Patent ID: 8931796
Filing Date: 2015-01-13
Classification: A61G,F16H

Abstract:
1. A propulsion system for a manually-operated mobility device, the propulsion system comprising: a hand rim configured to receive a propulsion force from a user of the manually-operated mobility device; a wheel hub fixedly attached to a wheel for the manually-operated mobility device; and a planetary gear system including a sun gear, a ring gear, and one or more planetary gears disposed between the sun gear and the ring gear, wherein the one or more planetary gears are supported by a planet carrier releasably attached to a frame of the manually-operated mobility device to transition the manually-operated mobility device between: a pushing propulsion mode in which the hand rim and the wheel hub rotate in a same rotational direction and the planet carrier rotates relative to the frame, and a rowing propulsion mode in which the hand rim and the wheel hub rotate in opposite rotational directions and the planet carrier is rotatable fixed relative to the frame; wherein one of the sun gear and the ring gear is fixedly coupled to the hand rim and the other of the sun gear and the ring gear is fixedly coupled to the wheel hub.