Motor vehicles – Manually actuated controlling devices – With adjustable operator engageable control
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-26
2001-01-09
Dickson, Paul N. (Department: 3618)
Motor vehicles
Manually actuated controlling devices
With adjustable operator engageable control
C180S065100, C180S333000, C180S304000, C248S284100, C248S289110, C248S276100, C248S278100, C403S112000, C403S113000, C403S116000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06170598
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to support structure of an operator control panel in an electrically-driven wheelchair. The operator control panel controls action of drive wheels in the electrically-driven wheelchair.
(2) Description of Related Art
In the prior art, an electrically-driven wheelchair is provided with an operator control panel controlling action of drive wheels. The operator control panel is usually arranged in the vicinity of an elbow pad. Because in this constitution, the user can easily operate the operator control panel. The operator control panel is arranged so that its position can be adjusted in the longitudinal direction corresponding to physique, taste or the like of the user. Or the operator control panel is arranged so that its height can be adjusted corresponding to physique, taste or the like of the user.
However, the operator control panel in the prior art is not arranged so that its position can be adjusted in the lateral direction of the wheelchair.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art. That is, an object of the present invention is to provide support structure of an operator control panel in an electrically-driven wheelchair where the arrangement position of the control panel at the front and rear sides and the left and right sides can be adjusted.
When the arrangement position of the operator control panel is adjusted at the front and rear sides and the left and right sides, the attitude of the operator control panel is preferably maintained to that before the adjustment. Because, following case may occur. For example, when the operator control panel is made a joy stick device, the joy stick device has a control stick projected in the vertical direction. In the joy stick device, it is preferable that even if the arrangement position of the joy stick device is changed at the front and rear sides and the left and right sides, the control stick is arranged in the vertical direction.
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems. That is, an object of the present invention is to provide support structure of an operator control panel in an electrically-driven wheelchair where not only the arrangement position of the operator control panel at the front and rear sides and the left and right sides can be adjusted but also the attitude of the operator control panel can be adjusted.
The foregoing objects are achieved by support structure of an operator control panel in an electrically-driven wheelchair in following constitution. The electrically-driven wheelchair is provided with a frame, drive wheels, an operator control panel and a support lever. The operator control panel controls action of the drive wheels, and the lower side of the operator control panel is connected to the upper side of the support lever. The lower side of the support lever is connected to the frame in the state that the support lever is rotatable in the longitudinal direction and in the lateral direction and is positionable. Also the upper side of the support lever is connected to the operator control panel in the state that the operator control panel is rockable forward and rearward and leftward and rightward and is positionable.
In the support structure according to the present invention, the lower side of the support lever is connected to the frame in the state that the support lever is rotated in the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction and is positionable. Therefore the support lever can be slanted to the frame in the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction with respect to the lower side of the support lever as the rotation center. As a result, the operator control panel supported on the upper side of the support lever can be adjusted to the arrangement position at the front and rear sides and the left and right sides.
Also the upper side of the support lever is connected to the operator control panel in the state that the operator control panel is rocked forward and rearward and leftward and rightward and can be positioned. Therefore if the upper side of the support lever is rocked and positioned, the attitude of the operator control panel can be adjusted. That is, even if the support lever is slanted in the prescribed direction at the front and rear sides and the left and right sides, the attitude of the operator control panel can be adjusted arbitrarily.
Therefore, in the support structure of operator control panel in electrically-driven wheelchair in the present invention, the arrangement position of the operator control panel at the front and rear sides and the left and right sides and the attitude of the operator control panel can be adjusted appropriately.
In the present invention, following constitution may be done. That is, the support lever is provided with a main body, a coupling member and a support member. The main body is arranged substantially in the vertical direction. Also the main body is provided with a spherical part at the upper side. The coupling member is connected to the lower side of the main body, and also connected to a lateral lever extending in the longitudinal direction of the frame. Also the coupling member is provided with a coupling sleeve and a coupling bracket. The coupling sleeve is externally fitted to the lateral lever in the rotatable state in the circumferential direction of the lateral lever. The coupling sleeve is reduced in the inner diameter and is fixed to the lateral lever by the operation of the first screw means. The coupling bracket fixes the main body, and is held to the coupling sleeve in the rotatable state in the longitudinal direction. The coupling bracket is fixed to the coupling sleeve by the operation of the second screw means. The support member is connected to the upper side of the main body, and also connected to the lower side of the operator control panel. Also the support member is provided with an upper support board and a lower support board. The upper support board is fixed to the lower side of the operator control panel. Also the upper support board is provided at the lower surface with a recess where the upper surface side of the spherical part of the main body of the support lever is slidable. The lower support board is fixed to the upper support board by the third screw means. Also the lower support board is provided at the upper surface with a recess where the lower surface side of the spherical part of the main body of the support lever is slidable. When the lower support board is fixed to the upper support board, the spherical part is grasped by the recesses in the upper and lower support boards.
In such support structure, first, the first screw means of the coupling member is loosened, and the coupling sleeve is rotated in the circumferential direction of the lateral lever. Subsequently if the first screw means is tightened, the coupling sleeve can be fixed to the lateral lever. As a result, the arrangement position in the lateral direction of the operator control panel connected to the upper side of the support lever can be adjusted.
Also, first, the second screw means of the coupling member is loosened, and the coupling bracket is rotated in the longitudinal direction with respect to the coupling sleeve. Subsequently if the second screw means is tightened, the bracket can be fixed to the coupling sleeve. As a result, the arrangement position in the longitudinal direction of the operator control panel connected to the upper side of the support lever can be adjusted.
Further, first, the third screw means fixing the lower support board of the support member to the upper support board is loosened, and the upper and lower support boards are rocked forward and rearward and leftward and rightward in the prescribed direction with respect to the spherical part as the center in the main body of the support lever. Subsequently the third screw means fixing the lower support board is tightened, and the spherical part is grasped by
Arent Fox Kintner & Plotkin & Kahn, PLLC
Dickson Paul N.
Nissin Medical Industries Co., Ltd.
Sliteris Joselynn Z
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