Hand drive mechanism for mobile vehicle
AssigneeRehabilitation Institute of Chicago
InventorsTodd A. Kuiken, James Lipsey, Frank J. Ursetta
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A drive mechanism for a wheelchair may include a hand grip having a continuous track that moves over a drive rotator. The hand grip may have a flat, top surface that extends ventrally from the wheelchair. The drive mechanism may include a drivetrain connected to the drive rotator, such that movement of the hand grip in a dorsal or a ventral direction causes the drive rotator to rotate, and such rotation actuates the drivetrain. The drive mechanism may further comprise a switch. When the switch is in a first position, actuation of the drivetrain drives the wheels of the wheelchair. When the switch is in a second position, actuation of the drivetrain drives a mechanism that lifts the wheelchair into a standing position.
Claims27
A drive mechanism for a wheelchair, comprising:
- a hand grip in a tread arrangement and providing a surface on which the user can push in order to operate the wheelchair,
- the hand grip comprising a plurality of hand grip segments,
- a drive rotator operatively coupled to the hand grip;
- and
- a continuous track operatively coupled to the plurality of hand grip segments and to the drive rotator so that rotation of the hand grip about the drive rotator results in corresponding rotation of the continuous track,
- each hand grip segment moves relative to adjacent hand grip segments as the hand grip segment rotates around the drive rotator,
- wherein movement of the handgrip in a fore direction or in an aft direction creates a rotational movement of the continuous track and the drive rotator for operation of the wheelchair.
A drive mechanism for a wheelchair, comprising:
- a hand grip in a tread arrangement, wherein
- movement of the handgrip in a fore direction or in an aft direction creates a rotational movement for operation of the wheelchair,
- the hand grip is comprised of a plurality of hand grip segments, and
- each hand grip segment comprises a slot opening for mechanical connection to a drive mechanism.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.