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  • 类似技术
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    • 专利摘要:
    ABSTRACT The present invention relates to a wheelchair brake assembly (10) comprising a seatbrake system (20) and a wheel frame brake system (30). The seat brake system (20) andthe wheel frame brake system (30) are separable from each other. The seat brake system(20) comprises a caregiver brake lever (21) and an actuating member (22), the caregiverbrake lever (21) being coupled to the actuating member (22). The wheel frame brakesystem (30) comprises a brake transmission assembly (35), a first brake mechanism (38)and a second brake mechanism (39) which are adapted to be provided on a first wheel(40) and a second wheel (41) of the wheelchair respectively. The brake transmissionassembly (35) is coupled to the first brake mechanism (38) and the second brakemechanism (39). The brake transmission assembly (35) comprises an actuating lever (31)having a first free end (32) and a second end (33). The second end (33) is coupled to thefirst brake mechanism (38) and the second brake mechanism (39). The actuating lever(31) is rotatable about an axis (A) perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of theactuating lever (31) and located between the first free end (32) and the second end (33) ofthe actuating lever (31), wherein the actuating member (22) is adapted to operate on thefirst free end (32) of the actuating lever (31) to cause the actuating lever (31) to rotate. (Figure for publication 1a) 21
    公开号:SE1650738A1
    申请号:SE1650738
    申请日:2016-05-27
    公开日:2017-11-28
    发明作者:Norlin Jan；Durå Pierre
    申请人:Autoadapt Ab；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    A WHEELCHAIR BRAKE ASSE|/IBLY AND A WHEELCHAIR COIVIPRISING THEWHEELCHAIR BRAKE ASSEMBLY TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a wheelchair brake assembly comprising a seat brakesystem and a wheel frame brake system and wherein the two systems are separable fromeach other. It further relates to a wheelchair comprising the wheelchair brake assembly.
    BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Vehicles can have seats, seat assemblies, or seat structures (hereinafter referred to asseating systems) adapted to address physical immobility or other issues with drivers andpassengers. Commonly, such a seating system is adapted to move the seat between adrive position in which the seat faces forward inside the vehicle and an access position inwhich the seat has rotated and is facing out of the vehicle door opening.
    For the immobilized person for whom a seating system of this kind is intended thewheelchair is the natural choice of transportation to and from the vehicle. ln furthermaking it easier to transfer the immobilized person from the wheelchair to the vehicle seatit is known to have a wheelchair, in which the seat can be separated from wheel frameand transferred to the seating system inside the vehicle. Thus the immobilized person canremain seated on the same seat during the entire transport, whether the seat makes up awheelchair or a seat of a seating system in a vehicle.
    A combined wheelchair and vehicle seat provides challenges in particular when it comesto the design of the brake system for the wheelchair. For example, the publishedJapanese patent application no. JP 2003 265536 A discloses a wheelchair wherein theseat can be separated from the wheel frame and a brake system for such a wheelchair.However, previous systems are limited in several ways. With a caregiver responsible forpushing the wheelchair with the immobilized person seated, a wheelchair brake systemhas to be provided that enables the caregiver to brake efficiently and safely. The brakesystem has to provide for an effective, smooth braking. At the same time, as the seat is separated from the wheel frame, the brake system will have to be separable into a seatsystem, and a wheel frame system. Thus, an efficient transmission mechanism of thebrake force between the two systems is desirable. A further challenge is that the featuresof the wheelchair brake assembly may have to be adapted not to interfere with thecrashworthiness of the seat when the seat is in the drive position inside the vehicle.Hence, there is a desire to address the above mentioned challenges and provide animproved wheelchair brake assembly that enables an easy attachment/detachment of theseat to and from a wheel frame, while at the same time enabling an efficient transmissionof the brake force and a smooth braking of the wheelchair.
    SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION lt is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide an improved wheelchairbrake assembly for a wheelchair with a seat that can be separated from the wheel frameand transferred to a seating system of a vehicle, to achieve an easy, efficient and smoothbraking action for the wheelchair.
    This and other objects may be achieved by the subject-matter of claim 1.
    A further object of the invention is to provide a wheelchair with a detachable seat that hasa wheelchair brake assembly which provides for an easy, efficient and smooth braking ofthe wheelchair. This and other objects may be achieved by the subject-matter of claim 12.
    Further embodiments are set forth in the appended dependent claims, in the followingdescription and in the drawings.
    The present invention described below eliminates or at least alleviate the short-comings ofthe prior art and provides a wheelchair brake assembly for a wheelchair wherein the seatcan be separated from the wheel frame. The wheelchair brake assembly comprises a seatbrake system and a wheel frame brake system. The seat brake system and the wheelframe brake system are separable from each other. The seat brake system comprises acaregiver brake lever and an actuating member, wherein the caregiver brake lever iscoupled to the actuating member. The wheel frame brake system comprises a braketransmission assembly and a first brake mechanism and a second brake mechanism,which are adapted to be provided on a first wheel and a second wheel of the wheelchairrespectively. The brake transmission assembly is coupled to the first brake mechanism and the second brake mechanism. The brake transmission assembly comprises anactuating lever having a first free end and a second end, wherein the second end iscoupled to the first brake mechanism and the second brake mechanism. The actuatinglever is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the Iongitudinal extension of the actuatinglever and located between the first free end and the second end of the actuating lever.The axis may preferably be located in a mid-portion of the actuating lever, more preferablyhalfway or substantially halfway between the first free end and the second end. Theactuating member of the seat brake system is adapted to operate on the first free end ofthe actuating lever to cause the second end of the actuating lever to rotate.
    By having a wheelchair brake assembly of this kind several advantageous effects may beachieved. The wheelchair brake assembly as disclosed herein provides a simple, yetrobust transmission mechanism of the braking action. A positive effect is the easiness bywhich the two systems can be attached to and detached from each other, wherein atattachment of the seat to the wheel frame, the actuating member is brought withinoperative range of the first free end of the actuating member.
    For a wheelchair provided with a wheelchair brake assembly as disclosed herein, thecaregiver brake lever may be arranged together with a handle of the wheelchair. Thecaregiver brake lever and handle may further be adapted to be retracted in a back pocketcomprised in the seat of the wheelchair.
    This has the positive effect that when the seat is separated from the wheel frame andtransferred to a seating system inside the vehicle, the caregiver brake lever and handlesmay be retracted into the seat back and covered with a protective flap and thus will notconstitute a potential harmful threat to a rear seat passenger for example in the event ofan accident.
    The wheelchair brake assembly as disclosed herein may be adapted to comprise asecond seat brake system, thus providing the wheelchair with two caregiver brake levers,and wherein the wheelchair brake assembly may further be adapted to comprise a secondbrake transmission assembly.
    As disclosed herein, the brake transmission assembly may further comprise a parkingbrake mechanism. The parking brake mechanism has an idle position and a brake position. The parking brake mechanism is in brake position adapted to operate on thesecond end of the actuating lever to cause the same to rotate. Simultaneously, the firstfree end of the actuating lever is decoupled from being operative by the actuating member.
    Thus, an advantage of comprising the parking brake mechanism as disclosed herein isthat the same brake mechanisms is used for braking via the seat brake system and foractivating the parking brake.
    The parking brake mechanism and the actuating member of the seat brake system asdisclosed herein are both adapted to operate on the actuating lever to cause the secondend of the same to rotate, and thereby activating the brake mechanisms.
    As disclosed herein, the parking brake mechanism may comprise a rotatable brake leverand a parking brake actuating member. The brake lever has a first end portion and asecond end portion. The parking brake actuating member has a first end portion and asecond end portion. The second end portion of the parking brake actuating member isadapted to operate on the second end of the actuating lever by means of a rotation of thebrake lever, wherein the parking brake actuating member is connected directly orindirectly to the brake lever. For example, the parking brake actuating member may beconnected via a linkage system to the brake lever.
    As disclosed herein, the parking brake mechanism may further comprise a linkage arm.The parking brake actuating member has a first leg comprising the first end portion of theparking brake actuating member and a second leg comprising the second end portion ofthe parking brake actuating member. The first leg of the parking brake actuating memberand the second leg of the parking brake actuating member are substantially perpendicularto each other. The parking brake actuating member is rotatable around an axis located atits first end portion. The linkage arm is at one end rotatably connected to the second endportion of the brake lever and at the opposite end rotatably connected to the parkingbrake actuating member such that rotating the first end portion of the brake lever causesthe parking brake actuating member to rotate and thereby causing the second end portionof the parking brake actuating member to operate on the second end of the actuatinglever to rotate the same.
    The linkage arm of the parking brake mechanism as disclosed herein may preferably beadapted to be substantially perpendicular to the first leg of the parking brake actuatingmember in idle position of the parking brake mechanism, and wherein the linkage arm isrotatable to form an angle of less than 90° in relation to the first leg of the parking brakeactuating member in brake position of the parking brake mechanism.
    The parking brake mechanism as disclosed herein may be provided with a locking recesswhich is adapted to retain the second end portion of the brake lever, in the brake positionof the parking brake mechanism at the angle of less than 90° between the linkage armand the first leg of the parking brake actuating member.
    A positive effect of having a parking brake mechanism of a kind disclosed herein is thatthe parking brake mechanism automatically locks or retains itself in brake position. Afurther advantage is that the parking brake mechanism can be activated and deactivatedusing one hand only. The parking brake mechanism is activated by rotating the brakelever which causes the brake mechanisms provided on the wheels to activate. The brakelever is retained in that rotated position. The parking brake mechanism is released simplyby force of hand reversing the rotation of the brake lever and bringing it back to its idleposition.
    The wheel frame brake assembly as disclosed herein may comprise a brake forcedistribution device. The brake force distribution device is couplable at one end to thesecond end of the actuating member and at the opposite end to the first brake mechanismand the second brake mechanism and is adapted to distribute a brake force transmittedfrom the brake transmission assembly to the first brake mechanism and the second brake mechanism.
    By having a brake force distribution device of a kind disclosed herein several positiveeffects are achieved. lt greatly simplifies and reduces the number of parts of thewheelchair brake assembly as disclosed herein, since it enables the use of a single seatbrake system and single brake transmission assembly, and further provides an efficientsmooth braking of the wheelchair.
    As disclosed herein, the brake force distribution device may preferably comprise ahousing and a balance element, wherein the balance element is located within thehousing. The balance element has a first end edge facing a first end of the housing and has a second end edge facing a second end of the housing. The balance element furtherhas a first outer side edge and a second outer side edge both of which extends at leastpartly between the first end edge and the second end edge of the balance element. Thefirst outer side edge and the second outer side edge has a convex shape, wherein at leasta section of the first outer side edge and at least a section of the second outer side edgeis adapted to abut a first inner wall and a second inner wall of the housing respectively,and wherein the balance element is rotatably displaceable in relation to the longitudinalaxis of the housing.
    As disclosed herein, the balance element has an extension along a symmetry axis of thebalance element. The symmetry axis extends between the first end edge and the secondend edge of the balance element. The first outer side edge and the second outer sideedge of the balance element may preferably have the shape of the minor arc of a circlewith a radius, wherein the radius is larger than the maximum of the extension along thesymmetry axis of the balance element, preferably between 1.1 and 4 times larger, morepreferably between 1.1 and 2.5 times larger, most preferred between 1.1 and 2 timeslarger.
    The balance element may preferably be made in a polymeric material, such as athermoplast. A preferred thermoplastic material may be polyamide. Other useful materialsmay be composites of polymers and reinforcing materials, e.g. fibers or particles, forexample polyamide comprising glasfibers. The balance element may also preferably be made of a metallic material. A preferred metallic material may be zinc.
    Using a polymeric material, such as polyamide for the balance element, provides a light-weight, yet tough and resistant balance element. Further it provides easy manufacturingand low manufacturing costs as thermoplastic polymers can be formed into a desiredshape by production methods such as 3D-printing and injection molding.
    The first brake mechanism and the second brake mechanism of the wheelchair brakeassembly as disclosed herein may preferably comprise disc brakes.
    By having disc brakes in the wheel brake assembly as disclosed herein severaladvantages are achieved. lt is advantageous to use this type of brake since it provides anefficient brake force to be generated in response to a small stroke generated by somekind of braking actuating member. Thus, using disc brakes in the wheelchair brake assembly as disclosed herein contributes to the efficiency of the wheelchair brakeassembly, and of the brake transmission assembly in particular. A further positive effect isthat it provides for an effective safe braking of the wheelchair. Other types of brakemechanisms with similar characteristics as disc brakes may represent equallyadvantageous plausible brake mechanisms for a wheel brake assembly as disclosed herein.
    BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be further explained hereinafter by means of non-limitingexamples and with reference to the appended drawings wherein: Fig. 1a shows a wheelchair comprising a wheelchair brake assembly as disclosedherein; Fig. 1b shows the wheelchair with the seat separated and a seat brake system anda wheel frame system as disclosed herein in a separated state; Fig. 2a shows a brake transmission assembly as disclosed herein and comprisinga parking brake mechanism as disclosed herein in idle position; Fig. 2b shows a brake transmission assembly as disclosed herein and comprisinga parking brake mechanism as disclosed herein in brake position; Fig. 2c shows a brake transmission assembly as disclosed herein and comprisinga parking brake mechanism as disclosed herein in brake position; Fig. 3a shows a brake force distributor device as disclosed herein; and Fig. 3b shows a brake force distributor device as disclosed herein.
    DETAILED DESCRIPTION lt is to be understood that the drawings are schematic and that individual components are not necessarily drawn to scale.
    With reference to Fig 1a, a wheelchair 100 is disclosed for which a wheelchair brakeassembly 10 of a kind disclosed in the present disclosure may be advantageous. Thewheelchair brake assembly 10 of the present disclosure is adapted for being provided ona wheelchair 100 with a detachable seat 101. Fig. 1b discloses the seat 101 of thewheelchair separated from the wheel frame 102. With reference to Figs. 1a and 1b, awheelchair brake assembly 10 as set out in the present disclosure is disclosed. Thewheelchair brake assembly 10 comprises a seat brake system 20 and a wheel framebrake system 30. The seat brake system 20 and the wheel frame brake system 30 areseparable from each other. The seat brake system 20 is adapted to be provided on thedetachable seat 101 of the wheelchair 100.
    The seat brake system 20 comprises a caregiver brake lever 21 and an actuating member22, the caregiver brake lever 21 being coupled to the actuating member 22. The caregiverbrake lever 21 may preferably be arranged together with a handle 61 of the wheelchair. lnFigs. 1a and 1b a single caregiver brake lever 21 and actuating member 22 are depicted.However, the wheelchair brake assembly as disclosed herein may be adapted tocomprise a second seat brake system, thus providing the wheelchair with two caregiverbrake levers. The caregiver brake lever 21 is disclosed in Figs. 1a and 1b as beingarranged together with a handle 61 of the wheelchair. Further, the caregiver brake lever21 and the handle 61 are disclosed as being arranged in a back pocket 62 comprised inthe seat 101. The caregiver brake lever 21 and the handle 61 may preferably be adaptedto be retractable in the back pocket 62, and covered with a protective cover 63. Hence,when the seat is used in the seating system inside the vehicle the caregiver brake lever21 and handle 61 may be retracted inside the back pocket 62 comprised in the seat 101and secured underneath the protective cover 63, thus leaving no protruding objects facingthe rear seat of the vehicle which could be potentially harmful to a rear seat passenger inthe event of an accident. The caregiver brake lever 21 is coupled to the actuating member22 by means of a connecting wire 23. The connecting wire 23 is depicted as extendingalong the exterior surface of the seat, but is preferably integrated into the seat. A positiveeffect of this arrangement of the seat brake system 20 is that it contributes to a safe seat.The actuating member 22 is arranged on the lower section of the seat and is rotatablyconnected to the same such that pressing the caregiver brake lever 21 will cause the actuating member to rotate.
    The wheel frame brake system 30 is adapted to be provided on the wheel frame 102 ofthe wheelchair 100. The wheel frame brake system 30 comprises a brake transmission assembly 35 and a first 38 and a second 39 brake mechanism. The brake mechanismsare adapted to be provided on a first 40 and a second 41 wheel of the wheelchairrespectively. The brake transmission assembly 35 is coupled to the first 38 and thesecond 39 brake mechanisms by means of connecting wires 24, 25 respectively. Thebrake mechanisms may preferably comprise disc brakes. A disc brake is a type of brakethat is adapted to provide an efficient brake force in response to a small stroke generatedby some kind of brake activating member. However, other types of brake mechanismswith corresponding characteristics as disc brakes may represent equally plausible brakemechanisms.
    The brake transmission assembly 35 is preferably arranged at an upper side edge guide13 of the wheel frame 102, as shown in Figs. 1a and 1b, such that when the seat 101 isattached to the wheel frame 102 the actuating member 22 of the seat brake system 20 iswithin operable range of a first free end 32 comprised in the brake transmission assembly35.
    With reference to Figs. 2a to 2c, the brake transmission assembly 35 will be described inmore detail. The brake transmission assembly 35 of the wheelchair brake assembly 10 asdisclosed herein comprises an actuating lever 31 having a first free end 32 and a secondend 33 couplable to the first 38 and the second 39 brake mechanisms. Further, theactuating lever 31 is rotatable about an axis A perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the actuating lever 31 and located between the first free end 32 and the second end 33.
    The axis A may preferably be located in a mid-portion of the actuating lever 31, morepreferably halfway or substantially halfway between the first free end 32 and the secondend 33. With the seat 101 attached to the wheel frame 102 an end portion 12 of theactuating member 22 (illustrated in Fig. 1b) and the first free end 32 of the actuating lever31 are brought in close proximity of each other. ln an idle position of the wheelchair brakeassembly 10, that is no braking action is performed, the actuating lever 31 extends in asubstantially vertical direction, as shown in Fig. 2a, and is not under influence of theactuating member 22. The actuating member 22 is however, as described previously in aposition enabling it to operate on the first free end 32 of the actuating lever 31 to causethe second end 33 of the actuating lever 31 to rotate around the axis A, if a braking actionis activated by pressing the caregiver brake lever 21 . ln a brake position of the wheelchairbrake assembly 10, as shown in Fig. 2b, the actuating member 22 of the seat brakesystem 20 has been rotated (not illustrated in Fig. 2b), whereby the end portion 12 of theactuating member 22 has displaced the first free end 32 of the actuating lever 31 and thereby rotated the actuating lever 31. The rotation of the actuating lever 31 causes thewires 24, 25 connected betvveen the brake mechanisms 38, 39 and the second end 33 ofthe actuating lever 31 to be tensioned since the connected second end 33 of the actuatinglever 31 is displaced from its idle position. Tensioning the connecting wires 24, 25 willactivate the brake mechanisms 38, 39. The activation of a brake mechanism of a kindapplicable to the wheelchair brake assembly 10 as disclosed herein, by means oftensioning a wire connected to the brake mechanism, is well known to a person skilled inthe art and will therefore not be explained in further detail herein.
    A braking action being initiated by pressing the caregiver brake lever 21 will activate thebrakes for as long as the caregiver brake lever 21 is pressed down. Releasing the handforce exerted on the caregiver brake lever 21 will reverse the interaction between theactuating member 22 and first free end 32 of the actuating member 31 which will return toits idle position.
    An embodiment of a wheelchair brake assembly 10 as disclosed herein, may be providedwith a second seat brake system 30 arranged on the seat 101 of the wheelchair 102, thusproviding two caregiver brake levers 21, and wherein a second brake transmissionassembly 35 may also be provided, wherein each brake transmission assembly 35 iscoupled to a respective brake mechanism which is adapted to be provided at a wheel ofthe wheelchair 100.
    The brake transmission assembly 35 as disclosed herein may preferably comprise aparking brake mechanism 300. With reference to Figs. 2a to 2c the parking brakemechanism 300 will be further explained. The parking brake mechanism 300 is adapted toinfluence the actuating lever 31 in the corresponding manner as the seat brake system 20does, and thus activating the same brake mechanisms 38, 39. Hence, the same brakemechanisms 38, 39 are used both for the caregiver brake function and for the parkingbrake function. The parking brake mechanism 300 has an idle position and a brakeposition, as shown in Figs. 2a and 2c respectively. As disclosed herein, the parking brakemechanism 300 is adapted to operate on the second end 33 of the actuating lever 31 tocause the actuating lever 31 to rotate around the axis A. This has the simultaneous effectof decoupling the first free end 32 of the actuating lever 31 from being operated on by theactuating member 22 of the seat brake system 20. Thus, pressing the caregiver brakelever 21 will not activate any braking action when the parking brake mechanism 300 is inthe brake position. The parking brake mechanism 300 is adapted to achieve the same rotation of the actuating lever 31 as pressing the caregiver brake lever 21 is adapted toachieve, while at the same time decoupling the seat brake system 20 from operating onthe brake transmission assembly 35 of the wheel brake system 30.
    A parking brake mechanism 300 as disclosed herein preferably comprises a rotatabiebrake lever 36 and a parking brake actuating member 34. The brake lever 36 is rotatablyattached to a mounting plate 301 of the brake transmission assembly 35. The mountingplate 301 is adapted to be fixated to the wheel frame 102 of the wheelchair 100. Further,the brake lever 36 has a first end portion 45 and a second end portion 37. As disclosed inFigs 2a and 2c, the second end portion 37 and the first end portion 45 of the brake lever36 extend substantially perpendicular to each other. The brake lever is rotatabie aroundan axis J that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the first 45 and second 37 endportions of the brake lever 36 and to the extension of the mounting plate 301. The firstend portion 45 of the rotatabie brake lever 36 comprises a handle intended to be grippedby hand and to be rotated. The parking brake actuating member 34 has a first leg 48comprising a first end portion 44 and a second leg 47 comprising a second end portion43. The first leg 48 and the second leg 47 of the parking brake actuating member 34 aresubstantially perpendicular to each other. The parking brake actuating member 34 isfurther rotatably attached to the other side of the mounting plate portion 301 and rotatabiearound an axis B perpendicular to the extension of the first leg 48 and located at the firstend portion 44 of the first leg 48. The second end portion 43 of the parking brakeactuating member 34 is adapted to operate on the second end 33 of the actuating lever31. This is achieved by having the parking brake actuating member 34 connected to thebrake lever 36 in such a way that rotating the first end portion 45 of the brake lever 36causes the second end 43 of the parking brake actuating member 34 to operate on thesecond end 33 of the actuating member. For a wheelchair brake assembly 10 asdisclosed herein, the parking brake actuating member 34 and the brake lever 36 may bedirectly or indirectly connected. The parking brake actuating member 34 and the brakelever 36 may preferably be connected via a linkage system. For a wheelchair brakeassembly 10 as disclosed herein, the parking brake actuating member 34 and the brakelever 36 may preferably be connected via a linkage arm 42 comprised in the parkingbrake mechanism 300. This linkage system will be described in further detail withreference to Figs 2a to 2c. However, further configurations of linkage systems may beprovided that operates to achieve the corresponding actions. 11 For a wheelchair brake assembly 10 as disclosed herein, the linkage arm 42 has alongitudinal extension with two opposing aligned end portions. The linkage arm 42 isfurther at one end rotatably connected to the second end portion 37 of the brake lever 36and at the opposing end rotatably connected to the parking brake actuating member 34,at a position on the parking brake actuating member 34 such that when the parking brakemechanism 300 is in the idle position, the longitudinal axis of the linkage arm 42 is alignedwith the longitudinal axis of second leg 47 of the parking brake actuating member 34 andthus perpendicuiar to the longitudinal axis of the first leg 48 of the parking brake actuatingmember 34. Furthermore, rotation of the first end 45 of the brake lever 36 to achieve thebrake position, will cause the linkage arm 42 to rotate in relation to the parking brakeactuating member 34 while at the same time cause the parking brake actuating member34 to rotate and the second end 43 of the parking brake actuating member 34 to operateon the second end 33 of the actuating lever 31 to rotate the actuating lever 31. Therebythe connecting wire from the second end 33 of the actuating lever 31 to the brakemechanisms will be tensioned and thus the brake mechanisms will be activated. Hence, inthe parking brake position, the linkage arm 42 forms an angle oi less than 90° in relation tothe first leg 48 of the parking brake actuating member 34. The configuration of the linkagesystem in this way has the advantageous effect of providing for an automatic locking ofthe parking brake mechanism 34 in the brake position.
    The parking brake actuating member 34 and the brake lever 36 may be viewed assubstantially L-shaped, being rotatable around separate points/axes B, J respectively, thatare substantially aligned on an line E extending through both rotation points/axis.Furthermore, in the idle position of the parking brake mechanism 300, the configuration issuch that the second leg 47 of the parking brake actuating member 34 and the secondend portion 37 of the brake lever 36, and the linkage arm 42 all are aligned andsubstantially parallel to the line E (extending through the rotatable coupling points for theparking brake actuating member 34 and brake lever 36 to the mounting plate 301respectively). The linkage arm 42 will transfer the rotation of the brake lever 36 to theparking brake actuating member 34 while at the same time rotate. Rotating the brakelever 36 such that the linkage arm 42 forms an angle oi of less than 90° in relation to thefirst leg 48 of the parking brake actuating member 34 will active the brake mechanismsand at the same time automatic lock or retain the configuration in this brake position. Thismay be most readily seen and understood by viewing the parking brake mechanism 300starting from the activated brakes, as depicted in Fig. 2c, that is, in the brake position ofthe parking brake mechanism 300. lmagining rotating the actuating lever 31 in opposite 12 direction (to the brake rotation direction of the actuating lever 31), that is, attempting todeactivate the brakes by pressing back on the second end portion 43 of the second leg 47of the parking brake actuating member 34, attempting to rotate the same, will actuallycause the linkage arm 42 to rotate further in the opposite direction, that is further into abrake position, further decreasing the angle oi betvveen the linkage arm 42 and the first leg48 of the parking brake actuating member 34, which in turn will lead to rotating the brakelever further in the braking direction. The automatic locking of the parking brakemechanism may only be released by rotating the first end portion of 45 of the brake lever36 in an opposite direction from brake position, that is returning the first end portion 45 ofthe brake lever 36 to its idle position, such that the mechanism returns to the idle position.
    For a wheelchair brake assembly 10 as disclosed herein, the parking brake mechanism300 may preferably be provided with a locking recess 63, which is provided for retainingthe second end 37 of the brake lever 36 at a predetermined angle d, which is less than90 °, between the linkage arm 42 and the first leg 48 of the parking brake actuatingmember 34 in the brake position. ln this way, the extent to which the parking brakeactuating member 34 is enabled to rotate the actuating lever 31 of the brake transmissionassembly 35, can be controlled and predetermined.
    A wheelchair brake assembly 10 as disclosed herein may preferably comprise a brakeforce distribution device 50. As shown in Fig. 1a, the brake force distribution device 50 isarranged in the wheel frame system 30 between the actuating lever 31 of the braketransmission assembly 35 and the first 38 and second 39 brake mechanisms in order todistribute the brake force. Thus, the brake force distribution device 50 is coupled at oneend to the second end 33 of the actuating lever 31 by means of a connecting wire 26, andat an opposite end to the first 38 and second 39 brake mechanisms by means of a first 24and second 25 connecting wire respectively.
    A brake force distribution device 50 as disclosed herein, contributes to a simplified, lesscomplicated wheelchair brake assembly 10, since it enables the use of a single caregiverbrake lever 61 and a single brake transmission assembly 35 and further provides anefficient smooth braking of the wheelchair 100.
    With reference to Figs. 3a and 3b, a brake force distribution device 50 adapted to operatein a wheelchair brake assembly 10 as disclosed herein will be explained in further detail. 13 However, a brake force distribution device 50 as disclosed herein is not thereby limited tothe application of a wheelchair brake assembly 10 for a wheelchair 100 with a detachableseat 101. lt is to be understood that the brake force distribution device 50 as disclosedherein may preferably also be used in other applications. For example, it can be providedto improve brake systems for regular wheelchairs with non-detachable seats.
    The brake force distribution device 50 comprises a housing 53 and a balance element 54.The balance element 54 is located within the housing 53. ln Figs. 3a and 3b, the housing53 is depicted having a rectangular shape. The housing 53 may however have anothershape and form. The housing 53 can alternatively have a substantially square shape forexample. The housing comprises a first 57 and a second 58 inner wall which extendsbetween the first end 51 and the second end 52 of the housing 53. The housing 53 isclosed by attaching a cover to it, however in Figs 3a and 3b the housing 53 is depictedwithout the cover to enable viewing the balance element 54 inside. A first end 51 of thehousing 53 comprises an aperture 530 intended as a passage for the connecting wire 26from the actuating lever 31. Similarly, a second end 52 of the housing 53 comprises twoapertures 531, 532 intended as passages for the connecting wires 24, 25 from the first 38and the second 39 brake mechanisms respectively.
    For the brake distribution device 50 as disclosed herein, the balance element 54 has afirst end edge 59 facing the first end 51 of the housing 53 and a second end edge 60facing the second end 52 of the housing 53. The balance element 54 further has a first 55and a second 56 outer side edges extending at least partly between the first 59 and thesecond 60 end edges of the balance element 54. The first outer side edge 55 and thesecond outer side edge 56 of the balance element 54 has a convex shape. At least asection of the first 55 and second 56 outer side edges respectively are adapted to abutthe first 57 and the second 58 inner walls of the housing 53, which enables the balanceelement 54 to be rotatably displaceable in relation to the longitudinal axis D of the housing53.
    A balance element 54 as disclosed herein has an extension k along a symmetry axis C ofthe balance element 54 which symmetry axis C extends between the first end edge 59and the second end edge 60 of the balance element 54. The first outer side edge 55 andthe second outer side edge 56 of the balance element 54 may preferably have the shapeof the minor arc of a circle with a radius R, the radius R being larger than a maximum ofthe extension k, preferably between 1.1 and 4 times larger, more preferably between 1.1and 2.5 times larger, most preferred 1.2 and 2 times. 14 The connecting wires 26, 24, 25 from the actuating lever 31 and the first 38 and second39 brake mechanisms respectively run through an individual aperture in the housing 53 asdescribed above and are adapted to be attached to the balance element 54. The balanceelement 54 comprises wire attachment recesses 70, 72, 74 adapted to attach an end of aconnecting wire. The wire attachment recess 70, 72, 74 merges into a wire passage 71,73, 75 respectively, which wire passages 71, 73, 75 extends to either the first end edge59 or the second end edge 60 of the balance element 54.
    The connecting wire 26 from the second end 33 of the actuating lever 31 is attached tothe first wire attachment recess 70 which preferably is positioned centrally in the balanceelement 54 on or in close proximity of the symmetry axis C of the balance element 54which extends between the first end edge 59 and the second end edge 60 of the balanceelement 54, such that the balance element 54 may be rotatably displaceable in relation tothe longitudinal axis D of the housing 53 without substantially moving or displacing thewire attachment recess 70. The first wire attachment recess 70 merges into a first wirepassage 71 extending to the first end edge 59 of the balance element 54. The connectingwires 24, 25 to the first 38 and second 39 brake mechanisms are attached at a second 72and a third 74 wire attachment recesses respectively. The second 72 and third 74 wireattachment recesses may preferably be located at a substantially equal distance from,and on opposite sides of the first wire attachment recess 70 respectively. The second 72and third 74 wire attachment recesses merges into a second 73 and third 75 wire passagerespectively, both of which extends to the second end edge 60 of the balance element 54.The wire passages may preferably have a tapered cross sectional shape, the wirepassages being the narrowest at the corresponding wire attachment recess and being thewidest at the end edge of the balance element 54. ln this way the attached wire is allowedto move inside the wire passage without getting stuck or work against the rotationaldisplacement of the balance element 54.
    Hence, a brake force is transferred from the second end 33 of the actuating lever 31 viathe connecting wire 26, which runs through the aperture 530 at the first end 51 of housingand the first wire passage 71 and ends in the wire attachment recess 70, to the balanceelement 54, which distributes the brake force to the connecting wires 24, 25 that runsfrom the second 72 and third 74 wire attachment recesses respectively, through thesecond 73 and third 75 wire passages respectively, and through a respective aperture 531, 532 at the second end 52 of the housing 53 to the first 38 and second 39 brakemechanisms respectively. Since the balance element 54 is rotatably displaceable to thelongitudinal axis D of the housing 53, depending on the resistance in the connecting wiresfrom the brake mechanisms respectively, the braking force will be distributed to achieve asmooth braking.
    The balance element 54 may preferably be made in a polymeric material, such as athermoplast. A preferred thermoplastic material may be polyamide. Other useful materialsmay be composites of polymers and reinforcing materials, e.g. fibers or particles, forexample polyamide comprising glasfibers. The balance element 54 may preferably bemade of a metallic material. A preferred metallic material may be zink.
    Using a polymeric material such as polyamide for the balance element 54, provides alight-weight, yet tough and resistant balance brake element 54. Further it provides foreasy manufacturing and low manufacturing costs as thermoplastic polymers can beformed into a desired shape by production methods such as 3D-printing and injectionmolding. 16
    权利要求:
    Claims (1)
    [1] 1. A wheelchair brake assembly (10) comprising a seat brake system (20) and awheel frame brake system (30), said seat brake system (20) and said wheel framebrake system (30) being separable from each other, said seat brake system (20) comprising a caregiver brake lever (21) and anactuating member (22), said caregiver brake lever (21) being coupled to saidactuating member (22), said wheel frame brake system (30) comprising a brake transmission assembly(35), a first brake mechanism (38) and a second brake mechanism (39) which areadapted to be provided on a first wheel (40) and a second wheel (41) of saidwheelchair respectively, said brake transmission assembly (35) being coupled tosaid first brake mechanism (38) and said second brake mechanism (39),characterized in that said brake transmission assembly (35) comprises an actuating lever (31) having afirst free end (32) and a second end (33), said second end (33) being coupled tosaid first brake mechanism (38) and said second brake mechanism (39), saidactuating lever (31) being rotatable about an axis (A) perpendicular to thelongitudinal extension of said actuating lever (31) and located between said firstfree end (32) and said second end (33) of said actuating lever (31), wherein saidactuating member (22) of said seat brake system (20) is adapted to operate onsaid first free end (32) of said actuating lever (31) to cause said actuating lever(31) to rotate. A wheelchair brake assembly (10) according to claim 1, wherein said braketransmission assembly (35) comprises a parking brake mechanism (300), saidparking brake mechanism (300) having an idle position and a brake position,wherein said parking brake mechanism (300) in said brake position is adapted tooperate on said second end (33) of said actuating lever (31) to cause said secondend (33) of said actuating lever (21) to rotate and simultaneously decouple saidfirst free end (32) of said actuating lever (31) from being operative by saidactuating member (22). A wheelchair brake assembly (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that saidparking brake mechanism (300) comprises a rotatable brake lever (36) having a 17 first end portion (45) and a second end portion (37), and a parking brake actuatingmember (34) having a first end portion (44) and a second end portion (43), saidsecond end portion (43) of said parking brake actuating member (34) beingadapted to operate on said second end (33) of said actuating lever (31) by meansof a rotation of said brake lever (36), wherein said parking brake actuating member(34) is connected directly or indirectly to said brake lever (36). _ A wheelchair brake assembly (10) according to c|aim 3, wherein said parking brake actuating member (34) is connected via a linkage system to said brake lever(36). _ A wheelchair brake system (10) according to c|aim 3 or 4, characterized in that said parking brake mechanism (300) comprises a linkage arm (42), said parkingbrake actuating member (34) having a first leg (48) comprising said first endportion (44) of said parking brake actuating member (34) and a second leg (47)comprising said second end portion (43) of said parking brake actuating member(34), said first leg (47) and said second leg (48) of said parking brake actuatingmember (34) being substantially perpendicular to each other, said parking brakeactuating member (34) being rotatable around an axis (B) located at said first endportion (44), said linkage arm (42) being at one end rotatably connected to saidsecond end portion (37) of said brake lever (36) and at the other end rotatablyconnected to said parking brake actuating member (34), such that rotating saidfirst end portion (45) of said brake lever (36) causes said parking brake actuatingmember (34) to rotate and thereby causing said second end portion (43) of saidparking brake actuating member (34) to operate on said second end (33) of saidactuating lever (31) to cause said actuating lever (31) to rotate. _ A wheelchair brake assembly (10) according to c|aim 5, characterized in that in said idle position of said parking brake mechanism (300), said linkage arm (42) issubstantially perpendicular to said first leg (48) of said parking brake actuatingmember (34), and wherein said linkage arm (42) is rotatable to form an angle (d)of less than 90° in relation to said first leg (48) of said parking brake actuatingmember (34) in said brake position of said parking brake mechanism (300). 18 7. 10. A wheelchair brake assembly (10) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in thatsaid parking brake mechanism (300) is provided with a locking recess (63)adapted to retain said second end portion (37) of said brake lever (36), in saidbrake position of said parking brake mechanism (300), at said angle (oi) of lessthan 90° between said linkage arm (42) and said first leg (48) of said parking brakeactuating member (34). A wheelchair brake assembly (10) according to any one of the preceding claims,characterized in that said wheel frame brake system (30) comprises a brake forcedistribution device (50), said brake force distribution device (50) being couplable atone end to said second end (33) of said actuating member (31) and at an oppositeend to said first brake mechanism (38) and said second brake mechanism (39)and being adapted to distribute a brake force transmitted from said braketransmission assembly (35) to said first brake mechanism (38) and said secondbrake mechanism (39). A wheelchair brake assembly (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that saidbrake force distribution device (50) comprises a housing (53) and a balanceelement (54), said balance element (54) being located within said housing (53),said balance element (54) having a first end edge (59) facing a first end (51) ofsaid housing (53) and having a second end edge (60) facing a second end (52) ofsaid housing (53), said balance element (54) further having a first outer side edge(55) and a second outer side edge (56) extending at least partly between said firstend edge (59) and said second end edge (60) of said balance element (54),wherein said first outer side edge (55) and said second outer side edge (56) havea convex shape, and wherein at least a section of said first outer side edge (55)and at least a section of said second outer side edge (56) respectively is adaptedto abut a first inner wall (57) and a second inner wall (58) of said housing (53)respectively, and wherein said balance element (54) is rotatably displaceable inrelation to the longitudinal axis (D) of said housing (53). A wheel chair brake assembly (10) according to claim 9, wherein said balanceelement (54) has an extension (k) along a symmetry axis (C) of said balanceelement (54) which symmetry axis (C) extends betvveen said first end edge (59)and said second end edge (60) of said balance element (54), and wherein said 19 11 12. 13. first outer side edge (55) and said second outer side edge (56) of said balanceelement (54) have the shape of the minor arc of a circle with a radius (R), saidradius (R) being larger than a maximum of said extension (k), preferably between1.1 and 4 times larger, more preferably between 1.1 and 2.5 times larger, mostpreferred 1.1 and 2 times larger. _ A wheelchair brake assembly (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first brake mechanism (38) and said second brakemechanism (39) comprise disc brakes. A wheelchair (100) comprising a wheelchair brake assembly (10) according to anyone of the preceding claims. A wheelchair (100) according to claim 12, further comprising a handle (61)arranged at the back of a seat (101) of said wheelchair (100), said caregiver brakelever (21) being arranged together with said handle (61), said caregiver brakelever (21) and said handle (61) being adapted to be retractable in a back pocket(62) comprised in said seat (101) of said wheelchair (100).
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    EP3463241B1|2020-05-20|
    SE539798C2|2017-12-05|
    US20190290515A1|2019-09-26|
    WO2017202905A1|2017-11-30|
    EP3463241A1|2019-04-10|
    US10736800B2|2020-08-11|
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    GB1442805A|1973-05-22|1976-07-14|Hille Int Ltd|Wheel chair chassis|
    US4480720A|1979-09-08|1984-11-06|Shimano Industrial Company Limited|Brake operating device for a bicycle|
    US5540304A|1993-06-24|1996-07-30|Hawkins; Rollin D.|Single-handled vehicle brake system|
    DE9309593U1|1993-06-29|1994-11-03|Bock Orthopaed Ind|Wheelchair brake|
    DE19712453A1|1997-03-25|1998-10-08|Sorg Rollstuhltechnikgmbh & Co|Wheelchair lever brake acting on wheels by shaft|
    US6471231B1|2001-08-03|2002-10-29|Todd L. Hargroder|Electric brake system for manual wheelchairs|
    JP2003265536A|2002-03-19|2003-09-24|Nansei:Kk|Wheelchair hand brake mechanism|
    JP4290499B2|2003-07-18|2009-07-08|トヨタ車体株式会社|Seat device and vehicle seat using the same|
    TWM364652U|2009-03-10|2009-09-11|Wen-Chih Tseng|Safety brake|
    KR20100112382A|2009-04-09|2010-10-19|최동근|A wheelchair with detachable chair|
    JP5453360B2|2010-11-24|2014-03-26|フランスベッド株式会社|Wheelchair with brake|WO2020000026A1|2018-06-25|2020-01-02|Casey, Sarah|A multi-way cable tensioning system for chair control|
    法律状态:
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    SE1650738A|SE539798C2|2016-05-27|2016-05-27|A wheelchair brake assembly and a wheelchair comprising the wheelchair brake assembly|SE1650738A| SE539798C2|2016-05-27|2016-05-27|A wheelchair brake assembly and a wheelchair comprising the wheelchair brake assembly|
    PCT/EP2017/062529| WO2017202905A1|2016-05-27|2017-05-24|A wheelchair brake assembly and a wheelchair comprising the wheelchair brake assembly|
    EP17725267.3A| EP3463241B1|2016-05-27|2017-05-24|A wheelchair brake assembly and a wheelchair comprising the wheelchair brake assembly|
    US16/304,464| US10736800B2|2016-05-27|2017-05-24|Wheelchair brake assembly and a wheelchair comprising the wheelchair brake assembly|
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