EP2123245A1 - Wheelchair, in particular an active wheelchair, with a connection adapter - Google Patents

Abstract

The wheelchair (1) has a pair of connection adapters (6) which are operably connected with lateral struts (5) and rear axle (9). The connection adapters has the circular arc shaped recess that corresponds to the plate thickness. A pair of seat supports (8) are received and rotatably supported in connection adapters above the lateral struts. The seat supports have the circular arc-shaped contour in the lower area. The seat supports rotate in the connection adapters so that the radial surface of circular arc-shaped contours slides on the radial surface of circular arc-shaped recesses.

Description

The invention relates to a wheelchair, in particular an active wheelchair.

Active wheelchairs, which are in particular so-called rigid frame wheelchairs, in contrast to folding wheelchairs, are intended for users who operate the wheelchair predominantly themselves, thus actively. These wheelchairs are very demanding in terms of adaptability to the Patients, especially with regard to its position to the rear axle. The shoulder should be positionable over the axis of the drive wheels. This requires that the rear axle and seat, thus horizontal seat cushion and backrest, must be horizontally adjustable against each other. But it also plays the seat angle relative to the horizontal for the active position a major role and must be individually adjustable. As a rule, the rear seat edge is lower than the seat leading edge.

Constructions with connection adapter for frame tubes, seat support, which are also usually also pipes, and rear axle are known.

The active wheelchair "Blizzard" by the company Otto Bock (www.ottobock.de of May 15, 2008) clearly shows a milled part, which establishes the connection from the seat tube to the rear axle. The seat tube is at the same time frame tube on which z. B. the steerable front wheels are mounted. To adjust the rear axle relative to the backrest, the milled part is moved on the seat tube / frame tube and clamped thereon. However, the wheelbase and seat angle are changing. The seat angle to the horizontal is set by offsetting the rear axle on the milled part. This simultaneously changes the angle of the frame tube on which the front wheels are mounted so that they would have to be readjusted for vertical alignment of the steering fork axis. A corresponding device, in this case for clamping the round axle bearing in the steering fork mount, is always present in such wheelchairs. These adjustments and adjustments are complex and often the steering forks are not set correctly. In addition, it is disadvantageous that in this type of seat angle adjustment, the pivot point lies in the axis of the front wheel and the center of gravity thus moves backwards at an angle adjustment and increases the danger of tipping.

The wheelchair "Knuffi OI" by the company Sorg (www.sorgrollstuhltechnik.de of May 15, 2008) is an active wheelchair for children and adolescents. He has connection adapter in the form of sheet metal blanks, which welded to the rear axle are. On these - vertical upward - sheet metal blanks, both the frame parts of the chassis and elements of the seat are mounted. A seat angle adjustment is not possible or only very limited on the combination of rear and front wheel sizes. Another disadvantage is the welded construction Blechgeschnitte-Achsrohr, which must be produced in each seat width (usually from about 20 cm to about 40 cm in 2 cm increments).

It is an object of the invention to provide a wheelchair in which the adjustment of the rear axle relative to the backrest and a seat angle adjustment can be made quickly and easily, without having to change the geometry of the chassis or the position of the center of gravity of the patient relative to the rear axle or to change. Furthermore, the settings of the wheelbase and the height of the seat relative to the rear axle should be possible.

The invention proposes a wheelchair, in particular active wheelchair, with connection adapters, which are connected to side struts of a chassis of a rear axle and seat mounts for a seat of the wheelchair, wherein the respective connection adapter has a circular arc-shaped contour for receiving a seat receiver with a corresponding circular arc-shaped contour.

Advantageously, the respective connection adapter is provided in its upper region with a recess which has the circular-arc-shaped contour and it is the seat receiving in its lower region provided with the circular arc-shaped contour. Weight forces of the person sitting on the wheelchair are thus introduced directly via the respective seat receptacle in the associated connection adapter.

Preferably, the connection adapters for adjusting a wheelbase on the side struts are displaced.

It is considered particularly advantageous if the respective connection adapter is mounted in a height-adjustable manner in the rear axle. In addition, the respective seat mount should be height-adjustable be mounted in the connection adapter or the seat to be height-adjustable stored in the seat mounts. It is also advantageous if the seat is mounted horizontally adjustable in the seat mounts. Through these measures, the wheelchair can be optimally adapted to the ergonomic conditions of the wheelchair users.

The respective seat receptacle is expediently substantially plate-shaped. It is formed by at least one plate, in particular by the plate and a mounted in this bracket for supporting the seat. With this design, the seat receptacle can be produced particularly easily and it may have additional functions by special design, in particular by providing the plate with slots and holes, apart from the actual function of recording the seat.

For example, it is provided that the bracket is mounted in at least one slot or in slots. The attachment of the bracket with the plate by means of fasteners. Preferably, the plate has at least two parallel slots. In the longitudinal direction of the oblong hole or in the longitudinal direction of the oblong holes is thus a substantially horizontal Relatiwerstellung of bracket and plate, therefore, a relative adjustment of seat and seat mounts possible. It is also conceivable to make the plate so that it has at least two parallel slots. This makes it possible to position the retaining plate at different height level.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention it is provided that the connection adapter consists of two halves separated perpendicular to the rear axle. This design of the connection adapter makes it possible to arrange functional parts between the two halves, to position them differently there and to connect or latch them.

In particular, from this aspect, but also in principle it is provided that the connection adapter for fixing the seat receiving at least one opening for receiving a clamping element or a locking unit. In particular, the clamping element makes it possible to fix the seat receptacle with respect to the connection adapter in any position of the seat receptacle while the locking unit permits the seat receptacle to be fixed in one of various defined positions.

Preferably, the seat receptacle, in particular in the lower region, at least one extending over a circular arc slot for seat angle adjustment, wherein the slot coincides with at least one screw hole and at least one opening for a clamping unit. According to a preferred alternative it is provided that the seat receptacle, in particular in the lower region, arranged over a circular arc, having a plurality of holes for latching with an adapter-side locking.

According to a preferred structural design it is provided that the connection adapter, in particular a half of the adapter, has a recess for receiving a circular arc-shaped guide rail. This guide rail is ideally suited to absorb the relatively high forces that are introduced via the person sitting on the wheelchair in the seat. In this aspect, the guide rail is preferably metal. The connection adapter consists in particular of plastic. This design of the bearing rail mounted in the recess of the connection adapter makes it possible to accommodate and guide the seat mounts particularly easily. Thus, it is preferably provided that the guide rail passes through an arcuate groove of the seat receptacles. This groove of the seat receptacle is significantly longer than the guide rail, so that the guide rail between the two ends of the slot of the seat receptacle can be moved and thereby represent different angles of inclination of the seat.

It is particularly contemplated that the seat receptacle with respect to the connection adapter by an angle of up to 50 °, in particular by an angle to the horizontal of -5 ° to + 15 ° or -5 ° to + 45 ° is pivotable. In the former case with the pivoting about the relatively small angle, the use of the wheelchair as an active wheelchair is preferred. If it is not an active wheelchair is preferably the larger Winkelverstellbereich provided.

Further features of the invention are set forth in the subclaims, the description of the figures and in the figures themselves, wherein it is noted that all individual features and all combinations of individual features represent further inventive embodiments.

In the figures, the invention with reference to two embodiments is explained, without being limited thereto.

It shows:

FIG. 1

a spatial view of the first embodiment of the wheelchair, which is designed as an active wheelchair, wherein the seat is illustrated without seat cushion,

FIG. 2

a spatial view of the in FIG. 1 illustrated wheelchair without seat,

FIG. 3

a side view of the in FIG. 2 wheelchair shown,

FIG. 4

an exploded view of the in the Figures 2 and 3 wheelchair shown,

FIG. 5

an exploded view of the connection of side strut, connection adapter and rear axle,

FIGS. 6 and 7

Side and front views of one half of each connection adapter,

FIGS. 8 to 10

a side view, end view and a section along the line BB in FIG. 8 through the other half of the connection adapter,

FIG. 11

a side view of a seat used in this wheelchair seat,

FIG. 12

a perspective view of a second embodiment of the wheelchair, which is designed as a sliding chair, the seat is illustrated without seat cushion,

FIG. 13

a spatial view of the in FIG. 12 wheelchair shown, without seat illustrated,

FIG. 14

a side view of the in FIG. 13 wheelchair shown,

FIG. 15

a side view of the in FIG. 14 shown wheelchair in tilted backwards position of the seat mounts,

FIG. 16

an exploded view of side struts with front wheels, connecting adapters, seat mounts and rear axle and their storage elements,

FIG. 17

an exploded view of the wheelchair in the area of a side strut, a connecting adapter and a rear axle,

FIGS. 18 and 19

Side views of the use in this embodiment using seat mounts.

In the following description, reference is made to the common features of the wheelchairs according to the two embodiments, showing the active wheelchair and the sliding wheelchair.

Illustrated is the respective wheelchair 1 with two drive wheels 2, two steerable front wheels 3, a chassis 4 with side struts 5, attached thereto and adjustable in the longitudinal direction Verbindungsadaptern 6 for setting a desired wheelbase, seat mounts 7 and 8 and rear axle. 9

The connection adapter 6 preferably consist of two adapter halves, the outer adapter half 6a and the inner adapter half 6b. The separation plane is perpendicular to the rear axle 9 and preferably through the center line of the side struts 5. For positive connection with the side struts 5, the adapter halves 6a and 6b each have a diameter of the side struts 5 corresponding recess 10. The rear axle 9 is received in the connection adapters 6 by means of position adapters 11 below the side struts 5. Row of holes 12 in the adapter halves 6a and 6b allow the height adjustment of the rear axle. The seat mounts 7 and 8 are received above the side struts 5 in the Verbindungsadaptern 6 and are rotatably mounted therein. They are preferably plate-shaped. The adapter halves 6a and 6b have in their upper region of the plate thickness corresponding and circular arc-shaped recesses 13. Corresponding to these circular-arc-shaped recesses, the seat mounts 7 and 8 likewise have an arcuate contour 14 in their lower region. By the radial surface of the circular arc-shaped contour 14 slides on the radial surface of the circular arc-shaped recesses 13, the seat mounts 7 and 8 rotate in the connection adapters 6. The pivot point MP corresponds to the center of the circle. This center MP should come as close as possible to the center of gravity of the patient-seat system.

Each two elongated holes 15 in the seat mounts 7 and 8, respectively, hold mounting brackets 16 for attachment of seating surfaces or seats 17 in the longitudinal direction so as to be displaceable. Thus, an adapted seat 17 can be adjusted horizontally with respect to the rear axle 9 in order to be able to set an optimum position, in particular for active driving, without changing the geometry of the chassis. For additional variation of the seat heights two sets of slots 15 are mounted one above the other.

To set a specific wheelbase, the connection adapter 6 can be moved to the side struts 5 corresponding to the holes 18. It would also be conceivable a purely non-positive clamping on the side struts.

In this case, both the seat angle and the horizontal distance from the rear axle 9 to the back surface of the seat 17 are maintained.

In the following, the two different variants of seat receivers 7 and 8 and their fixation in the connection adapters 6 are discussed.

The seat mounts 7 are for in the FIGS. 1 to 11 illustrated active wheelchair 1, in which the seat unit is to be set only in a certain, relatively small angle (about -5 ° to + 15 °) relative to the horizontal. The seat mounts 7 have in their lower region near and parallel to the arcuate contour 14 two (possibly more, but at least one) through a thin web for the purpose of stabilizing separate radial slots 19, with screw holes 20 in the outer adapter halves 6 a and 21 breakthroughs in the inner adapter halves 6b lie in cover. In the openings 21 each have a clamping element 22 against rotation, but slidably mounted in the longitudinal direction of the openings 21. Screws 23 in the screw holes 20 penetrate the radial oblong holes 19 (secure the seat mounts 7) and are screwed into the clamping elements 22, causing them to pull against the seat mounts 7 and clamp against the outer adapter halves 6 a. By loosening the screws 23, the seat mounts 7 are released and can slide in the recesses 13 rotating. For a tilt-stable and power-saving seat angle adjustment is important that the radius of the recesses 13 and the contour 14 is selected so that the center MP or the pivot point as close to the center of gravity of the system patient-seat - ie above the seat and before Backrest - to lie down. An exact determination is dispensed with in favor of a simple construction and adjustment.

The seat mounts 8 are in a wheelchair according to the embodiment of the FIGS. 12 to 19 , thus a sliding wheelchair used when the seat unit is tilted adjustable over a larger angular range (about -5 ° to + 45 °). The seat mounts 8 have in their lower area close and parallel to the circular contour 14 a series of radially arranged holes 24 and on one side a radial, about the area of the holes 24 and to the front beyond extending approximately 4 mm deep groove 25. A guide rail 26 is mounted with one half in a recess 27 of the inner adapter half 6b and with the other half in the groove 25 of the seat receptacle 8 and prevents jumping out of the seat receptacles 8 from the Verbindungsadaptern 6. By means of a lock 28, consisting of latch housing 29th , Latch 30, compression spring 31, lock washer 32 and nut 33, the seat mounts 8 are locked in one of the holes 24 according to the desired adjustment angle of the seat. The latches 28 are each preferably screwed into the rear openings 21 of the inner adapter halves 6. The associated release mechanism is not shown for the sake of clarity.

Due to the angle-adjustable or angle-adjustable guidance and fixing of the seat mounts 7 and 8 in the connection adapters 6, a seat angle adjustment is made possible without having to change the geometry of the chassis or the position of the center of gravity of the user relative to the rear axle or to change.

The connection adapter 6 need not necessarily be designed in the illustrated form, in which the rear axle 9 is arranged below the side struts 5. Also conceivable is an arrangement above the side struts 5. This would position the seat closer to the rear axle and the user deeper between the drive wheels. Also, the rear axle 9 does not necessarily have to be designed continuously. Drive wheels could also be attached directly to the position adapter 11 detachable or fixed.

Claims (15)

Wheelchair, in particular an active wheelchair, with connection adapters (6, 6) which are provided with side struts (5, 5) of a chassis (4), a rear axle (9) and seat receivers (7, 7 or 8, 8) for a seat (17) of the wheelchair (1) are connected, wherein the respective connection adapter (6) has a circular arc-shaped contour (13) for receiving a seat receptacle (7 or 8) with a corresponding circular arc-shaped contour (14). Wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein the respective connection adapter (6) in its upper region of a recess with the circular arc-shaped contour (13) and the seat receptacle (7 or 8) is provided in its lower portion with the circular arc-shaped contour (14). Wheelchair according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the respective connection adapter (6) is height-adjustable in the rear axle (9) is mounted. Wheelchair according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the respective seat receptacle (7 or 8) is height-adjustable in the connection adapter (6) is mounted or the seat (17) adjustable in height in the seat mounts (7, 7 and 8, 8) is mounted. Wheelchair according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the seat (17) is mounted horizontally adjustable in the seat receivers (7, 7 and 8.8). Wheelchair according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the respective seat receptacle (7 or 8) is formed by at least one plate, in particular by the plate and in this mounted bracket (16) for supporting the seat (17). A wheelchair according to claim 6, wherein the bracket (16) is slidable in at least one elongated hole (15) of the plate or is mounted in holes, and fastening means for fixing the bracket (16) are provided with the plate. Wheelchair according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the plate has at least two parallel and / or successively arranged slots (15). Wheelchair according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the connecting adapter (6) consists of two perpendicular to the rear axle (9) separated halves (6a, 6b). Wheelchair according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the connection adapter (6) for fixing the seat receptacle (7 or 8) has at least one opening (21) for receiving a clamping element (22) or a locking unit (28). Wheelchair according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the seat receptacle (7), in particular in the lower region, at least one extending over a circular arc slot (19) for seat angle adjustment, wherein the slot (19) with at least one screw hole (20) and at least one opening (21) for a clamping element (22) covers or the seat receptacle (8), in particular in the lower region, arranged over a circular arc a plurality of holes (24) for latching with an adapter-side latch (28). Wheelchair according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the connection adapter (6), in particular a half (6b) of the adapter (6) has a recess (27) for receiving a circular arc-shaped guide rail (26). Wheelchair according to claim 12, wherein the guide rail (26) engages in an arcuate groove (25) of the seat receptacle (8). Wheelchair according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the seat receptacle (7 or 8) with respect to the connection adapter (6) by an angle of up to 50 °, in particular by an angle to the horizontal of -5 ° to + 15 ° or -5 ° to + 45 ° is pivotable. Wheelchair according to one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the connecting adapter (6, 6) for adjusting a wheelbase on the side struts (5, 5) are adjustable.

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