GB2519228A - Wheelchair - Google Patents

Abstract

A wheelchair 1 with a seat portion 2 and a back portion 3, the back portion 3 formed of two removable crutches 8 supporting a backrest 9. The seat 2 has two receiving elements 10 fixed to it to engage and locate the crutches 8. The wheelchair is preferably collapsible, and the seat 2 may be made of hinged tubes to enable it to collapse. The wheelchair may have at least three wheels. The crutches 8 are preferably adjustable between at least two lengths. Preferably, the crutches are in a smaller length when they provide support for the backrest surface. The crutches may have a telescopic structure. A wheelchair base with a seat and two receiving elements affixed to the seat, the receiving elements arranged to receive a crutch, wherein the crutches act as the backrest. A crutch with an engagement element in order to provide a backrest for the wheelchair base. An accessory for a crutch for use as a backrest in the wheelchair.

Description

Nheoleh ir

Field of the Invention

The present invention relate to a wheelchair. In p ti ular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a wheelchair with rennnv h *:rucnr, ii. which V-be rut-hos crc irocl l uc r' r tb tC.c. ir.

Backçjoundof th Many wheeich ir users have varable mobility assistan e needs depending on, for example, their fatigue level They may need to use wheelchair at certain times when they fatigued, but Pt to use a ditterent mobility aid, for example to enable them to wal with assistance, when they fee' apable of doing so. One such group of wheelchair users are sufferers of Multiple Sd rosis (M) i is one of many 0 conditions fo which variable fatigue levels, md therefore variable.uuhlitmz, are common. As fatigue 1ev 15 can fluctuate throughout the day, a variety of mobility aids may be required at different times, all of which need to be eadily available for use when needed.

"5 To overcome thi probi em of requiring a variety or mobility aids to hand, combine wheelchairs and walkers are known, in which a frame which may be held by the user to support them whilst walking is attached to, or extendable from, the main frame of wheel hair. -. muplc of this type of device is disclosed in tJS201100 494.

--2 --Another means of providing -w ii ing aid in combination with wheelchair is attaching a pair of c utches to wheelchair, which may be readily detached for use independently to the wheel hair. Devices for attaching S crutche to wheelchair are known, and one such dcv cc is disclosed in US 527152, in whioh a holder to a p ir or cu1he. is sus-ec'oc b e the handlebars of ci wheelchair -Howeve, combined moblirty ai s such th se described above, involve addition of an extra c mponent to the f.x of the wheelchair, such as a fr me for walker or crutch attachment and a pair of crutches. The e additions add weight to the wheelchaIr, and rende it more difficult to t anspo:t, which may further fatigue th usel. The pre ent 1 invention seeks to mitigate the above-mentioned p oblems.

Alternatively or additicnally, the present invention seek to provide an improved wheelch ir.

Summary of th invention

In a first aspect, the pre ent invention p ovides a wheelchair comprising: a frame for supporting a user in a sitting position, comprising a seating portion, two receiving elements affi ed 2 to the seating portion, and backrest portion; whe elrt the backrest portion comprises two crut hos which function -backrest support and which -ir each received by a receiving element, and a iack'.a i supported by the crutches, and wherein the c utches -:-eadily removable from the receiving elements fo use independently from the wheelchai The crutches are a structural p rt of the wheelchair and do not add -ny urine essary weight to the wheelchair itself, Therefore, the weight of the present whe'lchatr may be approximately the same as a conventional wheelchair.

in order to be readily removable, the crutches may be removed by a simple pulling actIon. Alternatively i additionally, the crutches may be removed by releasing a clip or strap. The crut hes may be removed by pushing a button or pulling a ever related to the receiving element Preferably, the wheelchair ± collapsible to a reduced voLume.

Preferably, the seating portion comprises tubes connected by tube hinges for collapsing he atIng portion o a reduced volume> P eferably, the wheelchair ompris s at least 3 wheel: At least one of the wheels m y be detachable from the Preferably, the rut he are adjustable between first tate with first length, and a cc n state with a second length, the second length being less than the fir t length. The crutches are preferably in this econd state 2r when received by the receiving elements Even mor preferably, the crutches are collapsible by means of i telescopic structure. Alternatively, the crutches may be collapsible by tolding.

According to a econd aspect, the present invention p ovides a wheelchair base, comprIsing: a frame base, comprising seating portion and two receiving elements affixed to the seating portion; wherein each of the r ceiving elements is n ig-r ic re dye a crutch such that the crutches provide supports to a hack eat In a third a pect, the present invention provides a crutch _ranged for engagement with a wheelchair base described with referen e to the second aspect of th inventi n, wherein the rutch comprises an en: inrfl: portion for interaction with the receiving P -In a fourth aspect, the present inventi n also p ovide an accessory for modifying a crutch for use in a wheelchair as desc ibed with espect to the first aspect of the invention or for engagement with a wheelchair base according to a econd aspect of the invention.

will of course be appre iated that features described in relation to one sp t of the pres nt invention may be incorpo ated into other aspects of the present invention For example, the first aspect of th invention 0 may incorco te any of the features described with r for n e to the second, third, o fourth aspe t of the invention and vice versa Dc cription of the Drawings Embodiments of tne pre ent invention will now be described by way of e ample only with referen e to the ac ompanying hematic drawings of whl h: FIC. 1 illustrates a) a plan view b) a perspective view, c) a rear view and d) ci ide view f a whe&chair with integral remova is rut hes according to -first embodiment f:he irenL1on.

FG. 2 iliubtrates a) a plan view, b) -perspective view, c) rear view and d) o view of an element for attaching the rutches to the seating frame of the wheelchair FIG. 3 illu trates -) pets e tive view and b) a side view of the wheel hair of FIG with seat cover, backrest surface and rear wheels removed, ho ing the att chment of a pal S rut has to the seating frame of the wheelchair.

4 iliu trates a side view of the crutch tta heel to the seating frame of the whe lchalr.

FIG. 5 illustrates i) a plan view, b) -r pective view, c) air view and d) a side view of handlo of crut h So use in the wheelchan FIG. S illustrates a) ci plan view, b) per pe tive view, c) a side view and d) a rear view of a c-utch for u o in the wheelchair.

LEG. 7 illustrates a) a rear view and b) n perspe tive view of a backrest over being placed over the Lops of the rut che rIG. 8 illustrates a) a plan view, b) a perspective 0 view, c) a rear view and d) a side view of the wheelchair with seat cove and bnckresL urf cc removed, showIng a seating frum of a wheelchair.

i' 9 illustrates:) : side view, b) a perspective view, -) apl viw no) erviewnftnbr-t cvhe use in the constru-tion DL a seating rrna)I t e wheav-rr-hI-10 illustrates -) -i plan xriw, b) a perspocLive view, c) a side view and d) a rear v.w of an example of a tube and Lube hinge assembly, using the tubes of FIG. 9, that may be used for the construction of a seating frame of the wheelchair.

i.. FIG. ii illustrates a) a plan view, b) a perspective view, c) side view and d) a rear view of a slider tia* nay be used In the assembly of fri seating Ii re F::. illustrates a side view of an nssembiy of two p lider F c. ilL i-) a plan view and b) a perspective view of the wheelchair with seat coy r nnd b I est surf e removed, where a pos ible as embly of tubes, tube hinges an T-joint rn U in the seating: -me of the wheelchair is hy.

FIG. 14 illustrate) a plan view, b) -a tirL view, c) a roar view and d) a side view of a T-joint that may be L ccl to assemble Lhe seating frame of the wheelchair i_u. 15 illustrates a) plan view, b) a perspective view, c) a rear view and dl a side vew of -side stopper that may be used in assembly ot the seating:ri.

Detailed Des ription in a first embodiment of tne invention, winch is illust ted in FIG. 1, the wheelchair 1 comprises a seating portion 2, a backrest po tion 3, a pair of to wheels 4, and a pair of front wheels 5. In this embodiment, the seating po tion omp ises a seatng frame 6 and a seat cover 7. The backrest portion compri es a pair of c utches 8 functioning as back est supoorts and which may be readily removed for use as rutohe mdc endently from the wheelchair when required, and a b krest su f ce 9 supported between the two crutches. The crutches are each attached Lo the seating porti n by a re eiving element 10 In this embodiment, the receiving element, as shown in FIG. 2, are T-sh ped nd comprise tubul member 11 an 0 perpendicular member 12. The attachment of the crutches to the seating portion by the receiving elements is shown in The perpendicula member of the receiving ewement attaches to the seating no. tion 0± the wheelchaL, and a crutch is Inserted into the tubular member such that it is held substantially vertica ly by the tubular member for use as a backrest support. In n alternative embodiment, the receiving elements are clamps win ii may e tightened and loosened to hold and re_ca e the crutch respectively. In anot e embodiment, the re eiving elements -e' adjustable straps In another, they are spring clips, known in the art as Terry lips.

lEn the first embodim nL of the invention a described above, the cx it h i held at an appropriate point along its length by the tubular member and pr vented f om passing through the tubul r member any further by a ring increased diamet r ro:1 Liv L the rest of the c utah 13, hat extends L teu.. partially ci cumferentially around the crut h, and which has a diameter greater than the diameter of the inner ambeL of the tubular member 14. Tnis ini f increa ed diameter is positioned along the length of the rutch such that when the crutch is placed into the tubu member in a downward direction relative to the wheelch ir when in use, the ring of increased diameter holds the crutch at the desired height by virtue of the fart that it cannot pass th:ough the tubular member nd instead ctbuts the tubular member, a hown in FTC 4, In one em odiment, the ring of Increased diameter is part of a crutch handle 15, i shown in b 4 A utch handle fo se in this embodiment of the invention i shown in FIG. 5 the rear of the crutch h ndle form a ring to be fiLLed ov.r a crut h, which tnus provides the ring o: increased diameter, and which i 1 o used to att ch the crutch h nd e to the crutch by a bolt through a hole 16 in the ring. The rutch handre of FIG. is shown fitted to a crutch in FIG. b.

In an alternative embodiment, the ring of increased diameter is lo ated on a portion of the crutch below th portion of the.1 ur whi h the di tadc i atta hod.

I a preferred embodiment, the c utah handles also xtend backwardly from the wheelchair for se as handle by which an assistant may push the wheelchair for the use Preferably, Lh cruLches are oil. psible, nd a a coliaps d to an appropriate si'e when placed in the receiving c'rnLtt" r. as backre t upport. The crutches may then be extended to full length when removed from the r eivi i'-o f r u a in ep n nt crut he According embodiment of the Invention, the rutches n. C C L i 1 1 -: hvrnla coic mechanism 17 A crut h of OiiOc iii 1t is 0:0, 6. Tn a preferred embociment, the cutch used in the invention Ii crut h. In another embodiment, the crutch Is n 1nrar1n crutch.

The cru'ches, when inserted into the receiving elements, fun tion as backrest supports. In this way, h need fo the additional weight of permanent wheelchair hfcLe)L upports if -t --wishes to have both a wheelchair and rut hes to hand is eliminated. This reduces tho weight of the wheelchair/crutch ombintLion, making uhe device easie to tran port and use A backrest surface 9 is supported by the crutches functioning i. backro t r 20.

In one embodiment, th back o-'t surface i in the form of a panel 18, h ving at a ch of two opposite ends of its length a sleeve 19 which a e each place over the top of -crutch, as hown in LF 7, such that the backrest surface when in u, is suffictently taut to c mfortably support a sitting user. Preferably the top of the el eve 20 is closed, to ensure the top of the crutch can ot e tend bey nd the top of the sleev and thus that the backre t surface does not lide fu ther down the crutch than de ired, Where the crutch used is a forea m utch, as ill strated in ELG 7, the sleeves of the backre t urfa e may be placed over the cuffs -.

21 of the crutches> In another embodiment, the backrest surface is in the form of one continuous leeve Wich a ole ed top, of the co ro t width to be placed over the tops of both rutches, In another, the backrest surface may be ttached Lo tne n utches by djnstah1e straps In another, the backrest surface may be attachod to the crutches by clips In one embodiment of the invention the eating portion comprises a seat cover and a seating frame, whe em the seating frame shown in FIG. 8) compnses tw c ossbars 22, tw sidebars 23, and a rear wheel axle 24. The crossba s are arranged parallel to one another, and are each assembled f om two tubes 5 connected at one end of each tube bya tube hinge 26, such that the tubes are conne ted in a lnea fashion when th tube hinge is in n open state An example of a tube that may be sed in the assembly of the crossbars is hown in FIG. 9. An assembly of tubes and *ube hinges to form the crossbars according to thi embodim nt of the invention is illustrated in ZG 10 In one emb diment, as illustrated in FTC. 9 nd FIG 10, the c ossb s on we t thei ads to meet the i ebars, to provide a slightly 00. CS rd fl(. tma It L> c nmir --dU se ting portion.

In.r. alternative mbodiment, more than two rossba S ate present. In a further embodiment, the cross bars are arranged in a crossed patte n instead of in parallel.

The rear wheel axle is assembled from: least two tubes 27 and th cc tube hinges 28, 29, 30, wherein two tube hinges 28, 30 a e positioned at one terminus of each tube and one tube hinge 29 is positioned at the opposite terminu of each tube, such that the two tubes are connected in a lInear fa hion when the tube hinge 29 is in an open state The rear wheel axle ± onnectd to the siderars by a conne ting element 31 Th tube hinges act as pivot points, allowing the tubes connectec by the tube hinge to pivot between -first tate wherein the tube hinge ± open and the angle between the two tubes is 180 / and a second tate wherein the tube hinge is do ed and the angle between the two tubes is less than 180' Moving the tube hinges between the fir t t te and th second tate allows the crossbars and rca wheel axle to be f ided, and thus the wheelchair to be collapsed to reduced volume for ease of transportation.

In one embodiment, the tube hinges are cover d by a movable slider 32 illustrated in FIG. 11, A flder in combination with a tube nd tube hinge is shown in FIG. 12 A slider is positioned over the tube hinge and bolts 33 are pas ed through the wall of the tube, the tube hinge and through two guide p ths 4 ut into opposite i es of the lider The bolts are secu n with nuts, and the nov m nt of the lider is thus limited to that where the he da of the bolts and the nuts are within the guide path. This allow the sliders to be moved to cover the tube hinge when the wheelchair is in use, providing additional rigidity to the roe bars and re r wheel axle when the tube hinges are open, nd moved by the user to uncover the tube hinges when the wheelchair is to be collapsed, to allow the tube hinges to close In an alternative embodiment, vhere no sliders are present, the weight of Lhe seated user on the ros bars may be relied upon t prevent the tube hinges from closing and the tubes pivoting downwardly towards each other, away from the u er. fl

In one emboclim nt, the crossbars are conne ted to the sidebar b T-joint 35, as illustrated in L G. 13 The T-joint, illust ated in FIG. 14, comprise a firt rubular portion 3oi extends circurnferentially about a portion of th aid bar a d e nd tubula potion 37 per en icula to the first tubular portion. The second tubular portion connects to a crossbar by insertion of an end portion f rossbar into the inner hamber 0± the se ond tubula portion The second tubular portion and the end portion of the crossbar rre hold in cont ct by bolts passing through holes 38.

The first tubular portions of the T-joints are able to rotate about the circumference of the sidebar to enable the wheelchair to be collapsed a the tube hinges o., the 1C crossbars and the ear wheel yle are losed and the seating me is folded Extending circumferentially about the sideb r r tw stoppers 39 per T-joint (FIG. 15), each of which abuts an end of the fir t tubular portion of the T-joint These e 0 bolted in pla e on the sidebar through hole 40, and thus pr vent the I-joint liding along the length of the sideb r.

In one embodiment of the invention, a p ir of front wheels a is pre ent. The wheels in y ttached to the sidebars as shown in FIG. 13 In another embodiment, only one front wheel is pre ent, preferably located equidisrant to each of the rear whee s i yet another embodiment, front wheels ta not present, nd least one otabalising wneel i instead present at the rear of the wheelchair Optionally, the e front wheels or tabilising wheel are 0 emovable from the wheelchair 5o ease of collapsIng the wheelch ir for tran portation

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rbr Ui° t of th invention, the rear wheels r ffçj:p 1y I rq t low the user to use thel hand to propel them elves without r:sitanr: Tn this em odimen, the rear wheels m y each have a circul r hand rim 41 that is parallel to the plane of the rear wheel and that that extends outwardly from the rear wheel, having a diameter less than i-hat of the re r wheel, to provide urface that does not come into ontact with the ground which the Ae can use to propel them dye by hand. le another embodiment, the roar wheels are too small to allow the user t propel themselves with their hands, and the user is pushed in the wheelchair by an a srstant.

In one embodiment of the:nvention, the rear wheels are removabl from the wheelchair to fa ilitate transportation I? eferably, a seat cover 7 is present to increase the comfort of the seating portion for the user. In one embodiment, th. seat ove Is padded cushion placed on the c ossbars, between the sidebar The cushion is preferably made £ a oomph nt mate i 1 that permits the dispersion and absorption of force between the u er's body and the s fr me, a furtner embodiment, the eat cover is a strip fabri, for example canvas, toa is held by the i eb r above the rossbars of the wheel hair such that the rabric is sufficiently taut to support the weght of a seated user, In one embodiment the fabric is bolted to the sidebars through eyelets punched in the fabric.

Preferably, the wheelchair of the invention also comp ises a braking system, to prevent the wheel hair no. rcllin on an incline when the user wishes to be stationary.

Optionally, wheelchair of the invention may have a va iety £ other featu e These may include one or more of: footrests; armrests; skirt t n b " upwardly frorr and porpendicularly to the seat cover f on each of the sidebar for protectin tho user from d:rt and moisture that m y be kickect upwards by the wheels; and Lip ing lever to enable the user o tip the wheelchair backwards onto the wheels, allowin the:c move-the wheetchal obstacle, such The present invention als encompasses wheelchaIr a es, with no backrest, to which a pair of crutches and -backrest surface may be added to produ e a wheelchair of the invention which nas crut hes functoning as backrest upports, which may be removed for use independently from the wheelchair. The invention also encompasses a rut li which has been modified for use wtth such a wheelchair base, to produce a whe lchair of the invention. An accessoy for the modifi ation of a crutch for interaction with such a wheel haU base, to produce wheel hair of the invention, is 31so n ompassed by the invention.

Whilst the present inventi n h s been described and nI t-L -. wth efereic to particular embodiments, it will cc cpre'ia i bi Lho of ordinary skill in the art that LILC invention ed. itself to many different variation not specifically illustreted herein.

Where in the foregoing description, : ntegers or

elements are mentioned which have known, obvious or foreseeable equivalents, then such equivalent a1 herein moo porated d if individually set forth Reference should be made to the ci iris for etermining the true scope of the present invention, whi h hould be construed so s to encompas any such equivalents It wfll also be appreciated by the reader that inte era or features of the invention -15 -th t are described as pr to ble, dv ntageous, convenient r the.. Ike. it optional and do not limit tho so pe of the independent claims. Mon over, it is to be understood that su h optional intege s or features, whilst of possibte benefit in some embodiment of the invention may n t desirable, n may Lherefor b absent, in other embodiments -