This invention relates generally to self-propelled personal mobility vehicles *"# for the handicapped and physically impaired, and more particularly to a compact, low center-of-gravity personal mobility vehicle which is uniquely adapted to negotiate within tightly confined spaces.

Presently, a broad array of self-propelled personal mobility vehicles for use by the handicapped and physically impaired are either patented and/or marketed. These vehicles are almost exclusively motorized and battery powered and consist of either three or four ground engaging wheels. However, the three wheeled tricycle-type version appears most popular. The drive arrangement may include a propulsion motor operably connected to either one or both of the rear drive wheels or incorporated into a front steerable wheel.

Typically, these available personal mobility vehicles are relatively massive in structure, some of which are also designed for outdoor operation in grass and dirt. Additionally, the center of gravity of the user seated atop such available vehicles is relatively high, producing a somewhat compromised stability.

A further limitation of personal mobility vehicles presently known to applicant resides in the limited ability of these larger vehicles to negotiate narrow hallways, to avoid running over the toes of others nearby on foot, and to be able to maneuver in dimensionally tight environments such as through a doorway of a narrow hallway. Those individuals who live in mobile homes or the like having narrow hallways, typically approximately 24" in width, are unable to utilize any such product currently on the market for this environment.

The present invention provides an extremely maneuverable, low center of gravity personal mobility vehicle which, in the preferred embodiment, will easily maneuver down narrow hallways, through narrow doorways at 90 degrees to such hallway, and into other dimensionally tight situations. This invention also reduces the likelihood of running over the foot of an able bodied pedestrian who may inadvertently get too close to the vehicle while underway.

This invention is directed to a personal mobility vehicle having a very low center of gravity and compact overall size which facilitates travel in narrow hallways and in negotiating sharp turns as into a doorway along a narrow hall. The vehicle includes a generally horizontally disposed preferably circular or disc¬ shaped frame supported in close proximity above the ground by a front wheel and two spaced rear wheels. One wheel is motor driven for propulsion, the

battery arrangement connected to and supported by the frame. A seat is provided whereby a user's feet may be comfortably supported on the frame. A circular cushioning ring, either fixed or preferably rotatably mounted and extending radially from the perimeter of the frame and the rear wheels, contacts fixed objects such as walls, doorways and the like to facilitate tight maneuvers not heretofore possible with other such vehicles and also contacts a pedestrians shoe or ankle before being run over by the rear wheels.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a self-propelled personal mobility vehicle which is extremely compact in size and maneuverable in tight quarters.

It is another object of this invention to provide a personal mobility vehicle having a lowered center of gravity.

It is another object of this invention to provide a personal mobility vehicle which will travel down narrow hallways such as are found in mobile homes and having a unique circular bumper or cushioned ring rotatable with respect to a circular frame so as to facilitate right angle turns through doorways from such narrow hallways.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a personal mobility vehicle which reduces the likelihood of running over a pedestrian's foot.

In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the invention shown in Figure 1 in use.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the invention shown in Figure 1 positioned to travel around a corner of a wall.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the circular frame of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the frame shown in Figure 5 after removal of its bottom plate.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the frame shown in Figure 5 after removal of the upper plate.

Figure 8 is a section view in the direction of arrows 8-8 in Figure 4.

Referring now to the drawings, the invention is shown generally at numeral 10 and includes a frame assembly 12 and a motor driven front wheel assembly 14 which renders front wheel 18 steerable about axis A with respect to frame 12. The rear support arm 32 of front wheel assembly 14 is connected to frame 12 by plate 34. The invention 10 also includes a seat 16 rigidly mounted and upwardly extending from the disc-shaped circular frame 12.

Frame 12 includes two spaced apart rear wheels 20 and 22 positioned astride the pedestal of seat 16 and supporting a battery 24 and control circuitry 26 which are operably connected between motor 28 and hand actuator 44 on handle 42. By this arrangement, a user steerably controlling the device 10 by handle 42 on steering shaft 46 may controllably energize motor 28 through control 44 to propel the vehicle 10.

Frame 12 is cooperatively structured with seat 16 so that, as best seen in Figure 3, a user's feet may comfortably rest atop frame 12 without the need for additional foot support structure. Frame 12 is constructed, as best seen in Figures 5 to 8, of two spaced apart circular or disc-shaped plates 38 and 40, both of which include wheel clearance apertures 68/70 and 50/52, respectively. Rear wheels 20 and 22 are rigidly mounted about axles 72 so as to downwardly extend below lower plate 40 for ground engagement.

Upper and lower plates 38 and 40, respectively are held spaced apart by a plurality of spacers 58 and threaded fasteners therethrough strategically arranged for adequate support over the entire surface of frame 12. This arrangement affords convenient support of battery 24 through aperture 54 so as to rest atop lower plate 40. Also sandwiched between plates 38 and 40 are a plurality of rollers 56 which are mounted concentrically spaced about the common centers of plates 38 and 40 slightly inboard of the perimeters thereof.

These rollers 56, as best seen in Figure 8, are rotatably mounted about two part aligned shafts 62 which are held within aligned holes within upper and lower plates 38 and 40 by shaft extensions 66. Flanges 64 properly space each roller 56 sufficiently from upper and lower plates 38 and 40 provide free roller action.

Lockably engaged to surround the circular perimeter defined by the plurality of rollers 56 is a rubber cushioned ring 36 having a metal inner rim 60 which rotatably engages within the roller 56. By this arrangement, the cushioned ring 36 is free to rotate back and forth in the direction of arrow B about upper and lower discs 38 and 40.

As may now be better understood specifically referring to Figure 4, the functioning and usefulness of rotatable cushioned ring 36 is there depicted. The device 10 is depicted encountering a corner C along a wall or hallway. To negotiate a sharp 90 degree turn, the handle 42 is turned as shown so as to aim front wheel 18 in the direction of the turn. As front wheel 18 pulls the device 10 around corner C, the cushioned ring 36, contacting against corner C, rotates in the direction of arrow B with respect to frame 12. In essence, then, cushioned ring 36 remains somewhat stationary at its contact point with corner C, while the remainder of frame 12 and device 10 are propelled around corner C.

In experimentation, applicant has been able to manipulate the device 10 around virtually any 90 degree corner, including passage into doorways along narrow hallways which are only slightly wider than the overall diameter of the frame 12 or vehicle 10. Note that a fixed ring-shaped cushion in lieu of the rotatable cushioned ring 36 will also serve a somewhat similar function. However, if the cushioned ring 36 is non-rotatable, some rubbing and movement between the corner C and the cushioned ring 36 must occur. Additionally, having the cushioned ring 36 rotatable, should the vehicle 10 being driven down

a narrow hallway, inadvertently wanders off center so as to encounter one wall or the other, rotation of cushion ring 36 occurs to prevent any damage or scuffing of the wall surface.

Because rear wheels 20 and 22 are inboard of ring 36, and because frame 12 is in close proximity to the ground, the risk of running over a pedestrian's foot as in a crowded hall of a nursing home or shopping mall is significantly reduced.

It is noted that the frame may also be structured of braces or the like rather than plate material, which braces include support elements for each roller as previously described. Likewise, foot supports may be included astride the front wheel.

While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in what are conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be afforded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent apparatus and articles.