[0001] The present invention relates to a handlebar for a motorized wheelchair, a motorized
wheelchair which employs such a handlebar and a corresponding method for varying the
operative arrangement of said motorized wheelchair.
[0002] It is known the existence of motorized wheelchairs which allow a person, in particular,
but not exclusively, with reduced, even partially, lower limb mobility, to easily
move in environments presenting remarkable obstacles to the free displacement of the
wheelchair itself.
[0003] For example a motorized wheelchair is commercially available of the type comprising
a supporting frame, over which the seat for the user is provided, only two wheels
both disposed sideways to said supporting frame and rotatably operable means accommodated,
at least in part, in said supporting frame for changing the direction of said wheelchair.
The above described motorized wheelchair, which can be advantageously provided with
known means for self-equilibrating the weight thereof in any working condition and
also employed in the device having the trade name of SEGWAY®, is provided, as well,
with a handlebar to allow the user to rotationally drive, from sitting position yet,
said means for changing the direction of said wheelchair. Such a handlebar is disposed
in front and in the middle of the frame, between the user two legs, and is rotated
by the latter in such a way to control, as said, the change of direction of the device.
In this type of wheelchair the forward and/ or backward movement is obtained by means
of the front and/ or back unbalancing of the user's body.
[0004] Such a wheelchair, despite able to effectively and comfortably transport people,
however is not free from drawbacks. In particular, it will be understood that such
a device, due to the handlebar bulk, not only does not allows to easily access closed
and narrow places, but also makes it difficult to allow the user to comfortably sit
down at the table sitting on its motorized wheelchair. Furthermore, still due to the
presence and the bulk given by the handlebar, it will be understood that the user
can find difficult to sit or rise on/from the wheelchair seat.
[0005] It is, therefore, object of the present invention to realize a handlebar for said
wheelchair which allows to solve the above mentioned problems. In particular, a handlebar
which is able to remarkably reduce the motorized wheelchair bulks, at least in some
particular use conditions, and which, at the same time, allows to facilitate the user
sitting/ raising operation on/from the wheelchair.
[0006] Further object of the present invention id to realize a wheelchair which solves the
above mentioned known art problems.
[0007] Finally, object of the present invention is to realize a method which allows to change
the use arrangement of the wheelchair in such a way to reduce the handlebar bulks
in the various use situations of the wheelchair itself.
[0008] Such objects are obtained by the present handlebar for motorized wheelchair for a
person transportation, of the type comprising a supporting frame, at least one couple
of wheels each disposed sideways to said supporting frame, and means rotatably operable
for changing the direction of said wheelchair and accommodated, at least in part,
in said supporting frame, said handlebar comprising at least one idler arm, integrally
connectable to said means for changing the direction to drive the rotation of said
means for changing the direction, and at least one hand grip to drive the rotation
of said at least one idler arm, said handlebar being characterized by comprising a
mechanism to constrain the displacement of said at least one hand grip with respect
to said at least one idler arm, between a first operative position, wherein said at
least one hand grip is disposed in front of said supporting frame, and a second operative
position, wherein said at least one hand grip is disposed sideways with respect to
said supporting frame, and vice versa.
[0009] Such a solution allows, therefore, to vary the operative position of the hand grip
with respect to the idler arm and thus to avoid that the hand grip, can be bulky in
the situations wherein the wheelchair arrangement has to be changed due to the reduced
space or in situations wherein the user gets in or out from the wheelchair itself.
In such a first and second operative positions the handlebar is in a stable arrangement
and allows to easily control the motorized wheelchair.
[0010] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, in said at least one first
operative position, said at least one hand grip and said at least one idler arm are
disposed in front, that is to say forward, and parallel to said supporting frame so
that said handlebar adopts a substantially C-shape. More in detail, still according
to a further embodiment of the invention, said at least one idler arm is substantially
L-shaped and said at least one hand grip is substantially L-shaped.
[0011] Still according to the invention, said displacement mechanism comprises means for
rotating said at least one hand grip with respect to said at least one idler arm between
said at least one first and said at least one second operative position. Again, still
according to the invention, said rotating means comprise at least one first tubular
portion integrally constrained to the free end of said at least one idler arm and
at least one second tubular portion integrally constrained to one end of said hand
grip and able to be rotationally coupled to said at least one first tubular portion.
Note that said first tubular portion and said at least one second tubular portion
can also be realized in a single piece with, respectively, said idler arm and said
hand grip.
[0012] Deep in detail, said displacement mechanism comprises, as well, means for guiding
the translation of said at least one hand grip with respect to said at least one idler
arm exclusively when said at least one hand grip is in said at least one first and
said at least one second operative position, between a lowered position, wherein the
rotation of said at least one hand grip with respect to said at least one idler arm
is prevented, and a raised position, wherein the rotation of said at least one hand
grip with respect to said at least one arm is allowed between said first and said
second operative position. In practice, therefore, in said first and in said second
operative position the rotation between said hand grip e said at least one idler arm
is possible only in raised position of said hand grip and is prevented in all of the
other positions till said lowered position is reached. In detail, said guiding means
can comprise at least two slide longitudinal seats obtained, at least in part, in
said at least one first portion, or in said at least one second portion, and at least
one countercheck element integral with said at least one second portion, or with said
at least one first portion, and sliding in said at least two longitudinal seats at
least when said at least one hand grip is, respectively, in said first and said second
operative position. Advantageously, said at least one countercheck element comprises
at least one polygonal section bar made integrally with said at least one second tubular
portion and jutting with respect to said at least one second tubular portion, and
said at least two longitudinal seats, realized in said at least one first tubular
portion, are couplable by shape to said at least one polygonal section bar.
[0013] Still according to the invention, said at least one first tubular portion comprises
one abutment element for said at least one countercheck element to limit the translation
downwards of said at least one second tubular element with respect to said at least
one second tubular element in said at least one first operative position. Note that
in said second operative position such an abutment element is absent and, therefore,
the lowered position of the hand grip is lower from the ground than that of the hand
grip when it is in lowered position, but in said first operative position. This causes
that in said second, lowered, operative position the handlebar is still less bulky
and occupies still less space, at least in height, than in said first lowered position.
[0014] According to the invention, furthermore, a motorized wheelchair is provided for the
transportation of at least one sitting person, comprising at least one supporting
frame, at least one couple of wheels each disposed sideways to said supporting frame,
means accommodated, at least in part, in said supporting frame, for changing the direction
of said transporting device and a handlebar according to one or more of the claims
from 1 to 10.
[0015] Advantageously, said motorized wheelchair comprises two wheels only, each disposed
at the two sides of said supporting frame, and means accommodated, at least in part,
in said supporting frame, for auto-balancing continuously said wheelchair. Such means
for auto-balancing said wheelchair are known and present in the known device named
SEGWAY® and, therefore, herein not further described.
[0016] Again, the objects of the invention are obtained by the method for changing the operative
arrangement of a wheelchair according to the claim 11 or 12, characterized by comprising
the step of displacing said at least one hand grip with respect to said at least one
idler arm, between a first operative position, wherein sad at least one hand grip
is disposed in front of said supporting frame, and a second operative position, wherein
said at least one hand grip is disposed sideways with respect to said supporting frame,
and vice versa. Advantageously, said step of displacing said hand grip comprises the
step of rotating said at least one hand grip with respect to said at least one idler
arm between said at least one first and said at least one second operative position.
In detail, before the step of rotating said at least one hand grip the step of guiding
the translation of said at least one hand grip with respect to said at least one idler
arm exclusively when said at least one hand grip is in said at least one first and
said at least one second operative position is comprised, between a lowered position,
wherein the rotation of said at least one hand grip with respect to said at least
one idler arm is prevented, and a raised position, wherein the rotation of said at
least one hand grip with respect to said at least one idler arm is allowed between
said first and said second operative position. In particular, said at least one operative
position, said lowered position of said at least one hand grip is higher from the
ground than the lowered position of said at least one hand grip in said at least one
second operative position.
[0017] For purposes of illustrations and not limitative, more particular preferred embodiments
of the present invention will be now provided with reference to the accompanying figures,
in which:
figure 1 is a perspective view of a motorized wheelchair according to the present
invention wherein said handlebar is in said first operative position and in lowered
position;
figure 2 is a perspective view of a motorized wheelchair according to the present
invention wherein said handlebar is in said second operative position and in lowered
position;
figure 3 is a perspective view of a motorized wheelchair according to the present
invention wherein said handlebar is in said first operative position and in raised
position;
figure 4 is a perspective view of a motorized wheelchair according to the present
invention wherein said handlebar is in said second operative position and in raised
position;
figure 5 is a side view of the handlebar constraining mechanism according to the invention,
in said first lowered operative position;
figure 6 is a cross sectional view of the constraining mechanism of figure 5 (section
A-A);
figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the constraining mechanism of figure
5 (section D-D);
figure 8 is a side view of the handlebar constraining mechanism according to the invention,
in said second lowered operative position;
figure 9 is a cross sectional view of the constraining mechanism of figure 8 (section
C-C);
figure 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of the constraining mechanism of figure
8 (section E-E).
[0018] Referring particularly to such figures a handlebar for a motorized wheelchair 100
according to the invention has been denoted with numeral 1.
[0019] In figure 1 a motorized wheelchair 100 for a person transportation is depicted comprising
a supporting frame 2, two wheels 3, 4 disposed at the two sides 2a, 2b of said supporting
frame 2, and means for changing the direction 5 of said wheelchair 100 that are rotationally
operable and accommodated, at least in part, in said supporting frame 2. Furthermore,
said wheelchair 100 comprises a handlebar 1 provided with an idler arm 7, integrally
connectable to said means for changing the direction 5 to drive the rotation of said
means for changing the direction, and a hand grip 8 to drive the rotation of said
idler arm 7. According to the invention, said handlebar 1 comprises a mechanism 9
for constraining the displacement of said hand grip 8 with respect to said idler arm
7, between a first operative position P1, wherein said hand grip 8 is disposed in
front of said supporting frame 2, that is on the front side 2c of said supporting
frame 2, and a second operative position P2, wherein said hand grip 8 is disposed
sideways with respect to said supporting frame 2, that is on the side 2a of said supporting
frame 2, and vice versa. Obviously, a solution wherein said hand grip, in said second
operative position P2, would be disposed on the side 2b would still fall within the
protection scope of the present invention.
[0020] It is clear, therefore, that such a solution allows to change the operative arrangement
of the wheelchair 100 by the displacement of the operative position of the hand grip
8 with respect to the idler bar 7, so to avoid that the hand grip 8 can be bulky due
to the reduced space of the place wherein it is or when the user gets in or out from
the wheelchair itself. In such a first and second operative positions P1, P2, the
handlebar 1 is in a stable arrangement and allows to easily control the motorized
wheelchair 100. Advantageously, in said at least one first operative position P1,
said hand grip 8 and said idler arm 7 are disposed in front and parallel to said supporting
frame 2 in such a way that such a handlebar adopts a substantially C-shape. Such an
arrangement allows to further facilitate the getting in/out to/from the motorized
wheelchair 100, since it eliminates, at least in said second operative position P2,
any front bulk.
[0021] In detail, said idler arm 7 is substantially L-shaped as well as said hand grip 8
is substantially L-shaped.
[0022] According to the invention, said displacement mechanism 9 comprises means 10 for
rotating said hand grip 8 with respect to said idler arm 7 between said first and
said second operative position P1 and P2, and vice versa. In particular, said rotating
means 10 comprise a first tubular portion 11 integrally constrained, even though indirectly,
to the free end 7a of said idler arm 7 and a second tubular portion 12 integrally
constrained to an end 8a of said hand grip 8 and rotationally couplable with said
first tubular portion 11. Furthermore, said displacement mechanism 9 comprises, as
well, means 13 for guiding the translation of said hand grip 8 with respect to said
idler arm 7 exclusively when said hand grip 8 is in said first operative position
P1 or in said second position P2, between a lowered position, respectively, L1 and
L2, wherein the rotation of said harm grip 8 with respect to said idler arm 7 is prevented,
and a raised position, respectively, H1 and H2, wherein the rotation of said hand
grip 8 with respect to said idler arm 7 is allowed between said first and said second
operative position P1 and P2. Substantially, therefore, in said first and said second
operative positions P1 and P2 the rotation between said hand grip 8 and said idler
arm 7 is possible only in said raised position H1, H2, in all other positions any
reciprocal rotation between said hand grip 8 and said idler arm 7 is prevented.
[0023] In particular, said guiding means 13 comprise two polygonal slide longitudinal seats
14, 16 obtained on at least part of said tubular portion 11, and a countercheck element
15, polygonal too, integral with said second tubular portion 12, and sliding in said
longitudinal seats 14, 16 at least when said hand grip 8 is in said first and said
second operative position P1, P2. In the embodiment herein described said countercheck
element 15 comprises a polygonal section bar integrally obtained with said at least
one second tubular portion 12 and jutting with respect to said second tubular portion
12, while said longitudinal seats 14 and 16 are couplable by shape with said polygonal
section bar. Note also that said polygonal section bar 15 comprises two sides 70,
71 disposed at 90° one from another such that said second tubular portion 12 on the
whole adopts a drop shape. Similarly, also said longitudinal seats comprise two sides
72, 73 are positioned at 90° one from another and adapted to receive said polygonal
section bar 15.
[0024] According to a particular aspect of the invention, said first tubular portion 11
comprises an abutment element 20 for said countercheck element 15 to limit the translation
of said second tubular element 12 with respect to said first tubular element 11 in
said first lowered operative position L1. Such a solution, as mentioned, allows to
place the hand grip 8 at different heights from the ground between said first P1 and
said second P2 operative positions. In particular, in said second operative position
P2 said hand grip 8, when in lowered position L2, is lower from the ground than when
it is in the lowered position L1, in said first operative position P1.
[0025] Note that the invention also relates to a motorized wheelchair 100 for the transportation
of a sitting person, and comprising a supporting frame 2, a couple of wheels 3, 4
each disposed sideways of said supporting frame 2, means for changing the direction
5 of said motorized wheelchair 100, accommodated, at least in part, in said supporting
frame 2, and a handlebar 1 according to what above described and, anyway, according
to one or more of the claims from 1 to 10. According to the particular embodiment
herein described, said wheelchair 100 comprises only two wheels 3 and 4, each disposed
at the two sides 2a, 2b of the said supporting frame 2 and means (herein not shown)
for auto-balancing continuously and in any operative condition said wheelchair 100,
which are accommodated, at least in part, in said supporting frame 2.
[0026] According to the invention, a method is provided as well for changing the operative
arrangement of a motorized wheelchair 100 according to the herein provided description
and, anyway, according to the claim 11 or 12. Such a method comprises the step of
displacing said hand grip 8 with respect to said idler arm 7, between a first operative
position P1, wherein said hand grip 8 is disposed in front of said supporting frame
2, and a second operative position P2, wherein said hand grip 8 is disposed sideways
with respect to said supporting frame 2, and vice versa. Still according to the method,
said step of displacing said hand grip 8 comprises the step of rotating said hand
grip 8 with respect to said idler arm 7 between said first P1 and said second P2 operative
positions. Advantageously, said rotation is of 270° outwards of said supporting frame
2 in such a way that during such a rotation the hand grip can not move into abutment
against the user, when sitting on the wheelchair 100.
[0027] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, said step of rotating said
hand grip 8 is preceded by the step of guiding the translation of said hand grip 8
with respect to said idler arm 7 exclusively when said hand grip 8 is in said first
and said second operative position P1, P2, between a lowered position L1, L2 (figures
1 and 2), wherein the rotation of said hand grip 8 with respect to said idler arm
7 is prevented, and a raised position H1, H2 (figures 3 and 4), wherein the rotation
of said hand grip 8 with respect to said idler arm 7 is allowed between said first
and said second operative position P1 and P2. Advantageously, in said first operative
position P1, the said lowered position L1 of said hand grip 8 is higher from the ground
than the lowered position L2 of said at least one hand grip in said at least one second
operative position P2. In this way, the hand grip 8 is hidden sideways with respect
to the supporting frame 2, being in a position lower that the position adopted by
the hand grip 8 in said first operative position P1, lowered L1. However, such a hand
grip 8, in said lowered positions L1 and L2 as well, is able to be activated by the
user to drive the rotation of said idler arm 7 and, thus, the rotation of said means
for changing the direction 5 of said wheelchair 100.
1. Handlebar (1) for motorized wheelchair (100) for a person transportation, of the type
comprising a supporting frame (2), at least one couple of wheels (3, 4) each disposed
sideways to said supporting frame, and means rotatably operable for changing the direction
(5) of said wheelchair and accommodated, at least in part, in said supporting frame,
said handlebar comprising at least one idler arm (7), integrally connectable to said
means for changing the direction to drive the rotation of said means for changing
the direction, and at least one hand grip (8) to drive the rotation of said at least
one idler arm, said handlebar being characterized by comprising a mechanism (9) to constrain the displacement of said at least one hand
grip with respect to said at least one idler arm, between a first operative position
(P1), wherein said at least one hand grip is disposed in front of said supporting
frame, and a second operative position (P2), wherein said at least one hand grip is
disposed sideways with respect to said supporting frame, and vice versa.
2. Handlebar (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, in said at least one first position (P1), said at least one hand grip and said at
least one idler arm are disposed in front of and in parallel with said supporting
frame so that said handlebar would adopt a substantially C-shape.
3. Handlebar according to claim 2, characterized in that said at least one idler arm is substantially L-shaped.
4. Handlebar according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said at least one hand grip is substantially L-shaped.
5. Handlebar according to one or more of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said displacing mechanism comprises means (10) for rotating said at least one hand
grip with respect to said at least one idler arm between said at least one first and
said at least one second position.
6. Handlebar according to claim 5, characterized in that said rotating means comprise at least one first tubular portion (11) integrally constrained
to the free end (7a) of said at least one idler arm and at least one second tubular
portion (12) integrally constrained to one end (8a) of said at least one hand grip
and able to be rotationally coupled to said at least one first tubular portion.
7. Handlebar according to one or more of the claims 5 to 6, characterized in that said displacing mechanism (9) comprises as well means (13) for guiding the translation
of said at least one hand grip with respect to said at least one idler arm exclusively
when said at least one hand grip is in said at least one first and said at least one
second operative position (P1, P2), between a lowered position (L1, L2), wherein the
rotation of said at least one hand grip with respect to said at least one idler arm
is prevented, and a raised position (H1, H2), wherein the rotation of said at least
one hand grip with respect to said at least one idler arm is allowed between said
first and said second operative position.
8. Handlebar according to claim 7, characterized in that said guide means (13) comprise at least two slide longitudinal seats (14) obtained,
at least in part, in said at least one first portion, or in said at least one second
portion, and at least one countercheck element (15) integral with said at least one
second portion, or said at least one first portion, and sliding in said at least two
longitudinal seats at least when said at least one hand grip is in said first and
said second position.
9. Handlebar according to claim 8, characterized in that said at least one countercheck element comprises at least one polygonal section bar
made integrally with said at least one second tubular portion and jutting at least
in part with respect to said at least one second tubular portion, and said at least
two longitudinal seats are couplable by shape to said at least one polygonal section
bar.
10. Handlebar according to one or more of the claims 7 to 9, characterized in that said at least one first tubular portion comprises at least one abutment element (20)
for said at least one countercheck element to limit the translation of said at least
one second tubular element with respect to said at least one first tubular element
at least in said at least one first position.
11. Motorized wheelchair (100) for the transportation of at least one sitting person,
comprising at least one supporting frame (2), at least one couple of wheels (3, 4)
both disposed sideways to said supporting frame, means accommodated, at least in part,
in said supporting frame, for changing the direction (5) of said transportation device,
and a handlebar according to one or more of the claims 1 to 10.
12. Wheelchair (100) according to claim 11, characterized by comprising two wheels only, both disposed at the two sides of said supporting frame,
and means accommodated, at least in part, in said supporting frame, for auto-balancing
continuously said wheelchair.
13. Method for changing the working arrangement of a motorized wheelchair (100) according
to claim 11 or 12, characterized by comprising the step of displacing said at least one hand grip (8) with respect to
said at least one idler arm (7), between a first operative position (P1), wherein
said at least one hand grip (8) is disposed in front of said supporting frame (2),
and a second operative position (P2), wherein said at least one hand grip (8) is disposed
sideways with respect to said supporting frame (2), and vice versa.
14. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that said step of displacing at least one hand grip (8) comprises the step of rotating
said at least one hand grip (8) with respect to said at least one idler arm (7) between
said at least one first and said at least one second operative position.
15. Method according to claim 14, characterized in that said rotation is 270° outwards of said supporting frame (2).
16. Method according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that before the step of rotating said at least one hand grip the step of guiding the translation
of said at least one hand grip with respect to said at least one idler arm exclusively
when said at least one hand grip is in said at least one first and said at least one
second operative position (P1, P2) is comprised, between a lowered position (L1, L2),
wherein the rotation of said at least one hand grip with respect to said at least
one idler arm is prevented, and a raised position (H1, H2), wherein the rotation of
said at least one hand grip with respect to said at least one idler arm is allowed
between said first and said second operative position.
17. Method according to claim 16, characterized in that, in said at least one operative position, said lowered position (L1) of said at least
one hand grip is higher from the ground than the lowered position (L2) of said at
least one hand grip in said at least one second operative position (P2).