Lever drivetrain system
AssigneeGlobal Research Innovation and Technology Inc.
InventorsBenjamin Michael Judge, Natasha K. Scolnik
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention comprises of a lever drivetrain device for control of a vehicle generally including at least one lever shaft with a repositionable scrub brake to inhibit motion of the wheel. The lever shaft is demountably coupled to a receiver via a socket secured to a gear of a gear assembly. The lever permits a multitude of hand positions to vary effort. The scrub brake is demountably coupled to the lever shaft and can be located at a multitude of positions to vary braking load and lever engagement position. In some embodiments, the scrub brake is comprised of material of high coefficient of friction and optimized geometry for braking performance and service.
Claims40
A drivetrain assembly configured to propel a vehicle and to brake rotation of a wheel supported on an axle of the vehicle, the drivetrain assembly comprising:
- a drivetrain;
- and
- a lever constructed and arranged in actuating engagement with the drivetrain, the lever defined as user configurable in position relative to the drivetrain at a plurality of fulcrum and/or actuation plane positions.
A wheelchair comprising the assembly of any of the preceding claims.
A method of facilitating operation of a wheelchair by a user, comprising:
- providing the wheelchair of any of the preceding claims;
- and
- performing one or more steps of:
- adjusting an angle at which the lever is received by the drivetrain;
- adjusting a longitudinal position at which the lever is received by the drivetrain;
- and
- adjusting an angle of engagement for the brake.
A drivetrain assembly configured to propel a vehicle and to brake rotation of a wheel supported on an axle of the vehicle, the drivetrain assembly comprising:
- a socket including an outer wall defining a recess, two spaced apart segments of the outer wall defining a longitudinal slot, one of the spaced apart segments including a plurality of lobes defining a transverse slot;
- and
- a lever, the lever including
- a longitudinally extending main body made of a first material, the main body including a handle at a first end of the main body, a plurality of mounting holes toward a middle of the main body, and an outwardly extending pin toward a second end of the main body, the pin being configured to allow relative longitudinal movement of the socket and the main body of the lever when the pin is received in the longitudinal slot of the socket and the pin being configured to prevent relative longitudinal movement of the socket and the main body of the lever when the pin is received in the transverse slot of the socket;
- a brake bar selectively securable at one of the plurality of mounting holes, the brake bar being made of a second material different than the first material;
- and
- mounting hardware configured to secure the brake bar to the main body at the one of the plurality of mounting holes.
A wheelchair comprising the assembly of any of the preceding claims.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.