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Modular wheel chairRelated Patent Categories: Motor Vehicles, Power, ElectricModular wheel chair description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070062743, Modular wheel chair. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The invention relates to a small vehicle, particularly a wheel chair having a modular structure. [0002] Wheel chairs, including those which are driven by a motor, usually comprise a wheel chair frame in which a seat is integrated, two wheels which can be driven and two wheels which can be either freely pivoted or steered by a motor wherein said wheels are directly coupled to said frame. The drivable wheels can be driven manually via hand rims or driven by a motor. Such wheel chairs often comprise a folding mechanism which allows folding of the wheel chair frame in order to reduce the overall size for the purpose of transport of the wheel chair. A wheel chair of this kind is for instance disclosed in EP 0 790 049 A2. [0003] Wheel chairs of the kind as explained above are rather unsuitable for outdoor operation, that is for operation outside houses and particularly on uneven tracks, for instance tracks in fields or woods. The frame construction as described above has only a relatively low stability. Moreover, direct coupling of the wheels to a pipe frame only allows a suspension which is insufficient for uneven tracks since the only spring system is usually the one provided by the pneumatic tires. [0004] Wheel chairs having acceptable driving and performance characteristics for outdoor operation are also known. However, the amount of time, work and effort needed for dismantling such wheel chairs for the purpose of transport is not acceptable. [0005] There is a need for a small vehicle, particularly a wheel chair which has sufficient stability suitable also for outdoor operation as well as a drivability suitable for outdoor operation and, at the same time, can be dismantled so that transport thereof is possible in a typical trunk of an automobile. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] The small vehicle according to the present invention has a modular structure including a main component, at least one pivotable wheel which is detachably mounted at said main component via a quick release device, at least one driving wheel is detachably mounted at said main component via a quick release device and a seat component which is detachably mounted at said main component via a quick release device. The main component comprises a main body to which four arms for supporting the wheels are springably coupled. The quick release devices between said main component and said wheels are disposed between said arms and said wheels, respectively. [0007] While according to the prior art discussed above a seat is integrated in a pipe frame which, for the purpose of transport, can be folded, the small vehicle according to the present invention has a modular structure and comprises a main component which permits detachment of the wheels and detachment of the seat component from the main component by means of a quick release device. This provides particularly small dimensions for transport and, at the same time, high stability and strength. [0008] Preferably, the main body is designed as a monocoque-type construction. The main body supports the suspension. [0009] If the wheels are dismounted, preferably, the four arms extend within a common plane so that the main component, including the main body and the four arms connected thereto, has a flat shape. In other words, the main dimensions of the main component lie preferably within one plane while the dimensions perpendicular to said plane are considerably smaller. Accordingly, after being dismantled, the small vehicle has outer dimensions in the same range as a folded wheel chair of the kind explained earlier. In many instances, the small vehicle is even superior in this respect while, at the same time, it has considerably higher stability and strength and lower weight. [0010] The smallest possible cuboid having side lengths a, b and c which can envelope the main body and the four arms attached thereto without wheels can for instance have one side length "c" which is smaller than half of the two other side lengths "a" and "b". In this case, aide lengths a and b correspond to the main dimensions and side length c corresponds to the height of the cuboid having a flat shape. [0011] Two freely pivotable wheels and two driving wheels are detachably mounted to the arms via a quick release device. The driving wheels preferably comprise a hub motor; that is, a motor which is provided adjacent the wheel hub. Accordingly, it is not necessary to provide a drive train from the vehicle frame to the driving wheels. The torque for driving the vehicle is provided in the hub motor. The stationary portion of the hub motor is only supported at the corresponding arm via a suitable support element to enable driving operation. [0012] Electric motors are particularly suited for driving such small vehicles. Storage batteries necessary for power supply can be mounted at the main component, particularly at the main body, preferably via suitable quick release devices which allow quick and easy change of the storage batteries. Connection points for the storage batteries can be provided at opposite sides of the main body. Moreover, several connecting points may be provided for selective operation with one or several storage batteries, wherein, in case the vehicle is to be operated with only one storage battery, this storage battery is mounted in a central position with respect to the center axis of the vehicle, while, if the vehicle is to be operated with several storage batteries, these storage batteries are mounted symmetrically with respect to the center axis of the vehicle. [0013] The seat component of the small vehicle according to the present invention preferably comprises a seat, a seat back, foot rests, and two arm rests. Preferably, the seat component is provided as a complete unit. This unit is mounted to the main component, specifically to the main body and to be dismounted therefrom by means of a quick release device. The seat component can be foldable. Due to the modular structure of the small vehicle, the seat can be designed with particular attention to ergonomics. For instance, a seat pan may be provided which is specially designed and, as the case may be, specially designed for a particular patient. Such a seat pan can be easily mounted at the main component. Accordingly, even seat pans for seriously handicapped persons can be used. Furthermore, it is easy to retrofit or modify the wheel chair, especially with respect to a special seat pan. [0014] The interface between the seat component and the main body is preferably designed in a way which facilitates adaption of a special seat. For instance, a special seat m y be provided by specialized suppliers, such as for example, stores specialized in medical appliances and equipment. In other cases, a seat may be specially made for a particular application. The special seat may be designed to be connected to a wheel chair according to the present invention which is produced in a larger number of pieces but the wheel chair has been delivered without the seat component. [0015] The seat component can be designed so that it can be turned, so that, upon turning the seat by 180.degree., a vehicle having rear wheel drive will become a vehicle which has front wheel drive. [0016] The arms for supporting the freely pivotable wheels are preferably designed as springably supported dual arms. This ensures that the caster of the freely pivotable wheels remains essentially constant over the entire range of spring motion, particularly in case the freely pivotable wheels are coupled to the arms by means of plug-in axles which extend vertically to the ground. In case there is only a limited travel of the spring system, the front arms also can be designed as mono-arms. [0017] The arms provided for supporting the driving wheels are preferably designed as longitudinally arranged arms which are supported at the main body via a spring/shock absorber unit. [0018] A small vehicle designed as a wheel chair as explained above has excellent stability. The wheels may be springably supported to also allow operation on uneven tracks. At the same time, the structure and design of the wheel chair allow it to be dismantled into single components, making it possible to transport the wheel chair in the trunk of a common automobile. After the four wheels are detached from the arms, which for instance, can be done very easily if plug-in axles and quick release devices are used, and after the seat component and, as the case may be, storage batteries are removed, only the main component, for instance the main body and four arms, remain. This main component is a component having a flat shape which can be easily transported. The wheels and the storage batteries also can be easily stowed away and the seat component can also be brought into a space-saving flat form if a folding mechanism is used. [0019] Particularly in cases where electric motors are used as driving units, the main body can have interfaces for electric circuits at the connection points of the driving wheels and/or the seat component and/or the storage batteries. A control panel, including a console, can be provided at an arm rest of the seat component. Furthermore, it is possible to provide wireless signal transmission between the control panel and the driving wheels. In case that hub motors are provided, a separate control unit may be provided for each hub motor. In that case, it will not be necessary to provide wires for control signals. If the storage batteries are attached to the main body, it will only be necessary to provide power transmission to the hub motors. [0020] If the storage batteries are also disposed adjacent the wheel hubs of the driving wheels and a wireless signal transmission for control signals is provided, it will not be necessary to provide any wires between the frame and the wheels. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0021] In the following description, the invention is further explained in connection with a preferred embodiment making reference to the drawing in which Continue reading about Modular wheel chair... Full patent description for Modular wheel chair Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Modular wheel chair patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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