Rechargeable electric battery powered vehicle for the physically challenged and charge station system, and methods of making and assembling the same

A method of charging the battery system carried by an electrically forwardly and rearwardly driven cart of the type usable by physically challenged persons and including a steering post in alignment with a seat behind said post and a shopping basket centrally mounted in alignment with said steerable post and seat to enable steering of said cart by a seated person;

• said cart being used in company with a vehicle charging system comprising a probe carried forwardly on the shopping basket and having a probe conductor element at the front end of the shopping basket extending above the shopping basket;
• a probe receiver including a support for said charging station and incorporating a probe capturing system comprising a longitudinally extending resilient strip parts assembly with electrically conductive strip part portions, at least one of which is mounted to be resiliently laterally expansible, and said probe conductor element comprising D.C. terminal mechanism for electrically engaging between and laterally expanding said assembly, and wherein there are D.C. electrical conductor connections between said battery system and probe terminal mechanism, and said probe receiver conductor portions and a source of electrical power, comprising:
• a. driving said cart forwardly in a direction to move said D.C. probe terminal mechanism into said strip part assembly, and
• b. further moving said cart forwardly to bring said terminal mechanism on said probe into engagement with said electrically conductive strip assembly and forcing said strip part portions resiliently apart sufficiently to maintain appropriate electrical contact to permit uninterrupted recharging to occur.

A vehicle battery charging station system for an electrically powered battery powered steerable scootertype vehicle for the physically challenged having at least one rechargeable battery, a shopping basket at its front end, and a direct current probe adapted to be carried forwardly on said shopping basket, said vehicle probe having external electrical direct current transmitting terminal mechanism, comprising;

• a. a probe receiver adapted to receive and transmit direct current including a support for a charging station having a recharger for converting alternating current to direct current;
• b. direct current electrically conductive connections attached between said probe receiver and said recharger;
• and
• c. a probe capturing system including a non-conductive support carrying opposing electrically conductive strips forming a passageway for said probe which is at least partly narrower laterally than said vehicle probe, at least one electrically conductive strip being a resilient, laterally expandable strip part spaced from said non-conductive supports and adapted to be supported at the level of said vehicle probe.

A method of constructing a system for charging at least one rechargeable battery carried by an electrically driven cart usable by physically challenged persons and including a steering post member with a forward shopping basket system and a seat behind said basket system in position to be aligned substantially front to rear with said steering post member and basket system, comprising:

• a. mounting a probe on said basket system laterally centrally in a fore to aft direction, and providing external direct current transmitting probe terminal mechanism thereon for operation at a predetermined level above said basket system or compartment;
• b. providing a probe receiver connectable with a charging station;
• c. providing a probe capturing system on said receiver including mechanism forming a probe capturing passageway and including a pair of electrically separated conductive elements for transforming direct current to said probe terminal mechanism supported generally at the level of said probe terminal mechanism;
• and
• d. providing electrical connections for installation between said battery and probe terminal mechanism, and between said probe receiver part and a source of direct current electrical power.