GB2481059A

GB2481059A - A quick-release coupling for securing an auxiliary drive assembly to a manually operated wheelchair

Info

Publication number: GB2481059A
Application number: GB1009790.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chien-Liang Chiu
Original assignee: Wu's Tech Co Ltd
Current assignee: Wu's Tech Co Ltd
Priority date: 2010-06-11
Filing date: 2010-06-11
Publication date: 2011-12-14
Also published as: GB201009790D0

Abstract

A quick-release coupling for securing an auxiliary drive assembly [05, Fig. 4] to a manually operated wheelchair [06, Fig. 4] comprises a pair of sliding bolts 20 which are housed within a hollow sleeve 10 of the driving assembly and wherein the bolts 20 are normally biased, e.g. by spring 30, to extend from ends of the shaft and into engagement with the wheelchair, preferably via mounting members 07 attached to the frame. The bolts 20 can be released from engagement with the wheelchair by pushing a handle 40 which causes the bolts 20 to retract into the hollow shaft against the bias. The bolts 20 each have a driving section 22 formed by an angled bore 221 passing through each bolt 20, with each bore receiving one of a pair of diverging arms 42 extending from the handle 40 . Movement of the handle 40 towards or away from the hollow shaft 10 results in the handle arms 42 driving the bolts along the hollow shaft.

Description

A QUICK-RELEASE MECHANISM OF ASSEMBLY STRUCTURE

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a quick-release mechanism, and more particularly to an innovative one which enables assembly, positioning and disengagement of assembly structure and wheelchair.

Description of Related Art

The currently available wheelchairs are categorized into human-operated and electrical wheelchairs; in order to meet the expectations of the users who intend to update human-operated wheelchair to electrical one without any waste, an auxiliary drive device has been developed and installed onto existing wheelchair for driving auxiliarily its movement.

However, it is observed from actual application that, the assembly structure of said auxiliary drive device is inconvenient to be combined with or disengaged from the wheelchair, so there is still a big room for improvement. In the present invention, a quick-release mechanism enables assembly, positioning and disengagement of the assembly structure and wheelchair, making it possible to transport, store and carry the wheelchair, or when the auxiliary drive device cannot be used in special circumstances, it can be disassembled, allowing to resume the operating state of human-operated wheelchair so as to meet the user demands.

Thus, to overcome the aforementioned problems of the prior art, it would be an advancement if the art to provide an improved structure that can significantly improve the efficacy.

Therefore, the inventor has provided the present invention of practicability after deliberate design and evaluation based on years of experience in the production, development and design of related products.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The enhanced efficacy of the present invention is as follows: The "quick-release mechanism" of the present invention mainly comprises said exterior sleeve, expansion link section, elastic part and brake; it is characterized by that, the driving section of the brake can drive the expansion link section, making it in positioning or release state. With this simple structure, the users can dismantle or operate the device easily in either positioning or release mode.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of quick-release mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a plane view of quick-release mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view that the quick-release mechanism of the present invention is mounted at the assembly position.

FIG. 4 shows a combination state view of the assembly structure and wheelchair of the present invention(combination of auxiliary drive device and wheelchair).

FIG. 5 shows a plane sectional view that the quick-release mechanism of the present invention is mounted at the assembly position..

FIG. 6 shows a plane sectional view that the quick-release mechanism of the present invention is disengaged from the assembly position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 2 depict preferred embodiments of a quick-release mechanism of assembly structure of the present invention, which, however, are provided for only explanatory objective for patent claims. Said assembly structure 05 is mounted onto the assembly position 07 of a wheelchair 06 (shown in FIGS. 3, 4), while the quick-release mechanism A is used to control the positioning and release mode of the assembly structure 05 and wheelchair 06; said quick-release mechanism A comprising at least: an exterior sleeve 10 in a hollow shape, used to define a holding space 11 and two end ports 12; two expansion link sections 20, arranged at interval into the holding space 11 of the exterior sleeve 10; a positioning end 21 is formed externally onto the expansion link section 20, and can be protruded from the end port 12 of the exterior sleeve 10; a threading portion of driving section 22, including a driven portion 220 and through-hole 221; the driven portion 220 is arranged onto the expansion link section 20, and the through-hole 221 passes through the exterior sleeve 10; at least an elastic part 30, arranged into the holding space 11 of the exterior sleeve 10, enabling resettability of the expansion link section 20; a brake 40, including an adjusting portion 41 and two driving sections 42; and these two driving sections 42 are extended obliquely and symmetrically to define a tapered reducing end 421 and a tapered expanding end 422; the adjusting portion 41 is formed at either tapered reducing end 421 or tapered expanding end 422 of two driving sections 42; these two driving sections 42 are sleeved vertically onto the threading portion of driving section 22 in a limited state; when the adjusting portion 41 of the brake 40 is pushed, the driving section 42 of said brake 40 is mated with the driven portion 220 of the threading portion of driving section 22, such that the brake 40 can push the expansion link section 20 to control the actuating state of the positioning end 21 in positioning or release mode.

Of which, the adjusting portion 41 is formed at the tapered reducing end 421 of two driving sections 42, and the elastic part 30 is linked to inner ends of two expansion link sections 20, such that the expansion link section 20 is pushed elastically towards the end port 12 of the exterior sleeve 10; when the adjusting portion 41 of the brake 40 is pressed, the expansion link section 20 is in a recessed state, such that the positioning end 21 of the expansion link section is disengaged from the assembly position 07, and the elastic part 30 is pressed to accumulate elastic force; when the pressing state is released, the expansion link section 20 is pushed elastically by the elastic part 30 to move outwards.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, 5, the assembly position 07 is provided with an oblique guide surface 071 and a lateral positioning port 072; when the quick-release mechanism A of said assembly structure 05 and the assembly position 07 are in a positioning state, the positioning end 21 of the expansion link section 20 is abutted onto the oblique guide surface 071, and the quick-release mechanism A is pushed towards the lateral positioning port 072, such that the expansion link section 20 can apply the oblique guide surface 071 to press the elastic part 30 for accumulating the elastic force; when the positioning end 21 of the expansion link section 20 is smoothly slid into said lateral positioning port 072 by passing the oblique guide surface 071, the elastic force of the elastic part 30 is released to push two expansion link sections 20 outwards and position securely onto the lateral positioning port 072, so the assembly structure and wheelchair 06 can be positioned; as the assembly structure 05 as an auxiliary drive device can be combined with the wheelchair in a positioning state.

Based on above-specified structural design, the present invention is operated as follows: The assembly state of said quick-release mechanism A and assembly position 07 is shown in FIG. 5; when the assembly structure 05 is to be disassembled (as shown in FIG. 6), the adjusting portion 41 of the brake 40 is pressed so that the driving section 42 can be mated with the expansion link section 20, making the expansion link section 20 in a retraction state; then, the positioning end 21 of the expansion link section 20 is disengaged from the lateral positioning port 072 of the assembly position 07, so the auxiliary drive device can be shifted out of the wheelchair in a release state.

Additionally, the technical characteristics of the present invention are described in detail. In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the adjusting portion 41 is formed at the tapered reducing end 421 of two driving sections 42, or at tapered expanding end 422 of two driving sections 42. In such case, the brake 40 can be released in a reverse way (by pulling the adjusting portion 41 other than by pressing the adjusting portion 41), thus dismantling easily the assembly structure 05.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A quick-release mechanism of assembly structure, wherein said assembly structure is mounted onto the assembly position of a wheelchair, and the quick-release mechanism is used to control the positioning and release mode of the assembly structure and wheelchair; said quick-release mechanism comprising at least: an exterior sleeve in a hollow shape, used to define a holding space and two end ports; two expansion link sections, arranged at interval into the holding space of the exterior sleeve; a positioning end is formed externally onto the expansion link section, and can be protruded from the end port of the exterior sleeve; a threading portion of driving section, including a driven portion and through-hole; the driven portion is arranged onto the expansion link section, and the through-hole passes through the exterior sleeve; at least an elastic part, arranged into the holding space of the exterior sleeve, enabling resettability of the expansion link section; a brake, including an adjusting portion and two driving sections; these two driving sections are extended obliquely and symmetrically to define a tapered reducing end and a tapered expanding end; the adjusting portion is formed at either tapered reducing end or tapered expanding end of two driving sections; these two driving sections are sleeved vertically onto the threading portion of driving section in a limited state; when the adjusting portion of the brake is pushed, the driving section of said brake is mated with the driven portion of the threading portion, such that the brake can push the expansion link section to control the actuating state of the positioning end in positioning or release mode.
2. The structure defined in Claim 1, wherein the adjusting portion is formed at the tapered reducing end of two driving sections, and the elastic part is linked to inner ends of two expansion link sections, such that the expansion link section is pushed elastically towards the end port of the exterior sleeve; when the adjusting portion of the brake is pressed, the expansion link section is in a recessed state, and the elastic part is pressed to accumulate elastic force; when the pressing state is released, the expansion link section is pushed elastically by the elastic part to move outwards.
3. The structure defined in Claim 1, wherein the driven portion of the threading portion is designed to be mated with the driving section of the brake, and the driven portion aligns with the through-hole of the exterior sleeve.
4. The structure defined in Claim 1, wherein the assembly position is provided with an oblique guide surface and lateral positioning port.
5. The structure defined in Claim 1, wherein said assembly structure is mainly used as an auxiliary drive device.Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS: 1. A quick-release coupling for securing an auxiliary drive assembly to wheelchair, wherein said auxiliary drive assembly is mounted in an assembled position on a wheelchair, and the quick-release coupling is used to control the positioning and release mode of the auxiliary drive assembly with the wheelchair; said quick-release coupling comprising at least: a hollow exterior sleeve, used to define a holding space and two end ports; two spaced extendable link sections, in the holding space of the exterior sleeve; a positioning end eachexpansion link section, that can be protruded from the end port of the exterior sleeve; a threading portion of driving section, including a driven portion and through-hole; the driven portion is arranged onto the extendable link sections, and the through-hole passes through the exterior sleeve; an elastic part, arranged in the holding space of the exterior sleeve, enabling resettability of the extendable link sections; a brake, including an adjusting portion and two driving sections; these two driving sections extending obliquely and symmetrically to define a tapered reducing end and a tapered expanding end; the adjusting portion being formed at either tapered reducing end or tapered expanding end of two driving sections; these two driving sections being sleeved vertically on the threading portion of driving section in a limited state; and, when the adjusting portion of the brake is pushed, the driving section of said brake is mated with the driven portion of the threading portion, such that the brake can push the expandable link sections to control the actuating state of the positioning end in positioning or release mode.2. The coupling defined in Claim 1, wherein the adjusting portion is formed at the tapered reducing end of two driving sections, and the elastic part is linked to the inner ends of the two expandable link sections, such that the expandable link sections are pushed elastically towards the end port of the exterior sleeve and, when the adjusting portion of the brake is pressed, the expandable link sections and in a recessed state, and the elastic part is compressed to accumulate an elastic force and, when the pressing state is released, the expansion link sections are pushed elastically by the elastic part to move outwards.3. The coupling defined in Claim 1, wherein the driven portion of the threading portion is designed to be mated with the driving section of the brake, and the driven portion aligns with the through-hole of the exterior sleeve.4. The coupling defined in Claim 1, wherein the assembly position on the wheelchair is provided with an oblique guide surface and lateral positioning port, which the positioning end of a link section is arranged to cooperate with.5. The coupling defined in Claim 1, wherein said assembly structure is mainly used as an auxiliary drive device.