WO1994012138A1

WO1994012138A1 - Wheelchair structure

Info

Publication number: WO1994012138A1
Application number: PCT/FR1993/001160
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-Marie François Auguste MOCQUOT
Original assignee: Mocquot Jean Marie Francois Au
Priority date: 1992-11-27
Filing date: 1993-11-25
Publication date: 1994-06-09
Also published as: FR2698540A1; FR2698540B1

Abstract

A wheelchair structure including a first wheeled frame (3); a second frame (16) supporting a seat (22); flexible members (23, 28) connecting the second frame (16) to the first frame (3); a device for moving the second frame between a lower position and an upper position; a third frame (44) supporting an object, in particular a battery (53), beneath said seat; flexible members (46, 48) connecting said third frame (44) to said first frame (3) and/or said second frame (16); and a device (36) for moving the third frame between a lower position and an upper position.

Description

ROLLING WHEEL STRUCTURE

The present invention relates to a wheelchair structure and more particularly to a motorized wheelchair structure for disabled people. Motorized wheelchairs currently known, which use electric motors powered by electric energy from batteries as propellant means, are generally very bulky and, for those which include a seat capable of going up and down, the vertical stroke of the seat is relatively small and its position is relatively high. They are not at all adapted so that their user can settle down comfortably and comfortably in front of for example a table or the steering wheel of a vehicle.

The patent US-A 3 882 949 describes and shows a deformable wheelchair in which the means which allow its deformation include a very large number of parts and are consequently of structure and assembly complicated and expensive to manufacture.

The object of the present invention is to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks in particular and proposes a wheelchair structure, in particular a motorized one, which may have a limited size, a relatively large vertical stroke of the seat allowing the seat to occupy a on the one hand a very low lowered position and on the other hand raised positions releasing sufficient ground clearance, and allowing a sufficiently low position of the center of gravity in particular when the seat is lowered. The wheelchair structure according to an object of the present invention preferably comprises a first chassis mounted on wheels; a second chassis for carrying a seat; deformable means connecting the second chassis to the first chassis; means for moving the second chassis between a low position and a high position; a third chassis intended to carry, below the aforementioned seat, an object, in particular at least one battery; deforable means connecting the third chassis to the first chassis and / or to the second chassis; and means for moving the third chassis between a low position and a high position. According to the invention, the means for moving the second chassis and the means for moving the third chassis, between their low posi¬ tion and their high position, preferably act simultaneously. In a preferred embodiment, the structure of the invention comprises common means for moving the second and third chassis.

According to the invention, the vertical stroke of the second chassis is preferably greater than the vertical stroke of the third chassis.

According to the invention, the aforementioned connecting means can advantageously comprise pairs of levers or articulated arms.

According to the invention, the arms of at least one of the above-mentioned pairs of levers or arms are preferably connected in rotation.

In a preferred embodiment, the deformable means for connecting the second chassis to the first chassis comprise pairs of levers or front arms and pairs of levers or rear arms articulated transversely on said chassis, these rear levers being connected in rotation by a transverse shaft and the means for moving the second chassis comprise means for driving in rotation in one direction and in the other of this transverse shaft. According to the invention, said first chassis and said second chassis preferably comprise longitudinal beams or longitudinal bars on which said levers are articulated, the second chassis being able to pass at least partially through the first chassis.

According to the invention, the articulations of said front levers on said second chassis are preferably movable over a determined front-to-back stroke.

In a preferred embodiment, said deformable means for connecting the third chassis comprise pairs of levers or front arms and pairs of levers or rear arms, these rear levers being connected to said transverse shaft and these front levers being articulated transversely on said second chassis.

In a preferred embodiment, said front levers are articulated on common axes.

In a preferred embodiment, said deformable means of connection of the third chassis comprise pairs of levers or front arms and pairs of levers or rear arms articulated transversely on said first and / or said second chassis, these front levers or these rear levers being connected in rotation by a transverse shaft and the means for moving this third chassis comprise means for driving in rotation in one direction and in the other of this transverse shaft.

According to another object of the invention, the wheelchair structure preferably comprises a first chassis mounted on wheels; a second chassis for carrying a seat; deformable means connecting the second chassis to the first chassis; means for moving the second chassis between a low position and a high position; as well as means for anchoring the ground to the first chassis.

According to the invention, said anchoring means engage with a member fixed to the ground preferably in the final part of the downward stroke of the second chassis.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, said anchoring means comprise at least one clamp intended to take between its branches an anchoring member fixed to the ground. According to the invention, said clamp preferably comprises at least one fixed branch extending downwards and at least one movable branch connected to actuation means.

According to the invention, the movable branch of said clamp is preferably actuated by the means for moving the second chassis.

According to another object of the invention, the wheelchair structure comprises a footrest, deformable means for connecting this footrest to at least one of the aforementioned chassis and means for moving this footrest between a position low and a high position.

The present invention will be better understood from the study of a motorized wheelchair structure described by way of nonlimiting example and illustrated by the drawing in which:

- Figure 1 shows a front longitudinal section behind a wheelchair according to the present invention, the seat being in the high position.

- Figure 2 shows a longitudinal section corres¬ laying, the seat being in the low position. - Figure 3 shows a top view of the aforementioned chair;

- And Figure 4 shows a rear view of the aforementioned chair.

The motorized wheelchair shown in the figures and generally identified by the reference 1 comprises a structure generally identified by the reference 2.

This structure 2 comprises a first chassis generally identified by the reference 3 which has two beams 4 and 5 as well as a front cross member 6 and a rear cross member 7. This chassis 3 is carried at the rear by wheels 8 and 9 coaxials arranged outside the side members 4 and 5 and carried by vertical flanges 4a and 5a which are fixed to these side members and which extend downwards.

The main chassis 3 is also carried at the front by front wheels 10 and 11 mounted on pivoting forks 12 and 13 on the end of the side members 4 and 5 so that the wheels 10 and 11 can pivot 360 ° in passing under the side members 4 and 5 and the front cross member 6.

In order to drive the wheels 8 and 9 in rotation, the main chassis 3 carries electric motors 14 and 15 which are arranged between the side members 4 and 5 and which are fixed to the flanges 4a and 5a.

The structure 2 comprises a second chassis generally identified by the reference 16 which comprises a frame having two longitudinal bars 17 and 18 as well as a front crossbar 19 and a rear crossbar 20. This frame 17 has in its corners through holes 21 for the passage from bottom to top of not shown fixing bolts of a seat 22, shown in drawn lines in FIGS. 1 and 2, on the chassis 16.

The chassis 16 is connected to the main chassis 3 by means of deformable means allowing it to be lowered and raise. These deformable means comprise a pair of front levers 23 and 24, one of the ends of which is hingedly connected to the longitudinal bars 18 and 19 of the chassis 16 by means of transverse axes 25 and 26 and of which their other end is connected articulated manner on the longitudinal members 4 and 5 of the main chassis 3 by means of transverse axes 27 and 28. The above deformable means also include a pair of rear levers 29 and 30, one of the ends of which is connected in an articulated manner to the rear part of the side members 17 and 18 of the chassis 16 by means of transverse axes 31 and 32 and the other end of which is fixed radially to the ends of a transverse shaft 33 which is mounted so articulated on and in front of the rear cross member 7 of the main chassis 3 by means of yokes 34 and 35, the shaft 33 being slightly above the plane of the side members 4 and 5 of the chassis main 3. Thus, the levers 23, 29 and 24, 30 are movable in the longitudinal vertical planes passing respectively between, on the one hand the spar 4 and the longitudinal bar 17 and on the other hand the spar 5 and the longitudinal bar 5 .

In order to rotate the transverse shaft 33, there is provided, in the middle part of the main frame 3, an electric actuator 36 whose body is hingedly fixed between the upper ends of two bars spaced transversely 37 and 38 of the main chassis 3 by means of a transverse axis 36a, the lower ends of which are fixed to the cross-member 7 of this chassis, the end of the movable rod 39 of the electric actuator 36 being fixed in an articulated manner by means of a transverse axis 40 between the free ends of two lever arms 41 and 42 which are fixed radially on the transverse shaft 33.

In the extended position of the rod 39 of the electric actuator 36, the chassis 16 and consequently the seat 22, are in the maximum high position and, in the retracted position of the rod 39 of the electric actuator 36, the chassis 16 and consequently the seat 22 is in the maximum low position.

In the high position shown in FIG. 1, the pairs of lever 23, 24 and 29, 30 extend forward and upward, the chassis 16 being largely above the main chassis 3, and the levers 41 and 42 extend rearward and downward from the transverse shaft 33.

In the low position visible in FIG. 2, the front part of the chassis 16 is supported on the front cross member 6 of the main chassis 3 and, behind this cross member 6, the chassis 16 is engaged between the side members 4 and 5 of the main chassis 3, the pair of levers 29, 30 extending forward and slightly downward and the levers 41 and 42 extending rearward substantially horizontally. By actuating the electric actuator 36, the user can move the chassis 16 relative to the main chassis 3 between the two extreme positions shown in Figures 1 and 2 so that the seat 22 occupies the desired position in the vertical direction. To allow the above movements, short oblong grooves 43 are formed in the longitudinal bars 17 and 18 of the chassis 16, through which the axes 25 and 26 pass.

The structure 2 also comprises a third chassis generally identified by the reference 44. This chassis 44 comprises a horizontal platform 45 arranged in the central part of the main chassis 3, between the ground and the chassis 16 which carries the seat 22.

The platform 45 is carried by pairs of bent front arms 46 and 47 which extend vertically then forwards and upwards, their upper end being carried by the transverse axes 25 and 26. The platform 45 is also carried by two rear vertical arms 48a and 48b which extend upwards and whose upper ends are carried in an articulated manner by means of transverse axes 49 and 50 by the ends of levers 51 and 52 which are fixed radially on the transverse shaft 33.

Thus, the chassis 44 is movable in the vertical direction at the same time and in the same direction as the chassis 16 carrying the seat 22.

The length of the levers 51 and 52 is adapted to the vertical displacement of the axes 25 and 26 so that the platform 45 is held substantially horizontally. In addition, the front wheels 10 and 11 can pass under the bent arms 46 and 47. In the low position shown in Figure 2, the platform 45 is very close to the ground, the levers 51 and 52 extending forward and downward. The distance separating the platform 45 from the chassis 16 is such that an electric energy accumulator 53, for example a battery, can be arranged there. This electric energy accumulator 53 is used to power the electric propulsion motors 14 and 15 and the electric actuator 36, via an electric control circuit and knobs or buttons not shown.

In the high position visible in FIG. 1, the platform 45 is at a suitable distance from the ground, the stroke of the chassis 16 carrying the seat 22 being greater than the stroke of the platform 45.

Furthermore, the chassis 16 carries at its front part and in an articulated manner a footrest generally identified by the reference 54 whose orientation and consequently the height can be adjusted by means of a jack 55 .

The chair 1 is also equipped with means for anchoring it to the ground, this means consisting of a clamp generally identified 56, arranged at the rear and in the middle part of the chair. This clamp 56 has a fixed rear jaw formed of two branches 57 and 58 spaced in the transverse direction, which are fixed on the lower ends of the arms 37 and 38 of the main frame 3 as well as a front jaw formed of a branch , a central arm 59 which is articulated on the fixed jaw 57, 58 and which is connected by a control rod 60 to the end of an extension 61 of the lever

41.

When the chassis 16 and consequently the seat 22 is in the high position, the front jaw 59 of the clamp 56 is in the raised position and, when the chassis 16 is in its low position, the front jaw 59 is in its low position so to take between it and the rear jaw 57, 59 a horizontal anchor bar 62 whose ends are fixed to the ground.

The front jaw 59 is subjected to a spring 63 which pulls it towards its high position and the control lever 60 is slidably mounted sant in the end of the arm 61 so that this arm acts on the control rod 60 only when the frame 16 is in the final part of its downward stroke. The control lever 60 is provided at its end with a nut 63 which allows the adjustment of its length. The clamp 56 above is particularly well suited for fixing the wheelchair 1 in a vehicle, for example in front of the latter's steering wheel. The wheelchair 1 being in a high or intermediate position in which the jaw 59 of the clamp 56 is raised, the user seated on the seat 22 rolls in the vehicle in the direction of the steering wheel. When it is close to the latter, the fixed jaw 57, 58 of the clamp 56 meets a horizontal bar 62 fixed to the floor of the vehicle and abuts against this bar. The user actuates the electric actuator 36 so as to lower the chassis 16. In doing so, the movable jaw of the clamp 56 takes up in front of the bar 62 and, thus, the clamp 56 fixes the main chassis 3 of the wheelchair to the floor of the vehicle. In addition, the user in the low position is in the correct position relative to the steering wheel to be able to drive the vehicle.

The motorized wheelchair structure which has just been described has many advantages.

First of all, its size can be small thanks to the fact that the batteries 53 are arranged under the seat 22. In the high position or in the intermediate position of the chassis 16 and consequently of the seat 22, the ground clearance is at say the space between the platform 45 carrying the batteries 53 and the ground is sufficient for the wheelchair to be able to move on normally deformed ground. In the extreme low position, in which the chair is generally immobilized, the user is placed in a sufficiently low position to be able, for example, to be seated in front of a table, behind a steering wheel of a vehicle. Thanks to the anchor formed by the clamp 56, the chair can be fixed securely so as not to move relative to the ground or to a floor, for example of a vehicle.

The present invention is naturally not limited to the example described above. In another example, the actuating means could include, instead of the lever 41, a central beam extending from rear to front below the second chassis 16 and above the plate 45 of the third chassis , this central beam being able to be articulated transversely on the rear part of the first chassis. The front end of this central beam could be slidably mounted in slides of the second chassis 16, below the seat 22 and its rear end could be connected to the electric actuator 36 for pivoting in order to raise and lower the first and second chassis. This central beam could pass and move vertically between two batteries placed at a distance from each other on the plate 45 of the third chassis 44.

Furthermore, the anchoring means could for example be constituted by a clamp whose two jaws could retract upwards. A front clamp could also be provided to anchor the front part of the chair to the ground, this other clamp being able to be connected to the rear clamp by bars to be actuated at the same time.

Claims

1. Wheelchair structure, characterized in that it comprises a first chassis (3) mounted on wheels; a second chassis (16) for carrying a seat (22); deformable means (23, 28) connecting the second chassis (16) to the first chassis (3); means for moving the second chassis between a low position and a high position; a third chassis (44) intended to carry, below the aforementioned seat, an object, in particular at least one battery (53); deformable means (46, 48) connecting the third chassis (44) to the first chassis (3) and / or to the second chassis (16); and means (36) for moving the third chassis between a low position and a high position.

2. Structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (36) for moving the second chassis and the means (36) for moving the third chassis (44), between their low position and their high position, act simultaneously.

3. Structure according to one of claims 1 and 2, carac¬ terized in that it comprises common means (36) for moving the second and third chassis.

4. Structure according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vertical stroke of the second chassis (16) is greater than the vertical stroke of the third chassis (44).

5. Structure according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aforementioned connecting means comprise pairs of levers or articulated arms (23, 24; 48, 49).

6. Structure according to claim 5, characterized in that the arms of at least one of the above pairs of arms are connected in rotation.

7. Structure according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the deformable means for connecting the second chassis to the first chassis comprise pairs of levers or front arms (23, 24) and pairs of levers or rear arms ( 29, 30) articulated transversely on said chassis, these levers rear being connected in rotation by a transverse shaft (33) and the means for moving the second chassis comprise drive means (41) in rotation in one direction and in the other of this transverse shaft.

8. Structure according to claim 7, characterized in that said first chassis and said second chassis comprise longitudinal members or longitudinal bars (4, 5; 17, 18) on which said levers are articulated, the second chassis being able to pass to less in part through the first chassis.

9. Structure according to one of claims 7 and 8, charac¬ terized in that the joints (25, 26) of said front levers on said second chassis are movable on a determined front-to-back travel.

10. Structure according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that said deformable means for connecting the third chassis comprise pairs of levers or front arms (46, 47) and pairs of levers or rear arms (48a , 48b), these rear levers being connected to said transverse shaft (33) and these front levers (46, 47) being articulated transversely on said second chassis.

11. Structure according to claim 10, characterized in that said front levers are articulated on common axes.

12. Structure according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said deformable means for connecting the third chassis comprise pairs of levers or front arms (46, 47) and pairs of levers or rear arms (48a, 48b ) articulated transversely on said first and / or said second chassis, these front levers or these rear levers being connected in rotation by a transverse shaft (33) and the means for moving this third chassis comprise drive means (41) rotating in one direction and the other of this transverse shaft.

13. Structure according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means (56) for anchoring the ground to the first chassis.

14. Structure according to claim 13, characterized by causes said anchoring means (56) to engage a member

(62) fixed to the ground in the final part of the downward stroke of the second chassis.

15. Structure according to one of claims 13 and 14, characterized in that said anchoring means comprise at least one clamp (56) intended to take between its branches an anchoring member (62) fixed to the ground.

16. Structure according to claim 15, characterized in that said clamp (56) comprises at least one fixed branch (57) extending downwards and at least one movable branch (59) connected to actuation means ( 36).

17. Structure according to claim 16, characterized in that the movable branch of said clamp (56) is actuated by the displacement means (36) of the second chassis (16).

18. Structure according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a footrest (54), deformable means for connecting this footrest to at least one of the aforementioned chassis and means ( 56) to move this footrest between a low position and a high position.

19. Wheelchair structure, characterized in that it comprises a first chassis (3) mounted on wheels; a second chassis (16) for carrying a seat (22); deformable means (23, 28) connecting the second chassis (16) to the first chassis (3); means for moving the second chassis between a low position and a high position; and means (56) for anchoring the first chassis to the ground.

20. Structure according to claim 19, characterized in that said anchoring means (56) engage with a member (62) fixed to the ground in the final part of the downward stroke of the second chassis.

21. Structure according to one of claims 19 and 20, characterized in that said anchoring means comprise at least one clamp (56) intended to take between its branches an anchoring member (62) fixed to the ground.

22. Structure according to claim 21, characterized by the the fact that said clamp (56) comprises at least one fixed branch (57) extending downwards and at least one movable branch (59) connected to actuation means (36).

23. Structure according to claim 22, characterized in that the movable branch of said clamp (56) is actuated by the displacement means (36) of the second chassis (16).