GB2447282A

GB2447282A - Detachable headrest for a wheelchair

Info

Publication number: GB2447282A
Application number: GB0704378A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Design Specific Ltd; Richard Fletcher; John Godwin Walters
Original assignee: Design Specific Ltd
Priority date: 2007-03-07
Filing date: 2007-03-07
Publication date: 2008-09-10
Also published as: GB0704378D0

Abstract

A detachable headrest for a wheelchair comprises: a pair of mounting brackets 1,2; a transverse crossbar 3 which extends between the brackets, a slider assembly 6a,6b mounted to the crossbar for sliding movement between the two brackets, and a headrest cushion 11 mounted to the slider via a vertically adjustable stem 7. The arrangement allows the headrest cushion to be positioned at any lateral position relative to the chair and requires minimal points of contact with the chair. Positioning of the headrest is achieved by moving the headrest assembly along the cross member 3 and using the slotted headrest stem 7 and locking taper collars 6. The assembly is locked with lock screw 8. The headrest pad 11 may be contoured to give both head and neck support. The internal segmented construction has contoured sections in stiff and soft foam mounted onto a base. When in use the soft foam section collapses allowing the stiff foam sections to support the head centrally with no tendency to slide sideways.

Description

Wheelchair Headrest

Description

To provide a headrest for persons in wheelchairs that accommodates to all those who have bodily deformities, or conditions of disability, that makes their head rest in a position central to the chair or any lateral position relative to the chair The attachment to the wheelchair uses right hand bracket (I) left hand bracket (2) and the cross member (3) that is attached to bracket (2). Screw (4) is tightened to secure the endplates onto the wheelchair. Fixing to the wheelchair uses a kinematic principle of minimum number of points of contact. Tabs(la) and (Ib), (2a) and (2b) are placed either side of the wheelchair handle support tubes and tab (ic) rests on the top of the handles or pusher bar. Forces applied, by the occupant of the chair, to the headrest pad bring tabs (Ia) and (Ib) into contact with the handle support tube to resist any movement of the headrest.

Lateral movement of the headrest is achieved through plates (5a) and (5b) being freely allowed to move along cross member (3). Rotation of the plates is prevented by the cross member being of a non-circular form.

Articulation of the headrest pad is achieved through a pair of locking taper collars (6a) and (6b) attached to the cross member (3) by plates (5a) and (5b). Both taper collars (6b) have a slot in their inner face to locate headrest stem (7). The slotted stem (7) can move forward, backward, upward and downward rotating the inner taper collars (6b) and sliding within the slot in (6b). Movement of the headrest stem is prevented by tightening the locking screw (8). that presses the tapered surfaces of(6a) and (6b) together, collar (6a) being prevented from rotation by plates (5a) and (5b). Rotation of the headrest pad is achieved through bracket (9) being locked by lock screw (10) The headrest pad (11) is contoured to give both head and neck support. The segmented construction has contoured sections (11 a) in stiff foam bonded to contoured section (1 ib) in soft foam mounted onto a base (1 ic). When in use the soft foam section collapses allowing the stiff foam sections to support the head centrally with no tendency to slide sideways

Claims

Wheelchair Headrest Claims 1. .A headrest support assembly is attached

to the wheelchair by applying the means of a kinematic principle of minimum numbers of points of contact between the chair and the headrest.
2. A headrest support assembly as claimed in claim 1 has left and right hand brackets (I) and (2) assembled on to the side of the wheelchair handles with a non-circular cross member (3) joining the brackets
3. A headrest support assembly as claimed in claim 1 adjusts to the width of the wheelchair by means of the cross member (3) being attached to end plate (I) being allowed to slide through a retaining collar on end plate (2) and locked by cross screw (4)
4. A headrest support assembly as claimed in claim 1 has support points (Ia) and (2a) contacting the front of the upright wheelchair handle support tubes and above support points (Ib) and (2b). Support points (lb) and (2b) contact the back of the upright wheelchair handle support tubes and support points (Ic) and (2c) rest on the top of wheelchair handle or pusher bar
5. A headrest support assembly as claimed in claim 1 is constructed to allow access through end plates (1) and (2) to any control function of the wheel chair and such functions will include brakes and electronic controls.
6. A headrest slider assembly moves on cross member (3) and is the means to support the headrest cushion and the means to adjust the headrest cushion position.
7. A headrest slider assembly as claimed in claim 6 is made of light weight aluminium alloys
8. A headrest slider assembly as claimed in claim 6 moves along cross member (3) with rotation being prevented by using a non-circular form in plates (5a) and (Sb) fitting closely to the cross member (3) section shape.
9. A headrest slider assembly as claimed in claim 6 has two pairs of circular taper lock collars (6a) and (6b)joined by means of the plates (5a) and (Sb) to the cross member (3) that allow rotation of the headrest stem (7) about their centre and it's locking in position.
10. Two pairs of circular taper lock collars as claimed in claim 9 have an internal taper angle between 5 and 8 degrees inclusive angle
11. Two pairs of circular taper lock collars as claimed in claim 9 have a slot in (6b) to retain the slotted headrest stem (7)
12. Two pairs of circular taper lock collars as claimed in claim 9 clamp the slotted headrest stem in position by means of the clamp screw (8) that forces the taper portions of(6a) and (6b) together.
13. A headrest slider assembly as claimed in claim 6 has slotted headrest stern (7) to be the means of vertical adjustment of the headrest pad (11) and give the means for forward and backward motion of headrest pad (11)
14. A headrest pad (Il)is profiled to give neck and head support
15. A headrest pad as claimed in claim 14 is constructed using various grades of foam segments to give a soft feel with structural support for the head
16. A headrest pad as claimed in claim 14 has foam bonded sections (1 Ia) of stiff foam and (I Ib) of soft foam
17. A headrest pad as claimed in claim 14 has soft foam positioned to collapse under load leaving the stiff sections to move into the head to give support.