# US 5,704,439 A · Electric wheelchair and seat mount-dismount apparatus therefor

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- Number: US 5,704,439 A
- Document ID: US5704439A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/363,014
- Filed: 1994-12-23
- Granted: 1998-01-06
- Earliest claimed: 1993-12-24
- Inventors: Kiyoshi Kitahama; Tsuruko Kitahama
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5704439A

## CPC

- A61G 7/053: Aids for getting into, or out of, bed, e.g. steps, chairs, {cane-like supports}
- A61G 5/042: {Front wheel drive}
- A61G 7/1017: {Pivoting arms, e.g. crane type mechanisms}
- A61G 7/1046: {Mobile bases, e.g. having wheels}
- A61G 7/1067: {for adjustable bases}
- A61G 5/1002: {with toilet facilities (room closets, night chairs A47K11/04)}
- A61G 5/1059: {adjusting the height of the seat}
- A61G 7/1048: {having auxiliary drive means}
- A61G 7/1069: {for quick release}
- A61G 7/1078: {Clamps for flexible harnesses}
- A61G 2200/34: sitting
- A61G 2203/14: Joysticks
- Y10S 180/907: Motorized wheelchairs
- A61G: TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS (appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00); OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES (embalming corpses A01N1/00)
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

An electric wheelchair includes a pair of car body support posts, each having an elbow support post, a front support post and a bottom support post. The car body support posts are formed in a U-shape with the open part directed backward, and with the elbow support post and the bottom support post arranged in parallel with one another. A bottom plate firmly connects the car body support posts side-by-side. At least one back support post is provided which can be connected to the elbow support posts at the free end thereof and can be removed therefrom. A detachable seat is supported by the car body support posts. An electric driving unit includes at least one outer box, a battery, two motors and a control box, and is provided at a front portion of the bottom support posts. A pair of electric drive front wheels are provided, each directly connected to the motors, one to the right motor and the other to the left motor, and a pair of rear wheels support the rear of the wheelchair.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electric wheelchair comprising:
a pair of car body support posts, each car body support post comprising an elbow support post, a front support post and a bottom support post, said car body support posts being formed substantially in a U-shape with an open part of said U-shape directed backward, and with said elbow support post and said bottom support post arranged in parallel with one another;
a bottom plate for firmly connecting said car body support posts side-by-side;
at least one back support post which can be connected to said elbow support posts at the free end thereof and can be removed therefrom;
a detachable seat removably supported by said car body support posts;
an electric driving unit comprising at least one outer box containing right and left motors, a control box for controlling said right and left motors, and a battery for supplying electricity to said motors, said outer box being provided at a front portion of said bottom support posts;
a pair of electric drive front wheels, each directly connected to said motors, one to the right motor and the other to the left motor; and
a pair of rear wheels attached to said bottom support posts.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The electric wheelchair as claimed in claim 1, wherein a single back support post is horizontally provided connecting each free end of said elbow support posts, and further comprising a removable back-rest portion supported by said back support post.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The electric wheelchair as claimed in claim 1, wherein two back support posts are provided, each of said back support post vertically raised upward from each free end of said elbow support posts.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The electric wheelchair as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a back-rest portion which can be opened backward and is in the form of a door selected from the group consisting of double-leafed hinged door and single swing door.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The electric wheelchair as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower portion and the upper portion of said detachable seat form vacant spaces which are open in the backward direction of said wheelchair.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The electric wheelchair as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of belts for suspending said detachable seat from said elbow support posts.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The electric wheelchair as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of said belts is fitted to the seat and detached therefrom by means of a connecting part of the seat side and a connecting part of the belt side.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The electric wheelchair as claimed in claim 1, wherein said car body support posts have a diameter in the range of about 25 to 30 mm.

### Claim 9

An electric wheelchair comprising:
a pair of car body support posts, each car body support post comprising an elbow support post, a front support post and a bottom support post, said car body support posts being formed substantially in a U-shape with an open part of said U-shape directed backward, and with said elbow support post and said bottom support post arranged in parallel with one another;
a bottom plate for firmly connecting said car body support posts side-by-side;
a back support post which can be connected to said elbow support posts at the free end thereof and can be removed therefrom;
a detachable seat removably supported by said car body support posts;
an electric driving unit comprising at least one outer box containing right and left motors, a control box for controlling said right and left motors, and a battery for supplying electricity to said motors, said outer box being provided at a front portion of said bottom support posts;
a pair of electric drive front wheels, each directly connected to said motors, one to the right motor and the other to the left motor;
a pair of rear wheels attached to said bottom support posts; and
a seat mount-dismount apparatus comprising a pair of rotation members, each rotation member attached to said elbow support post, one to the right elbow support post and the other to the left elbow support post and rotatable therearound, and handles for rotating said rotation members.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The electric wheelchair as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a pair of seat support posts each provided almost at the center between said elbow support post and said bottom support post in parallel therewith.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The electric wheelchair as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a ring-shaped running member under each of said rotation members, said rotation members attached to said seat support posts via said running members.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The electric wheelchair as claimed in claim 9, wherein said rotation members are covers made of a rigid plate with a deep groove shape deeply fitted to said elbow support posts.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The electric wheelchair as claimed in claim 9, wherein said mount-dismount apparatus comprises a plurality of belts for suspending said detachable seat.