JP2001517509A - Improved wheelchair - Google Patents

Abstract

The improved wheelchair uses two push levers mounted on two drive sprockets, which connect the front sprocket to a gear cluster mounted on the rear wheel axle. Move the two main rear wheels of the wheelchair through the bicycle chain. The ratchet mechanism transmits a force for each push lever to drive the sprocket to the forward or backward position. A derailleur is mounted on each rear axle, which is actuated by a shifter mechanism mounted on the push lever. Caliper-type rear wheel brake mounted on a frame near each rear wheel, which is actuated by a manual brake lever mounted on a push lever.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[Field of the Invention]

The present invention relates to a vehicle or wheelchair propelled by a user. More particularly, the present invention relates to a bicycle chain and a wheelchair propelled by a push lever connected to drive the rear wheels by a rear wheel gear cluster capable of varying gear ratios.

Description of the Prior Art Most wheelchair users use little or no function in the lower part of the body, but the function in the upper part of the body is usually preserved normally. Thus, in a conventional wheelchair, it is necessary for the user to propell the wheelchair by repeatedly pushing the edge of the car attached to the main wheel to push the wheelchair. The necessary arm and shoulder movements at this time are undesirable. Because these exercises use small and relatively weak muscles of the circumflex muscle of the wrist, they eventually cause shoulder joint stress disorders and osteoarthritis. This is also an inefficient means of travel, with a ratio of travel distance to push distance of only 1: 1. But traditional wheelchairs are also relatively simple machines that are easy to maintain everywhere. Several attempts have been made to improve on such standard machines, but without much success.

[0003] Some inventions use a lever for the user to propel the wheelchair. This is an advance as it uses larger and more powerful triceps and pectoral muscles to reduce stress on the shoulders. But still not all of these devices have been successful.

[0004] For example, in US Pat. No. 4,865,344, only one speed with one fixed gear ratio is used, and the mechanical gain obtained by using multiple sets of gear ratios. Has no significant advantage. This machine also requires the user to operate using a manual lever attached to the push lever, which complicates steering and propulsion.

In US Pat. No. 5,322,312, another attempt has been made to push a wheelchair using a push lever. This device also has only one gear ratio and does not have sufficient mechanical advantages. The use of removable skateboards makes this machine unnecessarily complex, expensive and difficult to maintain.

[0006] The machine of US Pat. No. 5,209,506 is troublesome in that the user must steer using a simultaneously pushing and pulling handle to propel the wheelchair. The linkage required to operate the machine is too complex to be easily maintained and the position of the steering push lever prevents easy entry and exit of the wheelchair.

In US Pat. No. 4,811,964, a push lever is used for powered but rowing movement. This machine would be difficult to maneuver due to a combination of rowing and maneuvering movements. This machine also has only one speed and uses a complex system of pulleys and couplings, all of which make the machine impractical.

[0008] US Patent 3,994,509 describes another machine driven by a lever, which also uses a very complex and expensive system of forward and reverse clusters. I have. This machine also has only a single forward speed and has a very wide range of designs to accommodate a wide range of wheels.

There are also several inventions that use a set of bicycle pedals that rotate a crank, which then transmits power to either the front or rear wheels through a bicycle chain. I have. All of these manual crank designs have the disadvantage that manual crank motion is extremely prone to fatigue. Moreover, these devices are too large and too heavy. The crank / steering gear prevents getting on and off. These wheelchairs generally do not have multiple gears and it is difficult to steer while performing a crank operation. U.S. Pat. No. 4,720,117 describes a typical example of this type of machine.

In US Pat. No. 5,362,081, an attempt is made to adapt the mechanical advantages of multiple gear ratios to a standard wheelchair format. However, this device does not relieve the user from repetitive movement disorders and deformity disorders to the shoulder joints, and requires the use of a pusher lever drive in that it requires the use of the user's small and weak wrist rotator. Fatigue is greater than that of the device according to. This particular type also requires the user to open the steering / drive wheels to shift the gears.

(Object of the present invention) An object of the present invention is to provide an alternative apparatus for manually moving a wheelchair using a strong shoulder and arm muscles of a person in the wheelchair in a wheelchair having a simple configuration, It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for selecting gears to move a wheelchair in a forward movement or a backward movement at the same time.

(Summary of the Present Invention) According to the present invention, there is provided a wheelchair propulsion device which improves a user's ability to propell a wheelchair at a high speed with a small force for a long period of time. Compared to existing wheelchairs, the machine used in the wheelchair of the present invention reduces joint stress and reduces osteoarthritis often associated with long-term wheelchair use.

The wheelchair of the present invention is propelled using two push levers, and the user pushes this lever forward using the triceps and pectoral muscles. The pawl mounted on these levers allows the user to retract the lever to the start position with little resistance.

[0014] Force is transmitted from the push lever for driving the sprocket to the multi-speed rear wheel through the bicycle chain. Drive chain with derailleur
r) A multi-stage gear ratio can be obtained by shifting (moving) to different sized rear wheel sprockets with (derailer) mechanism.

Turning is done in the same way as in a standard wheelchair. One wheel is pushed harder than the other wheel, or the other wheel is pushed while applying a braking force to one wheel. Effective braking can be achieved using caliper brakes similar to those used on typical bicycles.

With the device of the present invention, the most efficient means of propelling a wheelchair is provided while providing the user with significant physiological benefits.

Embodiment Referring to FIGS. 1 to 9, a wheelchair (1) has two large rear wheels (2) and two small front wheels (3). The large rear wheel is typically mounted on the rear axle outside the wheelchair frame. These rear axles are typically mounted in the left and right rear axle hubs, and these hubs are mounted on the upright portions (6) of the left and right rear frames below the level of the seat, in the wheelchair. It is stored in the frame. The axle is supported by the hub on bearings on the inner (7) and outer (8) axles. The rear wheels are typically mounted on the axle such that each rear wheel and axle rotate together on bearings in the hub.

Inside the hubs of the left and right rear axles, clusters (9) of sprocket gears are fixed to each axle to rotate the integrated axle-rear wheel. The particular number of sprockets and the particular number of teeth of each gear cluster can vary within the limits of space and axle length.

Still referring to FIG. 2, derailleurs (10) are mounted on the frame, typically above and behind the gear clusters, and drive left and right between sprockets (12) behind each sprocket gear cluster (9). The application chain (11) is moved.

Each drive chain (11) is a multi-link standard bicycle chain whose gear cluster (and axle and rear wheels) when the corresponding front drive sprocket (13) is rotated by the user. ) To rotate.

Referring now to FIG. 4, each forward drive sprocket (13) has a forward axle (1).
4), which is supported on inner (16) and outer (17) bearings in the hub (15) of the front axle. The left and right front hubs are typically fixed to a wheelchair frame below the height of the seat on the column (17A).

A pawl mechanism (18) is mounted on each forward axle outside the wheelchair frame. Referring now to FIGS. 5-7 and FIGS. 10-13, each pawl transmits a stroke of power and rotates clockwise or counterclockwise by rotating a handle (28) at the upper end of the push / pull lever. It is chosen to move the front drive sprocket in one of the directions. The push-pull lever then pulls up one of the two ratchet cables connected to the ratchet selector (19) through the hollow core inside the push-pull lever and moves the selector upward, This causes the pawl to move forward (FIGS. 6 and 1).
2), neutral (stationary) (FIGS. 5 and 11) or retreat (FIGS. 7 and 13)
Is driven to the position.

The rotating handle is such that the ball of a spring loaded ball assembly (30) incorporated in a push / pull lever near the handle is driven to the neutral, advancing or retreating of the ratchet selector (19). Three teeth (30A, 30A) in the handle corresponding to the position
B and 30C) are held in place by being pushed into one of them. A ratchet is attached to the far end of each of the two push-pull levers (20),
If the ratchet selector is set for forward movement, the user pushes straight on this lever to move the wheelchair forward. The user can move the wheelchair backward by setting the pawl wheel in reverse and pulling the push-pull lever backward.

Each derailleur moves to drive the chain between the gear sprockets (12) when the shift cable (21) is tightened or loosened. The user operates a shifter lever attached to the push-pull lever.
do this by pressing or pulling (ever) (22). These shifters are typically mounted on the handle of each push lever so that the user can operate them by thumb pressure.

The derailleur and shifter on the left side of the wheelchair are of the type typically found on 10x speed bicycles. The derailleur and shifter on the right side of the wheelchair are typically exactly opposite (mirrored) to the left side. This allows the user to perform similar movements simultaneously with each hand, actuate each derailleur simultaneously, and move both left and right gears in the same manner.

The rear wheels each have their own cable-operated caliper brakes (23
). The caliper is mounted on the frame, typically below the level of the pawl, and is moved by a brake cable (24). The near end of each brake cable is attached to the left and right brake levers (25),
The lever is attached to the handle of the corresponding push / pull lever. The user applies the braking force to the rear wheel by squeezing the brake lever. The brakes on each rear wheel are operated independently, as are each rear drive wheel. For each push / pull lever, hold the brake lever in the compressed position, press the caliper firmly against the rear wheel,
A pivotable retaining clip (29) is provided for performing the function of a parking brake.

[0027] Sprocket shields (27) can be attached above and forward of each forward drive sprocket to protect the user's legs.

To accommodate the most recently manufactured rear wheelchair, the diameter of the rear axle is typically イ ン チ inch. These rear wheels are mounted on the driving axle in such a way that they do not rotate independently of the rear axle.

A more detailed part of the ratchet selector (19) can be seen in FIG. This figure shows a pivotable pivot (30) coupled on a pin (31) for rotating with respect to the ratchet body and thereby engaging the ratchet teeth in the manner described in FIGS. 6 and 7. )It is shown. That is, when the handle (28) rotates, one of the two cables (26) connected to the rotating handle at a first end of the rotating handle and connected to a pivoting pivot at a second end is retracted. The pivot then pivots.

In the above embodiment, “left”, “right”, “top”, “bottom”, “bottom”, “top”, “front”, “rear”, “middle”, “outside”, etc. Words are used in conjunction with the description of the accompanying figures. These terms are merely illustrative and do not necessarily apply to the locations and methods used to construct the invention.

Although the present invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments thereof, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific forms described, but instead that the invention be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Incl. Alternatives, modifications and equivalents as defined in the appended claims.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the device of the present invention as seen from the right.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of left and right derailleurs, showing that they are mirror images of each other.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of left and right shifters, showing that they are mirror images of each other.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the front axle with sprockets, bearings, hub, ratchet, and push lever.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the ratchet device showing the ratchet cable attached to the ratchet selector when in the neutral position.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the right ratchet device showing the ratchet cable attached to the ratchet selector when in the forward position.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the right ratchet device, showing the ratchet cable attached to the ratchet selector when in the retracted position.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the rear axle with gear clusters, bearings, hubs, uprights of the frame and rear wheels.

FIG. 9 is a left view of the wheelchair as viewed from the center of the chair.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the upper end of the push lever with the shifter, the brake lever of the handle, the clip for holding the brake lever, the ratchet cable, and the rotating handle.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a ratchet and a rotating handle showing a spring-loaded ball in which the positions of the teeth of the handle are set to neutral.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view from the outside of a rotating handle showing a ratchet and a spring-loaded ball in which the positions of teeth of the handle are set to forward.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view from the outside of a rotating handle showing the ratchet wheel and a spring-loaded ball in which the positions of the teeth of the handle are set backward.

[Procedure for Amendment] Submission of translation of Article 19 Amendment of the Patent Cooperation Treaty

[Submission date] February 17, 2000 (2000.2.17)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claim 1

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

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Claims (10)

[Claims] Claims: 1. A wheelchair having a frame, a seat, a pair of front wheels, and a pair of rear wheels, each having a near end and a far end, each at a far end attached to the frame of the wheelchair. Two push levers rotatably mounted, a power transmission device that scans over each push lever and converts the motion of the push lever into a rotational motion, engages with the power transmission device of each push lever, Two drive sprockets mounted for rotation, multiple sprocket gears mounted on each rear wheel, two chains for engaging the drive sprocket with the sprocket gears, and one of the multiple drive gears to another A wheelchair comprising two derailleurs that move the chain to a number of drive gears. Each of the transmissions further includes a ratchet mechanism that engages the push / pull lever at a distal end and engages its drive sprocket; and The drive sprocket can be moved to a position for rotating in a forward direction or a position for rotating in a reverse direction, and further, the engagement of the drive sprocket is released to a neutral position, and the movement of the push-pull lever moves relative to the drive sprocket. The wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein the movement is not transmitted. 3. The ratchet mechanism including a ratchet mechanism controller mounted on a proximal end of the push / pull lever for changing the ratchet mechanism. Wheelchair as described. 4. The wheelchair of claim 3, wherein the ratchet mechanism control includes a rotatable handle for changing the ratchet mechanism between forward, neutral, and reverse. 5. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a pair of independently acting brakes, said pair of brakes acting on a rear wheel, said brake further comprising a brake control, said brake control being close to said push / pull lever. The wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein the wheelchair is located at one end. 6. A device for holding the brake control device to secure the brake to the wheels while the user's hand is released from the brake control device is wiped on the plate. Item 6. The wheelchair according to item 5. 7. Each of said derailleurs includes a derailleur control mounted on a proximal end of said push / pull lever, and further includes said derailleur control and a cable engaged with said derailleur. The wheelchair according to claim 1, characterized in that: 8. A brake and brake control device on each push / pull lever, and further includes a derailleur control device for each rear wheel, the brake control device, the derailleur control device and the ratchet mechanism control device comprising 4. The wheelchair according to claim 3, wherein the wheelchair is arranged at an end near the lever so that the user can control the brake, ratchet and derailleur without releasing the hand from the lever. . 9. The wheelchair of claim 1, further comprising a pair of drive sprocket shields for protecting a user's legs. 10. A brake system further comprising a pair of brakes and a pair of brake control devices, each brake and brake control device acting independently on each rear wheel, and further fixing the rear wheel in a fixed position to brake the operation. 2. The wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein a device for releasing from the control device is included for each brake control device.