Motion-based power assist system for wheelchairs
AssigneeMax Mobility, LLC
InventorW. Mark Richter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A motion-based push activation power assist system for manual wheelchairs. The system uses motion-based measurements to determine when the user applies a push to the wheelchair handrims and brakes with the handrims. The push recognition activates a drive system that provides an assistive driving force-pulse to the wheelchair to reduce the demand on the user during propulsion. The brake recognition deactivates the power assist. The provided power assist is proportional to the sensed push and can be modulated to different proportional settings.
Claims20
A power assist system for a wheelchair, comprising:
- a drive system including:
- a drive linkage that includes an electric drive wheel;
- and
- a mounting assembly connected to the drive linkage,
- wherein the mounting assembly is configured to removably attach to a bar connected to the wheelchair, the bar being located between two drive wheels of the wheelchair, the bar being oriented parallel to an axis of rotation of the drive wheels, and
- wherein in response to the mounting assembly being attached to the bar, the drive linkage is configured to pivot relative to the bar, the drive linkage extends downward from the mounting assembly so that the drive wheel makes contact with the ground at a position behind the mounting assembly.
A power assist system for a wheelchair comprising:
- a drive system including:
- a drive linkage;
- an electric drive wheel operably connected to the drive linkage;
- and
- a mounting assembly connected to the drive linkage,
- wherein the mounting assembly is configured to removably attach to a bar connected to the wheelchair, the bar being located between a first drive wheel and a second drive wheel of the wheelchair, the bar being oriented parallel to an axis of rotation of the first drive wheel, and the mounting assembly is attached on the bar between the first drive wheel and the second drive wheel,
- wherein in response to the mounting assembly being attached to the bar, the drive linkage extends downward from the mounting assembly so that the drive wheel makes contact with the ground at a position behind the mounting assembly.
A power assist system for a wheelchair comprising:
- a drive system including:
- a drive linkage;
- an electric hub drive wheel operably connected to the drive linkage;
- and
- a mounting assembly connected to the drive linkage,
- wherein the mounting assembly is configured to removably attach to a bar connected to the wheelchair, the bar being connected to the wheelchair by a plurality of connections, the bar located between a first drive wheel and a second drive wheel of the wheelchair, the bar being oriented parallel to an axis of rotation of at least the first drive wheel, and
- wherein in response to the mounting assembly being attached to the bar, the drive linkage is configured to pivot relative to the bar, the drive linkage extends downward from the mounting assembly so that the drive wheel makes contact with the ground at a position behind the mounting assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.