Patent Grant
11419775
The present disclosure relates to safety devices to enhance the use of wheelchairs by minimizing or eliminating falls for wheelchair users. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to devices for assisting wheelchair users in safely exiting and entering their wheelchair.
Older adult falls are increasing and sadly often herald the end of independence. The CDC issued a report in 2018 estimating that there was a 42% increase in death by elderly falls from 2000-2006 and a 31% increase from 2007-2016. The fall injury cost to Medicare/Medicaid was $50 Billion in 2015. That number is estimated to reach nearly $68 Billion by 2020. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report—Weekly/May 11, 2018/67(18); 509-514.
Although the precise number of falls attributed to wheelchair use is not known, it is known that a significant portion of elderly falls is associated with wheelchair use. It is estimated that between 1.6 and 2.2 million Americans rely on wheelchairs to provide mobility on a daily basis. Wheelchair falls can result from unassisted transfers either into or out of the wheelchair. Sliding off and tipping are also common reasons for wheelchair falls. As wheelchair bound elderly persons attempt unassisted exit from or entry onto a wheelchair, their center mass of gravity often is not maintained. When they lose that center mass of gravity, a fall and/or tipping of the wheelchair with the person will often occur. In such cases, a wheelchair bound person simply does not have the strength to reacquire that mass center of gravity and associated balance and leverage.
Consequently, elderly bound wheelchair users typically need assistance in exiting and entering their wheelchairs. Assistance is not always available, so often the wheelchair bound individual is forced to either wait for assistance or attempt an exit on his or her own and risk falling.
What is needed in the art is a device that will assist a wheelchair bound person to safely exit or enter a wheelchair without assistance from another person or with less assistance from another person. Such a device would allow the wheelchair bound person to maintain his or her mass center of gravity, balance and leverage when exiting or entering a wheelchair. Consequently, use of such a device will reduce the fear of falling, reduce or eliminate actual falls, increase independence and improve the quality of life for the wheelchair user.
In one embodiment of the disclosure a device for assisting a wheelchair user with exit from or entry onto a wheelchair is provided. The device includes a support having a horizontal top rail, the top rail having a first end and a second end, a first leg depending downwardly from the first end a second leg arranged opposite and parallel to the first leg, the second leg depending downwardly from the second end. The second leg may include an adjustable section for adjusting the height of the second leg. The device further includes a bracket attached to the wheelchair, the bracket constructed to engage with a bottom of the first leg such that when the bracket and bottom of the first leg are engaged, the device may be used to enter or exit the wheelchair. The device of may further comprise at least one support strut arranged below the top rail and extending between the first leg and the second leg.
Another embodiment of the present disclosure may include a support having a horizontal top rail, the top rail having a first end and a second end, a first leg depending downwardly from the first end a second leg arranged opposite and parallel to the first leg, the second leg depending downwardly from the second end. The second leg may include an adjustable section for adjusting the height of the second leg. The device further includes a bracket attached to the wheelchair, the bracket constructed to engage with a bottom of the first leg such that when the bracket and bottom of the first leg are engaged, the device may be used to enter or exit the wheelchair. The wheelchair may include a frame having at least one horizontal member and at least one vertical member and wherein the bracket is attached to the at least one horizontal member and the at least one vertical member. The device may further comprise a dual pin block fixedly attached to the first leg near the bottom, such that the bottom of the first leg extends below the dual pin block. The dual pin block may further include a pin extending below the dual pin block and parallel to the first leg. The bracket may include a first receiving feature and a second receiving feature, the first receiving feature constructed to receive the bottom of the first leg and the second receiving feature constructed to receive the pin. When the support is mounted on the bracket, the support is locked into a preferred position for exit from the wheelchair.
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and described in the following written specification. It is understood that no limitation to the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. It is further understood that the present disclosure includes any alterations and modifications to the illustrated embodiments and includes further applications of the principles disclosed herein as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains.
Referring to
Other features attached to the frame 220 include a set of opposing back wheels 270, one wheel arranged along the left side 226 and the second wheel arranged along the right side 228, and a set of opposing front wheels 280 arranged in front of the back wheels on the left and right side of frame 220 respectively. Typically, the back wheels 270 are significantly larger than the front wheels 280, but not always. Typically, foot rests 290 are attached to the front 222 of frame 220. One or more brakes 295 are typically attached to frame 220 and arranged to apply a braking force to back wheels 270. Brake 295 may include a brake handle 296 connected to a brake pad 297. The brake handle 296 may be used to force the brake pad 297 against back wheel 270, thus applying a braking force to back wheel 270. Handle 296 may be used to move brake pad 297 away from back wheel 270 to remove the braking force from back wheel 270.
Frame 220 typically includes multiple vertical members 230 that may include vertical members arranged near the front 222 of frame 220, which may be referred to as front vertical members 232. Vertical members 230 may also include vertical members arranged near the back 224 of frame 220, which may be referred to as back vertical members 234. Frame 220 may also include multiple horizontal members 240 that may include upper horizontal members 242 and lower horizontal members 244.
Now referring to
Two supports 10 may be mounted on wheelchair 200, one extending from the front on the left side 226 of wheelchair 200 and one extending from the front 222 on the right side 228 of the wheelchair. As will be discussed in more detail below, supports 10 are mounted so as to be in a preferred position 2 for easy exit from and/or entry onto wheelchair 200. In the preferred position 2, first end 60 of each top rail 30 of support 10 is located closer to the wheelchair 200 and, more particularly, closer to the respective arm rests 260 than second end 90 of top rail 30. Stated differently, second end 90 of each top rail 30 extends away from wheelchair 200 when support 10 is mounted on wheelchair 200. Moreover, in the preferred position 2, each second end 90 of the respective top rails 30 of supports 10 are arranged such that the distance between each of the second ends 90 is less than the distance between the respective first ends 60 when the two supports 10 are mounted on wheelchair 200. In other words, when the supports are mounted on the wheelchair, the second ends 90 extend away from wheelchair 200 and are angled toward each other.
The preferred position 2 of support 10, when mounted on wheelchair 200, is designed to maintain the center mass of gravity of a person either exiting or entering the wheelchair 200. There are several advantages to the preferred position 2. For a person that uses a wheelchair, the support of the present disclosure in the preferred position when mounted on a wheelchair reduces or eliminates falls that often occur when entering or exiting a wheelchair by traditional means. For a wheelchair bound person, the support of the present disclosure reduces or eliminates the fear of falling when either entering or exiting a wheelchair because of the added control the person experiences using the device. This added feeling of control reduces or even eliminates in some cases the need for assistance when entering or exiting a wheelchair.
Consequently, assistance injuries that often occur when someone is assisting a wheelchair occupant may be reduced or eliminated. Another advantage of the device of the present disclosure includes reduction or elimination of the risk of wheelchair tipping often associated with traditional means of exiting and entering wheelchairs. The device of the present disclosure increases independence of wheelchair users and improves quality of life.
Support 10 also includes a first leg 20 having a proximal end extending downwardly from first end 60 of top rail 30. Arranged opposite the proximal end of first leg 20 is a bottom end 22 of first leg 20. Support 10 includes a second leg 40 arranged parallel to first leg 20 and extending downwardly from second end 90 of top rail 30. In some embodiments, second leg 40 may include a floor-stop height extension 25 that is constructed to engage with a bottom 42 of second leg 40. The floor-stop height extension 25 is constructed to be adjustable so that it may be extended from or retracted over or into bottom 42 of second leg 40.
Referring to
Among other benefits, the adjustable feature allows the support 10 to be used with a multitude of wheelchairs of different dimensions. Also, when the floor-stop height extension 25 is slid further up second leg 40, it will eventually lose contact with the surface that it is contacting so as to allow support 10 to be more easily removed from wheelchair 200, as will be discussed in more detail below.
Referring to
Now referring to
One embodiment of the disclosure includes a second point of attachment of bracket 300 to wheelchair 200. For example, bracket 300 may be attached to one of the multiple vertical members 230. In one embodiment, bracket 300 may be attached to front vertical member 232 of frame 220 in any suitable manner as would be understood by one of ordinary skill. For example, bracket 300 may be attached to front vertical member 232 via strap 312. Strap 312 may extend from one side of bracket 300 to and around front vertical member 232 and extend from front vertical member 232 back to an opposing side of bracket 300. Strap 312 may be secured to bracket 300 via, for example, a bolt passing through the strap 312 located on each opposing side of bracket 300 as well as each of the respective opposing sides of bracket 300 and secured with a lock nut.
Referring to
Bracket 300 further includes a second receiving feature 320 located in close proximity to the first receiving feature 310. Second receiving feature 320 may also be a hole that either extends partially through bracket 300 or completely through bracket 300. The second receiving feature 320 is structured to receive pin 410 of dual pin block 400. When support 10 is mounted on wheelchair 200 and bottom 22 of first leg 20 is located in the first receiving feature 310 and pin 410 of dual pin block 400 is located in the second receiving feature 320 of bracket 300, support 10 is located in the preferred position 2. In some embodiments, the first receiving feature 310 and the second receiving 320 feature may be located in rotatable member 1000 of bracket 300.
Now referring to
Referring to
Referring now to
Referring now to
To disengage the support 10 from the bracket 800, the grasp release 840 is depressed, thereby applying a force to the push button 850 which applies a corresponding force against the push pin 820 to push the push pin 820 out of the push pin receiving hole 830 allowing the first leg 20 to be disengaged from pin mount 810 and support 10 to be removed from bracket 800.
Referring now to
The bracket 900 further includes a swivel clamp lock 980 that is fixedly attached to the bracket 900 near pin mount 910. Swivel clamp lock 980 includes opposing curved members 982 and 984 that include mating members 983 and 985 that are constructed to seat into first circumferential channel 960 and second circumferential channel 970. When the first leg is mounted on bracket 900 and the first collar 920 is abutted against the second collar 950, curved members 982 and 984 of swivel clamp lock 980 may be wrapped around the first collar 920 and second collar 950 and mating members 983 and 985 are seated into first circumferential channel 960 and second circumferential channel 970 to lock the first leg 20 onto bracket 900; thereby, securing the support 10 to wheelchair 200.
Now referring to
The bracket may include a locking mechanism 1030 to allow for locking and unlocking the rotatable member 1000 in the down position, which is the position rotatable member 1000 is in when the support 10 is mounted on the bracket. The locking mechanism 1030 may include a pull pin 1040 that is mounted in a pull pin mounting hole 1050 that begins in a portion of the second member 1010 near hinge 1020 and extends into rotatable member 1000. The pull pin 1040 may be spring loaded. When the rotatable member is in the down position, the spring loaded pull pin 1040 is biased to inserted in pull pin mounting hole 1050 and extend into rotatable member 1000, thus locking the rotatable member 1000 in the down position so that the support 10 can be mounted on the bracket. When the bracket is not in use, rotatable member 1000, may be unlocked by pulling the pull pin 1040 out of the pull pin mounting hole 1050 until it is no longer seated in rotatable member 1000 and then rotating the rotatable member 1000 up toward frame 220.
Referring now to
Now referring to
Fixedly attached to the second legs 40 of respective opposing supports 10 are respective table attachment couplings 1180. Table attachment coupling 1180 includes a table mounting opening 1190 that is constructed to receive second section 1170 of respective table mounts 1150 when table 1100 is mounted on said respective supports 10. Table attachment couplings 1180 are positioned on second legs 40, so that when the table is mounted on supports 10 via table attachment couplings 1180, the table will be position at or near the height of the respective top rails 30 of supports 10.
It should be understood, that relative positional terms such as, “upper,” “lower,” “above,” “below,” “front,” “back” and the like, are with reference to the normal operational position of the device disclosed herein with respect to its normal intended use in connection with a wheelchair. Such positional terms should not be considered otherwise limiting.
The present disclosure has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology that has been employed herein is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than word of limitation. While there have been described herein what are considered to be exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, other modifications of the disclosure shall be apparent to those skilled in the art from the teachings herein and, it is, therefore, desired to be secured in the appended claims all such modification as fall within the true spirit and scope of the disclosure.
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|---|---|---|---|
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| 10704580 | Bordenave | Jul 2020 | B2 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20210196541 A1 | Jul 2021 | US |
