EP0511113B1 - Personal vehicle usable in a handpropelled or motorised mode, especially a wheelchair or tricycle - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an individual vehicle usable in a manual or a motorized version, in particular a wheelchair or a tricycle, including a chassis (1) provided at the rear with two bearings designed to receive removable wheels (2). According to the invention, this vehicle is able to be equipped with a self-contained propulsion unit (12) comprising driving wheels (13), a structure (14) for rotationally driving the driving wheels, a support suitable for supporting the bearings when the removable wheels (2) are removed, a locking device suitable for cooperating with a retaining device (11) provided on the chassis (1) when the bearings rest on the support, and a control (17) for moving the locking device between an active and an inactive position.

Description

The present invention relates to an individual vehicle usable in manual or motorized version, in particular a wheelchair or a tricycle.

The choice of a wheelchair can depend on the nature of the user's handicap, the activities practiced by the latter, and the environment. Thus, a person with little activity outside his home will be able to choose a wheelchair without a motor, while a person wishing to move long distances will be able to choose a motorized wheelchair.

Motorized wheelchairs require no physical effort from the user and can therefore be used very easily by severely disabled people. However, since they are bulky, their use in a limited space such as a dwelling is often difficult. They are also difficult to transport and expensive.

US-A-4,944,359 describes a wheelchair the chassis of which consists of two parts, one anterior and the other posterior, detachably connected by complementary coupling means situated between the front wheels and the rear wheels and to separate these two parts from each other to facilitate handling and transport of the wheelchair.

This wheelchair has an electric motor permanently installed on the rear part of the chassis and is powered by batteries placed on the front part of the chassis.

DE-A-2 729 267 describes a wheelchair usable in manual or motorized version, this wheelchair comprising a chassis provided, at the rear, with two bearings intended to receive removable wheels, as well as a propulsion unit autonomous and removable, comprising locking means to make it integral with the chassis, the wheels drive, and means for driving the drive wheels in rotation.

The propulsion unit of this wheelchair is removably attached to the rear lower corners of the chassis by means of locking means each comprising a fixed U-shaped part and a removable plate adaptable to the U-shaped part.

The present invention relates to an individual vehicle of the type described in document DE-A-2 729 267, which is characterized in that the propulsion unit further comprises support means supporting the bearings, the removable wheels being removed from the latter , and control means for moving the locking means between an active position in which the propulsion unit is inseparable from the chassis and an inactive position in which the propulsion unit is separable from the chassis, the locking means cooperating with means of retainers provided on the chassis when the bearings rest on the support means.

This set of provisions makes it possible to quickly and easily transform an individual vehicle without an engine into an individual motorized vehicle, and vice versa. The transformation can indeed be carried out in a short time without using tools.

A disabled person can therefore use their wheelchair in a manual version to make short-distance trips or to move around at home, and in a motorized version to cover relatively large distances outside. She therefore has an armchair that best meets her needs.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the support means comprise two parallel flanges projecting from the anterior transverse face of the propulsion unit and advancing on either side of the bearings when the latter is integral with the chassis , these flanges having a transverse front face comprising a notch provided with an inlet facing upwards and with a circular bottom whose radius is slightly greater than that of the bearings.

Furthermore, the retaining means may comprise a rod extending parallel to the bearings, above one of the latter, while the locking means may comprise a hook mounted to pivot around an axis parallel to l, axis of the propulsion unit wheels and engaged with the rod under the action of an elastic member.

In order to achieve a better connection between the chassis and the propulsion unit, it is however preferable that the retaining means comprise two coaxial rods extending parallel to the bearings, above the latter, and that the locking means comprise two hooks pivotally mounted about an axis parallel to the axis of the wheels of the propulsion unit and engaged with the rods under the action of elastic members.

Advantageously, the control means comprise a handle having the shape of an inverted U, the base of which extends parallel to the axis of the wheels of the propulsion unit and the branches of which are movable in height in guide bushings parallel to the anterior transverse face of said propulsion unit, two coaxial rods fixed to the free ends of the branches of the handle so that they extend outside of the latter, parallel to its base, and two connecting rods connecting the rods to the hooks.

It suffices to lift the handle to separate the power unit and the chassis when these are connected to each other. This action in fact allows the hooks to be taken out of the way with the rods and consequently the separation of the propulsion unit and the chassis.

Note also that the handle can also be used to transport the propulsion unit when it is detached from the chassis.

Preferably, the propulsion unit comprises rollers projecting from the lower part of its rear transverse face so as to come into contact with the ground when it is not secured to the chassis.

Thanks to its casters, the propulsion unit can therefore move easily when the drive means of its drive wheels are actuated.

The drive wheel drive means of the propulsion unit are preferably constituted by one or two electric motors powered by batteries. To facilitate access to these batteries, the propulsion unit can advantageously comprise at least one housing opening on its rear transverse face and on its upper face, a rod extending near the rear lower edge of the housing, parallel to the axis of its wheels, a battery box arranged in the housing so that it rests on the rod to be able to pivot between a connection position in which the batteries are connected to an electrical circuit in which the drive means are mounted drive wheels and a disconnection position in which the batteries are isolated from the electrical circuit.

Preferably, each battery box includes locking members capable of cooperating with retaining members provided in the corresponding housing when it is in its connection position, and control members for moving the locking members between an active position. and an inactive position.

These provisions have the advantage of allowing safe operation of the drive means of the drive wheels of the propulsion unit when the battery box is locked in its connection position. They also have the advantage of facilitating the removal and replacement of the battery box, respectively before and after the electric recharging of the batteries.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the retaining members comprise two coaxial rods extending parallel to the handle, in the vicinity of the front upper edge of each housing, while the corresponding locking members comprise two hooks mounted pivoting about an axis parallel to the rods, and elastic members urging the hooks in their active position.

As for the control members of each battery box, they include a gripping bar extending parallel to the axis of the wheels of the propulsion unit, this bar projecting from the upper part of the battery box and connecting the hooks in a location located in front of their respective pivot axis.

The individual vehicle according to the invention also comprises a manipulator connected to the propulsion unit by means of a removable transmission cable, the manipulator being capable of controlling the means for driving the drive wheels of the propulsion unit when it is activated.

Of course, the present invention also relates to the propulsion unit presented above.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique en perspective d'un fauteuil roulant et d'un groupe de propulsion conformes à l'invention, le fauteuil roulant étant représenté dans sa version d'utilisation manuelle, tandis que les coffrets à batteries du groupe de propulsion sont représentés en position démontée ;
• la figure 2 est une vue schématique en perspective montrant le fauteuil roulant dans sa version d'utilisation motorisée ;
• la figure 3 est une vue de côté schématique partielle du fauteuil roulant visible sur la figure 2 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue analogue à la figure 3 mais montrant le fauteuil roulant et le groupe de propulsion en cours de solidarisation ;
• la figure 5 est une vue schématique arrière du groupe de propulsion, montrant les moyens de verrouillage du groupe de propulsion et leurs moyens de commande ; et
• la figure 6 est une vue schématique arrière d'un coffret à batteries montrant les organes de verrouillage et leurs moyens de commande.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below by way of nonlimiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a wheelchair and a propulsion unit according to the invention, the wheelchair being shown in its version of manual use, while the battery boxes of the propulsion group are shown in the disassembled position;
• Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the wheelchair in its motorized use version;
• Figure 3 is a partial schematic side view of the wheelchair visible in Figure 2;
• Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing the wheelchair and the propulsion group being secured;
• Figure 5 is a schematic rear view of the propulsion unit, showing the locking means of the propulsion unit and their control means; and
• Figure 6 is a schematic rear view of a battery box showing the locking members and their control means.

The wheelchair that can be seen in FIG. 1 comprises a chassis 1 resting at the rear on two large wheels 2 and at the front on two small wheels 3.

The wheels 2 are mounted on horizontal bearings 4 (visible in FIGS. 3 and 4) and include handrails 5 which the user must normally grasp to move with the chair. As for the wheels 3, they are pivotally mounted in vertical sleeves so that the user can easily steer the chair.

The frame 1 supports in a manner known per se a seat 6, a backrest 7, armrests 8 and footrests 9. Two handles 10 directed towards the rear are provided at the upper part of the backrest 7 so that a a person accompanying the user can move the chair. Two coaxial rods 11 extending parallel to the bearings 4 are also provided above the latter for reasons which will be specified below.

Although this is not provided for in the embodiment envisaged here, the chassis 1 could be articulated along its median longitudinal plane without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The wheelchair which has just been described is designed to be used in a manual version, as shown in FIG. 1, or in a motorized version, as shown in FIG. 2. With reference to this figure, it can therefore be seen that in a motorized version, the wheels 2 are removed and replaced by a power unit 12.

The propulsion unit 12 is autonomous and adaptable to the chassis 1 of the wheelchair without the need to use tools. It comprises two drive wheels 13 smaller than the wheels 2, two electric motors 14 for driving its wheels 13 in rotation, support means 15 intended to support the bearings 4 after the wheels 2 have been removed, locking means 16 intended to cooperate with the rods 11 of the chassis 1 when the bearings 4 rest on the support means 15, and control means 17 for moving the locking means 16 between an active position shown in dotted lines in FIGS. 3 and 4 and an inactive position shown in phantom in Figure 3.

The support means 15 comprise two parallel flanges 18 fixed on the chassis 19 of the propulsion unit so as to project from the front transverse face of the latter. The flanges 18 have, in their front face, a notch 20 having an inlet facing upwards and a circular bottom whose radius is slightly greater than that of the bearings 4, the notches 20 being intended to receive the latter when the propulsion unit 12 and the chassis 1 of the wheelchair are secured to one another.

The locking means 16 comprise two hooks 21 pivotally mounted about an axis parallel to the axis of the wheels 13 of the propulsion unit, as well as elastic members 22 biasing the hooks 21 in their active position.

As far as they are concerned, the control means 17 comprise a handle 23 having the shape of an inverted U, the base of which protrudes from the upper face of the propulsion unit, parallel to the axis of the wheels 13 of the latter and whose branches are movable in height in guide sleeves 24 parallel to the anterior transverse face of said propulsion unit. They further comprise two coaxial rods 25 fixed to the free ends of the branches of the handle 23 so as to extend outside of the latter, parallel to its base (see in particular FIG. 5), and two connecting rods 26 connecting the rods 25 to the hooks 21.

The propulsion unit 12 also comprises two rollers 27 projecting from the lower part of its rear transverse face and coming into contact with the ground when it is not secured to the chassis 1.

The adaptation of the propulsion unit 12 to the chassis 1 of the wheelchair is particularly simple and easy to carry out. It is in fact advisable to first remove the wheels 2 from the chassis 1 in order to release the bearings 4, then, using the handles 10 of the chassis 1, to correctly position the latter in front of the propulsion unit so as to be able to introduce the bearings 4 in the notches 20 of the flanges 18, which can be easily achieved by lowering the frame 1 in the direction of the arrow F ₁ shown in FIG. 4, then exerting downward pressure on the handles 10 to rotate the propulsion unit in the direction of arrow F ₂ and allow the hooks 21 to engage with the rods 11 of the chassis, as shown in FIG. 3.

Slightly before the propulsion unit reaches the position shown in this figure, the rods 11 move the hooks 21 into their inactive position by rotating them against the action of the elastic members 22. This is indeed that when the power unit reaches its position shown in Figure 3 that the depressions formed on the hooks 21 come in front of the rods 11 and that these allow the hooks to engage with them.

It will be noted here that the castors 27 of the propulsion unit are intended to come into contact with the ground when the chassis 1 tilts backwards, for example when crossing an obstacle, and therefore to oppose this the wheelchair accidentally overturns when tipping backwards.

The separation of the propulsion unit 12 and the chassis 1 is also very simple. It is first necessary to exert a traction on the handle 23 to put the hooks 21 out of grip with the rods 11 and to let the propulsion unit pivot under its own weight in the opposite direction to the arrow F ₂ until 'that its rollers 27 come to rest against the ground. Then just exert an upward push on the handles 10 of the chassis 1 to extract the bearings 4 from the notches 20, and replace the wheels 2 of the chair.

For all practical purposes, it will be specified here that the handle 23 can also be used to transport the propulsion unit.

In the embodiment shown, the propulsion unit 12 comprises two housings 28 opening onto its rear transverse face and onto its upper face, as shown in FIG. 1. These housings are provided with a rod 29 arranged near their edge lower posterior, parallel to the axis of the wheels 13 of the propulsion unit, and receive removable battery boxes 30, the lower face of which has, near its rear edge, a groove 31 of cylindrical shape.

The boxes 30 are able to rest on the rods 29 by means of their groove 31 and to pivot between a connection position shown in solid lines in FIGS. 3 and 4 in which the batteries 32 are connected to an electrical circuit 33 in which the electric motors 14 are mounted on, and a disconnection position shown in dashed lines in FIG. 3 in which the batteries 32 are isolated from the electric circuit 33.

The boxes 30 have two hooks 34 capable of cooperating, when they are in their connection position, with retaining members 35 provided in the housings 28, and control members 36 making it possible to move the hooks 34 between an active position shown in solid lines in FIGS. 3 and 4 and an inactive position represented in broken lines in FIG. 3.

The retaining members 35 are constituted, in the example shown, by four coaxial rods fixed on the transverse faces of the housings 28, these rods extending parallel to the handle 23, in the vicinity of the front upper edge of the housings.

As for the hooks 34 provided on the boxes, they are able to pivot around an axis parallel to the rods 35 against the action of elastic members such as springs 37 (visible in FIG. 1) urging them into their active position.

It will be noted here that the hooks 34 are of triangular shape. One of their sides extends substantially horizontally when they are in their active position. In addition, their axis of articulation is located in the vicinity of their apex furthest from the handle 23 while their lower face has a depression in the vicinity of their apex closest to the handle 23.

As regards the control members 36, they consist of two bars each connecting the two hooks 34 of the same box, in the vicinity of their top which is opposite to their underside.

The bars 36 extend into depressions 38 formed in the upper part of the boxes 30 and can thus be accessible from the outside.

To remove the boxes 30, for example to recharge the batteries 32, it suffices to exert on the bars 36 a pull up and back. This action in fact allows the hooks 34 to pivot from their active position to their inactive position and to release the rods 35, then to the boxes 30 to pivot rearward on the rods 29.

To put the boxes back in place, for example after recharging the batteries 32, it is of course sufficient to rest them on the rods 29 at their groove 31 and to pivot them forwards until the hooks 34 engage the rods 35.

The wheelchair shown in the drawings also includes a manipulator 39 carried by a rod 40 removably mounted along the right armrest 8. This manipulator, which is of conventional design, is mounted at one end of an electric cable 41 making it possible to connect it removably to the electric circuit 33 of the propulsion unit.

By judiciously actuating the manipulator, the user can control the two electric motors 14 so that they drive the wheels 13 of the propulsion unit, either at the same speed to move the chair in a straight line, or at different speeds to allow the chair to negotiate turns.

It goes without saying that the electric cable 41 must be connected to the propulsion unit 12 after the latter has been secured to the chassis 1 of the wheelchair. Conversely, it must be disconnected before the propulsion unit and the wheelchair chassis are detached.

It follows from the above that the present invention provides a simple and practical solution to transform at will a wheelchair without a motor into a motorized wheelchair.

Of course, it would not be departing from the scope of the present invention if the drive wheels 13 of the propulsion unit 12 were driven by motors using energy other than electricity or if the wheelchair was replaced by a tricycle.

Claims (11)

1. Individual vehicle usable in a manual version or a motorized version, in particular a wheelchair or a tricycle, including a chassis (1) provided, at the rear, with two bearings (4) for receiving removable wheels (2), as well as a self-contained, removable propulsion unit (12), said removable propulsion unit comprising locking means (16) for making it integral with the chassis (1), driving wheels (13), and means (14) for rotationally driving said driving wheels (13), characterized in that the propulsion unit (12) further comprises supports means (15) supporting the bearings (4), the removable wheels (12) being removed from the latter, and control means (17) for moving the locking means (16) between an active position wherein the propulsion unit is inseparable from the chassis and an inactive position wherein the propulsion unit is separable from the chassis, the locking means (16) cooperating with retaining means (11) provided on the chassis when the bearings (4) rest on the support means (15).
2. Individual vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the support means (15) includes two parallel flanges (18) projecting on the front transverse face of the propulsion unit (12) and advancing on either side of the bearings (4) when said unit is integral with the chassis (1), said flanges having a transverse front face comprising a slot (20) provided with an upwardly facing entry and a circular bottom having a radius slightly greater than that of the bearings (4).
3. Individual vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the retaining means (11) includes a rod extending parallel to the bearings (4), above one of the latter, while the locking means (16) includes a hook (21) mounted pivotally about an axis parallel to the axis of the wheels (13) of the propulsion unit (12) and brought into engagement with the rod through the action of an elastic member (22).
4. Individual vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the retaining means (11) includes two coaxial rods extending parallel to the bearings, above the latter, while the locking means (16) includes two hooks (21) pivotally mounted about an axis parallel to the axis of the wheels of the propulsion unit and brought into engagement with the rods through the action of the elastic members (22).
5. Individual vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that the control means (17) includes a handle (23) having the shape of an inverted U, the base of which extends parallel to the axis of the wheels (13) of the propulsion unit (12) and the arms of which are movable heightwise in guide sleeves (24) parallel to the front transverse face of said propulsion unit, two coaxial links (25) fixed to the free ends of the arms of the handle (23) in such a way that they extend outwardly thereof, parallel to its base, and two connecting rods (26) connecting the links (25) to the hooks (21).
6. Individual vehicle according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the propulsion unit (12) comprises caster wheels (27) projecting on the lower portion of its rear transverse face so as to come into contact with the ground when said propulsion unit is not integral with the chassis (1).
7. Individual vehicle according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the propulsion unit (12) comprises at least one housing (28) opening onto its rear transverse face and its upper face, a link (29) extending in the proximity of the rear lower edge of the housing (28), parallel to the axis of its wheels (13), a battery box (30) disposed in the housing in such a way that it rests on the link (29) in order to be able to pivot between a connected position wherein the batteries (32) are connected to an electric circuit (33) in which the means (14) for driving the driving wheels (13) is mounted, and a disconnected position wherein the batteries (32) are isolated from the electric circuit (33).
8. Individual vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that each battery box (30) comprises locking members (34) for cooperating with retaining members (35) provided in the corresponding housing (28) when it is in its connected position, and control members (36) for moving the locking members (34) between an active position and an inactive position.
9. Individual vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that the retaining members (35) include two coaxial rods extending parallel to the handle (23), in the vicinity of the front upper edge of each housing (28), while the corresponding locking members (34) include two hooks pivotally mounted about an axis parallel to the rods (35), and elastic members (37) biasing the hooks (34) into their active positions.
10. Individual vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that the control members (36) of each battery box (30) include a gripping bar extending parallel to the axis of the wheels (13) of the propulsion unit (12), said bar projecting on the upper portion of the battery box (30) and connecting the hooks (34) in a position located ahead of their respective pivotal axes.
11. Individual vehicle according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes a manipulator (39) connected to the propulsion unit (12) via a removable transmission cable (41), the manipulator being suitable for controlling the means (14) for driving the driving wheels (13) of the propulsion unit (12) when actuated.

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