Modular wheel chair

Abstract

The invention relates to a small vehicle, particularly a wheel chair, having a modular structure including a main component, at least one pivotable wheel which is adapted to be detachably mounted at said main component via a quick release device, at least one driving wheel adapted to be detachably mounted at said main component via a quick release device and a seat component which is adapted to be 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.

1 - 18 . (canceled)  
   
   
       19 . A wheelchair comprising: 
 a main body;    a seat supported by the main body;    first and second drive wheels with first and second hub motors coupled to the main body;    first and second caster wheels coupled to the main body;    at least one battery supported by the main body in electrical communication with the first and second hub motors;    a control panel in wireless communication with the first and second hub motors that provides control signals to the hub motors.    
   
   
       20 . The wheelchair of  claim 19  further comprising a separate control unit coupled to each unit in communication with the control panel.  
   
   
       21 . The wheelchair of  claim 19  wherein the at least one battery is coupled to the main body by a quick connect coupling that electrically connects the at least one battery to the first and second hub motors.  
   
   
       22 . The wheelchair of  claim 19  wherein the first and second drive wheels with first and second hub motors are coupled to the main body by first and second quick connect couplings.  
   
   
       23 . The wheelchair of  claim 19  wherein the at least one battery is coupled to the first and second hub motors without wires.  
   
   
       24 . A wheelchair comprising: 
 a main body;    a seat supported by the main body;    first and second drive wheels with first and second hub motors coupled to the main body by first and second quick release devices;    first and second caster wheels coupled to the main body; and    at least one battery supported by the main body in electrical communication with the first and second hub motors.    
   
   
       25 . The wheelchair of  claim 24  wherein the at least one battery is coupled to the main body by a quick connect coupling that electrically connects the at least one battery to the first and second hub motors.  
   
   
       26 . The wheelchair of  claim 24  wherein the first and second caster wheels are connected main body by quick release devices.  
   
   
       27 . The wheelchair of  claim 24  wherein the at least one battery is coupled to the first and second hub motors without wires.  
   
   
       28 . A wheelchair comprising: 
 a main body;    a seat supported by the main body;    first and second drive wheels with first and second hub motors coupled to the main body;    first and second caster wheels coupled to the main body;    at least one battery coupled to the main body by a quick connect coupling that electrically connects the at least one battery to the first and second hub motors.    
   
   
       29 . A wheelchair comprising: 
 a main body;    a seat supported by the main body;    first and second drive wheels with first and second hub motors coupled to the main body;    first and second caster wheels coupled to the main body;    at least one battery supported by the main body and electrically connected to the first and second hub motors without wires.    
   
   
       30 . A method of controlling a wheelchair comprising: 
 sending wireless control signals from a control panel to a hub motor;    powering the hub motor based on the wireless control signals.    
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the control signals are provided to a control unit that is in communication with the hub motor.  
   
   
       32 . A method of electrically connecting a wheelchair hub motor and a wheelchair battery comprising: 
 coupling a drive wheel with the hub motor to a wheelchair main body with a quick release device;    coupling the wheelchair battery to the main body with a quick connect coupling that electrically connects the battery to the hub motor.