Wheel chair abstract
In a standard motor car which includes a luggage compartment, there
is affixed to one point in that compartment a collapsible wheel
chair. The compartment also contains a mechanical, motor operated
feature which lifts the wheel chair from the compartment and transports
it to a point beside the car, easily approachable by an invalid
driver who can now shift himself from the driver's seat to the wheel
chair.
Wheel chair claims
I claim:
1. In a motor car having a passenger compartment with a front door
and a luggage compartment, an apparatus installed in said luggage
compartment comprises mechanical and electrical equipment which
includes carrier means for holding a wheelchair, said equipment
further including a system of telescopic levers, having a pair of
hingedly connected levers, for automatically controlling the movement
of the wheelchair along a predetermined path, such that the wheelchair
is moved by said carrier means from the luggage compartment to a
position adjacent the front door of the passenger compartment of
the motor car.
2. In the motor car as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an
apparatus which includes:
a first electromotor with a linearly acting gear being fixedly
attached to the interior of the luggage compartment of said motor
car adapted for opening said luggage compartment;
said system of telescopic levers comprises said pair of hingedly
connected levers, a first of said hingedly connected levers being
affixed to the bottom of the luggage compartment, a second of said
hingedly connected levers comprising at least two telescoping parts
and carrying, at a free end, said carrier means for carrying or
gripping the wheel chair when folded or laid on the bottom of the
compartment;
additional electromotors being provided for actuating said levers;
an electric circuit; and,
microswitches being part of said electric circuit for connection
to an electric system of the motor car and adapted for automatically
controlling said apparatus.
3. In a motor car having a passenger compartment with a front door
and luggage compartment, an apparatus installed in said luggage
compartment comprising mechanical and electrical equipment which
includes carrier means for holding a wheelchair, said equipment
further including a system of telescopic levers, having a pair of
hingedly connected spatially expanding levers, being installed in
the luggage compartment and connected to said carrier means for
automatically controlling the movement of the wheelchair along a
predetermined path, such that the wheelchair is moved by said carrier
means from said luggage compartment to a position adjacent the front
door of the passenger compartment of the motor car.
4. The motor car as claimed in claim 3 further including a rail
extending on the exterior rear and side walls thereof on which castors
affixed to the said carrier means can be rolled.
Wheel chair description
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
The present invention deals with a problem which is one of those
which invalids and persons incapacitated in various ways have to
face. Such persons might be able to drive a passenger motor car
which is adapted to a greater or lesser extent to their needs, but
when out of the car they have to use a wheel chair, generally a
foldable one.
While an invalid who retains the command of her or his arm and
hands might be able to handle the foldable wheel chair and stow
it away in the space behind that person's, i.e. the driver's seat,
this solution is far from satisfactory in every aspect. First, the
manipulation of the wheel chair causes a considerable physical effort
on the invalid, and further it usually means full occupation of
the space behind the driver, such that there would be no room for
possible passengers accompanying the invalid. Finally the wheels
of the wheel chair which possibly had to go over wet or muddy terrain
in order to reach the respective motor car would dirty the upholstery
of the back seats and are even likely to tear it.
DRAWBACKS OF KNOWN ARRANGEMENTS
Even more complicated and serious is the problem which faces paraplegics.
It has been possible to adapt a standard motor car to the needs
of such a person but the solutions offered in such cases are also
not satisfactory. To stow a wheel chair in the luggage compartment
of an ordinary passenger car and to retrieve it from there, when
needed is utterly impossible to a paraplegic, she or he would require
the assistance of a second person who would not be available always.
It is known to provide means for the use of paraplegics who travel
in their own motor car and also carry a foldable wheel chair with
them. For such persons an arrangement has been devised and is in
use, which comprises a relatively large, box like container which
is fixedly mounted on the roof of the car, while mechanical, battery
actuated arrangements enable the incapacitated driver to retrieve
the wheel chair from its container on the roof, place it on the
ground beside the driver's seat in the latter's reach, so that she
or he can shift her- or himself from the driver's seat onto the
wheel chair. This arrangement, while serving the paraplegic is insatisfactory
also, though in a different way, from the solution for persons who
can still use--even in a partial way--their arms. The structure
on the roof of the car affects the aerodynamic properties of the
vehicle and distracts from its safe performance. It also displaces
the centre of gravity of the vehicle, thus creating a further safety
problem when the car is driven.
Finally the whole arrangement which enables a partly or fully incapacitated
person to take along a wheel chair might have to be transferred
from one car to another which is a costly operation in the course
of which certain mechanical or electrical elements would have to
be fully discarded and replaced by other such parts which would
be mounted, in the second car along with part of the equipment from
the original car.
OBJECTS OF INVENTION
It is the object of the present invention to do away with most
or all of the disadvantages and difficulties inherent to the known
arrangements for making it possible to an incapacitated driver of
a motor car to take along that person's wheel chair in the car.
It is, a further object of the invention to provide a solution
which would not occupy any space in the passenger part of an ordinary
automobile be it a standard "private" car or a so called
estate vehicle.
It is also an object of the invention to provide an arrangement
for the purpose in view which would permit relatively convenient
and inexpensive dismounting of the arrangement from one car and
transfer it to another vehicle.
PRACTICAL RESULTS AND EFFECT OF PROPOSED SOLUTION
The new arrangement according to the invention would permit carrying
the needed wheel chair in the luggage compartment of a car, placing
also all mechanical parts needed for handling the wheel chair within
the luggage compartment, such that the exterior appearance and its
all over shape and properties would not be changed. Further the
whole interior of the passenger compartment would remain free for
use of persons who would accompany the driving invalid.
The elimination of the above mentioned drawback and disadvantages
of existing arrangement and the realization of the above stated
objects appears to lie in the basic idea to store the foldable wheel
chair, when not in actual use on the ground, together with equipment
enabling the invalid driver of a motor car to handle the wheel chair
stored in the luggage compartment of his or her car and transfer
the wheel chair onto a convenient position on the ground, beside
the driver's seat, such that he or she would be able to shift her/himself
from the motor car onto the wheel chair,
SHORT SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Thus at its broadest aspect the invention provides standard motor
cars having a roomy luggage compartment in which compartment is
provided and is at one point fixedly attached mechanical and electrical
equipment which includes a gripper or carrying means for holding
a wheel chair, the said equipment including a system of lever or
rods actuated for pre-conceived and predesigned movement carrying
a wheel chair held by the said gripper or carrying means.
SHORT STATEMENT OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As an example of realization the basic principle of the invention
two practical embodiments will be given.
In a first practical embodiment the new arrangement comprises an
electromotor with linearly acting gear which motor is fixedly attached
to the interior of the luggage compartment of a standard passenger
car or other motorized vehicle which has such, or a similar compartment,
a pair of hingedly connected levers the first of which is affixed
to the bottom of the luggage compartment, while the second lever
consists of at least two telescoping parts and carries at its free
ends means for gripping the folded wheel chair reposing on the bottom
of the compartment, electromotors being provided for actuating the
said levers and microswitches controlled from the driver's seat
and the necessary connections to the car battery or other source
of current and switches within the reach of the driver actuating
the said electromotors.
In a case of the vehicle being a passenger car which includes a
lid covered luggage compartment the linearly acting gear is connected
to the lid of the luggage compartment.
The practical embodiment of that example of the new arrangement
will become clear from the following detailed description which
also indicates the function of its different parts, referring to
the annexed drawings,
In the drawings FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the pair of actuating
levers with the means affixing them to the bottom of the luggage
compartment.
FIG., 2 is a phantom representation of an automobile showing the
opened luggage compartment with the means for opening and shutting
the door or lid thereof, a folded wheel chair being positioned in
the compartment.
FIG. 3 is a like view illustrating the commencement of activity
of the pair of levers which manipulate the folded wheel chair.
FIG. 4 is a similar view illustrating the pair of levers which
have swung the wheel chair through an horizontal, archuate path.
FIG. 5 shows the collapsed (folded) wheel chair having been turned
through. substantially 90.degree..
FIG. 6 is a further view showing the wheel chair turned through
an angle of 90.degree. on the ground.
FIG. 7 illustrates the action of the second lever in extended position
of its telescoping parts depositing the wheel chair beside the driver's
position.
FIG. 8 repeats the view of FIG. 1 and shows working details of
the actuating mechanism at enlarged scale. FIG. 9 is a like view
emphasizing the actuating electromotors. FIG. 10 shows a typical
drive assembly used. FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate the connecting of
the telescoping lever with the wheel chair.
FIGS. 12a-12f illustrate the successive positions of the wheel
chair during transfer from the luggage compartment.
FIGS. 13-16 relate to a second embodiment of the invention, i.e.
FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG, 1 but incorporating somewhat
different mechanical equipment.
FIG. 13a shows a detail of the equipment of FIG. 13.
FIG. 14 shows the second embodiment with wheel chair lifted from
luggage compartment and standing on the ground.
FIG. 15 shows the wheel chair already transported to forward position
beside the car.
FIG. 16 illustrates the connective position of the wheel chair
in the second embodiment of the invention.
In view of the number of electric switches and miniswitches and
for easier reference to these in connection with the drawings, there
follows here a list of makes and breaks of switches and of miniswitches.
______________________________________ Reference Numeral Purpose
of Motor ______________________________________ Motors 20 Motor
with linearly acting gear for opening and shutting lid or door of
luggage compartment 21 Motor for horizontal movement 22 Motor with
linearly acting gear 23 Motor and gear for actuating extension of
telescoping lever Microswitches 30 Final movement (inwardly) of
lid of luggage compartment 31 Intermediate position of wheel chair
32 Outward movement, prior to telescope extension 33 Horizontal
movement of chair 34 Final movement of chair 35 Extension of telescope
36 Opening lid of compartment 37 Shutting lid of compartment ______________________________________
Turning first to FIG. 1, there is shown the main operative part
of the new assembly of mechanisms. A small platform 1 is affixed
to the bottom of the luggage compartment of a passenger motor car
or at any appropriate part in a so called "station" or
"estate" car (see also FIGS. 8 and 9). On platform 1 is
positioned an electromotor 21 with an appropriate reduction gear
3 (see FIG. 10) from which extends a take off shaft 4. Such drive
units are generally known and do not require detailed description.
Apart from the fact that shaft 4 extends vertically relative to
platform 1 and imparts movement in a horizontal plane to a lever
5 which consists of two portions defining a right angle between
them and which is connected to a second lever 6 via a joint to which
reference will be made. This latter lever 6 comprises two or three
parts which telescope into one another and are movable relative
to each other. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 8, the free end of
lever 6 carries a plate 7 from which extend to opposite directions
fingers 8 and 9. There are associated with the operative levers
5 and 6 some mechanical details which are indicated in FIG. 8. At
the far end of lever 5, near its hinged connection with lever 6
there extends from lever 6 a pair of connecting plates 10, fixedly
relative to lever 5 and holding turnably a pair of ears 11. On lever
5 is positioned a pair of ears 12 holding between them a small electromotor
22 with linearly acting gear 14, this latter motor being turnably
connected to ears 11.
The operation of the arrangement becomes clear from FIG. 2 and
the following ones: The luggage compartment is opened by actuation
of a microswitch which, in turn, controls motor 20 which causes
rod 25 to lift the lid, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The collapsed
wheel chair lying on the bottom of the compartment can now be mowed.
It is attached to lever 6 whose fingers 8 and 9 are matingly engaged
by shells 26 which are fixedly connected with the chassis of the
wheel chair (see FIGS. 11 and 12). By actuation of lever 6 the chair
is now moved in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2 to the position
of FIG. 3 and is turned in a horizontal movement (arrow B, FIG.
4) out of the luggage compartment. From that position it is turned
by lever 5 in the direction of arrow C (FIG. 5) to the position
of FIG. 6 (arrow D) still being held on lever 6, from which position
it is shifted by the extending part of lever 6 in the direction
of arrow E to a station beside the driver's seat. The driver, as
is known, manipulates the wheel chair and unfolds it.
These steps Are repeated in reverse order to refold the chair and
return it to the luggage compartment,
Turning now to FIG. 13 illustrating a second embodiment of the
invention, in a standard passenger ear 100 the lid 101 of the luggage
compartment which is opened and shut by a motor and linear gear
102 as already described in detail and shown in FIG. 2 so that no
further elucidation appears to he required. On the bottom of the
luggage compartment reposes a structure being a system of interlinked
levers 104 (FIG. 14) which support a carrier 105 including a shelf
106 (see, also, FIG. 13a). An upstanding rim 107 of the rear wall
of carrier 105 has two small castors 108. The two levers 104 of
the lever system are hingedly affixed via ear 109 to the bodywork
of the luggage compartment. As can be gathered from FIG. 14 the
lever system 104 is expandable spatially and horizontally to extend
out of the confines of the compartment. In the luggage compartment
is affixed to a wall thereof a motor 110 with rotational gear whose
rotating shaft is connected to the carrier 105. On the shelf 106
of the carrier 105 and supported by the rear wall thereof reposes
a wheel chair 111.
There are provided appropriate switches and wiring between the
car battery (or other source of power) to the motors. The control
of motor activity is by means of contents at the dashboard of the
car, accessible to the driver.
On a command issuing from the dashboard the lever system 104, under
drive from motor 110 lifts and turns the carriage 105 with the wheel
chair 111 and deposits it on the ground as shown in FIG. 14. On
the bottom of shelf 106 (not seen in FIG. 13a) are provided castors.
On the outside of the car's body extends from the rear and along
its side wall a rail 112. In the position of FIG. 14 the castors
on the outside of the shelf 106 touch the ground and those 108 on
the upstanding rim 107 rest on rail 112. At the underside of shelf
106 is provided a small motor with a castor on its shelf which forms
the drive for the carrier 105.
On command from the dashboard positioned means, actuated by the
driver, the carrier 105 with wheel chair 111 is moved along rail
112 from position of FIG. 14 to that of FIG. 15, the carrier moving
on the castors on the ground and being stabilized and guided by
castors 108 on rail.
After arrival at the position of FIG. 15 the wheel chair can be
manipulated in the known way by the driver of the car 100.
The travel of the carrier with the wheel chair is symbolized by
FIG. 16 which is self explanatory. |