MOTORIZED WHEELCHAIRS

In a wheelchair, battery operated electric driving means for driving two wheels each mounted on a wheel plate connected to the wheelchair frame. For each driven wheel a motor is carried on the wheel plate and drive is transmitted to a pinion fixed on the wheel through a pivotal gear carrier carrying...     

A generally rectangularly shaped support frame provided with ground-engaging wheels upon which almost any type and size of conventional chair may be readily mounted so as to provide mobile means for transporting non-ambulatory persons; certain of the ground engaging wheels are capable of being rotated...     

A wheel chair having electric driving means arranged to drive the rear wheels of the chair, each rear wheel and its associated electric driving means is supported by a wheel plate connected to the wheel chair frame by a resilient mounting embodying a suspension media providing independent suspension...     

The specification discloses a wheelchair in which the seat, back and leg portions are so articulated and separately actuable, by power means, under control of the occupant, as to enable the occupant to assume any one of three positions, namely sitting, standing or reclining. Two separated leg support...     

A wheelchair mounted control system may be activated to enable propelling of the wheelchair at different predetermined speeds, to cause portions of the wheelchair to recline or be elevated, or to cause a signal to be generated to operate other apparatus such as a book page turner, a light switch or a...     

A wheelchair for an invalid has two large ground wheels and two castor wheels, each ground wheel being driven by a small electric motor through a drive arrangement in which a driving pulley swings towards a driven surface on the wheel and drives itself into engagement with the driving surface. First...     

Disclosed is a powered wheel chair with individual motors driving each of two separate drive wheels. The motors are controlled by the amount of torque applied to the handrim of the driving wheel. If the operator pushes on the handrim of the drive wheel, as is well known, the torque created by such movement...     

A wheel chair motor control circuit for a wheel chair having two independently controllable motor-driven wheels. The user has a "joystick" control operable from a datum position to move the wipers of two potentiometers both independently and simultaneously from their corresponding datum positions. A...     

A wheel chair with a retractable back rest, and a seat which may be uncovered to expose an opening that enables a patient in the wheel chair to use a toilet while remaining seated in the wheel chair. By actuating a switching arrangement, the patient may raise or lower the back rest to enable the person...     

An electrically powered vehicle for an invalid has a track drive with pivoted idlers accommodating travel over obstacles and through uneven terrain and an electrically adjustable seat with an open front to facilitate seating of an invalid therein. Remote control affords the invalid user with the capability...     

A control unit for a motorized wheelchair for an invalid the control unit having a part engageable with the occupants chin and being movable in a first direction in order to cause movement of the wheelchair in a forwards direction and in a second and third direction to steer the wheelchair either to...     

A self-propelled wheel-chair capable of climbing up or down a curb is disclosed. The wheel-chair is able to elevate an occupant higher than existing types of wheel-chairs practically to the height of a person standing. The wheel-chair has a seat assembly mounted on a frame, a first pair of drive wheels...     

A wheelchair is designed to enable an invalid to stand, sit or choose at l any intermediate position to perform useful work, and to move about in any of said positions. The wheelchair helps to fulfill the psychological and physiological needs of handicapped persons. The lifting and lowering operations...     

A power assisted wheelchair has a pair of larger ground wheels with handwheels mounted thereon and a pair of smaller castor wheels carrying motors drivably coupled therewith. The handwheels are rotatable relative to their ground wheels against a spring bias and operate the castor wheel motors on the...     

A peripatetic vehicle, the suspension of which includes a bogie carrying two main wheels, one to either side of the vehicle, and caster wheels. The stability of the suspension is completed by further casters, supported from the body of the vehicle. The use of the bogie improves the ride of the vehicle...     

An improved wheelchair having electrically powered drive motors in which a battery support tray is secured within an opening in a side frame of the wheelchair. Two batteries can be supported, one on each side frame, whereupon the conventional undercarriage battery support rack may be eliminated. Each...     

The normally provided manually operable switch lever on an electrically drive wheelchair incorporates pairs of switch arms so that additional circuitry can be provided for interconnection with the normally provided left and right wheel drive motors. This additional circuitry comprises electrical resistances...     

A collapsible portable manual wheel chair is converted to a collapsible electric wheel chair. The two large rear wheels of the collapsible manual wheel chair are removed, and an electromechanical drive unit is substituted in their place. The drive unit includes a left drive wheel assembly, a right drive...     

A voice actuated wheelchair control apparatus is disclosed which allows a quadriplegic to control the speed and direction of travel of a motorized wheelchair by spoken commands. The apparatus includes means for executing spoken commands for initiating incremental changes in the chair's speed or direction...     

A wheelchair assembly includes an occupant seat having a central shaft for mounting the seat on an undercarriage for universal tilting movement, for vertical movement along the shaft axis and for rotation about such axis. The undercarriage has a plurality of ground engaging wheels driven together by...     

A multi-function control system for generating control signals in response to the movement of an operator's body is disclosed. An arrangement of the multi-function control system for controlling the speed and direction of a wheelchair (12) includes a mirror (16) for mounting on the head of the operator,...     

A folding framework for a wheelchair has side frames interconnected by front and rear toggle braces each preferably formed from a pair of U-shaped arms of spring wire and a linkage extends between the hinges of the toggle braces. A securing arm is latchable with the linkage to hold the structure in an...     

An electrically driven wheelchair having steerable rear wheels controllable by means of a joystick control operating an electromechanical steering mechanism including a control circuit. The electrical control circuit includes a voltage divider which receives a voltage determined according to the travelling...     

An integrated ambulator and wheelchair is provided to enable a paraplegic stand on the ambulator and be separated from the wheelchair for maneuvering in confined spaces. The ambulator has power operated articulated linkage for raising the paraplegic out of and free of the wheelchair to the standing position...     

A powered vehicle suitable for use as a wheel chair is disclosed. The vehicle has rear caster wheels which can swivel freely or one can be prevented from swivelling which allows the vehicle to manoeuvre in confined spaces and around obstacles. The vehicle has at least one steerable central front wheel...     

An electric control is disclosed for an electrically powered vehicle having independently controlled left and right drive motors and associated drive wheels to propel and steer the vehicle. The electrical control includes left and right closed loop control circuits for respectively accelerating either...     

A motorcycle/sidecar apparatus, the sidecar designed and constructed to accommodate therein a wheelchair and wheelchair occupant, the sidecar further outfitted with controls for operation of the throttling, braking and steering functions of the motorcycle by the wheelchair occupant in the sidecar who...     

The chassis features left and right lateral frames rotatably supporting at their front and rear ends front and rear wheels. The rear wheels are pivoted for steering. First and second connecting members arranged in a cross and lying in a horizontal plane extend between and are attached to the lateral...     

An occupant operated motor driven vehicle for supporting handicapped occupants adapted to be tilted forwardly by the occupant for retrieving articles lying on the vehicle support surface, and to be restored to vertical operating position. The apparatus by which the vehicle may be tilted and restored...     

There is described a connecting assembly for a light weight vehicle having mutually engageable hook and latch portions wherein the hook portion comprises engaging hooks to engage and lift the latch means, the engaging portion further including a shoulder to cause the subsequent disengagement of the latch...     

A wheelchair having a chair frame, a pair of front wheels, independent front wheel suspension for the front wheels, a pair of rear wheels, and a rear suspension assembly for said rear wheels. The chair frame has a pair of laterally spaced side frame assemblies, a seat frame assembly connected between...     

An ambulator which can be mated to a wheeled frame to form a wheelchair is rovided to enable a paraplegic to stand on the ambulator and be separated from the frame for maneuvering in confined spaces. The ambulator has power operated articulated linkage for raising the paraplegic out of and free of the...     

A lightweight self-propelled vehicle of the tricycle type with all controls reachable by an occupant seated in a wheelchair. A retractable ramp lowers to ground level to permit entry of a person in a wheelchair. The person raises the ramp to provide clearance with the ground, and locks the raised ramp...     

A power operated chair having a base frame assembly, a chair assembly mounted on the base frame assembly, and an internal combustion engine mounted on the base frame assembly. A fuel tank is mounted on the back of the chair assembly. One or two rear drive wheels are rotatably mounted on a transversely...     

An omnidirectional motorized wheelchair having front wheels consisting of a pair of free wheels, and rear wheels consisting of motor-operated wheels driven by electric motors independently of each other. This wheelchair can be moved forward and backward, turned to right and left, and turned in a fixed...     

A vehicle has a pair of endless tracks each extending around a series of wheels arranged in a plane adjacent to one side of the vehicle body. One of the series of wheels on each side of the vehicle body is movable relative to the vehicle body to a selected position to vary the configuration of the endless...     

A manoeuverable, motor-driven wheeled chassis includes a chassis structure carrying two pairs of support wheels (N.sub.1, M.sub.1) separated in the longitudinal direction of the chassis. Between the pairs of support wheels there is a pair of drive wheels (L.sub.1). The chassis structure includes a first...     

A motor vehicle of the van type having the conventional drivers seat removed, and having a powered wheelchair with a reversible seat at the rear of the wheelchair frame, the wheelchair being positioned at the drivers station and directed rearwardly with the seat directed forwardly, and means for releasably...     

A vehicle having the driver's seat between two large diameter wheels, each having a series of circumferentially spaced cables under tension between a rigid circumferential ring, which carries a tire, and the opposite ends of a central hub. A driver's seat is located between the wheels and batteries and...     

An apparatus for moving a wheelchair on a flight of steps has a support adapted to engage underneath the wheelchair in an upright condition of same with the chair pivotal on the support between erect and inclined positions. Two or more endless tracks on the support carry same and the wheelchair thereon...     

A stair-climbing wheelchair carrier has a frame body, a pair of rail frames formed in a lower portion of the frame body and a pair of endless belt crawlers engaged with the wheels provided on the frame body and with the rail frames. A travelling wheel mechanism is provided on each of the rail frames...     

An improved power driven conveyance intended primarily for use by handicapped persons or invalids. A power means to drive the conveyance on level surfaces at normal pedestrian speeds and or to ascend or descend conventional or irregular stairways at reduced speed and increased torque. The invention further...     

An apparatus for moving a wheelchair having a pair of upright rear frame members has a support adapted to engage underneath the wheelchair in an upright condition of same with the chair pivotal on the support between erect and inclined positions. At least two endless tracks on the support carry same...     

A mechanism for the transport of an object across relatively level surfaces as well as to ascend and descend stairways. The mechanism is described particularly with respect to a wheel chair for handicapped persons and is provided with a frame and a pair of support wheels on each side of the frame. A...     

A personal mobility vehicle includes a floor pan with a rear drive unit at one end and a steerable front wheel at the other end. The drive unit is separable from the floor pan and includes spaced apart, differentially connected rear wheels, an electric motor, and belts and pulleys drivingly connecting...     

An improved seat for a wheelchair having a forward section for supporting the occupant's thigh areas and a rearward section hingedly attached to the forward section for supporting the occupant's buttocks area. The rearward section is attached to a linear actuator which moves the rearward section downward...     

A motorcycle sidecar apparatus attaches to a motorcycle. The sidecar has an independent reverse drive and is controllable in the forward and reverse directions from either the motorcycle or the sidecar. It is particularly adapted for the use of wheelchair-bound handicapped persons. The invention also...     

A wheelchair system comprises a substantially rigid seat adapted to be mounted on at least two alternative types of carriages having different drive arrangements each comprising a pair of molded plastic side frames which are interconnected by a bracing mechanism to permit the side frames to be folded...     

This invention relates to an improved wheelchair adapted to provide enhanced mobility for the occupant together with making ground level activities available. The wheelchair comprises a main frame together with an extension frame telescopically secured to said main frame. A seat is operably secured to...     

The wheel chair of this invention has its seat member supported for raising and lowering on a chassis having a castering rear wheel and two relatively small front wheels rotatable on a common axis, each driven independently of the other by a reversible electric motor. A brake member is pivoted to the...     

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...     

An improved drive circuit for steering a motorized wheelchair. A control mechanism produces right and left drive signals to respective right and left wheel drive motors. These right and left drive signals are amplified by right and left amplifiers to provide the necessary magnitude power signal to the...     

A sulky or horse cart has a low floor. A wheelchair carrying a paraplegic may be rolled from the ground onto the low floor. Hooks on the floor provide a means for locking the wheelchair to the floor. Other features include a roll bar to protect the rider and shock absorbers for comfort.

A carrier for rescuing patients having a frame having a pair of lower horizontal portions and upwardly inclined portions adjacent to the horizontal portions at rear end portions thereof. A pair of front and rear wheels are provided on the frame, and a pair of crawlers engaged with the frame and wheels...     

A safeguard for an electric powered wheelchair having a forward steering column (13) on which a handle bar (14) and a control lever (20) are mounted, said safeguard comprising a platform (25) underlying said lever (20) and extending rearwardly thereof to provide contact with the body of an occupant of...     

A chassis member with rear wheels and a battery compartment has a detachable connection with an upright front wheeled support. The front wheeled support has a steering handle assembly pivotally connected thereto which can be locked in upright position or swung rearwardly into a folded position parallel...     

An electric drive attachment for a wheelchair. The drive includes an electric motor constituting the input member of the drive, a wheel adapted to touch the ground and to drive the wheelchair by frictional contact with the ground, the wheel constituting the output member of said drive and speed-reducing...     

The Motorized Walker is a device containing a frame assembly which a person walking can hold onto for support and help prevent a fall which might otherwise occur. This device need not be picked up between steps since an electric switch mechanism will activate a motor which will move the device the distance...     

A hydraulically actuated, energy efficient wheelchair utilizes a pair of identical wheelchair drive units, with each unit having a constant speed battery powered electric motor driving a hydraulic pump and associated hydraulic motor. Hydraulic fluid flow between each pump and its hydraulic motor is controlled...     

A safety control for a baby's walker comprising a typical baby's walker having a horizontally extending peripheral frame supported on four peripherally spaced apart legs having rollers or wheels and a seat secured to and extending downwardly from the peripheral frame for the baby to sit in, the seat...     

A control assembly for an electric powered wheelchair having a forward steering column (13) on which a handle bar (14) and a control lever (119) are mounted, said control lever adapted when pressed forward to move the chair forwardly, and when pressed rearward to move the chair rearwardly, a second control...     

The four-wheeled T-handlebar carriage is deliberately designed for the senile and the invalid. The rider can easily operate the carriage with the aid of the T-shaped steering handlebar and drive safely without fear of overbalancing while the provision of four wheels ensures extraordinary stability for...     

A powered walker apparatus includes a frame assembly defining a central space for containing an operator in a standing position. A mechanism is included for selectively moving the apparatus over a ground surface. A gate is provided for closing an entryway into the central space and is adapted to define...     

An electric wheelchair, or other conveyance, (10) is provided with a function control (80a) which includes a unitary control (82), and which is effective to control applying and releasing of power transmitted from an electric motor (28a) to a wheel, or to another type of propulsion element (12a), and...     

A wheelchair having four ground engaging wheels, two at the front and two at the rear, and four electric motors, one for each wheel, wherein each wheel is connected to a respective electric motor for driving the wheelchair and the front wheels are mounted on respective steering arms of a steering linkage...     

A wheelchair apparatus is disclosed and includes a frame having a base portion and spaced side portions to define a space for receiving an operator's body. A device is provided for supporting the frame above a ground surface for movement therealong and includes a mechanism for moving the apparatus over...     

A lightweight universal electric wheeled chair is formed of hollow tubular frame members. The seat is preferably cantilevered from rear frame members. The frame includes two lower side frame members, each of which has relatively small wheels mounted at both ends. The frame also includes two rear frame...     

A powered wheelchair has at least two power-steered, driven wheels (15,16,17,18). Preferably, all of the wheels (15,16,17,18) are driven and power-steered such that the wheelchair turns about a point on a transverse axis (X) of the vehicle, and may preferably also pivot on the spot. This turning is preferably...     

A disassemblable three wheeled, sulky vehicle for the handicapped and others desiring assistance has a steerable front wheel drive unit comprising a steering column mounting assembly with a motor driven wheel. A sulky frame assembly supports a pair of transversely spaced apart rear wheels in tricycle...     

Apparatus for driving and steering an invalid chair, or other light wheeled vehicle, comprises a transverse drive transmission shaft (8) with end cones (9 and 10) which contact across the periphery respectively of each of a pair of road wheels (11 and 12). By transverse axial movement of the drive transmission...     

A crawler unit for coupling to a wheelchair, especially for climbing stairs, comprises an undercarriage having power-driven tracks and an adapter for securing the wheelchair in a rearwardly tilted travelling position. In order to enable the wheelchair user to couple and decouple and maneuver the wheelchair...     

A number of embodiments of low, stable, self-propelled vehicles adapted to carry disabled, infirmed or elderly persons. In each embodiment there is provided a load carrying floor that has its upper surface spaced below the axis of rotation of the rear wheels and which may be raised or lowered for facilitating...     

A latch for each of a pair of cushioning arms, respectively, of a stair-climbing wheelchiar. The latch for each arm includes a first member coupled to the arm and a second member coupled to a fixed support of the wheelchair, with the second member being coupled to the armature of a solenoid which is...     

A lightweight universal electric wheeled chair is formed of hollow tubular frame members. The seat is preferably cantilevered from rear frame members. The frame includes two lower side frame members, each of which has relatively small wheels mounted at both ends. The frame also includes two rear frame...     

As a rule, wheel-chairs have large(-diameter) drive wheels (3) and small(-diameter) steerable wheels (5), and wheel-chairs for indoor operation have their drive wheels as their rear wheels, while wheel-chairs for outdoor operation have their drive wheels (3) as front wheels. In the wheel-chair according...     

The electric wheel-chair comprises drive wheels on one axle group, and swivel wheels on a second axle group, with the swivel wheels being either freely pivotable or positively steerable by an engageable steering drive. The positive steering system may have either a purely electric configuration in the...     

A wheelchair is provided with an endless track drive for travel over rough ground. The endless track drive is detachably connected to the wheelchair by a frame such that a lower run of each of the endless tracks is located adjacent a lower periphery of each wheel. The chair in the wheelchair is kept...     

Apparatus and method are provided for rapidly attaching and rapidly removing a battern (24) from a conveyance (10) of the type having a foldable frame (14) with side-members (26) that are foldably interconnected by cross-brace arms (28). A first quick-release element (38) is attached to the pivot pin...     

A wheelchair transporter for transferring a handicapped person, while seated in a wheelchair, from a ground level into an operative position on a motorcycle. The wheelchair is intended for independent use, but is designed to couple with a glide track on the motorcycle. The glide track receives rollers...     

A modular power drive wheelchair is provided for rapid assembly and/or disassembly of relatively compact modular components. The wheelchair comprises a base module including a base frame and related support wheels, wherein the base frame is adapted for facilitated mounting or dismounting of a seat module....     

A wheelchair having a pair of electrically driven drive wheels, a pair of power-operated swivel steering wheels which rotate about a vertical steering axis, and a manually-actuated lever. Each steering wheel has its own motor for adjusting the steering angle of the steering wheel. The steering lever...     

A riding scooter that may be assembled and dis-assembled without the use of tools is formed of components of a size and weight such that they may be handled by a person of modest physical strength. The scooter's front and rear sections have overlapping interengaging parts that are biased together in...     

A power driven vehicle for disabled, particularly for children, and which incorportaes a motor driven chassis module, a seat module and an accumulator module, wherein the chassis module incorporates two wheel pair units, which are disconnectable from each other and constitute a first, front wheel unit...     

A kit or assemble is provided which can be used in the manufacture of a new wheelchair or to retrofit an existing wheelchair. The basic wheelchair structure includes a base portion having a pair of cross members mounted in the rear half of the upper portion of the wheelchair base structure. A pair of...     

A powered unit for adding motive power to a wheelchair comprising a frame adapted for easy attachment to the chair and steerable motive means powered preferably by an electric motor and including a wheel adapted to pull and to steer the chair.

The invention relates to a transmission device for the motorization of a rolling-chair for example. Said transmission device comprises a hollow shaft 7 provided at each of its ends with a rolling train 8-13 idly pivoted on the hollow shaft 7 and comprising a toothed crowns 21. It comprises two control...     

A vehicle primarily intended for use by a single individual is disclosed which includes front and rear frame members and a releasable interconnecting mechanism for selectively engaging and disengaging front and rear frame members to permit the unit to be broken down into at least two components for easy...     

An electrically driven auxiliary drive for vehicles including first and second electric motors each having associated therewith a friction drive element and apparatus for selectably bringing the friction drive elements into operative driving engagement with the tire of a vehicle wheel for driving thereof...     

A rotatable stand-up wheelchair or invalid mobility device which includes a main drive chassis having front and rear wheels. A means for raising and lowering the seat and back portion of the wheelchair raises and lowers the invalid from a substantially seated position on the seat to a substantially standing...     

A personal mobility vehicle including rear and front frame sections which are quickly and easily engageable and disconnectable one to another. The rear frame section has a pair of coaxial rear spaced wheels and a pair of locator pins laterally extending preferably from each side margin adjacent each...     

The motorized rolling armchair comprises a motor-transmission assembly (1,2) the output shaft of which (3) extends on either side of the transmission gear (1) and carries at each of its ends a rolling train (4,5). The motor-transmission assembly (1,2) carries a support (6) on which are fastened batteries...     

A wheelchair including a wheeled base assembly provided with an upright assembly thereon, the latter including a pair of telescopic vertical post arrangements which are provided adjacent the front corners of the wheelchair and are vertically extendable and retractable. The upright assembly includes a...     

The present invention provides a sensor for detecting the angle of an incline, such as a staircase, before it is reached by the wheelchair. A control signal is provided to a motor for tilting the seat to cause the seat to be tilted to a predetermined minimum safe angle before the wheelchair reaches the...     

A wheelchair or walker apparatus is disclosed and includes a frame having a base portion and spaced side portions to define a space for receiving an operator's body. A device is provided for supporting the frame above a ground surface for movement therealong and includes a mechanism for moving the apparatus...     

A modular power drive wheelchair is provided for rapid assembly and/or disassembly of relatively compact modular components. The wheelchair comprises a base module including a base frame and related support wheels, wherein the base frame is adapted for facilitated mounting or dismounting of a seat module....     

A hydraulic system for powering a vehicle for human transporation. The output of a hydraulic pump is connected to at least one hydraulic motor by a hydraulic circuit, the motor(s) being mechanically connected to drive the vehicle. The hydraulic circuit establishes the direction of fluid flow through...     

A motorized wheelchair rear wheel drive assembly is selectively engageable and disengageable by an occupant to permit the wheelchair to be used in either a motorized mode or an occupant self propelled mode. For each rear wheel a drive motor connects through an axially extending worm gear assembly and...     

An electric vehicle that runs at a speed controlled by adjusting power supply to an electric motor in response to a speed setting signal from a speed setting device including an accelerator lever and a change speed lever. This vehicle comprises a first control unit for producing a target speed value...     

The invention relates to an three-wheel electromotor-driven golf caddie. Two rear wheels (3), driven by an electric motor (18) via a drive transmission (11) are furnished at the cart frame. The front wheel (13) is supported at a wheel fork, which is offset rearwardly and which is rotary supported at...     

A modular wheelchair that may be rapidly assembled and disassembled includes an adjustable chassis for releasably attaching a wheel module and a seating module having a detachable leg rest module. The one-piece chassis is constructed from composite materials and has hollow or foam filled longitudinal...