US3802524A - Motorized invalid carrier - Google Patents

Abstract

A motorized vehicle for different size invalid carriers in which the wheel assemblies of the vehicle are adjustable for width and length. Driving wheel assemblies on each side of the vehicle have individual motors for propelling the vehicle and steering it by selective actuation of the motors.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Seidel Apr. 9, 1974 MOTORIZED INVALID CARRIER 2,558,144 6/1951 McC mie 280/35 Inventor: Y Walter Seidel, 549 Rotunda I l /l l si i lfzfjfi ..l. 1 0 6. 5 Akron, Ohio 44313 2,874,791 2/1959 Mellencamp ISO/6.5 1 Filed= 5, 1972 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS {21] A l. No.: 259,468 223,747 1/1943 Switzerland 1. 280/35 52 us. c1 180/6.5, l80/DIG. 3, 280/35, m schonberg 297/DlG 4 Assistant ExammerLesl1e J. Paperner 51 1111. C1A6lg 5/04 Almmey, Age, Firm-Frederick Lache [58] Field of Search ISO/6.5, 65 R, DIG. 3;

280/34 R, 35; 297/DIG. 4 [57] ABSTRACT 56 R f Ct d A motorized vehicle for different size invalid carriers e erences in which the wheel assemblies of the vehicle are ad- UNITED STATES PATENTS justable for width and length. Driving wheel asseml,251,777 l/1 918 Hosick et al 280/35 X blies on each side of the vehicle have individual mo- 946,842 1/l9l0 Haas 280/35 X tors for propelling the vehicle and steering it by selecet a1 actuation of the motors 2,798,565 7/1957 Rosenthal et a1. l80/6,5 1,853,318 4/1932 Peters 280/35 12 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures l "67 X 3 I 695F681, "1 l 66 x 3 1 I -w- 1 63 3l 1 MOTORIZED INVALID CARRIER This invention relates to motorized vehicles for supporting a chair or bed and propelling it from one location to another. Heretofore wheelchairs, hospital beds and stretchers have been motorized by mounting motors on them and driving the wheels by pulleys or belts. This has increased the weight and space occupied by the invalid carriers making it very difficult to transport them from one location to another. For example, a wheelchair is usually folded and carried in the trunk of an automobile. With the motor and drive mechanism attached to the chair, it is unwieldy and too heavy to transport in this manner.

Another method of motorizing wheelchairs is to attach a one-wheel power unit having a motor driven wheel to a wheelchair for driving and steering the chair. This unit can be transported without the wheelchair but does need to be mounted on a special wheelchair for operation. This makes the power unit useless if a wheelchair having the proper design is not available at the destination to which it is being transported. Safety is another element of vital importancein moving invalids from one place to another and with the one-wheel power unit the chair is only supported by three wheels introducing an element of instability which is not there with a four-wheel vehicle.

Steering of wheelchairs with one-wheel power units is accomplished by a steering handle and this is not always practical where the invalid cannot turn the handle. The handle is also not located where a person assisting-the invalid can steer a-ndoperate the chair.

Wheelchairs have evolved to a point where they do not look like other chairs and people who use them are often treated abnormally even though they are well persons with only a disability preventing them from walking. This treatment is detrimental especially to persons who are recuperating from an accident or illmess and in a rehabilitation program where adjustments are being made to a new way of life.

Wheelchairs normally are of a width which is greater than the width of many doorways and although some devices have been designed to temporarily reduce the width of the chair permitting it to pass through the door, these devices also add to the weight and space required by the chair.

There is therefore a definite need for an improved apparatus for'motorizing invalid carriers. This apparatus should be safe, portable, adjustable for different size carriers and be easy to steer and operate. It is also desirable that a motorized invalid chair not be restricted to a conventional wheelchair design but be adaptable for other types of chairs for appearance and also for passage through narrow doorways.

According to this invention a motorized vehicle is provided which is adjustable for supporting invalid carriers of different sizes for persons in the seated or prone position. Driving wheel assemblies on the sides of the vehicle can be adjusted outward and inward to conform with the size of the carrier. Adjustable caster wheel assemblies permit turning of the vehicle and give it stability. The invalid carrier which may be an ordinary chair or bed can be retained on the vehicle in holders which are adjustable transversely and longitudinally of the vehicle along with the driving wheel assemblies and caster wheel assemblies'Each of the driving wheel assemblies include a wheel, a motor and a transverse structural member mounted on the vehicle for adjustment transversely of the vehicle. The caster wheel assemblies are mounted on telescoping arms pivotally connected to the vehicle for longitudinal and transverse adjusting movement.

The vehicle carries a battery which may be recharge able providing power to the motors on the driving wheel assemblies. Control of the movement of the vehicle is through the use of switches for selectively imparting forward and reverse movement to the motors of the driving wheel assemblies. When the power is switched off, the motors act as brakes for the vehicle.

With the unique construction of the invention, the vehicle can be made light and portable for carrying in the trunk of a car. Chairs of many different sizes may be supported by the adjustable holders and accordingly the apparatus is usable with conventional chairs and not limited to wheelchairs or special hospital chairs.

The accompanying drawings show one preferred form made in accordance with and embodying this invention and which is representative of how this invention may be practiced.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a vehicle (shown in solid.

lines) supporting a chair shown in phantom lines.

I FIG. 2 is a plan view taken along the plane ofline 2--2 of FIG. 1 showing the adjustable angular and longitudinal positions of the arms supporting the casterassemblies in phantom lines and having parts broken away.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view taken-along the plane of lines 3-3 of FIG. 1 showing the adjustable transverse positions of the driving wheel assemblies in phantom lines.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the electric circuit for the vehicle shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the control box showing the location of the switches and control lever.

A motorizedvehicle 1 is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 supporting an invalid carrier such aschair 2, illustrated in phantom lines in FIGS. 1 and 3. A pair ofdriving wheel assemblies 3 are mounted on the sides of thevehicle 1 and include a right-handdriving wheel assembly 4 and a left-handdriving wheel assembly 5.

Thedriving wheel assemblies 3 havewheels 6 rotatably mounted onaxles 7 which may be a part of or be fastened to transverse members such asstruts 8 telescopically mounted in ahollow beam member 12 of thevehicle 1.Side plate members 13 are fastened to thestruts 8 as by welding. Gear drivenmotors 14 which drive thewheels 6 through flanged sleeves l5 concentric with and surrounding theaxles 7 are mounted on theside plate members 13. The position of thedriving wheel assemblies 3 may be adjusted by slidingv thestruts 8 in thehollow beam member 12 to positions such as that shown in dot-dash lines in FIG. 3.Screws 16 in thehollow beam member 12 extend through openings such asslots 17 in thestruts 8 for clamping the struts in the desired position after the transverse adjustments of thewheel assemblies 3 have been made.

Holding means such as cup-shapedfront hangers 18 are fastened to threadedbushings 22 which may be screwed on the ends of theaxles 7 for receiving thefront legs 23 of the invalid carrier such aschair 2. As shown in FIG. 3 in dot-dash lines, thewheel assemblies 3 are adjustable transversely of thevehicle 1 so that thehangers 18 are in position at the right width to receive thefront legs 23 of thechair 2.

A pair ofarms 24 are pivotally connected tobrackets 25 fastened to thehollow beam member 12 of thevehicle 1 at positions between the pair ofdriving wheel assemblies 3. Thearms 24 extend rearwardly of thevehicle 1 and have a pair ofcaster wheel assemblies 26 mounted near the ends of the arms for swivel movement around vertical axes.

Rear leg hangers 27 are mounted on the distal ends of thearms 24 for receivingrear legs 28 of thechair 2. Thearms 24 are longitudinally adjustable with a telescopic construction in which the arms have outerbox member portions 32 for receivinginner bar portions 33 slidably mounted therein to increase or decrease the length of the arms. Thebar portions 33 havespacedapart holes 34 which may be brought into alignment with alignedholes 35 in thebox member portions 32 so thatscrews 36 may be inserted through theholes 34 and 35 and held in place bywing nuts 37.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plate member orplatform 38 extends over thearms 24 and is fastened at the forward end-tobrackets 25.Arm extensions 42 are located adjacent thebox member portions 32 to which they may be fastened as by welding and carrybolts 43 which extend upwardly throughcurved slots 44 in theplatform 38. Theslots 44 have a curvature corresponding to the swinging arc of thearms 24 about the pivotal connections tobrackets 25 to provide the angular adjustment of the arms indicated in dot-dash lines in FIG. 2.Wing nuts 45 screwed on the upper ends of thebolts 43 provide holding means to fix the angular position of thearms 24. With this adjustment, therear leg hangers 27 can be moved angularly and longitudinally to positions corresponding to the positions of the feet of therear legs 28 of thechair 2.

Foot rests 46 are adjustably mounted onsupport members 47 as by bolts andnuts 48 and 49. Thesupport members 47 are pivotally mounted under thehollow beam member 12 for vertical swinging movement aboutbolts 53. At positions spaced forwardly of thebolts 53,clevises 54 are pivotally mounted to thesupport members 47 and have threadedrods 55 extending upwardly through holes inplate members 56 extending horizontally from the top of thehollow beam member 12. Threadedcylindrical adjusting sleeves 57 are screwed over the threadedrods 55 and have knurledflanges 58 at the upper ends for retaining helical compression springs 61 between theflanges 58 and theplate members 56. By turning the adjustingsleeves 57 on the threadedrods 55, the amount of compression in thesprings 61 can be adjusted so that it will be sufficient to support the feet of a passenger sitting in thechair 2 but will permit compression of the springs and movementof the foot rests 46 downwardly so as not to upset thevehicle 1 if inadvertently someone steps on the foot rests. The height of the foot rests 46 can be adjusted by turningnut members 62 threaded on therods 55 and located beneath theplate members 56 for engagement with the plate members to limit the upward movement of thesupport members 47 and thereby the upward position of the foot rests 46. Thesupport members 47 extend forwardly of thevehicle 1 and serve the added function of preventing excessive forward tilting of the vehicle by engaging the ground ahead of the vehicle.

A power source such as l2-volt battery 63 is supported on theplatform 38 and is held in position on the platform by abracket member 64.Rods 65 are fastened to theplatform 38 and extend upwardly through thebracket member 64 where they are fastened to the bracket member as bynuts 66 threaded on the ends thereof.

Thechair 2 is retained on thevehicle 1 by hold-down means such asstrap 67 havingapertures 68 at the ends which may also serve to fit over the conductingposts 69 of thebattery 63 so that the strap may also serve as a carrier for the battery.Turnbuckles 73 withhooks 74 at the ends for engaging theapertures 68 of thestrap 67 are fastened to theplatform 38 for tightening the strap to the desired tension to hold thechair 2 on thevehicle 1.

Thebattery 63 provides electric power throughelectrical conductors 75 and 76 which extend from the conductingpost 69 to apanel 77 containing the electrical control components.Conductors 78 also connect themotors 14 with thepanel 77 and are of such a length that they accommodate the transverse adjustments of thewheel assemblies 3.

The gear drivenmotors 14 of this embodiment consists of a right-hand motor R and a left-hand motor L. As shown in the circuit diagram in FIG. 4, the righthand motor R has a forward winding 79 and a reverse winding 83. The forward winding 79 is connected to aswitch 84 which is actuated by asolenoid 85 to connectconductor 75 to the forward winding 79 and the motor R causing right-hand wheel 86 of the pair ofwheels 6 to turn in a clockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 1. Afuse 87 may be interposed between the motor R and theconductor 76.

In a similar manner, the reverse winding 83 is connected to aswitch 88 which is actuated by asolenoid 89 to connectconductor 75 to the reverse winding and motor R which is connected to theconductor 76 causing the right-hand wheel 86 to turn in a counterclockwise direction as seen in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 4, left-hand motor L is connected in a similar manner as the right-hand motor R. The lefthand motor L has a forward winding 93 and a reverse winding 94 as indicated. The forward winding 93 is connected to aswitch 95 which is actuated by asolenoid 96 to connectconductor 75 to the forward winding and motor L which is connected to theconductor 76 causing left-hand wheel 97 of the pair ofwheels 6 to turn in a clockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 1. Afuse 98 may be interposed between'the motor L and theconductor 76.

In addition, the reverse winding 94 of the left-hand motor L is connected to aswitch 99 which is actuated by asolenoid 103 to connectconductor 75 to the reverse winding and motor L which is connected to theconductor 76 causing the left-hand wheel 97 to turn in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 1.

Thesolenoids 85, 89, 96 and 103 are mounted on thepanel 77 and are connected in the circuit between theconductors 75 and 76 for selective actuation by a series of microswitches located in acontrol box 104 which is connected to thepanel 77 by aflexible conduit 105. Thecontrol box 104 has a clamp.106 which may be mounted on the arm of thechair 2 or on the back of the chair as shown in dot-dash lines in FIG. 1. The flexible conduit also makes it possible to operate the vehicle from a remote position as by a person walking beside thevehicle 1 and holding thecontrol box 104 in his hands.

Afuse 107 may be interposed inconductor 76 between thecontrol box 104 and thepanel 77. The microswitches in thecontrol box 104 are actuated by movement of a spring mountedcontrol lever 108 with ahandle 109 at one end. The disposition of the micro switches in thecontrol box 104 is shown in FIG. 5 with thecontrol lever 108 movable in aslot 113 and engageable with plungers 114 of the microswitches. As shown in FIG. 5, the microswitches for operating thevehicle 1 in the forward direction are on one side of theslot 113 and the microswitches for operating the vehicle in the reverse direction are on the other side of the slot. These same microswitches are shown diagramatically in FIG. 4 and have been identified by letters indicating the direction in which the vehicle will be driven when any one of the microswitches is closed by pressing of thecontrol lever 108 against the respective plungers 114. The microswitches and the directions the vehicle is driven are as follows:

FW Forward FL Forward and left FR Forward and right RT Rotation in a clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 2

LT Rotation in a counterclockwise direction as seen in FIG. 2

RV Reverse RR Reverse and right RL Reverse and left.

The microswitches listed above are connected directly or throughdiode rectifiers 115 to thesolenoids 85, 89,. 96 and 103 as shown in FIG. 4 and the operation of the vehicle through these microswitches when actuated by thelever 108 is as follows:

, To go forward, the microswitch FW is actuated which closes circuits tosolenoids 85 and 96 causing the forward winding 79 of the right-hand motor R and the forward winding 93 of the left-hand motor L to be actuated along with the motors to drive both thewheels 6 in the forward direction.

To go forward and turn left, the microswitch FL is actuated which closes the circuit to solenoid 85 closing switch .84 and causing the forward winding 79 of the right-hand motor R to be actuated along with the motor to drive the right-hand wheel 86 in the forward direction.

A forward turn to the right may be obtained by actuating microswitch FR which closes the circuit to solenoid 96 closing theswitch 95 and causing the forward winding 93 of the left-hand motor L to be actuated along with the motor to drive the left-hand wheel 97 in the forward direction.

Inorder to rotate thevehicle 1 in a right turn, either of the microswitches RT is actuated which closes the circuits tosolenoids 96 and 89 actuating switches 95 and 88 causing the reverse winding 83 of the right-hand motor R and the forward winding 93 of the left-hand motor'L to be actuated along with the motors R and L driving the left-hand wheel 97 in the forward direction and the right-hand wheel 86 in the reverse direction. It will be noted'that there are two microswitches RT located at opposite ends of theslot 113 so that operation from the front right direction to rotation in the righthand turn can be obtained without having to move thelever 108 from one end of the slot to the other end. The same holds true of the reverse controls.

In order to turn the vehicle and rotate it in a left turn, the microswitches LT are actuated which closes the circuits to solenoids and 103. This causes current to flow through the forward winding 79 of the right-hand motor R and the reverse winding 94 of the left-hand motor L causing the right-hand wheel 86 to turn in a forward'direction and the left-hand wheel 97 to turn in a reverse direction. It will be noted that there are two microswitches LT located at opposite ends of theslot 113 of thecontrol box 104 for substantially the same reasons as the location of the two microswitches RT.

- To obtain rearward motion of thevehicle 1, the microswitch RV is actuated which closes the circuit to solenoids 89 and 103 causing current to flow through the reverse winding 83 of the right-hand motor R and the reverse winding 94 of the left-hand motor L rotating bothwheels 3 in the counterclockwise direction as shown in FIG. 1 and driving the vehicle in the reverse direction.

To operate thevehicle 1 in the reverse direction and to the left, the microswitch RL is actuated closing the circuit to solenoid 89 which actuatesswitch 88 causing current to flow through the reverse winding of the right-hand motor R rotating the right-hand wheel 86 in the counterclockwise direction.

To drive thevehicle 1 to the rear and to the right, the microswitch RR is actuated closing the circuit to sole-'noid 103 which closes switch 99 causing current to flow through the reverse winding of the left-hand motor L Y and driving the left-hand wheel97 in-the reverse direction.

It can be seen that the two switches labeled RT and the two switches labeled LT are provided in thecontrol box 104 so that it will be possible to go from a turn in one direction to rotation in that direction smoothly and easily. It is also understood that the speed at which the motors R and L are driven may be regulated through rheostats or other apparatus incorporated in thepanel 77 such as using a double voltage from a double voltage battery. It is also understood that thecontrol box 104 may be of a circular configuration with around hole in the center and the microswitches extending radially therefrom and with thelever 108 in the center of the hole.

One of the advantages of thevehicle 1 of this invention is its adjustability and portability. It can be seen that by unfastening theturnbuckle 73, thehooks 74 can be released from thestrap 67 and thechair 2 lifted out of thefront hangers 18 andrear hangers 27. Thecontrol box 104 can be unclamped from the arm or back of thechair 2 and aplug 116 at the end of a flexible conduit may be detached from thepanel 77 so that thecontrol box 104 can be transported separately from the vehicle. Furthermore, thebattery 63 can be removed by unscrewing the nuts 66 from the threadedrods 65 permitting removal of thebracket member 64. Thestrap 67 can then be placed with theapertures 68 over the conductingposts 69 of thebattery 63 providing a handle and carrier for lifting the battery off theplatform 38 and carrying it separately from the vehicle. Thedriving wheel assemblies 3 may then be moved to the retracted position and also thearms 24 may be swung inwardly and retracted into the longitudinally retracted position for easy transportation in a minimum of space. Upon arriving at the destination, anotherchair 2 may be placed in thefront hangers 18 andrear hangers 27 with thedriving wheel assemblies 3 being movable transversely, as shown in FIG. 3, and thearms 24 being movable longitudinally and angularly to positions for accommodating the particular width and length of the chair. 1

While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without'departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

1, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. An adjustable motorized vehicle for supporting and propelling invalid carriers of different sizes comprising a platform for carrying a power source, a pair of unitary driving wheel assemblies on opposite sides of said platform, a pair of caster assemblies on opposite sides of said platform and mounted on the platform at positions spaced from said pair of driving wheel assemblies, means to support the invalid carrier at positions adjacent said driving wheel assemblies and said caster assemblies, holddown means to retain the invalid carrier on said platform, each of said driving wheel assemblies including a wheel and an individual drive motor, control means for directing power selectively to said individual drive motor of each of said wheel assemblies from said power source for propelling and steering said vehicle, one of said driving wheel assemblies having a transverse member extending towards and adjustably connected to said platform for adjusting movement of the driving wheel assembly relative to said platform in a direction transversely of the vehicle to adjust the width of the vehicle to the width of the invalid carrier and at least one of said pair of caster assemblies being adjustably mounted on said platform for movement of the caster assembly transversely of the vehicle.

2. An adjustable motorized vehicle according toclaim 1 wherein both of said pair of caster assemblies are adjustably mounted on said platform for adjusting movement of the caster assemblies longitudinally of the vehicle to adjust the length of the vehicle to the length of the invalid carrier.

3. An adjustable motorized vehicle according toclaim 1 wherein said transverse member of said driving wheel assembly has a portion telescopically mounted in a mating portion of said platform for adjusting movement of the driving wheel assembly transversely of the vehicle.

4. An adjustable motorized vehicle according toclaim 1 wherein each of said wheels of said driving wheel assemblies is rotatably mounted on an axle and said means to support the invalid carrier includes a holder mounted on the outboard end of said axle for receiving a supporting member of an invalid carrier.

5. An adjustable motorized vehicle according toclaim 1 wherein each of said pair of driving wheel assemblies and each of said pair of caster assemblies are adjustably connected to said platform for adjusting movement transversely of the ,vehicle to adjust the width of the vehicle to the width of the invalid carrier.

6. An adjustable motorized vehicle according toclaim 5 wherein each of said pair of caster assemblies are adjustably mounted on said platform for adjusting movement transversely of the vehicle to adjust the width of the vehicle to the width of the invalid carrier.

7. An adjustable motorized vehicle according toclaim 1 wherein said platform supports a source of electric power, said control means connecting said source of electric power andsaid motors of said pair of driving wheel assemblies, said control means including switch means for selectively actuating said motors for rotation of said wheels in the forward and reverse directions whereby said vehicle may be propelled forward, backward or turned in either direction.

8. An adjustable motorized vehicle according toclaim 7 wherein each of said motors of said pair of driving wheel assemblies has a reverse winding and a forward winding and said switch means includes individual switches connected to said reverse winding and said forward winding of each of said motors.

9. An adjustable motorized vehicle according toclaim 8 wherein said switches are actuated by solenoids for each of said switches and said control means includes microswitches connected to said solenoids for selective actuation of said solenoids.

10. An adjustable motorized vehicle according to claim 9 wherein said control means includes a control box, a slot in said box, a first series of said microswitches mounted along one side of said slot and means for closing one of said microswitches at a time to selectively actuate said solenoids.

11. An adjustable motorized vehicle according to claim 10 wherein a second series of said microswitches are mounted along the other side of said slot, said first series containing microswitches for actuating said solenoids to drive the vehicle in the forward direction and said second series containing microswitches for actuati'ng said solenoids to drive the vehiclein the rearward direction. I

12. An adjustable motorized vehicle according to claim 11 wherein said control box has a control lever movably mounted in said slot with a handle at the distal end whereby said control lever can be brought into engagement with said microswitches to drive said vehicle in the desired direction.

Claims (12)

1. An adjustable motorized vehicle for supporting and propelling invalid carriers of different sizes comprising a platform for carrying a power source, a pair of unitary driving wheel assemblies on opposite sides of said platform, a pair of caster assemblies on opposite sides of said platform and mounted on the platform at positions spaced from said pair of driving wheel assemblies, means to support the invalid carrier at positions adjacent said driving wheel assemblies and said caster assemblies, holddown means to retain the invalid carrier on said platform, each of said driving wheel assemblies including a wheel and an individual drive motor, control means for directing power selectively to said individual drive motor of each of said wheel assemblies from said power source for propelling and steering said vehicle, one of said driving wheel assemblies having a transverse member extending towards and adjustably connected to said platform for adjusting movement of the driving wheel assembly relative to said platform in a direction transversely of the vehicle to adjust the width of the vehicle to the width of the invalid carrier and at least one of said pair of caster assemblies being adjustably mounted on said platform for movement of the caster assembly transversely of the vehicle.

2. An adjustable motorized vehicle according to claim 1 wherein both of said pair of caster assemblies are adjustably mounted on said platform for adjusting movement of the caster assemblies longitudinally of the vehicle to adjust the length of the vehicle to the length of the invalid carrier.

3. An adjustable motorized vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said transverse member of said driving wheel assembly has a portion telescopically mounted in a mating portion of said platform for adjusting movement of the driving wheel assembly transversely of the vehicle.

4. An adjustable motorized vehicle according to claim 1 wherein each of said wheels of said driving wheel assemblies is rotatably mounted on an axle and said means to support the invalid carrier includes a holder Mounted on the outboard end of said axle for receiving a supporting member of an invalid carrier.

5. An adjustable motorized vehicle according to claim 1 wherein each of said pair of driving wheel assemblies and each of said pair of caster assemblies are adjustably connected to said platform for adjusting movement transversely of the vehicle to adjust the width of the vehicle to the width of the invalid carrier.

6. An adjustable motorized vehicle according to claim 5 wherein each of said pair of caster assemblies are adjustably mounted on said platform for adjusting movement transversely of the vehicle to adjust the width of the vehicle to the width of the invalid carrier.

7. An adjustable motorized vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said platform supports a source of electric power, said control means connecting said source of electric power and said motors of said pair of driving wheel assemblies, said control means including switch means for selectively actuating said motors for rotation of said wheels in the forward and reverse directions whereby said vehicle may be propelled forward, backward or turned in either direction.

8. An adjustable motorized vehicle according to claim 7 wherein each of said motors of said pair of driving wheel assemblies has a reverse winding and a forward winding and said switch means includes individual switches connected to said reverse winding and said forward winding of each of said motors.

9. An adjustable motorized vehicle according to claim 8 wherein said switches are actuated by solenoids for each of said switches and said control means includes microswitches connected to said solenoids for selective actuation of said solenoids.

10. An adjustable motorized vehicle according to claim 9 wherein said control means includes a control box, a slot in said box, a first series of said microswitches mounted along one side of said slot and means for closing one of said microswitches at a time to selectively actuate said solenoids.

11. An adjustable motorized vehicle according to claim 10 wherein a second series of said microswitches are mounted along the other side of said slot, said first series containing microswitches for actuating said solenoids to drive the vehicle in the forward direction and said second series containing microswitches for actuating said solenoids to drive the vehicle in the rearward direction.

12. An adjustable motorized vehicle according to claim 11 wherein said control box has a control lever movably mounted in said slot with a handle at the distal end whereby said control lever can be brought into engagement with said microswitches to drive said vehicle in the desired direction.

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