EP3041448B1

EP3041448B1 - Mounting device for a wheelchairs leg support and a back-angle device for a wheel chair

Info

Publication number: EP3041448B1
Application number: EP14853284.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sigve Tjessem
Original assignee: Alu Rehab As
Current assignee: Alu Rehab As
Priority date: 2013-09-06
Filing date: 2014-09-03
Publication date: 2019-02-06
Anticipated expiration: 2034-09-03
Also published as: JP2016529075A; EP3041448A1; JP2019051428A; WO2015057076A1; DK3041448T3; JP6667019B2; EP3041448A4

Description

This invention relates to a wheelchair. More particularly, the invention relates to a mounting device for the legrest of a wheelchair, the legrest being arranged to be detachably attached to the wheelchair. The parts of the mounting device are easier to assemble than those of known mounting devices for legrests.
Folding wheelchairs have, among other things, the advantage of occupying less space than ordinary wheelchairs when not in use, because they can be stored in, or parked in, a folded position. This is also advantageous when the wheelchair is to be transported in a car, for example. Known folding wheelchairs are provided with a scissors mechanism that connects the two side portions of the wheelchair. A drawback of the known folding wheelchairs is that, in the unfolded position, they are not sufficiently rigid in their structure. When used with a person sitting in the wheelchair, the wheelchair will seem somewhat loose or wobbly. It takes energy to conquer this wobbliness for a person pushing the wheelchair. A wobbly wheelchair is therefore heavier to push than a mechanically rigid wheelchair, because not all the energy can be used to push the wheelchair forwards. There is therefore a need for folding wheelchairs with greater mechanical rigidity than known wheelchairs.
Known wheelchairs may be provided with a back, wherein the angle of the back relative to a seat, the back angle, is adjustable in a stepped or infinitely variable manner. Variation in the angle of the back increases the user's comfort, for example by the back being reclinable when the user is about to sleep, and by the back being able to be put completely upright when the user is about to eat. A known way of adjusting the angle of the back is to operate a control mechanism which may consist of one or more levers, sticks or handles. The control mechanism may be positioned behind the back, for example at the push-handles of the wheelchair. A person who is going to adjust the back must move behind the wheelchair and out of the wheelchair user's field of view in order to operate the control mechanism. Many wheelchair users are impaired by, for example, a mental disability, reduced hearing or dementia. These wheelchair users have reduced perception. A carer rendering care will prefer to have eye contact with the wheelchair user in order to be able to communicate more efficiently, among other things. When the nurse wants to lower the back, for example, the wheelchair user will not perceive that this is going to happen. The nurse moves behind the wheelchair and lowers the back, which comes as a surprise to the wheelchair user, and this feels uncomfortable. There is therefore a need for a wheelchair with a control mechanism for the back which can be operated from several directions, especially also from the front of the wheelchair.
Known folding wheelchairs usually have operating levers for braking, setting the back angle and possibly setting the tilt of the seat, the seat angle, placed on the push-handles of the wheelchair. Such operating levers are usually fitted above each other in a vertical direction on the push-handle. A problem with such a fitting of the operating levers is that the mechanisms of the wheelchair are difficult to operate because they are in each other's way, and they can become mixed up. There is therefore a need to be able to position brake levers and levers for setting the seat angle and the back angle in such a way that they will not get mixed up and with adequate spacing of the operating levers.
It is desirable for a wheelchair that is meant for rendering care to persons in need of nursing to be simple and safe to use. It is desirable that the wheelchair can be used without training or with very little training. The functions and operation of the wheelchair should appear from the design and positioning of operating means. For example, it may be desirable for a lifting point to be clearly marked as a lifting point.
Known folding wheelchairs make use of mounting devices for removable legrests, wherein the mounting device may include a male part in the form of a cylinder which is positioned in a female part which normally consists of a hollow, tubular body. The problem with this type of mounting device is that it may be difficult to position the cylinder in the female part, as the male part usually has a blunt or flat end, which requires the male part to be placed relatively exactly over the centre axis of the female part in order to be inserted into the female part. The mounting device may also be perceived as loose or wobbly as there will always be a certain amount of clearance between the male part and the female part. As this type of mounting device includes two concentric surfaces, that is to say the outer jacket surface of the male part and the inner jacket surface of the female part, this type of mounting device is sensitive to any foreign bodies, such as dust and dirt, that might find their way into the annular space between the two concentric jacket surfaces. (If a foreign body is present in the annular space, it may typically make dismantling of the mounting device difficult.) This type of mounting device will also be sensitive to corrosion which may arise on the jacket surfaces, and which may in turn result in the parts no longer being releasable from each other. There is therefore a need for a mounting device for a detachable legrest which facilitates the positioning of the male part in the female part and which is easy to disengage when separation is desirable.
According to the prior art, angularly adjustable legrests for folding wheelchairs have a hinge axis that does not coincide with the rotary axis of the knee joint of a user of the wheelchair. The legrest may consist of a rod which is hingedly attached at one end to the seat frame of the wheelchair, the rod including a footrest in its opposite end portion. The position of the footrest is usually adjustable in the longitudinal direction of the legrest. When the rod is hingedly attached to the seat frame of the wheelchair, the rotational axis of the rod will lie below the rotational axis of the knee joint of a user who is sitting in the wheelchair. A problem with this type of angularly adjustable legrests is that the length of the legrest is only adapted to a user's leg length when the legrest is in a particular position. When such a legrest is being adjusted to a wheelchair user, the angle of the legrest is usually adjusted to a desired first position, after which the footrest is displaced in the longitudinal direction of the legrest and is locked as it hits the sole of the user's foot. In those cases in which the legrest is swung up from the first position set, for example where the legrest is desirably to be positioned in a horizontal position, this results in the length of the legrest becoming too short in relation to the length of the user's legs. The footrest must be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the legrest in a direction away from the seat portion of the wheelchair until, again, it has been adapted to the user's leg length. The opposite is the case when the legrest is first set in a substantially horizontal position. When the legrest is lowered, the length of the legrest will be too long in relation to the user's leg length, and the position of the footrest must be adjusted anew. There is therefore a need for a wheelchair in which the pivot axis of the legrest substantially coincides with the pivot axis of the user's knee joint.
Known folding wheelchairs with detachable legrests, and in which the angle between the seat and a back can be adjusted, have the drawback of the legrest not being lowerable all the way down, so the angle between the seat and the legrest will not be 90°. This is due to the scissors mechanism of the wheelchair and the mechanism for adjusting the angle of the back being placed under the seat and barring the legrest from being brought all the way down to 90°. Over time it is uncomfortable for a user to sit in a chair in which his legs are pointing somewhat forwards all the time. It could also increase the user's comfort if the legrest could be moved somewhat under the front edge of the seat. There is therefore a need for a folding wheelchair in which the legrest can be brought down all the way until forming a 90° angle with the seat, and it is further advantageous if the legrest can be moved somewhat in under the front edge of the seat. A wheelchair with detachably mounted legrests is known from US6543854 .
Known folding wheelchairs are usually provided with a back formed from a material in cloth form. The cloth may for example be made form a synthetic polymer material or from a cotton fabric. To form the back, the cloth is attached between the back posts of the wheelchair so that the cloth is extended between them when the wheelchair is in an unfolded position of application. The cloth may be attached to the back posts by sleeves or channels having been formed in the side portions of the cloth. The cloth may be slipped down over the backrest posts. This has the drawback of the user's back possibly coming into contact with the backrest posts when the user is leaning against the cloth. The cloth takes on the shape of the user's back as the user sinks into the cloth and the user's back comes into contact with the backrest posts. This contact with the backrest posts may be found uncomfortable and may, by a long contact time, inflict the user with pressure ulcers. The problem is the same when the cloth is attached to the backrest posts with, for example, rivets on the inside or outside of the backrest posts.
Another drawback to a sleeve or channel at the side edge of the cloth for attachment to the backrest posts is that the backrest post is covered up. This makes it more difficult to attach equipment such as handles to the backrest post. This may be remedied somewhat by the channels or sleeves of the cloth being provided with holes or slits in order to expose the backrest post. Still, it is not possible to position the equipment at an optional height on the backrest post.
There is therefore a need for an improved attachment of the cloth to the backrest posts which reduces the user's contact with the backrest posts and which allows a completely selectable positioning of equipment along the backrest posts.
It is known that the wheelchair may be provided with a table or a tray. The table is usually attached to the armrests or frame of the wheelchair. Known tables are detachably attached to the armrests or frame with, for example, brackets or screws. It is also known to attach the table to the wheelchair by means of Velcro®. When the table is attached to the wheelchair with a bracket, it is known that adjustment of the horizontal position of the table is performed by loosening the table, displacing the table and securing the table again, with screws, for example. With known tables, it is time-consuming to carry out mounting, dismantling and adjustment of the position of the table. It may also be a problem that attaching the table and adjusting the table are complicated by a person sitting in the wheelchair. There are also known tables that may be detachably attached by the table being slipped onto the armrests of the wheelchair by means of rails attached to the table. Such tables may be difficult to keep in a fixed horizontal position. The device that makes the table easy to slip onto the armrests also makes it easy to displace the table along the armrests by the user unintentionally displacing the table. There is therefore a need for a table that can be releasably attached to a wheelchair, wherein the table can be locked in the desired position without the use of securing means that will have to be operated.
Folding wheelchairs in which the angle of the back can be adjusted relative to the seat are known. The angle of the seat is also known to be adjustable. This is often described as the wheelchair being provided with a so-called recliner function. The mechanisms adjusting the back angle and the seat angle may be various spring mechanisms, including gas springs positioned under the seat. Such mechanisms may be operated from levers placed on the push-handles of the wheelchair, as described in the foregoing. From the levers, hollow cables with operating wires extend to the mechanisms, Correspondingly, hollow cables with operating wires may extend from the brake levers of the wheelchair to the wheel brakes. Such cables could stick out from the frame of the wheelchair and cause the wheelchair to catch on objects that come in between the cables and the wheelchair. In addition, it is a problem that the mechanisms that adjust the back angle and the seat angle occupy space under the seat, which results in the legrest not being movable in under the front edge of the seat as described in the foregoing.
The invention has for its object to remedy or reduce at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art or at least provide a useful alternative to the prior art.
The object is achieved through features which are specified in the description below and in the claims that follow.
The invention is defined by the independent claims. The dependent claims define advantageous embodiments.
In a first aspect, the invention relates to a wheelchair in accordance with claim 1.
The legrest may include the male part. In an alternative embodiment, the legrest may include the female part. The female part includes a collar and the collar may be provided with a cut-out, and the male part includes a locking body with a projecting locking lip arranged to engage with the cut-out. The collar of the female part may include a projecting shoulder portion, and the male part may include an edge portion so that the edge portion comes into abutment against the shoulder portion when the male part is rotated in the female part.
In what follows, examples of preferred embodiments are described, which are visualized in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1: shows a side view of a mounting device for the detachably attached legrest of a wheelchair, the male part of the mounting device being connected to the legrest;
Figure 2: shows a perspective view of the seat portion of the wheelchair, parts of the side frame and two mounting devices with associated legrests in a swung-down position;
Figure 3: shows a perspective view of the mounting device of figure 1 and figure 2;
Figure 4: shows the same as figure 3 from a different angle;
Figure 5: shows a side view of the same as figure 2 together with the backrest and operating means of the wheelchair;
Figure 6: shows the same as figure 5, on a smaller scale, the legrest being in a swung-up position;
Figure 7: shows a perspective view on a larger scale of the legrest and the male part of the mounting device;
Figure 8: shows the same as figure 7 from a different angle;
Figure 9: shows a side view on a different scale of a person sitting, in which the rotational axis of the knee joint has been indicated;
Figure 10: shows a side view on the same scale as figure 9 of the person sitting in the wheelchair;
Figure 11: shows a perspective view of a folding mechanism for a folding wheel-chair, the folding mechanism being in an unfolded position;
Figure 12: shows a perspective view on the same scale as figure 11 of the folding mechanism in a partially folded position;
Figure 13: shows a perspective view on the same scale as figure 11 of the folding mechanism in a completely folded position;
Figure 14: shows a perspective view on the same scale as figure 11 of the folding mechanism and a folding seat In an unfolded position;
Figure 15: shows the same as figure 14 with the folding mechanism and the seat in the folded position;
Figure 16: shows a side view of the same as figure 15;
Figures 17A-B: show the folding seat in the unfolded position and the folded position, respectively, on the same scale as figure 14;
Figures 18A-C: show perspective views on a slightly smaller scale than figure 14 of the folding seat with associated cheeks in an unfolded position (A), and in an alternative embodiment (B), and viewed from its rear side (C);
Figure 19: shows the same as figure 18 with the seat in a folded position;
Figure 20: shows a perspective view of a folding wheelchair according to the invention;
Figure 21: shows the same as figure, the wheelchair being completely folded;
Figures 22A-B: show partially cutaway side views on the same scale as figure 5 and a tilting device in the cheek of the wheelchair (A), and the backrest in a different position (B);
Figure 23: shows a detail of figure 22, on a larger scale, of the connection of the tilting device to the cheeks;
Figure 24: shows a perspective view from figure 22, on a different scale, of the projecting link piece of the tilting device and its connection to a seat bearer;
Figure 25: shows a perspective view of the same as figure 14 on a different scale and with legrests;
Figure 26: shows a perspective view on a larger scale of a backrest post seen from below;
Figure 27: shows a cross section on a larger scale of the backrest post shown in figure 26;
Figure 28A: shows a cross section on a smaller scale of the backrest post with a back cloth attached;
Figures 28B-C: show cross sections on the same scale as figure 28A of back cloths with alternative designs of the side edges;
Figure 29: shows a perspective view on a different scale of a back cloth with a bulb at each side edge;
Figure 30: shows the same as figure 20 on a larger scale, the position of the backrest posts and the back cloth being indicated;
Figure 31: shows a side view of the wheelchair shown in figure 22, in which the position of the backrest posts is indicated;
Figure 32: shows a perspective view on a larger scale of the same as figure 22 and with an associated detachable tie bar;
Figure 33: shows a detail of figure 32 on a larger scale;
Figures 34A-B: show details on a larger scale of the operating lever and locking portion of the detachable tie bar in an unlocked position and a locked position, respectively;
Figure 35: shows a perspective view on a larger scale of a tensioning mechanism, the pawi of the operating lever being in engagement with the tensioning mechanism;
Figure 36: shows a side view on a larger scale of a detail from figure 22, in which the detachable tie bar is locked to the backrest posts and the operating lever is in engagement with the tensioning mechanism;
Figure 37: shows a perspective view on a smaller scale of a wheelchair with a detachable table;
Figure 38: shows a perspective view on a slightly larger scale than figure 37 of the detachable table and the armrest portion of the wheelchair with a locking-rail holder;
Figure 39: shows the same as figure 38 on a slightly larger scale, the armrest having been removed; and
Figures 40A-B: show side views of the same as figure 39, on a slightly larger scale, and the detachable table placed in engagement with the locking-rail holder, on an even larger scale, respectively.

In the description of the drawings, descriptions of some details have been left out. These details are not essential to emphasize what is new about the invention. These details may be of importance for the production of the apparatus, but their descriptions have been left out to make the description simpler and the invention clearer.
Same or corresponding elements will be indicated by the same reference numerals in the figures.
Positional specifications such as "over", "under", "above", "below", "right" and "left" refer to the positions shown in the figures.
In what follows, the reference numeral 1 indicates a folding mechanism for a folding wheelchair 4 according to the invention.
The folding mechanism 1 as shown in figure 11 includes an articulated frame 12 including two link mechanisms 122a, 122b and two cheeks 121a, 121b. In the embodiment shown, the articulated frame 12 forms a rectangle.
The link mechanisms 122a, 122b include a first link 1221 and a second link 1222 connected to a hinge element 123. It will be understood that the hinge element 123 may alternatively consist of other elements that could allow the folding motion further described. Each hinge element 123, 123' is hingedly connected to a rigid connecting element 15. In the embodiment shown, the hinge elements 123, 123' have been formed by an adaptation of the hinge elements 123, 123', but the hinge elements 123, 123' may also be provided by placing a hinge of a type known per se between the links 1221, 1222. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the connecting element 15 may be flexible in a portion, and may include a wire, for example.
On their respective cheek sides, the first and second links 1221, 1222 are hingedly connected to respective cheeks 121a, 121b. It is thereby achieved that the links 1221, 1222 can be laid in against the cheeks 121a, 121b as the folding mechanism 1 is folded as shown in figures 12 and 13.
To bring the folding mechanism 1 from an unfolded position to a folded position, a force is exerted in the folding direction Ff of the folding mechanism 1 through the rigid connecting element 15. The links 1221, 1222 of the link mechanisms 122a, 122b will pivot around hinges connected to the cheeks 121a, 121b, and the hinge elements 123, 123' will be displaced in the folding direction Ff. The cheeks 121a, 121b will be displaced towards each other in a direction perpendicular to the folding direction Ff as shown in figures 12 and 13.
Figure 11 shows the folding mechanism 1 in its unfolded position in which the longitudinal directions LI1, LI2 of the links 1221, 1222 substantially coincide. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the links 1221, 1222 may be somewhat at an angle when the folding mechanism 1 is in its unfolded position, and LI1 and LI2 do not coincide. At their respective second end portions, the links 1221, 1222 form a first stop surface 101 and a second stop surface 109, respectively. When the folding mechanism 1 is moved towards its unfolded position, the links 1221, 122 may be pivoted until the first stop surface 101 hits the second stop surface 109.
Figure 12 shows the folding mechanism 1 in a partially folded position. The rigid connecting element 15 has been displaced in the folding direction Ff of the folding mechanism 1, and the longitudinal directions, LI1 and LI2, respectively, of the links 1221, 1222 no longer coincide. The cheeks 121a, 121b have been displaced towards each other in relation to what is shown in figure 11.
Figure 13 shows the folding mechanism 1 in a completely folded position.
In figure 14, the folding mechanism 1 is shown in the unfolded position. The folding mechanism 1 is further provided with a folding seat 14 which is mounted between the cheeks 121a, 121b. In the figures, a seat 14 consisting of a first seat plate 141a and a second seat plate 141b is shown. The seat plates 141a and 141b are hingedly connected to each other, see figures 15 and 17B. On its cheek sides, the seat 14 is also hingedly connected to a first seat bearer 13a and a second seat bearer 13b. In the figures, the seat 14 is shown as a two-part seat 14, the seat plates 141a, 141b being hingedly connected to each other along the side edges, 143a, 143b, respectively, of the side plates 141a, 141b so that the seat 14 can be folded. It is thereby achieved that the seat 14 is folded when the folding mechanism 1 is brought to its folded position and the wheelchair 4 is brought to its folded position. The seat 14, as shown in the figures 15, 19 and 21, and its folding motion in the direction Fs towards the folding mechanism 1, are stopped when the side edges 143a, 143b of the seat 14 hit each other as the seat 14 is completely unfolded and the planes of the seat plates 141a, 141b coincide, see figure 17A. The seat 14 advantageously consists of a rigid material, such as wood, aluminium or a rigid polymer material. When the folding seat 14 is loaded with a weight, the folding mechanism 1 will be forced to take a completely unfolded position, in which the longitudinal directions LI1, LI2 of the links 1221, 1222 will coincide. The folding direction Fs of the seat 14 and the folding direction Ff of the link mechanism 1 are orthogonal. It is thereby achieved that the frame 12 is locked in its unfolded position and is mechanically rigid. In the figures, the seat 14 is shown as a two-part seat 14. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the seat 14 may consist of one rigid seat plate which is hingedly connected at one side edge to one seat bearer 13a, 13b. In a further alternative embodiment, the seat 14 may consist of a cloth.
Figure 15 shows the folding mechanism 1 in the completely folded position. The seat 14 is shown provided with a folding handle 18 and with a recess 19 for the handle 18, see figure 18A. In the figures, the handle 18 is shown folded down into the recess 19 in the middle portion of the seat 14, It will be understood that the handle 18 and the recess 19 may be positioned in other portions of the seat 14 as long as the handle 18 facilitates the folding of the wheelchair 14. By providing the handle 18 in a recess 19 in the seat 14, it is achieved that the seat 14 presents a smooth surface. A seat cushion (not shown) may be positioned on the seat 14. Figure 21 shows the wheelchair 4 in its folded position. A tie bar 6 described in what follows must be removed before the wheelchair 4 is folded.
The folding mechanism 1 further includes a pin 103 projecting from the hinge element 123 in the folding direction Ff, see figures 12 and 13. A handle 17 is resiliently connected to the pin 103 by the pin 103 having been Inserted into the handle 17 and the handle 17 housing an internal spring (not shown) attached to the handle 17 and the pin 103. The spring will displace the handle 17 towards the hinge element 123. When the folding mechanism 1 is in its unfolded position, the handle 103 will exert an elastic pressure on the side surfaces 1221', 1222' of the links 1221, 1222 facing the handle 17. It is thereby achieved that the handle 17 is pressing against the folding mechanism 1 so that this stays in an unfolded position. This is useful when the seat 14 of the wheelchair 4 is not weighted. The side surface of the handle 17, facing the side surfaces 1221', 1222', may be formed with a profile adapted to the profile of the side surfaces 1221', 1222'. When the folding mechanism 1 is in the folded position, the pin 103 will project so far from the stop surfaces 101, 109 of the links 1221, 1222 that the handle 17 does not touch the links 1221, 1222. In this position, the handle 17 will not exert any pressure on the links 1221, 1222.
The connecting element 15 is hingedly connected to the hinge elements 123, 123'. In one embodiment, the connecting element 15 may include the pin 103 at one end portion.
The handle 17 facilitates the operation of the folding mechanism 1 in that a better grip may be achieved in relation to moving the rigid connecting element 15 in the folding direction Ff. When the wheelchair 4 is to be folded up, the handle 17 is pulled in the folding direction Ff of the folding mechanism 1, the handle 18 being pulled simultaneously, so that the seat 14 is folded in the folding direction Fs. The cheeks 121a, 121b and the seat bearers 13a, 13b will then move towards each other, and the seat 14 will take a position projecting upwards relative to the seat bearers 13a, 13b as shown in figures 15 and 16.
In the folded position of the wheelchair 4, the link mechanism 122b projects beyond the cheek 121a, 121b, see figure 16. The handle 18 is shown in a position projecting upwards, which facilitates its operation. The handle 18 makes it clear where to pull on the seat 14 in order to fold the wheelchair 4. The handle 18 also makes it clear that a user can lift the wheelchair 4 by the handle 18.
Figure 20 and figure 21 show the wheelchair 4 in the unfolded and folded positions, respectively, the wheelchair 4 being provided with the folding mechanism 1 as described and shown in figures 11-16.
It is disclosed a seat 14 which is displaceable relative to the seat bearers 13a, 13b. Each seat bearer 13a, 13b includes a bearer pipe 135 and a sliding rail 134, see figure 18B. The bearer pipe 135 houses an axially displaceable guide pipe 132. On its inside, the bearer pipe 135 is further provided with a dovetail slot 131', see figure 18C. The sliding rail 134 is provided with a dovetail pin 131 which is complementary to the dovetail slot 131'. The female part 72 of a mounting device 7, see figure 1, holds the end portion of the sliding rail 134 and the end portion of the guide pipe 132 together, see figure 18B. By the sliding rail 134 and the guide pipe 162 being axially displaceable relative to the bearer pipe 135, and by the seat 14 being attached to the sliding rail 134, it is achieved that the seat 14 can be displaced in the directions of the broken arrow, see figure 18B. The seat 14 can be locked in a desired position by tightening a screw 133 that projects into the bearer pipe 135 and that comes into abutment against the guide pipe 132.
The wheelchair 4 may be provided with a tilting device 3. The tilting device 3 includes a spring body 33 housed in the cavity of the cheek 121b, see figures 22A and 24. In the figures, the spring body 33 Is shown as a gas spring 33. The spring body 33 is attached at its first end portion 331a to the end portion 351a of a link piece 35. At its second end portion 331b, the spring body 33 is attached to the cheek 121b. The link piece 35 is attached, at its middle portion 351b, to the seat bearer 13b. The link piece 35 projects beyond a slot 37 in the cheek 121b, see figures 24 and 25. The seat bearer 13b is pivotably attached to the cheek 121b with a seat hinge 32. It is thereby achieved that the link piece 35 converts the linear motion of the spring body 33 into a tilting motion in the seat bearer 13b. Correspondingly, a spring body 33 is positioned in the cavity of the cheek 121a and the link piece 35 is hingedly attached to the seat bearer 13a. The seat bearer 13a is pivotably attached to the cheek 121a with a seat hinge 32.
The gas spring 33 is further provided with a wire-operated locking mechanism 38 of a type known per se. The wire-operated locking mechanism 38 is connected via a wire (not shown) to a tensioning mechanism 65, see figure 35. It is thereby achieved that the piston (not shown) of the gas spring 33 is locked in a desired position so that the seat bearer 13a, 13b is set and kept at a desired angle relative to the cheek 121a, 121b.
As the seat bearer 13a, 13b leans rearwards, the gas spring 33 is displaced in a direction Rf, the link piece 35 is displaced in the direction RI and the seat bearer 13a, 13b is pivoted around the pivot axis Ha of the seat hinge 32.
In the figures, the spring body 33 is shown as a gas spring 33. However, it will be understood that other spring bodies 33, such as ordinary springs or hydraulic springs, may be used as known in the art. A person skilled in the art will also know of other devices that can be used to achieve the same purpose, for example linear actuators.
In figure 25 a folding wheelchair 4 is shown, in which the link piece 35, the cheek 121b, the seat bearer 13b and the seat hinge 32 are indicated. The gas spring 33 is housed in the cavity of the cheek 121b and is not shown in the figure.
A backrest post 5 is provided with an attachment 51 at one end portion for the pivotable attachment of the backrest post 5 to the seat bearer 13a, 13b of the wheelchair 4 as shown in figure 26. In the figure, the attachment 51 is shown as a hinge, wherein the hinge is attached to an articulated suspension 50, where the hinge allows a rotational motion so that the backrest post 5 may be angled relative to the seat bearer 13a,b of the wheelchair 4, see figures 22A-B.
The backrest post 5 has a seat side 53a, an opposite rear side 53b, an outside 53c and an inside 53d, see figure 27. The seat side 53a faces a user 8P in the wheelchair 4, see figure 10. On its rear side 53b, the backrest post 5 is provided with a longitudinal attachment groove 541 and a longitudinal locking groove 542, see figure 26. On its seat side 53a, the backrest post 5 is provided with a longitudinal groove 52. The attachment groove 541 is shown as a dovetail slot, see figure 27. The locking groove 542 is shown as a T-groove. The attachment groove 541 is arranged to receive attachment means 57, for example a mounting bracket 57 for a push-handle 68 and a hinge 56, see figure 26. The locking groove 542 is arranged to simultaneously receive a locking means, for example a screw and a T-nut. The groove 52 is formed by a longitudinal lip 521, so that a longitudinal opening 522 and a longitudinal cavity 523 are formed, see figure 27. The cavity 523 of the groove 52 has a diameter 523a which is larger than the width 522a of the longitudinal opening 522.
The backrest post 5 is shown as a two-part one, see figure 26. The upper post part 5' of the backrest post 5 is connected to the lower post part 5" of the backrest post 5 with a post hinge 56. The purpose of the post hinge 56 is to provide a desired angle between the two post parts 5', 5" of the backrest post 5, so that the angle may be adapted in relation to the situation of application of the wheelchair 4, for example by the backrest post 5 being foldable when the wheelchair 4 is in its folded position, as shown in figure 21. The upper post part 5' and the tower post part 5" of the backrest post are provided with longitudinal grooves 52', 52", longitudinal attachment grooves 541', 541" and longitudinal locking grooves 542', 542". The longitudinal grooves 52', 52" may form a continuous channel when the upper post part 5' and the lower post part 5" are in the unfolded position as shown in figure 26.
A back cloth 55 is secured in the groove 52, see figures 28A and 29. Because of the fact that the cavity 523 of the longitudinal groove 52 has a diameter 523a which Is larger than the width 522a of the longitudinal opening, a locking pin 553, or some other elongated locking body 553 positioned in the cavity 523, cannot be removed in any other way than by being pulled out in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal groove 52. The locking body 553 may constitute a portion of the back cloth 55, and the back cloth 55 may be detachably attached between two backrest posts 5 in the grooves 52. The back cloth 55 is passed over the seat side 53a of the backrest post 5. It is thereby achieved that the back cloth 55 is held relatively tight between the backrest posts 5 so that the user 8P does not come into contact with the backrest posts 5. At the same time, there is free access to the rear side 53b of the backrest post 5 for attaching desired equipment in the attachment groove 541 and locking groove 542 for the equipment to be firmly locked at the desired height by means of a locking mechanism (not shown). The equipment may also be displaced in the attachment groove 541 without being obstructed by the back cloth 55.
In one embodiment, the back cloth 55 may surround the locking pin 553 so that the back cloth 55 sits attached in the cavity 523, as shown in figures 28A-B. An alternative embodiment is shown in figure 28C. The locking body 553 is in the form of a longitudinal bulb 555 which can be placed in the cavity 523 of the longitudinal groove 52. In an alternative embodiment, the back cloth 55 may consist of a continuous body. For example, the back cloth 55 may consist of a moulded polymer material In which the side edge of the back cloth 55 includes a longitudinal bulb 555 to be locked into the cavity 523 of the longitudinal groove 52, as shown in figure 29. In an alternative embodiment, the back cloth 55 may consist of a two-part back cloth 55, the upper part 55' and the lower part 55" being attached to the upper post part 5' and the lower post part 5", respectively, as shown in figure 30.
The backrest post 5 is internally provided with a spring body 581 of a type known per se, shown as a gas spring 581 in the figures, see figure 26. At its lower end, the gas spring 581 is hingedly connected to a link bow 349, see figure 22B. At its opposite end, the link bow 349 is hingedly connected to an angle plate 341. The angle plate 341 is further attached to the link piece 35. The attachment 51 of the backrest post is hingedly connected to the link piece 35. By a displacement of the piston rod 582 of the gas spring 581 along the longitudinal axis of the backrest post 5, the link bow 349 and the attachment 51 of the backrest post are pivoted around their respective hinge axes 3H, 5H. It is thereby achieved that an angle 3V between the backrest post 5 and the seat bearer 13b is changed.
The wheelchair 4 is provided with a detachable tie bar 6 as shown in figures 32 and 33. The figures show the tie bar 6 in a detached position. The tie bar 6 is attached to the backrest posts 5 of the wheelchair 4 by means of locks 67 placed on the tie bar 6 and connects the backrest posts 5. The tie bar 6 also includes operating levers 61, 61' for operation of the tilting device 3 of the wheelchair 4 and a seat-angle device 58, respectively. The operating levers 61, 61' include fingers 63.
When the tie bar 6 is in its position of application, the locks 67 are positioned in the attachment grooves 541 of the backrest posts 5, see figure 33. The locks 67 include locking levers 671, locking pins 673 and locking blocks 675, see figures 34A-B. The locking lever 671 is pivotably connected to the locking pin 673 so that when the locking lever 671 is folded down, the end portion of the locking pin 673 is displaced out of the locking block 675. The tie bar 6 is locked to the backrest posts 5 of the wheelchair 4 by moving the locking blocks 675 into the longitudinal attachment grooves 541' of the backrest posts 5, see figure 33. The locking block 675 has a dovetailed cross section and is adapted to the complementary dovetailed cross section of the attachment groove 541. After the locking block 675 is positioned at the correct height in the attachment groove 541', the locking lever 671 is folded down and the locking pin 673 comes into pressing abutment against the bottom portion of the attachment groove 541'. The locking pin 673 exerts a pressure force resulting in the side edges of the locking block 675 coming into abutment against the side edges of the attachment groove 541', and it is thereby achieved that the locking block 675 is held fixed, see figures 33 and 34A-B.
The finger 63 of the operating lever 61, 61' is positioned in the control mechanism 65 through an opening in the housing of the control mechanism 65, as shown in figure 35. When the operating lever 61, 61' is moved in the direction of the broken arrow from an inactive position to an active position, the operating lever 61, 61' is pivoted around its pivot axis 6h and the finger 63 exerts a pressure on an L-shaped angle piece 651. The angle piece 651 is pivotably attached to the housing of the tensioning mechanism 65. At an end portion, the angle piece 651 is provided with a pivotably attached wire block 653 which will exert a pull on one or more wires 591 secured to the wire block 653, when the angle piece 651 is pivoted around its pivot axis by the finger 63. The wires are connected to the wire block 653 through wire bushings 655. The operating lever 61, 61' is returned to its inactive position by a spring consisting of the spring body 33 (not shown).
The wires from the wire block 653 operated by the operating lever 61 are connected to the gas springs in the backrest posts 5. The wires from the wire block 653 operated by the operating lever 61' are connected to the gas springs 33 in the cheeks 121a, 121b. When both operating levers 61, 61' are in their inactive positions, the backrest posts 5 are rigidly connected to the seat bearers 13a, 13b. When the operating lever 61 is activated, the gas springs in the backrest posts 5 are released as known in the art, and the angle 3V between the backrest posts 5 and the seat bearers 13a, 13b can be adjusted, see figure 22B. When the operating lever 61 is released, the operating lever 61 returns to its inactive position and the gas springs are locked in their new position. When the operating lever 61' is activated, the gas springs 33 in the cheeks 121a, 121b are released and the angle between the cheeks 121a, 121b and the seat bearers 13a, 13b can be adjusted by moving the back of the wheelchair 4 as the backrest posts 5 are rigidly connected to the seat bearers 13a, 13b. When the operating lever 61' is released, the operating lever 61' returns to its inactive position and the gas springs are locked in their new position.
The operating levers 61, 61' may be marked and labelled in such a way that their functions are made clear. The operating levers 61, 61' may be operated from the front and from the rear of the wheelchair 4 and from the sides. It is thereby achieved that the operating levers 61, 61' are operated in a safe way even when a nurse has eye contact with the person 8P in the wheelchair 4. It also increases the safety of using the wheelchair 4 that the operating levers 61, 61' are positioned in the detachable tie bar 6. The seat angle and back angle of the wheelchair 4 cannot be adjusted without the tie bar 6 being correctly fitted.
The wheelchair 4 may be provided with a detachable table 9 as shown in figure 37. The detachable table 9 is releasably attached to the armrests 97 of the wheelchair 4. The table 9 may be displaced in the directions of the arrow so that, in its position of application, the table 9 may be adjusted to a wheelchair user 8P (not shown in figure 37).
The detachable table includes a table top 91 and two locking rails 93. The locking rails 93 are attached to the side edges of the table top 91 and are shown as being laterally adjustable by the attachment screws 911 of the locking rail 93 being movable in cutouts 913 in the table top 91, as shown in figures 38 and 39. It is thereby achieved that the distance between the locking rails 93 may be adjusted and adapted to the distance between the armrests 97. The armrest 97 includes an armrest rod 99. The armrest rod 99 is attachable to the seat bearer 13a, 13b of the wheelchair 4, as shown In figure 37. The armrest 97 is further provided with a locking-rail holder 95.
The locking-rail holder 95 includes a positioning groove 951 and a guideway 953 as shown in figures 38-40. The positioning groove 951 is provided with a lead-in portion 9510 tapering towards a positioning portion 9519 extending in the longitudinal direction of the locking-rail holder 95, see figure 40A. The positioning portion 9519 includes a plurality of positioning hollows 9515 in the lower bottom portion of the positioning groove 951. The guideway 953 is provided with a lead-in portion 9530 tapering towards a guiding portion 9539 extending in the longitudinal direction of the locking rail holder 95.
The locking rail 93 is provided with a first guide pin 931 and a second guide pin 931' in its lower portion, see figure 39. The guide pins 931, 931' project sideways from the locking rail 93 and are facing in under the table top 91. In an embodiment shown, the locking rail 93 may be provided with a plurality of holes 9311 in its lower side portion. It is thereby achieved that the guide pins 931, 931' may be fixed in alternative positions along the lower side portion of the locking rail 93.
Figure 39 shows only the detachable table 9 and the locking-rail holders 95. The arrows in figures 39 and 40 indicate how the guide pins 931 of the locking rail 93 are positioned relative to the locking-rail holder 95 when the table 9 is being mounted on the armrests 97. The first guide pin 931 is positioned in such a way that it is inserted into the lead-in portion 9510, and the second guide pin 931' is positioned In such a way that it is inserted into the lead-in portion 9530. Then the guide pins 931, 931' are moved further into the positioning groove 951 and the guideway 953, respectively.
Figure 40B shows a side view of the detachable table 9, in which the first guide pin 931 of the locking rail 93 is positioned in one of the positioning hollows 9515 in the positioning groove 951, and the second guide pin 931' is positioned in the guideway 953. The positioning hollow 9515 prevents the guide pin 931 from moving in the directions of the broken arrow. The second guide pin 931' in the guideway 951 prevents the table 9 from moving in the directions of the solid arrow. It is thereby achieved that the detachable table 9 may be positioned with a desired distance to the back of the wheelchair 4 in a releasably fixed and stable position.
The wheelchair 4 is provided with a mounting device 7 for a detachable legrest 8, see figures 1-10, in which the male part 71 of the mounting device 7 is placed on an arm 73, and in which the arm 73 is connected to a legrest 8. In figure 1, the mounting device 7 is shown in its disengaged position, before the male part 71 of the mounting device 7 has been brought into engagement with a female part 72. The male part 71 is of a substantially conical shape. The conicity facilitates the insertion of the male part 71 into the female part 72 in that the centre axis of the male part 71 does not need to be precisely aligned with the centre axis of the female part 72. In the figures, the male part 71 is shown as a conical body with a projection, but it will be understood that any conical male part 71 adapted to a female part 72 is covered by the invention. The mounting device 7 further includes a locking body 711 adjacent to the male part 71. The locking body 711 is provided with an edge portion 712 and a projecting lockIng lip (not shown). The female part 72 includes a collar 721 and a shoulder portion 7212 projecting from the collar 721. The collar 721 is provided with a cut-out 7211.
The male part 71 is inserted into the female part 72. The locking body 711 hits the collar 721. The male part 72 can be rotated in the female part 72 until the locking lip of the locking body 711 engages with the cut-out 7211. When the locking lip is engaged with the cut-out 7211, the male part 71 can neither be rotated in the female part 72 nor be lifted out of the female part 72. The engagement of the locking lip with the cut-out 7211 is brought to cease by pulling on the finger grip 73. The male part 71 can be rotated in the female part 72 until the edge portion 712 of the male part hits the shoulder portion 7212 of the female part 72, see figure 3 where the edge portion 712 is at a distance from the shoulder portion 7212. In figure 4, the male part 71 is shown from a different side when the edge portion 712 has hit the shoulder portion 7212. In this position, the legrest 8 has been pivoted to the side of the wheelchair 4. This facilitates the access to the wheelchair 4 for a person 8P, without the legrests 8 having to be lifted off.
The figures 2, 5 and 6 show the legrest 8 attached to the seat bearers 13a, 13b of the wheelchair 4 via the arm 73 and the mounting device 7. The first end portion 81 of the legrest 8 is provided with a footrest 811. The second end portion 82 of the legrest 8 is provided with a hinge case 89 enclosing a hinge (not shown). The legrest 8 is hingedly connected to the arm 73 so that the legrest 8 can rotate around the axis 84, se figure 8 in particular. The legrest 8 includes yet another legrest 88. In figure 5, two broken lines 85, 86 are shown, which are parallel to the seat plane of the wheelchair 4 and the longitudinal axis of the legrest 8, respectively. The arrow 87 indicates the angle between the seat plane of the wheelchair and the longitudinal axis of the legrest 8. In figure 5, the angle between the seat plane of the wheelchair 4 and the longitudinal axis of the legrest 8 is shown as 90°. In figure 6, this angle is shown as an angle smaller than 90°. In figures 7 and 8, still other possible angles are shown. The angle may also be larger than 90°, that is to say the footrest 811 is moved in under the seat bearers 13a, 13b (not shown).
The angle of the legrest 8 is adjusted by a spring-loaded locking pin 891, see figures 6-8, in the hinge case 89 being pushed in. The locking pin 891 locks the hinge in the hinge case 89 in the desired position. Such a mechanism is known in the art and is not described in further detail. The legrest 88 holds the user's 8P leg in place when the legrest 8 is in a raised position as shown in figure 6.
Figure 9 shows a side view of a person 8P in a sitting position, the rotational axis 8P1 of the person's knee joint having been marked.
Figure 10 shows parts of a wheelchair 4 with a person 8P in a sitting position. In figure 10, the wheelchair 4 is shown with the legrest 8 in a first position, in which the legrest has been folded down, and with the legrest 8 in a second position, in which the legrest 8 has been swung up. The second position of the legrest 8 is marked in broken lines. The motion of the legrest 8 around the hinge axis 84 is indicated by a broken arrow. As the user 8P is placed in the seat 14 of the wheelchair 4, the legrest 8 is usually in its first position. The footrest 811 is moved in the longitudinal direction of the legrest 8 until the footrest 811 hits the sole of the user's 8P foot. The distance between the footrest 811 and the axis 84 is marked as D1 in the first position. The axis 84 of the legrest 8 coincides with the axis 88 of the user's 8P knee joint, see figure 9. It is thereby achieved that the distance D1 is the same as the distance between the axis 88 of the knee joint and the sole of the user's 8P foot. The distance D1 is constant in the first and second positions of the legrest 8. It is thereby achieved that the sole of the user's 8P foot is in contact with the footrest 811 at all angles to which the legrest 8 is moved. If the user's 8P knee joint were below the hinge axis 84 of the legrest 8 in the first position of the legrest 8, the sole of the user's 8P foot would not have been in contact with the footrest 811 in the second position of the legrest. Correspondingly, the footrest 811 would have exerted a pressure against the sole of the user's 8P foot in the second position of the legrest if the user's 8P knee joint were above the axis 84 of the legrest 8 in the first position of the legrest 8.

Claims

A wheel chair (4) comprising a legrest (8) and a mounting device (7) for detachably attaching the legrest (8) to the wheelchair (4), the mounting device (7) consisting of a male part (71) and a female part (72), and the male part (71) being rotatable in the female part (72), characterized i n that the male part (71) is of a substantially frustoconical shape and the female part (72) is arranged to house the male part (71), wherein the female part (72) includes a collar (721) and the collar (721) is provided with a cut-out (7211), and the male part (71) includes a locking body (711) with a projecting locking lip arranged to engage with the cut-out (7211).
The wheelchair (4) according to claim 1, wherein the legrest (8) includes the male part (71).
The wheelchair (4) according to claim 1, wherein the legrest (8) includes the female part (72).
The wheelchair (4) according to claim 1, wherein the collar (721) of the female part (72) includes a projecting shoulder portion (7212), and the male part (71) includes an edge portion (712) so that the edge portion (712) comes into abutment against the shoulder portion (7212) when the male part (71) is rotated in the female part (72).