with each motor able to rotate a single track belt assembly; and

c. A means to raise or lower the central wheel of the track belt assembly, where the center wheel of the track assembly is larger then the rear drive wheel or front wheel, and where said track belt remains in constant contact on both the top side and bottom side of the center wheel.

3. A multi-point mobility device, capable of providing a plurality of ground surface contact points, as recited in claim 1, in which the means to raise or lower the center wheel of the track belt assembly is capable of lowering the central wheel sufficiently below the remaining wheels in the belt track assembly, so that the center wheel operates as a fulcrum, causing the front portion of the belt tracks to raise off of the ground surface.

4. A multi-point mobility device, capable of providing a plurality of ground surface contact points, as recited in claim 1, in which the means to raise or lower the center wheel of the track belt assembly comprises an axle actuator which is capable a rotating a central axle, which is attached at its distal ends to a respective offset axle assembly, where said offset axle assemblies are each connected to their respective central wheel in the belt track assembly, so that when the axle actuator rotates the central axle, the offset axle is caused to move in an arcual orbital path around the central axle, causing the central wheel of the belt track assembly to move upward or downward.

5. A multi-point mobility device, capable of providing a plurality of ground surface contact points, as recited in claim 1, in which the drive motors are able to be operated independently.

6. A multi-point mobility device, capable of providing a plurality of ground surface contact points, as recited in claim 1, in which the means to raise and lower the central wheel of the track belt assembly includes a sensor that determines the amount of longitudinal movement of the central wheel, and which is capable of displaying this information to the user of the device.

2. A multi-point mobility device, capable of providing a plurality of ground surface contact points, as recited in claim one, in which a battery power source is supported by the front area of the frame, with the center of gravity for this device located between the center wheel and rear drive wheel.

7. A multi-point mobility device, capable of providing a plurality of ground surface contact points, comprising:

a. A pair of track belt assemblies, with each one positioned on either side of a supporting frame, in which each track assembly has a front wheel, a rear wheel and a central wheel upon which a track belt is able to rotate around;

b. Two independent drive motors, with each motor able to rotate a single track belt assembly;

c. A means to raise or lower the central wheel of the track belt assembly; and

d. A means to raise or lower an independent rear wheel, at the rear of the multi-point mobility device.

8. A multi-point mobility device, capable of providing a plurality of ground surface contact points, as recited in claim 7, in which a battery power source is supported by the front area of the frame, with the center of gravity for this device located between the center wheel and rear drive wheel.

9. A multi-point mobility device, capable of providing a plurality of ground surface contact points, as recited in claim 7, in which the center wheel of the track assembly is larger then the rear drive wheel or front wheel, with the track belt remaining in constant contact on both the top side and bottom side of the center wheel.

10. A multi-point mobility device, capable of providing a plurality of ground surface contact points, as recited in claim 7, in which the means to raise or lower the central wheel of the track belt assembly is able to lower the central wheel sufficiently so that it operates as a fulcrum, causing the front portion of the belt tracks to raise off of the ground surface.

11. A multi-point mobility device, capable of providing a plurality of ground surface contact points, as recited in claim 7, in which the means to raise or lower the central wheel of the track belt assembly comprises an axle actuator which is capable a rotating a central axle, which is attached at its distal ends to a respective offset axle assembly, where said offset axle assemblies are each connected to their respective central wheel in a belt track assembly, so that when the axle actuator rotates a central axle, the offset axle is caused to move in an arcual orbital path around the central axle, causing the central wheel of the belt track assembly to move upward or downward.

12. A multi-point mobility device, capable of providing a plurality of ground surface contact points, as recited in claim 7, in which the drive motors are operated independently using a control means.

13. A multi-point mobility device, capable of providing a plurality of ground surface contact points, as recited in claim 7, in which the means to raise and lower the center wheel of the track belt assembly includes a sensor that determines the amount of longitudinal movement of the center wheel, at which is capable of displaying this information to the user of the device.

14. A multi-point mobility device, capable of providing a plurality of ground surface contact points, as recited in claim 7, in which the means to raise and lower the independent rear wheel is capable of lifting the rear portion of the device off of the ground surface, and includes a sensor that determines the amount of longitudinal movement of the rear wheel, and which is capable of displaying this information to the user of the device.

15. A multi-point mobility device, capable of providing a plurality of ground surface contact points, as recited in claim 7, in which the means to raise and lower the independent rear wheel comprises an rear wheel actuator which is capable moving an actuator rod up and down, the relation to the device, were said actuator rod is connected to and causes the rear wheel to move upward and downward.

16. A multi-point mobility device having an independent rear wheel that may be raised or lowered, a pair of track belt assemblies, with each one positioned on either side of a supporting frame, in which each track assembly has a front wheel, a rear wheel and a central wheel, where the central wheel is able to be raised or lowered, and which is able to configure the belt assemblies from a standard configuration, in which the bottom portion of the track belt contiguously contacts a flat ground surface, to a new configuration by raising a portion of the track belt assembly off of the ground surface.

17. A multi-point mobility device, as recited in claim 16, in which the front portion of the track belt assembly is raise off of the ground surface, where the center wheel is lowered independent of the front and rear wheels of the belt track assemblies, so that the center wheel operate as a fulcrum, causing the center of gravity located behind the center wheel to lift up the front end of the belt track.

18. A multi-point mobility device, as recited in claim 16, in which the center wheel is lowered independent of the front and rear wheels of the belt track assemblies, so that the center wheels operate as a fulcrum, and where the front end of the belt track assembly is lifted off of the ground surface, and where a rear wheel is lowered, causing the back end of the belt track assembly to be also lifted off of the ground surface, so that the multi-point mobility device contacts the ground surface only at the contact made by the independent rear wheel, and the track belt beneath the center wheel.

19. A multi-point mobility device, as recited in claim 16, in which the bottom of the front wheel, center wheel and rear drive wheel occupy the same level plane, but where the independent rear wheel is lowered, causing the back end of the belt track assembly to be lifted off of the ground surface, raising the rear portion of the belt track assembly off of the ground surface, so that the multi-point mobility device contacts the ground surface only at the contact made by the independent rear wheel, and the front portion of the track belt beneath the front wheel of the belt track assembly.