Wheelchair docking system and method thereof

Abstract

A wheelchair docking system including a frame having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion being movable relative to the lower portion between a lowered position and a raised position. A coupler mechanism engages a wheelchair during a docking operation. The system also includes a first latching mechanism being movable between a retracted position and a latching position such that the first latching mechanism is spaced from the coupler mechanism. A second latching mechanism moves the upper portion of the frame between its lowered position and raised position. The first latching mechanism is partially retracted by a wheelchair during the docking operation, and the first latching mechanism is biased to its latching position when the coupler mechanism engages the wheelchair.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A docking system for coupling a wheelchair having a coupling device to a floor, the docking system comprising:
 a frame holding a coupler mechanism, the coupler mechanism being configured to engage with the coupling device;   an actuator coupled to the coupler mechanism, wherein the actuator is configured to move the coupler mechanism relative to at least a portion of the frame between a lowered position and a raised position;   a controller programmed to receive a signal; and, responsive to receipt of the signal, trigger the actuator to move the coupler mechanism toward the lowered position.   
     
     
         22 . The docking system of  claim 21  further comprising a control button in communication with the controller, the control button being configured to generate the signal. 
     
     
         23 . The docking system of  claim 21  further comprising a sensor configured to automatically generate the signal when the sensor detects that the coupler mechanism is engaged with the coupling device. 
     
     
         24 . The docking system of  claim 21 , wherein the frame has an upper portion and a lower portion, the coupler mechanism being disposed on and moving with the upper portion between the lowered position and the raised position. 
     
     
         25 . The docking system of  claim 21 , wherein the signal is indicative of the coupler mechanism being engaged with the coupling device. 
     
     
         26 . The docking system of  claim 21 , wherein the coupler mechanism is adapted to exert downward pressure on the wheelchair as the coupler mechanism moves toward the lowered position. 
     
     
         27 . The docking system of  claim 21 , wherein the coupler mechanism is adapted to generate a clamping force as the coupler mechanism moves toward the lowered position. 
     
     
         28 . The docking system of  claim 21 , wherein the controller is programmed to trigger the actuator to move the coupler mechanism to a fully lowered position upon receipt of the signal. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the controller is further configured to: receive a height signal indicative of a height of the coupling device; and, based on the height signal, trigger the actuator to move the coupler mechanism toward the raised position before receiving the coupling device in engagement with the coupler mechanism, whereby the coupler mechanism is moved to the height of the coupling device. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  further comprising a sensor configured to automatically detect the height and generate the height signal. 
     
     
         31 . A method of using the docking system of claim  1  comprising the steps of:
 receiving the coupling device in engagement with the coupler mechanism; 
 receiving the signal; 
 triggering the actuator whereby the actuator moves the coupler mechanism toward the lowered position upon receipt of the signal. 
 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the coupler mechanism exerts downward pressure on the wheelchair as the coupler mechanism moves toward the lowered position. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the coupler mechanism generates a clamping force as the coupler mechanism moves toward the lowered position. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the actuator moves the coupler mechanism to a fully lowered position. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising the step of locking the coupling device in engagement with the coupler mechanism after receiving the coupling device in engagement with the coupler mechanism. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the locking step is automatic. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising the step of automatically generating the signal after receiving the coupling device in engagement with the coupler mechanism. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the docking system further comprises a sensor that generates the signal when the sensor detects that the coupler mechanism is engaged with the coupling device. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising the steps of: receiving a height signal indicative of a height of the coupling device; and, based on the height signal, triggering the actuator whereby the actuator moves the coupler mechanism toward the raised position based before receiving the coupling device in engagement with the coupler mechanism, whereby the coupler mechanism is moved to the height of the coupling device. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39  further comprising the step of automatically detecting the height.