Motorized wheel chair

Abstract

A motorized wheel chair is provided comprising a chassis having two rear wheels and one front wheel mounted thereon. The front wheel is steerable by a handlebar. The rear wheels are driven by an electric motor, coupled to a gearbox, for reducing the speed of the wheel chair. The gearbox drives a friction drive assembly which is engageable with the rear wheels and also is coupled to the handlebar such that one of the rear wheels will be disengaged depending upon which direction the handlebar is turned. The device is provided with a switch which cuts power to the device when a change in surface elevation of a desired amount is detected either in front of or behind the device. A second switch may be provided to stop the vehicle upon contact with a foreign object. A third switch may be activated remotely to stop the device. Also, the chassis is adjustable in length, such that as a child grows the device may be adjusted accordingly.

I claim: 
     
       1. A motorized wheel chair for small children, comprising: (a) a chassis;   (b) a front wheel, rotatably mounted on said chassis;   (c) a right rear wheel, rotatably mounted on said chassis;   (d) a left rear wheel, rotatably mounted on said chassis;   (e) a steering means, mounted on said chassis and connected to said front wheel, for turning said front wheel;   (f) a gear reduction means, for limiting the speed of said wheel chair, mounted on said chassis;   (g) a drive shaft, rotatably connected to said gear reduction means, said drive shaft having a left friction drive roller and a right friction drive roller fixedly attached thereto such that said left and right friction drive rollers are engageable with said left and right rear wheels, respectively;   (h) an electric motor, driveably connected to said gear reduction means such that for every revolution of said drive shaft, said motor will turn a greater number of revolutions;   (i) a throttle means, for controlling the speed of said motor, connected to said motor;   (j) a shift means, for controlling the direction of said motor, connected to said motor;   (k) a power source, mounted on said chassis and connected to said motor;   (l) a seat, mounted on said chassis; and   (m) a clutch means, for selectively operating only said left rear wheel during a right turn and only said right rear wheel during a left turn, said clutch means being connectable between said steering means and said drive shaft said clutch means further comprising:   i. a right steering cable, connected at one end to said steering means, and at the other end to a right clutch lever;   ii. a right clutch lever pivotably attached to said chassis, attached to said right steering cable and attached to said drive shaft such that, during a right turn, said right friction drive roller is urged away from said right rear wheel;   iii. a left steering cable, connected at one end to said steering means, and at the other end to a left clutch lever; and   iv. a left clutch lever pivotally attached to said chassis, attached to said left steering cable and attached to said drive shaft such that, during a left turn, said left friction drive roller is urged away from said left rear wheel; and wherein said gear reduction means is flexibly mounted to said chassis such that, upon an application of force, said gear reduction means may twist slightly on an axis generally perpendicular to said chassis and then return to its original position upon the release of said force. .Iadd.   
     
     
       2.  A motorized wheel chair for a small child comprising: a chassis;   seat means supported by the chassis for supporting the child;   wheel means for supporting the chassis;   drive and steering means for selectively driving and steering the wheel means so that the wheel chair is caused to be moved along a selected path by the wheel means in response to actuation by the child;   detection means for sensing the presence of an object and for preventing the drive means from driving the wheel means in the direction of the sensed object; and   elevation sensing means for detecting a change in surface elevation greater than a selected elevation difference and for stopping the wheel chair upon detecting the selected elevation difference. .Iaddend. .Iadd.3. The motorized wheel chair of claim 2 wherein the detection means comprises:   front detection means attached to the wheel chair for sensing the presence of an object and for preventing the drive means from driving the wheel   
     
     
        means in a forward direction. .Iaddend. .Iadd.4.  The motorized wheel chair of claim 3 wherein the detection means further comprises: rear detection means attached to the wheel chair for sensing the presence of an object and for preventing the drive means from driving the wheel means in a reverse direction. .Iaddend. .Iadd.5. The motorized wheel chair of claim 4 wherein the elevation sensing means comprises:   front elevation sensing means supported by a forward portion of the chassis for stopping the wheel chair upon detecting the selected elevation   
     
     
        difference. .Iaddend. .Iadd.6.  The motorized wheel chair of claim 5 wherein the elevation sensing means further comprises: rear elevation sensing means supported by a rearward portion of the chassis for stopping the wheel chair upon detecting the selected elevation difference. .Iaddend. .Iadd.7. The motorized wheel chair of claim 2 wherein the drive and steering means comprises:   power means for selectively powering the wheel means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.8. The motorized wheel chair of claim 7 wherein the power means has at least one gel cell battery. .Iaddend. .Iadd.9. The motorized wheel chair of claim 8 wherein the wheel means comprises at least one pair of wheels and wherein the motorized wheel chair further comprises:   motor means connected to the wheel means for selectively rotating the wheels when energized by the battery. .Iaddend. .Iadd.10. The motorized wheel chair of claim 9 further comprising:   charge means supported by the chassis for charging the battery. .Iaddend. .Iadd.11. The motorized wheel chair of claim 2 further comprising:   remote switching means for actuating the drive and steering means from a remote locate. .Iaddend.