Floatation wheelchair

Abstract

A floating wheelchair (1) includes: - a frame (2); - two floating rear wheels (6) mounted on the frame (2); and - a front wheel (7) mounted on the frame (2); and - a movement system (8) for alternating movement of the rear wheels (6) between a land position and a water position, wherein in the land position the rear wheels face each other on opposite sides of the frame and have a substantially transverse axis of rotation (9), and in the water position the axis of rotation (9) of the rear wheels is substantially vertical.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a floating wheelchair that facilitates swimming for people with limited mobility (such as the disabled, the elderly, and patients). Background Technology

[0002] Amphibious wheelchairs are known to be able to move on the ground and also facilitate swimming for people with mobility impairments.

[0003] For example, EP2777961A1 describes an amphibious wheeled vehicle that can be selectively configured into a land configuration and a water configuration, in which the main wheels roll on the ground and in which the main wheels are raised and spaced apart, and the vehicle floats in the water. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Regarding the spatial relationship between two geometric elements (lines, surfaces, etc.), "basically parallel / orthogonal" means that these elements form an angle of 0°+ / -20°, preferably 0°+ / -15°, or 90°+ / -20°, preferably 90°+ / -15° respectively.

[0005] Regarding the components of the machine, "generally horizontal / vertical" means that the component (or the geometric element representing the component) forms an angle of 0°+ / -20°, preferably 0°+ / -15°, with respect to the horizontal / vertical direction.

[0006] The terms “horizontal,” “vertical,” “upper,” “lower,” “top,” “high,” and “low” refer to the geographical vertical direction under normal wheelchair use conditions.

[0007] The terms "front" and "back" refer to the direction in which the wheelchair moves.

[0008] "Direction of movement" refers to the horizontal direction in which the wheelchair moves normally, and "lateral direction" refers to the horizontal direction that is orthogonal to the direction of movement.

[0009] The "axis of rotation" of a wheel refers to the normal axis around which the wheel can rotate during normal use, in which the wheel rolls on the ground.

[0010] The applicant is aware that there are some drawbacks to the known amphibious wheelchairs, or that improvements can be made in certain aspects.

[0011] The applicant has solved the problem of manufacturing a floating wheelchair with high buoyancy and / or high buoyancy stability, while also being simple in structure, lightweight, and / or easy to use.

[0012] According to the applicant, one or more of the above problems are solved by a wheelchair that is in accordance with the appended claims and / or has one or more of the following features.

[0013] According to one aspect, the present invention relates to a floating wheelchair, the floating wheelchair comprising: - Framework - Two floating rear wheels, which are mounted on the frame; and - At least one front wheel, which is mounted on the frame.

[0014] Preferably, the wheelchair includes a mobility system for alternating movement of the rear wheels between a land position and a water position, wherein in the land position the rear wheels face each other on opposite sides of the frame and have a substantially transverse axis of rotation, and in the water position the axis of rotation of the rear wheels is substantially vertical.

[0015] The applicant has recognized that the movement of the rear wheels in the aforementioned position on the water allows the hydrostatic thrust received by the rear wheels to be applied to the user's body, thus facilitating the wheelchair's buoyancy and / or balance in the water, and reducing the risk of the wheelchair tipping forward and / or backward. Conversely, in the opposite situation (as in, for example, EP2777961A1), the front wheels are moved to change configuration, causing the wheelchair to lose balance towards the rear, thus posing a risk of tipping over (a risk requiring the use of additional flotation devices in EP2777961A1).

[0016] The present invention may have one or more of the following preferred features.

[0017] Preferably, the frame includes a seat support.

[0018] Preferably, the axis of rotation of the rear wheel in the land position is located at the rear, more preferably vertically below or behind the seat support.

[0019] Preferably, in the water position, the rear wheels are positioned completely above the seat support (to facilitate the user's submersion in the water).

[0020] Preferably, the front wheel is floating. In this way, buoyancy and balance on the water surface are facilitated.

[0021] Preferably, the wheelchair includes corresponding rods, more preferably tubular, that connect each of the rear and front wheels to the frame. Each wheel is rotatably mounted to the lower end of the corresponding rod. Preferably, each corresponding rod of the rear wheel has a vertical component in the land position, more preferably substantially vertical (more preferably, extending parallel to the backrest support), and is substantially horizontal in the water position of the corresponding wheel.

[0022] Preferably, the corresponding rod of the front wheel is rigidly connected to the frame. In this way, the front wheel ensures contact with the shallow seabed (e.g., when placing the wheelchair in water or while swimming).

[0023] Preferably, the frame is composed of corresponding tubular rods. In this way, the wheelchair is structurally simple and lightweight, which also facilitates buoyancy.

[0024] Preferably, the rod is made of steel, aluminum, carbon, or titanium; more preferably, the rod is made of aluminum (to make the wheelchair lightweight).

[0025] Preferably, the frame includes a backrest support, more preferably, the backrest support is rearwardly hinged at its lower end to the rest of the frame (e.g., hinged to a seat support) for tilting about a substantially transverse hinge axis. Preferably, the movement system is configured such that, while the rear wheels move between a land position and a water position, the backrest support moves between a raised position (preferably when the rear wheels are in the land position) and a tilted position (preferably when the rear wheels are in the water position), in which the backrest support rotates more toward the horizontal plane compared to the raised position. This facilitates full diving for the user.

[0026] Preferably, each link of the rear wheel is hinged to the frame via a first hinge arranged in the upper portion of the link, more preferably to the backrest support. Preferably, the first hinge has a first hinge axis having a component along the direction of travel, more preferably the first hinge axis is orthogonal to the lateral direction (e.g., substantially parallel to the direction of travel in a land position), and even more preferably, the first hinge axis is always orthogonal to the main reclining plane of the backrest support.

[0027] Preferably, the height of the first hinge is greater than the height of the seat support (in this way, the radius of rotation of the rear wheel around the first hinge axis is increased, thereby achieving a larger distance between the rotation axes of the wheels in the water position, which is beneficial to floating stability).

[0028] Preferably, the movement system includes an arm (e.g., a rigid arm) for each lever of the rear wheel, the arm being connected at its upper end to the lever via a second hinge disposed above a first hinge, the second hinge more preferably having a second hinge axis parallel to the first hinge axis. Preferably, in each transition of the rear wheel from a land position to a water position, the corresponding arm moves the corresponding second hinge downward, thereby causing the corresponding lever to rotate about the first hinge axis and lift the corresponding rear wheel (in other words, the lever acts as a first-class lever, where the wheel is the resistance, the first hinge axis is the fulcrum, and the arm / second hinge is the force).

[0029] Preferably, the mobility system includes a battery and an electric actuator for moving the arms and / or the backrest support. Preferably, the electric actuator includes a linear actuator (e.g., a telescopic linear actuator) having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end being movable and connected to both arms, and more preferably to the backrest support, and the lower end being fixed and connected to the frame.

[0030] Preferably, the moving system includes a guide mounted on the frame, more preferably on the backrest support, and a slider slidably engaged with the guide, wherein the upper end of the linear actuator and the lower ends of the two arms are hinged to the slider. In this way, synchronous movement of the wheels and the backrest is achieved by a simple and efficient method.

[0031] Preferably, the wheelchair includes a locking / unlocking device for each rear wheel, configured to lock the rear wheel in a land position where it can rotate only about a corresponding axis of rotation and allow the rear wheel to tilt about a tilting axis in a water position, which is orthogonal to the corresponding axis of rotation, and more preferably (substantially) lateral. In this way, the wheels can be arranged horizontally and can passively tilt with the water waves if necessary, thereby reducing the wheelchair's pitch in the water.

[0032] Preferably, the wheelchair includes two foot pedal elements and two corresponding rods at the front, more preferably tubular, which connect each foot pedal element to the frame. Each rod of the foot pedal element is hinged to the frame at its upper end for tilting upwards about a corresponding substantially transverse hinge axis. Preferably, the foot pedal elements are floating. In this way, in water, the foot pedal elements are lifted by hydrostatic pressure, thus placing the user in a semi-reclined position for a better diving experience.

[0033] In one embodiment, the rear wheel and / or the front wheel and / or the pedal element are made of a plastic material, such as, for example, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyethylene (PE), which is hollow or filled with a low-density material (such as, for example, polyurethane (PU) or expanded polystyrene (PS)). Preferably, the rear wheel is covered with a tread band made of an elastomeric compound.

[0034] Preferably, the wheelchair is also floating when the user is sitting in the wheelchair (e.g., the user weighs up to 100kg or 120kg). Attached Figure Description

[0035] Figures 1 to 3 The diagram schematically and partially illustrates some views of the wheelchair according to the invention in a land configuration at different angles; Figures 4 to 6 Schematic and partially shown Figures 1 to 3 Some views of the wheelchair from different angles in the water configuration. Detailed Implementation

[0036] The features and advantages of the present invention will be further illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawings and by the following detailed description of some embodiments, which are presented by way of example rather than by way of limiting the invention.

[0037] The floating wheelchair according to the invention is indicated by reference numeral 1 in the accompanying drawings.

[0038] The wheelchair has an associated forward direction 100 and a horizontal lateral direction 101 (the horizontal lateral direction is in...) Figure 1 The axis of rotation is exemplarily shown as passing through the rear wheel and in Figure 2 The example shown is through the hinge axis 5), the direction of travel as if through Figure 1 and Figure 3 The arrows in the diagram indicate the orientation in the back-forward direction. The vertical direction 102 is also shown.

[0039] The wheelchair includes a frame 2, which is essentially composed of tubular (i.e. hollow) rods made of aluminum.

[0040] Preferably, the frame includes a seat support 3 (fixed) and a backrest support 4 (with an inverted "U" shape), the backrest support being hinged at its lower end to the rear end of the seat support so as to be tilted about a transverse hinge axis 5. In use, the seat support and / or backrest support can be decorated and / or padded with floating material.

[0041] The wheelchair includes two floating rear wheels 6 and a front wheel 7 mounted on the frame (the front wheel is in...). Figure 1 and Figure 4(As shown in the figure, and removed from the rest of the figures for clarity).

[0042] Preferably, the wheelchair includes a mobility system 8 for positioning the rear wheels in a land position. Figures 1 to 3 ) and position on the water ( Figures 4 to 6 The rear wheels move alternately between the two. In the land position, the rear wheels face each other on opposite sides of the frame and have a lateral axis of rotation 9. In the water position, the axis of rotation 9 of the rear wheels 6 is substantially vertical.

[0043] Preferably, the axis of rotation 9 of the rear wheel when in the land position is located at the rear and is vertically below the seat support. Figure 3 ).

[0044] Preferably, in the water position, the rear wheel 6 is completely above the seat support. Figure 4 ).

[0045] Preferably, the wheelchair 1 includes corresponding tubular rods 10 that connect each rear wheel 6 and front wheel 7 to the frame, respectively, wherein each wheel is rotatably mounted to the lower end of the corresponding rod. Preferably, in the land position, each rod 10 of the rear wheel extends parallel to the backrest support, while in the water position, each rod of the rear wheel extends horizontally. Preferably, the rods 10 of the front wheels 7 are rigidly connected to the frame 3.

[0046] Preferably, each link 10 of the rear wheel 6 is hinged to the backrest support 4 via a first hinge 11, the first hinge being arranged in the upper portion of the link 10 and having a first hinge axis 12 orthogonal to the lateral direction and to the main reclining plane of the backrest support 4. Preferably, the height of the first hinge 11 is greater than the height of the seat.

[0047] Preferably, the moving system 8 includes an arm 13 for each lever 10 of the rear wheel, the arm having a connection to the upper end of the lever 10 via a second hinge 14 arranged above the first hinge 11, the second hinge having a second hinge axis parallel to the first hinge axis 12.

[0048] Preferably, the moving system 8 includes a battery 15 and an electric actuator 16 for moving both the arm 13 and the backrest support 4.

[0049] In an alternative embodiment not shown, the moving system is manual and purely mechanical.

[0050] Preferably, the electric actuator includes a telescopic linear actuator 17 having a lower end and an upper end. The lower end is fixed and connected to the lower end of the frame, while the upper end is movable and hinged to a slider that slidably engages with a guide mounted on the backrest support 4. The guide is connected to two of the pull rods, and more preferably to the backrest support. The lower ends of the two arms are also hinged to the slider.

[0051] In this way, during the transition from a land position to a water position, the upper end of the linear actuator 17 is lowered by causing the slider to slide down along the guide, thereby raising the backrest support 4 from the elevated position in the land configuration of the wheelchair. Figure 3 ) Move to the inclined position in the water configuration ( Figure 6 In this tilted position, the backrest support rotates more toward the horizontal plane compared to the raised position. Simultaneously, the linear actuator 17 also drags downward the lower end of the arm 13, the upper end of which causes the corresponding rod 10 to rotate about the first hinge axis 12, thus raising the corresponding rear wheel 6. During the transition from the water position to the land position, the movement of the individual components occurs in opposite directions.

[0052] Preferably, the wheelchair 1 further includes a locking / unlocking device 40 for each rear wheel 6, the locking / unlocking device comprising: a rotatable connector 42 that connects the wheel hub 44 to the frame 2 in a manner rotatable about an inclined axis 43 (e.g., connected to a corresponding rod 10); and a seat 41 that is rigidly connected to the frame, the seat accommodating the rear wheel hub 44 in a land position and being shaped to lock the hub 44 in its tilt about the inclined axis 43.

[0053] Preferably, the wheelchair 1 includes two floating foot pedal elements 30 at the front and two corresponding tubular rods 31, which respectively connect each foot pedal element to the frame (e.g., to the seat support), wherein each rod of the foot pedal element is hinged to the frame at its upper end for tilting upward about the corresponding lateral hinge axis.

[0054] For example, the rear wheel and / or pedal elements are made of PVC. In an alternative embodiment, the rear wheel is pneumatic, or at least has an elastomeric composite tread to facilitate movement on the ground, even on hard surfaces, in a land configuration.

[0055] In use, in the land configuration, the wheelchair functions as a regular wheelchair, capable of moving even on soft surfaces such as sand or gravel due to the size and shape of the wheels. The wheel hub 44 is locked within the seat 41.

[0056] To enable the user to experience underwater diving, the wheelchair is propelled into the water (e.g., the ocean, lake, or swimming pool) by rolling all three wheels on the seabed until the seabed depth allows. During this approach, the wheelchair is pushed in the opposite direction (i.e., in the opposite direction of normal forward movement), or in any case rotated in a forward-backward direction, so that the front wheels face the shallowest part of the seabed and thus remain resting on it for a longer period, while the rear wheels face the deepest part, allowing them to be lifted off the seabed first, or at least close to being lifted off. At this point, the movement system 8 is operated to lift the rear wheels and simultaneously tilt the backrest. Once the wheel hubs 44 leave the seat 41, they tilt freely about the tilt axis 43. As the wheelchair gradually enters the water, the footrest elements 30 are gradually lifted due to hydrostatic pressure.

[0057] Once the waterborne configuration is achieved, the rear wheel 6 floats on the water surface and is unlocked to tilt about the tilt axis 43 (which is parallel to the lateral direction 20) to follow the waves around a horizontal position (e.g., completely calm water), in which the rotation axis 9 of the rear wheel is horizontal. The fixed front wheel 7 can remain resting on the seabed, thus providing stability for the wheelchair, or detach from the seabed if the wheelchair is fully afloat. Thus, the user is in a semi-reclining position almost completely submerged in the water.

Claims

1. A floating wheelchair (1), said floating wheelchair comprising: - Frame (2), - Two floating rear wheels (6), which are mounted on the frame (2). - At least one front wheel (7) is mounted on the frame (2); as well as - A movement system (8) for alternating movement of the rear wheel (6) between a land position and a water position, wherein in the land position the rear wheels face each other on opposite sides of the frame and have a substantially transverse axis of rotation (9), and in the water position the axis of rotation (9) of the rear wheels is substantially vertical.

2. The wheelchair (1) according to claim 1, wherein the frame includes a seat support (3), wherein the axis of rotation (9) of the rear wheel (6) in the land position is located in the rear position and is located vertically below or behind the seat support (3), and wherein in the water position, the rear wheel (6) is completely above the seat support (3).

3. The wheelchair (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the wheelchair comprising a corresponding tubular rod (10) that connects each of the rear wheel and the front wheel to the frame, wherein each corresponding rod of the rear wheel (6) has a vertical component when the corresponding wheel is in the land position and is substantially horizontal when the corresponding wheel is in the water position, and wherein the corresponding rod (10) of the front wheel (7) is rigidly connected to the frame.

4. The wheelchair (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame is made of a corresponding tubular aluminum rod, wherein the frame includes a backrest support (4) which is rearwardly hinged at a lower end to the remainder of the frame for tilting about a substantially transverse hinge axis (5), and wherein the movement system (8) is configured to move the backrest support between an elevated position when the rear wheels are in the land position and an inclined position when the rear wheels are in the water position, wherein the backrest support rotates more toward the horizontal plane than in the elevated position.

5. The wheelchair (1) according to any one of claims 3 and 4, wherein each link (10) of the rear wheel (6) is hinged to the frame via a first hinge (11) arranged in the upper portion of the link, the first hinge being at a height greater than the height of the seat support, and the first hinge having a first hinge axis (12) having a component along the forward direction, wherein the movement system (8) for each link (10) of the rear wheel includes a rigid arm connected at its upper end to the link via a second hinge (14) arranged above the first hinge (11), and wherein during the transition of each rear wheel from the land position to the water position, the corresponding arm causes the corresponding second hinge to move downward, thereby causing the corresponding link to rotate about the first hinge axis and lift the corresponding rear wheel.

6. The wheelchair (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mobility system (8) includes a battery (15) and an electric actuator (16) for moving the arm (13) and the backrest support (4), the electric actuator including a linear actuator (17) having a movable upper end and a fixed lower end, the movable upper end being connected to both the arm (13) and the backrest support, and the fixed lower end being connected to the frame.

7. The wheelchair (1) according to claim 6, wherein the mobility system (8) includes a guide mounted on the backrest support and a slide member slidably engaged with the guide member, wherein the upper end of the linear actuator (17) and the lower ends of the two arms (13) are hinged to the slide member.

8. The wheelchair (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the wheelchair further comprising a locking / unlocking device (40) for each rear wheel (6), the locking / unlocking device being configured to lock the rear wheel in the land position in which the rear wheel can rotate only about the corresponding axis of rotation (9), and to allow the rear wheel (6) to tilt in the water position about an inclined axis (43) orthogonal to the corresponding axis of rotation.

9. The wheelchair (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the wheelchair further comprising two forward-facing floating foot pedal elements (30) and two corresponding rods (31), the two corresponding rods respectively connecting each foot pedal element to the frame, wherein each rod of the foot pedal element is hinged to the frame at the upper end of the rod for tilting upward about a corresponding substantially transverse hinge axis.

10. The wheelchair (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rear wheel and / or the foot pedal element is made of a plastic material, said plastic material being polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyethylene (PE), and is hollow or filled with a low-density material.

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