Patent · US2003127261A1 · A1 · US
Wheelchair mobility system and method
- (11) Publication number
- US2003127261A1
- (21) Application number
- 10/309,789
- (22) Filing date
- 2002-12-04
- (30) Priority date
- 2001-12-07
- (43) Publication date
- 2003-07-10
- (51) IPC
- B60G 13/14; B60G 17/015; B60G 17/0195; B60G 3/18; B60G 7/00; B60H 1/00; B60K 1/00; B60K 1/04; B60K 11/04; B60K 11/08; B60K 15/07; B60K 26/02; B60K 7/00; B60N 2/14; B60N 2/90; B60T 1/06; B60T 1/10; B60T 13/66; B60T 13/74; B60T 7/00; B60T 7/04; B60T 8/00; B62B 3/12; B62D 1/02; B62D 1/22; B62D 21/00; B62D 21/02; B62D 21/10; B62D 21/15; B62D 24/02; B62D 29/00; B62D 35/02; B62D 5/00; B62D 65/04; G01M 1/38; G06Q 30/00
- (52) CPC
- B60G Vehicle suspension arrangements: 3/18, 13/14, 17/015, 17/0195, 2200/10, 2200/144, 2200/18, 2200/44, 2200/46, 2200/462, 2202/40, 2202/42, 2204/10, 2204/11, 2204/14, 2204/16, 2204/20, 2204/202, 2206/011, 2206/0114, 2206/50, 2206/99, 2300/45, 2300/50, 2300/60, 2800/21, 2800/802, 2800/90, 2800/91, 2800/92, 2800/963, 7/003
- B60H Arrangements of heating, cooling, ventilating or other air-treating devices specially adapted for passenger or goods spaces of vehicles: 1/004
- B60K Arrangement or mounting of propulsion units or of transmissions in vehicles; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers in vehicles; auxiliary drives for vehicles; instrumentation or dashboards for vehicles; arrangements in connection with cooling, air intake, gas exhaust or fuel supply of propulsion units in vehicles: 1/00, 1/04, 15/07, 2001/001, 2001/005, 7/0007
- B60L Propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles; supplying electric power for auxiliary equipment of electrically-propelled vehicles; electrodynamic brake systems for vehicles in general; magnetic suspension or levitation for vehicles; monitoring operating variables of electrically-propelled vehicles; electric safety devices for electrically-propelled vehicles: 15/2009, 2200/46, 2220/44, 2240/12, 2240/423, 2250/16, 2250/26, 2260/28, 2270/40, 7/16
- B60N Seats specially adapted for vehicles; vehicle passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for: 2/14, 2/90
- B60T Vehicle brake control systems or parts thereof; brake control systems or parts thereof, in general; arrangement of braking elements on vehicles in general; portable devices for preventing unwanted movement of vehicles; vehicle modifications to facilitate cooling of brakes: 1/065, 1/10, 13/66, 13/662, 13/74, 2270/82, 7/00, 7/042, 8/00
- B60W Conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function; control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles; road vehicle drive control systems for purposes not related to the control of a particular sub-unit: 10/18, 10/20, 10/24, 2520/10, 2520/105, 2520/125, 2520/14, 2520/28, 2540/18, 30/18
- B60Y Indexing scheme relating to aspects cross-cutting vehicle technology: 2200/84
- B62B Hand-propelled vehicles, e.g. hand carts or perambulators; sledges: 3/12
- B62D Motor vehicles; trailers: 1/02, 1/22, 21/00, 21/10, 21/15, 24/02, 29/008, 35/02, 5/00, 63/025, 65/04
- G06Q Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial or supervisory purposes; systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial or supervisory purposes, not otherwise provided for: 30/06
- Y02T Climate change mitigation technologies related to transportation: 10/64, 10/72, 10/88, 90/16
- (72) Inventors
- Christopher Borroni-Bird; Adrian Chernoff; Mohsen Shabana; Robert Vitale
- (54) Title
- Wheelchair mobility system and method
- (57) Abstract
A wheelchair mobility system includes a wheelchair with an operator interface that controls the wheelchair and is connectable to a vehicle controllable through a drive-by-wire control so that it controls the vehicle. The wheelchair has a battery that may be recharged by the vehicle when the interface is connected. A method for enabling a wheelchair-bound person to drive a vehicle includes providing an operator-interface on a wheelchair usable for driving the wheelchair, providing access on the vehicle for receiving the wheelchair onboard the vehicle and providing a connector for connecting the operator interface and the vehicle so that the operator interface is usable for driving the vehicle. A method for the wheelchair-bound to drive includes driving a wheelchair through an operator interface, accessing a vehicle while wheelchair-bound and connecting the operator interface to the vehicle for controlling the vehicle.
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Claims (1)
- A wheelchair mobility system comprising: a vehicle having a frame, at least three wheels operable with respect to the frame, a steering system mounted with respect to the frame and responsive to non-mechanical control signals, a braking system mounted with respect to the frame and responsive to non-mechanical control signals, an energy conversion system mounted with respect to the frame and responsive to non-mechanical control signals, a connector port mounted with respect to the frame and operably connected to the steering, braking and energy conversion systems, and a first locator mounted with respect to the frame; and a wheelchair having a second locator interfittable with the first locator to position the wheelchair on the vehicle as a driver's seat, the wheelchair being interconnectable with the connector port on the vehicle and having a motor and an operator interface operable for moving the wheelchair independently of the vehicle through the motor and being operable when positioned as a driver's seat on the vehicle and interconnected with the connector port on the frame for driving the vehicle. 2. The mobility system of claim 1 wherein the first locator is structure on the vehicle forming a groove and the second locator is a portion of the wheelchair. 3. The mobility system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle has an energy source for the energy conversion system, and the wheelchair has a battery for powering the motor, said battery having a connector interconnectable with the energy source on the vehicle to recharge the battery. 4. A wheelchair adapted for multiple uses as a wheelchair and as a driver's seat for a drivable vehicle comprising, a chair for supporting a person, a wheel connected to the chair for supporting and motivating the chair, a motor for driving the wheel, an operator interface in a drivable relationship by a person in the chair and in a controllable relationship to the motor, the operator interface having a connector selectively interconnectable with the motor to control the wheelchair or with the vehicle to drive the vehicle. 5. The wheelchair of claim 4 including a battery for powering the motor wherein the battery further has a connector selectively interconnectable with the vehicle to recharge the battery when the operator interface is selectively interconnected with the vehicle to drive the vehicle. 6. A mobility system comprising: a vehicle having drive-by-wire control apparatus including a drive-by-wire connector port; and a wheelchair removably mountable in the vehicle including a connector operatively connected to an operator interface and operably and removably connectable with the connector port, whereby said operator interface may be used to drive the vehicle when the wheelchair is mounted in the vehicle with the connector connected to the connector port, and the operator interface may be used to drive the wheelchair when the wheelchair is removed from the vehicle and the connector disconnected from the connector port. 7. The mobility system of claim 6 wherein the vehicle has a power source and including a battery configured for engagement with the power source when the wheelchair is mounted in the vehicle with the connector connected to the connector port so that the battery may be recharged. 8. A wheelchair comprising: an operator interface for driving the wheelchair, mounting structure configured for mounting the wheelchair on a vehicle, and a connector selectively operatively associated with the operator interface and configured to be operatively and removably connectable to the vehicle, whereby said operator interface may be used to drive the vehicle when the connector is operably connected to the vehicle. 9. The wheelchair of claim 8 including: a battery for powering the wheelchair, and a connector configured for connecting the battery with the vehicle when the operator interface is used to drive the vehicle, whereby to recharge the battery. 10. A mobility system comprising: a vehicle having: a frame, at least three wheels operable with respect to the frame, a steering system mounted with respect to the frame and responsive to non-mechanical control signals, a braking system mounted with respect to the frame and responsive to non-mechanical control signals, an energy conversion system mounted with respect to the frame and responsive to non-mechanical control signals, a connector port mounted with respect to the frame and operably connected to the steering, braking and energy conversion systems, and structure on the vehicle forming a groove that is substantially fixed with respect to the frame; and a wheelchair including: a motor, a locator on the wheelchair interfittable with the groove on the vehicle to position the wheelchair with respect to the vehicle as a driver's seat, an operator interface operable for driving the wheelchair independently of the vehicle through the motor and operable for driving the vehicle through the connector port when the locator on the wheelchair is interfitted with the structure forming a groove on the vehicle, and a battery for powering the wheelchair when the operator interface is operable for driving the wheelchair independently of the vehicle, said battery having a connector for interconnecting the battery with a power source in the energy conversion system of the vehicle to recharge the battery when the interface is operable for driving the vehicle. 11. A method of enabling a vehicle to be driven from a wheelchair comprising: providing an operator interface on the wheelchair usable for driving the wheelchair; providing access on the vehicle for receiving the wheelchair onboard the vehicle; providing an operator interface connector connectable between the operator interface and the vehicle when the wheelchair is onboard the vehicle so that the operator interface is usable for driving the vehicle. 12. The method of claim 11 including providing a locator on the wheelchair and a second locator on the vehicle for sufficiently interfitting the wheelchair and the vehicle when the wheelchair is received onboard the vehicle so that the wheelchair is located with respect to the vehicle. 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the locator and the second locator are accessible to a user of the wheelchair, permitting the user to interfit the wheelchair and the vehicle with the locators. 14. The method of claim 12 including providing a mechanism for securing the wheelchair to the vehicle. 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the mechanism for securing the wheelchair to the vehicle is accessible to a user of the wheelchair, permitting the user to secure the wheelchair to the vehicle. 16. A method for the wheelchair-bound to drive a vehicle comprising: driving a wheelchair through an operator interface controlling at least one of the wheelchair's steering, accelerating, decelerating and braking systems; accessing the vehicle while wheelchair-bound; and connecting the operator interface to the vehicle in a manner for controlling at least one of the vehicle's steering, accelerating, decelerating and braking systems. 17. The method of claim 16 wherein accessing the vehicle includes affixing the wheelchair in a fixed relation to the vehicle. 18. The method of claim 16 wherein accessing the vehicle includes controlling structure on the vehicle to facilitate the access of the wheelchair onboard the vehicle.
Description
This invention relates to the adaptation of a wheelchair for use as a driver's seat in a vehicle, wherein the wheelchair includes non-mechanical controls adaptable for driving the vehicle. [0002]
Persons confined to wheelchairs face many obstacles to mobility. Enabling a wheelchair-bound person to drive a vehicle, such as an automobile, has proven to be a challenge. Wheelchair controls typically must be custom designed, often at significant cost to the user. Significant time and effort may be expended by the user in learning to master the use of such controls. Even with the most technologically advanced wheelchair and wheelchair controls that permit a user to remain in the wheelchair and position him or her self in a vehicle as a driver, the user must then maneuver a separate set of the vehicle's own controls in order to then drive the vehicle. These separate controls may need to be modified to accommodate specific physical limitations of the wheelchair bound person. The wheelchair controls may interfere with the person's ability to utilize the separate vehicle controls. [0003]
This invention serves the primary purpose of increasing the mobility of a wheelchair bound person by allowing him to utilize his wheelchair and its controls as a driver's seat and controls of a separate vehicle. [0004]
The invention eliminates the challenge of exiting a wheelchair and repositioning into a separate driver's seat. The person is able to drive a vehicle, such as an automobile, with the wheelchair essentially becoming the driver's seat. [0005]
Citations (46)
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Record as JSON
{
"publication_number": "US2003127261A1",
"country": "US",
"kind": "A1",
"title": "Wheelchair mobility system and method",
"abstract": "A wheelchair mobility system includes a wheelchair with an operator interface that controls the wheelchair and is connectable to a vehicle controllable through a drive-by-wire control so that it controls the vehicle. The wheelchair has a battery that may be recharged by the vehicle when the interface is connected. A method for enabling a wheelchair-bound person to drive a vehicle includes providing an operator-interface on a wheelchair usable for driving the wheelchair, providing access on the vehicle for receiving the wheelchair onboard the vehicle and providing a connector for connecting the operator interface and the vehicle so that the operator interface is usable for driving the vehicle. A method for the wheelchair-bound to drive includes driving a wheelchair through an operator interface, accessing a vehicle while wheelchair-bound and connecting the operator interface to the vehicle for controlling the vehicle.",
"claims": [
"1. A wheelchair mobility system comprising: a vehicle having a frame, at least three wheels operable with respect to the frame, a steering system mounted with respect to the frame and responsive to non-mechanical control signals, a braking system mounted with respect to the frame and responsive to non-mechanical control signals, an energy conversion system mounted with respect to the frame and responsive to non-mechanical control signals, a connector port mounted with respect to the frame and operably connected to the steering, braking and energy conversion systems, and a first locator mounted with respect to the frame; and a wheelchair having a second locator interfittable with the first locator to position the wheelchair on the vehicle as a driver's seat, the wheelchair being interconnectable with the connector port on the vehicle and having a motor and an operator interface operable for moving the wheelchair independently of the vehicle through the motor and being operable when positioned as a driver's seat on the vehicle and interconnected with the connector port on the frame for driving the vehicle. 2. The mobility system of claim 1 wherein the first locator is structure on the vehicle forming a groove and the second locator is a portion of the wheelchair. 3. The mobility system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle has an energy source for the energy conversion system, and the wheelchair has a battery for powering the motor, said battery having a connector interconnectable with the energy source on the vehicle to recharge the battery. 4. A wheelchair adapted for multiple uses as a wheelchair and as a driver's seat for a drivable vehicle comprising, a chair for supporting a person, a wheel connected to the chair for supporting and motivating the chair, a motor for driving the wheel, an operator interface in a drivable relationship by a person in the chair and in a controllable relationship to the motor, the operator interface having a connector selectively interconnectable with the motor to control the wheelchair or with the vehicle to drive the vehicle. 5. The wheelchair of claim 4 including a battery for powering the motor wherein the battery further has a connector selectively interconnectable with the vehicle to recharge the battery when the operator interface is selectively interconnected with the vehicle to drive the vehicle. 6. A mobility system comprising: a vehicle having drive-by-wire control apparatus including a drive-by-wire connector port; and a wheelchair removably mountable in the vehicle including a connector operatively connected to an operator interface and operably and removably connectable with the connector port, whereby said operator interface may be used to drive the vehicle when the wheelchair is mounted in the vehicle with the connector connected to the connector port, and the operator interface may be used to drive the wheelchair when the wheelchair is removed from the vehicle and the connector disconnected from the connector port. 7. The mobility system of claim 6 wherein the vehicle has a power source and including a battery configured for engagement with the power source when the wheelchair is mounted in the vehicle with the connector connected to the connector port so that the battery may be recharged. 8. A wheelchair comprising: an operator interface for driving the wheelchair, mounting structure configured for mounting the wheelchair on a vehicle, and a connector selectively operatively associated with the operator interface and configured to be operatively and removably connectable to the vehicle, whereby said operator interface may be used to drive the vehicle when the connector is operably connected to the vehicle. 9. The wheelchair of claim 8 including: a battery for powering the wheelchair, and a connector configured for connecting the battery with the vehicle when the operator interface is used to drive the vehicle, whereby to recharge the battery. 10. A mobility system comprising: a vehicle having: a frame, at least three wheels operable with respect to the frame, a steering system mounted with respect to the frame and responsive to non-mechanical control signals, a braking system mounted with respect to the frame and responsive to non-mechanical control signals, an energy conversion system mounted with respect to the frame and responsive to non-mechanical control signals, a connector port mounted with respect to the frame and operably connected to the steering, braking and energy conversion systems, and structure on the vehicle forming a groove that is substantially fixed with respect to the frame; and a wheelchair including: a motor, a locator on the wheelchair interfittable with the groove on the vehicle to position the wheelchair with respect to the vehicle as a driver's seat, an operator interface operable for driving the wheelchair independently of the vehicle through the motor and operable for driving the vehicle through the connector port when the locator on the wheelchair is interfitted with the structure forming a groove on the vehicle, and a battery for powering the wheelchair when the operator interface is operable for driving the wheelchair independently of the vehicle, said battery having a connector for interconnecting the battery with a power source in the energy conversion system of the vehicle to recharge the battery when the interface is operable for driving the vehicle. 11. A method of enabling a vehicle to be driven from a wheelchair comprising: providing an operator interface on the wheelchair usable for driving the wheelchair; providing access on the vehicle for receiving the wheelchair onboard the vehicle; providing an operator interface connector connectable between the operator interface and the vehicle when the wheelchair is onboard the vehicle so that the operator interface is usable for driving the vehicle. 12. The method of claim 11 including providing a locator on the wheelchair and a second locator on the vehicle for sufficiently interfitting the wheelchair and the vehicle when the wheelchair is received onboard the vehicle so that the wheelchair is located with respect to the vehicle. 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the locator and the second locator are accessible to a user of the wheelchair, permitting the user to interfit the wheelchair and the vehicle with the locators. 14. The method of claim 12 including providing a mechanism for securing the wheelchair to the vehicle. 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the mechanism for securing the wheelchair to the vehicle is accessible to a user of the wheelchair, permitting the user to secure the wheelchair to the vehicle. 16. A method for the wheelchair-bound to drive a vehicle comprising: driving a wheelchair through an operator interface controlling at least one of the wheelchair's steering, accelerating, decelerating and braking systems; accessing the vehicle while wheelchair-bound; and connecting the operator interface to the vehicle in a manner for controlling at least one of the vehicle's steering, accelerating, decelerating and braking systems. 17. The method of claim 16 wherein accessing the vehicle includes affixing the wheelchair in a fixed relation to the vehicle. 18. The method of claim 16 wherein accessing the vehicle includes controlling structure on the vehicle to facilitate the access of the wheelchair onboard the vehicle."
],
"description_excerpt": "This invention relates to the adaptation of a wheelchair for use as a driver's seat in a vehicle, wherein the wheelchair includes non-mechanical controls adaptable for driving the vehicle. [0002]\n\nPersons confined to wheelchairs face many obstacles to mobility. Enabling a wheelchair-bound person to drive a vehicle, such as an automobile, has proven to be a challenge. Wheelchair controls typically must be custom designed, often at significant cost to the user. Significant time and effort may be expended by the user in learning to master the use of such controls. Even with the most technologically advanced wheelchair and wheelchair controls that permit a user to remain in the wheelchair and position him or her self in a vehicle as a driver, the user must then maneuver a separate set of the vehicle's own controls in order to then drive the vehicle. These separate controls may need to be modified to accommodate specific physical limitations of the wheelchair bound person. The wheelchair controls may interfere with the person's ability to utilize the separate vehicle controls. [0003]\n\nThis invention serves the primary purpose of increasing the mobility of a wheelchair bound person by allowing him to utilize his wheelchair and its controls as a driver's seat and controls of a separate vehicle. [0004]\n\nThe invention eliminates the challenge of exiting a wheelchair and repositioning into a separate driver's seat. The person is able to drive a vehicle, such as an automobile, with the wheelchair essentially becoming the driver's seat. [0005]",
"cpc": [
"B60G 3/18",
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"B60G 2200/144",
"B60G 2200/18",
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"B60G 2200/462",
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"B60G 2204/14",
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"B60G 2204/20",
"B60G 2204/202",
"B60G 2206/011",
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"B60G 2300/45",
"B60G 2300/50",
"B60G 2300/60",
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"B60G 2800/802",
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"B60G 2800/91",
"B60G 2800/92",
"B60G 2800/963",
"B60G 7/003",
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"B60K 7/0007",
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"B60L 2200/46",
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],
"ipc": [
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"B60G 7/00",
"B60H 1/00",
"B60K 1/00",
"B60K 1/04",
"B60K 11/04",
"B60K 11/08",
"B60K 15/07",
"B60K 26/02",
"B60K 7/00",
"B60N 2/14",
"B60N 2/90",
"B60T 1/06",
"B60T 1/10",
"B60T 13/66",
"B60T 13/74",
"B60T 7/00",
"B60T 7/04",
"B60T 8/00",
"B62B 3/12",
"B62D 1/02",
"B62D 1/22",
"B62D 21/00",
"B62D 21/02",
"B62D 21/10",
"B62D 21/15",
"B62D 24/02",
"B62D 29/00",
"B62D 35/02",
"B62D 5/00",
"B62D 65/04",
"G01M 1/38",
"G06Q 30/00"
],
"inventors": [
"Christopher Borroni-Bird",
"Adrian Chernoff",
"Mohsen Shabana",
"Robert Vitale"
],
"filing_date": "2002-12-04",
"publication_date": "2003-07-10",
"priority_date": "2001-12-07",
"application_number": "US-30978902-A",
"family_id": "35353462",
"cited_by_count": 63,
"citations": [
"US2303286A",
"US3722948A",
"US3905436A",
"US3921740A",
"US4165794A",
"US4093303A",
"US4103934A",
"US4216839A",
"US4363999A",
"US4542917A",
"US4489977A",
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"US4623289A",
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"US5352011A",
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"US6408966B1",
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"US6097286A",
"US6135222A",
"US6435584B1",
"US6424410B1",
"US6386817B1",
"US6290011B1",
"US6428028B1",
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"US6424900B2",
"US6394537B1",
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"US6688414B1"
]
}
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