US 12,433,805 B2
Manual wheelchair propulsion aid device using mechanical self-energizing action
Sei-Bum Choi, Daejeon (KR); and Min-Hyun Kim, Daejeon (KR)
Assigned to KAIST (KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY), Daejeon (KR)
Filed by KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology), Daejeon (KR)
Filed on Dec. 24, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/561,771.
Application 17/561,771 is a continuation of application No. PCT/KR2020/008310, filed on Jun. 26, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2019-0076242 (KR), filed on Jun. 26, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0117807 A1, Apr. 21, 2022
Int. Cl. A61G 5/04 (2013.01); A61G 5/10 (2006.01); B60L 50/60 (2019.01)
CPC A61G 5/047 (2013.01) [A61G 5/1078 (2016.11); B60L 50/60 (2019.02); B60L 2200/34 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A propulsion assist device detachable to a manual wheelchair, comprising:
a main body;
a handle provided on one end of the main body;
a wheel operatively connected to another end of the main body and driven by a motor;
a coupling unit for detachably connecting the main body to the manual wheelchair; and
a wheel connection unit assisting operation of the wheel in a self-energizing manner, one end of the wheel connection unit being connected to the other end of the main body, and, to another end of the wheel connection unit, the wheel being rotatably connected,
wherein the wheel connection unit includes:
a base member extending in a direction perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the wheel and fixed to the main body;
a first link having one end connected to one end of the base member for rotational movement, and the rotational movement being limited by interference with the base member in a partial range; and,
a second link rotating in a direction opposite to a direction of rotation of the wheel when accelerating the manual wheelchair, rotational motion of the second link being limited to a partial range by interference with the base member or the first link, whereby providing a self-energizing effect to the wheel,
wherein the rotational motion of the first link and the second link is mechanically limited by direct interference with the base member to amplify a normal load on the wheel and
wherein the self-energizing effect is provided in both forward and reverse acceleration directions of the manual wheelchair.