NZ609260B - Powered Mobility Device - Google Patents

Abstract

609260 A powered mobility device or wheel chair (10) is disclosed that is able to be steered with or without the use of hands. The device includes at least two drive wheels (12, 13), a drive control means, a tiltable seat (11) able to tilt in forward, backward, left and right directions as a result of the user shifting their body weight and a weight sensing means. Upon sensing a weight displacement of a user in a particular direction the weight displacement sensing means causes the drive control means to impart drive to the drive wheels to move the mobility device in the sensed direction. A hand control means (14) is selectively engageable with the tilt mechanism and the weight displacement sensing means so that the hand control means can disengage left and right movement of the tilt mechanism. The hand control means (14) causes the weight sensing means to cause the drive control means to steer the mobility device in a desired direction instead of the tilt mechanism. The hand control means (14) may provide more sensitive steering for example when used off road. t of the user shifting their body weight and a weight sensing means. Upon sensing a weight displacement of a user in a particular direction the weight displacement sensing means causes the drive control means to impart drive to the drive wheels to move the mobility device in the sensed direction. A hand control means (14) is selectively engageable with the tilt mechanism and the weight displacement sensing means so that the hand control means can disengage left and right movement of the tilt mechanism. The hand control means (14) causes the weight sensing means to cause the drive control means to steer the mobility device in a desired direction instead of the tilt mechanism. The hand control means (14) may provide more sensitive steering for example when used off road.

Description

Patents Form # 5 NEW ZEALAND Patents Act 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION AFTER PROVISIONAL 598120 DATED: 9 February 2012 TITLE: Mobility Device I, HALSALL, Kevin Thomas Address: 108 A Waitohu Valley Rd, Otaki, New Zealand, 5512 Nationality: New Zealand do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 402174NZ_PF#05_20130410_1450_TGR.doc FEE CODE – 1050 Powered Mobility Device Field of the Invention The invention relates to a Powered Mobility Device, typically a powered wheelchair, that is able to be steered with or without the use of hands Background of Invention A problem with existing mobility devices such as wheelchairs is that they are not easily operable by a user, especially those users that have significant loss or impaired movement of their limbs (arms and legs).

Also most wheelchairs are not suitable to be used on all surface types. They are not able to be used easily or effectively on soft surfaces such as lawns or undulating surfaces, i.e. they are not able to be used “off road”. They are prone to get stuck and require assistance of others to be able to go “off road”.

Powered wheelchairs typically require hand controls to steer and propel the wheel chair forward and backward. It is known to have wheel chairs that are controlled by the weight placement of the user, however these are not suitable for providing fine control of such movement in places where required (such as a crowded place or in a shop) or are not suitable for “off road” use.

Prior References: All references, including any patents or patent applications cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. No admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. The discussion of the references states what their authors assert, and the applicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinency of the cited documents. It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior art publications may be referred to herein; this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents form part of the common general knowledge in the art, in New Zealand or in any other country.

Definitions: It is acknowledged that the term ‘comprise’ may, under varying jurisdictions, be attributed with either an exclusive or an inclusive meaning. For the purpose of this specification, and unless otherwise noted, the term ‘comprise’ shall have an inclusive meaning - i.e. that it will be taken to mean an inclusion of not only the listed components it directly references, but also other non- specified components or elements. This rationale will also be used when the term ‘comprised’ or 'comprising' is used in relation to one or more steps in a method or process.

Object of the Invention It is an object of the invention to provide a Powered Mobility Device, typically a powered wheelchair, that ameliorates some of the disadvantages and limitations of the known art or at least provide the public with a useful choice.

Summary of Invention In a first aspect the invention resides in a powered mobility device, typically a powered wheelchair, that is able to be steered with or without the use of hands, wherein the powered mobility device includes: (i) at least two drive wheels mounted on a shaft; (ii) a drive control means drivingly coupled to the shaft; (iii) a seat mounted to a tilt mechanism such that the seat is able to tilt in a forward, backward, left and right directions as a result of the user shifting their body weight in either of those directions; (iv) a weight displacement sensing means connectable to the tilt mechanism and the drive control means such that upon sensing a weight displacement of a user in a particular direction the weight displacement sensing means causes the drive control means to impart drive to the drive wheels to move the mobility device in the direction of the sensed displaced weight of the user so that the mobility device is able to be driven in a forward and backward direction and steered in a left or right direction; (v) a tilt locking means adapted to lock the tilt mechanism such that the seat is unable to be tilted; and (vi) a hand control means selectively engageable with the tilt mechanism and the weight displacement sensing means such that the hand control means is adapted to disengage left and right movement of the tilt mechanism so that the hand control means when moved left or right causes the weight displacement sensing means to cause the drive control means to steer the mobility device in a desired direction.

Preferably, the mobility device has only two wheels.

Preferably, the weight displacement sensing means upon sensing weight displacement in a forward direction is adapted to cause the drive control means to impart drive to the wheels such that the mobility device moves in a forward direction.

Preferably, the weight displacement sensing means upon sensing weight displacement in a backward direction is adapted to cause the drive control means to impart drive to the wheels such that the mobility device moves in a backward direction.

Preferably, the speed of the mobility device is controlled by the forward and backward movement of the user and is dependent upon the greater rate of the shift of displaced weight sensed in a particular direction.

Preferably, the weight displacement sensing means upon sensing movement of the user or the hand control means in a left direction causes the drive control means to steer the mobility device to the left.

Preferably, the weight displacement sensing means upon sensing movement of the user or the hand control means in a right direction causes the drive control means to steer the mobility device to the right.

Preferably, the degree of turn of the mobility device is controlled by the degree of left and right movement of the user such that the greater extent of the left or right movement sensed by the weight displacement sensing means the tighter the left or right able to be achieved.

Preferably, the seat is releasably mounted to the tilt mechanism by a mounting means such that the seat is able to be removed when required in order to undertake maintenance of the mobility device or replace the seat with another.

Preferably, the mounting means is of a cam locking type arrangement such that a cam member is able to rotate so that cam member is able to be rotated to engage or disengage with a portion of the tilt mechanism such that when in the engaged position the cam member by engaging with the tilt mechanism secures and locks the seat to the tilt mechanism.

Preferably, the seat has a seat portion, back portion, left side portion and right side portion.

Preferably, the seat and back portion are separate from the left and right side portions such that the seat and back portion is adapted to move independently relative to the left and side right portions, Preferably, the left and right side portions are adapted to be moved laterally so that the width between the left and right side portions can be adjusted in order to accommodate different sized users.

Preferably, the left and right side portions are adapted to be removed so that users are able to be easily loaded on to and unloaded from the mobility device and also allow for easy transport of the wheelchair.

Preferably, the left and right side portions are pivotally mounted to the seat such that they are able to be rotated upwardly and out of the way so that a user can be loaded on to and unloaded from the mobility device.

Preferably, the left and right side portions include armrests.

Preferably, the seat is inclined in a forward direction.

Preferably, the mobility device includes a dampener situated and connected to the tilt mechanism such that the dampener is adapted to control pendulum effects and oversteering effects upon using the mobility device.

Preferably, the dampener is a hydraulic dampener.

Preferably, the dampener includes an adjustable valve so that the dampening effect can be increased or decreased.

Preferably, the mobility device includes foot stands that are able to be raised and lowered such that when in the lowered position the foot stands provide stability to the mobility device of when stationary.

Preferably, the foot stands at the distal ends include castor wheels.

Preferably, there is a forwardly extending foot stand and a rearwardly extending foot stand, each foot stand being connected to a hand lever.

Preferably, the hand control means is a joystick that extends forwardly in front of the seat such that a user is able to, when desired, control the steering of the mobility device by hand.

Preferably, a joystick is releaseably engageable with the tilt mechanism and the weight displacement sensing means such that when the joystick is pulled upwards and towards a user in the seat the joystick is adapted to disengage the tilt mechanism from the weight displacement sensing means so that the joystick when moved left or right is able to steer the mobility device in the desired direction.

Preferably, the joystick is adapted to provide finer control and steering of the mobility device than is possible by steering with the tilt mechanism.

Preferably, the mobility device includes mudguards extending over and above the wheels.

Preferably the rims of the wheels includes handgrips such that when desired a user can manoeuvre the mobility device by hand.

Preferably, the mobility device is a wheelchair.

Preferably, the mobility device is a two wheeled wheelchair.

In a second aspect the invention resides in a two wheeled powered wheel chair, that is able to be steered with or without the use of hands, wherein the powered mobility device includes: (i) two drive wheels mounted on a shaft; (ii) a drive control means drivingly coupled to the shaft; (iii) a tiltable seat such that the seat is adapted to tilt in a forward, backward, left and right directions as a result of a user shifting their body weight in either of those directions; (iv) a sensing means connectable to the seat and the drive control means such that upon sensing a movement of a user in a particular direction the sensing means causes the drive control means to impart drive to the drive wheels to move the mobility unit in the sensed direction so that the mobility device is able to be driven in a forward and backward direction and steered in a left or right direction; (v) a seat locking means adapted to lock the seat such that the seat is unable to be tilted; (vi) a hand control means selectively engageable with the seat and the sensing means such that the hand control means is adapted to disengage left and right movement of the seat so that the hand control means when moved left or right causes the sensing means to cause the drive control means to steer the mobility device in a desired direction.

Any other aspects herein described Brief Description The invention will now be described, by way of example only, by reference to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a front side perspective view of a powered mobility device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a back side perspective view of the powered mobility device as shown in figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front view of the powered mobility device as shown in figure 1.

Figure 4 is a back view of the powered mobility device as shown in figure 1.

Figure 5 is a front side perspective view of the powered mobility device (with the seat removed) as shown in figure 1.

Figure 6 is a back side perspective view of the powered mobility device (with the seat removed) as shown in figure 1.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment(s): The following description will describe the invention in relation to preferred embodiments of the invention, namely a powered mobility device, typically a powered wheelchair, that is able to be steered with or without the use of hands The invention is in no way limited to these preferred embodiments as they are purely to exemplify the invention only and that possible variations and modifications would be readily apparent without departing from the scope of the invention.

The mobility device shown in the figures is to a preferred, but not limiting, embodiment of a wheelchair 10.

Figures 1 to 4 show differing views of the wheelchair 10 and figures 5 & 6 show the wheelchair with the seat 11 removed.

The wheelchair 10 is a powered wheelchair 10 and is typically powered by electric battery, however other known modes of powering the wheelchair 10 are envisaged..

The wheelchair 10 is able to be driven on road and off-road. The wheelchair 10 is able to be manoeuvred and steered with or without the use of hands. The movement and steering of the wheelchair 10 is able to be undertaken by weight displacement of the user within the seat 11 of the wheelchair 10 without using their hands.

The wheelchair 10 has two wheels 12, 13 mounted to a shaft drivingly connected to a drive motor via a drive transmission. The drive motor is controlled by a drive controller 20. The drive controller 20 is connected to a weight displacement sensing unit 30. The weight displacement sensing unit 30 is connected to a seat tilt mechanism 40. The seat 11 is detachable to the seat tilt mechanism 40. A joystick 14 selectively engages with the tilt mechanism 40 and the weight displacement sensing unit 30 so that when required the joystick 14 is able to disengage and override the steering capability of the tilt mechanism so that the joystick 14 when moved left or right causes the weight displacement sensing unit 30 to cause the drive controller 20 to steer the wheelchair 10 in the desired direction. The joystick 14 provides finer control and steering of the wheelchair 10 than is possible by steering with the tilt mechanism 40.

The seat 11 is mounted to the tilt mechanism 40 so that the seat 11 can be tilted in a forward, direction in order to cause the wheelchair 10 to move forward and can be tilted in a backward direction to move the wheelchair 10 in a reverse direction. The seat 11 is tilted under the action of the user displacing their weight in particular direction they desire the wheelchair to move. The faster the weight displacement the faster the wheelchair will move. Tilting of the seat to the left or to the right enables the wheelchair to be steered e.g. shifting of the users weight to the left would cause the wheelchair 10 to be steered to the left.

The wheelchair 10 includes a variable tilt lock 18 to enable the tilt mechanism to be locked so that the seat is unable to be tilted.

The weight displacement sensing unit 30 upon sensing weight displacement of a user in a forward direction causes the drive controller 20 to impart drive to the wheels such that the wheelchair 10 moves in a forward direction. The weight displacement sensing unit 30 upon sensing weight displacement of a user in a backward direction causes the drive controller 20 to impart drive to the wheels such that the wheelchair 10 moves in a backward direction. The speed of the wheelchair 10 is governed by the rate of forward and backward displaced weight movement of the user in a particular direction. The weight displacement sensing unit 30 uses gyroscopes to sense the weight displacement of a user and includes a biasing system connectable to the tilt mechanism 40. The biasing system has springs located between the tilt mechanism40 and the weight displacement sensing unit 30. If a user has limited upper body control, these springs provide resistance to return the user to a non tilt position.

An operational lever 19 connected to the weight displacement sensing unit 30 is movable from an off position to an on position such that when lever 19 is in the off position the weight displacement sensing unit 30 is in a non operational state and when the lever 19 moved to an on position the weight displacement sensing unit 30 is an operational state to sense the weight displacement of a user to drive and steer the wheelchair 10.

The degree of turn of the wheelchair 10 is controlled by the degree of left and right movement of the user such that the greater extent of the left or right movement the tighter the left or right turn able to be achieved.

The seat 11 is releasably mounted to the tilt mechanism 40 by a cam locking type arrangement so that the seat 11 is able to be removed when required such as to undertake maintenance or replace the seat with another.

The seat 11 has a seat portion, back portion, left side portion and right side portion. The seat and back portions are separate from the left and right side portions so that the seat and back portion able to move independently relative to the left and side right portions, The left and right side portions are able to be moved laterally so that the width between the left and side portions can be adjusted in order to accommodate different sized users. Also the left and right side portions are removable to allow users to be loaded on to and unloaded from the wheelchair 10. Alternatively, the left and right side portions are pivotally mounted to the seat such that they are able to be rotated upwardly and out of the way so that a user can be loaded on to and unloaded from the wheelchair 10. The seat 11 is inclined in a forward direction.

The wheelchair 10 includes a dampener situated and connected to the tilt mechanism such that the dampener is adapted to control pendulum effects and oversteering effects upon using the wheelchair 10. The dampener is a hydraulic dampener and includes an adjustable valve 50 so that the dampening effect can be increased or decreased.

The wheelchair 10 has foot stands 161, 162 that are able to be raised and lowered such that when in the lowered position the foot stands provide stability to the mobility device when stationary.

The forwardly extending foot stand 161 and a rearwardly extending foot stand 162 are connected to a hand lever 16. The foot stands 161, 162 at the distal ends include castor wheels.

The wheelchair 10 includes mudguards 121, 131 extending over and above the wheels 12, 13.

The rims of the wheels 12, 13 can includes handgrips such that when desired a user can manoeuvre the mobility device by hand.

Advantages a) A mobility device that is able to operated by the user only b) A mobility device that is easily manoeuvrable c) A mobility device that has dual steering functionality d) A mobility device having variable locking functionality to vary and lock the seat from tilting e) A mobility device having optional hands steering control f) A mobility device having sway control g) A mobility device that is able to used “off road” Variations It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein described in the appended claims.

Claims (33)

What We Claim is: 1.
1. Claim 1: A two wheeled powered wheel chair that is able to be steered with or without the use of hands, wherein the powered mobility device includes: (i) two drive wheels mounted on a shaft; (ii) a drive control means drivingly coupled to the shaft; (iii) a tiltable seat such that the seat is adapted to tilt in a forward, backward, left and right directions as a result of a user shifting their body weight in either of those directions; (iv) a sensing means connectable to the seat and the drive control means such that upon sensing a movement of a user in a particular direction the sensing means causes the drive control means to impart drive to the drive wheels to move the mobility unit in the sensed direction so that the mobility device is able to be driven in a forward and backward direction and steered in a left or right direction; (v) a seat locking means adapted to lock the seat such that the seat is unable to be tilted; (vi) a hand control means selectively engageable with the seat and the sensing means such that the hand control means is adapted to disengage left and right movement of the seat so that the hand control means when moved left or right causes the sensing means to cause the drive control means to steer the mobility device in a desired direction.
2. Claim 2: A powered mobility device that is able to be steered with or without the use of hands, wherein the powered mobility device includes: (i) at least two drive wheels mounted on a shaft; (ii) a drive control means drivingly coupled to the shaft; (iii) a seat mounted to a tilt mechanism such that the seat is able to tilt in a forward, backward, left and right directions as a result of the user shifting their body weight in either of those directions; (iv) a weight displacement sensing means connectable to the tilt mechanism and the drive control means such that upon sensing a weight displacement of a user in a particular direction the weight displacement sensing means causes the drive control means to impart drive to the drive wheels to move the mobility device in the direction of the sensed displaced weight of the user so that the mobility device is able to be driven in a forward and backward direction and steered in a left or right direction; (v) a tilt locking means adapted to lock the tilt mechanism such that the seat is unable to be tilted; and (vi) a hand control means selectively engageable with the tilt mechanism and the weight displacement sensing means such that the hand control means is adapted to disengage left and right movement of the tilt mechanism so that the hand control means when moved left or right causes the weight displacement sensing means to cause the drive control means to steer the mobility device in a desired direction.
3. Claim 3: The powered mobility device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the mobility device has only two wheels.
4. Claim 4: The powered mobility device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the weight displacement sensing means upon sensing weight displacement in a forward direction is adapted to cause the drive control means to impart drive to the wheels such that the mobility device moves in a forward direction.
5. Claim 5: The powered mobility device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the weight displacement sensing means upon sensing weight displacement in a backward direction is adapted to cause the drive control means to impart drive to the wheels such that the mobility device moves in a backward direction.
6. Claim 6: The powered mobility device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the speed of the mobility device is controlled by the forward and backward movement of the user and is dependent upon the greater rate of the shift of displaced weight sensed in a particular direction.
7. Claim 7: The powered mobility device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the weight displacement sensing means upon sensing movement of the user or the hand control means in a left direction causes the drive control means to steer the mobility device to the left.
8. Claim 8: The powered mobility device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the weight displacement sensing means upon sensing movement of the user or the hand control means in a right direction causes the drive control means to steer the mobility device to the right.
9. Claim 9: The powered mobility device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the degree of turn of the mobility device is controlled by the degree of left and right movement of the user such that the greater extent of the left or right movement sensed by the weight displacement sensing means the tighter the left or right able to be achieved.
10. Claim 10: The powered mobility device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein the seat is releasably mounted to the tilt mechanism by a mounting means such that the seat is able to be removed when required in order to undertake maintenance of the mobility device or replace the seat with another.
11. Claim 11: The powered mobility device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the mounting means is of a cam locking type arrangement such that a cam member is able to rotate so that cam member is able to be rotated to engage or disengage with a portion of the tilt mechanism such that when in the engaged position the cam member by engaging with the tilt mechanism secures and locks the seat to the tilt mechanism.
12. Claim 12: The powered mobility device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 11, wherein the seat has a seat portion, back portion, left side portion and right side portion.
13. Claim 13: The powered mobility device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the seat and back portion are separate from the left and right side portions such that the seat and back portion is adapted to move independently relative to the left and side right portions,
14. Claim 14: The powered mobility device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the left and right side portions are adapted to be moved laterally so that the width between the left and right side portions can be adjusted in order to accommodate different sized users.
15. Claim 15: The powered mobility device as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the left and right side portions are adapted to be removed so that users are able to be easily loaded on to and unloaded from the mobility device and also allow for easy transport of the wheelchair.
16. Claim 16: The powered mobility device as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the left and right side portions are pivotally mounted to the seat such that they are able to be rotated upwardly and out of the way so that a user can be loaded on to and unloaded from the mobility device.
17. Claim 17: The powered mobility device as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein the left and right side portions include armrests.
18. Claim 18: The powered mobility device as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 17, wherein the seat is inclined in a forward direction.
19. Claim 19: The powered mobility device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 18, wherein the mobility device includes a dampener situated and connected to the tilt mechanism such that the dampener is adapted to control pendulum effects and oversteering effects upon using the mobility device.
20. Claim 20: The powered mobility device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the dampener is a hydraulic dampener.
21. Claim 21: The powered mobility device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the dampener includes an adjustable valve so that the dampening effect can be increased or decreased.
22. Claim 22: The powered mobility device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 21, wherein the mobility device includes foot stands that are able to be raised and lowered such that when in the lowered position the foot stands provide stability to the mobility device of when stationary.
23. Claim 23: The powered mobility device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the foot stands at the distal ends include castor wheels.
24. Claim 24: The powered mobility device as claimed in claim 22, wherein there is a forwardly extending foot stand and a rearwardly extending foot stand, each foot stand being connected to a hand lever.
25. Claim 25: The powered mobility device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 24, wherein the hand control means is a joystick that extends forwardly in front of the seat such that a user is able to, when desired, control the steering of the mobility device by hand.
26. Claim 26: The powered mobility device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the joystick is releaseably engageable with the tilt mechanism and the weight displacement sensing means such that when the joystick is pulled upwards and towards a user in the seat the joystick is adapted to disengage the tilt mechanism from the weight displacement sensing means so that the joystick when moved left or right is able to steer the mobility device in the desired direction.
27. Claim 27: The powered mobility device as claimed in claims 26, wherein the joystick is adapted to provide finer control and steering of the mobility device than is possible by steering with the tilt mechanism.
28. Claim 28: The powered mobility device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 27, wherein the mobility device includes mudguards extending over and above the wheels.
29. Claim 29: The powered mobility device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 28, wherein the rims of the wheels includes handgrips such that when desired a user can manoeuvre the mobility device by hand.
30. Claim 30: The powered mobility device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 29, wherein the mobility device is a wheelchair.
31. Claim 31: The powered mobility device as claimed in claim 30, wherein the mobility device is a two wheeled wheelchair.
32. Claim 32: A powered mobility device as substantially hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
33. Claim 33: A two wheeled powered wheel chair as substantially hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. PIPERS Attorneys for the Applicant HALSALL, Kevin Thomas