US3786887A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Motorized wheel chair drive
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-03-20
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Granted: 1974-01-22
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Expires: 1992-03-20
Abstract
Abstract A motorized drive for a wheel chair includes a motor mounting having an angle bracket with one arm which is adapted to be secured to the frame of the wheel chair. A mounting plate for the motor is pivotally secured to another arm of the bracket. The motor has a drive wheel which engages a wheel of the wheel chair. A spring biased link holds the motor in a position with respect to the bracket so that the drive wheel bears against the wheel of the chair to propel the same. A control arm pivotally supported on the bracket engages the motor mounting plate to move the same so that the drive wheel is away from the wheel of the chair, to disengage the drive, and releases the mounting plate so that the drive can propel the chair.
Inventors
- 👤 E Matsuoka
- 👤 B Rosenthal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 17:28
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61G; A61G5/00; A61G5/04; A61G5/041; A61G5/045; A61G5/08; A61G5/0808; A61G5/0816; A61G5/0825; A61G5/10; A61G5/1054; A61G2203/00; A61G2203/10; A61G2203/14; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S180/00; Y10S180/907; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/18; Y10T74/18856
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
295 words
In a wheel chair having a folding frame and first and second wheels, and including first and second motors each having drive means for engaging the wheels of the wheel chair for propelling the same, the combination including, first and second drive units each including bracket means adapted to be secured to only one part of the frame of the wheel chair adjacent said first and second wheels, mounting means for one of the motors pivotally joined to each of said bracket means, each of said mounting means having first and second positions with respect to said associated bracket means for holding the motor in position so that the drive means thereof engages a wheel of the wheel chair in the first position and is disengaged from the wheel of the wheel chair in the second position, each of said drive units including spring means cooperating with said bracket means thereof and adapted to engage one of the motors for applying resilient pressure to hold the drive means thereof in engagement with one wheel of the wheel chair, and a control arm pivotally supported on each of said bracket means and having a nub engaging said associated mounting means for pivoting the motor connected thereto with respect to said bracket means from one of the first and second positions to the other of the first and second positions, said control arms supported on said bracket means of said first and second drive units being oppositely disposed from one another, and being angularly displaced from one another to prevent engagement therebetween when the wheel chair is folded, each of said drive units being connected to the wheel chair solely by the connection of said bracket means to one part of the frame of the wheel chair.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
295 words
In a wheel chair having a folding frame and first and second wheels, and including first and second motors each having drive means for engaging the wheels of the wheel chair for propelling the same, the combination including, first and second drive units each including bracket means adapted to be secured to only one part of the frame of the wheel chair adjacent said first and second wheels, mounting means for one of the motors pivotally joined to each of said bracket means, each of said mounting means having first and second positions with respect to said associated bracket means for holding the motor in position so that the drive means thereof engages a wheel of the wheel chair in the first position and is disengaged from the wheel of the wheel chair in the second position, each of said drive units including spring means cooperating with said bracket means thereof and adapted to engage one of the motors for applying resilient pressure to hold the drive means thereof in engagement with one wheel of the wheel chair, and a control arm pivotally supported on each of said bracket means and having a nub engaging said associated mounting means for pivoting the motor connected thereto with respect to said bracket means from one of the first and second positions to the other of the first and second positions, said control arms supported on said bracket means of said first and second drive units being oppositely disposed from one another, and being angularly displaced from one another to prevent engagement therebetween when the wheel chair is folded, each of said drive units being connected to the wheel chair solely by the connection of said bracket means to one part of the frame of the wheel chair.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said control arms has a pivotal supporting portion and an integral extending operating portion, and an integral projection on said supporting portion for engaging said mounting plate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
249 words
A motorized drive unit for a wheelchair having a frame and first and second wheels mounted thereon, such drive unit being provided as a unitary assembly and including in combination, bracket means having first and second ends, with said first end including clamp means for securing said bracket means to the frame of the wheelchair, motor means having a rotary shaft with drive wheel meaNs thereon, mounting means for said motor means pivotally connected to said bracket means at said second end thereof and extending toward said first end, said mounting means having first and second pivotal positions with respect to said bracket means, with said drive wheel means of said motor means being in position for driving engagement with the wheel of the wheelchair when said mounting means is in said first position and being held away from the wheel of the wheelchair by said mounting means in said second position thereof, spring means connected to said bracket means intermediate said ends thereof and coupled to said motor means and applying resilient pressure thereto to hold said drive wheel means in engagement with the wheel of the wheelchair, and control means mechanically coupled to said bracket means intermediate said ends thereof and engaging said mounting means for selectively holding said mounting means in said second position, said drive unit being connected to the frame of the wheelchair solely by said clamp means, except for the driving engagement of said drive wheel means with the wheel of the wheelchair.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
249 words
A motorized drive unit for a wheelchair having a frame and first and second wheels mounted thereon, such drive unit being provided as a unitary assembly and including in combination, bracket means having first and second ends, with said first end including clamp means for securing said bracket means to the frame of the wheelchair, motor means having a rotary shaft with drive wheel meaNs thereon, mounting means for said motor means pivotally connected to said bracket means at said second end thereof and extending toward said first end, said mounting means having first and second pivotal positions with respect to said bracket means, with said drive wheel means of said motor means being in position for driving engagement with the wheel of the wheelchair when said mounting means is in said first position and being held away from the wheel of the wheelchair by said mounting means in said second position thereof, spring means connected to said bracket means intermediate said ends thereof and coupled to said motor means and applying resilient pressure thereto to hold said drive wheel means in engagement with the wheel of the wheelchair, and control means mechanically coupled to said bracket means intermediate said ends thereof and engaging said mounting means for selectively holding said mounting means in said second position, said drive unit being connected to the frame of the wheelchair solely by said clamp means, except for the driving engagement of said drive wheel means with the wheel of the wheelchair.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
89 words
The motorized drive according to claim 3 wherein said bracket means includes a member having first and second angularly displaced arms, with a detent in said first arm thereof and a clamp oppositely disposed from said detent, and means securing said clamp to said first arm with said clamp and said arm on opposite sides of a part of the frame of the wheel chair for securing said bracket means to the frame of said wheel chair, and including means pivotally supporting said mounting means on said second arm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The motorized drive unit according to claim 3 wherein said spring means includes a compression spring and an adjustable device for adjusting the force exerted thereby.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The combination of claim 3 wherein said mounting means includes a plate having a curved portion at one end, and a bolt secured to said bracket means and extending through said curved portion of said plate for pivotally supporting the same.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination of claim 3 wherein said bracket means comprises a member forming two angularly disposed arms, with one of said arms being adapted to fit the frame of the wheel chair for rigidly securing said bracket means thereto.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
95 words
The motorized drive unit according to claim 3 wherein said means mechanically coupled to said bracket and to said mounting means includes a control arm pivotally supported on said bracket means and having a nub for engaging said mounting means for pivoting the same with respect to said bracket means from one of said first and second positions to the other of said first and second positions, said arm acting to positively hold said mounting means in said second position wherein said drive wheel means is positioned away from the wheel of the wheel chair.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The motorized drive unit of claim 8 wherein said bracket means, mounting means, motor means, spring means and control arm form a self-contained module which is completely assembled prior to mounting of said bracket means on a wheel chair.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The motorized drive unit according to claim 8 wherein said nub on said arm includes a sleeve for engaging said mounting means, and including first and second expansion springs on said arm on opposite sides of said sleeve for holding the same in position.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-21 | 1977-07-23 | 1978-01-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-21 | 1981-07-23 | 1982-01-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-21 | 1985-07-23 | 1986-01-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |