Growable wheelchair

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6227559
  • Patent Number
    6,227,559
  • Date Filed
    Friday, January 7, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, May 8, 2001
    23 years ago
Abstract
A wheelchair has grow-tabs that permit the width of the wheelchair to be adjusted without affecting its height. The wheelchair has a side frame and a cross-brace member. The side frame has upper and lower side rails. The cross-brace member has upper and lower ends. An upper grow-tab is connected to the upper side rail. A link is connected between the upper grow-tab and the upper end of the cross-brace member. The upper grow-tab and the link are laterally adjustable relative to one another to vary the lateral space between the upper side rail and the cross-brace member without varying the height of the upper side rail. A lower grow-tab is connected to the lower side rail. The lower grow-tab is connected to the lower end of the cross-brace member. The lower grow-tab and the lower end of the cross-brace member are laterally adjustable relative to one another to vary the lateral space between the lower side rail and the cross-brace member without varying the height of the lower side rail.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates generally to wheelchairs and, more particularly, to a wheelchair having grow-tabs which permit the width of the wheelchair to be varied without varying its height.




2. Description of the Prior Art




Wheelchairs are provided in various sizes to accommodate the physiology of various wheelchair occupants. Wheelchairs are generally manufactured in a variety of fixed sizes or custom made to a single fixed size. Such wheelchairs commonly have welded joints, which permanently affix various frame members together. Such wheelchairs are not readily adjustable and may require frequent replacement if the physiology of the wheelchair occupant changes.




Accordingly, some wheelchairs are adapted to accommodate physiological changes in the wheelchair occupant. For example, some wheelchair frames include interchangeable parts which permit the wheelchair to be widened, the seat to be lengthened or raised, and the seat back to be extended. Such a wheelchair is deficient in that it is often lacking in structural integrity. In addition, the interchangeable parts have little value in a secondary market. Moreover, rapid advances in technology lead to the eventual discontinuation in wheelchairs which further render interchangeable parts obsolete. Such parts result in economical and ecological waste.




Mounting cushions and pads on full-size wheelchair frames are viable alternatives to interchanging parts. However, some wheelchair occupants, typically children, tend to be much smaller than the wheelchair. This significantly affects the wheelchair occupant's ability to effectively use the wheelchair.




In addition to the foregoing deficiencies, wheelchairs often include parts which are specifically designed for the left side or the right side of the wheelchair. Parts for the left side are not interchangeable with the parts for the right side, and vice versa. This lack of interchangeability of parts results in an increase in manufacturing cost and complexity, and an increase in inventory requirements. In the case of interchangeable parts, separate inventories are necessary for parts for use on the left and right sides of the wheelchair.




Another deficiency remains with regard to the ability of portable wheelchairs to accommodate growth. Portable wheelchairs generally include frame which are foldable to permit the wheelchair to be easily transported. This enables the wheelchair occupant to conveniently travel to various locations. Portable wheelchairs commonly found in the prior art typically include opposing side frames having upper and lower side rails. The side frames are joined together by a cross-brace. The cross-brace includes a pair of members pivotally joined together to form an X-shaped configuration. Opposing ends of the cross-brace are pivotally mounted to the seat frame. Portable wheelchairs, like rigid wheelchairs, may also accommodate physiological changes in the wheelchair occupant. Such wheelchairs generally include a cross-brace which is adjustable to vary the width of the wheelchair. The adjustment typically includes a vertical component as well as a horizontal component. Hence, an adjustment in the width of the wheelchair results in a corresponding adjustment in its height. Accordingly, a second adjustment is often necessary to correct the height of the wheelchair.




What is needed is a wheelchair that overcomes the foregoing deficiencies. In particular, a wheelchair is needed which has grow-tabs that permit the width of a wheelchair to be easily adjusted without affecting its height.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention is directed a wheelchair comprising a side frame and a cross-brace member. The side frame has an upper side rail and a lower side rail and the cross-brace member has an upper end and a lower end. An upper grow-tab is connected to the upper side rail and a link is pivotally connected between the upper grow-tab and the upper end of the cross-brace member. The upper grow-tab and the link are laterally adjustable relative to one another to vary the lateral space between the upper side rail and the cross-brace member without varying the height of the upper side rail. A lower grow-tab is connected to the lower side rail. The lower grow-tab is adapted to be pivotally connected to the lower end of the cross-brace member. The lower grow-tab and the lower end of the cross-brace member are laterally adjustable relative to one another to vary the lateral space between the lower side rail and the cross-brace member without varying the height of the lower side rail.




Various objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, when read in light of the accompanying drawings.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a front perspective view of a foldable wheelchair having a plurality of grow-tabs according to the invention.





FIG. 2

is a partial side elevational view of the wheelchair shown in FIG.


1


.





FIG. 3

is an enlarged partial side perspective view of the wheelchair side frames connected together with a cross-brace and a plurality of grow-tabs.





FIG. 4

is an enlarged exploded front perspective view of a pair of lower grow-tab.





FIG. 5

is an enlarged exploded front perspective view of an upper grow-tab.





FIG. 6

is a sectional view in perspective of the wheelchair shown in

FIG. 1

with the grow-tabs adjusted to minimize the spacing between the side frames.





FIG. 7

is a sectional view in perspective of the wheelchair shown in

FIG. 1

with the grow-tabs adjusted to maximize the spacing between the side frames.





FIG. 8

is an enlarged front perspective view of an alternative lower grow-tab.





FIG. 9

is an enlarged front perspective view of another alternative lower grow-tab.





FIG. 10

is a front sectional view in elevation of an alternative folding wheelchair.











Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.




DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in

FIGS. 1 and 2

a wheelchair


10


comprising a pair of laterally spaced side frames


12


interconnected by a cross-brace


14


. Seat rails


16


may be integral with the side frames


12


. A sling (not shown) may be supported by the seat rails


16


. The length and height of the sling may vary. Footrests (not shown) may be mounted to the front end of each side frame


12


to support the wheelchair occupant's feet. Front and rear wheel


18


,


20


support the side frames


12


on a supporting surface, such as the ground. As shown in

FIG. 2

, each side frame


12


includes an upper side rail


28


and a lower side rail


30


. The front and rear ends of corresponding upper and lower side rails


28


,


30


may be connected by front and rear substantially vertically extending tubes


32


,


34


.




The cross-brace


14


, as shown in

FIG. 3

, is a folding mechanism including two members, generally indicated at


38


, connected by a pivot


40


. The upper and lower ends


52


,


46


of each cross-brace member


38


are connected to corresponding upper and lower side rails


28


,


30


by corresponding upper and lower grow-tabs


72


,


58


.




A pair of lower grow-tabs


58


(

FIG. 4

) each has a first end


64


connected to a lower side rail


30


. A plurality of laterally spaced apertures


68


extends to a second end


66


of each lower grow-tab


58


. Although only three apertures are shown, any suitable number of apertures may be provided. The apertures


68


in the lower grow-tabs


58


are adapted to co-align. The lower grow-tabs


58


are longitudinally spaced to provide a channel


62


therebetween. The channel


62


is adapted to receive the lower end


46


of a cross-brace member


38


. An aperture


69


provided in the lower end


46


of a cross-brace member


38


is adapted to co-align with one of the co-aligning apertures


68


in the lower grow-tabs


58


. The co-aligning pair of apertures


68


,


69


are adapted to receive a fastener


70


for pivotally connecting the lower end


46


of the cross-brace member


38


to the lower grow-tabs


58


. The spacing between the lower side rails


30


may be varied by varying the position of the lower end


46


of each cross-brace member


38


relative to the lower grow-tabs


58


, as shown in

FIGS. 6 and 7

. The tab apertures


68


may be uniformly spaced to permit the spacing between the lower side rails


30


to be uniformly and incrementally adjusted.




As shown in

FIG. 5

, a first end


76


of an upper grow-tab


72


is connected to an upper side rail


28


(shown in phantom line). A plurality of laterally spaced apertures


84


extends to a second end


78


of the upper grow-tab


72


. Although only three apertures


84


are shown, any suitable number of apertures can be provided. Any one of the apertures


84


is adapted to co-align with an aperture


85


in a first end


80


of a link


74


. The co-aligning apertures


84


,


85


are adapted to receive a fastener


88


for pivotally connecting the first end


80


of the link


74


to the second end


78


of the upper grow-tab


72


. The spacing between the upper side rails


28


to be varied by adjusting position of the link


74


relative to the upper grow-tab


72


, as shown in

FIGS. 6 and 7

. The tab apertures


84


may be uniformly spaced to permit the spacing between the upper side rails


28


to be uniformly and incrementally adjusted.




A second end


82


of the link


74


is provided with an aperture


87


. The upper end


52


of each cross-brace member


38


is provided with an upper aperture


89


and an intermediate aperture


91


. The intermediate aperture


91


is adapted to be positioned to align with the aperture


87


in the second end


82


of the link


74


. The co-aligning apertures


91


,


87


are adapted to receive a fastener


98


for pivotally connecting the cross-brace members


38


to the second end


82


of the link


74


.




A stop pin


100


extends through the upper aperture


89


in the upper end


52


of the cross-brace member


38


. The stop pin


100


is adapted to engage the link


74


upon unfolding the wheelchair


10


to limit the travel of the cross-brace member


38


. The second end


82


of the link


74


may be provided with a circumferential surface


102


. The focal point of the radius of the circumferential surface


102


is defined by the focal point of the fastener


98


connecting the cross-brace members


38


to the link


74


. Upon folding and unfolding the wheelchair


10


, the stop pin


100


may travel along an arc about the circumferential surface


102


. The stop pin


100


ceases to travel when it engages the link


74


. The stop pin


100


is adapted to be received by a first relief


104


in an upper edge of the link


74


and near the second end


82


of the link


74


. A portion of the first relief


104


is preferably tangential to a portion of the outer circumferential surface


102


of the link


74


. Another portion of the first relief


104


defines an abutment surface. The stop pin


100


is adapted to engage the abutment surface.




Upon unfolding the wheelchair


10


, the stop pin


100


travels along the arc about the circumferential surface


102


and into the first relief


104


. The tangential portions of the first relief


104


and the circumferential surface


102


provide a smooth transition for the stop pin


100


to travel into and out of the first relief


104


. Upon unfolding the wheelchair


10


, the travel of the cross-brace member


38


is limited by the engagement of the stop pin


100


and the abutment surface, at which point the wheelchair


10


is completely unfolded. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the use of a stop pin


100


. The travel of the cross-brace members


38


may be limited by any suitable stop member.




The upper edge of the link


74


further includes a second relief


106


. The second relief


106


has a diameter suitable to receive the upper side rail


28


. The second relief


106


is adapted to receive the upper side rail


28


upon folding the wheelchair


10


. The relief permits the spacing between the side frames


12


to be minimized when the wheelchair


10


is folded.




It should be appreciated that the first end


80


of the link


74


may be provided with a circumferential surface


108


. The circumferential surface


108


may have a radius the focal point of which is the center of the aperture


85


in the first end


80


of the link


74


. The radius of the circumferential surface


108


is preferably at least slightly less than the distance between the focal point of the outermost aperture


84


in the upper grow-tab


72


and the upper side rail


28


. In this way, sufficient clearance is provided between the circumferential surface


108


and the upper side rails


28


to enable the link


74


to pivot about the upper side rail


28


.




The grow-tabs link assemblies


58


,


72


may be staggered relative to one another, as is clearly shown in FIG.


2


. For example, one of the upper grow-tabs


72


may be connected to an upper side rail


28


forward of the front cross-brace member


38


and the other upper grow-tab


72


may be connected to the opposing upper side rail


28


rearward of the rear cross-brace member


38


. Similarly, one of the lower grow-tabs


58


may be connected to a lower side rail


30


forward of the front cross-brace member


38


and the other lower grow-tab


58


can be connected to the opposing lower side rail


30


rearward of the rear cross-brace member


38


.




It should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments described above. It is conceivable that other configurations may be suitable for carrying out the invention. For example, a grow-tab


261


may be integral with the cross-brace


214


, as shown in FIG.


8


. Moreover, a single grow-tab


358


, such as shown in

FIG. 9

, may be substituted in the place the two longitudinally spaced grow-tabs


58


. Further, the upper grow-tab member


72


may be provided with a single aperture


84


and the link


74


may be provided with a plurality of laterally spaced apertures


85


to accomplished the same lateral adjustment set forth above. Furthermore, the upper grow-tabs


72


shown may be suitable for connecting the lower ends


46


of the cross-braces


14


to lower side rails


30


. Likewise, the lower grow-tabs


58


shown may be suitable for connecting the upper ends


52


of the cross-braces


14


to the upper side rails


28


.




In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the principle and mode of operation of this invention have been explained and illustrated in its preferred embodiment. However, it must be understood that this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically explained and illustrated without departing from its spirit or scope.



Claims
  • 1. A wheelchair comprising:a side frame having an upper side rail and a lower side rail; a cross-brace member having an upper end and a lower end; an upper grow-tab connected to said upper side rail and a link connected between said upper grow-tab and said upper end of said cross-brace member, said upper grow-tab and said link being laterally adjustable relative to one another to vary the lateral space between said upper side rail and said cross-brace member without varying the height of said upper side rail; and lower grow-tab connected to said lower side rail and adapted to be connected to said lower end of said cross-brace member, said lower grow-tab and said lower end of said cross-brace member being laterally adjustable relative to one another to vary the lateral space between said lower side rail and said cross-brace member without varying the height of said lower side rail.
  • 2. A wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein lateral space between said cross-brace member and said side frame is varied by providing a plurality of laterally spaced apertures in each said grow-tab, any one of which is adapted to co-align with an aperture in a corresponding one of said link and said lower end of said cross-brace member, said co-aligning apertures being adapted to receive a fastener.
  • 3. A wheelchair according to claim 1, further including a stop pin extending from said upper end of said cross-brace member and being adapted to engage said link to limit the travel of said cross-brace member.
  • 4. A wheelchair according to claim 3, wherein said link comprises a relief having an abutment surface, said stop pin being adapted to engage said abutment surface.
  • 5. A wheelchair according to claim 1, further including a seat rail integral with said side frame, said link comprises a relief which is adapted to receive said seat rail.
  • 6. A wheelchair according to claim 5, wherein said seat rail is a tubular member and said relief has a shape complementary to said seat rail.
  • 7. A wheelchair comprising:a pair of laterally spaced side frames, each said side frame having an upper side rail and a lower side rail; a cross-brace including two members connected together, each said cross-brace member having an upper end and a lower end; a pair of upper grow-tabs, each said upper grow-tab being connected to a corresponding one of said upper side rails, each said upper grow-tabs further being connected to said upper end of a corresponding one of said cross-brace members by a link, said upper grow-tabs and said links being laterally adjustable relative to one another to vary the lateral spacing between said upper side rails without varying the height of said upper side rails; and a lower grow-tab interconnecting each said lower side rail to said lower end of a corresponding one of said cross-brace members, said lower grow-tabs and said lower ends of each said cross-brace members being laterally adjustable relative to one another to vary the lateral spacing between said lower side rails without varying the height of said lower side rails.
  • 8. A wheelchair according to claim 7, wherein lateral space between said cross-brace members and said side frames is varied by providing a plurality of laterally spaced apertures in each said grow-tab, any one of said apertures being adapted to co-align with an aperture in a corresponding one of said upper links and said lower ends of said cross-brace members, said co-aligning apertures being adapted to receive a fastener.
  • 9. A wheelchair according to claim 7, further including a stop pin extending from said upper end of each said cross-brace member and being adapted to engage said links to limit the travel of said cross-brace members.
  • 10. A wheelchair according to claim 7, wherein said links each comprise a relief having an abutment surface, said stop pins being adapted to engage said abutment surfaces.
  • 11. A wheelchair according to claim 7, further including a seat rail integral with each said side frame, each said link comprising a relief which is adapted to receive a corresponding one of said seat rails.
  • 12. A wheelchair according to claim 11, wherein said seat rails are tubular members and said relief in each said link has a shape complementary to said seat rails.
  • 13. A folding wheelchair comprising:a pair of side frames each comprising an upper side rail and a lower side rail; a pair of pivotally connected cross-brace members each having an upper end and a lower end; a pair of upper grow-tabs each connected to a corresponding one of said upper side rails and pivotally connected to said upper end of a corresponding one of said cross-brace members by an upper link, said links being laterally displaceable relative to said upper grow-tabs to vary the lateral space between said upper side rails; and a pair of lower grow-tabs each connected to a corresponding one of said lower side rails and pivotally connected to said lower end of a corresponding one of said cross-brace members, said lower ends of said cross-brace members being laterally displaceable relative to said lower grow-tabs to vary the lateral space between said lower side rails.
  • 14. A foldable wheelchair according to claim 13, wherein said upper and lower side rails are vertically spaced and fixed relative to each other.
  • 15. A foldable wheelchair according to claim 13, further including a stop pin in said upper end of each said cross-brace member, each said stop pin being engageable with a corresponding one of said links to limit the pivotal travel of said cross-brace members.
  • 16. A foldable wheelchair according to claim 13, wherein each said side frame further includes a seat rail, each said link further comprising a relief having a shape complementary to that of said seat rails, each said relief being adapted to receive a corresponding one of said seat rails.
  • 17. A foldable wheelchair according to claim 16, wherein said seat rails are tubular.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application No. 09/028,602, filed on Feb. 24, 1998, now abandoned.

US Referenced Citations (4)
Number Name Date Kind
4082348 Haury Apr 1978
5328183 Counts Jul 1994
5915709 Radjenovic et al. Jun 1999
6050582 Horacek Apr 2000
Continuation in Parts (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 09/028602 Feb 1998 US
Child 09/479537 US