A patient transport apparatus includes a height-adjustable assembly having a longitudinal axis, and a brake assembly comprising a brake cable. The brake cable includes an elongate portion extending along the height-adjustable assembly and a slack portion. The patient transport apparatus further includes a brake cable housing coupled to and axially offset from the height-adjustable assembly. The slack portion of the brake cable is enclosed within a hollow interior of the brake cable housing.

A brake system for use with a wheeled device, such as a wheeled person transportation device, such as a wheelchair. The brake system comprises a handle comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is moveably coupled to the second portion; a carrier comprising an internal cavity; a brake actuator for actuating a brake, the brake actuator being arranged within the internal cavity; brake actuator biasing means for applying a biasing force to the brake actuator for biasing the brake actuator to a brake-engaged position; and force-transfer means coupled to the first portion and to the brake actuator such that movement of the first portion towards the second portion causes the brake actuator to move along the internal cavity of the carrier against the biasing force to a brake-disengaged position.

A brake assembly has a wheel body, a first stopping device, and a second stopping device. The wheel body has a central axle and two engaging portions formed respectively on two ends of the central axle. The first stopping device is connected with the engaging portions of the wheel body and has a resilient member and a magnetic unit. The resilient member is C-shaped and has a lateral rod and an inclined rod connected integrally with an end of the lateral rod. The magnetic unit is mounted on the lateral rod of the resilient member and has a sleeve having a bottom opening and a magnetic element mounted in the sleeve and selectively abutting the wheel body. The second stopping device is connected securely with the lateral rod of the resilient member and is engaged selectively with the engaging portions of the wheel body.

A wheeled personal mobility device for transporting a person, an electric motor for use with the personal mobility device, a splined connection, an electromagnetic braking system and a steering engagement mechanism. The wheeled personal mobility device may be embodied as a wheeled personal mobility aid. The wheeled personal mobility device is reconfigurable between at least three configurations.

A patient transport apparatus operable by a user for transporting a patient along stairs. A seat section is coupled to a support structure. A track having a belt is attached to the support structure and is arranged for selective operation between: a retracted position, and a deployed position to engage stairs. A drive system with a motor is disposed in rotational communication with the belt to control movement along stairs in the deployed position. A user interface us arranged for engagement to selectively adjust operation of the drive system between: an active state for controlling movement of the belt with the motor, and an inactive state. A braking controller is configured to sense movement of the belt in the inactive state, and to control the motor to limit movement of the belt in the inactive state to effect corresponding limited movement of the patient transport apparatus along stairs.

Presented herein are adaptive power assist systems for manually-powered vehicles, methods for operating/constructing such systems, and motorized operator-powered vehicles with adaptive power assist systems. A method for regulating a power assist system of a manually powered vehicle includes a vehicle controller determining path plan data that includes a predicted route plan to traverse from a current vehicle location to a desired vehicle destination. A resident wireless communications device receives, from a remote computing node, an assist level power trace for operating the vehicle's tractive motor on the predicted route plan. The vehicle controller receives health level data specific to the vehicle user, determines a power assist delta based on the health level data, and modifies the assist level power trace based on this power assist delta. The vehicle controller transmits command signals to the tractive motor to output a selectively variable torque according to the modified assist level power trace.

A patient support apparatus that is adaptable to multiple modes of transport includes a variable length base and a drive system that includes two independently drivable wheels that are responsive to inputs from a user to steer the patient support apparatus.

Presented herein are adaptive power assist systems for manually-powered vehicles, methods for operating/constructing such systems, and motorized operator-powered vehicles with adaptive power assist systems. A method for regulating a power assist system of a manually powered vehicle includes a vehicle controller determining path plan data that includes a predicted route plan to traverse from a current vehicle location to a desired vehicle destination. A resident wireless communications device receives, from a remote computing node, an assist level power trace for operating the vehicle's tractive motor on the predicted route plan. The vehicle controller receives health level data specific to the vehicle user, determines a power assist delta based on the health level data, and modifies the assist level power trace based on this power assist delta. The vehicle controller transmits command signals to the tractive motor to output a selectively variable torque according to the modified assist level power trace.

A wheelchair is provided which includes a body, and driving wheels arranged on the both sides of the body. The wheels include a rim portion, a hub portion, an hand rim, and fastening members. A tire is attached to the outer peripheral part of the rim portion. The hub portion is arranged at the center of the rim portion and coupled to the rim portion by connecting members. The hand rim is arranged along the rim portion on the exterior side of the rim portion. The fastening members fasten the hand rim to the rim portion. An insertion prohibition spacing is formed between the rim portion and the hand rim. The spacing has a distance capable of prohibiting insertion of user's thumb into this spacing.

A transport chair is provided that includes a base frame, a seat assembly pivotally mounted to the base, and a footrest assembly pivotally mounted to the base frame, the footrest assembly being associated with the seat assembly so as to pivot in unison with the seat assembly until the seat assembly is pivoted forward to an extent at which the footrest assembly contacts the floor or ground, at which point the footrest assembly does not pivot further upon further forward pivoting of the seat assembly. Further embodiments of the transport chair allow the seat assembly to recline, alone or in unison with a leg rest assembly, while the footrest remains in position.