Motor vehicles – Steering by driving – Independently operable drive motors
Patent
1991-09-30
1993-07-06
Focarino, Margaret A.
Motor vehicles
Steering by driving
Independently operable drive motors
180 191, 180 658, B62D 5104
Patent
active
052245624
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is concerned with walking aids for the infirm or disabled.
The invention is based on the observation that there is a need for a walking aid to fill the gap between a walking frame, which has to be lifted and pushed by the user, and a wheelchair, which is of limited use indoors, is relatively costly, and carries the user but does not promote walking exercises.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a walking aid comprising a framework for supporting a user, which framework is mounted on two rotatably driven support members, each support member being provided with a respective electric motor, each motor being provided with electrical power supply means and respective switches such that each respective support member is selectively independently rotatable in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction.
Preferably, a timing device is provided arranged to limit the duration of power supplied to each respective motor.
It is preferred that further switching means be provided arranged to initiate the operation of the latter timing device. Advantageously, the further switching means is in the form of a photo-electric switching mechanism located on the frame, operable when a photo-electric circuit is broken, preferably by movement of a user's lower limbs.
The rotatable support members are preferably wheels (although equivalents to wheels, such as tracked members may alternatively be used); it is preferred that the frame should be further supported on one or more, preferably two, further undriven wheels.
Preferably the driven rotatable support members are positioned coaxially, advantageously at the front end of the frame, in which case the undriven wheel or wheels are preferably positioned at the rear of the frame.
A single power source, preferably in the form of one or more rechargeable batteries, may be used connected to each electric motor. Preferably, the respective switches are mounted one on each side of an upper part of the frame under the direct control of the user. Conveniently the switches are operated by sliding members in contact with the arms or hands of the user.
Advantageously each switch is of double pole reversing type with a neutral `OFF` position so that a forward movement of the sliding member causes a respective motor to rotate in a forward driving direction and a backward movement in a backward driving direction, thus propelling the respective side of the frame forward or backward.
As each motor is independent of the other, the sliding members can be operated by the user to make the frame turn left or right, forward or backward. Each sliding member preferably contains means such as light springs to urge the switch to return to the neutral or `OFF` position when the user relaxes directional pressure on the sliding member.
In a first embodiment of the present invention, the frame consists of an upper part having three sides, two of which are respectively at the left hand and right hand side of a user of the aid and generally disposed aligned with the direction of travel of the aid, and the third side disposed transversely to the direction of travel and at the front; and a lower part having two driven wheels as supports, one at the left hand side and the other at the right hand side and having two trailing undriven wheels at the rear, each driven wheel being powered by its own electric motor and where the frame carries at least one rechargeable battery electrically connected to each of the electric motors via appropriate control gear.
In this embodiment, the electric motors may be suitably geared or otherwise connected, one to each front wheel and mounted vertically, horizontally, in line or transversely to the direction of movement of the walking aid to suit the disposition and nature of the drive (which may be, for example belt, gearing, chain or a combination of these); they may further be self-braking on no current (i.e., the wheels resist rotation when no power is being supplied to them by the motor) and advantage
REFERENCES:
patent: 3945449 (1976-03-01), Ostrow
patent: 4280578 (1981-07-01), Perkins
patent: 4463817 (1984-08-01), Mennesson
patent: 4657100 (1987-04-01), Lewis
Focarino Margaret A.
Johnson Victor E.
Schindler Edwin D.
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