The present invention is related generally to the field of angle adjustable backrests, and in particular to wheelchair angle adjustable backrests.
In the United States, about 21.2 million people currently have limitations in basic physical activities, such as walking, climbing stairs, carrying, or lifting. Over 100 million people with physical disabilities use wheelchairs for their primary mobility in the world, and yet less than one percent of these people have access to a wheelchair. The use of wheelchairs has increased for several reasons: birth defects, accidents, debilitating diseases, and advanced age. Based on the report of World Health Organization, more than 29,000 people annually have unexpected injuries. An estimated 250,000 to 400,000 people have spinal cord injuries or spinal dysfunction. Therefore, experts anticipate that the need for wheelchairs worldwide will continue to increase, up to 22 percent over the next 10 years.
While the number of wheelchair usage in increasing, it has created an increased demand for wheelchairs has led to an expanded market that continually offers better wheelchairs and seating systems. Based on innovations in technology, people are living longer, and are participating at higher rates. The demand to maintain an active lifestyle is also presented among people with disabilities. Wheelchair technology is integral to maintaining on active life style for individuals with a disability. Wheelchairs allow people with disabilities to have enhanced function, improved independence, and access to home and community. The lack of wheelchair is the main cause of limited participation to people with spinal cord injuries, so the wheelchairs are most important mobility of them. After their injury, wheelchair users accept their disabilities and consider a wheelchair as an extended body. Wheelchairs are critical components to meet users' expectations, preferences, physical needs, and functional requirements.
Different types of wheelchairs have different comfort and ergonomic ratings, as the different wheelchairs have different qualities. A wheelchair having more adjustability received higher ratings on comfort and ergonomics compared to a wheelchair with minimal adjustability. Since most wheelchair users spend half of the day sitting. Therefore, as the supply of manual wheelchairs increases, the demand of making them safer, more effective, and more readily available is necessary with wheelchair users' needs/adjustability.
Secondary injuries (e.g., repetitive strain injuries, pressure sores and so on) are of particular concern for those who use wheelchairs as their primary means of mobility. Since a wheelchair is an extension of the user's body, even the best fit wheelchair may not prevent the secondary injury. Pressure ulcer is one of the secondary injuries. The pressure sore occurs higher when people stay in a confined chair, have inability to move, have poor nutrition, and have lowered mental awareness. People with disabilities have difficulty changing positions and altered sensation, so they are at risk of pressure sores when they are not provided by adequate pressure-relieving mechanisms. Products and services need to be available to prevent or delay these conditions as they provide demands.
It is a challenge to recommend a particular wheelchair because wheelchair configuration influences wheelchair users' comfort, possibilities of transfer, efficient propulsion and so on. Wheelchairs usually have adjustability with axle position, seat depth, height of the footrests, tilting angle and reclining angle. Among those of adjustability, changing height of the footrests or changing backrest angles is only trial and error to avoid pressure sores as prevention of a secondary condition. According to the study of effect with changing tilt and seat-to-backrest angles by shoulder during wheelchair propulsion, seat angle could be standard for the user comfort and pressure modulation without risk of overuse shoulder injuries for alleviating pressure. As the backrest provides pressure relief, it is an essential part of wheelchair configuration.
Differences in postural alignment and shoulder flexion range are observed between wheelchairs with standard configurations and wheelchairs with posterior seat inclination and a low backrest which was set perpendicular to the floor. The wheelchairs with posterior seat inclination and low backrest set perpendicular to the floor give significantly more active upper extremities' flexion. The backrest does support the lumbar spine for maintenance of anterior pelvic tilting. And, the angle of backrest gives the wheelchair users spaces for posterior tilting.
In addition, the backrest protects and supports the spine which is one of the most important structural parts in the body. Because the weight of the upper body is sustained through the spine to transfer into the limbs, the spine is an imperative structural component. Therefore, the protection or support of the spine is essential. In many cases, wheelchair users have insufficient muscle strength to support and control the spine, so the spine tends to be bent and deformities of the spine are caused by forces of gravity. When the wheelchair backrest does not provide proper postural supports to a wheelchair user, the problems of lordosis, kyphosis, scoliosis or some combinations of these postures may be developed.
Pelvic stability affects shoulder mobility which gives wheelchair users weight-bearing and movement. Wheelchair users have to perform tasks during the day in a seated posture and the seating for each task performance is not same all day long. Therefore, seating should allow for changes of posture.
An adjustable backrest is an important feature in different conditions to provide adequate trunk support. While propelling a wheelchair uphill or downhill on a ramp, the wheelchair user should lean into the ramp to minimize the risks of injury or feelings of instability. The adjustment of backrest angle will help to open the hip angle to make users dress easily in the wheelchairs. Also, people could have their own preference for the postures in daily activities. Based on the increasing number of wheelchair users, providing an adjustable backrest is necessary because of the importance of seating position and appropriate trunk support.
A backrest has different characteristics according to height, shape, stiffness, weight, adjustability and so on. Based on the height of the backrest, wheelchair users have different support and functions. Low backrest provides freedom of movement, but less stable. On the other hand, high backrest provides more support, but limits mobility for propulsion. The rest of characteristics are different from types of backrests. Manual wheelchairs are commonly fitted with one of three types of backrest: sling upholstery backrest, rigid backrest, and custom molded backrest. Most manual wheelchairs come with sling upholstery for the backrest. The sling upholstery backrest is made of fabric or leather. The rigid backrest is one of the most recommended backrest to support user's posture as a combination of a back cushion on a rigid frame. The custom molded backrest is an individualized backrest for a person who has particular deformity. Each has different perspectives which could be advantages or disadvantages.
The sling upholstery backrest has a rectangular shape based of frames of wheelchair s tubes. The materials of sling backrest which are fabric or leather are stretched out wheelchair backrest. Because of features of materials, it has adjustability, contours to the shape of spine, and is lightweight. An advantage of this type of backrest is that it can be used by a wide range of people because it conforms based on the back shape and posture, and thus it is common and useful. The flexibility of this backrest also makes it ideal for folding wheelchair which is easily transportable. A primary drawback to the sling backrest is that it does not provide a stable base of support for the posture.
The rigid backrest has different features contrast to the sling backrest. The rigid frame of backrest has the contour of back, so it looks a trapezoid from seeing upside. Even though there is cushion on the backrest, the frame is firm and has additional weight. Therefore, it is generally not adjustable and is sensitive to the user's body size. However, it provides a solid base of support for appropriate posture, so it is most appropriate for users without a postural deformity.
The individualized contour backrest is shaped individually, but usually looks big and bulky. This type of backrest covers whole spine and fills spaces to support deformity of spine. It is very individual product, so it requires intensive labor. The quality of the custom molded backrest depends on clinicians' skills.
Among the three types of the backrests, the standard sling upholstery for the backrest has been used for most wheelchair manufacturers and wheelchair users. As mentioned earlier, the sling upholstery has a flexibility and adjustability of tension, so wheelchair users can make periodically suitable. However, it provides less postural support. In addition, it would not be enough to support wheelchair users' back while being in dynamic functions such as up and down ramps, various surfaces and over obstacles.
There is a need for a lightweight, sturdy, user-adjustable, easily set-up and ergonomic backrest support for ultralight wheelchairs to satisfy the needs of wheelchair users by maximizing functionality and improving ease of use. An angle adjustable backrest provides necessary postural support and a variety of positions to easy dressing, propulsion, and seated comfort.
The present invention is a lightweight, durable, adjustable, backrest for ultralight manual wheelchairs. Light weight material can include composites for a rigid backrest for promotion of healthier and functional interface. Angle adjustment can be any desired range such as a range from −5 degree to 55 degrees (i.e. 85 degrees to 145 degree with respect to horizontal with the seat). No tools are necessary for any of the angle adjustments. The backrest has a horizontal adjustment (fore-aft) that can be any desired range such as 1 inch. The height selection depends on the length of the wheelchair frame tubes.
The present invention improves the ease and simplicity of adjusting the backrest by or for the user, as well as enhance the aesthetic appearance and add features necessary for achieving commercial readiness. The present invention can be retro fit onto a wide range for ultralight wheelchairs.
For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and detailed description.
The present invention is illustratively shown and described in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
As used herein in the specification and claims, including as used in the examples and unless otherwise expressly specified, all numbers may be read as if prefaced by the word “about”, even if the term does not expressly appear. Also, any numerical range recited herein is intended to include all sub-ranges subsumed therein.
One embodiment of the present invention is illustrated as an exploded view in
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An alternative embodiment of the present invention does not include outer gear 38 and only relies on covers 6, 8 female internal gears to carry operational loads and being attachable to attachment brackets 18, 20.
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Release screw 34 can be integral to hex rod 40 as shown in
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Another embodiment of the present invention only includes a single backrest adjustment mechanism 2 when there is only one wheelchair tubing 17 to hold backrest 26 as shown in
Another embodiment of the present invention can include a quick-release mechanism for taking a part of backrest for folding wheelchair users. Quick release mechanism will improve transportability when the backrest is removed quickly instead of having to loosen the mounting screws.
Another embodiment of the present invention can include a remote control 200 or push buttons for angle adjustment. For the angle adjustment, the mechanism 2 is on the back side of backrest 26 using a string 4 to pull in direction Y2 for release mechanism 2 (
Another embodiment of the remote control can be adapted to select a pre-set angle. For example, angles can range from −5° to 55° with 72 teeth in the gears at 5° increments, so there are 12 different angle positions. Another embodiment includes 6 positions at 10° increments. Pre-set angles can also be customized to users' preference. The pre-sets would be perfect position for usual, reclined position for rest or dressing, forward position for working on tables and so on.
An alternative pivot bar 110 is illustrated in
As discuss above, there is a choice of desired height to attach brackets 18, 20 to wheelchair tubes 14, 16. For the backrest height selection, screws (not shown) are loosened, height adjusted, and screws are tightened by anyone without special skills or training. Also discussed above is the horizontal adjustment (fore-aft) whereby the pivot bar slots 112A, 112B are moveably connected to the J-shaped brackets. One embodiment of pivot bar slots 112A, 112B can be 1 inch length, which means the adjustment is one inch of horizontal adjustment.
In use for the present invention is in clinics as an evaluation tool for setting a comfortable position for other wheelchairs not equip with the angle adjustable backrest. It would be to determine suitable angle of the backrest during client evaluation in the seating clinic. At the seating clinics, as the clients are selecting the suitable chair, clinicians would have a tool that will allow them to decide on an appropriate angle for the backrest.
One of the advantages of the angle adjustable backrest is for periodic changes in angles to help with pressure relief while seated.
While the disclosure has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure cover the modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
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20100276975 A1 | Nov 2010 | US |
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61174250 | Apr 2009 | US |