Patent US4565482A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4565482A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Wheelchair dockage and storage system
Assignee: AUTODYNAMICS Corp OF AMERICA A MI CORP
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Filing: 1982-11-22
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Granted: 1986-01-21
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Expires: 2002-11-22
Abstract
Abstract An assembly for raising and collapsing a wheelchair having collapsible legs including a first arm having a first hook at the end thereof for reversibly engaging the proximal leg of the wheelchair and having a lowered and a raised position, and a second arm having a second hook at the end thereof for reversibly engaging the distal leg of the wheelchair and being operatively connected to the first arm for movement between the raised and lowered positions therewith. The second arm has a retracted and an extended position relative to the first arm. A first motor reversibly moves the first and second arms between the raised and lowered positions for raising and lowering the wheelchair, and a second motor reversibly moves the second arm relative to the first arm to reversibly collapse the distal leg of the wheelchair against the proximal leg thereof. A method is provided including the steps of attaching the first arm of the assembly to the proximal leg of the wheelchair, extending the second arm and attaching the second arm to the distal leg of the wheelchair, pivoting the first arm upwardly to raise the first and second arms and the wheelchair attached thereto, and retracting the second arm relative to the first arm to collapse the legs of the wheelchair together.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary W. Baker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 07:54
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61G; A61G3/00; A61G3/02; A61G3/0209; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S297/00; Y10S297/04; Y10S414/00; Y10S414/134
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
An assembly for raising and collapsing a wheelchair having collapsible legs, said assembly comprising: first leg engagement means for reversibly engaging the proximal leg of the wheelchair and having a lowered position and a raised position; second leg engagement means for reversibly engaging the distal leg of the wheelchair and being operatively connected to said first leg engagement means for movement between said raised and lowered positions therewith, said second leg engagement means having a retracted and extended position relative to said first leg engagement means; and drive means for reversibly moving said first and second leg engagement means between said raised and lowered positions for raising the wheelchair and for reversibly moving said second leg engagement means from said extended position to said retracted position to reversibly collapse the distal leg of the wheelchair against the proximal leg.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
An assembly for raising and collapsing a wheelchair having collapsible legs, said assembly comprising: first leg engagement means for reversibly engaging the proximal leg of the wheelchair and having a lowered position and a raised position; second leg engagement means for reversibly engaging the distal leg of the wheelchair and being operatively connected to said first leg engagement means for movement between said raised and lowered positions therewith, said second leg engagement means having a retracted and extended position relative to said first leg engagement means; and drive means for reversibly moving said first and second leg engagement means between said raised and lowered positions for raising the wheelchair and for reversibly moving said second leg engagement means from said extended position to said retracted position to reversibly collapse the distal leg of the wheelchair against the proximal leg.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
An assembly as described in claim 1 including a first arm pivotally mounted for moving said first and second leg engagement means between said raised and lowered positions and a second arm having said second leg engagement means connected thereto and being mounted on said first arm and axially movable relative thereto for moving said second leg engagement means between said extended and retracted positions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
An assembly as described in claim 2 wherein said drive means includes a gear drive motor having a gear drive shaft operatively connected to said first arm for moving said first and second arm engagement means between said raised and lowered positions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
An assembly as described in claim 3 wherein said gear drive shaft includes a distal end, said assembly including support means for supporting said distal end.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
An assembly as described in claim 4 includng a mounting block, said first arm being fixedly mounted on said mounting block and said mounting block being fixedly mounted on said gear drive shaft whereby rotation of said gear drive shaft rotates said mounting block and said first arm to raise and lower said first and second leg engagement means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
An assembly as described in claim 5 wherein said drive means further includes a sprocket drive motor and a drive sprocket operatively connected thereto and being operatively connected to said second arm for extending and retracting said second arm relative to said first arm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
An assembly as described in claim 6 wherein said drive sprocket includes said support means for pivotally supporting said distal end of said gear drive shaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
An assembly as described in claim 7 wherein said drive sprocket is operatively connected to said sprocket drive motor for rotation about an axis, said support means including a pocket in said sprocket gear, said pocket defining a substantially cylindrical opening circumscribed about said axis, said distal end of said gear drive shaft being pivotally journalled within said pocket for rotating movement relative thereto.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
An assembly as described in claim 7 wherein said second arm includes gearing means operatively connected to said drive sprocket for actuating movement of said second arm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
An assembly as described in claim 9 wherein said second arm has a substantially planar upper surface, said gearing means including a rack gear disposed axially along said upper surface of said second arm and a driven gear operatively connected to said drive sprocket and a pinion gear operatively connected to said driven gear, said pinion gear reversibly engaging said rack gear.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
An assembly as described in claim 10 wherein said first arm includes a channel extending axially therethrough, said second arm being slidably mounted within said channel for movement between said extended and retracted positions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
77 words
An assembly as described in claim 11 wherein said first arm includes a first distal end and said second arm including a second distal end, said first leg engagement means including a first hook extending horizontally outwardly from and opening inwardly relative to said distal end of said first arm and said second leg engagement means includes a second hook extending downwardly from and opening upwardly and outwardly relative to said distal end of said second arm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
An assembly as described in claim 12 wherein said second arm includes sensor means for sensing when said second arm is in said retracted position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
An assembly as described in claim 2 wherein said drive means includes a sprocket drive motor and a drive sprocket operatively connected thereto, said assembly including gearing means operatively connected between said drive sprocket and said second arm for actuating movement of said second arm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
53 words
An assembly as described in claim 14 wherein said gearing means includes a rack gear disposed axially along the upper surface of said second arm and a driven gear operatively connected to said drive sprocket and a pinion gear operatively connected to said driven gear, said pinion gear reversibly engaging said rack gear.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
An assembly as described in claim 15 wherein said first arm includes a channel extending axially therethrough, said second arm being slidably mounted within said channel for movement between said first and second positions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
59 words
An assembly as described in claim 16 wherein said first leg engagement means includes a hook extending horizontally outwardly from and opening inwardly relative to the distal end of said first arm and said second leg engagement means includes a second hook extending downwardly from and opening upwardly and outwardly relative to the distal end of said second arm.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
An assembly as described in claim 17 wherein said second arm includes sensor means for sensing when said second arm is in said retracted position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
An assembly as described in claim 2 wherein said first arm includes a channel extending axially therethrough, said second arm being slidably mounted within said channel for movement between said first and second positions.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
59 words
An assembly as described in claim 2 wherein said first leg engagement means includes a hook extending horizontally outwardly from said opening inwardly relative to the distal end of said first arm and said second leg engagement means includes a second hook extending downwardly from and opening upwardly and outwardly relative to the distal end of said second arm.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of raising and collapsing a wheelchair having collapsible legs with a dockage and storage assembly including a pivotally mounted first arm having a first hook extending from the end thereof and a second arm axially slidably mounted relative to the first arm for movement between an extended and retracted position, said method comprising the steps of; attaching the first arm to the proximal leg of the wheelchair, extending the second arm and attaching the second arm to the distal leg of the wheelchair, pivoting the first arm upwardly to raise the first and second arms and the wheelchair attached thereto, and retracting the second arm relative to the first arm to collapse the legs of the wheelchair together.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of raising and collapsing a wheelchair having collapsible legs with a dockage and storage assembly including a pivotally mounted first arm having a first hook extending from the end thereof and a second arm axially slidably mounted relative to the first arm for movement between an extended and retracted position, said method comprising the steps of; attaching the first arm to the proximal leg of the wheelchair, extending the second arm and attaching the second arm to the distal leg of the wheelchair, pivoting the first arm upwardly to raise the first and second arms and the wheelchair attached thereto, and retracting the second arm relative to the first arm to collapse the legs of the wheelchair together.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
75 words
A method as described in claim 21 wherein the first arm includes a first hook at the end thereof and the second arm includes a second hook at the end thereof, said method further defined by the steps of hooking the first hook onto the proximal leg of the wheelchair and hooking the second hook onto the second leg of the wheelchair to connect the first and second arms to the legs of the wheelchair.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as described in claim 21 including the steps of driving a pinion gear operatively connected to a rack gear mounted on the second arm to move the second arm to the extended position.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as described in claim 23 including the steps of locking the pinion gear in a stationary position while raising the first arm to retract the second arm relative to the first arm while raising the first arm simultaneously.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1989-01-20 | 1989-07-22 | 1990-01-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-01-20 | 1993-07-22 | 1994-01-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-01-20 | 1997-07-22 | 1998-01-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |