Adaptable Wheelchair Technology for Diverse Industries

Publication ID: 24-11857472_0002_PTD
Published: October 28, 2025
Category:New Applications & Use Cases

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Adaptable Wheelchair Technology for Diverse Industries,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857472_0002_PTD, Published October 28, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857472_0002_PTD
This technical disclosure describes improvements that would be readily apparent to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art (PHOSITA) when considered in combination with the foundational architecture disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,857,472.

Summary of the Inventive Concept

The inventive concept applies the core technology of a wheelchair to various industries, enhancing accessibility and usability in marine, recreational, agricultural, theme park, and emergency response applications.

Background and Problem Solved

The original patent disclosed a wheelchair with a seat back that can be fixed to a vehicle body structure, primarily designed for use in vehicles. However, this limitation restricts the wheelchair's versatility and adaptability to other industries. The new inventive concept addresses this limitation by applying the core technology to diverse industries, providing enhanced accessibility and usability in various environments.

Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept

The inventive concept comprises a wheelchair adapted for use in various industries, including marine transportation, recreational vehicles, agricultural applications, theme parks, and emergency response situations. The wheelchair features a seat, body frame, wheel, seat back, and an engager to fix the seat back to a respective industry-specific body structure. For instance, in marine transportation, the wheelchair is adapted for use on a boat, with the engager fixing the seat back to a boat body structure. Similarly, in recreational vehicles, the wheelchair is adapted for use in a recreational vehicle, providing enhanced accessibility and usability.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The new claims introduce novel and non-obvious applications of the core wheelchair technology, departing from the original patent's vehicle-centric design. The inventive step lies in the recognition of the technology's versatility and its adaptation to diverse industries, providing enhanced accessibility and usability.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments of the inventive concept may include modifying the wheelchair's design to accommodate specific industry requirements, such as waterproofing for marine use or reinforced materials for agricultural applications. Variations may also include integrating additional features, such as sensors or communication systems, to enhance the wheelchair's functionality and user experience.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The inventive concept has significant commercial potential in various industries, including marine transportation, recreational vehicles, agricultural applications, theme parks, and emergency response situations. The target market includes companies and organizations operating in these industries, as well as individuals with disabilities seeking enhanced accessibility and usability.

CPC Classifications

SectionClassGroup
A A61 A61G5/1067
A A61 A61G3/02
A A61 A61G3/0808

Field of Art

Mobility Assistive Devices, specifically wheelchairs and adaptive transportation technologies, encompassing medical, recreational, and industrial mobility solutions

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A biomedical engineer or mobility device designer with expertise in adaptive technologies, familiar with wheelchair mechanics, structural adaptations, and cross-industry design principles

Obviousness Rationale

A PHOSITA would recognize that the core wheelchair technology disclosed in US 11857472 represents a modular design with transferable mechanical principles that can be readily adapted across different transportation and industrial contexts. The fundamental engagement mechanism and structural components of the wheelchair are sufficiently generic to be applied in marine, agricultural, and emergency response environments with minimal substantive modifications. The variations represent predictable engineering adaptations that would be obvious to a skilled practitioner seeking to extend wheelchair functionality into diverse operational domains.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
Wheelchair with engager mechanism for fixing seat back to vehicle body structure
PTD Variation
Adapting engager mechanism to boat, tractor, and ambulance body structures
Obviousness Reasoning
Predictable design transfer using known mechanical attachment principles, with engagement mechanism remaining fundamentally consistent across different structural contexts
Source Patent Element
Push-along handle projecting from seat back
PTD Variation
Modifying handle design for marine, agricultural, and emergency response environments
Obviousness Reasoning
Routine engineering adaptation involving material selection and geometric adjustments to suit specific environmental requirements
Source Patent Element
Wheelchair frame supporting user mobility
PTD Variation
Introducing industry-specific reinforcement and environmental adaptations
Obviousness Reasoning
Finite set of known material and structural modifications to enhance wheelchair performance in specialized contexts
Source Patent Element
Seat back with adjustable inclination
PTD Variation
Maintaining inclination mechanism across different industry applications
Obviousness Reasoning
Fundamental mechanical principle that remains consistent and transferable across diverse mobility contexts
Source Patent Element
Wheel rotatably supported by body frame
PTD Variation
Selecting wheel configurations optimized for marine, agricultural, and emergency response terrains
Obviousness Reasoning
Known wheel technology adaptation using standard engineering design selection processes
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on the teachings of US 11857472, a person of ordinary skill in the art would find the disclosed wheelchair variations in the present publication to be obvious extensions of existing wheelchair technology, representing predictable design adaptations that do not rise to the level of non-obvious innovation. The systematic application of a standard wheelchair engagement and support mechanism across diverse industrial contexts constitutes obvious design variations that would be readily conceived by a skilled practitioner in mobility assistive technologies.

Original Patent Information

Patent NumberUS 11,857,472
TitleWheelchair
Assignee(s)MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION