Blue Sky Designs, Inc.

Nicholas K Lee

Dianne M Goodwin

Sherry M Rovig

Martin William Stone

Andrew L VonDuyke

Lisa E Petersson

Karl W Brown

An accessibility-enhancing joint module may include a housing, a powered motor disposed within the housing, a rotatable receiving member operatively connected to the powered motor, a coupling element configured to attach to the receiving member, and a control board disposed within the housing and operatively connected to the powered motor, wherein the coupling element is disposed external to the housing. An accessibility-enhancing arm assembly may include a first joint module and a second joint module and a tubular arm member attached to the proximal mounting portion of the first joint module and the proximal mounting portion of the second joint module, each joint module including a housing having a body portion and a proximal mounting portion, a powered motor disposed within the housing, and a rotatable receiving member operatively connected to the powered motor. The joint module(s) and/or the arm assembly may be operable by a variety of accessible controls.

Automated mounting and positioning apparatus for increased user independence

Positioning apparatuses mountable to a wheelchair or other such device are disclosed. An illustrative positioning apparatus can include a base unit, a number of armatures each defining an extension of the apparatus, a number of rotatable joints adapted to permit movement of the armatures, and a platform adapted to support one or more objects. A number of actuation levers connected to the rotatable joints can be used to simultaneously unlock each of the joints in a single step, allowing the apparatus to be easily repositioned. A locking mechanism within each joint may permit one or more user-defined locking positions to be set on the joint. A temporary lock-out mechanism within each joint results in the unlocking of each joint until the armatures are rotated away from the locked position, allowing operation of the device with one hand.

Mounting and positioning apparatus for increased user independence

Growing community of inventors

Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

Nicholas K Lee