FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention concerns a self-propelled equipment for transporting people, in particular with mobility difficulties.

This equipment allows for the autonomous movement and/or transport of people, in particular with mobility difficulties, on any type of terrain, therefore on irregular or unprepared terrains, such as for example sandy shores, sandy, gravelly or pebbled terrains, mountain trails or other, but also on regular terrains, such as for example urban ground normally provided with paving, asphalt or suchlike, sidewalks, parking lots, floors inside buildings or other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to use wheeled support equipment, such as wheelchairs or suchlike, to allow people with mobility difficulties to be mobile.

These wheelchairs are normally used on regular terrains, therefore grounds in urban areas for example, but they prove to be extremely inefficient on irregular and unprepared terrains, for example on sandy shores, sandy, gravelly or pebbled terrains, mountain trails or other. For example, when accompanying a person with mobility difficulties to a sandy shore, in order for them to enter the water, wheelchairs with wheels made of metal or plastic are forced to travel, generally being pushed, on tracks made of wood or plastic material resting on the shore, which can be sandy, gravelly, pebbled, or other. The wheelchair is moved on these tracks with effort and with great difficulty by an operator up to the stretch of sand wet by the water. Subsequently, for the stretch that goes from the track up to a strip that allows the person to bathe fully, for example about 15-20 meters, the wheelchairs currently in use are very difficult if not impossible to use. Therefore, the intervention of several operators is often required, which inevitably takes time and energy.

To these problems there is also added the limitation of having to carry out these operations substantially only on marine, river or lake beaches that are equipped for this type of operation, thus limiting the freedom of movement of the person on unequipped beaches. The same applies to mountain trails, country trails that can lead the transported person to irregular and unprepared stretches of land, or even to overcoming urban architectural obstacles.

There are motorized wheelchairs that partly solve the problems described above. However, such wheelchairs often prove to be complex to use, expensive, and also do not for example allow effective adjustments, for example in height, of the seating system with which they are equipped.

Another disadvantage of known equipment is that it does not allow to directly pick up people with mobility difficulties from the position in which they find themselves, for example sitting or lying or floating, if in the water. This is mainly because the seating systems of known equipment are not equipped with means that allow them to be adjusted in height in such a way as to reach a height close to the ground with the seat.

When used on sandy shores, moreover, known equipment does not adapt to the natural downward inclination of the stretch of land near the shore, so that the operations of picking up the person with mobility difficulties out of the water, and/or accompanying them into it, are extremely difficult, especially in terms of effort, speed and comfort.

In addition, known equipment proves to be rather limited for picking up and accompanying operations in narrow spaces, such as for example bathing establishments, unequipped beaches, equipped beaches, but also inside homes, buildings or other.

Known manual equipment, moreover, when encountering terrains that are difficult to travel on, need to be pushed with a run-up; for this reason, in confined spaces and/or where other people are present, it is very difficult if not impossible for a person to move with speed and agility.

In general, therefore, the equipment for operations of picking up and accompanying people with mobility difficulties can present limits with regards to flexibility or the ability to adapt to the different movement needs of such people, especially because in known technologies the seating system, in each operation, always remains raised at a fixed height with respect to the ground.

Ultimately, the seats of known equipment do not prove suitable to move to a height at least close to the ground, or to any other desired height for picking up a person.

There is therefore the need to perfect a self-propelled equipment for transporting people, in particular with mobility difficulties, that can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art. One purpose of the present invention is therefore to provide a self-propelled equipment for transporting people that allows the autonomous movement and/or accompaniment of a person on any type of terrain whatsoever, both on regular and prepared terrains, such as for example in an urban context, and also on irregular and unprepared terrains, therefore for example uneven terrains such as sandy shores, trails or other.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a self-propelled equipment for transporting people that is provided with a support frame of a seating system that is adjustable in height and can also be placed at ground level in a stable manner, so as to facilitate the picking up or positioning of the person. Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a self-propelled equipment for transporting people that can also operate with restricted maneuvering spaces, for example the maneuvering spaces normally provided in bathing establishments, unequipped beaches, equipped beaches, lawns, parking lots, walking trails, but also in buildings, homes, commercial establishments or other.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a self-propelled equipment for transporting people that can effectively adapt to also operate in terrains or zones that are more or less inclined, for example a strip of the shore on a beach, lake or river close to the water, or other. The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claim. The dependent claims describe other characteristics of the present invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with the above purposes, a self-propelled equipment according to the present invention for transporting people, in particular with mobility difficulties, comprises a movement system equipped with a frame to which there is attached a guide device along which there can slide, upward or downward and by means of a corresponding drive device, a support to which a seating system for one person is attached. Substantially, therefore, thanks to the support sliding on the drive device, the seating system is adjustable in height and therefore the person using the present self-propelled equipment can be positioned or picked up at any desired height. For example, advantageously, the seating system can also be taken to a level close to the ground, which in particular makes the operations of picking up the person more comfortable.

Moreover, this self-propelled equipment can also operate with restricted maneuvering spaces, for example the maneuvering spaces normally provided in bathing establishments, unequipped beaches, equipped beaches, meadows, parking lots, walking trails, but also in buildings, homes, commercial establishments or other.

According to another aspect of the invention, the frame is positioned at the base of the self-propelled equipment and is associated with the lower end of the guide device.

In this way, the support and the seating system can reach a height close to the ground when, in the completely lowered position, the support reaches the lower end.

According to another aspect of the invention, the guide device is directed in a direction which is inclined, with respect to a vertical direction, toward the rear part of the self-propelled equipment. According to another aspect of the invention, the guide device comprises two parallel bars directed according to the inclined direction.

According to another aspect of the invention, the seating system comprises a seat which is positioned at a lower height than the support and is able to move to a height lower than the lower end of the guide device when the seating system is in a completely lowered position, that is, close to the ground.

According to another aspect of the invention, the seat is positioned on the support by means of a telescopic guide, which allows it to move in a direction transverse to a direction of travel of the self-propelled equipment. Thanks to this transverse movement of the seat, the operations of picking up and positioning the person are simplified further and made less strenuous.

According to another aspect of the invention, the movement system comprises two tracked units moved by means of a corresponding drive device. This self-propelled equipment for transporting people can therefore also effectively adapt to operate on more or less inclined terrains or zones, for example a strip of land close to the shore of a sea, lake or river, even to the point of allowing the person to float in the water, or other. This self-propelled equipment can also advance, even little by little, on regular or irregular and difficult terrains, or in crowded environments with limited maneuvering spaces.

According to another aspect of the invention, the self-propelled equipment comprises a maneuvering device positioned on a body to which the guide device is attached and/or a maneuvering device positioned on at least one armrest of the seating system. According to another aspect of the invention, the frame comprises, at least at the rear part, a structure for protection against impacts.

According to another aspect of the invention, the self-propelled equipment is formed by a plurality of modules which can be reciprocally assembled or disassembled for transport or other reasons. According to another aspect of the invention, the support is provided with a plate connectable to the seating system by means of arms which are configured to allow the seating system to vary its inclination in a stable manner.

According to another aspect of the invention, the self-propelled equipment comprises a framework to which the guide device is attached, and which substantially contains the drive device.

According to another aspect of the invention, the framework is provided at the upper part with anti-tipping eyebolts.

According to another aspect of the invention, the self-propelled equipment comprises a footrest system provided with a frame positioned under the seating system and equipped with at least one footrest plate.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

- fig. 1 is a three-dimensional view of a self-propelled equipment for transporting people, in particular with mobility difficulties, according to the present invention;

- fig. 2 is a three-dimensional and exploded view of the self-propelled equipment of fig. 1;

- fig. 3 is a lateral view of the self-propelled equipment in a first position;

- fig. 4 is a front view of the self-propelled equipment of fig. 3;

- fig. 5 is a top view of the self-propelled equipment of figs. 3 and 4;

- fig. 6 is a lateral view of the self-propelled equipment in another position; - fig. 7 is a front view of the self-propelled equipment of fig. 6;

- fig. 8 is a top view of the self-propelled equipment of figs. 6 and 7;

- fig. 9 is a front view of the self-propelled equipment in another position;

- fig. 10 is a top view of the self-propelled equipment of fig. 9;

- fig. 11 is a three-dimensional view of a variant of a self-propelled equipment, in particular in an attitude in which a person is being transported;

- fig. 12 is a lateral view of the self-propelled equipment of fig. 11;

- fig. 13 is a lateral view of the self-propelled equipment of fig. 11 and fig. 12, in particular in an attitude in which a person is floating;

- fig. 14 is a lateral view of the self-propelled equipment of fig. 11 and fig. 12, in particular in an attitude in which a person is being transferred to a vehicle, for example a car or other;

- fig. 15 is a lateral view of the self-propelled equipment of fig. 11 and fig. 12, in particular in an attitude in which a person is being transported on steep slopes.

We must clarify that the phraseology and terminology used in the present description, as well as the figures in the attached drawings also in relation as to how described, have the sole function of better illustrating and explaining the present invention, their purpose being to provide a non-limiting example of the invention itself, since the scope of protection is defined by the claims.

To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings, ft is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can be conveniently combined or incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications. DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION We will now refer in detail to the possible embodiments of the invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawings, by way of a nonlimiting illustration. The phraseology and terminology used here is also for the purposes of providing non-limiting examples. With reference to the attached drawings, see in particular figs. 1 and 2, a self- propelled equipment 10 for transporting people, in particular with mobility difficulties, comprises a movement system 11 equipped with a frame 12 to which there is attached a guide device 18 along which there can slide, upward or downward and by means of a corresponding drive device 13, a support 14 to which a seating system 15 for one person is attached. The seating system 15 is therefore integral with the support 14 and adjustable in height.

The movement system 11 can provide two tracked units 16 able to be driven backward and forward at least in one direction L. The movement system 11 is equipped with its own drive device 32, fig. 2. The drive device 32 can for example comprise an electric motor housed in a body 33, preferably watertight.

For example, each of the tracked units 16 can comprise at least one drive wheel 39 which can be driven by the drive device 32 and transmit motion to a track 17 of each of the tracked units 16.

Special devices for changing direction, electric or hydraulic motors, of a known type and not shown in the drawings, allow variations in direction with respect to the direction L shown.

The frame 12 is positioned at the base of the self-propelled equipment 10 and close to the ground. The frame 12 is associated with the lower end of the guide device 18 along which the support 14 slides. The guide device 18, see also fig. 3, is directed in a direction V 1 which is inclined with respect to a vertical direction V toward the rear part of the self-propelled equipment 10. The guide device 18 comprises two parallel bars 19 inclined according to the direction VI. The direction VI is inclined with respect to the vertical direction V by an angle a comprised between about 10° and about 30°. The guide device 18 is stably attached to the body 33, which also has a rest surface 38 inclined in the direction VI. At the lower part, the bars 19 are connected to the frame 12.

Each of the two bars 19 comprises a groove 20 into which rollers 21, provided on the sides of the support 14, are inserted. The grooves 20 of the two bars 19 face each other. It is possible to provide two or more rollers 21 on each side of the support 14. It is also possible to provide that the support 14 is without rollers or other elements for rolling in the grooves 20. The support 14 can therefore be substantially a slider, a slide or suchlike. The drive device 13 , configured to move the support 14 and therefore the seating system 15 upward or downward in the direction VI, comprises for example a pulley 22 driven by a corresponding motor 23 and able to wind or unwind a rope 24, for example made of steel, connected to the support 14 and returned on another pulley 25 positioned on the frame 12. The pulley 25, in particular, is positioned on a crosspiece 27 of the guide device 18 anchored to the frame 12. The drive device 13 is contained within a protective casing 36, which is located on the upper part of the self-propelled equipment 10. The drive device 13 with rope 24 and pulley 22 can be replaced by any other suitable drive device whatsoever, able to move the support 14 along the guide device 18, for example a system with a hydraulic cylinder, compressed air or other, an electromechanical system or suchlike. A unit to supply power to the drive devices 13 and 32, for example one or more batteries or other, can be housed inside the body 33.

The seating system 15 comprises a seat 28 which is positioned at a lower height than the support 14 and is able to move to a height lower than the lower end of the guide device 18 when the seating system 15 is in a completely lowered position, that is, close to the ground S, see for example figs. 6, 7 and 8. In this way, it is possible to take the seat 28 even substantially at the level of the ground S, or in proximity thereto.

The seating system 15 comprises a bracket 30 by means of which it is associated with the support 14. The bracket 30 is substantially L-shaped and comprises a wall 43 along which a backrest 29 is positioned and a base 42 on which the seat 28 is positioned. The bracket 30 is stably attached to the support 14. The seat 28 is positioned on the support 14, in particular on the base 42, by means of a telescopic guide 31 , which allows it to move in a direction T transverse to the direction L of travel, see in particular figs. 1, 9 and 10. The telescopic guide 31 can be formed by a plurality of elements able to slide in the direction T so as to take the seat from the position of fig. 1 to the position of figs. 9 and 10, or vice versa. The seat 28 can be moved on the telescopic guide 31 either manually or by means of a suitable movement system, installed for example on the bracket 30 under the seat 28. The direction T is substantially orthogonal to the direction L of travel of the self- propelled equipment 10.

The seating system 15 comprises a pair of armrests 34 to the side of the seat 28. The armrests 34 are connected to the support 14 by means of a rotatable support 35 that allows them to rotate from an active horizontal position, see for example figs. 1 and 3, to an inactive vertical position, see for example figs. 6 and 7.

The drive device 32 can be commanded by a maneuvering device 37, for example a joystick or other, preferably located in a raised position on the body 33. The drive device 32 can be commanded by a maneuvering device 40, for example a joystick or other, positioned on at least one of the armrests 34, to allow the self-propelled equipment 10 to be moved autonomously by the transported person.

The frame 12 comprises, in particular between the tracked units 16, footrest supports 41. The footrest supports 41 are mobile from a substantially horizontal active position, see for example fig. 1, to a substantially vertical inactive position, see for example figs. 6 and 7.

The frame 12 comprises, at least on its rear part, a structure 26 for protection against impacts. The structure 26 can be connected to a system for inhibiting the backward movement of the self-propelled equipment 10, for example of the electrical type. The structure 26 can be formed by a plurality of bars suitably sized and reciprocally connected.

With reference in particular to fig. 2, the self-propelled equipment 10 is modular; therefore, it can be easily assembled and disassembled, for example to allow it to be conveniently transported in a car or other vehicle. For example, four modules can be provided, consisting respectively of: the support 14 with seating system 15; the guide device 18 with casing 36; the frame 12 with movement system 11; and the body 33 with drive device 32. These modules can be reciprocally assembled to form the self-propelled equipment 10 by means of any removable connection system whatsoever, therefore by means of screws, bolts, interlocking, a combination thereof, or other.

In figs. 3, 4 and 5 the seating system 15 is positioned at a height that allows the person, autonomously or through an operator, to move by means of the self- propelled equipment 10. We have clearly considered that the seating system 15 can be positioned at any height whatsoever along the guide device 18, so as to adapt to the characteristics of the person being transported.

In figs. 6, 7 and 8, the seating system 15 is shown in a fully lowered position and with the seat 28 at a height close to the ground S and protruding forward with respect to the tracked units 16. The bracket 30 for supporting the seating system 15 is sized in such a way that the base 42 is positioned at a height lower than the support 14 and exceeds the lower end of the guide device 13, in particular of the bars 19, when the seating system 15 is in a completely lowered position, that is, close to the ground S.

Advantageously, the seating system 15 is therefore actually configured to also be taken to a “zero” height, that is, a height where the seat 28 is close to the ground S. At this height, the person can be picked up by the self-propelled equipment 10 in any type of situation, therefore for example inside or outside a building and in any type of terrain, prepared or unprepared.

Figs. 9 and 10 show a situation in which the seat 28 is translated transversely in the direction T, then laterally and for example up to the lateral limit of one of the two tracked units 16, or beyond. This translation allows for more convenient operations of picking up or positioning a person from the side of the self-propelled equipment 10 and at a desired height higher than the tracked units 16. These operations are carried out, for example, in order to pick up a person from, or place them on, the seat of a car, the top of a mattress, or other. During these operations, the armrests 34 are in an inactive vertical position with a reduced overall dimension. Figs. 11 and 12 show a variant of the present self-propelled equipment 10a, which comprises the movement system 11 equipped with the frame 12 to which there is attached the guide device 18 along which there can slide, upward or downward and by means of the corresponding drive device 13, a support 44 to which the seating system 15 for one person is attached. The seating system 15 is therefore integral with the support 44 and adjustable in height.

The self-propelled equipment 10a comprises a framework 58 to which the guide device 18 is attached and which substantially contains the drive device 13.

The self-propelled equipment 10a also comprises anti-tipping eyebolts 57, in particular at the upper end of the framework 58, suitable to be engaged by a rope in order to avoid accidental tipping. The system with eyebolts 57 is useful, for example, for overcoming the changes in terrain that could be encountered on coastal, countryside and mountain trails. The seating system 15 is positioned on a base 45 which is attached, rotatable around an axis Tl, to the support 44. The rotatable base 45 therefore substantially allows to vary the inclination of the seating system 15, please compare fig. 14 and fig. 15, for example. The rotation of the base 45 around the axis Tl can be achieved with a pin, a hinge or suchlike, or with a pair of pins or hinges on each side of the base 45 and directed along the axis T 1.

The support 44 comprises an inclined plate 46, preferably parallel to the direction VI of inclination of the guide device 18, see fig. 12.

The plate 46 is attached, in a rotatable manner with respect to the axis Tl, to the base 45. The support 44, see in particular fig. 11, fig. 14 and fig. 15, comprises a pair of arms 47 which on one side are connected, in a rotatable manner and by means of pins 48, to the seating system 15, in particular to a support wall 49 of the backrest 29. On the other side, the arms 47 are attached to pins 50, 51 positioned on slots 52 created in the plate 46. A first pair of pins 50 allows to position the seating system 15 as in fig. 14, while a second pair of pins 51 allows to position the seating system 15 as in fig. 15, that is, more inclined than in fig. 14.

Obviously, multiple pairs of pins could be provided in the slots 52 so as to provide different inclinations. The self-propelled equipment 10a also comprises a footrest system 53 which is positioned in particular between the tracked units 16.

The footrest system 53 comprises at least one plate 54 which is attached, in a rotatable manner by means of pins 55 or suchlike, to the ends of a support frame 56, formed for example by two arms extending below the seating system 15. The plate 54 passes due to gravity from an inactive position aligned with the frame 56, see for example fig. 13, to an active position, see for example fig. 14 and fig. 15, rotating around the pins 55. Of course, where possible, we have considered that the variant of the self-propelled equipment 10a shown in figs, from 11 to 15 can comprise elements of the self-propelled equipment 10 of figs, from 1 to 10, for example modularity, transportability and other characteristics. We have also considered that the self-propelled equipment 10 of figs, from 1 to 10 can provide elements of the self-propelled equipment 10a, such as for example the footrest system 53, the framework 58, the eyebolts 57 or other.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the self- propelled equipment as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention, as defined by the claims.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art will be able to achieve other equivalent forms of self-propelled equipment for transporting people, in particular with mobility difficulties, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby. In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate their reading and they must not be considered as restrictive factors with regard to the field of protection defined by the same claims.