Wheel chair abstract
An articulated wheel chair includes front and rear sections which
are pivotally connected together to permit pivoting therebetween
about a vertical axis. The front section is provided with a pair
of support wheels and the rear section is provided with a pair of
propulsion wheels driven by an electric motor. A seat for the occupant
is pivotally mounted on the rear section and is connected to the
front section by a link to cause pivoting of the seat in response
to articulated pivoting movement between the sections.
Wheel chair claims
What is claimed is:
1. An articulated wheel chair comprising:
a front section having a pair of support wheels journaled thereon
for support thereof,
a rear section having a pair of propulsion wheels connected thereto
for support thereof,
means pivotally connecting said front and rear sections together
for pivotal movement therebetween about an articulating vertical
axis,
power means on said rear section drivably connected to said propulsion
wheels for driving the latter,
a seat pivotally mounted on said rear section for pivotal movement
relative thereto,
a generally vertically disposed elongate steering rod on said front
section and being rotatable about its longitudinal axis, means interconnecting
said steering rod with said rear section to produce articulated
pivotal movement between the sections in response to rotation of
said steering rod,
and motion transmitting means interconnecting said front section
with said seat for causing pivoting of the seat in response to articulated
pivoting movement between the sections.
2. The articulated wheel chair as defined in claim 1 and a foot
rest secured to said front section adjacent the front end thereof.
3. The articulated wheel chair as defined in claim 1 wherein said
power means comprises a reversible electric motor and circuit means
controlling operation of said electric motor including a forward
and reverse switch for selectively reversing operation of said electric
motor.
4. The articlulated wheel chair as defined in claim 3 wherein said
circuit means includes a speed control circuit and switch means
interposed in said speed control circuit for selectively controlling
the same.
5. The articulated wheel chair as defined in claim 1 wherein said
means interconnecting said steering rod with said rear section includes
a flexible member.
6. The articulated wheel chair as defined in claim 5 wherein said
flexible member includes an elongate chain and a sprocket interconnected
with said steering rod and being engaged by said chain.
7. The articulated wheel chair as defined in claim 5 and a resilient
member connected with said flexible member and being operable to
urge the front and rear sections into aligned relation.
8. The articulated wheel chair as defined in claim 1 wherein said
motion transmitting means comprises an elongate link having one
end thereof pivotally connected to said seat and having the other
end thereof pivotally connected to said front section.
Wheel chair description
This invention relates to wheel chairs and, more particularly,
to articulated wheel chairs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventional wheel chairs can be manipulated and guided by occupants
in spacious areas, but these wheel chairs are difficult to maneuver
in tight quarters. In typically furnished homes and apartments,
occupants of conventional wheel chairs have extreme difficulty in
maneuvering the wheel chairs around tight turns and into small rooms,
such as bathrooms or the like. These problems arise with conventional
wheel chairs because of the construction and manner of operation
of the conventional wheel chair, regardless of whether such wheel
chairs are operator propelled or power driven.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a general object of this invention to provide a novel articulated
wheel chair whose dimensions are less than the dimensions of conventional
wheel chairs and which is highly maneuverable.
A more specific object of this invention is the provision of an
articulated wheel chair in which the wheel chair sections pivotally
articulate about a vertical axis, thereby permitting turning about
a small radius.
Another object of this invention is to provide a novel articulated
wheel chair in which the wheel chair sections articulate relative
to each other and in which the seat also pivots relative to the
associated wheel chair section in response to articulation between
the wheel chair sections. These and other objects of the invention
are more fully described in the following Specification.
FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the novel articulated wheel chair;
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof, with certain parts thereof
broken away for clarity;
FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the wheel chair taken approximately
along the cutting line 3--3 and looking in the direction of the
arrows;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken approximately along the
line 4--4 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;
and
FIG. 5 is a cross-secional view taken approximately along the line
5--5 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;
FIG. 6 is an electrical schematic illustrating the circuitry employed
with the novel articulated wheel chair.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings, and, more particularly, to FIGS.
1 and 2, it will be seen that one embodiment of the novel articulated
wheel chair, designated generally by the reference numeral 10, is
thereshown. The articulated wheel chair 10 includes a front section
11 which is interconnected to a rear section 12. In the embodiment
shown, the front and rear sections may be formed of a suitable rigid
material, such as metal, preferably aluminum, although many other
types of rigid material may also be used. It will be seen that the
front section includes a floor or lower wall 13 which is disposed
in substantially horizontal relation and which is provided with
a peripheral wall including vertical side walls 14, a rear wall
15, and oblique walls 16 interconnecting the side walls with the
rear wall 15. In the embodiment shown, the side walls 14, rear wall
15, and oblique walls 16 are integral with the lower wall 13.
It will also be noted that the lower wall 13 has a front wall 17
integrally formed therewith and depending therefrom. The front wall
17 has a horizontal foot rest panel 18 integrally formed therewith
and projecting forwardly therefrom. Suitable inclined braces 19
extend between the foot rest panel and side walls 14 to rigidify
the foot rest. In this regard, it will be noted that the foot rest
panel 18 extends at substantially right angles to the depending
front wall 17.
The front wheel chair section 11 is provided with a pair of tire-mounted
wheels 20 at each side, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. The tires
on the tire mounted wheels 20 are inflated and are provided with
suitable treads. The wheels 20 are interconnected by a transverse
axle 21, which is pivotally connected to a bracket 22 intermediate
the ends thereof by a pivot 23. The bracket 22 is rigidly affixed
to the lower wall 13 intermediate the side edges thereof, as best
seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. The pivot 23 permits rocking of the axle
21 about a longitudinally extending horizontal axis.
Means are provided for steering the articulated wheel chair, and
this means includes an elongate substantially straight vertically
disposed steering rod 24, which is provided with a steering wheel
25 at its upper end and which has a downwardly opening socket 26
at its lower end. The socket 26 is of rectangular cross-sectional
configuration and engages a steering pin 27, which is journaled
in a bearing 28 secured to the lower wall 13 by suitable bolts.
The steering pin 27, which is a rectangular cross-sectional configuration,
projects downwardly beyond the lower surface of the lower wall 13
and has a sprocket 29 secured thereto. An elongate chain 30 is trained
about the sprocket 29 and is also trained about a pair of sprockets
31 which are revolvably connected to the lower wall 13 of the front
section by sprocket axles 32.
Each end of the chain 30 is connected to one of a pair of connector
elements 33. Each connector element 33 is secured by a nut and bolt
assembly 34 to one of a pair of brackets 35 which are secured to
the lower surface of the floor or lower wall 36 of the rear section
12. It will be noted that the brackets 35 project outwardly and
forwardly from the lower wall 36 and that the connector elements
33 are connected to the forward end portions thereof. Referring
now to FIG. 3, it will be noted that an elongate transversely extending
spring 37 has its opposite ends connected to the chain 30 and serves
to exert a yieldable centering force on the chain during the steering
of the articulated wheel chair.
Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the rear
section 12 also has a peripheral wall integrally formed with the
lower wall 36 thereof and projecting upwardly therefrom. This peripheral
wall includes opposed side walls 38, a front wall 39, and oblique
walls 40 extending between the side walls and interconnected with
the front wall 39. The rear section 12 is also provided with a pair
of tire-mounted propulsion wheels 41 which are interconnected to
a transverse axle 42, the latter being journaled in wheel brackets
43, depending from the rear section adjacent the rear portion thereof.
The front and rear sections are pivotally interconnected to each
other by an articulated pivot assembly 44. In the embodiment shown,
a T-shaped pin 45 is welded to a plate 46, which is bolted to the
front wall of the rear section 12. The T-shaped pin 45 is oriented
so that the cross portion is disposed vertically. The cross portion
of the T-shaped pin 45 projects through and is journaled in upper
and lower pillow bearings 47. In the embodiment shown, the pillow
bearings 47 are bolted to the rear wall of the front section 11.
With this arrangement, it will be seen that the front and rear sections
are interconnected together to articulate about a vertical axis
defined by the T-shaped pin 45.
The rear section 12 is also provided with an occupant seat 48,
which includes a seat rest 49 having an upstanding back rest 50
affixed thereto and projecting upwardly therefrom. The seat rest
49 has a plate 51 secured to the lower surface thereof and the plate
has a post 52 rigidly affixed thereto and depending thereupon. An
L-shaped bracket 53 is rigidly affixed to the front wall of the
rear section 12, and the horizontal leg 54 of this bracket has an
opening therein through which post 52 projects. Post 52 is journaled
in a bearing 55 which is secured to the horizontal leg 54 by suitable
bolts or the like. With this arrangement, the seat 48 can pivot
about an axis defined by the post 12. In the embodiment shown, it
will be seen that the pivotal axis of the seat is located only slightly
rearwardly of the articulated pivotal axis between the front and
rear sections.
Means are provided for causing pivoting movement of the seat 48
in response to articulated pivotal movement between the front and
rear sections. This means includes an L-shaped bracket 56 which
is affixed to the seat plate 51 and which projects outwardly from
one side thereof. One end of an elongate link 57 is pivotally connected
to the L-shaped bracket 56 by a pivot 58, as best seen in FIGS.
2 and 4. The other end of the link 57 is pivotally connected to
the horizontal leg of an L-shaped bracket 59 by a pivot 60. In the
embodiment shown, the L-shaped bracket 59 is rigidly affixed to
one of the oblique walls of the front section by suitable bolts
or the like. With this arrangement, it will be seen that, when the
front and rear sections are pivoted relative to each other, the
seat 48 will also be pivoted to maintain the seat in proper comfortable
orientation for the occupant.
Power means are provided for propelling the rear propulsion wheels
41 and this power means includes an electric motor 61, which is
secured to the lower surface of the lower wall of the rear section
12, as best seen in FIG. 3. The output shaft 62 of the electric
motor is provided with a sprocket 63, and a chain 64 is trained
about the sprocket 63 and about a sprocket 65, which is affixed
to a jackshaft 66. The jackshaft is journaled in suitable bearings
66 secured to the lower surface of the lower wall of the rear section
12. The jackshaft 66 is also provided with a sprocket 67 which has
a chain 68 trained thereover. The chain 68 is also trained about
a sprocket 69 which is affixed to the axle 42 for the rear propulsion
wheels. It will, therefore, be seen that, when the electric motor
61 is energized, the rear wheels will be driven. It is pointed out
that the electric motor 61 is reversible, thereby permitting the
drive of the propulsion wheels in forward and reverse direction.
Electrical energy for the electric motor 61 is provided by a pair
of 12-volt 3/AH gel-type batteries 70 which are supported by the
lower wall for the rear section 12. Referring now to FIG. 6, an
electrical schematic diagram, designated generally by the reference
numeral 72, for operating the articulated wheel chair is thereshown.
It will be seen that the positive terminal of one of the batteries
70 is connected by a conductor 73 to one contact of a three-position
forward and reverse switch 74. The negative terminal of this same
battery 70 is connected by a conductor to one terminal of a magnetic
switch 75a.
The negative terminal of the other battery 70 is connected by a
conductor 76 to one of the contacts of the forward and reverse switch
74. The positive terminal of this last mentioned battery is connected
by a conductor 77 to one of the terminals of the magnetic switch
75a. One of the contacts of the magnetic switch 75a is connected
by a conductor 78 to one of the contacts of a series and parallel
mode switch 80. Another contact of the magnetic switch 75a is connected
by an electrical conductor to another contact of the series and
parallel mode switch 80.
The series and parallel mode switch 80 is a double-throw two-position
switch, and one of the contacts thereof is connected by a conductor
81 to one terminal of a magnetic switch 83. Another contact of the
series and parallel mode switch 80 is connected by a conductor 82
to another terminal of the magnetic switch 83. It will be seen that
a master on/off switch 84 is disposed in circuit controlling relation
in the conductor 73. The on/off switch 84 is mechanically operated
with a conventional key.
It will be seen that one contact of the forward and reverse switch
74 is connected to one contact of the electric motor 61 by an electrical
conductor 85. The other contact of the electric motor is connected
by an electrical conductor 86 to one contact of a resistor cut-out
switch 87. The other contact for the switch 87 is connected by an
electrical conductor to one of the terminals of the forward and
reverse switch 74. The resistor 89 is connected in parallel to the
primary circuit for the electric motor 61. In the embodiment shown,
a post 90 is mounted on the lower wall of the front section 11 and
projects upwardly therefrom just forwardly of the steering rod 24.
The upper end portion of the post 90 has a control box 91, and the
control box contains the switches 74, 80, 84, and 87. It will be
noted that the control box is located at a position for convenient
access by an occupant sitting on the seat 48.
In operation, the series and parallel mode switch 80 will be actuated
to electrically inter-relate the battery 70 in either a series or
parallel mode. Ordinarily, the switch will be actuated to place
the battery circuits in parallel with each other, and this closes
normally open switch 83 and opens magnetic switch 75a so that only
one of the batteries 70 will be in use. The forward and reverse
switch 74 will be in the neutral position, and switch 87 will be
shifted so that the current for the motor circuit 61 does not pass
through the resistor 89. The master switch 84 will be closed, and
the operator will then shift the forward and reverse switch to either
a forward or reverse position. The electric motor will be energized
to drive the articulated wheel chair, and the operator steers the
wheel chair by rotating the steering wheel for the steering rod
24. It will be seen that rotation of the steering rod produces articulated
movement between the front and rear sections allowing the wheel
chair to perform wide or tight turns, depending on the degree of
rotation of the steering rod. When the articulated sections are
pivoted relative to each other, the link 57 will be shifted in response
to this articulated pivoting movement and thereby cause pivoting
movement of the seat 48. This arrangement permits the operator to
be conveniently oriented during these turning maneuvers. The switch
87 may be actuated to phase the resistor 89 into the motor circuit
and thereby reduce the speed of the wheel chair. This arrangement
provides a simple speed control device for use by the operator when
desired.
It is pointed out that the overall length dimension of the articulated
wheel chair is less than the length dimension of a conventional
wheel chair, and the lateral dimensions are also less than the lateral
dimensions of a conventional wheel chair.
This articulated wheel chair permits maneuvering by an operator
in crowded quarters in either reverse or forward directions in a
manner not heretofore possible with conventional wheel chairs.
Thus, it will be seen that we have provided a novel articulated
wheel chair, which is not only of simple and inexpensive construction,
but one which functions in a more efficient and desirable manner
than any heretofore known comparable wheel chair. |