Wheelchair
OwnerMalcolm C. Winsorinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wheelchair with relatively large diameter wheels on each side of the chair frame and two smaller wheels in front carries one or more continuous traction belts beneath the seat and/or the back of the chair in retracted position when the chair is used on a flat surface. The large wheels are each attached to the frame by a lever controlled mechanism manipulated by the operator to raise the large wheels, lowering the seat and tilting the chair backward so that the chair rides on the continuous traction belts. This action is taken at a steep incline or at steps to place the operator in a safe, comfortable position with lowered center of gravity for ascending or descending the steps. Means such as an electric motor is provided for driving the traction belts to carry the operator safely up or down the incline or steps.
Claims23
A wheelchair comprising,
- a. a seat frame for carrying an operator or a load,
- b. large diameter ground contacting wheels on each side of the frame,
- c. a hub for each of said wheels, said hubs defining wheel axle which are parallel,
- d. for each wheel, a wheel arm carrying at one end thereof the wheel hub and pivotally connected at the other end to the frame,
- e. whereby rotation of the wheel arm in one direction raises the wheel and rotation in the opposite direction lowers the wheel to contact the ground and support the wheelchair,
- f. means for rotating the wheel arm including a manually operated lever pivotally attached to the frame and
- g. a drive connection between the lever and the wheel arm,
- h. whereby rotation of the lever rotates the wheel arm raising the wheel,
- i. a traction device carried by the frame and oriented to propel the wheelchair in the same direction as the wheels,
- j. traction device positioning means for positioning the traction device in a retracted position and in at least one position for propelling the wheelchair when the large diameter wheels are raised and
- k. means for driving the tractor device to propel the wheelchair.
A wheelchair comprising,
- a. a seat and frame,
- b. two large wheels, one on each side of the frame,
- c. a hub for each wheel, the hubs defining parallel wheel axes,
- d. at least one forward ground contacting wheel to support the frame located forward of the large wheels,
- e. a traction device carried by the frame including a front continuous traction belt assembly and a rear continuous traction belt assembly, each pivotally attached to the frame,
- f. the front end of the rear traction belt assembly being pivotally connected to the rear end of the front traction belt assembly,
- g. for each wheel, a wheel arm carrying the wheel hub at one end thereof and pivotally connected to the frame at the other end thereof,
- h. the front traction belt assembly is pivotally connected to a supporting linkage mechanism that pivotally connects to the frame,
- i. a mechanical connection between the wheel arm and the linkage mechanism is provided and driven by the wheel arm rotation to retract the front and rear traction belt assemblies when the large diameter wheels are lowered to contact the ground and support the wheelchair,
- j. so that upon raising the large wheels the seat tilts backward riding on the traction device, and
- k. means for driving the traction device to propel the wheelchair.
A wheelchair comprising,
- a. a seat frame for carrying an operator or a load,
- b. large diameter ground contacting wheels on each side of the frame,
- c. a hub for each of said wheels, said hubs defining wheel axis which are parallel,
- d. a traction device carried by the frame and oriented to propel the wheelchair in the same direction as the wheels,
- e. means connected to the large diameter wheel hubs and to the frame for raising and lowering the large diameter wheels relative to the frame so that when raised, the wheels do not contact the ground and the frame rides on the traction device,
- f. traction device positioning means for positioning the traction device in a retracted position and in at least one position for propelling the wheelchair when the large diameter wheels are raised and
- g. mechanical means connecting the means for raising the wheels and the traction device positioning means so that the traction device is retracted when the wheels are lowered and put in the propelling position when the wheels are raised and
- h. means for driving the traction device to propel the wheelchair.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.