EP1475063B1 - Wheel Chair - Google Patents

Wheel Chair Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1475063B1
EP1475063B1 EP04101793A EP04101793A EP1475063B1 EP 1475063 B1 EP1475063 B1 EP 1475063B1 EP 04101793 A EP04101793 A EP 04101793A EP 04101793 A EP04101793 A EP 04101793A EP 1475063 B1 EP1475063 B1 EP 1475063B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
wheelchair
rotating element
supporting frame
outward position
wheels
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
EP04101793A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1475063A1 (en
Inventor
Fransiscus Antonius Gerardus Schepers
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Movingpeoplenet Nederland Bv
Original Assignee
Movingpeoplenet Nederland Bv
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Movingpeoplenet Nederland Bv filed Critical Movingpeoplenet Nederland Bv
Publication of EP1475063A1 publication Critical patent/EP1475063A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1475063B1 publication Critical patent/EP1475063B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
    • A61G5/00—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs
    • A61G5/04—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs motor-driven
    • A61G5/041—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs motor-driven having a specific drive-type
    • A61G5/042—Front wheel drive
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
    • A61G5/00—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs
    • A61G5/10—Parts, details or accessories
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
    • A61G5/00—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs
    • A61G5/10—Parts, details or accessories
    • A61G5/1089—Anti-tip devices

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a wheelchair comprising at least two driven wheels, at least one castor, a supporting frame, a seat assembly, to be referred to below as "seat", and a back assembly, to be referred to below as “back”, said wheelchair furthermore comprising a rotating element to prevent the wheelchair from tipping over in the direction of movement thereof during use.
  • the invention further relates to a method for manufacturing the wheelchair.
  • a wheelchair described in US patent No. 4,500,102 functions as follows.
  • the rotating element engages the ground, thus inhibiting the chair from tipping forward.
  • Said rotating element is embodied as an elongated roller mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis or as an elongated sleeve of tough polymeric material.
  • the object of the invention is to provide a wheelchair which offers a user optimum protection against tipping over and which at the same time makes it possible to ride comfortably over an uneven surface.
  • the invention can provide protection against tipping over in the direction of movement of the wheel chair, i.e. both forward and backward.
  • tipping over in forward direction In order not to make the text unnecessarily complicated, only tipping over in forward direction will be discussed hereinafter; this must not be construed as being limitative, however.
  • a wheelchair of the kind referred to in the introduction is according to the invention characterized by the features of the characterizing portion of claim 1.
  • This achieves that the forwardly extending rotating element will move inward upon encountering unevennesses on a supporting surface, for example when the present wheelchair bumps against an elevation such as a kerbstone, so that the wheelchair can continue on its way at least substantially without any jolts.
  • the rotating element will be in the outward position and thus prevent the wheelchair from tipping forward.
  • the aforesaid angular range has been selected such that on the one hand the rotating element will move inward as a result of encountering a barrier in the direction of movement, whilst on the other hand said rotating element will be locked in the outward position when the wheelchair is in danger of tipping forward.
  • an angular range of 0-20°, in particular 0-10°, relative to the direction of moment of the wheelchair is preferred with a view to utilising the "self-braking effect" yet to be described hereinafter.
  • the invention employs a purely mechanical anti-tipping system, therefore, without motors and/or sensors being used.
  • the rotating element In the case of rear-wheel driven wheel chairs, the rotating element is usually mounted on the rear side of the wheelchair, whilst it is usually mounted on the front side of the wheelchair in the case of front-wheel driven wheel chairs.
  • the purpose of the rotating element is to increase the distance between the centre of gravity of the whole and the contact area of the wheels with the ground as soon as there is a danger of the wheelchair tipping over. Said danger is imminent, for example, in the case of brusque acceleration or deceleration, or, as already said before, when moving up/down slopes.
  • the rotating element automatically returns from the inward position to the outward position.
  • the wheelchair is thus automatically protected against tipping in forward direction whatever the circumstances.
  • the rotating element automatically returns to the outward position under the influence of spring force.
  • the rotating element is connected to the supporting frame by means of at least one telescopic arm.
  • the rotating element comprises at least two wheels, each wheel being connected to the supporting frame by means of a telescopic arm.
  • the operation of said rotating element is in particular based on the following.
  • a force (load) is exerted at least substantially in the direction of the central axis of the telescopic arm(s), for example when the present wheelchair bumps into a threshold (kerbstone)
  • the rotating element with its telescopic arm will move so far inwards that the front wheels of the wheelchair come into contact with the threshold and can subsequently ride up said threshold without any effort.
  • the force (load) is exerted in a direction at least substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the telescopic arm, so that the latter cannot move inward, thus preventing the wheelchair from tipping in forward direction.
  • a "self-braking effect" occurs.
  • the telescopic arms are each provided near one end with a wheel carrier having a U-shaped longitudinal section, with a pin extending between the legs of the U-shape, on which pin a respective wheel is mounted in bearings.
  • the invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a wheelchair according to the invention, wherein the wheelchair is fitted with at least two driven wheels and at least one castor, a supporting frame, a seat and a back, and wherein said wheelchair is furthermore fitted with a rotating element to prevent the wheelchair from tipping over during use, the rotating element is connected to the supporting frame in such a manner that the rotating element can be moved to and fro between an inward position and an outward position, characterized in that the rotating element is connected in such a manner that it can be moved in a direction that forms an angle of 0-10 with the direction of movement of the wheelchair, such that the outward position forms the starting position of the rotating element and that the rotating element automatically returns from the inward position to the outward position.
  • Fig. 1 shows a wheelchair 1 according to the invention, comprising two electrically driven front wheels 2, which are interconnected by means of a rigid front axle, two small or rear wheels 3, a supporting frame 4, as well as a seat assembly 5 and a back assembly 6.
  • the two assemblies are shown without a seat cushion and a back cushion, respectively, for the sake of simplicity.
  • a leg support may be provided, to the bottom side of which a footrest is mounted (not shown). The leg support may be fixed to the supporting frame 4 by means of a rod.
  • Fig. 4 shows, two brackets 7 of U-shaped cross-section are mounted to the supporting frame 4, to each of which brackets 7A telescopic arm 8 is welded.
  • Each telescopic arm 8 is provided near its end with a wheel support 9 having a U-shaped longitudinal section, whilst a pin 11 is mounted between the legs of the U-shape, on which a wheel 12 is mounted in bearings.
  • the telescopic arms 8 can moved to and fro between an inward position and an outward position in a direction that forms an angle of approximately 7' with the direction of movement of the wheelchair 1.
  • Fig. 2 shows in detail how the telescopic arms 8 with the wheels 12 are pushed to their inward position by a barrier present in the direction of movement of the wheelchair, for example when the wheelchair 1 bumps into a kerbstone 13.
  • the wheels 12 are pushed rearwards by the kerbstone 13 until the front wheels 2 of the wheelchair 1 touch the kerbstone and the wheelchair can easily ride up the kerbstone 13 without any further impediment (Fig. 3).
  • the arms are released again, in the sense that they automatically return from the inward position to their starting position (i.e. the outward position).
  • Fig. 1 relates to a situation in which the wheelchair 1 is in danger of tipping forward as a result of sudden braking.
  • the wheels 12 come into contact with the ground so as to prevent the wheelchair 1 from tipping forward.
  • the telescopic arms 8 with the wheels 12 are locked in the outward position, since the aforesaid angle of inclination of approximately 7° ensures that the force being exerted in the longitudinal direction of the telescopic arms 8 is too small to cause said arms to telescope.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Handcart (AREA)
EP04101793A 2003-05-09 2004-04-28 Wheel Chair Expired - Fee Related EP1475063B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL1023378 2003-05-09
NL1023378A NL1023378C2 (nl) 2003-05-09 2003-05-09 Rolstoel.

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1475063A1 EP1475063A1 (en) 2004-11-10
EP1475063B1 true EP1475063B1 (en) 2007-01-17

Family

ID=32986065

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP04101793A Expired - Fee Related EP1475063B1 (en) 2003-05-09 2004-04-28 Wheel Chair

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1475063B1 (nl)
DE (1) DE602004004308T2 (nl)
NL (1) NL1023378C2 (nl)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2015029005A1 (en) * 2013-08-28 2015-03-05 Amit Goffer Standing wheelchair

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL1030428C2 (nl) 2005-11-15 2007-05-16 A & M Consultancy & Invest B V Rolstoel.
DE202008004991U1 (de) 2008-04-10 2008-06-26 Maier, Andreas Transportgerät mit Lastwippe
NL2006569C2 (nl) 2011-04-07 2012-10-09 Handicare B V Rolstoel.

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4500102A (en) 1982-11-16 1985-02-19 Invacare Corporation Sports wheelchair
US4592570A (en) * 1983-10-27 1986-06-03 Everest & Jennings Ultra light wheelchair
CA2029917C (en) * 1990-11-14 2003-01-21 Richard Eakins Adjustable chair
NL9202183A (nl) * 1992-12-17 1994-07-18 Seenus Nl Bv R Van Rolstoel.
DE9217764U1 (de) * 1992-12-29 1993-03-11 Ulrich Alber GmbH, 7470 Albstadt Rollstuhl mit Kippsicherung
DE69731296T2 (de) * 1996-07-17 2005-11-17 Deka Products Ltd. Partnership Anti-kippvorrichtung

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2015029005A1 (en) * 2013-08-28 2015-03-05 Amit Goffer Standing wheelchair

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE602004004308T2 (de) 2007-07-12
DE602004004308D1 (de) 2007-03-08
NL1023378C2 (nl) 2004-11-15
EP1475063A1 (en) 2004-11-10

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