Drive device for a wheelchair

Abstract

A drive device for a wheelchair includes a control element, a chassis and a support frame. A fixing arrangement is mounted on the support frame and can be fixed to a wheelchair frame of the wheelchair. The fixing arrangement is designed such that it can be automatically connected to and released from the wheelchair frame of the wheelchair by a fixing drive.

Claims

1. A pulling device for a wheelchair, comprising: a control element; a chassis; a support frame; and a fixing arrangement mounted on the support frame, wherein the fixing arrangement is fixable to a wheelchair frame of the wheelchair, wherein the pulling device is configured to be positioned in front of the wheelchair when the fixing arrangement is fixed to the wheelchair frame of the wheelchair, and to be pretensioned by means of the fixing arrangement for pulling the wheelchair, wherein the fixing arrangement is arranged to be automatically connected to and released from the wheelchair frame of the wheelchair by a fixing drive, wherein the fixing arrangement is designed to be connected to a frame tube of the wheelchair frame of the wheelchair, and wherein the fixing arrangement is designed to be connected to a front region of the wheelchair frame of the wheelchair.

2. The pulling device according to claim 1, further comprising: a drive motor; and a power supply, wherein the drive motor can be fed from the power supply and is connected to the chassis.

3. The pulling device according to claim 2, wherein the fixing drive has a fixing motor.

4. The pulling device according to claim 3, wherein the fixing motor is designed to be fed by the power supply.

5. The pulling device according to claim 1, further comprising a switching element connected to the fixing drive.

6. The pulling device according to claim 1, wherein the fixing arrangement comprises a first clamping jaw and a second clamping jaw, which are connected to the fixing drive and to one another on one side via a joint.

7. The pulling device according to claim 6, wherein the fixing drive is arranged around the joint for moving the first and second clamping jaws towards each other.

8. The pulling device according to claim 6, wherein the fixing arrangement comprises a controller which is connected to the fixing drive, wherein the controller stops the fixing drive when a clamping pressure between the first and second clamping jaws and the wheelchair frame reaches a predefined value and/or when closing of the first and second clamping jaws does not continue for a predefined period of time.

9. The pulling device according to claim 6, wherein each clamping jaw substantially comprises two straight clamping jaw segments and, between the straight clamping jaw segments, a connecting, angled clamping jaw segment for the purpose of distinct positioning of the wheelchair frame between the first and second clamping jaws.

10. The pulling device according to claim 1, wherein the support frame has a stand portion which can be placed on a ground surface when the pulling device is not connected to the wheelchair frame of the wheelchair.

11. The pulling device according to claim 1, wherein the support frame is designed to be adjustable in height.

12. The pulling device according to claim 1, wherein the fixing arrangement is designed such that the wheelchair frame of the wheelchair is automatically lifted when connecting the pulling device.

13. The pulling device according to claim 12, wherein the fixing arrangement comprises a pulling element and a pretensioning device which are designed to pull the chassis towards the wheelchair after the fixing arrangement has connected the wheelchair frame of the wheelchair.

14. The pulling device according to claim 1, wherein the chassis is hinged on the support frame so that a distance between the chassis and the support frame can be changed.

15. The pulling device according to claim 14, wherein the support frame is equipped with a blocking structure with which the chassis can be blocked in a plurality of blocking positions relative to the support frame, wherein the distance between the chassis and the support frame is different in the plurality of blocking positions.

16. A pulling device for a wheelchair comprising: a control element; a chassis; a support frame; a fixing arrangement mounted on the support frame, wherein the fixing arrangement is fixable to a wheelchair frame of the wheelchair, wherein the pulling device is configured to be positioned in front of the wheelchair when the fixing arrangement is fixed to the wheelchair frame of the wheelchair, and to be pretensioned by means of the fixing arrangement for pulling the wheelchair, wherein the fixing arrangement is arranged to be automatically connected to and released from the wheelchair frame of the wheelchair by a fixing drive, and wherein the fixing arrangement is designed to be connected to a frame tube of the wheelchair frame of the wheelchair, wherein the fixing arrangement comprises a first clamping jaw and a second clamping jaw, which are connected to the fixing drive and to one another on one side via a joint and a contact element connected to the fixing drive and arranged to be activatable by the wheelchair frame when the wheelchair frame is positioned as intended.

17. The pulling device according to claim 16, wherein the contact element is a switching pin which is arranged between the first and second clamping jaws and which can be brought into operative connection with the wheelchair frame of the wheelchair when attaching the pulling device to the wheelchair.

18. A pulling device for a wheelchair comprising: a control element; a chassis; a support frame; and a fixing arrangement mounted on the support frame, wherein the fixing arrangement is fixable to a wheelchair frame of the wheelchair, wherein the pulling device is configured to be positioned in front of the wheelchair when the fixing arrangement is fixed to the wheelchair frame of the wheelchair, and to be pretensioned by means of the fixing arrangement for pulling the wheelchair, wherein the fixing arrangement is arranged to be automatically connected to and released from the wheelchair frame of the wheelchair by a fixing drive, wherein the fixing arrangement is designed to be connected to a frame tube of the wheelchair frame of the wheelchair, and wherein the frame tube of the wheelchair frame of the wheelchair is a quasi-upright front frame tube of the wheelchair frame of the wheelchair.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following, the invention is explained by way of example with reference to the figures. Identical objects in the figures are principally designated by identical reference signs. At this point, it is pointed out that the figures do not have any limiting effect on the subject matter of the invention, but merely represent possible embodiments of the inventive idea. In the figures:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a drive device according to the invention for a wheelchair; and

(3) FIGS. 2a and 2b show a clamping device as an exemplary embodiment of a fixing arrangement of the drive device of FIG. 1 in an open and a closed state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) Certain expressions are used in the following description for practical reasons and are not to be understood in a limiting sense. The words “right”, “left”, “bottom” and “top” indicate directions in the drawing to which reference is made. The terms “inwards”, “outwards”, “below”, “above”, “left”, “right” or the like are used to describe the arrangement of designated parts relative to each other, the movement of designated parts relative to each other and the directions towards or away from the geometrical center of the invention and the designated parts of the same as shown in the figures. These spatial relative indications also include other positions and orientations than those shown in the figures. For example, if a part shown in the figures is turned over, elements or features described as “below” are then “above”. The terminology includes the words explicitly mentioned above, derivatives of the same and words of similar meaning.

(5) In order to avoid repetitions in the Figs. and the associated description of the various aspects and exemplary embodiments, certain features should be understood as common to different aspects and exemplary embodiments. The omission of an aspect in the description or in a Fig. does not imply that this aspect is missing in the associated exemplary embodiment. Rather, such omissions can serve to clarify and prevent repetitions. In this context, the following definition applies to the entire further description: If a figure contains reference signs for the purpose of graphic clarity, but these are not mentioned in the directly associated description text, reference is made to their explanation in previous descriptions of the figures. If, in addition, reference signs are mentioned in the description text directly associated with a figure, but are not included in the figure itself, reference is made to the preceding and following figures. Similar reference signs in two or more Figs. represent similar or identical elements.

(6) FIG. 1 shows a drive device 1 according to the invention, as it is mounted on a conventional wheelchair 2 by means of a clamping device 19 as a fixing arrangement on the front frame tubes 71 of a wheelchair frame 7 of the wheelchair 2 without components fixedly attached to the wheelchair frame 71. At their lower ends, the front frame tubes 71 are connected to each other via a footrest 6. On the underside, two small front wheels 5 are arranged on the footrest 6. A seat 3 is stationarily mounted on the wheelchair frame 7. The wheelchair 2 comprises two large rear wheels 4 which are mounted to be rotatable in relation to the wheelchair frame 7.

(7) The drive device 1 comprises a handlebar 23 and a chassis connected thereto which comprises fork blades 9 of a fork connected to the handlebar 23 and a drive wheel 13 mounted between the fork blades 9. A drive motor 12, which is fed from a battery 8 as energy supply, is arranged in the hub of the drive wheel.

(8) Furthermore, the drive device 1 has a support frame 15, which is equipped with the clamping device 19. The support frame 15 comprises a quasi-U-shaped base 24, the lower ends of which form a stand portion 241. In the unmounted state, the two ends of the base 24 of the support frame 15 stand on a ground surface 22. Thus, the support frame 15 can serve as a stand for the drive device 1 when it is detached from the wheelchair 2.

(9) The support frame 15 further comprises a block 25, which is stationarily connected to a cross strut of the base 24 and to which a steering joint 26 is hinged. At the top, the steering joint 26 is connected to the block 25 in a rotatable or pivotable manner and at the bottom via a linkage 27 of a blocking structure. The linkage 27 can be locked in various longitudinal positions on the block 25. Thereby, a different angle of rotation between steering joint 26 and block 25 can be fixed in the plurality of positions. In this way, a distance between the drive wheel 13 and the support frame 15 can be adjusted. In particular, by decreasing this angle, the drive wheel 13 can be pulled closer to the support frame and thus the front wheels 241 of the wheelchair 2 can be lifted off the ground 22.

(10) In FIGS. 2a and 2b, the clamping device 19 is illustrated in more detail. In particular, it has two pairs of clamping jaws 19a, 19b, each connected to a clamping drive 21 as a fixing drive, wherein for a better overview only one pair of clamping jaws 19a, 19b of the clamping device 19 is shown as an example in FIGS. 2a and 2b, namely, on the one hand in an open state and on the other hand in a closed state. The clamping drives 21 each comprise a clamping motor 211, both of which are likewise fed from the power supply 8 and are actuated or activated by means of a button 28 as a switching element arranged on the handlebar 23. As an alternative it is also possible to provide a single clamping motor 211 which moves both pairs of clamping jaws 19a, 19b. Alternatively to the button 28, switching pins 29 (depicted in hashed lines) may be arranged between the clamping jaws 19a, 19b as contact elements, which are contacted by the front frame tubes 71 to automatically operate the clamping drive 21. For automatically stopping the clamping drive 21, when a clamping pressure between the clamping jaws 19a, 19b and the front tubes 71 reaches a predefined value, the clamping device 19 may be provided with a respectively configured controller 30 (depicted in hashed lines).

(11) The clamping jaws 19a,b, are connected to each other at one end via a clamping joint 20. As shown in FIG. 1, the clamping motor 211 is arranged on a strut 16 of the support frame 15. Similar to an angle iron, the clamping jaws 19a,b have three clamping jaw segments 24a,b,c. These are in particular two straight clamping jaw segments 24a,c which are connected to each other via a bent clamping jaw segment 24b.

(12) To connect the drive unit 1 to the wheelchair 2, a user of the wheelchair 2 drives towards the drive device 1 until the two front frame tubes 71 are between the two clamping jaws 19a, 19b of a pair. By actuating the button, the clamping motors 211 move the clamping jaws 19a, 19b of the clamping device 19 towards each other, so that they securely fix the two front frame tubes 71.

(13) When feeding the drive mechanism 1 to the frame tube 7 with the clamping jaws 19a,b open, see FIG. 2a, the button can be actuated, which activates the clamping drive 21 or the clamping motor 211. In doing so, the clamping motor 211 retracts a spindle 18 mounted on the clamping jaws 19a,b so that the clamping jaws 19a,b are moved towards each other. The clamping drive 21 is equipped with a controller that is designed to stop the movement of the clamping jaws 19a,b if there is no movement for a predefined time. The clamping jaws 19a,b are then held in this state and the front frame tube 71 is firmly clamped and fixed, see FIG. 2b.

(14) Although the invention is illustrated and described in detail by means of the figures and the associated description, this illustration and this detailed description are to be understood as illustrative and exemplary and not as limiting the invention. In order not to idealize the invention, in certain cases well known structures and techniques may not be shown and described in detail. It is understood that those skilled in the art can make changes and modifications without departing from the scope of the following claims. In particular, the present invention covers further exemplary embodiments with any combinations of features which may differ from the explicitly described combinations of features.

(15) The present disclosure further comprises embodiments with any combination of features mentioned or shown above or below for different embodiments. It also comprises individual features in the figures, even if they are shown there in connection with other features and/or are not mentioned above or below. Furthermore, the alternatives of embodiments described in the figures and the description and individual alternatives of their features may be excluded from the subject matter of the invention or the disclosed subject matter. The disclosure comprises embodiments which exclusively comprise the features described in the claims or in the exemplary embodiments as well as those which comprise additional other features.

(16) Furthermore, the term “comprise” and derivatives thereof do not exclude other elements or steps. Likewise, the indefinite article “a” and derivatives thereof do not exclude a plurality. The functions of a plurality of features listed in the claims may be fulfilled by a unit or a step. The terms “substantially”, “about” “approximately”, “quasi” and the like in connection with a characteristic or a value also define in particular exactly the characteristic or exactly the value. The terms “about”, “quasi” and “approximately” in connection with a given numerical value or range can refer to a value or range which lies within 20%, within 10%, within 5% or within 2% of the given value or range.