A patient transport apparatus for transporting a patient. A seat section is pivotably coupled to a support structure about a seat axis. A front wheel is operatively attached to a front strut of the support structure, and a carrier is arranged for movement relative to the support. The carrier includes a shaft defining a wheel axis, a rear wheel supported for rotation about the wheel axis, a track having a belt, and a hub supporting the shaft and the track for concurrent pivoting movement about a hub axis defined by a upright of the support structure. The hub axis extends through a plane intersecting the seat axis, fixed relative to the upright, and defining opposing first and second sides. Movement of the carrier from a chair configuration to a stair configuration simultaneously deploys the track and moves the wheel axis from the first side to the second side.

The present invention relates to a wheelchair that includes a base frame having robotic legs and a seat assembly. A pair of armrests include at least one control stick and an electronic display for operating the wheelchair. A motor receives power from rechargeable batteries and extends or retracts the robotic legs. The legs have big wheels and small wheels that assists in movement of the wheelchair, including ascending and descending a staircase. The small wheels can be raised or lowered as per requirements automatically by the motor using a sensor or manually using the control stick. The wheelchair can be operated remotely using a handheld remote-control device enabling a caretaker to remotely activate and maneuver the wheelchair. The wheelchair enables individuals who use wheelchairs to remain independent even in traditionally non-accessible spaces and offers a way for disabled, elderly, and sick individuals to retain their independence.

The present disclosure includes methods of operating a wheelchair configured to reposition an occupant between a lowered and a raised position. The wheelchair can include a frame, a seat moveable relative to the frame, a drive wheel, one or more pairs of arm assemblies, and one or more sensors. The arm assembly includes a wheel configured to move from a first spatial location when the wheelchair is operating on flat, level ground to a second spatial location that is different than the first spatial location. Arm limiters can selectively engage the arm assembly based on at least one of a seat position, position of the arm assembly, and surface conditions of ground surface. The arm limiters can limit the range of motion of the arm assembly and sometimes other operational aspects of the chair. The methods adjust the maximum operational speed of the wheelchair when the seat is in an elevated position based on sensor data relating to one or more of the arm limiter position and the position of the frame.

The present disclosure includes methods of operating a wheelchair configured to reposition an occupant between a lowered and a raised position. The wheelchair can include a frame, a seat moveable relative to the frame, a drive wheel, one or more pairs of arm assemblies, and one or more sensors. The arm assembly includes a wheel configured to move from a first spatial location when the wheelchair is operating on flat, level ground to a second spatial location that is different than the first spatial location. Arm limiters can selectively engage the arm assembly based on at least one of a seat position, position of the arm assembly, and surface conditions of ground surface. The arm limiters can limit the range of motion of the arm assembly and sometimes other operational aspects of the chair. The methods adjust the maximum operational speed of the wheelchair when the seat is in an elevated position based on sensor data relating to one or more of the arm limiter position and the position of the frame.

The present disclosure relates to a swing arm linkage (1) for a mid-wheel drive wheelchair, comprising: a first swing arm (3) having a first swing arm pivot point (3a) and a linkage member first mounting point (3b), a second swing arm (5) having a second swing arm pivot point (5a) and a linkage member second mounting point (5b), a linkage member (7) configured to be connected to the linkage member first mounting point (3b) and to the linkage member second mounting point (5b), to enable force transfer between the second swing arm (5) and the first swing arm (3), wherein the linkage member (7) has an elongated shape defining a linkage axis (A) extending between the linkage member first mounting point (3b) and the linkage member second mounting point (5b), a first straight line being formed between the first swing arm pivot point (3a) and the linkage member first mounting point (3b), and a second straight line being formed between the second swing arm pivot point (5a) and the linkage member second mounting point (5b), wherein the linkage member first mounting point (3b) and the linkage member second mounting point (5b) are so arranged relative to each other that the sum of an angle α between the linkage axis and a line perpendicular to the first straight line and extending from the linkage member first mounting point and an angle β between the linkage axis and a line perpendicular to the second straight line and extending from the linkage member second mounting point is constant or increasing with increasing ditch angle.

The present disclosure relates to a swing arm linkage (1) for a mid-wheel drive wheelchair, comprising: a first swing arm (3) having a first swing arm pivot point (3a) and a linkage member first mounting point (3b), a second swing arm (5) having a second swing arm pivot point (5a) and a linkage member second mounting point (5b), a linkage member (7) configured to be connected to the linkage member first mounting point (3b) and to the linkage member second mounting point (5b), to enable force transfer between the second swing arm (5) and the first swing arm (3), wherein the linkage member (7) has an elongated shape defining a linkage axis (A) extending between the linkage member first mounting point (3b) and the linkage member second mounting point (5b), a first straight line being formed between the first swing arm pivot point (3a) and the linkage member first mounting point (3b), and a second straight line being formed between the second swing arm pivot point (5a) and the linkage member second mounting point (5b), wherein the linkage member first mounting point (3b) and the linkage member second mounting point (5b) are so arranged relative to each other that the sum of an angle α between the linkage axis and a line perpendicular to the first straight line and extending from the linkage member first mounting point and an angle β between the linkage axis and a line perpendicular to the second straight line and extending from the linkage member second mounting point is constant or increasing with increasing ditch angle.

This traveling assistance tool for a wheelchair includes a travel path member including a travel path part on which a wheelchair travels and a reinforcing part for reinforcing the travel path part from below; and end members which are fitted to the ends of the travel path member to introduce a wheelchair onto the travel path part, the reinforcing part being constituted of a plurality of hollow segments arranged in a single line in the crossing direction of the travel path part, where the traveling assistance tool for a wheelchair is characterized in that the end members have: insertion parts which are inserted into ends of the reinforcing parts; and a support part which supports the ends of the reinforcing part from below.

This traveling assistance tool for a wheelchair includes a travel path member including a travel path part on which a wheelchair travels and a reinforcing part for reinforcing the travel path part from below; and end members which are fitted to the ends of the travel path member to introduce a wheelchair onto the travel path part, the reinforcing part being constituted of a plurality of hollow segments arranged in a single line in the crossing direction of the travel path part, where the traveling assistance tool for a wheelchair is characterized in that the end members have: insertion parts which are inserted into ends of the reinforcing parts; and a support part which supports the ends of the reinforcing part from below.

A support device includes a wheel, a base member, a leg coupled to the wheel and the base member, the leg including an upper leg segment, a lower leg segment positioned below the upper leg segment, a joint positioned between the upper leg segment and the lower leg segment, the joint including a cam defining a non-circular perimeter, and an actuator coupled to one of the upper leg segment and the lower leg segment, the actuator including an engagement member that is engaged with the non-circular perimeter of the of the cam of the joint, where the actuator selectively moves the engagement member to move the cam and the upper leg segment and the lower leg segment about the joint.

The present invention discloses a driving device capable of walking and stair-climbing by electric power which adopts a combination of a walking mechanism and a climbing carrier to create inventive planetary gear transmission principles. When walking on a flat ground, a driving part drives a sun gear to rotate in a positive direction, two walking wheels are in contact with the ground at the same time, the sun gear drives a planet gear to rotate in a negative direction around a planet shaft, and inner teeth and outer teeth of a gear ring rotate in the negative direction synchronously with the planet gear, thereby a transmission gear drives the walking wheel to rotate in the positive direction to realize rotation of walking. When climbing stairs, the sun gear rotates in the positive direction, the walking wheel is obstructed by stair, the transmission gear, the inner and outer teeth of the gear ring stop rotating, and the sun gear drives the planet gear to revolute along the inner teeth in the positive direction, thereby the planet shaft drives the climbing carrier to rotate in the positive direction to realize climbing cross obstacles. Thus, the present invention solves the problem of the known planetary wheel structure that the climbing carrier is driven to rotate in opposite direction when the walking wheel cannot rotate such and thus is difficult to realize the function of stair-climbing, and has advantages of simple structure and safe and reliable use.