GB2437502A - Wheel arrangement for pushchair or wheelchair - Google Patents

Abstract

A wheel arrangement for a wheelchair or pushchair comprises at least one front wheel 1 capable of being retracted upwards and towards the rear wheels thus shortening the wheel base and tilting the seat forwards and lowering the front of the seat.

Description

<p>1 2437502</p>

<p>WHEEL ARRANGEMENT FOR PUSHCHAIR OR WHEELCHAIR</p>

<p>Background</p>

<p>This invention relates to a wheel system for pushchairs or wheelchairs. More particularly this invention relates to a wheel arrangement having a front retractable wheel.</p>

<p>Three wheeled pushchairs/wheelchajrs are good for use on uneven and softer terrain but have some disadvantages compared to four-wheel pushchairs/wheelchairs. One *..:: problem is the difficulty of transfer of an occupant into or out of the seat; the front *I..</p>

<p>wheel obstructs access to the front of the seat. The seat is often in a reclined * ** position, the front of the seat being relatively high from the ground, which requires the *S. *</p>

<p>occupant to be lifted further. A second disadvantage is the reduced manoeuvrability ISS.</p>

<p>: especially in more confined spaces due to the increased length of the wheelbase that **e***</p>

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<p>is required; this problem is compounded if a fixed front wheel is used. These problems increase with the size and weight of the occupant that the product is designed to accommodate.</p>

<p>Statement of Invention</p>

<p>The present invention relates to a wheel arrangement for a wheel chair or push chair comprising at least one front wheel that can be retracted upwards and towards the rear wheels. This shortens the wheelbase, tilting the seat forwards and lowering the front of the seat.</p>

<p>The wheel arrangement allows a front central wheel to be retracted rearwards and upwards, relative to the seat, in order to lower the front of the seat and frame, thus shortening the wheelbase and allowing points near to the front of the frame to rest on the ground.</p>

<p>The pushchair or wheelchair may be provided with wheels on the frame that are lowered to the ground as the front wheel retracts. S * *SS* * S. * * S IS. *</p>

<p>* With the front wheel retracted transfer of the occupant into and out of the I..</p>

<p>wheelchair/pushchair is made easier as the seat is tilted to a more upright position S..... S *</p>

<p>* where the occupants' feet are closer to the floor. This requires less lifting of the S....</p>

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<p>occupant and makes standing transfer of the occupant easier.</p>

<p>With the front wheel retracted there is clearer access to the front of the seat.</p>

<p>Preferably, when tilted forwards the front of the frame rests on the floor making it more stable while transferring an occupant into or out of the pushchair/wheelchair.</p>

<p>Preferably, castor wheels are fitted to the front of the frame in a position that they rest on the floor when the front wheel is retracted. This embodiment allows changing the wheel arrangement quickly between three-wheeler and the conventional four-wheel configuration.</p>

<p>Preferably, the armature carrying the front wheel can be locked into fully extended, fully retracted and required intermediate positions.</p>

<p>Alternatively the wheel chair is provided with 2 front retractable wheels.</p>

<p>Advantageously the footrest/s are lowered near to the floor, the front of the seat is lowered and not obstructed by a front wheel, thus making transfer easier. The frame can have wheels adjacent to the footrest, which lower to the floor when the front wheel is retracted; the frame is then more manoeuvrable and shorter. The retractable front wheel can be attached to an existing wheelchair as a retrofitting unit. gi us. I * * S.. I ** I * II. * I..</p>

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<p>Examples of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings: -FIGURE 1 shows a schematic side view of a pushchair with the front wheel retracted.</p>

<p>-FIGURE 2 shows a schematic side view of the pushchair of figure 1 with the front wheel extended.</p>

<p>-FIGURE 3 shows a modification of the pushchair of figures 1 and 2 where the front castor wheels are replaced with feet.</p>

<p>-FIGURE 4 shows pictorial view of a detachable front wheel unit suitable for attachment to a wheelchair. *s * * * *S*</p>

<p>*... The present invention will be described in detail in relation to a pushchair for people St..</p>

<p>: with disabilities and in the third exemplary embodiment, in relation to a self-contained t55 * unit to be attached to an existing wheelchair. It should be understood, however, that the invention is broadly applicable to pushchairs, buggies, strollers and wheelchairs *S*Ia **.*., for transporting anyone from child to adult.</p>

<p>Figures 1 and 2 show a pushchair embodying the invention. A wheel I is mounted in a fork arrangement 2 at the end of an armature 3. The armature 3 slides within a linear bearing assembly 4; extension of the armature 3 is limited by an end stop 5 fixed to one end. A broken line shows the approximate position of a seated occupant 6.</p>

<p>Figure 1 shows the front wheel 1 retracted between the footrests 7, 8. The occupant 6 is in a substantially upright-seated position; the footrests 7, 8 are near the floor. The castor wheels 9, 10 on the front of the frame 11 are in contact with the floor.</p>

<p>Figure 2 shows the pushchair of figure 1 with the front wheel I extended to its maximum. The occupant 6 is in a reclined seating position; the footrests 7, 8 and the castor wheels 9, 10 are raised. The armature 3 is extended by releasing a locating pin 12 and pushing on the end stop 5, this can be done with the occupant seated.</p>

<p>The linear bearing 4 is positioned so that the armature 3 is angled downwards towards the front of the pushchair. The armature 3 is locked into position at its maximum and minimum extension by a locating pin 12 locating into holes 13, 14 on the armature. * *S. * * * *</p>

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<p>* Figure 3 shows a variation of the exemplary embodiment of the pushchair of figures 1</p>

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<p>and 2; having feet 15, 16 on the front of the frame in place of the castor wheels 9, 10.</p>

<p>*....: S * The front wheel us retracted; the feet 15, 16 are resting on the ground. S.'.. * S</p>

<p>Figure 4 shows a third exemplary embodiment of the invention whereby the front wheel 1 is mounted on an assembly that can be attached to an existing wheelchair or pushchair frame. A wheel I is mounted in a fork arrangement 2 at the end of an armature 3. The armature 3 slides in a linear bearing assembly 4. The linear bearing 4 is attached to the wheel chair frame by means of a suitable metal frame 17 and tube clamps 18-21. The frame 17 and clamps 18-21 are configured so that the armature 3 is positioned centrally in the wheelchair frame and is angled so that as the armature slides forward, the front wheel contacts the ground and as it is pushed forward via the end stop 5 the wheelchair frame is tilted backwards lifting its front castor wheels from the ground. The armature is held at its maximum and minimum extension positions by a locating pin 12 or by other suitable means. S. * S * I.. S...</p>

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Claims (1)

1. <p>Claims 1. A wheel arrangement for a chair comprising at least one front

   wheel and one rear wheel wherein at least one front wheel is arranged to be retractable upwards and movable towards the rear wheel, shortening the wheel base.</p>

   <p>2. A wheel arrangement as claimed in claim I wherein the chair is a wheelchair.</p>

   <p>3. A wheel arrangement as claimed in claim I wherein the chair is a pushchair.</p>

   <p>4. A wheel arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the seat of the chair istiltable in a forward and backward direction such that when the front wheel is retracted upwards the seat is tilted forward thus *SS.</p>

   <p>: lowering the front of the seat towards the ground. S.. * hi</p>

   <p>5. A wheel arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein S* * * : the chair comprises a supporting frame. *</p>

   <p>6. A wheel arrangement as claimed in claim 5 wherein the front of the supporting frame rests on the ground once the front wheel is in its retracted position.</p>

   <p>7. A wheel arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said wheels are castor wheels. p dl</p>

   <p>8. wheel arrangement as claimed in claim I wherein the chair compilses two front retractable wheels. S. S. * *ss S... S * S... * S. Ss * Ss S</p>

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   <p>555 S.. * S</p>