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).

  • Publication number: 20230225926
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2022
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventor: Tianfu Li
  • Publication number: 20230181410
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2022
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventor: Tianfu Li
  • Patent number: 10347110
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Inventor: Tianfu Li
  • Publication number: 20120248731
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventor: Tianfu Li
  • Publication number: 20080283311
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventor: Tianfu Li
  • Patent number: 6899212
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Inventor: Tianfu Li
  • Publication number: 20040031511
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Inventor: Tianfu Li
  • Publication number: 20040026209
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventor: Tianfu Li
  • Publication number: 20030151232
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventor: Tianfu Li
  • Patent number: 6467788
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Inventors: Tianfu Li, Yaping Li
  • Patent number: 6450054
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Inventor: Tianfu Li
  • Publication number: 20020109043
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventor: Tianfu Li
  • Patent number: 6431382
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Inventor: Tianfu Li
  • Publication number: 20020091033
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventor: Tianfu Li
  • Patent number: 6145524
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Inventors: Tianfu Li, David Keith Blair
  • Patent number: 6073356
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Inventor: Tianfu Li
  • Patent number: 5851167
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Inventor: Tianfu Li
  • Patent number: 5787913
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Inventor: Tianfu Li