Patents by Inventor Tianfu Li
Tianfu Li has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20230225926Abstract: This is a mobility aid for disabled persons, including a front frame, a rear frame, and a handle frame. The front frame comprises two front legs having front wheels at the bottom ends thereof. The rear frame is attached to the front frame and includes a saddle seat and a rear leg having a rear wheel attached thereto. The handle frame includes a handle horizontal tube and a vertical handle member depending therefrom. The vertical handle member is attached to the front frame. The handle horizontal tube includes an elbow support at each end and a hand rest support plate having a pair of hand rest spheres. A patient can sit on the saddle seat with their elbow resting on the elbow support so that some or most of their body weight is supported by the saddle and elbow support, while the feet can walk freely.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2022Publication date: July 20, 2023Inventor: Tianfu Li
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Publication number: 20230181410Abstract: A lift transfer device for disabled people includes a wheeled chassis having a column with a bottom end attached to the chassis and a top end including an arm rest. A winch is provided that is supported by the chassis and/or the column. The winch includes a tow rope having a distal end and a hook disposed at the distal end of the tow rope. The tow rope runs through one or more guide rings disposed on the column and the arm rest. A harness is provided that is worn by a user of the lift transfer device. The hook on the tow rope may be connected to a pulling loop on the harness, the winch facilitates a lifting of the user as the tow rope is retracted by the winch and a lowering of the user as the tow rope is paidout by the winch.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2022Publication date: June 15, 2023Inventor: Tianfu Li
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Patent number: 10347110Abstract: A patient support and reclining device having a built in alarm and including an arrangement of sensors, timer and switches extending between the device and a separate connected control module for notifying when the patient is no longer supported upon the chair or recliner or when the patient has been supported in a static position to too long a period of time, thus notifying the caregiver of the necessity of repositioning in order to prevent the occurrence of bedsores and the like. The recliner device includes slaved or independent repositionable drives incorporated into the seat and back supports. The repositionable drives are communicated with the control module in order to reconfigure the patient support device, such as timed intervals to correspond with patient repositioning, such as of particular value to immobile or mobility limited individuals.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2018Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Inventor: Tianfu Li
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Publication number: 20120248731Abstract: A vehicle supported on driven wheels includes a frame supported on the wheels, a platform supported on the frame at a pivot, a flexible member including a first end secured to the platform at a first side of the pivot and a second end secured to the platform at a second side of the pivot opposite the first side, and a mechanism engaged with the member and driving the wheels in one rotation as the member reciprocates through the mechanism due to oscillation of the platform about the pivot.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2011Publication date: October 4, 2012Inventor: Tianfu Li
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Publication number: 20080283311Abstract: A balancing ball vehicle includes a spherical ball having a center and a central axis that passes through the center, a first driving wheel frictionally engaged with the ball and rotating about a first wheel axis, and a second driving wheel angularly spaced about the central axis from the first driving wheel, frictionally engaged with the ball, and rotating about a second wheel axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2007Publication date: November 20, 2008Inventor: Tianfu Li
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Patent number: 6899212Abstract: A one-way clutch includes a chamber containing a roller that moves in response to changes in the angular position of a component relative to an axis, such as in response to the slope of a surface on which a wheel is supported, to engage and disengage alternately a one-way drive connection between a non-rotating component and a component that rotates with the wheel. The wheel is prevented from rolling backward on an inclined surface due to this engagement and is free to ascend the inclined surface due to the disengagement.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2002Date of Patent: May 31, 2005Inventor: Tianfu Li
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Publication number: 20040031511Abstract: A foldable walker includes first and second side frames, each frame having a front leg, rear leg, and an arm connecting the front leg and rear leg. A detent is urged by a spring or spring clip resiliently into engagement with a sleeve and a front leg. The sleeve surrounds a portion of the front leg and allows rotation and displacement of the leg relative to the first sleeve when the detent is disengaged. Alternately, a recess on the sleeve engages a pin, thereby preventing rotation of the leg relative to the sleeve. The detent is disengaged by a cable, or the pin is disengaged from the recess by depressing a lateral arm that is fixed to the sleeve.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2002Publication date: February 19, 2004Inventor: Tianfu Li
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Publication number: 20040026209Abstract: A one-way clutch includes a chamber containing a roller that moves in response to changes in the angular position of a component relative to an axis, such as in response to the slope of a surface on which a wheel is supported, to engage and disengage alternately a one-way drive connection between a non-rotating component and a component that rotates with the wheel. The wheel is prevented from rolling backward on an inclined surface due to this engagement and is free to ascend the inclined surface due to the disengagement.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2002Publication date: February 12, 2004Inventor: Tianfu Li
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Publication number: 20030151232Abstract: A device for assisting a disabled person in performing multiple activities includes bent tubular side frames spaced laterally by a supporting frame, the side frames forming legs supported on wheels and carrying a seat back support, the supporting frame adapted to carry alternately a seat, a commode, a box or other receptacle for holding articles. The frame provides a surface located at an adjustable height above the floor for supporting the user's forearms or elbows, and surfaces for supporting the user's feet above the floor. The device is adapted to be folded easily and compactly.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2002Publication date: August 14, 2003Inventor: Tianfu Li
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Patent number: 6467788Abstract: A tilt-in-place wheelchair having adjustable wheelbase includes front and rear side frames, hinged cross members supported on the frames, an adjustment rail supported on the frames for rotation relative to the frames, a block slideably supported on the rail and hinged to one pair of cross members, a latch supported on the rail and adapted for releasable engagement with the rail so that the block is alternately fixed to the rail to maintain the width of the wheelbase or released from the rail to allow adjustment of the wheelbase.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2001Date of Patent: October 22, 2002Inventors: Tianfu Li, Yaping Li
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Patent number: 6450054Abstract: A power transmission mechanism includes a cluster gear formed integrally with, or fixed to an input shaft, and an output shaft arranged parallel to the input shaft and rotatably supporting gears in continuous meshing engagement with pinions of the cluster gear. A control bar, coaxial with the output shaft, defines a axial slot interconnected with radial slots on the output shaft. Locking bolts located in the radial slots and guided by a track, alternately move radially into and out of engagement with the selected gear.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2001Date of Patent: September 17, 2002Inventor: Tianfu Li
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Publication number: 20020109043Abstract: A vehicle capable of roadway travel and flight, both in an atmosphere and in a vacuum, includes a fluid passageway, a device for producing fluid flow in the passageway, and airfoil surfaces spaced mutually along the passageway and fixed to the structure of the vehicle, to which structure lift forces produced on the airfoils are transferred. The vehicle includes lift-producing wings extending from the body of the vehicle, the fluid passageway being located within the vehicle body or the external wings. Fluid flow within the passageway is produced by a fan, propeller, or exhaust from a jet engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2001Publication date: August 15, 2002Inventor: Tianfu Li
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Patent number: 6431382Abstract: A beverage container holding a drinking straw having an upper portion located in an insert that is fixed to an inner surface of the container and directs the straw toward an opening through an neck, and a removable cap having a plug that engages the upper end of the straw and draws the straw outward through the opening as the cap is removed.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2000Date of Patent: August 13, 2002Inventor: Tianfu Li
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Publication number: 20020091033Abstract: A power transmission mechanism includes a cluster gear formed integrally with, or fixed to an input shaft, and an output shaft arranged parallel to the input shaft and rotatably supporting gears in continuous meshing engagement with pinions of the cluster gear. A control bar, coaxial with the output shaft, defines a axial slot interconnected with radial slots on the output shaft. Locking bolts located in the radial slots and guided by a track, alternately move radially into and out of engagement with the selected gear.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2001Publication date: July 11, 2002Inventor: Tianfu Li
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Patent number: 6145524Abstract: A walker for assistant people ambulating, particularly on stairs climbing, is a free standing frame comprising a pair of reverse U-shaped frame members that are interconnected by braces at its sides and front, having the walker open on its rear side to allow access by the user. The horizontal parts of the U-shaped members provide handles for gripping the walker. A pair of adjustable front legs are telescopically inserted in the frame and are held in fixed position relative to the frame by a spring lorded pin mounted on the frame passes through the hole on the frame and the front leg. In one embodiment, hand actuated controls mounted on the handles allow the user to pull the pin out of the holes whereby the front legs extend by falling under the force of gravity to the desired length where the pin re-locking the front legs.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 1998Date of Patent: November 14, 2000Inventors: Tianfu Li, David Keith Blair
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Patent number: 6073356Abstract: An inclinometer comprising a housing having transparent front plate and flat bottom, a gravitated rotational protractor having angle graduation printed on the front panel, a pendulum swing needle and protractor rotation locking device. By controlling the locking device, the protractor can be released to rotate freely and can be locked in a position. When the protracted is unlocked, the pendulum swing needle and the gravitated rotational protractor will always rotate to the relatively same position (the needle point to "0" degree angle). Then the locking device can lock the protractor to prevent rotation and the needle continues to rotate to measure the angle to which the inclinometer has been tilted.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 1998Date of Patent: June 13, 2000Inventor: Tianfu Li
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Patent number: 5851167Abstract: A device for use to increase muscular strength including an elastic ring providing flexible resistance to force applied to the ring by a user, the ring having first laterally opposite sides and elevated arms rising and falling along a curved path from the sides forming a saddle-like contour, a first pair of laterally opposed grips covering the sides, and a second pair of laterally opposed grips covering the arms, the ring being formed of an elastic rod, a spiral spring, or multiple interconnected spiral springs.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 1997Date of Patent: December 22, 1998Inventor: Tianfu Li
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Patent number: 5787913Abstract: A walker to assist physically impaired persons in ascending and descending stairs, has two rear legs pivotally attached to two front legs. When the walker is in use, the rear legs are locked against any pivotal movement; when stairs are to be negotiated, a locking member is released to permit relative pivotal movement of the rear legs in respect to the front legs. Thus, the front and rear legs can be placed on the staircase. After this has been done, the legs again are locked into position. The walker maintains this relative position so that the person using it may negotiate the stairs. The locking member is in the form of a toothed substantially circular gear and spring biased bolt.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 1997Date of Patent: August 4, 1998Inventor: Tianfu Li