Patent Publication Number: US-2018043837-A1

Title: Accessory mounting system for personal mobility vehicle

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation-in-Part of Utility Patent application Ser. No. 15/184,920 filed on Jun. 16, 2016, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/477,854 filed on Sep. 4, 2014 and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/873,831 filed Sep. 4, 2013. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC AND INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF THE MATERIAL 
     Not Applicable. 
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to devices and methods for storing personal articles on a personal mobility device. More particularly, the invention relates to a frame having carriages slidingly engaged to a linear guide system on a frame mounted on a personal mobility device. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Personal mobility vehicles, such as for example motorized scooters and powered wheelchairs, have become increasingly common. They allow persons having limited mobility such as the disabled, amputees and the elderly to enjoy increased independence and improved quality of life. They come in a variety of designs including both compact, collapsible and full-sized wheelchairs and more versatile scooters, for example Rascal® brand mobility vehicles. They are commonly transported on a lift platform attached to the rear of an automobile or folded inside a vehicle. Operators of personal mobility vehicles use them for extended periods while shopping in large stores and shopping malls, going to church, attending events and any other occasion in which substantial distances are traveled outside of an automobile. 
     A variety of accessories such as baskets and other attachments for personal mobility vehicles have become increasingly common. Accessories have been designed for storing canes, umbrellas, purses, groceries, briefcases, laptops, luggage and medical equipment such as oxygen tanks. Attachments of also been designed for displaying flags and other ornamentation. Many of these accessories are modified versions of existing designs used with bicycles, motorcycles and other smaller transportation devices. However, these devices are generally not designed to be used with a combination of other devices and are incompatible with simultaneous attachment and use with a personal mobility vehicle. The operator of a personal mobility device often has difficulty attaching a storage basket and a cane holder to a mobility device to which an oxygen tank has already been attached. 
     The above-described deficiencies of today&#39;s systems are merely intended to provide an overview of some of the problems of conventional systems, and are not intended to be exhaustive. Other problems with the state of the art and corresponding benefits of some of the various non-limiting embodiments may become further apparent upon review of the following detailed description. 
     In view of the foregoing, it is desirable to provide attachment systems for personal mobility devices capable of accommodating multiple attachments for holding, retaining and/or securing a variety of different objects. 
     It is also desirable to provide attachment systems for personal mobility devices that allow an operator to arrange objects held by attachments in a particular preferred orientation relative to one another and the chair of the personal mobility device. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Disclosed is a storage system for storing one or more personal articles on a personal mobility device comprising an elongate frame having a linear guide system extending along a length of the frame. A mechanism affixes the storage system frame to a personal mobility device for attaching. A carriage is slidingly engaged to the linear guide system of the elongate frame. The carriage includes at least one storage device selected from the group consisting of a basket, a cup holder, a clamp, a bracket configured to hold a pressurized tank, an umbrella holder, a cane holder, and an articulating arm. 
     In one embodiment, a system for storing one or more personal articles on a personal mobility device is removably attached to the carriage. The storage device is removably attached to the carriage by a mechanism selected from the group consisting of a gravity lock, a chase mortise gravity lock, a female receiving port, a mounting post, a threaded mounting post, a bore and a threaded bore. 
     In another embodiment, the storage system includes a carriage having a brake configured to secure the carriage at a location along the integral guide system. A mounting post extends from the elongate frame and is removably secured to the personal mobility device. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a storage system for storing and transporting personal items on a personal mobility device. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached specification and appended claims. There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a canopy frame attached to a scooter lift in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of a scooter lift canopy in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an environmental view of an alternative embodiment of a scooter lift canopy in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an environmental view of an alternative embodiment of a scooter lift canopy in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective side view of a system for retaining one or more personal articles on a personal mobility device in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is another perspective view of a system for retaining one or more personal articles on a personal mobility device in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 7  is another side perspective view of a system for retaining one or more personal articles on a personal mobility device in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 8  is another side perspective view of a system for retaining one or more personal articles on a personal mobility device in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 9  is another side perspective view of a system for retaining one or more personal articles on a personal mobility device in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 10  is another side perspective view of a system for retaining one or more personal articles on a personal mobility device in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a storage device comprising a cup holder removably connectable to an attachment for a system for retaining one or more articles on a personal mobility device in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 12  is side elevation view of a storage device comprising an umbrella holder removably connectable to an attachment for a system for retaining one or more articles on a personal mobility device in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 13  is another side elevation view of a storage device comprising a umbrella holder removably connectable to an attachment for a system for retaining one or more articles on a personal mobility device in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a side perspective view of a storage device comprising an articulating arm removably connectable to an attachment for a system for retaining one or more articles on a personal mobility device in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 15  is a side perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a storage device comprising an articulating arm removably connectable to an attachment for a system for retaining one or more articles on a personal mobility device in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 16  is a side perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a storage device comprising a basket in accordance with principles of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     The disclosed subject matter is described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various embodiments of the subject disclosure. It may be evident, however, that the disclosed subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate describing the various embodiments herein. 
     In addition, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or.” That is, unless specified otherwise, or clear from context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances. Moreover, articles “a” and “an” as used in the subject specification and annexed drawings should generally be construed to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form. 
       FIG. 1  shows a frame  21  attached to a scooter lift  10  in accordance with the principles of the invention. The frame  21  in this embodiment is substantially rectangular having to horizontal beams  23  and  24 , and two opposing vertical struts  20 . The frame  21  is affixed to a scooter lift  10  having a base  15 , an elevator  17 , a main body  14 , a control box  19  and a platform  16 . Mounting points  22  of the frame  21  may be attached to the base  15 , to the body  14  or to the elevator  17 . Optionally, it may be desirable to attach the frame to the bracket  18 . This may allow the frame  22  to be secured to the lift  10  without getting in the way of or interfering with the other components of the lift  10 . In this embodiment, the platform includes two small magnetic plates  25  on the platform  16  which are complementary to magnets on a flexible cover extending over the scooter lift  10  and the frame  21 . 
       FIG. 2  shows an extendable canopy  27  attached to the frame  21 . For clarity, the scooter lift  10  is not shown. The extendable canopy  27  has three folding arms  34  attached at two pivot points  36  located on each of the vertical struts  20 . The folding arms  34  pivot about the pivot point  36  such that they fold out and over a scooter located on the platform  16 . A sheet  30  is attached to the folding arms  34  of the extendable canopy  27 . The folding arms  34  extend from the frame  21  in an accordion style. The sheet  30  also includes magnets  29  complementary to the magnetic plates  25  on the platform  16 . When the folding arms  34  and sheet  30  are extended over a scooter lift and scooter, the magnets  29  align with magnetic plates  25  and connect. The use of magnets obviates the need for bungee cords, zippers, laces and other bulky connection mechanisms. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  show an alternative embodiment of a scooter lift canopy  50  in accordance with the principles of the invention.  FIG. 3  shows the canopy  50  in the stored position.  FIG. 4  shows the canopy  50  extended deployed position. The canopy  50  includes a canopy sheet  52  having a window  54  and a lower skirt  55 . The canopy  50  is attached to a scooter lift  56  having a platform  58 . The canopy sheet skirt  55  includes several magnets  60  complementary to magnetic plates  62  on the platform  58 . When the canopy is deployed, the magnets  60  on the canopy sheet  52  connect to the complementary magnetic plates  62  on the platform  58 . 
       FIGS. 5-10  show a storage system  80  for storing one or more personal articles on a personal mobility device in accordance with the principles of the invention. The storage system  80  includes a frame  82  having an elongate transverse beam  84  and two opposing longitudinal beams  86 . The elongate beam  84  is described as transverse because when it is attached to a personal mobility device it extends from one side to the other side of a personal mobility device. Beams  86  are referred to as opposing because they are symmetric mirror images of each other and they extend in a direction parallel to the general direction of motion of the mobility device. 
     In this embodiment, transverse beam  84  has a top  88 , a bottom  90 , first side  92 , a second side  94 , a first end  95  and a second end  97 . Both the first side  92  and the second side  94  have linear guide systems  96  and  98 , respectively extending along their lengths. Both linear guide systems  96  and  98  have a double track design. Linear guide system  96  has two parallel tracks, both of which are C-shaped channels. Similarly, guide system  98  has two parallel tracks which are also C-shaped channels. Optionally, the linear guide systems  96  and  98  may be single track guides or rail guides. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are a wide variety of linear guide system designs. 
     Each of the longitudinal beams  86  similarly include tops  104 , bottoms  106 , first sides  108  and second sides  110 . Each longitudinal beam  86  extends longitudinally from the transverse beam  84 , one at each of the two ends  95  and  97  of the transverse beam  84 . Each of the longitudinal beams  86  also include a distal end  112 . Each of the first sides  108  have linear guide systems  114 . Similarly, each of the second sides  110  have linear guide systems  116 . In this embodiment, the linear guide systems  114  and  116  are also double track systems. As with guide systems  96  and  98 , guide systems  114  and  116  may optionally be single track, rail, or double rail designs. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are a variety of suitable linear guide system designs for use in accordance with the principles of the invention. 
     In this embodiment, the tops  88  and  104 , and the bottoms  90  and  106  are substantially flat and do not include a linear guide system. Optionally, a linear guide system may be incorporated into the tops and/or bottoms of the frame in addition to or in place of the linear guide systems on the sides of the frame. However, the end  97  includes a socket  99  to which a swiveling component may be added to the top  88  of the transverse beam  84 . 
     Frame  82  is C-shaped. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that a plurality of other frame designs would be suitable. The frame may consist of only a single being that may be transverse or longitudinal to the personal mobility device. Optionally, the frame may consist of several longitudinal and/or transverse beams forming a variety of shapes, such as for example E-shaped, H-shaped, D-shaped or elliptical. Frame  82  has a rectangular cross-section. Optionally, the frame may have a circular, and elliptical and/or a polygonal cross-section. An attachment post  118  is affixed to the linear guide system  96  of the first side  92  and extends perpendicularly from the transverse beam  84 . Optionally, the attachment post  118  may be affixed to the frame  82  at a location other than one of the linear guide systems. The attachment post  118  in this embodiment has a rectangular cross-section and is configured to slide inside a female socket positioned behind or underneath a seat of a personal mobility device. The post  118  includes a plurality of bores  120 . The bores  120  are sized to permit a bolt  122  to extend through the bores  120  and corresponding aligned bores on a female socket. The bores  120  may be threaded or unthreaded. 
       FIGS. 5-10  show three carriages  124 ,  126  and  128 . Carriages  124  and  126  are held in position by brakes  130  which in this embodiment are comprised of threaded bolts that may be tightened to secure the carriage at a particular location and may be loosened to allow the carriage to be slid along the linear guide system to a new location where the brakes  130  may be again tightened to secure the carriage in the new location. Carriages  124  and  126  each include a gravity lock  132  and  134 , respectively. The gravity locks  132  and  134  allow various components to be removably affixed to the carriages by dropping them into the locks. In this embodiment, the gravity locks  132  and  134  are comprised of chase mortises having an inverse trapezoidal cross-section. This configuration facilitates the easy insertion and removal of various interchangeable components. Carriage  128  includes three brakes  136  comprised of bolts that may be loosened and tightened to adjust the position of the carriage  128 . Carriage  128  also includes a magnetic plate  138  that may be used to removably attach a personal article having a complimentary magnetic plate. For example, a cane or an umbrella may be fitted with a magnetic plate that will removably attach to magnetic plate  138 . 
       FIG. 11  shows a storage device  150  in accordance with principles of the invention. Storage device  150  is a cup holder having a cylindrical body  152 , and annular rim  154 , a base  156 , and a gravity lock tenon  158 . Storage device  150  may be removably affixed to one of the gravity locks  132  or  134  shown in  FIGS. 5-10 . Optionally, the storage device  150  could be rectangular or polygonal. 
       FIGS. 12 and 13  show an alternative embodiment of a storage device  170  in accordance with the principles of the invention. Storage device  170  is an umbrella holder having a cylindrical body  172  and a gravity lock tenon  174 . 
       FIG. 14  shows another alternative embodiment of a storage device  180  in accordance with the principles of the invention. The storage device  180  has an articulated arm  182  and a mounting board  184  capable of attaching to a device such as a tablet, a laptop, a notepad or the like. In this embodiment, a tablet  183  is removably affixed to the mounting board  184 . A pivot post  186  extends downward from the base  188  and is configured to be removably insertable into the mounting socket  99  shown in  FIGS. 5-10  or into another similar pivoting mount. 
       FIG. 15  shows another alternative embodiment of a storage device  200  in accordance with the principles of the invention. Storage device  200  is an alternative embodiment of an articulating arm. Storage device  200  has an articulating arm  202  and a mounting board  204 . In this embodiment, a tablet  206  is removably affixed to the mounting board  204 . The base  208  of the storage device  200  includes a socket for receiving a post  210  about which the storage device  200  pivots. Post  210  extends upward from a carriage  212  configured to be slidingly engaged with a linear guide system. The carriage  212  has a brake  214  that allows the carriage  212  to be secured in a desired location. 
       FIG. 16  shows another alternative embodiment of a storage device  220  in accordance with principles of the invention. The storage device  220  is a basket having a body  222  and a rim  224 . A gravity lock tenon  226  allows the storage device  220  to be removably attached to a carriage having a chase mortise as shown in  FIGS. 5-10 . 
     Whereas, the present invention has been described in relation to the drawings attached hereto, other and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. Descriptions of the embodiments shown in the drawings should not be construed as limiting or defining the ordinary and plain meanings of the terms of the claims unless such is explicitly indicated. The claims should be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.