Powered wheelchair, wheelchair powering device and method
AssigneeInventit Products, Inc.
InventorsBrian HANCOCK, Daniel Reuben HAUPT, Brett STONE, Dustin TINGEY
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure describes devices and systems that can be integrated with a foldable, manual wheelchair to convert the wheelchair into a hybrid chair capable of both manual operation and motor-powered operation. A wheelchair powering device includes a motor that is operatively coupled to a roller member so that rotation of the motor shaft causes rotation of the roller member. The roller member may be engaged against a tire of the wheelchair so that rotation of the roller member causes rotation of the tire via friction between the roller member and tire.
Claims20
A wheelchair powering device configured for integration with a foldable wheelchair, the device comprising:
- an attachment mechanism configured to attach the powering device to the wheelchair;
- a motor;
- a roller member operatively coupled to the motor such that operation of the motor drives rotation of the roller member;
- and
- an adjustment mechanism operatively coupled to the roller member, the adjustment mechanism being configured to control movement of the roller member into and out of contact with a wheel of the wheelchair,
- wherein the wheelchair powering device is configured to provide for the wheelchair to be folded with the wheelchair powering device integrated with the foldable wheelchair, and
- wherein, upon integration of the wheelchair powering device with the wheelchair, the wheelchair is configured to be powered interchangeably by both operation by the powering device and manual operation.
A wheelchair system comprising:
- a foldable wheelchair;
- and
- a wheelchair powering system integrated with the foldable wheelchair, the wheelchair power system including a first wheelchair powering device,
- wherein the first wheelchair powering device includes
- an attachment mechanism that attaches the first powering device to the wheelchair;
- a motor;
- a roller member operatively coupled to the motor such that operation of the motor drives rotation of the roller member;
- and
- an adjustment mechanism operatively coupled to the roller member, the adjustment mechanism being configured to control movement of the roller member into and out of contact with a wheel of the wheelchair,
- wherein the first wheelchair powering device is configured to provide for the wheelchair to be folded with the first wheelchair powering device integrated with the foldable wheelchair, and
- wherein the wheelchair is configured to be powered interchangeably by both operation by the powering device and manual operation,
- wherein the wheelchair system further comprises
- a battery operatively coupled to the motor of the first wheelchair powering device;
- and
- a controller communicatively linked to the motor of the first wheelchair powering device to provide control over the motor,
A method for upgrading a manually-powered foldable wheelchair, the method comprising:
- providing a foldable wheelchair;
- and
- integrating a wheelchair powering device with the foldable wheelchair, wherein the wheelchair powering device includes
- an attachment mechanism configured to attach the powering device to the wheelchair;
- a motor;
- a roller member operatively coupled to the motor such that operation of the motor drives rotation of the roller member;
- and
- an adjustment mechanism operatively coupled to the roller member, the adjustment mechanism being configured to control movement of the roller member into and out of contact with a wheel of the wheelchair,
- wherein the wheelchair powering device is configured to provide for the wheelchair to be folded with the wheelchair powering device integrated with the foldable wheelchair, and
- wherein, upon integration of the wheelchair powering device with the wheelchair, the wheelchair is configured to be powered interchangeably by both operation by the powering device and manual operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.