Apparatus and method for wheelchair aerobic stationary exercise

Abstract

An improved wheelchair trainer with independent flywheel resistance for each wheelchair rear wheel. A lever-operated cam raises the wheelchair rear axle by pushing an inclined block against the axle and forces the rear wheels against wheel engagement means. As one or both rear wheels are turned, each wheel engagement means turns a flywheel in proportion to the speed of the wheel. Force and work may be calculated from the measured rotational speed of the flywheels. A hand-cycle attachment may drive the flywheel resistance.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art trainer with a pair of elongated rollers.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a wheelchair aerobic stationary exercise device

FIG. 3 is a side view of the exercise device of FIG. 2

FIG. 4 is a front view of the exercise device of FIG. 2

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the exercise device of FIG. 2

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the exercise device of FIG. 2

FIG. 7 is a rear top perspective view of the exercise device of FIG. 2

FIG. 8 is a front top perspective view of the exercise device of FIG. 2

FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of the exercise device of FIG. 2

FIG. 10 is a top view of the exercise device of FIG. 2

FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of the exercise device of FIG. 2 with a wheelchair held in position against the rear wheel engagement means.

FIG. 12 is a side perspective view of the exercise device of FIG. 2 with a wheelchair held in position against the rear wheel engagement means.

FIG. 13 is a side view of the exercise device of FIG. 2 with a wheelchair held in position against the rear wheel engagement means.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for steps for using a trained with flywheel resistance and a cam lift means.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart for steps for using a trained with flywheel resistance and a hydraulic lift means.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart for steps for using a trained with flywheel resistance and a gear lift means.

FIG. 17 is a diagram of one embodiment of the current invention with 24 inch diameter wheelchair wheels with one inch ground clearance, and a 6 inch diameter wheel with a 40 degree thrust angle.

FIG. 18 is a diagram of one embodiment of the current invention with 24 inch diameter wheelchair wheels with one inch ground clearance, and a 6 inch diameter wheel with a 20 degree thrust angle.

Claims

1. A trainer for a wheelchair, the wheelchair comprising a frame, a first rear wheel, and a second rear wheel, the trainer comprising an independent wheel resistance means, such that the wheel resistance means provides a first resistance to the rotation of the first rear wheel, and provides a second resistance to the rotation of the second rear wheel;a wheelchair lift means, such that the lift means lifts the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel; anda wheelchair retention means, such that the chair retention means engages a portion of the wheelchair frame and forces the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel into contact with the wheel resistance means.

2. The trainer of claim 1 wherein the wheel resistance means further comprises a flywheel resistance means.

3. The trainer of claim 2 wherein the flywheel resistance means further comprises a first flywheel assembly comprising a first axle,a first flywheel, anda first rear wheel engagement means; anda second flywheel assembly comprising a second axle,a second flywheel, anda second rear wheel engagement means.

4. The trainer of claim 2 wherein the flywheel resistance means further comprises at least one supplemental weight, such the supplemental weight may be attached to the first flywheel to increase the resistance of the first flywheel.

5. The trainer of claim 2 wherein the flywheel resistance means further comprises a first flywheel variable resistance means, such that the resistance for the first flywheel may be changed with the variable resistance means.

6. The trainer of claim 1 wherein the wheelchair retention means further comprises a retention means support that may be raised and lowered; anda retention element affixed to the support, such that as the retention means support is raised, the retention element engages a portion of the wheelchair and forces the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel against the wheel resistance means.

7. The trainer of claim 6 further comprising an adjustable retention element, such that the position of the retention element is adjustable relative to the retention means support.

8. The trainer of claim 1 wherein the wheelchair lift means further comprises a cam lift means.

9. The trainer of claim 8 further comprising a pivotal wheelchair retention means support member, such that the member pivots from a lowered position to a raised position;a cam axle;a cam affixed to the cam axle, such that the cam rotates in a first direction as the axle rotates in a first direction,and the cam rotates in a second direction as the axle rotates in a second direction,the cam contacts the pivotal wheelchair retention means support member so that as the cam rotates in a first direction it pivots the pivotal wheelchair retention means member to a raised position, and as the cam rotates in a second direction it pivots the pivotal wheelchair retention means member to a lowered position; anda lever affixed to the cam axle, so that as the lever is moved in a first direction, the axle and the cam rotate in a forward direction, and as the lever is moved in a second direction, the axle and the cam rotate in a reverse direction.

10. The trainer of claim 1 wherein the wheelchair lift means further comprises a hydraulic lift means.

11. The trainer of claim 1 wherein the wheelchair lift means further comprises a gear lift means.

12. The trainer of claim 11 further comprising a pivotal wheelchair retention means support member, such that the member pivots from a lowered position to a raised position;a gear axle;an axle gear affixed to the cam axle, such that the axle gear rotates in a forward direction as the gear axle rotates in a forward direction, and the axle gear rotates in a reverse direction as the gear axle rotates in a reverse direction;a support gear which is turned by the axle gear, and which is connected to the retention means support member such that as the support gear turns in a first direction, the retention means support member is raised to its raised position, andas the support gear turns in a second direction, the retention means support member is lowered to its lowered; anda lever affixed to the gear axle, so that as the lever is moved in a first direction, the gear axle and the axle gear rotate in a forward direction, and as the lever is moved in a second direction, the gear axle and the axle gear rotate in a reverse direction.

13. The trainer of claim 1 further comprising a rotational speed sensor for determining the rotational speed of the first wheel resistance means.

14. The trainer of claim 1 wherein the wheelchair retention means engages the rear wheels of the wheelchair at a thrust angle in the range of 10 to 45 degrees.

15. The trainer of claim 1 further comprising a ratchet drive means.

16. A method of providing exercise to a wheelchair occupant, the wheelchair comprising a frame, a first rear wheel, and a second rear wheel, the method comprising providing a trainer comprising an independent wheel resistance means, such that the wheel resistance means provides a first resistance to the rotation of the first rear wheel, andprovides a second resistance to the rotation of the second rear wheel,a wheelchair lift means, such that the lift means lifts the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel, anda wheelchair retention means, such that the chair retention means engages a portion of the wheelchair frame and forces the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel into contact with the wheel resistance means;backing the wheelchair so that the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel is in proximity to the wheel resistance means,raising the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel with the wheelchair lift means;forcing the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel into the wheel resistance means with the wheelchair retention means;rotating at least one of the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel for a desired period of time;lowering the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel with the wheelchair lift means; andmoving the wheelchair away from the trainer.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising determining the rotational speed of at least one wheel resistance means; andcalculating the force required to turn the wheel resistance means at the rotational speed .

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising adjusting the thrust angle to a desired setting within the range of 10 to 30 degrees.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising raising the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel with the wheelchair lift means to a height in the range of ½ to 3 inches.