AU2014100486A4 - Wheelchair carrier - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a wheelchair carrier for attachment to a vehicle. The Wheelchair carrier comprises a holder portion for holding a wheelchair and a vehicle adapter portion for attachment of the wheelchair carrier to a vehicle. The holder portion is pivotable about a point on the vehicle adapter portion. Figure 1

Description

AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR AN INNOVATION PATENT (Original) APPLICATION NO: LODGED: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION LODGED: ACCEPTED: PUBLISHED: RELATED ART: NAME OF APPLICANT: P.K. Group Pty Ltd ACTUAL INVENTOR: Kerry John FORD ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: LORD AND COMPANY, Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys, of PO Box 530, West Perth, Western Australia, 6872, AUSTRALIA. INVENTION TITLE: "WHEELCHAIR CARRIER" The following Statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us: TITLE "WHEELCHAIR CARRIER" TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a wheelchair carrier for attachment to a vehicle. BACKGROUND ART [0002] Many people, for example, the elderly or the disabled, require a wheelchair for locomotion due to a limited ability or complete inability to walk. When driving or as a passenger in a vehicle, wheelchair users require transport of their wheelchair. Wheelchairs can be bulky and quite space consuming which can be very inconvenient when transporting them inside a car. [0003] Wheelchair users quite clearly have limited mobility so arranging their wheelchair for transport in a vehicle can be difficult. Even with an able-bodied person present, manoeuvring a wheelchair into, or onto the roof of, a vehicle for transportation poses challenges. [0004] Previous wheelchair carriers mounted onto the exterior of a vehicle, for carriage of the wheelchair on the exterior of the vehicle, have responded to some of the challenges presented by the need to transport a wheelchair. There remains disadvantages to known wheelchair carriers, however. [0005] Wheelchair carriers such as that described in AUl984023695 require a person to lift the wheelchair vertically onto the carrier. This can be difficult due to the weight and awkward shape of the wheelchair. In addition, removal of the main assembly of the wheelchair carrier from the vehicle, such as for storage, requires the unfixing and removal of the entire unit from the vehicle. The entire unit then needs to be mounted and again secured onto the tow ball of the vehicle. This can be time consuming and care is required each time the carrier is removed and reattached to ensure it is correctly secured. 2 Also, previous wheelchair carriers have not allowed for the transport of different sizes of wheelchairs, for example, the transport of both child and adult sized wheelchairs. [0006] The present invention attempts to overcome at least in part the aforementioned disadvantages of previous wheelchair carriers. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a wheelchair carrier comprising a holder portion for holding a wheelchair and a vehicle adapter portion for attachment of the wheelchair carrier to a vehicle, wherein the holder portion is pivotable about a point on the vehicle adapter portion. [0008] The holder portion may be removably attached to the vehicle adapter portion. [0009] The holder portion may be adjustable for the wheelchair carrier to hold different sizes of wheelchairs. [0010] The wheelchair carrier may further comprise a lock mechanism for securing a base of the holder portion in an upright position for reduction in a profile of the wheelchair carrier. [0011] The vehicle adapter portion may be arranged to be lower than a tow ball installed on the vehicle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0012] The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wheelchair carrier, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the wheelchair carrier of Figure 1 in a folded 3 position; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a vehicle adapter portion 14 of a wheelchair carrier, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of the wheelchair carrier of Figure 1 in a pivoted orientation. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS [0013] With reference to Figure 1, there is shown a wheelchair carrier 10 for attachment to a vehicle. The wheelchair carrier 10 comprises a wheelchair holder portion 12 and vehicle adapter portion 14. [0014] The holder portion 12 comprises a rear-wheel loop 20 in connection with a sleeve 22. The holder portion 12 further comprises a bar 16 in connection with a front wheel loop 18. A bar securing means 24 is provided on the sleeve 22 for securing the bar 16 at a desired position within the sleeve 22. The arrangement of the front-wheel loop 18 and rear-wheel loop 20 mounted on the bar 16 and sleeve 22 provides the advantage of variable spacing between the wheel loops 18 and 20, securable with the bar securing means 24. The holder portion 12 further comprises an upright frame 28. [0015] The sleeve 22 is mounted on the holder portion 12 by one or more pivoting mounting points 26, shown here as hinges. The hinges 26 allow the sleeve 22, and thereby the bar 16 and wheel loops 18 and 20, to pivot toward the upright frame 28. Pivoted as such, as shown in Figure 2, the holder portion 12 of the wheelchair carrier 10 is arranged in one plane and the total area of the wheelchair carrier 10 is greatly reduced. This provides the advantage of relative ease with which to handle, transport or store the wheelchair carrier 10, for example. [0016] Referring still to Figure 2, the upright frame 28 comprises a lock mechanism 30. The lock mechanism 30 is shown here as a hook. The lock mechanism 30 may be hooked over a pivoted loop, such as the rear-wheel loop 20, to hold the pivoted part of the holder portion 12 in its collapsed orientation. The upright frame 28 further comprises 4 tie points 32, shown here as eyelets, to provide convenient points to tie straps or ropes, for example, to secure a wheelchair to the wheelchair carrier 10. A bracket 34 is provided on the holder portion 12 for securing the holder portion 12 to the vehicle adapter portion 14. [0017] With reference to Figure 3, the vehicle adapter portion 14 of the wheelchair carrier 10, without the holder portion 12, is shown. The vehicle adapter portion 14 comprises a stepped tongue 36 to which the bracket 34 of the holder portion 12 may be removably secured. The arrangement of the tongue 36, when mounted on a vehicle, results in the tongue 36 falling lower than a normally installed tow ball on the vehicle. This provides the advantage of enabling normal use of the tow ball when the vehicle adapter portion 14, without the holder portion 12, is mounted on the vehicle. [0018] The vehicle adapter portion 14 further comprises a release mechanism 38. The release mechanism 38 allows for the removable securing of the bracket 34 of holder portion 12 to the tongue 36 by comprising a pin which fits to an opening on the tongue 36. When the release mechanism 38 is activated to release the bracket 34 from the tongue 36, the holder portion 12 may be removed from the vehicle adapter portion 14 for storage or other purposes. This provides the advantage of the ability and relative ease with which to remove the bulk of the wheelchair carrier 10, being the holder portion 12, from the vehicle without the need to remove the tow ball assembly for removal of the vehicle adapter portion 14. As such, only the vehicle adapter portion 14 remains on the vehicle, which is relatively unobtrusive, and the holder portion 12 may be easily replaced when needed. [0019] The vehicle adapter portion 14 further comprises an aperture 40. The aperture allows for the vehicle adapter portion 14 to be mounted about, and secured by, a standard tow ball on a vehicle. [0020] A lever 42 is also provided on the vehicle adapter portion 14. The lever 42, when activated, causes a pivot lock 44 to be unlocked so that the holder portion 12 of the 5 wheelchair carrier 10 is pivotable about a single point on the vehicle adapter portion 14. The wheelchair carrier 10 in its pivoted orientation is shown in Figure 4. [0021] In use, the fully assembled wheelchair carrier 10, as seen in Figure 1, is aligned to a vehicle so that a tow ball assembly can pass through the aperture 40, shown in Figure 3. The tow ball is secured to the vehicle in a normal manner and, as would be understood, the wheelchair carrier 10 is secured to the vehicle also. [0022] Depending on the size, brand, etc. of the wheelchair to be carried on the wheelchair carrier 10, the holder portion 12 may be adjusted to suit. For example, if a large wheelchair with relatively far apart spaced front wheels to rear wheels is to be carried, the front-wheel loop 18 may be distanced further from the rear-wheel loop 20. To achieve this, the bar securing means 24 is moved to its opened position. A greater length of the bar 16 is slid out from inside the sleeve 22 and the securing means 24 is moved to its closed position to hold the bar 16 in place. Alternatively, if a small wheelchair is to be carried, the securing means 24 is opened, the bar 16 is slid inside the sleeve 22 and the securing means 24 is closed. In this way, the distance between the front-wheel loop 18 and the rear-wheel loop 20 is adjustable. [0023] With reference to Figure 3, the lever 42 may be activated in preparation for the loading of a wheelchair onto the wheelchair carrier 10. When the lever 42 is pulled back towards the vehicle, the pivot lock 44 is released from the holder portion 12. The holder portion 12 is then only in connection with the vehicle adapter portion 14 at point of the release mechanism 38. The holder portion 12 is then easily pivotable and may be moved into the pivoted orientation shown in Figure 4. As can be appreciated, a user is then capable of simply loading the front wheels of a back-tilted wheelchair into the front wheel loop 18 and the rear wheels of the wheelchair into the rear-wheel loop 20. [0024] Once the wheel chair is in position in the pivoted holder portion 12, the holder portion 12 may be moved back to its non-pivoted orientation. The lever 42 is returned to its original inactivated state so that the pivot lock 44 again engages with the holder 6 portion 12 and the holder portion 12 is secured on the vehicle adapter portion in its normal orientation. The wheelchair may be firmly fastened to the wheelchair carrier 10 in preparation for transport with straps or ropes, for example. The straps may pass around and through the wheelchair and tie the wheelchair to the wheelchair carrier 10 at the tie points 32. [0025] Once it is desired to remove the wheelchair from the wheelchair carrier 10, it is firstly untied from the tie points 32. In the same manner as described earlier, the pivot lock 44 is unlocked and the holder portion 12 pivoted. The wheelchair then may be unloaded in the reverse of the simple manner it was loaded. [0026] With reference to Figure 2, when the wheelchair carrier 10 is not loaded with a wheelchair, the holder portion 12 may be folded if desired. For this, the loops 18 and 20 are pivoted upward to the upright frame 28 through the hinges 26. The lock mechanism 30 on the upright frame 28 is hooked over a pivoted loop, such as the rear-wheel loop 20, to hold the pivoted part of the holder portion 12 in its collapsed orientation. When the wheelchair carrier 10 is again to be used to carry a wheelchair, the lock mechanism 30 is slid up on the upright frame 28 and the rear-wheel loop 20 is released. The loops 18 and 20 are pivoted back to their normal position and the wheelchair carrier 10 is again ready for use. [0027] If it is desired to remove the bulk of the wheelchair carrier 10 from the vehicle, the holder portion 12 is simply released from the vehicle adapter portion 14, which remains on the vehicle. To achieve release of the holder portion 12, the pivot lock 44 is unlocked in the same manner as described earlier. In addition, the release mechanism 38 is utilised by releasing the pin of the release mechanism 38 from its complementary opening on the tongue 36. As would be understood, this works to release the bracket 34 from the tongue 36 and the holder portion 12 may be removed from the vehicle adapter portion 14 for storage or other purposes. The holder portion 12 may be removed in this manner in either its folded orientation, through use of the hinges 26 and lock mechanism 30, or normal orientation. As would be appreciated, if the holder portion 12 is removed 7 in its folded orientation, its profile is very minimal and convenient storage in the vehicle or elsewhere is achievable. [0028] Other embodiment wheelchair carriers 10 are also contemplated in accordance with the present invention. For instance, the aforementioned lock mechanism 30 may, instead of comprising a hook as shown in the Figures, be arranged as any mechanism suited to the relevant function of an ability to lock the pivoted base of the holder portion 12 to the upright frame 28. Likewise, the tie points 32, shown as eyelets here, may be provided as any suitable tie point providing a means for securing of a wheelchair to the wheelchair carrier 10 using ropes, straps or other tying means. The size and shape of the loops 18 and 20 may be provided on the holder portion 12 suitable for any wheelchair which requires carrying using the wheelchair carrier 10. [0029] In addition, the release mechanism 38 and pivot lock 44 have been herein described and shown as comprising a pin and complementary opening. Other means suitable for releasably locking the holder portion 12 to the vehicle adapter portion 14 at the relevant points, are provided. Finally, although the specifically sized and shaped wheelchair carrier 10 and more particularly the vehicle adapter portion 14 corresponding to a tow ball on a car are shown in the Figures, the wheelchair carrier 10 and its components may take on any shape suitable for use and mounting on any vehicle or means of transportation. [0030] Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention. 8

Claims (5)

1. A wheelchair carrier comprising a holder portion for holding a wheelchair and a vehicle adapter portion for attachment of the wheelchair carrier to a vehicle, wherein the holder portion is pivotable about a point on the vehicle adapter portion.

2. A wheelchair carrier according to claim 1, wherein the holder portion is removably attached to the vehicle adapter portion.

3. A wheelchair carrier according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the holder portion is adjustable for the wheelchair carrier to hold different sizes of wheelchairs.

4. A wheelchair carrier according to any one of claims I to 3, further comprising a lock mechanism for securing a base of the holder portion in an upright position for reduction in a profile of the wheelchair carrier.

5. A wheelchair carrier according to any one of claims I to 4, wherein the vehicle adapter portion is arranged to be lower than a tow ball installed on the vehicle. 1