Wheelchair Stair Assist Apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for use on standard or customized wheelchairs for moving the wheelchair and wheelchair occupant up or down a stairway or stairway-like structure (e.g., a curb) with greater confidence and stability to the occupant of the wheelchair and its handler(s). The apparatus includes a motorized assembly that interacts with stair steps when the apparatus and wheelchair are tilted backwardly. The motorized assembly allows the wheelchair to glide or move up or down the steps without experiencing the bumps commonly associated with rolling a wheelchair up or down a set of stairs. The apparatus includes a headrest to provide comfort to the occupant during operation and includes pivoting handlebars to allow the operator of the wheelchair to control the movement of the wheelchair. The apparatus is mountable to, and removable from (when not in use), the wheelchair. The apparatus can be considered as a retrofit.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for a wheelchair to assist the wheelchair and an occupant thereof to ascend or descend a stairway, comprising:
 a track assembly having a pair of continuous treads, each tread of the pair of continuous treads being rotatably spaced around a freely rotatable wheel and spaced around a motorized wheel that automatically moves the pair of continuous treads around the freely rotatable wheel and the motorized wheel, the apparatus removably mounted to clamping pins, each clamping pin rigidly secured to at least one frame member of the wheelchair, each said tread positioned with respect to rear wheels of the wheelchair such that as the wheelchair is raised or lowered along a stairway having a series of individual stair steps, the track assembly carrying the weight of the wheelchair along the individual stair steps.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an adjustable head rest. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an adjustable and pivotable handle bars. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus for assisting a wheelchair and an occupant thereof to ascend or descend a stairway or stairway-like structure without substantial interference with normal operation and/or use of the wheelchair, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing that is securable to a wheelchair;   a motorized assembly securable within or substantially within the housing, the assembly for automatically moving the wheelchair up or down the stairway or stairway-like structure; and   an attachment mechanism for securing the housing and the motorized assembly to the wheelchair, thereby preventing the apparatus from separating from the wheelchair.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the housing further comprises:
 a frame having two side panels secured to a front and back panel and having a top panel secured to the two side panels and the front and back panel; and   a pair of notches located within a lower portion of the side panels, the pair of notches sized to engage pins fastened to the wheelchair.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the motorized assembly is a motorized track assembly rotatably spaced around two sets of wheels defined as a first set of freely rotatable wheels and a second set of motorized wheels, the second set of motorized wheels being controlled to rotate by a reciprocating motor mechanism, the motorized track assembly further defined by at least one continuous tread having an outer edge that is approximately tangent to a wheel of the wheelchair so that the at least one continuous tread can engage a plurality of stair steps or stair step-like structures of the stairway or stairway-like structure when the wheelchair is raised or lowered along the stairway or stairway-like structure. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the motorized assembly includes at least one belt having at least one continuous tread, the at least one belt spaced around a guide member defined on the apparatus housing and rotatably mounted to at least one motorized wheel controlled by a motor assembly for rotating the at least one belt around the guide member for moving the wheelchair up and down stair steps or stair step-like structures of the stairway or stairway-like structure. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the attachment mechanism further includes a crank handle secured to a bar rotatably secured to the front panel of the frame, the bar have a pair of caps secured to each end thereof and each cap, of the pair of caps, includes a U-shaped notch sized to engage a pin fastened to the wheelchair, wherein when the U-shaped notch of the caps are engaged with said pin fastened to the wheelchair, the crank handle is moved to rotate the bar locking each end cap onto said pin preventing the apparatus from separating from the wheelchair. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising a handle-bar assembly that is at least one of adjustable, pivotable, and telescoping. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising a head-rest assembly that is at least one of adjustable and pivotable. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for a wheelchair to assist the wheelchair and an occupant thereof to ascend or descend a stairway or stairway-like structure, comprising:
 a frame member;   a body assembly having (i) at least one belt, the at least one belt having at least one continuous tread, the at least one belt rotatably mounted at least indirectly to a guide member that is at least indirectly connected to the frame member, the at least one belt further spaced around at least one motorized wheel that automatically moves the at least one belt around the guide member for carrying a wheelchair with an occupant up and/or down stair steps or stair step-like structures of a stairway or stairway-like structure; and (ii) a drive assembly for controlling the at least one motorized wheel for rotating the at least one belt.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a head-rest assembly that is at least one of adjustable and pivotable. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a handle-bar assembly, the handle-bar assembly having at least one tube that is at least one of adjustable and pivotable such that the handle-bar assembly is capable of telescopic movement. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising an assist assembly, the assist assembly having (i) at least one wheel; and (ii) at least one support bar connected at least indirectly to the at least one wheel, the at least one support bar being capable of pivotal movement to permit the assist assembly to pivot at least with respect to the frame member. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the drive assembly further comprises:
 a motor assembly; and   a drive axle assembly connected at least indirectly to the motor assembly.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the motor assembly further comprises:
 a drive motor;   at least one battery connected at least indirectly to the drive motor for providing power to the drive motor.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the drive axle assembly further comprises:
 at least one shaft; and   at least one motorized wheel connected at least indirectly to the at least one shaft, the motorized wheel capable of being driven by the motor assembly.   
     
     
         18 . An apparatus connected at least indirectly to a wheelchair for assisting the wheelchair and an occupant thereof to ascend and/or descend a stairway or a stair-way like structure, the apparatus comprising:
 a body assembly having (i) at least one motorized belt for moving a wheelchair up and down the stairway or the stairway-like structure; and (ii) a drive assembly for controlling the at least one motorized belt;   an assist assembly connected at least indirectly to the body assembly for providing support to the wheelchair and an occupant thereof;   a head-rest assembly connected at least indirectly to the body assembly, the head-rest assembly being at least one of adjustable and pivotable; and   a handle-bar assembly connected at least indirectly to the body assembly, the handle-bar assembly at least one of adjustable and pivotable such that the handle bar assembly is capable of telescopic movement.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the drive assembly further comprises:
 a motor assembly having (i) at least one drive motor; and (ii) at least one battery for providing power to the at least one drive motor;   a drive axle assembly having (i) at least one shaft; and (ii) at least one motorized wheel connected at least indirectly to the at least one shaft and capable of being driven by the at least one drive motor;   a drive chain connected at least indirectly to the motor assembly and the drive axle assembly for transferring power from the motor assembly to drive the drive axle assembly.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising a roller assembly connected at least indirectly to the drive axle assembly, the roller assembly having (i) at least one shaft; and (ii) at least one wheel for holding the apparatus in an upright stable position. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the assist assembly further comprises:
 at least one shaft for securing the assist assembly at least indirectly to at least one frame member of the apparatus;   at least one wheel; and   at least one support bar connected to the at least one shaft and to the at least one wheel, the at least one support bar capable of pivoting about the at least one shaft for moving the assist assembly from a stored position to a working position.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the head-rest assembly further comprises:
 at least one shaft having a plurality of notches;   a head support connected at least indirectly to the at least one shaft for providing support to the head of the occupant of the wheelchair; and   an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the height of the at least one shaft by engaging with at least one of the plurality of notches on the at least one shaft.   
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the handlebar assembly further comprises:
 at least one frame member;   at least one tube member capable of sliding within the at least one frame member, the at least one tube member further comprising first, second and third portions, the first portion capable of sliding with the second portion and the second portion capable of telescopic movement about the third portion; and   a handlebar connected at least indirectly to the first portion for manipulating the body assembly, the assist assembly and the head-rest assembly, the handlebar having (i) first and second handle grips; (ii) first and second handle bars; and (iii) a plurality of buttons.   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising an idler shaft assembly, the idler shaft assembly having (i) at least one shaft; and (ii) first and second wheels rotatably mounted at opposing ends of the at least one shaft. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising at least one chair attachment mechanism for connecting the apparatus to the wheelchair, the chair attachment mechanism further comprising at least one of a height adjuster mechanism and a width adjuster mechanism.