Wheelchair propulsion kit and wheelchair comprising such a kit coupled thereto

Abstract

The present invention relates to a wheelchair propulsion kit (10), comprising: - anchoring means (20) configured to be fixed to the front part of a wheelchair (S); - coupling means (30) configured to be reversibly coupled to the anchoring means (20) in a coupled configuration of this kit (10) when the anchoring means (20) are fixed to the front part of the wheelchair (S); - motorised pushing means (40), configured to carry out the propulsion along the ground plane of the wheelchair (S) when the kit (10) is in the coupled configuration; - a handlebar (50) configured to adjust the steering of the wheelchair (S) when the kit (10) is in the coupled configuration. In particular, the coupling means (30) have: - a seat (31) to accommodate the anchoring means (20) when the kit (10) is in the aforesaid coupled configuration; - locking means (32) configured to reversibly lock the anchoring means (20) within the seat (31) when the kit (10) is in the coupled configuration; furthermore, these locking means (32) are configured to be moved by applying a force adapted to reversibly lift, with respect to the ground plane, the anchoring means (20) within the seat (31) by bringing the locking means (32) closer to the seat (31) when the anchoring means (20) are interposed between the locking means (32) and the seat (31).

Description

[0001] WHEELCHAIR PROPULSION KIT AND WHEELCHAIR COMPRISING SUCH A KIT COUPLED THERETO.

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] The invention relates to a wheelchair propulsion kit.

[0004] Furthermore, an object of the present invention is a wheelchair comprising such a kit coupled thereto.

[0005] Today, they are known wheelchair propulsion kits configured to be coupled to the front part of these wheelchairs and to provide motorised support.

[0006] Such a kit of the known type comprises anchoring means configured to be fixed to the front part of a wheelchair.

[0007] In addition, this kit comprises a frame to which they are attached:

[0008] - coupling means configured to be reversibly coupled to the anchoring means in a coupled configuration of the kit when the anchoring means are fixed to the front part of the wheelchair;

[0009] - motorised pushing means configured to carry out the propulsion along the ground plane of the wheelchair when the kit is in the aforesaid coupled configuration;

[0010] - a handlebar configured to adjust the steering of the wheelchair when the kit is in the aforesaid coupled configuration.

[0011] Such a kit, although well-known and appreciated, has some important limitations related to the difficulty of coupling the kit to wheelchairs.

[0012] In particular, some of these wheelchair users have degrees of disability that make them unable to lift the front part of the chair while the kit is being coupled. Therefore, as this lifting operation is crucial for completely fixing the kit to the wheelchair, this operation cannot be carried out directly by the wheelchair user. The task of the present invention is to develop a wheelchair propulsion kit capable of overcoming the aforementioned drawback and limitation of the prior art.

[0013] In particular, it is the object of the present invention to produce a kit that makes it possible to partially lift the front part of the wheelchair while it is coupled to this chair.

[0014] The above-mentioned task and object are achieved by a kit according to claim 1.

[0015] Further features of the kit according to claim 1 are described in the dependent claims.The aforesaid task and object, together with the advantages that will be mentioned hereinafter, are highlighted by the description of an embodiment of the invention, which is given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

[0016] - Figure 1 represents a front view of a kit according to the invention in a first operating configuration;

[0017] - Figure 2 represents a front view of the kit in Figure 1 according to a second operating configuration;

[0018] - Figure 3 represents a front view of the kit in Figure 1 according to a third operating configuration.

[0019] With reference to the above-mentioned figures, a wheelchair propulsion kit according to the invention is referred to as a whole as number 10.

[0020] This kit 10 comprises:

[0021] - anchoring means 20, clearly visible in Figures 1 , 2 and 3, configured to be fixed to the front part of a wheelchair S;

[0022] - coupling means 30, also clearly visible in Figures 1, 2 and 3, configured to be reversibly coupled to the aforesaid anchoring means 20 in a coupled configuration of the kit 10, clearly shown in Figure 3, when the anchoring means 20 are fixed to the front part of the wheelchair S;

[0023] - motorised pushing means 40, also visible in Figures 1, 2 and 3, configured to carry out the propulsion along the ground plane of the wheelchair S when the kit 10 is in the aforesaid coupled configuration;

[0024] - a handlebar 50, configured to adjust the steering of the wheelchair S when the kit 10 is in the aforesaid coupled configuration.

[0025] The present kit 10 is characterised in that the coupling means 30 have:

[0026] - a seat 31 , clearly visible in Figures 1 , 2 and 3, to accommodate the anchoring means 20 when the kit 10 is in the aforesaid coupled configuration;

[0027] - locking means 32, still clearly visible in Figures 1, 2 and 3, configured to reversibly lock the anchoring means 20 within the seat 31 when the kit 10 is in the coupled configuration; in particular, said locking means 32 are configured to be moved by applying a force adapted to reversibly lift, with respect to the ground plane, the anchoring means 20 within the seat 31 by bringing the locking means 32 closer to the seat 31 when the anchoring means 20 are interposed between the locking means 32 and the seat 31; more specifically, the interposition of the anchoring means 20 between thelocking means 32 and the seat 31 represents the condition for starting the manoeuvre; the subsequent approach of the locking means 32 to the seat 31 guides the anchoring means 20 until they are stably accommodated within the same seat 31 in the final locking configuration.

[0028] This means that, when a user wants to couple the kit 10 to the wheelchair S, they will have to interpose, after fixing the anchoring means 20 to the front part of the concerned wheelchair S, these anchoring means 20 between the locking means 32 and the seat 31, as represented in Figure 1.

[0029] Subsequently, it will be sufficient to move the locking means 32 by applying a force to bring the locking means 32, and consequently the anchoring means 20, closer to the seat 31.

[0030] In addition, the configuration of the seat 31 and of the locking means 32 is such that the aforesaid approach of the anchoring means 20 interposed therebetween has a vertical translation component.

[0031] This advantageously makes it possible to lift the anchoring means 20, and consequently the front part of the wheelchair S, at the same time as the locking means 32 lock the anchoring means 20 within the seat 31.

[0032] In the present embodiment of the invention, the anchoring means 20 comprise a plate 21 configured to be fixed to the front part of the wheelchair S.

[0033] In particular, the plate 21 comprises a first protrusion 22, visible in Figures 1, 2 and 3, configured to be reversibly locked within the seat 31 by the locking means 32 when the kit 10 is in the aforesaid coupled configuration.

[0034] The locking means 32 comprise a rod 33 defining a first-class lever with an acting arm 33a and an opposite resistance arm 33b.

[0035] In particular, the rod 33 rotates about a fulcrum positioned at an intermediate point between the acting arm 33a and the resistance arm 33b.

[0036] More precisely, this rod 33 is configured to be moved by applying the aforesaid force at the acting arm 33a.

[0037] In addition, still with reference to the present embodiment of the invention, the coupling means 30 comprise linear translation means 34, clearly visible in Figures 1, 2 and 3, whose movable end 34a is fixed to the acting arm 33a of the rod 33 and whose actuation involves applying the aforesaid force.

[0038] More specifically, in this example, the translation means 34 comprise a linear actuator.

[0039] This linear actuator is the driving element adapted to mechanically generatethe aforesaid force applied at the acting arm 33a to determine the movement of the rod 33.

[0040] This clearly makes it possible to automate the locking operation of the anchoring means 20 within the seat 31 by the locking means 32.

[0041] It cannot be ruled out, however, that this locking operation can be carried out manually by the user.

[0042] The actuation of the translation means 34 involves reversibly lifting, with respect to the ground plane, the anchoring means 20 within the seat 31 by bringing the resistance arm 33b closer to the seat 31 , so as to define the aforesaid coupled position of the kit 10 when the anchoring means 20 are interposed between the resistance arm 33b and the seat 31.

[0043] In the present example, the rod 33, at said resistance arm 33b, has a curvature with a concavity opposite to the concavity of the seat 31.

[0044] This makes it possible to ease the locking operation of the anchoring means 20 within the seat 31 by the locking means 32.

[0045] The rod 33 also comprises an L-shaped auxiliary arm 33c, clearly visible in Figures 1 , 2 and 3.

[0046] In addition, the plate 21 comprises a second protrusion 23 configured to be reversibly locked by the auxiliary arm 33c, so as to lock the relative translation along the ground plane of the anchoring means 20 and of the coupling means 30 when the kit 10 is in the coupled configuration.

[0047] However, it cannot be ruled out that the aforesaid coupling means 30 have a concave end shaped to accommodate the second protrusion 23 when the anchoring means 20 are interposed between the locking means 32 and the seat 31 , so as to ease the alignment of the resistance arm 33b to the seat 31 as they are brought closer in the coupled position.

[0048] The kit 10 according to the present example also comprises a U-shaped bracket 50 at the ends of which a first and a second of the aforementioned locking means 32 are respectively fixed.

[0049] As mentioned above, a wheelchair S comprising a kit 10 coupled as described above is also an object of the present invention.

[0050] In practice, it was found that the invention achieves the intended task and object. Specifically, with the invention, a kit has been developed that makes it possible to partially lift the front part of a wheelchair while it is coupled to this chair.

Claims

CLAIMS1 ) Wheelchair propulsion kit (10), comprising:- anchoring means (20) configured to be fixed to the front part of a wheelchair (S);- coupling means (30) configured to be reversibly coupled to said anchoring means (20) in a coupled configuration of said kit (10) when said anchoring means (20) are fixed to the front part of said wheelchair (S);- motorised pushing means (40) configured to carry out the propulsion along the ground plane of said wheelchair (S) when said kit (10) is in said coupled configuration;- a handlebar (50) configured to adjust the steering of said wheelchair (S) when said kit (10) is in said coupled configuration;said coupling means (30) having:- a seat (31) to accommodate said anchoring means (20) when said kit (10) is in said coupled configuration;- locking means (32) configured to reversibly lock said anchoring means (20) within said seat (31) when said kit (10) is in said coupled configuration, said locking means (32) being configured to be moved by applying a force adapted to reversibly lift, with respect to the ground plane, said anchoring means (20) within said seat (31) by bringing said locking means (32) closer to said seat (31) when said anchoring means (20) are interposed between said locking means (32) and said seat (31),characterised in that said locking means (32) comprise a rod (33) defining a first-class lever with an acting arm (33a) and an opposite resistance arm (33b), said rod (33) being configured to be moved by applying said force at said acting arm (33a), said coupling means (30) comprising linear translation means (34) whose movable end (34a) is fixed to said acting arm (33a) of said rod (33) and whose actuation involves applying said force, said translation means (34) comprising a linear actuator.2) Kit (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that said anchoring means (20) comprise a plate (21 ) configured to be fixed to the front part of said wheelchair (S), said plate (21 ) comprising a first protrusion (22) configured to be reversibly locked within said seat (31) by said locking means (32) when said kit (10) is in said coupled configuration.3) Kit (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the actuationof said translation means (34) involves reversibly lifting, with respect to the ground plane, said anchoring means (20) within said seat (31) by bringing said resistance arm (33b) closer to said seat (31), so as to define said coupled position of said kit (10) when said anchoring means (20) are interposed between said resistance arm (33b) and said seat (31).4) Kit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said rod (33), at said resistance arm (33b), has a curvature with a concavity opposite to the concavity of said seat (31 ).5) Kit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said rod (33) comprises an L-shaped auxiliary arm (33c), said plate (21) comprising a second protrusion (23) configured to be reversibly locked by said auxiliary arm (33c), so as to lock the relative translation along the ground plane of said anchoring means (20) and said coupling means (30) when said kit (10) is in said coupled configuration.6) Kit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a U-shaped bracket (50) at the ends of which said locking means (32) are fixed.7) Wheelchair (S) characterised in that it comprises a kit (10) coupled according to any one of the preceding claims.

Images