AU3874901A - Hand pedal wheelchair - Google Patents

Description

a Australia Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT HAND PEDAL WHEELCHAIR H.P.W.C. Prov Appl. No PQ6445 Refers.

The following statement is a full description of this invention including details of the best methods of it performing known to me.

HAND PEDAL WHEELCHAIR Prov. Appl. No PQ6445 Refers.

I firmly believe that the original seed of my invention involving improvements to the mobility methods of Wheelchairs was sown back in 1969 when I was in a Wheelchair for five weeks, at the Alfred Hospital Melbourne .*.recovering from a serious hit and run bicycle accident During that time I experienced great difficulty trying to turn the wheels myself because of my poor physical condition, it was very frustrating and exhausting and extremely painful At times you felt guilty asking busy nurses or aids to give you a push along. As I remember there were many other patients of all ages and stages of recovery experiencing the same difficulties.

This is why the idea of making it easier and helping others became important to me and the vision of inventing the Hand Pedal Wheelchair provided a solution.

To overcome the present Mobility Problems of wheelchairs my invention has the normal features of the basic Wheelchair Design using Aluminium Tubing to keep the weight down. It is fitted with Lightweight Bicycle Wheels both running independent of each other and both incorporating Back Pedal Brake Hubs Both wheels will have the same Large size Freewheel Sprocket fitted which will be driven by bicycle chain from a Small Chain wheel and special design Hand Pedals fitted to each arm rest. Chain guards are fitted to protect the user. The small jockey wheels will provide stability Please see drawing attached.) 2.

This Hand Pedal method of propulsion allows for even a very weak person to be able to achieve mobility as Gear sizes can be altered to suit the strength of the user. Some models will even be fitted with a multi gear set up to accommodate the Sporty Type who is perhaps only needing a Wheelchair short-term It is intended that my Hand Pedal method of propulsion will be produced in wheelchair sizes to suit Children through to Adults.

Steering will be achieved by back pedalling with one hand while forward pedalling with the opposite hand.

oo o 00 To assist with understanding my invention reference will now be made relating to the accompanying drawing which shows one example of my invention.

0 In the attached drawing Figure 1 shows the Right Hand Side O oView of my invention, The short crank shaft Item is fitted at one end with a specially designed Hand Pedal, the other end is attached to to (D a Small bicycle style Chain Wheel which is fixed to its axle which is attached to the Lightweight Wheelchair Frame at inside a special tubular housing.

A clockwise rotation of the Hand Pedal causes a forward movement of the Chain which in turn will rotate the Large Freewheel Sprocket mounted on a Lightweight Bicycle Wheel fitted with inflatable tyres and a Special Hub incorporating a Back Pedal Braking system.

This Hand Pedal action provides easy forward movement of the Wheelchair The whole set up as mentioned above is D u plicat e d on the Left Hand Side of the wheelchair with both Wheels operating independent of each other,this allows steering to be accomplished easily An adjustable foot support has been included which can be adapted to suit the needs of the user.

Also Small Lightweight Inflatable Jockey Wheels 0 are included to provide Balance and Stability and safe usage.

Push handles 0Oare fitted to the rear of the wheelchair to allow for assistance to be given when needed and also for ***ease of moving the wheelchair when not actually in use.

The claims defining my invention are as follows, 1. A wheelchair with a unique design which enables it to be easily mobilised by the occupant using S. both hands individually to turn two hand pedals, which through their linkage by means of a Chainwheel and Chain to the actual bicycle wheels causes a forward movement 2. The wheelchair as in claim 1. incorporates two lightweight bicycle wheels fitted with Freewheel Sprockets and Back- Pedal Brake Hubs operating independently of one another.

3. The Back-Pedal Brake setup in claim 2 enables the Hand Pedalled Wheelchair claim 1 to be Steered.

By simply using a Back Pedal action with the Left Hand and a Forward Pedal action with the Right Hand or visa- versa the wheelchair will change direction.

Claims (7)

1. A wheelchair with a unique design which enables it to be easily mobilised by the occupant using both hands individually to turn two hand pedals, which through their linkage by means of a Chainwheel and Chain to the actual bicycle wheels causes a forward movement

2. The wheelchair as in claim 1. incorporates two lightweight bicycle wheels fitted with Freewheel Sprockets and Back- Pedal Brake Hubs operating independently of one another.

3. The Back-Pedal Brake setup in claim 2 enables the Hand Pedalled Wheelchair claim 1 to be Steered. By simply using a Back Pedal action with the Left Hand and a Forward Pedal action with the Right Hand or visa- versa the wheelchair will change direction.

4. As part of the unique design of my Hand Pedalled wheelchair as per claim 1. the number of teeth on the Front Chainwheel and on the rear Freewheel Sprocket attached to the wheel can be increased or lowered to make the Hand Pedal Action easier or *harder as required by the user.

5. The use of lightweight bicycle wheels in claims 1 to 4 allows for the fitting of Lightweight Inflatable Tyres and Tubes to provide less drag and more efficient operation of the Hand Pedalled wheelchair.

6. My Hand Pedalled wheelchair as per claim 1 to will be produced in various sizes to cater for Children through to Adults.

7.My wheelchair as per claims 1 to 6 will fill a need and assist in the recovery and /or rehabilitation of accident victims and the disabled.As it will allow them more mobility and less stress. Ian Malcolm Baillie 16th April 2001