Vehicle for supporting handicapped occupants

Claim 2

An occupant operated motor driven vehicle for supporting a handicapped occupant, such as, a paraplegic, comprising in combination: (a) a vehicle comprising a frame supported on at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel and including structure for supporting a handicapped occupant in said vehicle; (b) at least one support foot rotatably attached to said vehicle adapted to swing forwardly of said vehicle and contact the vehicle support surface for supporting said vehicle in a forward tilt when said foot is locked in stationary position; (c) support foot positioning means connected between said foot and said frame operative to position said foot at various angles to said vehicle; (d) occupant operated driving means for operating said support foot positioning means to position said foot at various angles to said vehicle, and (e) means for locking said foot in a desired angular position to support said vehicle and occupant in a forward angular position.

Claim 3

The vehicle of claim 1 including braking means for said front wheel.

Claim 4

The vehicle of claim 1 including occupant supporting means for supporting said occupant in a standing position.

Claim 5

The vehicle of claim 1 including: (a) a drive shaft rotatably mounted on said frame; (b) a first extensible and contractible lever system connected between said driving means and said drive shaft, and c a second extensible and contractible lever system connected between said drive shaft and said support foot.

Claim 6

The vehicle of claim 4 in which said driving means comprises: (a) a threaded ball screw shaft; (b) an internally threaded, non-rotating ball nut on said ball screw shaft, and (c) means for rotating said screw shaft.

Claim 7

The vehicle of claim 4 in which said first lever system comprises: (a) at least one first lever arm rotatably connected at its proximate end to said driving means and at its distal end to the distal end of a second lever arm having its proximate end securely attached to said drive shaft, and said second lever system comprises; (b) at least one first lever arm securely attached at its proximate end to said drive shaft and rotatably attached at its distal end to the distal end of a second lever arm having its proximate end rotatably attached to said support foot.

Claim 8

The vehicle of claim 6 in which said lever arms are in duplicate.

Claim 9

The vehicle of claim 6 in which said first lever arm of said first lever system is rotatably connected at its proximate end to said ball nut.

Claim 10

The vehicle of claim 1 in which said support foot positioning means comprises: (a) a rotatable threaded ball screw shaft mounted on said vehicle to permit rotation of said ball screw shaft; (b) an internally threaded, non-rotating ball nut on said ball screw shaft attached to said foot for positioning the foot at various angles to said vehicle as said ball nut moves on said ball screw shaft in response to rotation of said ball screw shaft.

Claim 11

The vehicle of claim 9 in which said vehicle has two support feet.

Claim 12

The vehicle of claim 9 including braking means for said front wheel.

Claim 13

The vehicle of claim 9 including occupant supporting means for supporting said occupant in a standing position.

Claim 14

An occupant operated motor driven vehicle for supporting handicapped occupants, such as, paraplegics, comprising, in combination: (a) a vehicle comprising a frame supported on two front wheels and one rear wheel and including structure for supporting a handicapped occupant in said vehicle in standing position; (b) two substantially parallel support feet rotatably attached to said vehicle adapted to swing forwardly of said vehicle to contact the vehicle support surface for supporting said vehicle in a forward tilt when said feet are locked in stationary position and to swing backwardly to a stored position; (c) a drive shaft rotatably mounted on said frame; (d) a motor; (e) a gear box operatively connected to said motor; (f) a threaded ball screw shaft operatively connected to said gear box; (g) an internally threaded, non-rotating ball nut on said ball screw shaft; (h) a first lever system comprising at least one first lever arm rotatably connected at its proximate end to said ball nut and rotatably attached at its distal end to the distal end of a second lever arm having its proximate end securely attached to said drive shaft; and (i) a second lever system comprising at least one first lever arm securely attached at its promimate end to said drive shaft and rotatably attached at its distal end to the distal end of a second lever arm having its proximate end rotatably attached to said support feet.

Claim 15

An occupant operated motor driven vehicle for supporting handicapped occupants, such as, paraplegics, comprising, in combination: (a) a vehicle comprising a frame supported on two front wheels and one rear wheel and including structure for supporting a handicapped occupant in said vehicle in standing position; (b) two substantially parallel support feet rotatably attached to said vehicle adapted to swing forwardly of said vehicle to contact the vehicle support surface for supporting said vehicle in a forward tilt when said feet are locked in stationary position and to swing backwardly to a stored position; (c) a drive shaft rotatably mounted on said frame; (d) a motor; (e) a gear box operatively connected to said motor; (f) a threaded ball screw shaft operatively connected to said gear box; (g) an internally threaded, non-rotating ball nut on said ball screw shaft; (h) a first lever system comprising at least one first lever arm rotatably connected at its proximate end to said ball nut and rotatably attached at its distal end to the distal end of a second lever arm having its proximate end securely attached to said drive shaft; and (i) a second lever system comprising at least one first lever arm securely attached at its promimate end to said drive shaft and rotatably attached at its distal end to the distal end of a second lever arm having its proximate end rotatably attached to said support feet.

Claim 16

A vehicle support system adapted to be attached to a vehicle for supporting the vehicle in a forward tilt and restoring it to its upright position, comprising: (a) at least one hinged support foot adapted to swing forwardly of said vehicle to contact the vehicle support surface for supporting said vehicle in a forward tilt; (b) a ball screw shaft having threads on its outer surface; (c) a non-rotating internally threaded ball nut on said shaft; (d) means for rotating said shaft; (e) a first extensible and contractible lever system connected between said ball nut and a drive shaft rotatably mounted on said vehicle; and (f) a second extensible and contractible lever system connected between said drive shaft and said support feet.

Claim 17

A vehicle support system adapted to be attached to a vehicle for supporting the vehicle in a forward tilt and restoring it to its upright position, comprising: (a) at least one hinged support foot adapted to swing forwardly of said vehicle to contact the vehicle support surface for supporting said vehicle in a forward tilt; (b) a ball screw shaft having threads on its outer surface; (c) a non-rotating internally threaded ball nut on said shaft; (d) means for rotating said shaft; (e) a first extensible and contractible lever system connected between said ball nut and a drive shaft rotatably mounted on said vehicle; and (f) a second extensible and contractible lever system connected between said drive shaft and said support feet.

Claim 18

The vehicle support system of claim 14 in which said first lever system comprises: (a) at least one first lever arm rotatably connected at its proximate end to said ball nut and at its distal end to the distal end of a second lever arm having its proximate end securely attached to said drive shaft, and second lever system comprises; (b) at least one first lever arm securely attached at is proximate end to said drive shaft and rotatably attached at its distal end to the distal end of a second lever arm having its proximate end rotatably attached to said support foot.