GB2418349A

GB2418349A - Mounting assembly for connecting a tray to a wheelchair

Info

Publication number: GB2418349A
Application number: GB0421040A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gordon Mcquilton
Original assignee: SPECIALISED ORTHOTIC SERVICES
Current assignee: SPECIALISED ORTHOTIC SERVICES
Priority date: 2004-09-22
Filing date: 2004-09-22
Publication date: 2006-03-29
Anticipated expiration: 2024-09-22
Also published as: GB0421040D0; GB2418349B; GB2418349A8; GB2418349B8

Abstract

An assembly 10 for mounting a tray 12 to a wide variety of different sizes and styles of wheelchairs. A first elongate guide means is provided in the form of two profiles 18 each including a pair of tracks. A second elongate guide means in the form of a length of similar profile is provided. The second elongate guide means can be mounted where required on the first elongate guide means. A pair of brackets 42 are adjustably mounted towards each end of the second elongate guide means, the brackets adjustably mount cranked members (58) which can be mounted to a wheelchair.

Description

Mounting Assembly This invention concerns a mounting assembly for a tray,

which tray may be mountable on a wheelchair, and also a tray incorporating such a mounting assembly.

It is often required to use a tray on a wheelchair or other seating arrangement for the elderly or disabled. However, a wide range of different sizes and types of wheelchair are produced, and difficulties can therefore be encountered in providing a tray which can be mounted on a number of different wheelchairs. Also, different wheelchair users require the tray to be at different respective positions relative to their body sizes and requirements.

According to the present invention there is provided a mounting assembly for a tray, the assembly including a first elongate guide means mountable on the underside of the tray to extend longitudinally, and a second elongate guide means slidably mounted to extend transversely on the first guide means so as to be movable to a required respective position thereon and held in said position, a pair of mounting means, each slidably mounted on the second guide means so as to be movable to a required respective position thereon and at a required spacing apart, and held in said position, the mounting means permitting mounting of the tray at a required relative position on a wheelchair or other item, by engagement of the mounting means on respective sides of the wheelchair.

A spaced pair of first elongate guide means may be provided. The or each first elongate guide means may include a first track which locates part of a fastening means engageable with the second elongate guide means. The first elongate guide means may include a pair of spaced tracks.

The first elongate guide means may be in the form of a length of profiled section.

The second elongate guide means may include a pair of spaced holes which locate part of fastening means engageable with the first elongate guide and the respective mounting means. The second elongate guide means may include a first track or pair of spaced first tracks.

The second elongate guide means may be in the form of a length of profiled section, which section may be the same as that of the first elongate guide means.

Each mounting means may include a cross piece with one or more formation thereon, which formation may be a slot, to permit mounting on the second elongate member. The cross piece may comprise one or more projections engageable in the first or spaced pair of first tracks on the second elongate guide.

The fastening means may be engageable with the mounting means, the second elongate guide means and the first elongate guide means, to secure them together in required relative positions.

The fastening means may include a nut and screw with the nut non rotatably locatable in a respective track in the first elongate guide means.

Each mounting means may also include a first part slidably mountable on a second part so as to be movable to a required position thereon and held in said position, with the second part mountable on a wheelchair or other item, and the second part may be height adjustably mountable on a wheelchair or other item.

The first part may include a sleeve, and a locking screw may be extendable into the sleeve to lock the second part therein at a required position.

The second part may be in the form of a cranked member with a first section extendable generally horizontally in use and mountable on the second part, and a second section extendable generally vertically in use and mountable on a wheelchair or other item.

The invention also provides a tray mountable on a wheelchair, the tray including a mounting assembly according to any of the preceding ten paragraphs.

The invention further provides a kit of parts for assembling into a mounting assembly according to any of said preceding ten paragraphs.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view from beneath of a mounting assembly according to the invention mounted on the tray; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic exploded view of the assembly of Fig. 1 with a tray; and Fig. 3 is a detailed sectional view of part of the assembly of Fig. 1.

The drawings show a mounting assembly 10 usable to mount a tray 12 on a wide variety of different sizes and styles of wheelchairs. The tray 12 is moulded from plastics material and has an upper lip around its front and sides to retain items thereon. A recess 16 is provided in its rearward edge to accommodate the torso of a person on the wheelchair.

The assembly 10 comprises a first elongate guide means in the form of two spaced elongate profiles 18 extending longitudinally on the underside of the tray 12 towards the edge on each side of the recess 16. Each profile 18 has two in use downwardly opening tracks 20 with a relatively narrow opening 22 leading into a wider channel 24. The first profiles 18 are mounted to the underside of the tray 12 by screws 28 extending through aligned holes 30, 32 respectively in the tray 12 and towards the ends of the first profiles 18, to engage with nuts 33 located on the opposite side of the first profiles 18 to the tray 12.

A second elongate guide means in the form of a second profile 34 is provided. The second profile 34 is of the same section as the first profiles 18.

A pair of spaced holes 36 are provided extending through the second profile 34 between the tracks 40 therein, and at appropriate spacings to correspond to the locations of the openings 22 in the first profiles 18. A pair of mounting means 42 in the form of brackets 42 are mountable to the second profile 34.

Each bracket includes a cross piece 48 in the form of a strip 48 with a central slot 50 therein. A pair of screws 70 extend through the central slot 50 and through holes 36 in the second profile 34 to engage with nuts 72 which are non rotatably, but slidably located in the first channels 24 of the first profile 18.

Only one of the nuts 72 is shown in Fig. 3 for clarity.

Tightening of the screws 70 in the nuts 72 in the first profiles 18 locks together the brackets 42, the first profiles 18 and the second profile 34 in position relative to each other. When the screws 70 are loosened, the second profile 34 can be slid relative to the first profiles 18, and the brackets 42 can be slid relative to the second profile 34, so that required relative positioning of these components can be achieved.

Each bracket 42 also includes a projection 74 which is engageable in a one of the tracks 40 of the second profile 34, to stop the brackets 42 rotating relative to the second profile 34.

A cylindrical sleeve 54 is provided on the outer end of each cross piece 48 as shown in the drawings. A tapped boss 56 is provided on the lowerside of the sleeve 54 surrounding a through hole.

1 0 The mounting means also includes circular section cranked members 58 with a first section 60 locatable extending through the respective sleeve 54. A wing knob (not shown) or other may be used engageable in the boss 56 to lock the first section in a required position relative to the bracket 42. A second section 62 of the cranked members 58 extends downwardly in use 1 5 and can locate in an appropriate sleeve or other formation in a wheelchair. By use of a suitable locking means the height of the cranked members 58 and hence tray 12 can be adjusted.

The assembly 10 can be used as follows. Loosening of the screws 70 permits the brackets 42 to be slid relative to the second profile 34 to provide a required spacing of the cranked members 58 for a particular wheelchair frame. Following loosening of the screws 70, the second profile 34 can be slid along the first profile 18 to provide a required reach adjustment.

Thereafter by loosening of the wing knobsor other engageable in the bosses 56, the position of the cranked members 58 in the sleeves 54 can be adjusted for abdominal clearance. As indicated above, height adjustment of the cranked members 58 may be possible to adjust the height of the tray.

There is thus described a mounting assembly for a tray which provides for a significant amount of adjustment to provide correct positioning of the tray for any particular user, and also permits use of the tray on a wide range of different size and style of wheelchairs. It is to be realised that a wide range of different brackets could be provided to suit different wheelchairs. The use of common profiles for the transverse and longitudinal mountings, eases manufacture and hence the cost of the product.

Various other modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, different formations or fastening means could be used to permit adjustment and subsequent locking in position.

Whilst the assembly is described in relation to a wheelchair, the mounting assembly could be used for mounting a tray or other item in a wide variety of applications.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. A mounting assembly for a tray, the assembly including a first elongate guide means mountable on the underside of the tray to extend longitudinally, and a second elongate guide means slidably mounted to extend transversely on the first guide means so as to be movable to a required respective position thereon and held in said position, a pair of mounting means, each slidably mounted on the second guide means so as to be movable to a required respective position thereon and at a required spacing apart, and held in said position, the mounting means permitting mounting of the tray at a required relative position on a wheelchair or other item, by engagement of the mounting means on respective sides of the wheelchair.

2. A mounting assembly according to claim 1, wherein a spaced pair of first elongate guide means are included.

3. A mounting assembly according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the or each first elongate guide means includes a first track which locates part of a fastening means engageable with the second elongate guide means.

4. A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the or each first elongate guide means includes a pair of spaced tracks.

5. A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the or each first elongate guide means is in the form of a length of profiled section.

6. A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second elongate guide means includes a pair of spaced holes which locate part of fastening means engageable with the first elongate guide means and the respective mounting means.

7. A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second elongate guide means includes a first track or pair of spaced first tracks.

8. A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second elongate guide means is in the form of a length of profiled section.

9. A mounting assembly according to claim 8, wherein the profiled section of the second elongate guide means is the same as that of the first elongate guide means.

10. A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each mounting means includes a cross piece with one or more formation thereon

1 1. A mounting assembly according to claim 10, wherein the formation is a slot, to permit mounting on the second elongate member.

12. A mounting assembly according to claims 10 or 11, wherein the cross piece comprises one or more projections engageable in the first or spaced pair of first tracks on the second elongate guide.

13. A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fastening means are engageable with the mounting means, the second elongate guide means and the first elongate guide means, to secure them together in required relative positions.

14. A mounting assembly according to claim 13, wherein the fastening means includes a nut and screw with the nut non rotatably locatable in a respective track in the first elongate guide means.

15. A mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each mounting means includes a first part slidably mountable on a second part so as to be movable to a required position thereon and held in said position, with the second part mountable on a wheelchair or other item.

16. A mounting assembly according to claim 15, wherein the second part is height adjustably mountable on a wheelchair or other item.

17. A mounting assembly according to claim 16, wherein the first part includes a sleeve.

18. A mounting assembly according to claim 17, wherein a locking screw is extendable into the sleeve to lock the second part therein at a required position.

19. A mounting assembly according to any of claims 14 to 18, wherein the second part is in the form of a cranked member with a first section extendable generally horizontally in use and mountable on the second part, and a second section extendable generally vertically in use and mountable on a wheelchair or other item.

20. A tray mountable on a wheelchair, the tray including a mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims.

21. A kit of parts for assembling into a mounting assembly according to any of claims 1 to 19.

22. A mounting assembly substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

23. A tray mountable on a wheelchair, the tray being substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

24. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.