Wheelchair systems and methods having a brace assembly
AssigneeToyota Motor North America, Inc.
InventorDouglas A. Moore
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods of wheelchair systems herein provide a wheelchair capable of providing a brace system that moves between retracted and deployed positions to provide a physical support to the legs of the user to assist the user in transition between a plurality of user positions. Embodiments determine a user request for such assistance and then either deploys and/or retracts the brace system. Embodiments provide for assistance independent of additional people, such as aides, to assist the user in moving or transitioning between the plurality of user positions while also allowing or permitting the wheelchair to function normally when the brace system is in the retracted position.
Claims19
A wheelchair system comprising:
- a wheelchair comprising:
- a frame;
- a brace system coupled to the frame, the brace system comprising:
- a pair of braces,
- one or more inflatable devices coupled to each one of the pair of braces, the one or more inflatable devices are configured to inflate to at least partially circumferentially wrap around a portion of a pair of legs of a user to secure the user to the wheelchair,
- wherein, the brace system is movable between a retracted position and a deployed position such that in the deployed position, the pair of braces stabilize the user of the wheelchair to assist the user to transition between a plurality of user positions and in the retracted position, the pair of braces are housed in a receiving cavity.
A powered wheelchair system comprising:
- a wheelchair comprising:
- a frame;
- a brace system coupled to the frame, the brace system comprising:
- a pair of braces,
- one or more inflatable devices coupled to each one of the pair of braces,
- a processing device, and
- a non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium in communication with the processing device, wherein the non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium comprising one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processing device to:
- determine when a user request is initiated, and
- actuate at least one actuator to inflate the pair of braces to move the brace system between a retracted position and a deployed position such that in the deployed position, the pair of braces stabilize a user of the wheelchair to assist the user to transition between a plurality of user positions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.