Back to results
US 8,775,001 B2Granted
Motorized wheelchair interlock
OwnerAlan C. Phillips, Craig A. Phillips +1inventors
InventorsAlan C. Phillips, Craig A. Phillips, Kevin C. Fisher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A control system for a powered wheelchair that detects when a user is in a first orientation to cause movement of the powered wheelchair. The control system inhibits movement of the wheelchair when the user is not in the first orientation.
Claims20
A power chair which comprises:
- a drive unit mounted on the chair for moving the chair;
- a movement control device mounted on the chair;
- an override switch, wherein the override switch is selectively moved into an ON position to interconnect the movement control device with the drive unit, and is alternatively moved into an OFF position for disconnecting the movement control device from the drive unit, wherein the override switch is biased into the OFF position;
- a position sensor mounted on the chair and electronically connected to the override switch;
- and
- a detectable component selectively moved by an operator of the chair into engagement with the position sensor, to activate the position sensor and hold the override switch in the ON position while the detectable component is engaged with the position sensor, for connecting the movement control device with the drive unit to control movement of the chair.
3 more elements
A switching system for operating a power chair which comprises:
- an override switch movable between an ON position wherein the chair can be directly driven by a propulsion unit for movement of the chair, and an OFF position wherein the propulsion unit is idled, wherein the override switch is biased into the OFF position;
- a position sensor for selectively moving the override switch from the OFF position to the ON position;
- and
- a detachable component selectively moved by operator of the chair into an engagement of the detectable component with the position sensor, to activate the position sensor and hold the override switch in the ON position while the detectable component is engaged with the position sensor.
1 more element
A method for assembling a control unit for a power chair which comprises the steps of:
- mounting an override switch on the chair, wherein the override switch is movable between an ON position and an OFF position, and wherein with the override switch in the ON position a propulsion of the chair can be provided by a drive unit and the resultant movement of the chair can be controlled by a movement control device, and wherein with the override switch in the OFF position the drive unit is idled, and further wherein the override switch is biased into the OFF position;
- locating a position sensor on the chair adjacent to the override switch, with the position sensor electronically connected to the override switch;
- providing a detectable component for selective engagement of the detectable component with the position sensor to move the override switch from the OFF position to the ON position during an engagement of the detectable component with the position sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.