GB2239634A

GB2239634A - Wheelchair canopy

Info

Publication number: GB2239634A
Application number: GB9027317A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Hartley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-01-03
Filing date: 1990-12-18
Publication date: 1991-07-10
Also published as: GB9000076D0; GB9027317D0

Abstract

The canopy comprises a collapsible frame 11, consisting of a plurality of support elements, 12, connecting means therebetween, 45, weather-proof sheeting, 21, means for attaching said sheeting to the frame and attachment means for attaching the frame to the wheel chair, 26. <IMAGE>

Description

WHEELCHAIR CANOPY This invention relates to disabled persons' wheel chairs.

According to the present invention there is provided a canopy adapted to fit a wheel chair to protect the occupant thereof from adverse weather conditions, comprising a collapsible frame consisting of a plurality of tubular support elements, connecting means therebetween, weather-proof sheeting, means for attaching said sheeting to the frame and attachment means for attaching the frame to the wheel chair.

The support elements may be tubular and may be connected by engagement of their ends with socket members.

The resilient spring means may be located between the socket members and the ends of the support elements, so that the parts remain joined when disengaged.

At least some of the elements may be broken at joints part way along their lengths.

The joints may comprise a plug on the end of a first half element and a mating socket on the end of a second half element whereby said plug and socket define a releasable connection between the first and second half elements.

Resilient spring means may extend between the socket and the plug whereby the half elements may remain joined when the connection is disengaged.

The frame may have a square or rectangular upper panel with depending elements at its four corners.

From the two forward corners of the upper panel, two further support elements may arch downwardly thus defining a front panel for the canopy.

Each arched element may comprise two members, one of which may be telescopically slideable within the other.

The frame may comprise C-shaped portions on its opposite sides connected at their upper rear ends.

The weather-proof sheeting may be a transparent plastics material and may have ventilation apertures formed therein.

The sheeting may be attached to the frame by press studs or Velcro (RTM).

The canopy may be attached to the wheel chair by downwardly facing C-shaped clips which may be integral with the frame elements.

The invention will be further apparent from the following description, with reference to the several figures of the accompanying drawings, which show, by way of example only, two forms of canopy embodying the invention.

Of the drawings: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the first form of canopy; Figure 2 shows, in cross section, the releasable connection between a first and second half of a tubular element which remain connected by resilient spring means when the parts are disengaged.; Figure 3 shows a side elevation of the canopy of Figure 1 attached to a wheel chair which is shown in broken line.

and Figure 4 shows a perspective view of one form of canopy.

Figure 1 shows one form of canopy 10 according to the invention comprising a collapsible frame 11 consisting of a plurality of tubular support elements shown generally at 12.

The frame 11 comprises a plurality of tubular elements 12 forming a generally square or rectangular upper panel 56, from the corners of which four further elements depend to connect with a wheel chair and thus define a rear panel 98 and two opposite side panels 97, 96 to the canopy 10, as shown in Figure 1.

The elements 12 forming the top panel engage with socket members 45 which define the corners of the panel, and from which members 45 the downwardly depending elements emerge.

The elements comprising the top panel and the depending elements are each broken by joints 14 half way along their lengths.

As shown in Figure 2, the joints 14 comprise a plug 16 on the end of a first half element and a mating socket 19 on the end of a second half element whereby said plug and socket define a releasable connection between the first and second half elements.

A spring 17 extends between the socket 19 and the plug 16 whereby the half elements remain joined when the connection is disengaged.

Likewise a spring is located between the socket members 45 and tubular elements 12 which engage same.

From the two forwardly facing socket members two further support elements 49 arch downwardly thus defining a front panel 95 of the canopy 10. These arched elements each comprise two members 83, 84, one of which is telescopically slideable within the other at the joint 44.

The canopy when not in use may be packed for storage by separating the elements from the socket members 45 and by breaking them at their joints 14.

Attached to the frame 11 is a weather-proof sheeting 21 of a transparent plastics material which has ventillation apertures 22 formed therein.

The sheeting 21 is attached to the frame 11 by press studs 23 or Velcro (not shown).

The canopy is attached to the wheel chair as shown in Fibre 3 by downwardly facing C-shaped clips 26 which are integral with the supprt elements depending from the top panel 56 of the canopy 10 and which clip onto the handle 33 or arm supports 34 of the chair 32.

Referring now to Figure 4 it will be seen that the second form of canopy 110, comprises, as before, a collapsible frame 11 consisting of a plurality of support elements shown generally at 12, connecting means 122 therebetween, weather proof sheeting, means for attaching said sheeting to the frame 11 and attachment means for attaching the frame 111 to the wheel chair.

The frame 111 comprises two generally C-shaped side portions connected at their upper rear ends to define an upper panel 113, a front panel 114 and opposite side panels 115.

The free ends of the lower limbs of elements 112 defining the front panel 114 are of the side portions carry joints 117 whereby the canopy 111 may be attached to the wheel chair.

A sheet of weather-proof material 118 is tailored to cover the panels 113, 114 and 115 and includes a part depending from the rear of the panel 113 and connecting the rear edges of the panels 115 to form a back panel 119.

A slit 120 is formed in the sheet of weatherproof material covering the front panel 114 to define a door 126. The door 126 is fastened to the remainder of the front panel or a side panel by Velcro (RTM) tapes or other suitable means.

The elements 112 are joined with the connecting means 122 and may be broken at joints 21 by plug and socket arrangements similar to those described above with reference to Figure 2.

The weather-proof sheeting is a transparent plastics material such as polyvinylchloride, and preferably is 40 microns thick.

It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible, without departing from the scope thereof as defined herein.

Claims

1. A canopy adapted to fit a wheel chair to protect the occupant thereof from adverse weather conditions, comprising a collapsible frame consisting of a plurality of support elements, connecting means therebetween, weather-proof sheeting, means for attaching said sheeting to the frame and attachment means for attaching the frame to the wheel chair.

2. A canopy according to claim 1, wherein said support elements are tubular.

3. A canopy according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the support elements may be connected by engagement of their ends with socket members.

4. A canopy according to claim 4, wherein resilient spring means may be located between the socket members and the ends of the support elements, so that the parts remain joined when disengaged.

5. A canopy according to any preceding claim, wherein some at least of the elements may be broken at joints part way along their lengths.

6. A canopy according to claim 5, wherein said joints comprise a plug on the end of a first half element and a mating socket on the end of a second half element whereby said plug and socket define a releasable connection between the first and second half elements.

7. A canopy according to claim 6, wherein resilient spring means extend between the socket and the plug whereby the half elements remain joined when the connection is disengaged.

8. A canopy according to any preceding claim, wherein the frame has a square or rectangular upper panel with depending elements at its four corners.

9. A canopy according to claim 8, wherein from the two forward corners of the upper panel two further support elements arch downwardly thus defining a front panel for the canopy.

10. A canopy according to claim 9, wherein each arched element comprises two members, one of which is telescopically slideable within the other.

11. A canopy according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the frame comprises C-shaped portions on its opposite sides connected at their upper rear ends.

12. A canopy according to any preceding claim, wherein the weather-proof sheeting is a transparent plastics material.

13. A canopy according to any preceding claim, wherein the sheeting has ventilation apertures formed therein.

14. A canopy according to any preceding claim, wherein the sheeting is attached to the frame by press studs.

15. A canopy according to any preceding claim, wherein the sheeting is attached to the frame by Velcro (RTM).

16. A canopy according to any preceding claim, wherein the canopy is attached to the wheel chair by downwardly facing C-shaped clips which are integral with the frame elements.