U.S. patent number 3,912,032 [Application Number 05/419,094] was granted by the patent office on 1975-10-14 for wheelchair-attachable powered unit.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The Benz Vehicle Corporation. Invention is credited to William G. Benz, Glenn G. Reynolds, Charles W. Ricketts.
United States Patent |
3,912,032 |
Benz , et al. |
October 14, 1975 |
Wheelchair-attachable powered unit
Abstract
A powered unit is selectively attachable to a wheelchair to
convert the wheelchair into a three-wheeled vehicle of considerable
stability and capable of operating at relatively high speeds. The
powered unit includes a frame structure coupled to a cylindrical
member for pivotably receiving a fork assembly including a wheel
and steering means in the form of a handle bar assembly. A gasoline
powered engine is mounted on the frame structure so as to
frictionally engage and drive the wheel. A pair of support legs of
adjustable length extended downwardly from the frame structure so
as to function together with the wheel to support the powered unit
in an upright position when the powered unit is not attached to a
wheelchair. Coupling of the powered unit to a wheelchair is
accomplished by inserting and locking tubular members of the frame
structure within mating tubular members fastened to the frame of
the wheelchair, raising the front end of the wheelchair so as to
elevate the front wheels thereof above the ground, and pinning the
tubular members to hold the wheelchair in the raised position. With
the support legs shortened so as to clear the ground, the resulting
three-wheeled vehicle can be driven under the power of gasoline
engine and steered by the handlebar, with one-handed control of the
vehicle being made possible by a pair of handlebar mounted controls
which respectively control engine speed and braking of the front
wheel.
Inventors: |
Benz; William G. (San Jose,
CA), Reynolds; Glenn G. (Santa Cruz, CA), Ricketts;
Charles W. (Mountain View, CA) |
Assignee: |
The Benz Vehicle Corporation
(San Jose, CA)
|
Family
ID: |
23660757 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/419,094 |
Filed: |
November 26, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
180/13;
280/250.1; 482/68; 180/907; 280/304.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61G
5/047 (20130101); A61G 5/1051 (20161101); Y10S
180/907 (20130101); A61G 5/1016 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61G
5/00 (20060101); A61G 5/04 (20060101); A61G
005/04 (); B60K 001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;180/11,12,13,DIG.3
;280/289,242WC,287 ;297/DIG.4,DIG.10 ;272/70.3 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Schonberg; David
Assistant Examiner: Silverstrim; John P.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Limbach, Limbach & Sutton
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A power attachment for use with a wheelchair of the type having
a pair of hand operable drive wheels rotatably mounted on a frame
having at least one castor wheel fixed against translation with
respect to the frame, the power attachment comprising:
a powered unit frame,
at least one front wheel pivotally mounted on said powered unit
frame, motor means mounted on said powered unit frame and
selectively couplable to drive said front wheel,
steering means coupled to said front wheel and being hand operable
to pivot said front wheel relative to said powered unit frame,
first coupling means connectable to the wheelchair,
second coupling means connected to said powered unit frame for
detachable connection to said first coupling means,
first locking means for detachably locking said first and second
coupling means together when said first coupling means is connected
to the wheelchair and the wheelchair is supported on the drive
wheels and castor wheel, and
second locking means for locking said detachably locked first and
second coupling means relative to the wheelchair frame when the
wheelchair is tilted about the axis of the drive wheels and for
maintaining the lowest portion of the caster wheel above the plane
defined by the lowest portion of the drive wheels and the lowest
portion of the front wheel.
2. The power attachment of claim 1 wherein
said first coupling means includes at least a first elongated
element,
said second coupling means includes at least a second elongated
element,
said elongated elements telescopically movable with respect to one
another, and
said first locking means includes means for locking said first and
second elongated elements together when in telescoped relationship
with one another.
3. The power attachment of claim 1 wherein said second locking
means includes a pin securing said detachably locked first and
second coupling means to the wheelchair frame.
4. The power attachment of claim 1, further including a pair of
support legs mounted on said powered unit frame structure, said
legs being adjustable between a long length position in which the
legs rest on the ground to support the powered unit frame together
with said front wheel when said powered unit frame is unconnected
to the wheelchair and a short length position in which the legs are
raised above the ground when said powered unit frame is connected
to the wheelchair by said first and second coupling means and said
first and second locking means.
5. The power attachment of claim 1 wherein said steering means
includes a handlebar forming a closed loop and including control
means mounted on said handlebar, said control means including means
for selectively varying the speed of said motor means and means for
braking said front wheel.
6. A power attachment for use with a wheelchair of the type having
a pair of hand operable driving wheels and at least one castor
wheel, the power attachment comprising:
a frame structure adapted to be selectively coupled to a wheelchair
and when coupled to the wheelchair to hold the wheelchair in a
tilted position so as to elevate the castor wheel,
a front wheel pivotably mounted on the frame structure,
steering means coupled to the wheel and being hand operable to
pivot the wheel relative to the frame structure,
motor means mounted on the frame structure and selectively
couplable to drive the wheel, and wherein the frame structure
includes at least two pairs of tubular members, each pair of
tubular members comprising a first tubular member telescopically
engageable with a second tubular member to join the two members,
the first member of each pair being coupled to a portion of the
frame structure opposite said front wheel and the second member of
each pair being adapted to be pivotably mounted on the wheelchair
and means for detachably locking the second member in a fixed
position on the wheelchair with the wheelchair tilted to elevate
the castor wheels.
7. A combination vehicle for transporting nonambulatory persons
comprising:
a wheelchair having a frame structure and first and second wheels
of the type normally rotated by hand by a person using the
wheelchair, the first and second wheels forming a pair of rear
wheels for the combination vehicle, a pair of fourth and fifth
wheels mounted forwardly of the first and second wheels on the
wheelchair, the frame structure of the wheelchair including at
least one elongated, first element;
a second frame structure detachably coupled to the frame structure
of the wheelchair, the second frame structure including an
elongated second element, the first and second elongated elements
being telescopically engageable to join the second frame structure
to the frame structure of the wheelchair and selectively
disengageable to separate the second frame structure from the frame
structure of the wheelchair and wherein said elongated first
element is pivotably mounted on the frame structure of the
wheelchair and is lockable to the frame structure of the wheelchair
to hold the fourth and fifth wheels in an elevated position after
the elongated second element is engaged with the elongated first
element;
a third wheel pivotably mounted on the second frame structure and
forming a front wheel for the combination vehicle;
steering means coupled to the third wheel and being hand operable
from the wheelchair to pivot the third wheel relative to the second
frame structure and thereby steer the combination vehicle; and
self-contained motor means mounted entirely on the second frame
structure and selectively couplable to drive the third wheel and
thereby power the combination vehicle.
8. The invention defined in claim 7 wherein the second frame
structure includes means extendable into a support position so as
to function with the third wheel to hold the second frame structure
in an upright position when the frame structure of the wheelchair
is uncoupled from the second frame structure.
9. The invention defined in claim 7, wherein the second frame
structure is operative to hold the wheelchair at an angle such that
the fourth and fifth wheels of the wheelchair are elevated relative
to the first and second wheels of the wheelchair after the second
frame structure is coupled to the frame structure of the
wheelchair.
10. A detachable power unit for use with a wheelchair of the type
having a frame, a pair of normally hand operated wheels mounted on
the frame, and a pair of castor wheels pivotably mounted on the
frame, the power unit comprising
a substantially horizontal, open ended, U-shaped frame;
a rotatable driving wheel pivotably mounted on the U-shaped
frame,
hand operable means for pivotally steering the driving wheel,
self-contained motor means mounted on the U-shaped frame,
motor engaging means for selectively, frictionally engaging the
self-contained motor means with the driving wheel to cause the
driving wheel to rotate, and
connecting means mounted on the wheelchair frame for removably
engaging the U-shaped frame with the wheelchair frame and for
thereafter holding the wheelchair in a tilted position to elevate
the castor wheels while the wheelchair frame and the U-shaped frame
are engaged with each other.
11. A detachable power unit for a wheelchair as recited in claim
10, wherein the connecting means include means mounted on the
wheelchair frame for pivotably engaging the U-shaped frame with the
wheelchair while the wheelchair is resting on all of its wheels,
and means for locking the U-shaped frame to the wheelchair frame
after the user places the wheelchair in a tilted position to hold
the wheelchair castor wheels off of the ground.
12. A detachable power unit for a wheelchair as recited in claim
10, wherein the U-shaped frame includes a pair of integrally
mounted, parallel first elongated members which together lie in a
plane which is substantially horizontal, and the connecting means
include a pair of elongated second members pivotably mounted on the
wheelchair frame, at least one of the first and second pair of
elongated members being hollow and the first and second pairs of
elongated members being telescopically engageable with each other
to connect the power unit to the wheelchair, and means for locking
the second elongated members to the wheelchair frame after the user
places it in a tilted position to hold the wheelchair castor wheels
off of the ground when the wheelchair is connected to the power
unit.
13. A detachable power unit for a wheelchair as recited in claim
12, wherein the wheelchair frame includes a seat portion and a pair
of second elongated members are pivoted to the wheelchair frame
above the seat portion.
14. A detachable power unit for a wheelchair as recited in claim
10, wherein the self-contained motor means include a drive shaft
and is mounted to the U-shaped frame over the driving wheel and the
motor engaging means include means for selectively, frictionally
engaging the drive shaft with the driving wheel.
15. A detachable power unit for a wheelchair as recited in claim
10, wherein the power unit further comprises a pair of downwardly
extending, telescoping legs attached to the U-shaped frame for
helping to support the power unit when it is unconnected to the
wheelchair.
16. A detachable power unit for a wheelchair as recited in claim
10, wherein the power unit further comprises control means mounted
on the hand operable steering means, the control means including
means for selectively varying the speed of the motor means and
means for braking the driving wheel.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to powered vehicles for physically
handicapped persons, and more particularly to a powered unit which
may be joined to a conventional wheelchair to provide a powered
vehicle of considerable stability for the paraplegic or other
wheelchair user.
2. History of the Prior Art
One of the most serious problems of the paraplegic or other
nonambulatory person confined to a wheelchair is that of mobility.
Wheelchairs provide a limited mobility which is determined by the
ability of the person to propel and control the wheelchair by hand.
Powered wheelchairs which are extremely expensive as well as being
heavy and cumbersome units provide a greater degree of mobility,
but are still limited in terms of their stability, and particularly
in terms of the speed at which they are capable of travelling. Such
units, moreover, are relatively complex, requiring substantial
maintenance, and are relatively uneconomical in terms of the cost
and range of operation. Furthermore, there are many occasions in
which powered wheelchairs are disadvantageous as compared with
nonpowered chairs. For example, a paraplegic who is capable of
driving a car may be required to fold his own wheelchair and place
it inside the car when he enters the car and to follow a reverse
procedure when he leaves the car. A powered wheelchair has proven
to be too large and heavy in such situations.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a unit which may
be coupled to a conventional nonpowered wheelchair to convert the
wheelchair into a powered vehicle and which may be uncoupled from
the wheelchair to permit normal use of the wheelchair when desired.
Such powered unit should desirably be relatively small, inexpensive
and of simple and lightweight construction. The powered unit should
be such that conventional wheelchairs can be adapted for use
therewith with a minimum of modification. Addition of the powered
unit to the wheelchair should desirably result in a vehicle of
considerable stability which is easily controlled, even by a person
with limited arm use, and yet capable of being driven at relatively
high speeds.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This present invention provides a powered unit which includes a
frame structure and a pivotable or steerable wheel. The wheel is
rotatably mounted on a fork assembly which is in turn pivotably
mounted within a cylindrical member forming a part of the frame
structure. Steering means in the form of handlebars are coupled to
the fork assembly within the cylindrical member. Engine means
mounted on a frame assembly is coupled to drive the wheel.
The frame assembly which includes means for supporting the powered
unit in an upright position when detached from a wheelchair is
readily couplable by the user to the frame of a conventional
wheelchair which has been appropriately modified, to form a
powered, three-wheeled vehicle. The wheelchair is attached to the
frame structure of the powered unit, and then with the wheelchair
tilted back to elevate the front wheels thereof above the ground,
the adapted portion of the wheelchair frame is pinned so as to hold
the chair in the elevated position with the front wheels thereof
raised above and out of the way of the ground and the large rear
wheels thereof forming the rear wheels of the three-wheeled
vehicle. The support means for the powered unit are thereafter
raised out of the way of the ground.
The resulting portable unit is relatively simple, inexpensive,
small and lightweight. It is easily attached to a conventional
wheelchair which has been appropriately modified, to provide a
simple and economical vehicle which is easily controlled and yet
which is capable of relatively high speeds so as to greatly enhance
the mobility of the paraplegic or other nonambulatory person.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the
invention will be apparent from the following more particular
description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a powered unit in accordance with
the invention together with a conventional wheelchair which has
been adapted for use with the powered unit;
FIG. 2 is a side view of the powered unit and wheelchair of FIG. 1
upon being joined together;
FIG. 3 is a top view of the powered unit of FIG. 1 together with
the mating members added to the wheelchair to adapt the
wheelchair;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the frame structure of the powered
unit of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a portion of the arrangement of FIG.
3 taken along the line 5--5 thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The various figures of drawing illustrate a powered unit 10
according to the invention and a conventional wheelchair 12 which
has been adapted for use with the powered unit 10. The wheelchair
12 includes a pair of relatively large rear wheels 14 and 16 which
are of the type having set-apart outer rims for manipulation by
hand by the paraplegic user to propel the wheelchair 12. The wheels
14 and 16 are mounted on a frame structure 18 for the wheelchair 12
together with a pair of relatively small castor wheels 20 and 22.
The wheelchair 12 has first coupling means in the form of a pair of
hollow, elongated, generally tubular members 24 and 26 pivotably
mounted on the opposite sides of the frame member 18 by volts 28
and 30. The tubular members 24 and 26 may be pivoted relative to
the wheelchair 12 to permit the wheelchair 12 to be raised and
locked in the raised position upon being coupled to the powered
unit 10, as described hereafter. The tubular members 24 and 26
comprise the only elements which need be attached to the wheelchair
12 in order to adapt the wheelchair 12 for use with the powered
unit 10. The powered unit 10 has a U-shaped frame 34, a front
driving wheel 36 pivotably mounted on the frame 34 at the midpoint
of the curve of the U-shaped frame 34, and a handlebar assembly 38
coupled to the wheel 36 through the frame 34 to permit pivoting
movement of the wheel 36 by hand relative to the frame 34, as is
described more fully hereinafter.
The frame 34 includes a hollow, generally cylindrical member 40 of
the type used in bicycles for receiving a bicycle fork assembly 42
in which the front wheel 36, also of conventional bicycle design,
is rotatably mounted. The handlebar assembly 38 extends through the
top end of the cylindrical member 40 where it is coupled to the
fork assembly 42. The frame structure 34 includes a second clamping
means detachably cooperatively connectible to the first coupling
means for connecting the frame structure 34 to the wheelchair. This
second coupling means includes a pair of elongated, tubular members
44 and 46 which comprise part of the frame structure 34 extending
rearwardly from the cylindrical member 40 in parallel directions
away from the front wheel 36. A pair of support legs 48 and 50 are
coupled to the tubular members 44 and 46 respectively so as to
extend downwardly therefrom. When the powered unit 10 is detached
from the wheelchair 12 the lower ends of the support legs 48 and 50
rest on the ground so as to support the powered unit 10 in an
upright position together with the front wheel 36. A front wheel
frictional drive motor assembly 52 is mounted just in front of the
cylindrical member 40 and over the front wheel 36 to selectively
engage and drive the front wheel 36.
As best seen in FIG. 4 as well as FIG. 3 the tubular members 44 and
46 of the frame structure 34 of the powered unit 10 have forward
ends attached to the cylindrical member 40 such as by welding and
short forward portions which extend rearwardly from the member 40
in parallel relation to each other. The members 44 and 46 then
curve outwardly so as to extend in directions away from each other
before again bending so as to extend in parallel directions toward
the rear of the powered unit 10 and away from the cylindrical
member 40. The tubular members 44 and 46 terminate in tubular
elements 56 and 58 respectively. The tubular members 44 and 46 are
hollow and of approximately the same size as the tubular members 24
and 26 mounted on the wheelchair 12. The elements 56 and 58 have
outer diameters just slightly smaller than the inner diameters of
the tubular members 44 and 46 so as to be receivable within the
ends of the members 44 and 46 where they are held in place by wing
nuts 60 and 62 respectively. At the point where the tubular members
44 and 46 curve outwardly so as to extend in directions away from
each other, they are joined by a spacer bar 64. The tubular members
44 and 46, the spacer bar 64 and the tubular elements 56 and 58 lie
in a common plane which is generally horizontal with respect to the
ground when the powered unit 10 is supported by the legs 48 and
50.
The wheelchair 12 which has been altered only by the addition of
the members 24 and 26 may be used in the conventional fashion
without interference by the members 24 and 26. When the user
desires to convert the wheelchair 12 into a three-wheeled, powered
vehicle, he moves the wheelchair 12 toward the powered unit 10.
With the tubular members 24 and 26 held in a raised position so as
to be generally horizontal and generally coaxial with respect to
the members 44 and 46, he inserts the elements 56 and 58 into the
members 24 and 26. The tubular members 24 and 26 are of similar
size to the members 44 and 46 so as to have inner diameters just
slightly larger than the outer diameters of the elements 56 and 58.
The tubular elements 56 and 58 are locked in place within the
members 24 and 26 by spring-loaded locking pins 65 and 66 which
snap into place within apertures 67 and 68 in the tubular members
24 and 26.
The user suspends the front wheels 20 and 22 of the wheelchair 12
above the ground for clearance (typically 21/2 -3 inches) by
pushing down on the handlebar assembly 38 or the wheels 14 and 16
so as to raise the front end of the wheelchair. In some instances
this process can be facilitated by use of a ramp 70 placed just in
front of the front wheels 20 and 22 of the wheelchair 12. The
wheelchair 12 and coupled powered unit 10 are pushed forward,
rolling the castor wheels 20 and 22 up onto the ramp 70 to elevate
the front of the wheelchair 12.
As the front end of the wheelchair 12 is raised, the tubular
members 24 and 26 which have been coupled to the tubular elements
56 and 58 pivot about the bolts 28 and 30 and relative to the
wheelchair 12 so as to assume different positions relative to the
wheelchair 12. When the wheelchair 12 is in the tilted position,
the tubular members 24 and 26 are pinned to the frame structure 18
of the wheelchair 12 to lock the wheelchair 12 in the tilted
position. Locking is accomplished by inserting pins 72 and 74
suspended by chains 76 and 78 from the tubular elements 44 and 46
through apertures 80 and 82 in the tubular members 24 and 26 and
into apertures 84 and 86 in the frame structure 18 of the
wheelchair 12. The locking of the tubular member 24 to the frame
structure 18 is shown in detail in FIG. 5. The tubular member 26 is
locked to the other side of the frame structure 18 in the same
fashion.
The leg 48 is comprised of a first tubular element 88 fastened to
the tubular element 56 and extending into a larger tubular element
90. Similarly the other leg 50 is comprised of telescoping tubular
elements 92 and 94. The element 88 has a spring-loaded pin 96
therein which engages either of a pair of apertures 98 and 100
within the element 90. Similarly the element 92 has a spring-loaded
pin 102 which engages either of a pair of apertures in the element
94. When the pin 96 resides within the aperture 98, the leg 48 is
held in a long-length condition in which it rests on the ground to
support the powered unit 10 as seen in FIG. 1. With the pin 96 in
the aperture 100, the leg 48 is held in a short-length condition in
which the lower end thereof clears the ground by several inches as
seen in FIG. 2. The pin 102 within the other leg 50 functions in
the same fashion to hold the leg 50 in long-length or short-length
conditions.
When the wheelchair 12 is coupled to the powered unit 10, the legs
48 and 50 are not needed to support the powered unit 10.
Accordingly the occupant of the wheelchair 12 reaches down and
depresses the pin 96 to start the tubular element 90 sliding
upwardly along the tubular element 88. When the aperture 100
reaches the pin 96, the pin 96 springs out through the aperture 98
to lock the leg 48 in the short-length condition. At the same time
the other leg 50 is raised in similar fashion, so that both legs
are positioned above and away from the ground. With the wheelchair
12 uncoupled from the powered unit 10, the legs 48 and 50 are
needed for support. Accordingly, prior to uncoupling the wheelchair
12 from the powered unit 10, the occupant of the wheelchair 12
reaches down and depresses the pin 96 to remove it from the
aperture 100 and permit commencement of a sliding motion of the
element 90 downwardly along the element 88. When the pin 96 reaches
the aperture 98 it snaps into the aperture 98 to lock the leg 48 in
the long-length condition. The other leg 50 is extended in similar
fashion prior to uncoupling the wheelchair 12 from the powered unit
10.
With the wheelchair 12 joined to the powered unit 10, the
respective frame structure 18 and 34 effectively become a single
frame structure for a powered, three-wheeled vehicle. The rear
wheels 14 and 16 of the wheelchair 12 serve as the rear wheels for
the vehicle. The wheel 36 of the powered unit 10 serves as the
front wheel for the vehicle. The castor wheels 20 and 22 of the
wheelchair 12 are held in a raised position out of the way of the
ground. Similarly, with the legs 48 and 50 assuming the
short-length condition, the lower ends thereof are held in elevated
positions above the ground. Where the ramp 70 is used in the
process of joining the wheelchair 12 to the powered unit 10, it is
a simple matter for the person occupying the wheelchair 12 to reach
down, pick up the ramp 70 and store it in a convenient
location.
The front wheel frictional drive motor assembly 52 may be of any
appropriate size and configuration, but preferably is of the type
sold under the trademark "SOLEX" by Solex Company of Paris, France.
The Solex unit is ideally suited for this type of application since
it utilizes a relatively small gasoline engine which is easy to
start and which is economical to operate. Because of engine's
economy, only a small gas tank is required. The Solex unit also
includes a small generator which may be used to power lights and
other accessories for the vehicle. The power produced by the Solex
unit is relatively low compared to that of other vehicles, and yet
is adequate for vehicles in accordance with the invention.
The Solex unit engages the front wheel 36 through a frictional
drive arrangement which may be disengaged by a clutch control 104
when desired. Normally, however, it is not necessary to disengage
the clutch via the control 104 where the engine is to be started by
accelerating the vehicle to a low speed. In such instances a
compression control lever 106 mounted on the handlebar assembly 38
is manually actuated by the occupant of the wheelchair 12 so as to
reduce the compression within the engine and thereby allow the
vehicle to be accelerated by hand to a nominal speed on the order
of several miles an hour. When the nominal speed is reached the
lever 106 is hand actuated to restore the compression and thereby
start the engine.
When it is desired to start the engine by means other than forward
acceleration of the vehicle by hand, other appropriate arrangements
can be used. One such arrangement utilizes a rope starter of the
type commonly used in connection with lawn mower engines. The rope
starter is mounted on the side of the Solex unit. The occupant of
the wheelchair 12 reaches forward and pulls the rope starter to
start the engine. In a still different arrangement a wind-up
starter can be used. Still other arrangements including electric
starters can be used where desired or appropriate.
The handlebar assembly 38 comprises a closed, generally oval-shaped
loop. It has been found that this particular configuration is
easier to handle than the more conventional bicycle handlebar
configuration. In particular, the closed loop handlebar
configuration allows the occupant of the wheelchair 12 to exercise
complete control over the vehicle with one hand while sitting
comfortably in the wheelchair 12. This is made possible, in part,
by the location of a speed control 108 and a handbrake control 110
within close proximity of one another on the handlebar assembly 38.
With this particular arrangement the gas unit 52 may be set to
normally propel the vehicle forward at an optimum speed. In such
instances the speed control 108 which is coupled by a cable 112 to
the motor assembly 52 is operative to decelerate the motor assembly
52 when manipulated. Alternating the speed control 108 can be
coupled to accelerate the motor assembly 52 when manipulated. The
control 110 is coupled by a cable 114 to a conventional bicycle
caliper brake 116 mounted on the fork assembly 42.
The controls 108 and 110 are located close to one another so as to
be simultaneously operable by the occupant of the wheelchair 12
using one hand. At the same time the occupant's hand rests on the
handlebar assembly 38 to effect more than adequate steering control
under all but the most demanding of situations. When the speed
control 108 is coupled to operate as a deceleration rather than an
acceleration and the controlss 108 and 110 are completely released,
the operator need only steer the vehicle as the vehicle propels
itself forward at the optimum speed. Where the situations require
some deceleration, the control 108 is actuated in varying degrees
to achieve the desired amount of deceleration. If more rapid
deceleration is desired or required, the hand brake control 110 can
be actuated together with or in lieu of the speed control 108.
Where the speed control 108 is coupled as an acceleration, it is a
simple matter either manipulate the control 108 to achieve a
desired speed or manipulate the control 110 where braking action is
desired, all using the same hand which is used to steer the
vehicle.
When it is desired to uncouple the wheelchair 12 from the powered
unit 10, ramp 70 is positioned under the castor wheels 20 and 22,
the legs 48 and 50 are restored to the long-length condition in the
manner previously described, and the pins 72 and 74 are removed
from the apertures 80, 82, 84 and 86. The wheelchair 12 is then
rolled off of the ramp 70, following which the tubular elements 56
and 58 are uncoupled from the members 24 and 26 by first depressing
the pins 65 and 66 and then slowly backing the wheelchair 12 away
from the powered unit 10 so as to slide the tubular elements 56 and
58 out of the tubular members 24 and 26. Again, the ramp 70 may not
be necessary during the uncoupling operation, as where the occupant
of the wheelchair is able to steady the wheelchair 12 while pulling
the pins 72 and 74 and then lower the front of the wheelchair 12 to
the ground.
It will be appreciated that because of the relatively simple and
lightweight construction of the powered unit 10, it is not only
easily coupled to and uncoupled from the wheelchair 12, but in
particular is easily handled upon uncoupling by the occupant of the
wheelchair 12. Typical powered units 10 according to the invention
weigh on the order of 40-45 lbs. Accordingly it is a relatively
simple matter for the occupant of the wheelchair 12, upon
uncoupling from the powered unit 10, to lift the unit 10 by hand
and place it in a desired location such as in the trunk of a car.
The vehicle itself which is formed by joining the powered unit 10
to the wheelchair 12 is of remarkably stable construction with the
weight being substantially equally distributed among the three
wheels 14, 16 and 36. Such vehicles have been found capable of
operating safely at speeds on the order of 20-25 miles an hour.
Various accessories and modifications can be used as appropriate.
For night time operation a headlight 118 is mounted to the top left
of the motor assembly 52 and is powered by the small generator
contained within the unit 52. A tail light (not shown) can be
mounted on the rear of the wheelchair 12 and electrically coupled
to the generator within the motor assembly 52 via wires running
along the tubular members 24, 26, 44 and 46 and including coupling
plugs to permit uncoupling of the wheelchair 12 from the powered
unit 10.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with
reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood
by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and
details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention.
* * * * *