Full-function modularized assembly structure of a wheelchair

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6834871
  • Patent Number
    6,834,871
  • Date Filed
    Friday, July 26, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, December 28, 2004
    20 years ago
Abstract
A modularized assembly structure of a wheelchair includes two upper transverse tubes and two lower transverse tubes mounted between a pair of sided front module connecting members and a pair of sided rear module connecting members, thereby forming the main frame of the wheelchair. The front wheel and the rear wheel may be respectively mounted on the upper and lower transverse tubes which may be set at different horizontal positions and different vertical heights, so that the distance between the front wheel and the rear wheel may be adjusted arbitrarily.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to a full-function modularized assembly structure of a wheelchair, and more particularly to a full-function modularized assembly structure of a wheelchair, wherein the full-function modularized assembly structure has a simple construction, and may be produced in a modularized manner, thereby efficiently decreasing costs of fabrication.




2. Description of the Related Art




A conventional wheelchair comprises a main frame which is provided with a front wheel set, a rear wheel set, a soft seat cushion, a foot plate, and a push bar, thereby constructing the wheelchair. In general, when the distance between the rear wheel set and the front wheel set is longer, the stability of the wheelchair may be enhanced, and when the distance between the rear wheel set and the front wheel set is shortened, the user may operate the rear wheel set to travel forward easily and conveniently. However, the main frame has a fixed structure, so that the distance between the front wheel set and the rear wheel set cannot be adjusted, thereby decreasing the stability and operation of the wheelchair. In addition, the main frame has a fixed structure, so that the wheelchair is available for the user of a single size, and cannot be available for users of different sizes and statures, thereby decreasing the versatility of the wheelchair.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a full-function modularized assembly structure of a wheelchair, wherein the sided front module connecting members and the sided rear module connecting members may mate with the upper transverse tubes and the lower transverse tubes of different sizes and types according to the user's practical requirements, thereby constructing wheelchairs of different sizes and specifications.




Another objective of the present invention is to provide a full-function modularized assembly structure of a wheelchair, wherein the rear wheel axle of each of the rear wheels may be located at different horizontal positions, so that the distance between the rear wheel and the front wheel may be changed and adjusted arbitrarily, wherein the distance between the rear wheel and the front wheel may be increased for enhancing the stability of the wheelchair, and the distance between the rear wheel and the front wheel may be shortened, thereby facilitating the user operating the rear wheel to travel forward.




A further objective of the present invention is to provide a full-function modularized assembly structure of a wheelchair, wherein the rear wheel axle of each of the rear wheels may be located at different vertical heights, so that the present invention is available for wheelchairs of different sizes.




A further objective of the present invention is to provide a full-function modularized assembly structure of a wheelchair, wherein the full-function modularized assembly structure has a simple construction, and may be produced in a modularized manner, thereby efficiently decreasing costs of fabrication.




In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a full-function modularized assembly structure of a wheelchair, comprising:




a pair of sided front module connecting members each including a first insertion connector for insertion of an upper transverse tube, a second insertion connector for insertion of a lower transverse tube, and at least one front wheel locating screw bore for locating a front wheel; and




a pair of sided rear module connecting members each including a fourth insertion connector corresponding to the first insertion connector for insertion of the upper transverse tube, a fifth insertion connector corresponding to the second insertion connector for insertion of a lower transverse tube, and at least one rear wheel axle insertion hole for insertion of a rear wheel axle.




Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a side view of a full-function modularized assembly structure of a wheelchair in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 2

is a perspective view of a sided front module connecting member of the full-function modularized assembly structure of a wheelchair in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 3

is a perspective view of a sided rear module connecting member of the full-function modularized assembly structure of a wheelchair in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 4

is a side view of a full-function modularized assembly structure of a wheelchair in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, wherein the rear wheel is closer to the front wheel;





FIG. 5

is a partially cut-away enlarged view of the full-function modularized assembly structure of a wheelchair as shown in

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 6

is a front view of the full-function modularized assembly structure of a wheelchair as shown in

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 7

is a folded view of the full-function modularized assembly structure of a wheelchair as shown in

FIG. 6

;





FIG. 8

is a side view of a full-function modularized assembly structure of a wheelchair in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 9

is a perspective view of a sided front module connecting member of the full-function modularized assembly structure of a wheelchair in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 10

is a perspective view of a sided front module connecting member of the full-function modularized assembly structure of a wheelchair in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 11

is a perspective view of a sided rear module connecting member of the full-function modularized assembly structure of a wheelchair in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 12

is a perspective view of a sided rear module connecting member of the full-function modularized assembly structure of a wheelchair in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 13

is a perspective view of a pad of the full-function modularized assembly structure of a wheelchair in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and





FIG. 14

is a perspective view of a pad of the full-function modularized assembly structure of a wheelchair in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




Referring to the drawings and initially to

FIGS. 1-3

, a full-function modularized assembly structure of a wheelchair in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a pair of sided front module connecting members


10


each formed by a plastic injection molding process or other working process, and a pair of sided rear module connecting members


20


each formed by a plastic injection molding process or other working process. The sided front module connecting members


10


and the sided rear module connecting members


20


may be used to connect upper transverse tubes


30


, lower transverse tubes


31


, front wheels


40


, rear wheels


50


, foot plates


60


, push bars


70


, and kickstands


80


in a replaceable manner, thereby forming the main frame of the wheelchair.




Referring to

FIGS. 1 and 2

, each of the two sided front module connecting members


10


is substantially U-shaped, and includes a first insertion connector


11


located at a top end and extended in a horizontal direction, a second insertion connector


12


located at a bottom end and extended in a horizontal direction, a third insertion connector


13


located at the top end and extended in a vertical direction, and multiple front wheel locating screw bores


14


located at the bottom end. The multiple front wheel locating screw bores


14


are arranged at different horizontal positions and different vertical heights.




Each of the upper transverse tubes


30


is selectively inserted into the first insertion connector


11


. Each of the lower transverse tubes


31


is selectively inserted into the second insertion connector


12


. A foot plate extension bracket


62


(see

FIG. 8

) has a first end selectively inserted into the third insertion connector


13


, and a second end provided with a foot plate


61


. Each of the front wheels


40


is rotatably mounted on a front fork


41


which is selectively locked on one of the multiple front wheel locating screw bores


14


by a locking member


42


(such as a bolt). The positions of the front fork


41


may be set to accommodate the diameter and type of the front wheel


40


.




In addition, the first insertion connector


11


is formed with at least one radial screw bore


15


for receiving a retaining bolt (not shown), so as to retain the member inserted into the first insertion connector


11


. Similarly, the second insertion connector


12


is formed with at least one radial screw bore


16


for receiving a retaining bolt (not shown), so as to retain the member inserted into the second insertion connector


12


. Similarly, the third insertion connector


13


is formed with at least one radial screw bore


17


for receiving a retaining bolt (not shown), so as to urge retain the member inserted into the third insertion connector


13


.




Referring to

FIGS. 1 and 3

, each of the two sided rear module connecting members


20


includes a fourth insertion connector


21


located at a top end and extended in a horizontal direction, a fifth insertion connector


22


located at a bottom end and extended in a horizontal direction, a sixth insertion connector


23


located at the top end and extended in a horizontal direction, a seventh insertion connector


24


located at the bottom end under the fifth insertion connector


22


and extended in a horizontal direction, and multiple rear wheel axle insertion holes


25


. The multiple rear wheel axle insertion holes


25


are arranged at different horizontal positions and different vertical heights.




The fourth insertion connector


21


is corresponding to the first insertion connector


11


of each of the two sided front module connecting members


10


, so that each of the upper transverse tubes


30


is selectively inserted into the fourth insertion connector


21


. The fifth insertion connector


22


is corresponding to the second insertion connector


12


, so that each of the lower transverse tubes


31


is selectively inserted into the fifth insertion connector


22


. In certain alternate embodiments, a push bar extension bracket


72


, in a manner similar to that shown in (FIG.


8


,) may have a first end selectively inserted into the sixth insertion connector


23


, and a second end provided with a push bar


71


. Each of the kickstands


80


is selectively inserted into the seventh insertion connector


24


. Each of the rear wheels


50


is mounted on a rear wheel axle


51


which is selectively locked in one of the multiple rear wheel axle insertion holes


25


.




In addition, the fourth insertion connector


21


is formed with at least one radial screw bore


26


for screwing an urging bolt (not shown), so as to urge the member inserted into the fourth insertion connector


21


. Similarly, the fifth insertion connector


22


is formed with at least one radial screw bore


27


for screwing an urging bolt (not shown), so as to urge the member inserted into the fifth insertion connector


22


. Similarly, the sixth insertion connector


23


is formed with at least one radial screw bore


28


for screwing an urging bolt (not shown), so as to urge the member inserted into the sixth insertion connector


23


. Similarly, the seventh insertion connector


24


is formed with at least one radial screw bore


29


for screwing an urging bolt (not shown), so as to urge the member inserted into the seventh insertion connector


24


.




As shown in

FIGS. 1 and 4

, the rear wheel axle


51


of each of the rear wheels


50


may be selectively locked in one of the multiple rear wheel axle insertion holes


25


. Thus, the rear wheel axle


51


of each of the rear wheels


50


may be located at different horizontal positions. Thus, the distance between the rear wheel


50


and the front wheel


40


may be changed and adjusted, wherein the distance between the rear wheel


50


and the front wheel


40


may be increased for enhancing the stability of the wheelchair, and the distance between the rear wheel


50


and the front wheel


40


may be shortened, thereby facilitating the user operating the rear wheel


50


to travel forward. In addition, the rear wheel axle


51


of each of the rear wheels


50


may be located at different vertical heights, so that the present invention is available for wheelchairs of different sizes.




Referring to

FIGS. 1 and 5

, each of the two sided rear module connecting members


20


is formed with at least one pin hole


90


, so that a handle structure may be selectively and pivotally mounted on the pin hole


90


by a pin.




The handle structure includes a pivotable connecting seat


73


having a bottom pivotally mounted on the pin hole


90


, and a push bar extension bracket


74


mounted on the connecting seat


73


. The connecting seat


73


is formed with multiple pin holes


78


. The push bar extension bracket


74


has a first end provided with a push bar


70


and a second end provided with a block


75


. The block


75


of the push bar extension bracket


74


has a top pivotally mounted on a top of the connecting seat


73


by a spindle


76


, and a bottom for insertion of a fixing pin


77


which is selectively inserted into one of the multiple pin holes


78


of the connecting seat


73


. Thus, the inclined angle of the block


75


of the push bar extension bracket


74


may be changed by changing the insertion positions of the fixing pin


77


, so as to change the inclined angle of the push bar


70


relative to the connecting seat


73


as shown in

FIG. 5

, thereby facilitating the push bar


70


pushing the wheelchair.




The connecting seat


73


has a front end provided with a fixing lug


79


. A foot plate extension bracket


63


(see

FIG. 1

) has a first end locked on the fixing lug


79


of the connecting seat


73


, and a second end provided with a foot plate


60


. A pad


64


is secured on the upper transverse tube


30


for supporting the foot plate extension bracket


63


.




Referring to

FIGS. 6 and 7

, the main frame of the wheelchair includes two upper transverse tubes


30


mounted between the two sided front module connecting members


10


and the two sided rear module connecting members


20


, two lower transverse tubes


31


mounted between the two sided front module connecting members


10


and the two sided rear module connecting members


20


, and a radial connecting set


32


connecting the two upper transverse tubes


30


and the two lower transverse tubes


31


.




The radial connecting set


32


may be folded and expanded, and includes a first radial connecting lever


33


having a first end pivotally mounted on one of the two upper transverse tubes


30


, a second radial connecting lever


34


pivotally connected with the first radial connecting lever


33


by a spindle


35


and having a first end pivotally mounted on the other of the two upper transverse tubes


30


, a third radial connecting lever


36


having a first end pivotally mounted on one of the two lower transverse tubes


31


and a second end pivotally mounted on a second end of the second radial connecting lever


34


, and a fourth radial connecting lever


37


having a first end pivotally mounted on the other of the two lower transverse tubes


31


and a second end pivotally mounted on a second end of the first radial connecting lever


33


.




Thus, when the wheelchair is not in use, the radial connecting set


32


may be disposed at a folded status as shown in

FIG. 7

, so as to shorten the volume of the wheelchair, thereby facilitating storage of the wheelchair.




Referring to

FIG. 8

, a full-function modularized assembly structure of a wheelchair in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention is shown.




In assembly, the foot plate extension bracket


62


has a first end selectively inserted into the third insertion connector


13


of each of the sided front module connecting members


10


and a second end provided with a foot plate


61


. In addition, the push bar extension bracket


72


has a first end selectively inserted into the sixth insertion connector


23


of each of the sided rear module connecting members


20


, and a second end provided with a push bar


71


. Further, the length of each of the two upper transverse tubes


30


and each of the two lower transverse tubes


31


and the diameter of each of the front wheels


40


and each of the rear wheels


50


may be changed according to the user's practical requirements, thereby constructing wheelchairs of different sizes and specifications.




Referring to

FIGS. 9 and 10

, each of the two sided front module connecting members


10


has a different configuration or shape.




Referring to

FIGS. 11 and 12

, each of the two sided rear module connecting members


20


has a different configuration or shape.




Referring to

FIG. 13

, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the pad


64


includes two connecting pieces


640


connected with each other by bolts


641


and nuts


642


, thereby forming a substantially Y-shaped structure for supporting the foot plate extension bracket


63


(see FIG.


1


). Each of the two connecting pieces


640


is formed with multiple locking holes


643


for locking each of the two upper transverse tubes


30


.




Referring to

FIG. 14

, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the pad


64


further includes a loop-shaped cover member


644


for supporting and retaining the foot plate extension bracket


63


(see FIG.


1


).




Accordingly, the full-function modularized assembly structure of a wheelchair in accordance with the present invention has the following advantages.




1. The sided front module connecting members


10


and the sided rear module connecting members


20


may mate with the upper transverse tubes


30


and the lower transverse tubes


31


of different sizes and types according to the user's practical requirements, thereby constructing wheelchairs of different sizes and specifications.




2. The rear wheel axle


51


of each of the rear wheels


50


may be located at different horizontal positions, so that the distance between the rear wheel


50


and the front wheel


40


may be changed and adjusted arbitrarily, wherein the distance between the rear wheel


50


and the front wheel


40


may be increased for enhancing the stability of the wheelchair, and the distance between the rear wheel


50


and the front wheel


40


may be shortened, thereby facilitating the user operating the rear wheel


50


to travel forward.




3. The rear wheel axle


51


of each of the rear wheels


50


may be located at different vertical heights, so that the present invention is available for wheelchairs of different sizes.




4. The full-function modularized assembly structure has a simple construction, and may be produced in a modularized manner, thereby efficiently decreasing costs of fabrication.




Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.



Claims
  • 1. A modularized assembly structure of a wheelchair, comprising:a pair of sided front module connecting members each including a first insertion connector for insertion of an upper transverse tube, a second insertion connector for insertion of a lower transverse tube, and at least one front wheel locating screw bore for locating a front wheel; and, a pair of sided rear module connecting members each including a fourth insertion connector corresponding to the first insertion connector for insertion of the upper transverse tube, a fifth insertion connector corresponding to the second insertion connector for insertion of a lower transverse tube, and at least one rear wheel axle insertion hole for insertion of a rear wheel axle; wherein each of the sided front module connecting members has multiple front wheel locating screw bores which are arranged at different horizontal positions and different vertical heights, and the front wheel is selectively located by one of the multiple front wheel locating screw bores.
  • 2. A modularized assembly structure of a wheelchair, comprising:a pair of sided front module connecting members each including a first insertion connector for insertion of an upper transverse tube, a second insertion connector for insertion of a lower transverse tube, and at least one front wheel locating screw bore for locating a front wheel; and, a pair of sided rear module connecting members each including a fourth insertion connector corresponding to the first insertion connector for insertion of the upper transverse tube, a fifth insertion connector corresponding to the second insertion connector for insertion of a lower transverse tube, and at least one rear wheel axle insertion hole for insertion of a rear wheel axle; wherein each of the sided rear module connecting members is formed with at least one pin hole, so that a handle structure may be selectively and pivotally mounted on the pin hole by a pin.
  • 3. The modularized assembly structure of a wheelchair in accordance with claim 2, wherein the handle structure includes a pivotable connecting seat having a bottom mounted on one of the sided rear module connecting members, and a push bar extension bracket mounted on the connecting seat, the connecting seat is formed with a plurality of pin holes, the push bar extension bracket has a first end provided with a push bar and a second end provided with a block, the block of the push bar extension bracket has a top pivotally mounted on a top of the connecting seat by a spindle, and a bottom for insertion of a fixing pin which is selectively inserted into one of the pin holes of the connecting seat.
  • 4. The modularized assembly structure of a wheelchair in accordance with claim 3, wherein the connecting seat has a front end provided with a fixing lug for locking a first end of a foot plate extension bracket whose second end is provided with a foot plate, and a pad is secured on the upper transverse tube for supporting the foot plate extension bracket.
  • 5. A modularized assembly structure of a wheelchair, comprising:a pair of sided front module connecting members each including a first insertion connector for insertion of an upper transverse tube, a second insertion connector for insertion of a lower transverse tube, at least one front wheel locating screw bore for locating a front wheel, a pad mounted on the upper transverse tube; and, a pair of sided rear module connecting members each including a fourth insertion connector corresponding to the first insertion connector for insertion of the upper transverse tube, a fifth insertion connector corresponding to the second insertion connector for insertion of a lower transverse tube, and at least one rear wheel axle insertion hole for insertion of a rear wheel axle; wherein the pad includes two connecting pieces connected with each other by bolts and nuts, thereby forming a substantially Y-shaped structure, and each of the two connecting pieces is formed with multiple locking holes for locking the upper transverse tube.
  • 6. A modularized assembly structure of a wheelchair, comprising:a pair of sided front module connecting members each including a first insertion connector for insertion of an upper transverse tube, a second insertion connector for insertion of a lower transverse tube, at least one front wheel locating screw bore for locating a front wheel, a pad mounted on the upper transverse tube; and, a pair of sided rear module connecting members each including a fourth insertion connector corresponding to the first insertion connector for insertion of the upper transverse tube, a fifth insertion connector corresponding to the second insertion connector for insertion of a lower transverse tube, and at least one rear wheel axle insertion hole for insertion of a rear wheel axle; wherein the pad has a top provided with a loop-shaped cover member.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
91204459 U Apr 2002 TW
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