WO2022126289A1

WO2022126289A1 - Wheelchair with wheels that can adapt to the surface to be travelled over.

Info

Publication number: WO2022126289A1
Application number: PCT/CL2020/050180
Authority: WO
Inventors: Camila FUENTES VILCHES; Sebastian PEREZ MORALES; Tomas GUERRERO ZELADA; Marco LUCO SEREY
Original assignee: Universidad Diego Portales
Priority date: 2020-12-17
Filing date: 2020-12-17
Publication date: 2022-06-23

Abstract

The invention relates to a wheelchair with integral adaptability for adjusting to different topographies of the terrain, comprising a frame supporting a seat for the user; push and manoeuvrability handles attached to the frame; a pair of footrests; a pair of front caster wheels; a pair of rear wheels that transform under the user's control, which change their configuration to adapt to the conditions of the terrain; and at least one device for inflating and deflating the rear wheels coupled to the wheelchair.

Description

ADAPTABLE WHEELCHAIRS TO THE DISPLACEMENT SURFACE.

DESCRIPTION

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention focuses on the field of social inclusion and quality of life of people with different abilities, allowing the autonomy of movement of people with reduced mobility, in general, it refers to a wheelchair for movement in different types of land. Particularly, the invention refers to a wheelchair whose main technical characteristic corresponds to an innovative characteristic in the wheels, which allows them to be adapted to the terrain where it is required to move, for this purpose the provision of a wheelchair with integral adaptability that It has a pair of transformation rear wheels controlled by the user, which change their configuration to adapt to the terrain conditions, this configuration change is made by the user himself by means of a device, coupled to the chair, for inflation of the rear wheels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wheelchairs are part of the technical aids, that is, of the physical application devices that enable or improve the performance of activities of the musculoskeletal system limited by partial or total deficiencies or disabilities.

Wheelchairs are individual vehicles that favor the transfer of people who have lost, permanently, totally or partially, the ability to move. It must be taken into account that each type of wheelchair must be adapted according to the user's degree of capacity. Therefore, wheelchairs facilitate mobility for patients who cannot walk or move on their own with other devices, thus facilitating their autonomy and social integration.

Wheelchairs can be classified according to their shape and the utility they provide, dividing them into:

- Dependent systems: Dependent drive manual wheelchairs are not designed to be controlled by the occupant. A dependent system is only appropriate for situations in which the user does not have the cognitive, perceptual or physical abilities to operate any type of manual or motorized mobility system.

- Transport chairs: It is a manual wheelchair controlled by a companion. It has a rigid chassis, footrests and armrests that can be folded down and removable. The seat and backrest are usually padded and made of waterproof material. It has a braking system and generally four lower wheels, although sometimes the two rear ones can be larger. The tires are usually polyurethane, and sometimes they are pneumatic. They are indicated for people unable to walk and to propel a chair autonomously. Its function is to transfer people with limited walking by handling the chair by an assistant.

- Positioning chairs: These are devices designed to maintain proper posture, for patients who have little mobility and are unable to make changes in position independently. Various accessories can be easily attached, such as those intended to support the trunk. In the best models, the seat-backrest-footrest assembly can be reclined. With these reclining systems, it is about respecting joint physiology.

- Self-propulsion systems: Devices designed so that the user can handle them autonomously, without the need for a companion, and cover various needs.

- Traditional or standard folding chairs (Orthopedic): These are the most conventional and commonly used systems for temporary circumstances. They are foldable, as they incorporate crossbars and a seat and backrest. flexible waterproof material. They also incorporate armrests and footrests, which can be foldable and removable. This chair is manually propelled by the patient himself, through self-propelling rings incorporated in the rear drive wheels. The front wheels are the steering wheels. The total weight of these chairs usually ranges between 15-30 kg, depending on the materials with which it is made and the accessories it can incorporate.

- Active Chairs: Based on revised information, it is delimited that active chairs are self-propelled devices that are usually ultralight, the backrest varies according to the level of trunk balance, they regularly do not have armrests or push handles, the rear wheels and the seat is usually the only detachable, they cannot be folded since they have a rigid chassis, although there are some models that can be compacted and their transport is facilitated. Handling is much easier than with standard chairs, although due to their lightness they are less stable.

- Sports Chairs: The characteristics of these devices vary according to the sport or the user's needs, although they have technical aspects in common, such as: non-folding, resistant and lightweight rigid chassis (low inertia); highly inclined wheels that guarantee better turning mobility, although it increases the total width of the chair, protection in the event of an impact, which also gives it greater dimension. They offer numerous advantages: solidity, ease of rolling, comfort (backrest adjustable in height and inclination for a better adaptation). Models with a single front wheel make it even easier to rotate (for example, to play tennis).

- Motorized systems: These are devices that allow easy movement with the least energy expenditure, used regularly on regular terrain.

- Electric wheelchairs: They are driven with a joystick. All electric wheelchairs are programmed with a computer console (optional) that allows speed, acceleration and deceleration to be adjusted, adapting them to the needs of each person. The electric motors have between 100 and 450 W of power and work with a voltage of 24 V. They are powered by two 12 V batteries mounted in series (10 to 20 kg each) and must be recharged periodically (in case of intensive use). , every night for no less than 10 hours). All electric wheelchairs come with a charger that connects to the mains. There are two types: with folding chassis and with fixed chassis.

The orthopedic or standard wheelchair is the most used, especially for temporary users, it is considered an accessible, cheap and easy to get device, for this reason it is common, although it is not correct for any patient to use it regardless of their pathology.

Worldwide, according to WHO figures, more than 1,000 million people suffer from some type of disability. This figure represents around 15% of the world population, of which between 110 and 190 million people have functional difficulties, it is estimated that 75 million people require a wheelchair to move around. In Chile, according to SENADIS sources, it is estimated that 2.6 million people require a wheelchair, which corresponds to approximately 17% of the population.

Disability is related to a certain physical, sensory, mental, intellectual, psychiatric or multi-deficit condition, which limits activities and restricts participation, generally determining a negative relationship between those who present one or more deficiencies and the contextual factors that surround them. .

The experience of disability changes, as long as the relationship changes or the social, economic and political environment in which people live changes, understanding then that the situation of those who experience disability in underdeveloped countries, with poor public policies, is more complex. comparatively with more developed countries, where for decades the tension to provide adequate comprehensive services to people with disabilities and their families has been overcome.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is recognized that throughout the world people with disabilities have worse health and educational outcomes, lower economic participation and higher poverty rates. In Chile, the problem of disability has been present for more than 40 years as an important demand of civil society organizations, whose pressure, especially in recent decades, generated the discussion and subsequent enactment in 1994 of the first legal framework that benefits to people with disabilities in Chile, Law 19,284. It should be noted that this legal framework was replaced in 2010 by Law 20,422, which Establishes Rules on Equal Opportunities and Inclusion of People with Disabilities.

Slowly and in a process that is not without criticism from civil society, there has been a transition from the classic charity care approach focused on biomedical issues, towards one based on human rights, which recognizes children, youth and adults with disabilities , as subjects of law and not of charity, emphasizing social barriers, rather than the deficiency that may occur permanently or temporarily, since it is precisely these that exacerbate exclusion, obstructing the true and real integration.

This approach centered on human rights requires, at all levels, that they be recognized as citizens subject to rights. Mainly the right to have access to the best possible quality of life in respect of our diversity, which means finding and freely disposing of the appropriate services to satisfy needs.

Due to these antecedents, the need arises to seek new solutions that allow a better quality of life and autonomy to be granted to people with mobility difficulties, with the emergence of different innovations, such as the case of wheelchairs, which, as previously indicated, , are presented in different configurations depending on the particular needs of each user. Thus, in the state of the art, different patents for inventions that present improvements for wheelchairs are indicated, for example, patent application FR 2795947, mentions a wheelchair with flexible rims and deformable tires that allows passing over obstacles and vary the center of gravity of the wheelchair. Patent application WO 2011/074057 describes a wheelchair specially adapted for rough terrain, without compromising user comfort. The particularity of this chair is presented in the wheels, mainly in the width of the tire of its wheels.

Also, in the state of the art, solutions are presented for, particularly, rims and/or tires to be used in wheelchairs, but also in other types of transport where this type of wheels are required, such as bicycles.

Patent application GB 801994 discloses a tubeless tire and wheel rim in which a safety diaphragm of substantially inextensible or low-stretch material is sealed to the tire beads to divide the air space into chambers. The diaphragm is sufficiently waterproof.

Consequently, there are currently solutions to generate conditions in wheelchairs that allow their movement on non-smooth surfaces, improving the movement of wheelchairs on irregular terrain, such as sand or grit, but, on smooth surfaces, they do not present optimal conditions for proper movement.

Therefore, there is a need for a wheelchair with integral adaptability to adjust to different terrain topographies, where the rear wheels can be transformed in a controlled manner by the user, changing their configuration to adapt to the terrain conditions by means of of a device for inflating and deflating the rear wheels, where said device is coupled to the chair.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention presents an innovative improvement in wheelchairs that allows optimal movement through different topographies of the ground, the innovation is mainly given in the rear wheels of the chairs, which They transform in a controlled manner according to the user's requirements, to adapt to the terrain conditions by means of an inflation and/or deflation device. In addition to solving the problem of comprehensive adaptability to adjust to different topographies of the terrain, it provides greater autonomy to the user, granting a better quality of life.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a wheelchair with integral adaptability to adjust to different topographies, mainly by adjusting the displacement profile of the rear wheel, which expands and contracts according to the user's requirements, an example of this is that Tires used on normal wheelchairs get stuck in mist ruts, depressions, stones, mud, snow, sand, cobblestone gaps and irregularities in rough terrain. This occurs due to the small width and diameter of the tires used in common wheelchairs. To eliminate such a cause, a rear wheel adaptable to the topography that the wheelchair user will face is used, this feature makes it easy to drive on various types of terrain. In addition, it does not require moving the user from the chair to change the wheel or to change to a wheelchair with a wider tire. In the present case, through the use of an inflation device, which can be a compressor or some type of cylinder attached to the chair itself, the user can expand or contract the wheel depending on the need or the path by which he needs to move. .

Consequently, the present invention solves the technical problem, based on a wheelchair that contains an inflation device that allows the rear wheels to expand or contract to suit the needs of the user.

Thus, a wheelchair with integral adaptability is presented to adjust to different topographies of the terrain, which comprises a frame that supports a saddle for the user; push and maneuver handles attached to the frame; a pair of footrests; a pair of front steer wheels; a pair of user-controlled transformation rear wheels, which change their configuration to suit ground conditions; and at least one device for inflating the rear wheels coupled to the chair.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

A detailed description of the invention will be carried out in conjunction with the figures that form part of this application.

It is important to indicate that the figures only act as support elements for a better understanding of the invention, without representing the components at a real or proportional scale. The invention cannot be limited only to what appears in the figures, since they represent, in a pedagogical way, the transcendent elements of the wheelchair and elements that are generally known in the state of the art may not be included. Thus, we have the following figures:

Figure 1: Side view of the wheelchair of the present invention in a first embodiment.

Figure 2: Side view of the wheelchair of the present invention in a second embodiment.

Figure 3: Side view of the wheelchair of the present invention in a third embodiment.

Figure 4: Side view of the wheelchair of the present invention in a fourth embodiment.

Figure 5: Rear view of the embodiment of the wheelchair of the present invention shown in Figure 1.

Figure 6: View of a section of the rear wheel with a contracted tire and a section of the free rim.

Figure 7: View of a section of the rear wheel with expanded tire and without free rim section.

Figure 8: Perspective view of the section of the wheel of figure 6.

Figure 9: Perspective view of the section of the wheel of figure 7. Figure 10: View of a section of the rear wheel with the main chamber expanded and the secondary chambers collapsed.

Figure 11: View of a section of the rear wheel with the main chamber and secondary chambers expanded.

All the numerical references that are made throughout the entire description of the invention must be considered in the entire set of figures, since it is the case that in the same paragraph numerical references are made to elements that can be found in two or more more different shapes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED MODALITIES

For a better understanding of the present invention, it is necessary to provide the following definitions, which should only be understood as elements that help a better understanding of the particular technical characteristics in this technical field.

As used in the present invention, the term "wheelchair" corresponds to a technical aid that consists of an adapted chair with at least three wheels, although it is normal to have four. These chairs are designed to allow movement of those with locomotion problems or reduced mobility, due to injury or physical illness.

As used in the present invention, the term "terrain topographies" refers to the three-dimensional shape of a terrain. It mainly refers to the types of soils, which can be smooth, sandy, limestone, clayey, stony, etc. among others.

As used in the present invention, the term "wheel" refers to a circular and mechanical element that rotates around an axis. It can be considered a simple machine, and is part of a set of elements such as "tyre", "rim". " and "chamber". The wheel of the invention is made up of a tire that covers the rim and inside it has at least one main chamber. As used in the present invention, the term "compressor" corresponds to a machine, whose job is to increase the pressure of a fluid. Unlike other types of machines, the compressor raises the pressure of compressible fluids such as air and all types of gases. When speaking of a compressor in the present invention, reference is being made to a type of device for inflating the rear wheels coupled to the chair.

As indicated in previous paragraphs, there are different types of wheelchairs, which are part of the state of the art, but not all are recommended to adjust to different topographies of the terrain and where the rear wheels can be transformed in a controlled manner by the user by means of an inflation device.

Therefore, the technical advantages of the wheelchair of the present invention are given because it provides greater autonomy to the user, granting a better quality of life, from which a technology is generated to grant an improvement in the field of wheelchairs that facilitate the movement of users through different types of terrain without requiring the user to change the chair or change the wheel of the chair, but rather the wheel is transformed in a way controlled by the user to be able to move through the required land.

Thus, through the present invention, a notable technical advance has been developed in the design and operation of wheelchairs, producing a wheelchair that has multifunctional wheels that can vary its profile, complying with optimal conditions for transfer. by different lands that present diverse topographies.

Another advantage of the wheelchair of the present invention is that it has an inflation device coupled to the chair, which allows the rear wheels to expand or contract according to terrain conditions. In this way, it is intended to explain the technical advantages of the present invention, through the figures that are attached and that are an integral part of the invention.

In Figure 1, a first embodiment of the wheelchair of the invention is presented, where the wheelchair (1) is shown, consisting of a frame (2) that is part of the structure of the wheelchair, push and maneuverability handles (3) that allow the wheelchair to be mobilized with the help of another person, a footrest (4) for the user's safety, front directional wheels (5), rear wheels (6) and a compressor (7 ) for the inflation of the rear wheels (6) that allows the inflation or deflation of the rear wheels, so that they expand or contract when adjusted by the user, and a centralized duct (9a) for the direct inflation of the wheels, which runs along the axis of the wheels and follows a spoke of each wheel to connect to the tire inflation valve. The manipulation of the size of the tire can be carried out by means of a compressor (7) or through manual inflation means (8) as shown in figure 2, which corresponds to a second embodiment of the invention. In the same way, in figure 3 a third embodiment of the invention is presented, where a mixed tire inflation system is presented, composed of a compressor (7) and a flexible duct (9b) to connect to the valve of the tire. roll and inflate it. Figure 4 shows a fourth embodiment of the invention, where a mixed wheel tire inflation system is also presented, consisting of a manual inflation means (8) and a flexible duct (9b) to connect to the valve. of the wheel and inflate it. As described above, the compressor (7) allows the expansion and contraction of the wheel tire through a centralized duct (9a) for direct inflation of the wheels, which runs along the axis of the wheels and follows a spoke of each wheel, as can be seen in figures 1 and 5.

All the embodiments described above show the various forms in which the inflation device for the wheelchair can be presented, allowing the expansion and contraction of the wheel tire. Figure 6 presents a view of the section of the rear wheel (6) in a contracted state, where the wheel rim (61), the wheel tire (63) contracted, the camera (64) contracted and a free rim section (62). For its part, figure 8 presents the perspective view of the section of the wheel of figure 6.

In figure 7, a view of the section of the rear wheel (6) in expanded state is presented, where the wheel rim (61), the wheel tire (63) expanded, the camera (64) expanded and there is no free rim section. For its part, figure 9 presents the perspective view of the section of the wheel of figure 7.

In figure 10, in another embodiment of the configuration of the rear wheels, the view of a section of the rear wheel (6) is presented with the main chamber (65) expanded and two adjacent secondary chambers (66 and 67) contracted.

In figure 11, referring to the same embodiment disclosed in figure 10, the view of a section of the rear wheel is presented, when it is transformed from the profile shown in figure 10 to an expanded profile, where, the main chamber (65) remains expanded and the adjacent secondary chambers (66 and 67) have gone into an expanded state.

Finally, the present invention refers to a wheelchair (1) with a modification system by expansion and contraction of the rear wheels (6), for which an inflation device that can be a compressor (7) is required. , a manual inflation means (8), such as a cylinder, a duct to connect to the wheel valve and inflate, which can be a direct centralized duct for inflation (9a) or through a flexible duct to connect to the wheel valve (9b), or a combination of both means can be presented.

Requiring the rear wheels (6) in a compressed state, for circulation on smooth surfaces, in a first embodiment, the rear wheels can be made up of a tire that includes a camera, being in a contracted state which has a thinner running profile on the wheel. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the rear wheels will be made up of a tire that includes three chambers, the main chamber (central chamber) being kept expanded and the secondary chambers contracted, maintaining a thinner running profile in the wheel. For its part, when driving on non-smooth surfaces (earth, sand, grit, etc.) is required in the first embodiment, the chamber will expand and the tire will expand next to it, forming a wider circulation profile in the wheel. . In this embodiment, the secondary chambers at the rear wheels will expand to form a wider running profile at each wheel. In this way the rear wheels (6) are made up of a tire (61) that expands and contracts according to the terrain conditions.

In short, in a first embodiment, the chamber (64) of the tire (63), of the rear wheels (6), has the ability to fully expand until the tire covers the entire section of the rim (61), so that the rear wheels (6) go from a contracted state with a free rim section (62) to an expanded state that covers the entire rim section (61). For its part, in a second embodiment, the rear wheels (6) comprise a main chamber (65) and two secondary chambers (66, 67) adjacent to each side of the main chamber (65), where the rear wheels ( 6) go from a contracted state with only the main chamber (65) at maximum expansion, to an expanded state, where the secondary chambers (66, 67) are also at maximum expansion.

In one of the preferred embodiments of the invention, the device for inflating wheels is a compressor (7) arranged in the internal area of the frame (2) and a control device (not shown in the figures) is included to manage the at least one compressor (7), which is arranged on a side handrail within reach of the user. In this case, the wheelchair comprises an autonomous power source to activate the at least one compressor.

In the embodiment in which the at least one device for inflating wheels is a manual means of inflating wheels (8), it is arranged on the side of the saddle and may correspond to an adapted type of cylinder. In all the previous embodiments, the wheelchair has an inflation means, mainly a compressor (7), and includes a device to inflate and/or deflate the tires of the wheels. Also, the wheelchair will comprise a fixing device to keep the chair stationary.

Thus, the wheelchair of the present invention has rear wheels that are adaptable to the conditions of the terrain where it circulates, which allows the user to move through terrain of various topographies, granting autonomy and a better quality of life with respect to its facilities. displacement.

The scope of the wheelchair of the present invention should not be limited only to the components drawn and mentioned in the text itself, but may include other types of wheelchairs or displacement systems that use the features described herein.

Description of the numerals found in the figures:

1: wheelchair

2: frame

3: push handles and maneuverability

4: foot rest

5: front steer wheels

6: rear wheels

7: compressor

8: half manual inflation

9a: centralized duct for direct inflation of the wheels (it runs along the axis of the wheels and continues through a spoke of each wheel).

9b: flexible tube to connect to the wheel valve and inflate it.

61: wheel rim

62: free rim section

63: wheel tire

64: camera

65: main chamber : secondary camera: secondary camera.

Claims

CLAIMS Wheelchair (1) with integral adaptability to adjust to different topographies of the terrain, CHARACTERIZED because it comprises a frame

(2) holding a saddle for the user; push handles and maneuverability

(3) attached to the frame (2); a pair of footrests

(4); one pair of front steer wheels

(5); a pair of rear wheels

(6) user-controlled morphing, which change their settings to suit ground conditions; and at least one device for inflating the rear wheels coupled to the chair. The wheelchair (1) according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the at least one device for inflating wheels is a compressor (7) arranged in the internal area of the frame (2). The wheelchair according to claim 2, CHARACTERIZED because it includes a control device to manage the at least one compressor

(7). The wheelchair (1) according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the rear wheels (6) are made up of a tire (61) that expands and contracts according to ground conditions. The wheelchair (1) according to claim 4, CHARACTERIZED in that the chamber (64) of the tire (63) of the rear wheels (6) has the ability to fully expand until the tire covers the entire section of the rim (61). The wheelchair (1) according to claim 4, CHARACTERIZED in that the rear wheels (6) go from a contracted state with a free rim section (62) to an expanded state that covers the entire rim section (61) . The wheelchair (1) according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the rear wheels (6) comprise a main chamber (65) and two secondary chambers (66, 67) adjacent to each side of the main chamber (65).

8. The wheelchair (1) according to claim 7, CHARACTERIZED in that the rear wheels (6) go from a contracted state with only the main chamber (65) at maximum expansion, to an expanded state, where the cameras secondaries (66, 67) are also at maximum expansion.

9. The wheelchair (1) according to claim 3, CHARACTERIZED in that the control device for managing the at least one compressor (7), is arranged on a side handrail within reach of the user.

10. The wheelchair (1) according to claim 2, CHARACTERIZED in that it also comprises an autonomous power source to activate the at least one compressor (7).

11. The wheelchair (1) according to claim 2, CHARACTERIZED in that the at least one compressor (7) includes a device for inflating or deflating the tires of the wheels.

12. The wheelchair (1) according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that it also comprises a fixing device to keep the chair stationary.

13. The wheelchair (1) according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the at least one device for inflating wheels is a manual means of inflating wheels (8) arranged on the side of the saddle.

14. The wheelchair according to claim 13, CHARACTERIZED in that the manual inflation means (8) is a cylinder.