Electrical power assistance device for transport wheelchair
AssigneeUdeego, Inc.
InventorsMichael Romeo, Susan Penski, David J. Carson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrical power assistance device designed to be removably coupled to existing transport wheelchairs to provide electric power to aid in transportation of a person sitting in the wheelchair, while being detachable to allow the transport chair to fold up for easy storage in a car or other vehicle. The electrical power assistance device includes a motor powered by a rechargeable battery, where the motor drives an internal shaft which rotates a pair of friction wheels. A clutch, provided on a separate axle coupled to the friction wheels by eccentric disks, allows the friction wheels to engage or disengage with the rear wheels of the transport wheelchair.
Claims13
A power assistance device for a transport wheelchair comprising:
- a housing securable to a wheelchair, said housing containing an electric motor having output shaft, a first gear connected to the output shaft for rotational motion with the output shaft, the first gear intermeshed with a second gear, the second gear secured to a differential, the differential including a pair of driveshafts, having one driveshaft connectable to each rear wheel of the transport wheelchair, wherein the differential allows power to be applied to the rear wheels of the transport wheelchair to facilitate even distribution of the power for moving the transport wheelchair along a straight path as well as allowing one rear wheel to rotate faster than the other rear wheel to facilitate turning the wheelchair while force is provided from the electric motor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.