Wheelchair shuttle
AssigneeFreewiel Techniek
InventorAlexander A. A. Van Dooren
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A greatly improved, compactly dimensioned, three-wheeled wheelchair shuttle with a box shaped interior and a flat floor panel, the rear side of which can be closed by a folding ramp construction. With the aid of the rear wheel mounting construction and together with the aforementioned ramp construction pivoted on the rear of the wheelchair shuttle, the aforementioned floor panel can be lowered to the road surface, enabling a wheelchair to enter the wheelchair shuttle from the rear. The movement of the mounting construction for the rear wheels is achieved using special, high quality suspension elements which are controlled by a compressor and its associated components. The wheelchair shuttle, in accordance with the invention, has a separate rear wheel drive propelled by a battery powered electric motor.
Claims18
A self propelled steerable vehicle for one person, who would normally be invalided by a leg and/or hip condition, the driver's seat of which may be a wheelchair, comprising:
- (A) a vehicle frame,
- (B) a floor panel, adapted so that a wheelchair may be driven onto the floor panel, that is pivotally connected to the vehicle frame therein providing an up and down movement in relation to a road surface,
- (C) at least one front wheel and two rear wheels, wherein each rear wheel (3) includes:
- (1) a separate mounting construction (14), which simultaneously pivots upwards or downwards in relation to the floor panel,
- (2) adjustable suspension elements (20) positioned in front of the rear wheels (3) and pivotally connected to a rear side of the floor panel whereon the floor panel (8) can be lowered to the road surface (28),
- (D) wherein the floor panel (8) includes:
- (1) a folding ramp construction (24) adapted to be driven on to by a wheelchair (6),
- (2) means (9) on the folding ramp construction for preventing the wheelchair (6) from rolling backwards,
- (E) a plurality of side panels connected to the floor panel, provided with means (11) for preventing the wheelchair (6) from rolling forwards, and
- (F) wherein the mounting construction (14) for the rear wheels (3) is movable downwards by the adjustable suspension elements, and the locking into position of the wheelchair (6) on the vehicle (1) during a journey is assured when the folding ramp construction (24) is raised.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.