GB2178375A - Improvements in or relating to wheelchairs - Google Patents

Improvements in or relating to wheelchairs Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2178375A
GB2178375A GB08518965A GB8518965A GB2178375A GB 2178375 A GB2178375 A GB 2178375A GB 08518965 A GB08518965 A GB 08518965A GB 8518965 A GB8518965 A GB 8518965A GB 2178375 A GB2178375 A GB 2178375A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
arm
wheelchair
rest assemblies
user
rest
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB08518965A
Other versions
GB8518965D0 (en
Inventor
Dr Brian Andrews
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.)
University of Strathclyde
Original Assignee
University of Strathclyde
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 University of Strathclyde filed Critical University of Strathclyde
Priority to GB08518965A priority Critical patent/GB2178375A/en
Publication of GB8518965D0 publication Critical patent/GB8518965D0/en
Publication of GB2178375A publication Critical patent/GB2178375A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • A61G5/10—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
    • A61G5/1054—Large wheels, e.g. higher than the seat portion
    • 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
    • A61G5/14—Standing-up or sitting-down aids

Abstract

A wheelchair (2) includes left and right arm-rest assemblies (14, 16) each having an extendable tubular member (30) located in a housing (31) attached thereto. The arm-rest assemblies (14, 16) are pivotable between a first normal position and a second position wherein the members (30) may be extended to engage the ground in front of the wheelchair (2). In this second position, the user of the wheelchair (2) may grasp the previously rearmost members (20) of the arm-rest assemblies (14, 16) to assist in pushing himself up and out of the seat of the chair. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION "Improvements in or relating to wheelchairs" The present invention relates to an improved wheelchair incorporating means to assist the user to stand up when leaving the wheelchair.
It is a problem associated with existing wheelchairs that it is difficult for the user to stand up unaided when he wishes to leave the chair. This is due partly to the fact that the arm-rests of the wheelchair are too low to enable the arms to provide maximum assistance to the user in pushing himself up and out of the seat and partly to the tendency of the wheelchairs to roll backwards when the user pushes against it.
Previous proposals addressed to this problem have provided collapsible frameworks which may be erected to provide support and assistance for the wheelchair user when standing up, however these have tended to be complex and therefore expensive to produce, cumbersome in use and obtrusive when stowed away.
It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate these disadvantages.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a wheelchair including left and right arm-rest assemblies having extendable support means associated therewith, said arm-rest assemblies being pivotable between a first position wherein the arm-rests may be used normally and a second position wherein said support members may be extended to engage the ground in front of the wheelchair.
Preferably, said arm-rest assemblies each comprises a frame including a member which, when in said second position, may be grasped by a user of the wheelchair to assist in pushing himself up out of the seat thereof.
Preferably also, said support members comprise telescopic tubular members which, when not in use, may be stowed in a housing attached to each of said arm-rest assemblies. Means may also be provided to lock the telescopic support members in either the extended or retracted position.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wheelchair with its arm-rest assemblies in a first position; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a wheelchair with one of its arm-rest assemblies in a second position and the other dismounted, and Figure 3 is an elevation of one of the arm-rest assemblies.
Referring now to the drawings, a wheelchair 2, having seat and backrest portions 4 and 6, front and rear wheels 8 and 10, and footrests 12, is provided with right and left arm-rest assemblies 14 and 16.
The arm-rest assemblies 14 and 16 each comprise a tubular frame having forward and rearward vertical members 18 and 20 interconnected by a horizontal top member 22. A padded arm-rest 24 is attached to the upper surface of the horizontal member 22. The frame is attached to the frame of the wheelchair by means of a plug 25 provided at the bottom termination of the forward vertical member 18 which engages a socket 26 on the frame of the wheelchair 2 adjacent the forward corner of the seat portion 4. The rearward vertical member 20 rests in a smaller socket 28 at the rear of the seat portion 4.
Telescopically extendable support members 30 are slidably mounted in tubular housings 31 attached to the tubular frames of the arm-rest assemblies 14 and 16 and means 32 are provided for locking the support members 30 in either the extended or retracted position.
The arm-rest assemblies 14 and 16 are pivotable through 90 about a pivot 34 in the forward vertical member 18, between a first position (as shown in Figure 1) wherein the rearward vertical member 20 engages its socket 28 and the arm-rests 24 may be used normally, and a second position wherein the vertical members 18 and 20 are substantially horizontal with respect to the wheelchair frame and the horizontal member 22 is substantially vertical. In this second position, the telescopic support members 30 may be extended until the ends thereof engage the ground in front of the wheelchair 2.
Levers 36 are provided on the arm-rest frames to assist the user in moving the arm-rest assemblies 14 and 16 between their first and second position.
In use, then, with the arm-rest assemblies 14 and 16 in their first position and the support members 30 stowed unobtrusively in their housings 31, the wheelchair 2 may be used normally. When the user wishes to stand up, the foot rests 12 are moved out of the way, the arm-rest assemblies 14 and 16 are pivoted into their second positions and the support members 30 are extended. The user may then grasp the rearward vertical members 20 of the arm-rest frames (which are now horizontal) and push himself up into a standing position. Since the rearward frame members 20, when in their second position, are substantially higher than the arm-rests 24 would be normally, maximum assistance may be obtained from the arms of the user in pushing himself up. Additionally, the ground engaging support members 30 ensure that there is no danger of the wheelchair 2 rolling away backwards.
1. Wheelchair including left and right arm-rest assemblies having extendable support means associated therewith, said arm-rest assemblies being movable between a first position wherein the arm-rests may be used normally and a second position wherein said support members may be extended to engage the ground in front of the wheelchair.
2. Wheelchair as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said arm-rest assemblies each comprises a frame including a member which, when in said second position, may be grasped by a user of the wheelchair to assist in pushing himself up out of the seat thereof.
3. Wheelchair as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein said support members comprise telescopic tubular members which, when not in use, may be retracted and stowed in a housing attached to each of said arm-rest assemblies.
4. Wheelchair as claimed in Claim 3 wherein locking means are provided to lock said telescopic members in either the extended or retracted position.
5. Wheelchair as claimed in any of Claims 2, 3 or 4
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION "Improvements in or relating to wheelchairs" The present invention relates to an improved wheelchair incorporating means to assist the user to stand up when leaving the wheelchair. It is a problem associated with existing wheelchairs that it is difficult for the user to stand up unaided when he wishes to leave the chair. This is due partly to the fact that the arm-rests of the wheelchair are too low to enable the arms to provide maximum assistance to the user in pushing himself up and out of the seat and partly to the tendency of the wheelchairs to roll backwards when the user pushes against it. Previous proposals addressed to this problem have provided collapsible frameworks which may be erected to provide support and assistance for the wheelchair user when standing up, however these have tended to be complex and therefore expensive to produce, cumbersome in use and obtrusive when stowed away. It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate these disadvantages. Accordingly, the present invention provides a wheelchair including left and right arm-rest assemblies having extendable support means associated therewith, said arm-rest assemblies being pivotable between a first position wherein the arm-rests may be used normally and a second position wherein said support members may be extended to engage the ground in front of the wheelchair. Preferably, said arm-rest assemblies each comprises a frame including a member which, when in said second position, may be grasped by a user of the wheelchair to assist in pushing himself up out of the seat thereof. Preferably also, said support members comprise telescopic tubular members which, when not in use, may be stowed in a housing attached to each of said arm-rest assemblies. Means may also be provided to lock the telescopic support members in either the extended or retracted position. An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wheelchair with its arm-rest assemblies in a first position; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a wheelchair with one of its arm-rest assemblies in a second position and the other dismounted, and Figure 3 is an elevation of one of the arm-rest assemblies. Referring now to the drawings, a wheelchair 2, having seat and backrest portions 4 and 6, front and rear wheels 8 and 10, and footrests 12, is provided with right and left arm-rest assemblies 14 and 16. The arm-rest assemblies 14 and 16 each comprise a tubular frame having forward and rearward vertical members 18 and 20 interconnected by a horizontal top member 22. A padded arm-rest 24 is attached to the upper surface of the horizontal member 22. The frame is attached to the frame of the wheelchair by means of a plug 25 provided at the bottom termination of the forward vertical member 18 which engages a socket 26 on the frame of the wheelchair 2 adjacent the forward corner of the seat portion 4. The rearward vertical member 20 rests in a smaller socket 28 at the rear of the seat portion 4. Telescopically extendable support members 30 are slidably mounted in tubular housings 31 attached to the tubular frames of the arm-rest assemblies 14 and 16 and means 32 are provided for locking the support members 30 in either the extended or retracted position. The arm-rest assemblies 14 and 16 are pivotable through 90 about a pivot 34 in the forward vertical member 18, between a first position (as shown in Figure 1) wherein the rearward vertical member 20 engages its socket 28 and the arm-rests 24 may be used normally, and a second position wherein the vertical members 18 and 20 are substantially horizontal with respect to the wheelchair frame and the horizontal member 22 is substantially vertical. In this second position, the telescopic support members 30 may be extended until the ends thereof engage the ground in front of the wheelchair 2. Levers 36 are provided on the arm-rest frames to assist the user in moving the arm-rest assemblies 14 and 16 between their first and second position. In use, then, with the arm-rest assemblies 14 and 16 in their first position and the support members 30 stowed unobtrusively in their housings 31, the wheelchair 2 may be used normally. When the user wishes to stand up, the foot rests 12 are moved out of the way, the arm-rest assemblies 14 and 16 are pivoted into their second positions and the support members 30 are extended. The user may then grasp the rearward vertical members 20 of the arm-rest frames (which are now horizontal) and push himself up into a standing position. Since the rearward frame members 20, when in their second position, are substantially higher than the arm-rests 24 would be normally, maximum assistance may be obtained from the arms of the user in pushing himself up. Additionally, the ground engaging support members 30 ensure that there is no danger of the wheelchair 2 rolling away backwards. CLAIMS
1. Wheelchair including left and right arm-rest assemblies having extendable support means associated therewith, said arm-rest assemblies being movable between a first position wherein the arm-rests may be used normally and a second position wherein said support members may be extended to engage the ground in front of the wheelchair.
2. Wheelchair as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said arm-rest assemblies each comprises a frame including a member which, when in said second position, may be grasped by a user of the wheelchair to assist in pushing himself up out of the seat thereof.
3. Wheelchair as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein said support members comprise telescopic tubular members which, when not in use, may be retracted and stowed in a housing attached to each of said arm-rest assemblies.
4. Wheelchair as claimed in Claim 3 wherein locking means are provided to lock said telescopic members in either the extended or retracted position.
5. Wheelchair as claimed in any of Claims 2, 3 or 4 wherein said member to be grasped by the wheelchair user comprises a rearmost, substantially vertical member of said frame when the arm-rest assemblies are in said first position, and a topmost, substantially horizontal member when in said second position.
6. Wheelchair substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB08518965A 1985-07-26 1985-07-26 Improvements in or relating to wheelchairs Withdrawn GB2178375A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08518965A GB2178375A (en) 1985-07-26 1985-07-26 Improvements in or relating to wheelchairs

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08518965A GB2178375A (en) 1985-07-26 1985-07-26 Improvements in or relating to wheelchairs

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8518965D0 GB8518965D0 (en) 1985-09-04
GB2178375A true GB2178375A (en) 1987-02-11

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Family Applications (1)

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GB08518965A Withdrawn GB2178375A (en) 1985-07-26 1985-07-26 Improvements in or relating to wheelchairs

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Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4995628A (en) * 1988-06-23 1991-02-26 Hodgkinson & Corby Limited Standing frame assembly for use with wheelchair
WO1992019202A1 (en) * 1991-05-06 1992-11-12 Rainer Scholl Wheelchair, in particular for paraplegics
GB2259482A (en) * 1991-09-14 1993-03-17 Fay Alexandra Plane Assisting egress from cars
US5241876A (en) * 1991-12-17 1993-09-07 Houser Carter, Inc. Device for operating a wheelchair with one arm
JP2002000663A (en) * 2000-06-23 2002-01-08 Nippon Guranmeeru:Kk Stable grip bar for getting on and off wheelchair
GB2423749A (en) * 2005-03-02 2006-09-06 Peter Sloan Retractable wheelchair handrail attachment
US20140082837A1 (en) * 2012-09-25 2014-03-27 U.S. Department Of Veterans Affairs Transfer Assist Standbar
US9351901B1 (en) 2013-12-11 2016-05-31 Cassi Lee Petsch Gait training tool
US11246790B2 (en) 2019-08-15 2022-02-15 Toyota Motor North America, Inc Systems and methods for providing dual purpose armrests and crutches of a wheelchair

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3398974A (en) * 1966-06-01 1968-08-27 Edwards Walker attachment for wheel chair
US3584890A (en) * 1969-04-01 1971-06-15 Delta Physical Therapy Associa Convertible wheelchair construction
US3759544A (en) * 1970-04-29 1973-09-18 Suumen Vanutehdas Finnwad Ltd Wheel chair with pivoted hand bar
GB1350123A (en) * 1970-04-29 1974-04-18 Suomen Vanutehdas Finnwad Wheel chairs
US4076304A (en) * 1976-01-30 1978-02-28 Valutec Ag Erecting seat structure to assist invalids from seated to standing, upright position, particularly erecting wheelchairs

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3398974A (en) * 1966-06-01 1968-08-27 Edwards Walker attachment for wheel chair
US3584890A (en) * 1969-04-01 1971-06-15 Delta Physical Therapy Associa Convertible wheelchair construction
US3759544A (en) * 1970-04-29 1973-09-18 Suumen Vanutehdas Finnwad Ltd Wheel chair with pivoted hand bar
GB1350123A (en) * 1970-04-29 1974-04-18 Suomen Vanutehdas Finnwad Wheel chairs
US4076304A (en) * 1976-01-30 1978-02-28 Valutec Ag Erecting seat structure to assist invalids from seated to standing, upright position, particularly erecting wheelchairs

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4995628A (en) * 1988-06-23 1991-02-26 Hodgkinson & Corby Limited Standing frame assembly for use with wheelchair
WO1992019202A1 (en) * 1991-05-06 1992-11-12 Rainer Scholl Wheelchair, in particular for paraplegics
US5490687A (en) * 1991-05-06 1996-02-13 Scholl; Rainer Wheelchair, in particular for paraplegics
GB2259482A (en) * 1991-09-14 1993-03-17 Fay Alexandra Plane Assisting egress from cars
GB2259482B (en) * 1991-09-14 1995-01-04 Fay Alexandra Plane Car seat rising aid
US5241876A (en) * 1991-12-17 1993-09-07 Houser Carter, Inc. Device for operating a wheelchair with one arm
JP2002000663A (en) * 2000-06-23 2002-01-08 Nippon Guranmeeru:Kk Stable grip bar for getting on and off wheelchair
JP4540188B2 (en) * 2000-06-23 2010-09-08 有限会社日本グランメール Stable grip rod for getting in and out of wheelchair
GB2423749A (en) * 2005-03-02 2006-09-06 Peter Sloan Retractable wheelchair handrail attachment
US20140082837A1 (en) * 2012-09-25 2014-03-27 U.S. Department Of Veterans Affairs Transfer Assist Standbar
US9351901B1 (en) 2013-12-11 2016-05-31 Cassi Lee Petsch Gait training tool
US11246790B2 (en) 2019-08-15 2022-02-15 Toyota Motor North America, Inc Systems and methods for providing dual purpose armrests and crutches of a wheelchair

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8518965D0 (en) 1985-09-04

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)