Dynamic brake for manual wheelchair
AssigneeGeorgia Tech Research Institute
InventorsRonald D. Delahoussaye, Gary W. Kelly
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
To substantially reduce the physical effort required to slow or stop a manually propelled wheelchair, the customary propulsion ring attached to the outer side of each main chair wheel is mounted on the wheel for limited inward axial movement under manual pressure and is biased outwardly by spring force. A brake ring of similar diameter near the interior side of each wheel in a plane parallel to the plane occupied by the propulsion ring is connected directly with the propulsion ring. An opposing friction brake shoe attached to the chair frame is engaged by the brake ring to slow or stop the chair whenever the chair occupant pushes the propulsion ring axially inwardly.
Claims12
In a manually propelled wheelchair having a pair of manual propulsion rings disposed adjacent to the outer sides of the two main wheels of the chair, a brake means comprising a brake ring disposed adjacent to the interior side of each main wheel, axially shiftable means connecting each propulsion ring and brake ring and responding to hand pressure applied laterally to each propulsion ring to move such ring and the associated brake ring axially inwardly relative to each main wheel, and a cooperative friction brake means attached to each side of the wheelchair structure in opposing relationship to each brake ring and becoming engaged with each brake ring to slow or stop the wheelchair when the brake ring is shifted axially inwardly by a chair occupant.
In a manually propelled wheelchair having a manual propulsion ring near the outer side of each main wheel of the chair, a brake ring disposed near the interior side of the main wheel in a plane substantially parallel to the plane occupied by the propulsion ring, axially shiftable support means interconnecting the propulsion and brake rings and being guidingly engaged with said main wheel, whereby lateral pressure on the propulsion ring will shift the propulsion ring and brake ring axially inwardly relative to the main wheel, resilient means opposing the inward shifting of the propulsion and brake rings relative to the main wheel, and a cooperative friction brake shoe means on the wheelchair laterally inwardly of the main wheel and being in opposing relationship to the brake ring.
In a wheelchair, a main wheel, a manual propulsion ring disposed near the outer side of the main wheel, a friction brake ring disposed near the inner side of the main wheel, reciprocatory spring-biased means interconnecting the manual propulsion and friction brake rings and being movable on a path parallel to the rotational axis of the main wheel, and a wheelchair attached friction brake shoe means in opposing cooperative relationship to the friction brake ring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.