Patent US4154315A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US4154315A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Chassis for stair-climbing vehicles

Assignee: MCGUIRE KEVIN C
•
Filing: 1977-01-19
•
Granted: 1979-05-15
•
Expires: 1997-01-19
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A chassis for stair-climbing wheel chairs with step wheels mounted on a star-shaped rotating supporting means, the step wheels being surrounded by an elastic endless belt, the latter being in contact with portions of the step wheel peripheries. Locking means are mounted on the rotatable supporting portion and are lockable to the inside of the belt means, when the latter is pressed towards the locking means by a stair during the stair climbing operation. When the chassis climbs, the belt being driven, the supporting means will rotate. The locking means releases when the stair has been passed.

Inventors

  • 👤 Gunnar O. V. Rasmussen

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 17:55
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61G; A61G5/00; A61G5/06; A61G5/061; A61G5/063; A61G5/065; A61G5/066; B; B62; B62B; B62B5/00; B62B5/02; B62B5/026; B62D; B62D55/00; B62D55/06; B62D55/075; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S280/00; Y10S280/10

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 143 words
A chassis for a stair-climbing vehicle having a frame and comprising step wheels mounted on a rotatable support member and having their peripheries connected by an endless belt means driven by at least one drive means spaced from said support member, comprising: (a) locking means pivotally mounted on said rotatable support member adjacent each said step wheel for relative movement with respect to said belt means; (b) each said locking means being lockable to the inner side of said belt means when the latter is pressed against a surface of said locking means by a stair step during stair climbing of said vehicle, said locking means releasing said belt means when said stair step has been passed; (c) said belt means being stretch-resistant; (d) whereby said belt means is locked in relation to said support means during climbing of a said stair step.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 143 words
A chassis for a stair-climbing vehicle having a frame and comprising step wheels mounted on a rotatable support member and having their peripheries connected by an endless belt means driven by at least one drive means spaced from said support member, comprising: (a) locking means pivotally mounted on said rotatable support member adjacent each said step wheel for relative movement with respect to said belt means; (b) each said locking means being lockable to the inner side of said belt means when the latter is pressed against a surface of said locking means by a stair step during stair climbing of said vehicle, said locking means releasing said belt means when said stair step has been passed; (c) said belt means being stretch-resistant; (d) whereby said belt means is locked in relation to said support means during climbing of a said stair step.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 83 words
A chassis according to claim 1, wherein said drive means comprises a bracing and driving unit, comprising: (a) a section mounted on the frame of said vehicle: (b) a gear wheel; (c) a geared motor for driving said gear wheel; (d) a pressure wheel for exerting pressure on said belt means; (e) fork means for supporting said support member; and (f) pressure spring means connecting said fixed section and said fork means for maintaining said belt means in contact with said step wheels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 22 words
A chassis according to claim 1, wherein said rotatable support member comprises arms radiating from a center hub in a star pattern.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 32 words
A chassis according to claim 3, wherein said step wheels are grouped in pairs at the ends of each said arm, one step wheel being provided on both sides of said arm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 20 words
A chassis according to claim 1, wherein said belt means is toothed on its inner surface facing said step wheels.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 15 words
A chassis according to claim 1, wherein said belt means is made of frictional material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 15 words
A chassis according to claim 6, wherein said belt means has steel wire embedded therein.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 15 words
A chassis according to claim 6, wherein said belt means has nylon strands embedded therein.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 31 words
A chassis according to claim 5, wherein said locking means comprises a pawl for each said step wheel, each said pawl being loaded by a pressure spring toward said belt means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 26 words
A chassis according to claim 9, wherein said pawl has a frictional coating at its outer end cooperating with the inner surface of said belt means.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2742973A Cited
US3730287A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1982-05-14 1982-11-13 1983-05-15 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1986-05-14 1986-11-13 1987-05-15 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1990-05-14 1990-11-13 1991-05-15 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag