Power assist device for a wheelchair
AssigneeGenus, Inc.
InventorsDouglas G. Broadhead, Blaine M. Hobson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A power assist device for a wheelchair comprising a body, a drive wheel connected to the body and being movable between a raised position and a lowered surface engaging position, attachments for securing the body to the frame, a first motor for driving said drive wheel at least when the drive wheel is in the lowered surface engaging position, a second motor connected to the drive wheel for raising and lowering said drive wheel, a biaser, for biasing the drive wheel into surface engaging driving contact, a manually initiated electronic controller for controlling the power assist device, and a source of electrical power.
Claims24
A power assist device for a wheelchair which is wheeled along a surface and has a frame, said power assist device comprising:
- a body,
- a drive wheel connected to said body and being movable between a raised position and a lowered surface engaging position,
- attachments for securing said body to said frame,
- a first motor for driving said drive wheel at least when said drive wheel is in the lowered surface engaging position,
- a second motor connected to the drive wheel for raising said drive wheel out of surface engaging contact and for lowering said drive wheel into surface engaging contact,
- a biaser, in addition to gravity, for urging said drive wheel into surface engaging driving contact,
- a manually initiated electronic controller for controlling said power assist device, and
- a source of electrical power.
A power assist device for a wheelchair which is wheeled along a surface and has a frame, said power assist device comprising:
- a body,
- a drive wheel which is carried on a pivoting arm, said arm having a first end pivotally attached to said body and carrying a first motor, said drive wheel being movable between a raised position and a lowered surface engaging position,
- attachments for securing said body to said frame, said attachments including at least one plate having first and second edges, said first edge connected to said body, and securing means along the second edge for securing said plate to said frame,
- a first drive shaft extending between said first motor and said drive wheel, said first drive shaft having a first drive take off for imparting rotation to said drive wheel,
- a second motor for raising and lowering said drive wheel independently from said first motor,
- a translator driven by said second motor and acting between said second motor and said arm for raising and lowering said drive wheel,
- a biaser between said pivoting arm and said translator for urging said drive wheel into surface engaging driving contact,
- a manually initiated electronic controller for controlling said power assist device, and
- a source of electrical power.
A wheelchair which is wheeled along a surface comprising:
- a frame,
- a seat for a user supported by said frame,
- at least two wheels attached to said frame for manually wheeling said wheelchair along said surface, and a power assist device for said wheelchair comprising
- a body,
- a drive wheel connected to said body and being movable between a raised position and a lowered surface engaging position,
- attachments for securing said body to said frame,
- a first motor for driving said drive wheel at least when said drive wheel is in the lowered surface engaging position,
- a second motor connected to the drive wheel for raising and lower said drive wheel out of and into ground engaging contact respectively,
- a biaser, in addition to gravity, for biasing said drive wheel into surface engaging driving contact,
- a manually initiated electronic controller for controlling said power assist device, and
- a source of electrical power.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.