Abstract:
A wheelchair motorizing apparatus which is mounted to a wheelchair frame utilizing a guide. The guide is oriented in a generally upright configuration. A support is movable along the guide for positioning upwardly and downwardly relative to the existing wheels of a wheelchair. A driven wheel is connected to the support and engages the ground surface when the support is moved into the downward position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a novel and useful apparatus for motorizing a wheelchair.  
           [0002]    Wheelchairs have been used for a long period of time to carry persons, who are disabled temporarily or permanently, from place to place. In other cases, the person in the wheelchair is able to turn the side wheels of the wheel chair manually to move the wheelchair forward or backward. In certain cases, the person in the wheelchair must employ another person to push or pull the wheelchair as needed. Usually, in the later case that person requiring an attendant lacks the arm strength necessary to turn the wheels of the wheelchair. Also, manual wheelchairs are difficult to operate on inclined surfaces.  
           [0003]    In the past, wheelchairs have been equipped with a motor to run the same by operation of a paddle switch or lever conveniently placed on an arm of the wheelchair. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,770,073, 5,161,630, 5,197,559, and 5,477,935 describe mechanical linkages which are connected to a motor to drive the axles of the wheels of wheelchairs.  
           [0004]    U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,845,835 and 4,387,781 describe electric power plants which are used with vehicles such as wheelchairs to generate electrical power.  
           [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,774 describes a wheelchair having a detachable power unit which is connectable to the rear of the wheelchair by a locking mechanism.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,905,437 describes a wheelchair that has an electric driving unit connected to the wheelchair that pivotally swings down into place to allow the wheelchair to climb and descend steps and curbs.  
           [0007]    An apparatus which is capable of motorizing a manually operated wheelchair would be a notable advance in the field of medical equipment.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    In accordance with the present invention a novel and useful apparatus for motorizing a wheelchair is herein provided.  
           [0009]    The apparatus of the present invention utilizes a guide and mounting means for attaching the guide to the wheelchair frame. The guide is oriented by the attachment means to include a vertical component, thus permitting the guide to travel upwardly and downwardly relative to the frame of the wheelchair. The mounting means may take the form of tracks that are connected to the rear frame members of the wheelchair.  
           [0010]    Another element of the apparatus of the present invention externalizes in a support that is capable of engaging the guide and traveling along the same in an upward and downward direction. Positioning means is provided for urging such movement of the support along the guide and may take the form of a cable and lever. In certain cases, the support may be biased in a downward position by spring means or other known biasing components.  
           [0011]    Motive means is also included for propelling the wheelchair. The motive means is secured, at least in part, to the support. For example, the motive means would include a wheel or track, a motor, a gearing mechanism, and the necessary control components to actuate the motor. Thus, when the positioning means urges the support downwardly, the wheel or track would contact the traveling surface for the wheelchair. Also, the reverse would be true in that movement of the support by the positioning means in an upward direction would disengage the wheel from the traveling surface and immobilize the wheelchair.  
           [0012]    It may be apparent that a novel and useful apparatus for motorizing a wheelchair has been described.  
           [0013]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for motorizing a wheelchair which is easily adapted to a conventional manual wheelchair.  
           [0014]    A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for motorizing a wheelchair which is simple and effortless to operate.  
           [0015]    A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for motorizing a wheelchair which is compact and does not interfere with the operation of the wheelchair in its manual condition.  
           [0016]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for motorizing a wheelchair which allows the user of the wheelchair to employ the normal steering system found in a manually operated wheelchair.  
           [0017]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for motorizing a wheelchair which is simple to install on a manual wheelchair without the need for special tools.  
           [0018]    The invention possesses other objects and advantages especially as concerns particular characteristics and features thereof which will become apparent as the specification continues.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a wheelchair with the apparatus of the present invention installed thereupon.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the wheelchair and apparatus of the present invention depicted in FIG. 1.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  of FIG. 3.  
         [0022]    For a better understanding of the invention references made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof which should be referenced to the above described drawings.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0023]    Various aspects of the present invention will evolve from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments which should be taken in conjunction with the prior described drawings.  
         [0024]    The invention as a whole is depicted in the drawings by reference character  10 . Apparatus  10  includes as one of its components a guide  12  which is fixed to wheelchair  14 , a conventional manually operated wheelchair. It should be noted that wheelchair  14  includes a steering tiller  16 , frame  18 , and hand operable wheels  20  and  22 . Tiller  18  is connected to one or more steering wheels such as steering wheel  24  depicted in FIG. 1.  
         [0025]    Guide  12  is fixed to a portion of frame  18  toward the rear of wheelchair  14 . Namely, stanchions  24  and  26  are employed in this regard. Stanchions  24  and  26  are oriented in a generally upright direction relative to traveling surface  28 , FIG. 2. With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, it may be observed that guide  12  includes a pair of rectangular solid members  30  and  32  each having a track or slot. With reference to FIG. 3, the detailed construction of rectangular solid member  32  is depicted. It should be understood that rectangular solid  30  possesses a similar construction and is the mirror image of rectangular solid member  32 , in this regard. Track  34  extends the length of rectangular solid member  32 . Mounting means  36  is employed to hold members  30  and  32  to stanchions  24  and  26 , respectively. Mounting means  36  takes the form of a plurality of bolts  38  which pass through stanchions  24  and  26 . With reference to FIG. 3, it may be observed that bolt  40  is depicted as extending through stanchion  26 . Nut  42  holds bolt  40  in place in the conventional manner. Bolts  40  also compresses member  32  to stanchion  26  in this regard. Mounting means  36  is also employed in the same manner with respect to member  30  and stanchion  24 . Members  30  and  32  fasten to stanchions  24  and  26  do not interfere with the operation of wheelchair  14 .  
         [0026]    Support  44  is also employed in the present invention. Support  44  takes the form of a plate which is capable of riding within track  34  of member  32  and the track  46  associated with member  30 . Directional arrow  48  indicates the up and down movement of support  44 . Positioning means  50  urges movement of support  44  along guide  12  in a vertical, “up and down”, direction. Positioning means takes the form of a lever  52  which rotates around a pivot  54 , FIG. 2. Directional arrow  56  indicates the rotational movement of lever arm  52 . Cable  56  rides over a pulley  58  and is fastened to support  44  at bore  60 . As shown in FIG. 2, support  44  is in a “down” position. The rotation of lever  52  clockwise will raise support  44  from traveling surface  28  into the “up” position. Spring  62  connected to support  44  at bore  64  and to a stationary pin  66 , biases support  44  downwardly. Pin  66  is connected to a portion of frame  18  and rides in slot  68  through support  44 .  
         [0027]    Motive means  70  propels wheelchair  14 . Motive means  70  includes a wheel  72  rotatably attached to support  44  via axle  74 . Gear reducer  76  and electric motor  78  are also fixed or fastened to support  48  with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, it may be noted that a battery charger  80  and a battery and power cord retractor  82  are placed forward of support  44  on a platform  84  beneath wheelchair seat  86 . A paddle switch  90  is schematically depicted on FIG. 1 to control the operation of motor  78  in the forward or reverse direction in a conventional manner. FIG. 1 also depicts a cover  90  which may be placed over the components found on support  44 . Cover  90  may be of soft or rigid or semi rigid material. Means  92  secures the various components to support  44  in the conventional manner such as screws, bolts, adhesives, friction fitting, and the like. Bracket  93  of axle  74  represents such securing means  92 .  
         [0028]    In operation, wheelchair  14  is fitted with guide  12  by the use of mounting means  36 . That is to say stanchions  24  and  26  are fitted with rectangular solid-shaped members  30  and  32  by the use of mounting means  36 . Support  44  is then placed within the tracks, such as track  34  of member  32 . Cable  56  is then attached to opening  60  through support  44  and passed over pulley  58  to the base of lever arm  52 . Spring  62  is then attached to bore  64  and pin  66  which is itself fastened to frame  18 . Motor  78 , gear reducer  76 , and wheel  72  are then attached to support  44  or attached prior to support  44  prior to fitting the same within guide  12 . The electrical connections are then made between the motor  78  and paddle switch  88 . Support  44  is then moved downwardly into the position shown in FIG. 2 for use. When not utilized, apparatus  10  would be deactivated by moving lever arm  52  in a clockwise direction lift support  44  and wheel  72  from traveling surface  28 . Battery charger  80  may then be employed to reactivate battery  82  in order to use apparatus  10  at a future time.  
         [0029]    While in the foregoing, embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in considerable detail for the purposes of making a complete disclosure of the invention, it may be apparent to those of skill in the art that numerous changes may be made in such detail without departing from the spirit and principles of the invention.