Patent Summary Sheet #1

Source:

Fukuda, T., Tamada, K., Tsukahara, H., & Watanabe, T. (2005). Japan Patent No. 2007082883A. Tokyo: Japan Patent Office.

Patent Number:

JP2007082883A

Patent Summary:

A wheel roller rotated by a driving device is brought into contact with the wheelchair wheels. Bobbin-shaped rotating brushes with U-shaped grooves have an opening at least as big as the wheel face width in a certain direction, and the rotating brushes are then reciprocated in an axial direction to clean the faces of the wheel tire. Nearly the whole periphery of the wheel tire parts can be cleaned, and the apparatus is formed to be adapted to different forms and sizes of wheelchairs.

Patent Critique:

This patented item also strives to clean the wheelchair wheels. However, it seems to be overly large, and it may be difficult to put the wheelchair on the cleaning device. One good aspect though is that it can adapt to different sizes and forms of wheels, which is important to incorporate in the product.

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The wheelchair is loaded onto the apparatus via the ramp on the right. It then sits in the rollers, the wheels are turned and cleaned with an embedded brush.

Patent Summary Sheet #2

Source:

Heise, T. (1999). U.S. Patent No. 5860180A. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Patent Number:

US5860180A

Patent Summary:

In this patent, there are at least two rollers which can carry at least one wheelchair tire with the wheelchair. It includes at least one drivable roller to rotate the tires or is switchable into a freewheel condition. There is at least one cleaning device associated with at least one tire. There are a plurality of rollers that are arranged in pairs so the device is adaptable to different wheel diameters. In order to adjust for both manual and electric wheelchairs, each roller can be either selectively drivable or switched into a freewheel condition. The wheelchair is kept in the cleaning device with oppositely disposed rollers that have different rotational speeds in order to produce a vertical force that is directed towards the platform.

Patent Critique:

This patented item strives to clean the wheelchair wheels as well. However, there seem to be many uncertain parts to this product, such as the number of rollers needed and which rollers do which movements. One good aspect of this item is that it can adapt to both manual and electric wheelchairs, which is important to incorporate in the product.

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The wheelchair is loaded onto the apparatus using a ramp, it then rests on rollers which drive the wheels allowing the brush to fully clean the wheels

 

Patent Summary Sheet #3

Source:

Pulvermacher, R. J. (2010). U.S. Patent No. 7673362B2. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Patent Number:

US7673362B2

Patent Summary:

This patent is for a unit that is designed to be temporarily or permanently installed to clean the wheelchair wheels, three- and four-wheeled scooters. It has rotatably mounted rollers and a rotatably mounted brush that is between the rollers. It is designed so the brush rotates the opposite the rollers while supporting one wheel. The brush sits in a washing tray with cleaning solution, so when the brush spins, it cleans the tire.

Patent Critique:

The patent solves the problem of being able to clean tires effectively, while doing so wirelessly. It would be possible for a wheelchair user to use themselves. This is not easily portable and it does not clean all motorized wheelchair wheels at the same time.  It also leaves the wheels wet so they need to be dried after using this. This shows how it is possible to get wireless automatic cleaning, but portability is still in question.

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The wheelchair wheels sit on many rollers which can rotate the wheel allowing the cleaning solution reach all parts of the wheel.
 

Patent Summary Sheet #4

Source:

KR101427402B1 - Portable cleaning module for a wheelchair. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://patents.google.com/patent/KR101427402B1/en?q=cleaner&oq=wheelchair wheel cleaner  

Patent Number:

KR101427402B1

Patent Summary:

This unit is designed to be portable. It is a frame that includes a ramp to help guide the wheel onto the rollers. The cleaning unit within the frame has a sweeper unit that cleans the dirt and dust off wheelchair wheels.

Patent Critique:

This does clean wheelchair wheels by using rollers and a cleaner to clean dirt and dust. It is portable so it can be taken with a person, but it only cleans one wheel at a time. A person in a wheelchair may or may not be able to use it by themselves because it must be placed on the ground so the wheelchair can be aimed into the device. This shows that portability in a cleaning apparatus is possible, but an easier process would be better for consumers.  

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An individual wheel is rolled onto the device, the rollers depicted all have brushing material surrounding them allowing the wheel to be cleaned by the rollers driving the wheel.

Patent Summary Sheet #5

Source:

Smith, T. J. (1990). U.S. Patent No. 5261433A. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Patent Number:

US5261433A

Patent Summary:

This allows for a vehicle’s wheels to be lowered into a water tub, and then lifted and placed on the ground again. The second half to this patent has a frame of nozzles spray cleaning solution on the wheels, they rotate in the water bath and become clean.  This is good for larger vehicles such as trucks.

Patent Critique:

Both aspects of this patent are extremely unrealistic for a wheelchair user to implement. This cleaning method would indeed clean the wheels, but then the user would be tracking water around the house.  In addition, it seems large and high maintenance since the user would have to put water in the bath and cleaning solution in the nozzles. This would not work for someone in a wheelchair who cannot clean their own wheels.

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Industrial sized tracks are laid on the ground, a vehicle drives onto the tracks, while passing over the tracks a cleaning solution is sprayed from below, cleaning the wheels and underbelly of the vehicle.
 

Patent Summary Sheet #6

Source:

Warfel, J. (1984). U.S. Patent No. 4605239A. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Patent Number:

US4605239A

Patent Summary:

This patent is for an attachment to a wheelchair wheel base. This attachment holds a brush permanently on wheelchair wheels. This would clean the wheel as it goes along, not in one cleaning session. The brush apparatus can be removed and replaced.

Patent Critique:

This idea would be good for dried dirt as it could be easily brushed away, but mud or snow would stay stuck on the wheels and track everywhere. Therefore this solution would not be viable for cleaning wheelchairs when going from inside to outside. This is a good idea though for mounting some sort of contraption to clean the wheels as they go around.

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The brush depicted is mounted onto the frame of the wheelchair next to the wheels. It is in constant contact with the wheel, cleaning the wheel as it rotates.