GB2302275A - Wheelchair footrests - Google Patents

Description

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I- ' 1 WHEELCHAIR FOOTRESTS 2302275 The present invention relates generally to footrests and is more especially but not exclusively concerned with footrests for use with wheelchairs.

It is conventional f or wheelchairs to be made in a range of different sizes. one of the dimensions which changes between the different sizes is the wheelchair width. It is therefore conventional for the wheelchair footrests to be themselves made in a range of different sizes.

An aim of the present invention is to rationalise the provision of footrests of different sizes.

According to the present invention, a footrest comprises one or more basic parts to which one or more supplementary parts can be added to extend the size of the footrest.

The or at least one of the supplementary parts may be an extension of a type which is optionally added to the basic part(s) during manufacture of the basic part(s).

For example, the extension may be in the f orm of a plate, and the extension may be moulded of a plastics material integrally with the basic part(s).

Alternatively, the or at least one of the supplementary parts may be an extension of a type which is optionally added to the basic part(s) after manufacture of the basic part(s).

For example, the extension may be in the f orm of a length of wire. The wire may be bent to provide a middle section between a pair of end sections. The end sections may lie in the same plane as or be angled relatively to the middle section. To secure the extension, a pair of associated fixings, such as holes for receiving the end sections, may be provided in the basic part(s).

There may be a plurality of the supplementary parts which define a plurality of the extensions.

J -- 2 In both types of extension, the addition of the supplementary part(s) may cause the basic part(s) to be extended sideways and/or forwards.

An extension sideways not only provides a greater width for a user's foot but can reduce a gap between adjacent footrests so that there is less risk of the user's foot inadvertently falling through the gap. An extension forwards not only provides greater length for a user's foot but can have an upward inclination, either permanently or adjustably, to provide improved support for the toes of the user's foot.

Naturally, the footrest as a whole can be arranged to be pivotable in a generally conventional manner relatively to a support therefor and, indeed, the footrest can be provided in symmetrical versions for supporting respectively the left foot and the right foot of a user in a generally conventional manner.

A footrest and extensions, particularly suitable for use as wheelchair footrests, will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a plan view of a footrest according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an underneath view of the footrest of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a plan view of the footrest of Figure 1 showing sideways and/or forwards extension by the provision of supplementary parts in the form of bent wires; Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating the attachment of one of the extension wires of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a plan view of the footrest of Figure 1 showing sideways extension by the provision of a supplementary part in the form of a central plate; 1 - 3 Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of Figure 6; Figure 8 is an underneath view of the footrest of Figure 6; Figures 9 and 10 are end views taken respectively in the directions of the arrows C and D of Figure 6; Figures 11 and 12 are cross-sectional views taken respectively along the lines E-E and F-F of Figure 6; and Figure 13 is a plan view of the footrest of Figure 6 showing further sideways and/or forwards extension by the provision of supplementary parts in the form of bent wires.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, a footrest 10 according to the present invention includes two basic parts 12a, 12b to which various supplementary parts, as described hereinafter, can be added to extend the size of the footrest 10.

The basic parts 12a, 12b are generally similar to one another. Each is formed with a side plate 14 having upper transverse ribs 16, lower strengthening ribs 18, a strap hole 20, a pair of front extension holes 22, a slot 24 and an arcuate wall 26 which has a heel strap hole 28. The differences are that the basic part 12a has a pivot mount whereas the basic part 12b has a pair of side extension holes 32 in its arcuate wall 26.

In the manufacturing process, each of the basic parts 12a, 12b is formed in a corresponding section of a modular tool - the split line between the two sections of the modular tool is indicated by X in Figures 1 and 3.

The modular tool can receive a plastics material, such as a reinforced nylon, so that the basic parts 12a, 12b are moulded integrally with one another.

As a result of the integral moulding, the two slots 24 combine to form a drain hole 34 and the two arcuate walls 26 combine to form a heel support 36.

The footrest 10 as described can be extended by supplementary parts of different type.

4 1q- 1 Figures 4 and 5 show one way of extending the size of the footrest 10 and also show a user's foot in dotted outline as well as a heel strap 38.

Here, supplementary parts 40a, 40b are provided in the f orm of wires. Each of the wires has a curved middle section 42 and a bent end section 44. The end sections 44 of the wire forming the supplementary part 40a can be received by the side extension holes 32 thereby increasing the overall width of the footrest 10. The end sections 44 of the wire forming the supplementary part 40b can be received by the outer front extension holes 22 thereby increasing the overall length of the footrest 10. In each case, an end section 44 can be held in position by a push on domed lock fastener 46 intended to be either removable or non-removable.

Figures 6 to 12 show another way of extending the size of the footrest 10.

Here, a supplementary part 48 in the form of a central plate 141 is integrally moulded with the basic parts 12a, 12b as a result of inserting a central section in the modular tool. The central plate 141 is generally similar to the side plates 14 and is thus itself formed with upper ribs 161, lower ribs 181, slots 241 and an arcuate wall 261 as well as another drain hole 341. Clearly, the effect of the supplementary part 48 is to increase the overall width of the footrest 10.

Finally, as shown in Figure 13, the supplementary parts 40a, 40b and 48 can all be provided so that the footrest 10 is capable of being extended both sideways and forwards.

A strap 50 is shown extending between the strap holes formed in the basic parts 12a,12b.

It will be appreciated that the supplementary part 40a can also be used as a lifting handle to facilitate pivoting of the footrest 10 about the pivot mount 30. It will also be appreciated that different sizes of the supplementary 1-1 part 40b can be provided dependent upon the size of a user's foot.

In other arrangements, either or both of the supplementary parts 40a, 40b could be insert moulded in the basic parts 12a, 12b to be permanently fixed thereto and/or the supplementary part 48 could be formed separately from the basic parts 12a, 12b to be subsequently attachable thereto.

Although the footrest 10 shown in all of the accompanying drawings is a version for a left foot, a version for a right foot could be easily provided as a mirror image of what has been shown in the accompanying drawings.

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Claims (14)

1. A footrest comprising one or more basic parts to which one or more supplementary parts can be added to extend the size of the footrest.

2. A footrest according to claim 1, in which the or at least one of the supplementary parts is an extension which is added to the basic part (s) during manuf acture of the basic part(s).

3. A footrest according to claim 2, in which the extension is in the form of a plate.

4. A footrest according to claim 2 or claim 3, in which the extension is moulded of a plastics material integrally with the basic part(s).

5. A footrest according to claim 1, in which the or at least one of the supplementary parts is an extension which is added to the basic part(s) after manufacture of the basic part(s).

6. A footrest according to claim 5, in which the extension is in the form of a length of wire.

7. A footrest according to claim 6, in which the wire is bent to provide a middle section between a pair of end sections which are secured to associated fixings provided in the basic part(s).

8. A footrest according to any one of claims 2 to 7, in which there are a plurality of the supplementary parts which define a plurality of the extensions.

9. A footrest according to any preceding claim, in which the addition of the supplementary part(s) causes the basic part(s) to be extended sideways and/or forwards.

10. A footrest according to claim 9, in which the or at least one of the supplementary parts causes the basic part(s) to be extended forwards with an upward inclination.

11. A footrest according to any preceding claim, in which the supplementary part(s) and the basic part(s) are arranged to be pivotable in unison relatively to a support therefor.

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12. A footrest substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. A footrest according to any preceding claim, when forming part of a wheelchair.

14. A footrest according to claim 13, in combination with a symmetrical footrest according to claim 13, for supporting respectively the left foot and the right foot of a user of the wheelchair.