Wheelchair transporter
The present invention is a device adapted to transport wheelchairs. The device comprises a body, a motor driven wheel coupled to the body, and a hitch mechanism coupled to the body. The hitch mechanism includes a first wheelchair engagement member displaceable relative to rest of the hitch mechanism.
1 . A device adapted to transport wheelchairs, the device comprising:
a body;
a motor driven wheel coupled to the body; and
a hitch mechanism coupled to the body and including a first wheelchair engagement member displaceable relative to rest of the hitch mechanism.
2 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a second wheelchair engagement member, wherein the first and second wheelchair engagement members are displaceable relative to each other.
3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the wheelchair engagement members displace away from each other to engage the wheelchair.
4 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the wheelchair engagement members displace towards each other to engage the wheelchair.
5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first wheelchair engagement member is manually caused to displace relative to the rest of the hitch mechanism.
6 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a motorized actuator, wherein the actuator causes the first wheelchair engagement member to displace relative to the rest of the hitch mechanism.
7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first wheelchair engagement member is adapted to engage a vertical frame member of the wheelchair.
8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first wheelchair engagement member is adapted to engage a horizontal frame member of the wheelchair.
9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first wheelchair engagement member is adapted to engage a diagonal frame member of the wheelchair.
10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first wheelchair engagement member is configured to be capable of engaging both vertical and horizontal frame members of a wheelchair.
11 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the hitch mechanism is displaceable relative to the body.
12 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the hitch mechanism is laterally displaceable relative to the body.
13 . The device of claim 12 , wherein at least one spring biases the hitch mechanism to a laterally centered position relative to the body.
14 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the hitch mechanism is manually caused to displace relative to the body.
15 . The device of claim 11 , further comprising a motorized actuator, wherein the actuator causes the hitch mechanism to displace relative to the body.
16 . A device adapted to transport wheelchairs, the device comprising:
a body;
a motor driven wheel coupled to the body; and
a hitch mechanism coupled to the body and including at least one wheelchair engagement member, wherein the hitch mechanism is displaceable relative to the body.
17 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the hitch mechanism is laterally displaceable relative to the body.
18 . The device of claim 17 , wherein the hitch mechanism is biased to a laterally centered position relative to the body.
19 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the hitch mechanism is manually caused to displace relative to the body.
20 . The device of claim 16 , further comprising a motorized actuator, wherein the actuator causes the hitch mechanism to displace relative to the body.
21 . A device adapted to transport wheelchairs, the device comprising:
a body;
a motor driven wheel coupled to the body; and
a hitch mechanism coupled to the body and including means for engaging the hitch mechanism to the wheelchair.
22 . The device of claim 21 , further comprising means for displacing the hitch mechanism relative to the body.
23 . A method of transporting a wheelchair, the method comprising:
approaching the wheelchair with a wheelchair transporter including a body, a powered drive wheel coupled to the body, and a hitch mechanism coupled to the body, wherein the hitch mechanism includes a wheelchair engagement member;
displacing the wheelchair engagement member relative to the body; and
engaging the wheelchair with the wheelchair engagement member.
24 . The method of claim 23 , further comprising displacing the hitch mechanism relative to the body.
25 . The method of claim 23 , wherein displacing the wheelchair engagement member relative to the body results from displacing the wheelchair engagement member relative to the rest of the hitch mechanism.
26 . The method of claim 23 , wherein displacing the wheelchair engagement member relative to the body results from displacing the hitch mechanism relative to the body.