Back to results
US 5,230,405 AGranted
Stairway chairlift device
AssigneeMichael Roman Bruno
InventorRobert D. Bartelt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A stairway chairlift device has a rail incorporating a gear rack, a carriage unit having a motor and gear box which operatively engage the gear rack to provide motion of the chairlift, and a collapsible seat assembly mounted to the carriage unit. The carriage unit also incorporates a battery unit and control circuitry to control operation of the chairlift. The electrical system also incorporates an automatic recharging circuit any time the chairlift is at the bottom or top of the rail. The seat assembly is easily pivoted on a swivel mechanism which permits the seat assembly to be locked in one of three positions--right 90.degree., front or left 90.degree..
Claims17
An inclined lift device for transporting an individual passenger, said device comprising:
- a) rail means comprising
- i) a generally elongated planar base surface;
- ii) first and second side guide surfaces perpendicular and attached to said base surface and extending upward therefrom;
- iii) first and second retaining surface perpendicular to and attached to said side guide surfaces and extending inward therefrom;
- iv) a linear gear rack having a plurality of teeth secured to one of said retaining surfaces said teeth being generally covered by a tape secured at each end of said rail;
- b) carriage means comprising
- i) a housing
- ii) carriage wheel guide means comprising
- first wheel guide means having a plurality of first stabilizer wheels attached rotatably to a plurality of first stabilizer wheel shafts which are mounted to said housing and are perpendicular to said base surface, said first stabilizer wheels engaging said side guide surfaces;
- second wheel guide means having a plurality of axles mounted to said housing a plurality of second stabilizer wheels rotatably attached to said axles, said axles being perpendicular to said side guide surfaces and said second stabilizer wheels engaging said base and retaining surfaces;
- iii) drive means comprising
- gear box means mounted to said housing;
- a motor mounted to said gear box means;
- belt means operably connecting the output shaft of said motor to the input shaft of said gear box means;
- a spur gear secured to the output shaft of said gear box means and operably engaging said gear rack;
- means including said tape for generally enclosing the point at which said spur gear operatively engages said gear rack;
- iv) electric control means mounted to said drive means by adjustable angle arm means, said control means comprising:
- battery means;
- battery recharging means connected to said battery means;
- control circuit means including a switch for selectively operating said device in an up or down direction and for selectively operating said device at a desired speed, said control circuit means being connected to said battery means;
- means connecting said control circuit means to said motor;
- c. seat means comprising
- i) a seat comprising
- a backrest;
- a seat cushion having a rear edge pivotably mounted to the bottom edge of said backrest;
- a seat cushion bracket rigidly mounted to the bottom edge of said backrest;
- means connected to said seat cushion for selectively maintaining said cushion in an up position;
- a pair of armrests rigidly fixed to said seat cushion, one of said armrests having said switch mounted thereto;
- ii) means for selectively swivelling said seat means comprising;
- a swivel mounting bracket fixed to the top of said carriage;
- a swivel tube fixed to the bottom of said seat bracket;
- wherein said swivel tube coaxially fits within said swivel mounting bracket and further wherein said swivel tube is free to rotate axially within said swivel mounting bracket;
- means for selectively locking said seat in position.
30 more elements
A stairway chairlift device comprising:
- a) a rail, said rail comprising a plurality of teeth between first and second ends of said rail, said teeth being generally covered by a tape secured at each end of said rail;
- b) a carriage unit housing motor means operatively engaging said rail, wherein said carriage unit is selectively movable between first and second terminal positions on said rail and comprises means for generally enclosing the point at which said carriage unit operatively engages the teeth of said rail throughout movement of said carriage unit between the terminal positions on said rail;
- and
- c) a collapsible seat assembly pivotably mounted to said carriage unit;
- wherein said seat assembly is mounted to said carriage unit on an angularly adjustable mounting means to compensate for the angular orientation of said rail;
- further wherein said motor means includes battery means for providing power to said device, said battery means being automatically self-recharging.
3 more elements
A stairway chairlift device comprising:
- 1) a rail;
- 2) a carriage unit housing motor means operatively engaging said rail;
- and
- 3) a collapsible seat assembly pivotably mounted to said carriage means;
- wherein said seat assembly is mounted to said carriage unit on an angularly adjustable mounting means to compensate for the angular orientation of the rail;
- wherein said angularly adjustable mounting means comprises an arm which comprises:
- a) a top flange section;
- b) a lower tongue section;
- and
- c) an intermediate brace section connecting said flange and tongue sections;
- wherein said flange section is rigidly secured to said seat assembly;
- further wherein said tongue section includes an arcuate slot and a hole, said tongue section hole being located at the center of the circuit of which said slot is an arc;
- further wherein said carriage unit comprises a plurality of holes, a first hole located adjacent said tongue section slot, said carriage unit further comprising first bolt means engaging said tongue section hole and said first carriage unit hole, said first bolt means selectively assisting in locking said arm in fixed relation to said carriage unit;
- further wherein said carriage unit comprises second bolt means which engages said slot and said second carriage unit hole, said second bolt means selectively assisting in locking said arm in fixed relation to said carriage unit;
- further wherein said motor means includes battery means for providing power to said device, said battery means being automatically self-recharging.
12 more elements
A chairlift device comprising:
- a) a rail;
- b) a carriage unit housing motor means operatively engaging said rail;
- c) a seat assembly including a seat cushion intended to be in a horizontal position when said device is in use;
- and
- d) means for mounting said seat assembly to said carriage unit;
- wherein said seat mounting means includes angular adjustment means to preselectively set said cushion in a horizontal position irrespective of the angular displacement of said rail;
- further wherein said angular adjustment means comprises an angular adjustment arm having an arcuate adjustment slot adjacent said carriage unit, means for pivoting said arm relative to said carriage unit, means for locking said arm in a fixed angular relation to said carriage unit, and means for fixedly securing said arm to said seat assembly.
4 more elements
A chairlift device comprising:
- a) a rail;
- b) a carriage unit housing motor means operatively engaging said rail;
- c) a seat assembly including a seat cushion intended to be in a horizontal position when said device is in use;
- and
- d) means for mounting said seat assembly to said carriage unit;
- wherein said seat mounting means includes angular adjustment means to preselectively set said cushion in a horizontal position irrespective of the angular displacement of said rail;
- further wherein said angular adjustment means comprises an arm which comprises:
- a) a top flange section;
- b) a lower tongue section;
- and
- c) an intermediate brace section connecting said flange and tongue sections;
- wherein said flange section is rigidly secured to said seat assembly;
- further wherein said tongue section includes an arcuate slot and hole, said hole being locate at the center of the circle of which said slot is and arc;
- further wherein said carriage unit comprises a plurality of holes, a first tongue section hole located adjacent said tongue section hole and a second hole located adjacent said tongue section slot, said carriage unit further comprising first bolt means engaging said tongue section hole and said first carriage unit hole, said first bolt means selectively assisting in locking said arm in fixed relation to said carriage unit;
- further wherein said carriage unit comprises second bolt means which engages said slot and said second carriage unit hole, said second bolt means selectively assisting in locking said arm in fixed relation to said carriage unit.
12 more elements
A chairlift device comprising:
- a) a rail, said rail comprising a plurality of teeth between the first and second ends of said rail, said teeth being generally covered by a tape secured at each end of said rail;
- b) a carriage unit housing motor means operatively engaging said teeth, said carriage unit selectively movable between first and second terminal positions on said rail;
- c) a seat assembly mounted to said carriage unit;
- wherein said carriage unit comprises means for generally enclosing the point at which said carriage unit operatively engages the teeth of said rail throughout movement of said carriage unit between the terminal positions on said rail.
1 more element
A chairlift device comprising:
- a) a rail;
- b) a carriage unit housing motor means operatively engaging said rail, said carriage unit moving between first and second terminal positions on said rail;
- c) a seat assembly mounted to said carriage unit, said seat assembly comprising:
- i) a seat bracket having a front edge and a rear edge, a backrest being mounted at said rear edge of said bracket;
- ii) a swivel tube fixed to the bottom of said seat bracket proximate to said front edge of said bracket;
- iii) a swivel mounting bracket fixed to the top of said carriage unit and mounted to said carriage unit proximate to the front of said carriage unit;
- iv) means for selectively locking said seat assembly in a preselected position;
- wherein said swivel tube coaxially fits within said swivel mounting bracket and further wherein said swivel tube is free to rotate axially within said swivel mounting bracket.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.