EP0812585A2 - Wheelchair - Google Patents
Wheelchair Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0812585A2 EP0812585A2 EP97202606A EP97202606A EP0812585A2 EP 0812585 A2 EP0812585 A2 EP 0812585A2 EP 97202606 A EP97202606 A EP 97202606A EP 97202606 A EP97202606 A EP 97202606A EP 0812585 A2 EP0812585 A2 EP 0812585A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- kerb
- wheelchair
- climber
- main frame
- foot rest
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
- A61G5/00—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs
- A61G5/04—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs motor-driven
- A61G5/041—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs motor-driven having a specific drive-type
- A61G5/045—Rear wheel drive
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
- A61G5/00—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs
- A61G5/06—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs with obstacle mounting facilities, e.g. for climbing stairs, kerbs or steps
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
- A61G5/00—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs
- A61G5/10—Parts, details or accessories
- A61G5/1083—Quickly-removable wheels
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
- A61G5/00—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs
- A61G5/10—Parts, details or accessories
- A61G5/12—Rests specially adapted therefor, e.g. for the head or the feet
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
- A61G5/00—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs
- A61G5/10—Parts, details or accessories
- A61G5/12—Rests specially adapted therefor, e.g. for the head or the feet
- A61G5/125—Rests specially adapted therefor, e.g. for the head or the feet for arms
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
- A61G5/00—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs
- A61G5/10—Parts, details or accessories
- A61G5/12—Rests specially adapted therefor, e.g. for the head or the feet
- A61G5/128—Rests specially adapted therefor, e.g. for the head or the feet for feet
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
- A61G2203/00—General characteristics of devices
- A61G2203/10—General characteristics of devices characterised by specific control means, e.g. for adjustment or steering
- A61G2203/14—Joysticks
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
- A61G5/00—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs
- A61G5/08—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs foldable
Definitions
- This invention relates to wheelchairs and more particularly to power driven unitary wheelchairs.
- a wheelchair comprising a main frame having two front wheels, a battery pack and a drive unit, comprising two rear wheel units, each rear wheel unit being individually removably mountable on the main frame by means of quick release fastener means, and being releasably connectable to the battery pack.
- each rear wheel unit is provided with a drive motor.
- the frame incorporates longitudinal support members which extend horizontally when the chair is in the use position, each rear wheel unit being mountable on at least one support member by means of mutual insertion in the direction of extension of the at least one support member.
- each rear wheel unit is mounted on two support members, the two members being vertically spaced apart when the chair is in the use position.
- Each rear wheel unit may be releasably mountable on one of the two support members by means of a spring-loaded catch.
- Each rear wheel unit may be mounted on the other of the two support members by means of a screw connection.
- the spring-loaded catch is provided on the upper of the two support members.
- the main frame is additionally provided with removably mountable back, seat, arms and foot rests.
- a wheelchair comprising a number of components including a main frame having two front wheels, a battery pack, and two rear wheel units, each rear wheel unit being provided with a drive motor, wherein said components are detachable for dismantling the wheelchair into its component parts.
- a wheelchair comprising a main frame having two front wheels, a battery pack, a drive unit comprising two rear wheel units, and two swinging quadrant kerb climbers, each kerb climber being adapted to be pivotable about a respective pivot joint between a first operative position and a second inoperative position wherein each pivot joint comprises a torsion bush.
- the torsion bush is formed of an annular rubber sleeve held between inner and outer rigid cylindrical sleeves which may be made of metal.
- Each kerb climber is preferably connected to one of said inner and outer cylindrical sleeves of a respective pivot joint, the other of said inner and outer sleeves being supported on the main frame.
- Each pivot joint preferably additionally comprises locking means and biassing means for biassing its respective kerb climber to engage with said locking means to hold the respective kerb climber in the first or second position.
- each kerb climber is connected to the inner cylindrical sleeve, the outer cylindrical sleeve being mounted on a foot rest which is removably mountable on the main frame.
- a foot rest for releasably mounting on a power driven wheelchair, the foot rest comprising a support member, a foot plate and swinging quadrant kerb climber mounted on the support member at a pivot joint comprising a torsion bush, the kerb climber being pivotable about the joint between a first operative position and a second inoperative position.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a typical power driven wheelchair comprising, in general, a main frame 10, a seat 12, a back 14, arms 16, front wheels 18 and rear wheels 20.
- a battery pack 22 provides the power for two motors 24, one motor being associated with each rear wheel 20 to drive that rear wheel.
- a control unit 26 supported on one of the arms 16 provides a stop/start switch 28 and a directional control lever 30.
- Foot rest plates 32 are mounted on support members 34 for releasable attachment to the mainframe 10 by means of pins 36 and a latch assembly 38.
- a strap 40 is provided between the support members 34 for preventing the feet of an occupant of the wheelchair from slipping down between the front wheels 18.
- each rear wheel 20 and its associated drive motor 24 are supported on a rear frame portion 42 releasbly connectable to the main frame by way of a spring-biassed pin 44 and a screw locking connection 46.
- the rear frame portion can be seen in more detail in Figure 2, and comprises a straight tube 48 and an angled tube 50 attached to the straight tube 48, by welding or any other suitable means, at one end of one leg 52 of the angled tube.
- the other leg 54 of the angled tube extends parallel to the straight tube 48.
- a plate 56 (see Figure 1) is connected to the rear frame portion 42 by means of bolts through holes 58 in the angled tube 50 and by means of mounting bracket 60 fixed to the straight tube 48.
- the plate 56 supports both a rear wheel 20 and its associated drive motor 24, such that the motor and rear wheel form a single unit.
- a further support member 62 may extend from the straight tube 48 to provide support for a rear anti-ripping wheel 64.
- the main frame has rearwardly extending members 66 and 68 positioned to align with tubes 48 and 54 respectively such that the rear frame portion 42 can be slid over members 66 and 68.
- the spring-biassed pin 44 on member 66 is biassed to pass through hole 69 in the tube leg 54 to lock the rear frame portion 42 to the main frame 10. Because the connection between the rear frame portion and the main frame is formed by horizontally cooperating members and tubes, the connection is very firm and the spring-biassed pin is sufficient to maintain the connection. However, in order to provide a yet stronger connection with an additional degree of security, the screw locking connection 46 should also be utilised.
- FIG. 3 A sectional view of the locking connection 46 is shown in Figure 3.
- the rearwardly extending member 66 of the main frame is fitted with a plug 70 having a screw-threaded central bore 72.
- the locking connection comprises a cylindrical cap 74 having a knurled outer surface for ease of gripping, the cylindrical cap having an internal threaded stem 76.
- a washer 78 is slid over the threaded stem followed by a stepped bush 80.
- a nut 82 is then threaded on to the stem 76 and set with a preselected gap between the nut 82 and the bush 80.
- the bush 80 is chosen such that it is a press fit in the end of tube 48.
- the cap 74 can then be turned to screw the threaded stem into the bore 72 to lock the rear frame portion 42 to the main frame 10.
- the rear frame portion 42, the rear wheel 20 and motor 24 are thus readily removable and reconnectable to the main frame by means of the spring-biassed pin 44 and the locking connection 46. Because the rearwardly extending member 66 extends further than the rearwardly extending member 68, it is easy for the tube 48 to be first located on member 66, the tube 54 then being aligned with member 68 for full connection.
- each of the rear wheel units (rear frame portion 42, rear wheel 20 and motor 24) separately means that the wheelchair can be more easily carried or fitted into smaller spaces for storage or transportation, for example in the boot of a car.
- the arms 16, the back 14, the seat 12 and the battery pack 22 are each individually removable from the main frame 10, and the main frame itself is foldable to occupy minimum storage space.
- each foot rest support member 34 also provides support for a swinging quadrant kerb climber 100.
- the kerb climbers are also removably mountable on the wheelchair.
- Each kerb climber comprises an arm 102 and an arcuate foot 104, the foot being provided with a rubber shoe 106 in the conventional way.
- the arm 102 is connected to the support member 34 at a pivot joint 108 to be described in more detail hereinafter.
- the foot 104 will meet the kerb before the wheels and act to lift the front wheels smoothly over the kerb, as is already well known.
- the present invention allows the kerb climbers to be moved from the operative to the inoperative position as shown in Figure 4B when the kerb climbing facility is not required e.g. indoors.
- the pivot joint 108 comprises a cylindrical housing 110 fixed to the support member 34 by welding or any other suitable means.
- a further cylindrical housing 112 is formed at the proximal end of the arm 102, having substantially the same outer diameter as housing 110 and having an extending portion 114 of smaller diameter which fits inside housing 110.
- a torsion bush connector 116 fits inside housing 110.
- the connector 116 has protruding stem 118 with flats 120 which fits through a cooperating aperture in housing 112, such that the stem 118 engages with the housing 112 and rotates with the housing 112.
- a nut 122 engages with screw threads 124 on the stem 118 to secure the connector 116 inside housings 110 and 112.
- a pair of diametrically opposed slots 126 are provided in the free end of the housing 110, and two angularly spaced apart pairs of diametrically opposed slots 128 and 130 are provided in the corresponding free end of connector 116.
- a locating or locking strip 132 locates in the pair of slots 126 in the housing and in one of the two pairs of slots in the connector.
- An end cover 134 fits behind the locking strip 132 and is held in place by a pin 136 which extends through the locking strip, through the connector and into the interior of housing 112. Alternatively, the locking strip could be held to the end cover by welding or in any other suitable way.
- a helical spring 138 is located between the nut 122 and a further nut 140 fitted on to the threaded end 142 of the pin 136.
- a press fit plug 144 is fitted into the end of the housing 122 to cover the internal parts of the pivot joint.
- the connector 116 comprises an inner sleeve 146 extending to form the stem 118, and an outer sleeve 148, incorporating the slots 128 and 130, the inner and outer sleeves being connected together by means of an annular rubber bush 150.
- any rotary movement of the kerb climber arm 102 about the axis 152 of the pivot joint rotates housing 112 and thus rotates inner sleeve 146 via flats 120.
- the locking strip 132 is located in the slots on both the outer sleeve 148 and on the housing 110 thus locking the outer sleeve to the housing to prevent rotation of the outer sleeve.
- the rubber bush 150 between the inner and outer sleeves 146 and 148 acts as a resilient torsion member resisting excessive rotation of the inner sleeve but permitting about 45 degrees of rotation between the inner and outer sleeves when the arm 102 rotates during kerb climbing, the rubber torsion bush then restoring the arm 102 to its operative rest position after kerb climbing is completed.
- the locking strip 132 is located in slots 126 on the housing 110 and in slots 128 in the connector 116, as shown in Figure 7, where the end cover 134 has been removed.
- the arm and housing 112 are pulled longitudinally along axis 152 in the direction of arrow 154 against the bias of spring 138. This also pulls connector 116 in the direction of arrow 154 since the connector is joined to the housing 112 by the nut 122.
- kerb climbers of the present invention have been described with reference to a unitary collapsible wheelchair, clearly they could be fitted with only minor modifications to any other power-driven wheelchair.
- the embodiment of the invention described above is particularly preferred since it provides a wheelchair which can be fully dismantled into easily portable component parts for storage and transportation.
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- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
- Handcart (AREA)
- Carriages For Children, Sleds, And Other Hand-Operated Vehicles (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- This invention relates to wheelchairs and more particularly to power driven unitary wheelchairs.
- It is well known to provide power driven wheelchairs with arms, foot rests and a battery pack which can be removed from the main frame of the chair. However, the remaining main frame with the wheels and the motors is still a very heavy and bulky single item for lifting, transportation and storage.
- According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a wheelchair comprising a main frame having two front wheels, a battery pack and a drive unit, comprising two rear wheel units, each rear wheel unit being individually removably mountable on the main frame by means of quick release fastener means, and being releasably connectable to the battery pack.
- Preferably, each rear wheel unit is provided with a drive motor.
- In a preferred embodiment, the frame incorporates longitudinal support members which extend horizontally when the chair is in the use position, each rear wheel unit being mountable on at least one support member by means of mutual insertion in the direction of extension of the at least one support member.
- In a particularly preferred embodiment, each rear wheel unit is mounted on two support members, the two members being vertically spaced apart when the chair is in the use position. Each rear wheel unit may be releasably mountable on one of the two support members by means of a spring-loaded catch.
- Each rear wheel unit may be mounted on the other of the two support members by means of a screw connection.
- Preferably the spring-loaded catch is provided on the upper of the two support members.
- In a particularly preferred embodiment the main frame is additionally provided with removably mountable back, seat, arms and foot rests.
- According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a wheelchair comprising a number of components including a main frame having two front wheels, a battery pack, and two rear wheel units, each rear wheel unit being provided with a drive motor, wherein said components are detachable for dismantling the wheelchair into its component parts.
- According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a wheelchair comprising a main frame having two front wheels, a battery pack, a drive unit comprising two rear wheel units, and two swinging quadrant kerb climbers, each kerb climber being adapted to be pivotable about a respective pivot joint between a first operative position and a second inoperative position wherein each pivot joint comprises a torsion bush.
- Preferably the torsion bush is formed of an annular rubber sleeve held between inner and outer rigid cylindrical sleeves which may be made of metal.
- Each kerb climber is preferably connected to one of said inner and outer cylindrical sleeves of a respective pivot joint, the other of said inner and outer sleeves being supported on the main frame.
- Each pivot joint preferably additionally comprises locking means and biassing means for biassing its respective kerb climber to engage with said locking means to hold the respective kerb climber in the first or second position.
- In a particularly preferred embodiment, each kerb climber is connected to the inner cylindrical sleeve, the outer cylindrical sleeve being mounted on a foot rest which is removably mountable on the main frame.
- According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a foot rest for releasably mounting on a power driven wheelchair, the foot rest comprising a support member, a foot plate and swinging quadrant kerb climber mounted on the support member at a pivot joint comprising a torsion bush, the kerb climber being pivotable about the joint between a first operative position and a second inoperative position.
- The present invention will now be described in more detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
- Figure 1 shows a general perspective view of a power-driven wheelchair;
- Figure 2 shows a part of a rear wheel drive unit in detail;
- Figure 3 shows in detail a further part for connecting a rear wheel drive unit to the wheelchair;
- Figure 4A illustrates a front portion of a wheelchair showing a kerb climber in the operative position;
- Figure 4B illustrates a front portion of a wheelchair showing a kerb climber in the inoperative position;
- Figure 5 shows an exploded view of the kerb climber of Figures 4A and 4B;
- Figure 6 shows a sectional view of the pivot joint of the kerb climber of Figure 5; and
- Figure 7 shows an end view of the pivot joint of Figure 6.
- Figure 1 illustrates a typical power driven wheelchair comprising, in general, a
main frame 10, aseat 12, aback 14,arms 16,front wheels 18 andrear wheels 20. Abattery pack 22 provides the power for twomotors 24, one motor being associated with eachrear wheel 20 to drive that rear wheel. Acontrol unit 26 supported on one of thearms 16 provides a stop/start switch 28 and adirectional control lever 30.Foot rest plates 32 are mounted onsupport members 34 for releasable attachment to themainframe 10 by means ofpins 36 and alatch assembly 38. A strap 40 is provided between thesupport members 34 for preventing the feet of an occupant of the wheelchair from slipping down between thefront wheels 18. - In accordance with the present invention, each
rear wheel 20 and its associateddrive motor 24 are supported on arear frame portion 42 releasbly connectable to the main frame by way of a spring-biassedpin 44 and ascrew locking connection 46. The rear frame portion can be seen in more detail in Figure 2, and comprises astraight tube 48 and anangled tube 50 attached to thestraight tube 48, by welding or any other suitable means, at one end of oneleg 52 of the angled tube. Theother leg 54 of the angled tube extends parallel to thestraight tube 48. - A plate 56 (see Figure 1) is connected to the
rear frame portion 42 by means of bolts throughholes 58 in theangled tube 50 and by means ofmounting bracket 60 fixed to thestraight tube 48. Theplate 56 supports both arear wheel 20 and its associateddrive motor 24, such that the motor and rear wheel form a single unit. Afurther support member 62 may extend from thestraight tube 48 to provide support for a rearanti-ripping wheel 64. - The main frame has rearwardly extending
members tubes rear frame portion 42 can be slid overmembers pin 44 onmember 66 is biassed to pass throughhole 69 in thetube leg 54 to lock therear frame portion 42 to themain frame 10. Because the connection between the rear frame portion and the main frame is formed by horizontally cooperating members and tubes, the connection is very firm and the spring-biassed pin is sufficient to maintain the connection. However, in order to provide a yet stronger connection with an additional degree of security, thescrew locking connection 46 should also be utilised. - A sectional view of the
locking connection 46 is shown in Figure 3. The rearwardly extendingmember 66 of the main frame is fitted with aplug 70 having a screw-threadedcentral bore 72. The locking connection comprises acylindrical cap 74 having a knurled outer surface for ease of gripping, the cylindrical cap having an internal threadedstem 76. Awasher 78 is slid over the threaded stem followed by astepped bush 80. Anut 82 is then threaded on to thestem 76 and set with a preselected gap between thenut 82 and thebush 80. Thebush 80 is chosen such that it is a press fit in the end oftube 48. Thecap 74 can then be turned to screw the threaded stem into thebore 72 to lock therear frame portion 42 to themain frame 10. - The
rear frame portion 42, therear wheel 20 andmotor 24 are thus readily removable and reconnectable to the main frame by means of the spring-biassedpin 44 and thelocking connection 46. Because the rearwardly extendingmember 66 extends further than the rearwardly extendingmember 68, it is easy for thetube 48 to be first located onmember 66, thetube 54 then being aligned withmember 68 for full connection. - The ability to remove each of the rear wheel units (
rear frame portion 42,rear wheel 20 and motor 24) separately means that the wheelchair can be more easily carried or fitted into smaller spaces for storage or transportation, for example in the boot of a car. - In a particularly preferred embodiment, the
arms 16, theback 14, theseat 12 and thebattery pack 22 are each individually removable from themain frame 10, and the main frame itself is foldable to occupy minimum storage space. - In another preferred embodiment as shown in Figures 4A and 4B, each foot
rest support member 34 also provides support for a swingingquadrant kerb climber 100. - Because the foot rests are removably mountable on the wheelchair
main frame 10, the kerb climbers are also removably mountable on the wheelchair. - Each kerb climber comprises an
arm 102 and anarcuate foot 104, the foot being provided with arubber shoe 106 in the conventional way. Thearm 102 is connected to thesupport member 34 at apivot joint 108 to be described in more detail hereinafter. When the arm is in the operative position shown in Figure 4A and thefront wheels 18 of the chair approach a kerb, thefoot 104 will meet the kerb before the wheels and act to lift the front wheels smoothly over the kerb, as is already well known. - The present invention allows the kerb climbers to be moved from the operative to the inoperative position as shown in Figure 4B when the kerb climbing facility is not required e.g. indoors.
- Referring now to Figures 5 to 7, the
pivot joint 108 comprises acylindrical housing 110 fixed to thesupport member 34 by welding or any other suitable means. A furthercylindrical housing 112 is formed at the proximal end of thearm 102, having substantially the same outer diameter ashousing 110 and having an extendingportion 114 of smaller diameter which fits insidehousing 110. Atorsion bush connector 116 fits insidehousing 110. Theconnector 116 has protrudingstem 118 withflats 120 which fits through a cooperating aperture inhousing 112, such that thestem 118 engages with thehousing 112 and rotates with thehousing 112. Anut 122 engages withscrew threads 124 on thestem 118 to secure theconnector 116 insidehousings - A pair of diametrically
opposed slots 126 are provided in the free end of thehousing 110, and two angularly spaced apart pairs of diametrically opposedslots connector 116. A locating or lockingstrip 132 locates in the pair ofslots 126 in the housing and in one of the two pairs of slots in the connector. Anend cover 134 fits behind thelocking strip 132 and is held in place by apin 136 which extends through the locking strip, through the connector and into the interior ofhousing 112. Alternatively, the locking strip could be held to the end cover by welding or in any other suitable way. Ahelical spring 138 is located between thenut 122 and afurther nut 140 fitted on to the threadedend 142 of thepin 136. A pressfit plug 144 is fitted into the end of thehousing 122 to cover the internal parts of the pivot joint. - As can be seen most clearly in Figure 6, the
connector 116 comprises aninner sleeve 146 extending to form thestem 118, and anouter sleeve 148, incorporating theslots annular rubber bush 150. - When the pivot joint is in the position shown in Figure 6, any rotary movement of the
kerb climber arm 102 about theaxis 152 of the pivot joint rotateshousing 112 and thus rotatesinner sleeve 146 viaflats 120. Thelocking strip 132 is located in the slots on both theouter sleeve 148 and on thehousing 110 thus locking the outer sleeve to the housing to prevent rotation of the outer sleeve. Therubber bush 150 between the inner andouter sleeves arm 102 rotates during kerb climbing, the rubber torsion bush then restoring thearm 102 to its operative rest position after kerb climbing is completed. - The use of such a rubber torsion bush produces a very smooth kerb climbing movement and the bush has proved to have a very long life.
- When the
kerb climber arm 102 is in the operative position shown in Figure 4A, the lockingstrip 132 is located inslots 126 on thehousing 110 and inslots 128 in theconnector 116, as shown in Figure 7, where theend cover 134 has been removed. In order to move thearm 102 to the inoperative position shown in Figure 4B, the arm andhousing 112 are pulled longitudinally alongaxis 152 in the direction ofarrow 154 against the bias ofspring 138. This also pullsconnector 116 in the direction ofarrow 154 since the connector is joined to thehousing 112 by thenut 122. Once theslots 128 in theouter housing 148 of the connector have disengaged from the lockingstrip 132, the whole connector is free to rotate with thearm 102 aboutaxis 152 until theslots 130 in the outer housing are aligned with thelocking strip 132.Spring 138 then biasses theconnector 116 in the direction opposite to that ofarrow 154 to locateslots 130 over the locking strip to hold the connector, and therefore thehousing 112 and thearm 102 in the inoperative position shown in Figure 4B. - Although the kerb climbers of the present invention have been described with reference to a unitary collapsible wheelchair, clearly they could be fitted with only minor modifications to any other power-driven wheelchair. However, the embodiment of the invention described above is particularly preferred since it provides a wheelchair which can be fully dismantled into easily portable component parts for storage and transportation.
Claims (5)
- A wheelchair comprising: a main frame having two front wheels; a battery pack; drive means comprising two rear wheel units; and two swinging kerb climbers, wherein each kerb climber is pivotable about a respective pivot axis between a first operative position and a second inoperative position.
- A wheelchair according to Claim 1 wherein each kerb climber is mounted by means of a torsion bush comprising an annular rubber sleeve held between inner and outer rigid cylindrical sleeves, which may be of metal, one of the inner and outer sleeves being secured to the kerb climber and the other of the inner and outer sleeves being secured to the portion of the wheelchair on which the kerb climber is mounted.
- A wheelchair according to Claim 2 wherein the said other of the inner and outer sleeves is securable to the portion of the wheelchair on which the kerb climber is mounted in two alternative positions to provide, respectively, the first and second positions of the kerb climber.
- A wheelchair according to any of Claims 1 to 3 wherein each kerb climber is connected to a foot rest assembly of the wheelchair which, in turn, is removably mounted on the main frame whereby each kerb climber and its associated foot rest assembly may be removed, as a unit, from the remainder of the wheelchair.
- A wheelchair comprising a frame and at least one foot rest assembly releasably mounted on the wheelchair frame, the foot rest assembly comprising a support member, a foot plate and a swinging kerb climber mounted on the support member by a pivot joint comprising a torsion bush, the or each kerb climber being pivotable about the pivot joint between a first operative position and a second inoperative position.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB9305921A GB2276361B (en) | 1993-03-22 | 1993-03-22 | Wheelchair |
GB9305921 | 1993-03-22 | ||
EP94302017A EP0617943B1 (en) | 1993-03-22 | 1994-03-22 | Wheelchair |
Related Parent Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP94302017.2 Division | 1994-03-22 | ||
EP94302017A Division EP0617943B1 (en) | 1993-03-22 | 1994-03-22 | Wheelchair |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0812585A2 true EP0812585A2 (en) | 1997-12-17 |
EP0812585A3 EP0812585A3 (en) | 1997-12-29 |
Family
ID=10732530
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP97202606A Withdrawn EP0812585A3 (en) | 1993-03-22 | 1994-03-22 | Wheelchair |
EP94302017A Expired - Lifetime EP0617943B1 (en) | 1993-03-22 | 1994-03-22 | Wheelchair |
Family Applications After (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP94302017A Expired - Lifetime EP0617943B1 (en) | 1993-03-22 | 1994-03-22 | Wheelchair |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (2) | EP0812585A3 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69410327D1 (en) |
GB (2) | GB2276361B (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
ITPD20110170A1 (en) * | 2011-05-25 | 2012-11-26 | Rinaldi Fabio | WHEELCHAIR FOR FOLDABLE AND DIVISIBLE DISABLED DISABLED |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN110638481B (en) * | 2019-09-26 | 2023-04-11 | 重庆医科大学附属永川医院 | Barium meal radiography auxiliary device |
CN113425561B (en) * | 2021-06-23 | 2022-10-25 | 淄博市中心医院 | Walking aid for rehabilitation department |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2373428A1 (en) * | 1976-12-09 | 1978-07-07 | Vessa Ltd | AUXILIARY DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE PROVIDED WITH AT LEAST ONE FRONT WHEEL OF RELATIVELY LOW DIAMETER AND WHEELCHAIR PROVIDED WITH SUCH A DEVICE |
EP0127929A1 (en) * | 1983-03-16 | 1984-12-12 | CARTERS (J&A) LIMITED | Kerb-climbing device for a wheeled vehicle |
GB2192595A (en) * | 1986-07-17 | 1988-01-20 | Everest & Jennings Limited | Kerb climbing device for a wheeled vehicle |
Family Cites Families (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1506571A (en) * | 1975-05-16 | 1978-04-05 | Biddle Eng Co Ltd | Motorising of wheelchairs |
US4067409A (en) * | 1976-05-24 | 1978-01-10 | Dynell Electronics Corporation | Wheel chair arrangement |
US4199036A (en) * | 1976-07-06 | 1980-04-22 | Instrument Components Co., Inc. | Wheel chair |
GB2145983B (en) * | 1983-09-02 | 1987-05-20 | Biddle Eng Co Ltd | Device to assist a wheelchair surmount steps kerbs and the like |
GB8700686D0 (en) * | 1987-01-13 | 1987-02-18 | Spastics Soc | Kerb climbing device |
GB2210589A (en) * | 1987-10-06 | 1989-06-14 | Spastics Soc | Improvements in foldable electric wheelchairs |
GB2227462B (en) * | 1988-11-16 | 1993-02-10 | Sunrise Medical Ltd | Vehicle |
GB8922589D0 (en) * | 1989-10-06 | 1989-11-22 | Booster Electric Vehicles Limi | Improvements in pavement vehicles |
DE4127257A1 (en) * | 1991-08-17 | 1993-02-18 | Haas & Alber Haustechnik Und A | SMALL VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY WHEELCHAIR WITH FOLDING CHAIR FRAME |
-
1993
- 1993-03-22 GB GB9305921A patent/GB2276361B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1993-03-22 GB GB9617106A patent/GB2302673B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1994
- 1994-03-22 EP EP97202606A patent/EP0812585A3/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1994-03-22 EP EP94302017A patent/EP0617943B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1994-03-22 DE DE69410327T patent/DE69410327D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2373428A1 (en) * | 1976-12-09 | 1978-07-07 | Vessa Ltd | AUXILIARY DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE PROVIDED WITH AT LEAST ONE FRONT WHEEL OF RELATIVELY LOW DIAMETER AND WHEELCHAIR PROVIDED WITH SUCH A DEVICE |
EP0127929A1 (en) * | 1983-03-16 | 1984-12-12 | CARTERS (J&A) LIMITED | Kerb-climbing device for a wheeled vehicle |
GB2192595A (en) * | 1986-07-17 | 1988-01-20 | Everest & Jennings Limited | Kerb climbing device for a wheeled vehicle |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
ITPD20110170A1 (en) * | 2011-05-25 | 2012-11-26 | Rinaldi Fabio | WHEELCHAIR FOR FOLDABLE AND DIVISIBLE DISABLED DISABLED |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB2276361B (en) | 1997-04-02 |
EP0812585A3 (en) | 1997-12-29 |
DE69410327D1 (en) | 1998-06-25 |
GB2302673A (en) | 1997-01-29 |
EP0617943B1 (en) | 1998-05-20 |
GB9617106D0 (en) | 1996-09-25 |
GB2276361A (en) | 1994-09-28 |
EP0617943A2 (en) | 1994-10-05 |
EP0617943A3 (en) | 1994-12-21 |
GB9305921D0 (en) | 1993-05-12 |
GB2302673B (en) | 1997-04-02 |
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