The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 15, 1998
Filed:
Apr. 16, 1997
Alfred L Budd, Winamac, IN (US);
James R Pierrou, Winamac, IN (US);
Barry E Wolff, Winamac, IN (US);
The Braun Corporation, Winamac, IN (US);
Abstract
A wheelchair platform free fall control system comprising use of a tension means, such as at least one spring, biasing together the long and short arms of a lever arm assembly that keeps the lever arm slide block in contact with a lifting arm during gravity-down deployment of said platform from an over-vertical stowed position to a horizontal transfer position. A compression means may be used in conjunction with the lifting arm assembly to assist in overcoming the resting momentum of the lift platform mass from over-vertical outwardly until gravity takes over. The tension means may be one or more springs and the compression means may be a gas spring. The forces are preselected to provide lifting assembly over-vertical assist while keeping the sliding block in substantial contact with an arm of the lifting assembly. The springs can be used with a stud/slot interlock. Torsion springs are preferably eliminated.