Wheelchair motorizing apparatus
OwnerNils Hedeeninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wheelchair motorizing apparatus employs an articulated tread drive in combination with front support wheels and rear drive wheels. The tread drive is used to provide traction during the ascent or descent of stairs or the traversing of obstacles, the front support wheels are used to raise and lower the front of the wheelchair, and the rear drive wheels are used to raise and lower the rear of the wheelchair in addition to providing drive traction and steering. A positioning mechanism integral with the tread drive acts to keep the treads in contact with the terrain or stairs.
Claims19
A wheelchair motorizing apparatus for providing locomotion along a contact surface comprising:
- a wheelchair base member;
- an articulated tread drive affixed to said wheelchair base member for causing selective locomotion of said wheelchair along the contact surface;
- rear drive wheels for selective engagement with the contact surface;
- means for swiveling said rear drive wheels for steering;
- and
- means for providing driving torque to said rear drive wheels.
A wheelchair motorizing apparatus for providing locomotion along a contact surface comprising:
- a wheelchair base member;
- an articulated tread drive affixed to said wheelchair base member for causing selective locomotion of said wheelchair apparatus along the contact surface, wherein said articulated tread drive comprises front and rear tread drives;
- pivot means connected between said base member and said rear tread drive for raising and lowering said rear tread drive and for controlling the angular position of said base member;
- rear drive wheels for selective engagement with the contact surface;
- means for swiveling said rear drive wheels for steering;
- and
- means for providing driving torque to said rear drive wheels.
A wheelchair motorizing apparatus for providing locomotion along a contact surface comprising:
- a wheelchair base member;
- an articulated tread drive affixed to said wheelchair base member for causing selective locomotion of said wheelchair apparatus along the contact surface, wherein said articulated tread drive comprises front and rear tread drives;
- and
- pivot means connected between said base member and said rear tread drive for raising and lowering said rear tread drive and for controlling the angular position of said base member;
- wherein said pivot means comprises a screw mechanism connected between said rear tread drive and said wheelchair base member, whereby rotation of said screw mechanism causes said wheelchair base member to move relative to said rear tread drive.
A wheelchair motorizing apparatus for providing locomotion along a contact surface comprising:
- a wheelchair base member;
- an articulated tread drive affixed to said wheelchair base member for causing selective locomotion of said wheelchair along the contact surface, having front and rear tread drives defined thereon;
- wherein said rear tread drive comprises rear left and rear right independently driven tread drive mechanisms, and wherein said front tread drive comprises front left and front right independently driven tread drive mechanisms.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.