Coupling assembly for transporting wheeled chairs and associated method
OwnerCarlton Summersinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A manually-operable coupling assembly may include a primary coupling and auxiliary couplings. Both the primary and auxiliary couplings preferably include an elongated strap with a clamp attached to a distal end thereof. Each clamp may include a first and C-shaped region with a cavity and socket formed therein. A second C-shaped region may be pivotally mated to the first C-shaped region and may have a male finger with a ball bearing protruding outwardly from a distal tip thereof. The ball bearing may penetrate into the socket and become interlocked so that the first and second C-shaped regions may remain in a closed position. A spring-actuated stop block is calibrated to withstand varying pulling forces during transport as needed.
Claims15
A hand-operable coupling assembly for rolling a series of wheeled chairs along a ground surface, said hand-operable coupling assembly comprising:
- a primary coupling including a handle section and an elongated strap attached thereto, said primary coupling further including a primary clamp attached to a distal end of said strap;
- and
- a plurality of auxiliary couplings each including a strap and a pair of axially opposed auxiliary clamps mated with said strap associated therewith respectively;
- wherein said primary and auxiliary couplings are adapted to be engaged to the series of wheeled chairs during transport procedures;
- wherein each of said primary and auxiliary clamps comprises
- a first C-shaped region rigidly mated to said strap and maintaining a fixed spatial relationship therewith, said first C-shaped region including a cavity formed therein and further having a socket slidably interfitted within said cavity;
- and
- a second C-shaped region pivotally mated to said first C-shaped region and being selectively biased along an arcuate path defined adjacent to a corresponding one of said straps, said second C-shaped region having a male finger protruding outwardly from a distal tip thereof, said male finger being provided with a ball bearing disposed at a distal end thereof, said male finger bending along a curvilinear path extending from a circumferential arc of said second C-shaped region;
- wherein said ball bearing penetrates into said socket and becomes interlocked therewith when said male finger is introduced into said cavity, said first and second C-shaped regions remaining at a closed position when said ball bearing is interlocked with said socket and thereby bias said primary and auxiliary clamps to respective closed positions.
A hand-operable coupling assembly for rolling a series of wheeled chairs along a ground surface, said hand-operable coupling assembly comprising:
- a primary coupling including a handle section and an elongated strap attached thereto, said primary coupling further including a primary clamp attached to a distal end of said strap;
- and
- a plurality of auxiliary couplings each including a strap and a pair of axially opposed auxiliary clamps mated with said strap associated therewith respectively;
- wherein said primary and auxiliary couplings are adapted to be engaged to the series of wheeled chairs and thereafter configured in such a manner that said primary and auxiliary couplings lay at an end-to-end pattern during transport procedures;
- wherein each of said primary and auxiliary clamps comprises:
- a first C-shaped region rigidly mated to said strap and maintaining a fixed spatial relationship therewith, said first C-shaped region including a cavity formed therein and further having a socket slidably interfitted within said cavity;
- and
- a second C-shaped region pivotally mated to said first C-shaped region and being selectively biased along an arcuate path defined adjacent to a corresponding one of said straps, said second C-shaped region having a male finger protruding outwardly from a distal tip thereof, said male finger being provided with a ball bearing disposed at a distal end thereof, said male finger bending along a curvilinear path extending from a circumferential arc of said second C-shaped region;
- wherein said ball bearing penetrates into said socket and becomes interlocked therewith when said male finger is introduced into said cavity, said first and second C-shaped regions remaining at a closed position when said ball bearing is interlocked with said socket and thereby bias said primary and auxiliary clamps to respective closed positions.
A method for rolling a series of wheeled chairs along a ground surface, said method comprising the chronological steps of:
- a. providing a primary coupling including a handle section and an elongated strap attached thereto, said primary coupling further including a primary clamp attached to a distal end of said strap;
- b. providing a plurality of auxiliary couplings each including a strap and a pair of axially opposed auxiliary clamps mated with said strap associated therewith respectively;
- c. engaging said auxiliary couplings to the series of wheeled chairs;
- d. engaging said primary coupling to the series of wheeled chairs by automatically pivoting said primary clamp between open and closed positions by reciprocating a portion of said handle section along a linear path defined parallel to a longitudinal length of said strap of said primary coupling;
- e. configuring said primary and auxiliary couplings in such a manner that said primary and auxiliary couplings lay at an end-to-end pattern during transport;
- f. transporting the series of wheeled chairs between remote locations;
- and
- g. disengaging said primary and auxiliary couplings from the series of wheeled chairs respectively.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.