GB2359526A

GB2359526A - Wheel attachment

Info

Publication number: GB2359526A
Application number: GB0104230A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John David Argent
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-02-26
Filing date: 2001-02-21
Publication date: 2001-08-29
Anticipated expiration: 2021-02-21
Also published as: GB0104230D0; GB0004524D0; GB2359526B

Abstract

The wheel attachment 1,11 comprises a tread portion 2 for extending the width of a wheel and means for attaching same to a wheel or a part associated therewith. The attachment 1 is of a length such that a plurality are required to provide a ground-engaging surface, each having upstanding side walls 4,5 and a retaining part 6 providing a space 6a accepting a wheelchair wheel tyre. A groove 7 can accept a wheel handle. Alternatively, a single attachment 11, either of initial elongate form or in circular form, provides the ground engaging surface.

Description

1 TITLE: Wheel Attachment

DESCRIPTION

2359526 This invention concerns a wheel attachment.

In general, wheels of conventional wheelchairs are meant for use on stable ground such as concrete or the like. Often, it is necessary to use wheelchairs on ground that is unstable or relatively soft, such as gravel or sand. The use of wheelchairs on such unstable ground tends to be problematic in that the wheel tread may be too narrow, resulting in an unacceptably high pressure being applied to the ground. This results in the wheels sinking into the ground and resistance to forward movement of the wheelchair.

An object of this invention is to provide a wheel attachment, which may alleviate the above-identified problem., According to this invention there is provided a wheel attachment comprising a tread portion for extending the width of the wheel and means for attaching same to the wheel andlor a part associated therewith.

In a first preferred embodiment of the invention, the wheel attachments are discrete, such that a plurality of said wheel attachments may be separately attached to the wheel andlor a part associated therewith, in order to extend the width of the whole or a substantial part of, the wheel tread.

In a second preferred embodiment of the invention, the wheel attachment is continuous and shaped to fit a wheel such that in use, only one wheel 2 attachment may be attached to the wheel and/or a part associated therewith, in order to extend the width of the whole of the wheel tread, the wheel attachment being resiliently deformable to facilitate attachment thereof.

In a third preferred embodiment of the invention, the wheel attachment is elongate such that in use, only one wheel attachment may be attached to the wheel and/or a part associated therewith, in order to extend the width of the whole or a substantial part, of the wheel tread, the wheel attachment being resiliently deformable to facilitate attachment thereof.

It is preferable that the wheel attachment comprises a channel member with two sides and a base. The sides can be at any suitable orientation with respect to the base, for example straight andlor and normal to the base. Preferably, however, the sides of the channel member are arcuate in section, tending inwardly.

It is further preferable that the retaining means comprises an upstanding member being located within the channel such that in use, a space is provided between the upstanding member and the channel member in which to retain a wheel. Preferably, the space is provided between the upstanding member and a side of the channel member. Preferably, the upstanding member comprises at least one recess whereby in use, the handle rim of the wheel may be held within said recess.

It is preferable that the upstanding means is resiliently deformable, whether as a consequence of it being made from a suitable material or because of a built in weakness, for example in the form of a further recess therein. As a 3 result, after the wheel has been push fitted into the space between the side of the channel and the retaining means, the retaining means returns substantially to its original position to retain the wheel in the space.

It is preferable that where the wheel attachment is continuous, for example, in the form of a strip or a channel, the wheel attachment includes at least one retaining means, but preferably two or more in order to provide increased stability.

It is preferable that where the wheel attachment is elongate, the wheel attachment comprises at least one retaining means, but preferably two or more in order to provide increased stability. It is further preferable that when at least two retaining means are provided on the wheel attachment, then at least one is located at or near each end of said elongate wheel attachment.

The invention will now be further described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which. - Figure 1 shows a side view of a wheel attachment, according to the invention.

invention.

Figure 2 shows a plurality of wheel attachments in situ, according to the Figure 3 shows a wheel attachment according to the invention.

Figure 4 shows a wheel attachment according to the invention, showing hidden detail.

Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, a wheel attachment 1 is shown, comprising a channel member 2 forming a tread portion and having 4 a base 3 and two sides 4, 5. The retaining means comprises an upstanding member 6. Between the channel means and the upstanding member is located a space 6a, whereby in use, the tyre of the wheel is inserted into said space and is thereby secured to the attachment. The upstanding member has a recess 7 therein whereby in use, the handle rim of the wheel is inserted into said recess and thereby secured to the attachment. The upstanding member has a further recess 8 thereon to allow flexing thereof, which is necessary to facilitate insertion of the tyre between the side 4 of the channel means and the upstanding member and to secure it therebetween.

Figure 2 shows a plurality of discrete wheel attachments 1 attached at intervals to a wheel.

Figure 3 shows a continuous wheel attachment 10 with a base 3 and two sides 4 and 5. In use, the continuous wheel attachment is flexed to substantially cover a wheel and is retained thereon by the retaining means 6.

Figure 4 shows an elongate wheel attachment 11, with a base 3 and two sides 4 and 5. In use, the elongate wheel attachment is urged around a wheel and retained thereon by the two retaining means 6.

Thus, in the case of the discrete wheel attachments, these can be press fitted onto the tyre of the wheel at intervals, and as the wheel turns on its axle, the wheel attachment is held stationary on the wheel, whether by way of the tyre being held within the space between the upstanding member and a side of the channel, or by way of the handle rim of the wheelchair being held within the recess in the upstanding member, or both. Due to the flexing ability of the attachment means, a range of thicknesses of tyre can be extended in this way.

Claims

A wheel attachment comprising a tread portion for extending the width of a wheel and means for attaching same to the wheel or a part associated therewith.
A wheel attachment as claimed in claim 1, being of such a length that a plurality of said wheel attachments are required in order to extend the width of the whole or a substantial part of, the tread of a wheel.
A wheel attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wheel attachment is continuous.
4. A wheel attachment as claimed in claim 3, wherein the wheel attachment is resiliently deformable to facilitate the attachment to a wheel or a part associated therewith.
5. A wheel attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wheel attachment is elongate such that in use, only one wheel attachment is attached to a wheel or a part associated therewith, in order to extend the width of the whole- or a substantial part, of the tread of a wheel.
6. A wheel attachment as claimed in claim 5, wherein the wheel attachment is resiliently deformable to facilitate the attachment to a wheel or a part associated therewith.
7 7. A wheel attachment as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the tread portion comprises a channel member with two sides and a base.
8. A wheel attachment as claimed in claim 7, wherein the sides of the channel member are straight.
9. A wheel attachment as claimed in claim 7, wherein the sides of the channel member are arcuate in section, tending inwardly.
10. A wheel attachment as claimed in any one of claims 7 or 8, wherein the sides of the channel member are normal with respect to the base.
11. A wheel attachment as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the attachment means comprises an upstanding member being located within the channel such that in use, a space is provided between the upstanding mernber and the channel member in which to retain a wheel.
12. A wheel attachment as claimed in claim 11, wherein the space is provided between the upstanding member and a side of the channel member.
13. A wheel attachment as claimed in claim 11 or 12, wherein the upstanding member comprises at least one recess whereby in use, a handle rim of a wheel is held within said recess.

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14. A wheel attachment as claimed in any one of claims 11, 12 or 13, wherein the upstanding member is resiliently deformable.
A wheel attachment as claimed in claim 14, wherein the upstanding member is resiliently deformable as a consequence of a built in weakness.
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A wheel attachment as claimed in claim 15, wherein the built in weakness in the upstanding member is in the form of a further recess.

A wheel attachment as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 16, wherein the continuous wheel attachment has at least one attachment means.

A wheel attachment as claimed in claim 17, wherein the continuous wheel attachment has two attachment means.

A wheel attachment as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 16, wherein the elongate wheel attachment has at least one attachment means.

A wheel attachment as claimed in claim 19, wherein the elongate wheel attachment has two attachment means.

A wheel attachment as claimed in claims 19 or 20, wherein the wheel attachment has at least one attachment means located at or near each end of the elongate wheel attachment.

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22. A wheel attachment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 with Figure 2, Figure 3 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.