GB2528500A

GB2528500A - Automatic Turning Deceleration Device For A Mobility Aid

Info

Publication number: GB2528500A
Application number: GB1413143.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shu-Chen Chan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-07-24
Filing date: 2014-07-24
Publication date: 2016-01-27
Also published as: GB201413143D0

Abstract

An automatic turning deceleration device for a mobility aid has a fixing base 20, a fixing unit 30, a turning sensor 40, a turning base 41, a linking unit 52, and a control module 51. The turning sensor 40 is rotatably mounted on a side of the fixing unit 30. The turning base 41 is mounted around the turning sensor 40. The linking unit 52 is mounted on the turning base 41 and abuts the turning sensor 40. The control module 51 is mounted on a side of the turning base 20 and links between the fixing base 30 and the turning base 20. In use, the turning sensor 40 detects a steering input from a user and this is used to limit the speed of the mobility scooter providing a stable and steady decelerating effect in order to improve cornering safety.

Description

AUTOMATIC TURNING DECELERATION DEVICE FOR A

2 MOBILITY AID

3 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

4 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a turning deceleration device, and more 6 particularly to an automatic turning deceleration device for a mobility aid such 7 as a mobility scooter or rollator.

8 2. Description of Related Art

9 A mobility aid is applied for assisting a user with reduced mobility to move easily. To maintain turning stability for the mobility aid, a proximity ii switch is mounted on a stem of the mobility aid. The stem is rotated by the user 12 for turning the mobility aid. When the stem is rotated to a default angle, the 13 proximity switch conies into contact with a sensoi; and then the sensor transmits 14 a deceleration signal to a motor of the mobility aid to control the mobility aid to decelerate and to prevent overturning.

16 However, the deceleration signal is transmitted only when the proximity 17 switch contacts the sensor, such that the motor decelerates promptly in a short 18 time. Therefore, the decelerating effect of the mobility aid cannot be maintained 19 stable and steady.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

21 The main objective of the present invention is to provide an improved 22 automatic turning deceleration device for a mobility aid to resolve the 23 above-mentioned problems.

24 The automatic turning deceleration device of a mobility aid has a fixing I base, a fixing unit, a turning sensor, a turning base, a linking unit, and a control 2 module.

3 The turning sensor is rotatably mounted on a side of the fixing unit. For 4 example, a portion of the turning sensor may be disposed on one side of the fixing unit and a portion of the turning sensor may extend through the fixing unit.

6 The turning base is mounted around the turning sensor. The linking unit is 7 combined on or coupled to the turning base and abuts the turning sensor. For 8 example, the linking unit (or linking element) may be a bolt threaded through the 9 turning base, and the end of the bolt may abut the turning sensor so that the turning sensor is constrained to rotate with the turning base. The control module 11 is mounted on a side of the turning base and links between the fixing base and the 12 turning base.

13 The fixing unit may be for mounting to a frame of a mobility aid, such as 14 a fixing frame for mounting a rotatable stem to a body of the mobility aid. The fixing base may be for mounting to the stem of the mobility aid, which may be 16 rotatable relative to the fixing base.

17 Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the present invention 18 will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken 19 in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

21 Fig. 1 is a partial perspective view of an automatic turning deceleration 22 device in accordance with the present invention, shown mounted on a mobility 23 aid; 24 Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the automatic turning I deceleration device in Fig. 1; 2 Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the automatic turning 3 deceleration device in Fig. 2; 4 Fig. 4 is a front side view in partial section of the automatic turning S deceleration device in Fig. 2; 6 Fig. 5 is a side view in partial section of the automatic turning 7 deceleration device in Fig. 2; and 8 Figs. 6A and 6B show operational bottom views of the automatic turning 9 deceleration device in Fig. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

11 With reference to Fig. 1, a preferred embodiment of an automatic turning 12 deceleration device for a mobility aid in accordance with the present invention is 13 mounted on a bottom of a stein 11 of a mobility aid 10, in particular a mobility 14 scooter. The mobility aid 10 has a stem 11, a body 15, a handle bar 16, a fixing frame 14, two rear wheels 12 andtwo motors 13. The stem II is mounted on a 16 front side of the body 15. The handle bar 16 is mounted on a top of the stem 11.

17 The fixing frame 14 is mounted on the stem 11 to fix the stem 11 on the body 15, 18 wherein the automatic turning deceleration device is mounted on the fixing 19 frame 14. The rear wheels 12 are mounted on a rear of the body 15 and are respectively located on two sides of the body 15. The motors 13 are respectively 21 mounted on the two sides of the body 15 and respectively drive the rear wheels 22 12. Alternatively, the mobility aid 10 may only have a single motor 13 for 23 driving the rear wheels 12. In use, the automatic turning deceleration device is 24 electrically connected with the motors 13. The handle bar 16 is applied for a user 1 to control a moving direction of the mobility aid 10.

2 Alternatively, the mobility aid 10 may only have a motor 13 mounted on 3 one of the sides of the body 15 and driving the rear wheels 12.

4 With reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the automatic turning deceleration device has a fixing base 20 for mounting on the stem II of the mobility aid 10, a 6 fixing unit 30 for mounting on the fixing frame 14 of the mobility aid 10, a 7 turning sensor 40, a turning base 41, a linking unit 42 and a control module 50.

8 The fixing base 20 is mounted on a bottom of the stem 11. The fixing 9 unit 30 is mounted on the fixing frame 14. Preferably, the fixing unit 30 is formed as a fixing plate. The turning sensor 40 is rotatably mounted on the fixing ii unit 30. The turning base 41 is mounted around the turning sensor 40. The 12 linking unit 42 (or linking element or bolt) is inserted into a side of the turning 13 base 41 (e.g. by threading the linking unit 42 through a threaded hole in the 14 turning base 41), is combined with the turning base 41 and abuts the turning sensor 40, such that the linking unit 42 can drive the turning base 41 to rotate 16 when the automatic turning deceleration device is turned. The turning sensor 40 17 is electrically connected with the motors 13. Preferably, the turning sensor 40 is a 18 variable resistor or a potentiometer.

19 The control module 50 is mounted on the fixing base 20 and a bottom of the turning base 41, and is linked between the fixing base 20 and the turning base 21 41. The control module 50 has a main control pad 51 (or main control gear) and a 22 secondary control pad 52 (or secondary control gear). The main control pad 5 1 is 23 mounted on a bottom of the fixing base 20. Preferably the main control pad 51 is 24 mounted on the bottom of the fixing base 20 by two bolts 53. The main control 1 pad 51 is formed in a curved shape and has multiple first engaging teeth 511. The 2 first engaging teeth 511 are formed on a side of the main control pad 51 and are 3 arranged at intervals. The secondary control pad 52 is mounted on a bottom of 4 the turning base 41. Preferably, the secondary control pad 52is mounted on the bottom of the turning base 41 by two bolts 54. The secondary control pad 52 has 6 multiple second engaging teeth 521. The second engaging teeth 521 are formed 7 on a side of the secondary control pad 52, are arranged at intervals, and are 8 engaged with the first engaging teeth 511. When the first control pad 5 1 is 9 rotated, the second control pad 52 is driven to rotate by the cooperation between the first engaging teeth 5 11 and the second engaging teeth 521. The linking ii structure between the control module 50 and the turning base 41 is not restricted 12 in the present invention. The control module 50 may be a linking lever linking 13 between the fixing base 20 and the turning base 41 to drive the turtling base 41 to 14 rotate.

With reference to Figs. 3, 5, 6A and 6B, in use, when the turning base 41 16 is not rotated, the turning sensor 40 cannot be driven to rotate, such that the 17 turning sensor 40 cannot transmit a decelerating signal to an electronic control 18 system and the motors 13 of the mobility aid 10. Therefore, the motors 13 19 operate at a speed that is controlled by a user.

When the user rotates the stem 11 to control the mobility aid 10 to turn 21 left or right, the fixing base 20 drives the main control pad 5! to rotate, and then 22 the main control pad 5 1 controls the secondary control pad 52 to rotate by the 23 first engaging teeth 511. When the secondary control pad 52 is rotated, the 24 turning base 41 is driven to rotate and then the turning sensor 40 is driven to 1 rotate by the linking unit 42. After the turning sensor 40 is rotated, the turning 2 sensor 40 can transmit the linear decelerating signal to the electronic control 3 system and the motors 13 of the mobility aid 10. As a rotation angle of the 4 turning sensor 40 enlarges, the decelerating signal transmitted to the motors 13 S intensifies accordingly, such that the motors 13 can decelerate for a stable and 6 steady turning effect.

7 From the above descnption, it is noted that the present invention has the 8 following advantages: In use, the fixing base 20 is mounted on the stem 11 of the 9 mobility aid 10. When the stem ii is rotated, the fixing base 20 can be rotated to further drive the turning base 41 to rotate by the control module 50. Then, the ii linking unit 42 is applied for driving the turning sensor 40 to rotate, wherein the 12 turning sensor 40 is electrically connected with the electronic control system and 13 the motors 13 of the mobility aid 10. Therefore, when the turning sensor 40 is 14 rotated, the linear decelerating signal is transmitted to the motors 13. Along with the increasing of the rotation angle of the turning sensor 40, the decelerating 16 effect of the motors 13 becomes enhanced. Therefore, when the mobility aid 10 17 turns right or left, the automatic turning deceleration device can be applied to 18 control the motors 13 to decelerate steadily, stably and effectively to increase a 19 turning security.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present 21 invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details 22 of the strncture and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, 23 and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and 24 arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent I indicated by the broad general meaning of the tenns hi which die appended 2 claims are expressed.