WO2007121606A1

WO2007121606A1 - Wheelchair

Info

Publication number: WO2007121606A1
Application number: PCT/CH2007/000197
Authority: WO
Inventors: Heinz DÜRST
Original assignee: Duerst Heinz
Priority date: 2006-04-26
Filing date: 2007-04-24
Publication date: 2007-11-01
Also published as: CH698713B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a wheelchair comprising a seat (1) that has a seat area (2), two main wheels (3a, 3b) located on both sides of the seat area (2), an auxiliary wheel (4) located in front of the seat area (2), and a support structure with two longitudinal beams (5a, 5b). The longitudinal beams (5a, 5b) extend horizontally below the seat level defined by the seat area (2) and support a cross beam (6) which supports the seat (1). The forward ends of the longitudinal beams (5a, 5b) are supported by the auxiliary wheel (4) while the rear ends thereof are supported by one of the main wheels (3a, 3b). The longitudinal positions of the cross beam (6), the auxiliary wheel (4), and the main wheels (3a, 3b) can be adjusted on the longitudinal beams (5a, 5b) as a result of the fact that fastening elements (7, 8, 9) which are allocated to the longitudinal beams (5a, 5b) and embrace the same are disposed in different longitudinal positions on the longitudinal beams (5a, 5b) and can be locked by means of clamps. The inventive wheelchair can thus be easily adapted to a user.

Description

wheelchair

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to a wheelchair for disabled persons according to the preamble of claim 1.

STATE OF THE ART

People with reduced mobility often spend a large part of their time sitting in a wheelchair, which is why it is very important that the wheelchair is adapted to the body mass and abilities of the user. In today available cost-effective "off-the-shelf" wheelchairs, however, the relevant parameters such as seat height and position of the seat are fixed relative to the axes of the main and auxiliary wheels and possibly influenced by the purchase of the model, with the result that such wheelchairs in the If a handicapped person wishes to have a wheelchair individually adapted to their needs, they usually have to order a custom-made product, which entails considerable additional costs compared to a standard solution.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object to provide a wheelchair available, which does not have the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art or at least partially avoids. This task is performed by the wheelchair

Claim 1 solved.

Accordingly, the wheelchair comprises for gehbehin- 'people-made a ^seat' which forms a seating surface.

On both sides of the seat, the two main wheels are arranged, which are usually as large, air-tired spoke wheels with handle for manual driving or Brakes are formed by the user and are usually arranged with respect to the center of gravity on the support structure of the wheelchair that they carry the majority of the weight load from the wheelchair weight and weight of the user. Arranged in front of the seat are one or more (eg two) auxiliary wheels, which are usually much smaller than the main wheels and carry the rest of the weight load. Below the seat plane defined by the seat are two substantially horizontally extending longitudinal members of the support structure of the wheelchair, which in the area of their in

Driving direction seen front ends are supported by the or the auxiliary wheels and in the region of their rear ends respectively by one of the main wheels. Under the seat extends a crossbeam between the side rails, which carries the seat. The crossbeam is carried by the two side members and is attached to this. In this case, the cross-beam, optionally after loosening a lock, in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal beams in stages or steplessly be positioned in at least two different longitudinal positions on the longitudinal beams and fixed in the respective longitudinal position by locking their associated mounting bodies on the longitudinal members, so that the Longitudinal position of the seat relative to the longitudinal members can be adjusted.

This makes it possible to provide wheelchairs with a simple and stable supporting structure in which the sitting position and, if necessary, the center of gravity can be adapted individually to the user.

In addition, in a preferred embodiment of the wheelchair, the main wheels on the longitudinal members can also be positioned in steps or steplessly in at least two different positions in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal members and locked in the respective position by locking one of the respective main wheels. fixing body can be fixed on the respective longitudinal member. Accordingly, this also allows the longitudinal position of the main wheels are adjusted relative to the longitudinal members, resulting in additional optimization options. In a further preferred embodiment of the wheelchair and the auxiliary wheels or on the longitudinal beams in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal beams in stages or steplessly in at least two different positions are positioned, wherein the selected position can be fixed in each case that one of the respective

Auxiliary wheel associated mounting body is locked to the respective side member or on both longitudinal members. As a result, the longitudinal position of the at least one auxiliary wheel can be adjusted relative to the longitudinal members, which opens up further possibilities for optimization.

If the locking bodies of the cross-beam, the main wheels and / or the at least one auxiliary wheel are locked by clamping to the longitudinal beams, which is preferred, then solutions become possible in which a desired longitudinal position can be adjusted and fixed in a simple manner.

It is likewise preferred if the side members in the region in which the one or more fastening bodies of the auxiliary wheel or the auxiliary wheels can be locked are at a substantially smaller distance from one another than in the region in which the fastening bodies of the crossbar can be locked. It is further preferred if the wheelchair has exactly one advantageously arranged in its central longitudinal axis auxiliary wheel, which is connected via an associated fastening body with two side rails.

It is also advantageous if in the area above the auxiliary wheel there are two running boards which can be folded up towards the center longitudinal axis and which are preferably attached to the mounting bodies of the or the auxiliary wheels.

By, these embodiments, it is possible to keep the front lateral areas of the wheelchair free of fixed support structure elements, so that these areas for entry or exit into the wheelchair in and out of this out are available, which is a significant relief allows.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the wheelchair, the seat is connected via a central support column with the cross-beam, wherein it is preferably by means of the support column stepwise or infinitely adjustable in height. This construction makes it possible to use commercially available center column seats, such as office chair seats, which have good ergonomic qualities and are available at low cost.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the wheelchair, the main wheels are each fastened by means of a central bearing bolt without tools demountable on a bearing unit comprising a drum or disc brake system. This makes it possible despite the presence of an effective braking system acting in the hub area, the main wheels, e.g. for transporting the wheelchair, easy and quick to remove and reassemble.

In this case, it is further preferred if the respective bearing unit has an electric motor for driving the main wheel carried by it. This results in a driven wheelchair with a compact, combined storage, braking, and drive unit per main wheel and it will implement embodiments that delivered as unpowered wheelchairs and subsequently subsequently in a simple manner, eg with an extension kit to a driven Wheelchair can be converted. In yet another preferred embodiment of the wheelchair, the longitudinal members pass over their spars in behind the seat surface substantially vertically upwardly extending spars, on which preferably height-adjustable in each case one with advantage folded back armrest is attached.

In this case, it is further preferred if the vertically upwardly extending spars merge at their upper ends into a substantially horizontal grip part, which can be gripped by an auxiliary person located behind the wheelchair, for moving the wheelchair.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the wheelchair, the longitudinal members each have in the area between the fastening bodies of the auxiliary wheel or the auxiliary wheels and the cross-beam on a hinge point with a horizontal axis of rotation, wherein the axes of rotation of the joints of the two longitudinal beams coincide. In addition, each longitudinal member is assigned a spring element, preferably a gas pressure spring element, which is coupled to the two longitudinal member sections connected via the hinge point in such a way that it counteracts a downward buckling of the longitudinal member at the joint point with its spring force. This results in a wheelchair with a sprung support structure.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the wheelchair, the cross-beam also carries a boom with a support wheel whose axis of rotation is arranged behind the axes of rotation of the main wheels and which no contact with this wheelchair standing on a flat surface with the main and auxiliary wheels has flat surface. With such a construction, a rear-tilting of the wheelchair can be safely prevented. In yet another preferred embodiment of the wheelchair, the side members are made of circular formed round tubes, preferably from round aluminum tubes. Such tubes are commercially available inexpensively, easy to process and also have high strength with a low weight.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further preferred embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and from the following description with reference to FIGS. 1 shows a perspective top view of a first embodiment of the wheelchair according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a front view of the wheelchair

Fig. 1 ;

FFiigg. 3 is a side view of the wheelchair

Fig. 1 ;

4 shows a perspective top view of a second embodiment of the inventive wheelchair with the seat removed; and FIG. 5 shows a perspective top view of a third embodiment of the wheelchair with its seat removed according to the invention.

WAYS OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION As can be seen from FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, which shows a first wheelchair according to the invention once in a perspective plan view (FIG. 1), once in a front view (FIG. 2) and once in a side view (FIG ) show, the wheelchair has a seat 1 with a seat 2 and a backrest 11, on both sides of each a large, pneumatic wheeled spoke wheel 3a, 3b is arranged with handle 23 as claim according to the main wheel 3a, 3b. In the area in front of the seat surface 2, the wheelchair has a single small auxiliary wheel 4, which is supported by a fork 22 which is freely rotatable about a vertical, not through the axis of rotation of the auxiliary wheel 4 extending axis, so that the auxiliary wheel 4 when moving the wheelchair, for example, in the direction of travel, can align itself. The actual supporting structure of the wheelchair comprises two longitudinal members 5a, 5b, which extend horizontally in a plane below the seat surface 2, wherein they extend in the area below the seat 1 parallel to a distance of about the width of the seat 2 and in front of the seat 1 converge until they are in the region of their front ends with a small distance again parallel to each other. In this front end region, the side members 5a, 5b are supported by the single auxiliary wheel 4, by the fork 22 is mounted in a mounting body 9, which clampingly surrounds the front parallel ends of the two side members 5a, 5b and thereby simultaneously fixed relative to each other. On the mounting body 9 of the auxiliary wheel 4 are on both sides, folded up to the center longitudinal axis of the wheelchair out, running boards 10 are attached.

At their rear ends arranged parallel to one another, the side members 5a, 5b pass in a arc in substantially vertically behind the backrest 11 upwardly extending parallel spars 15, which are connected to each other via two transverse struts 24, 25 and in turn at their upper ends each in an arc in substantially horizontal, parallel handle parts 17 pass, which are inseparably connected to each other via a transverse strut 27 (visible only in Figures 4 and 5). The upper transverse strut 25 of the uprights 15 is fastened to the uprights 15 by means of end fastening bodies 26 and carries, arranged on these fastening bodies 26, an armrest 17 which can be folded upwards.

In the region of their rear ends, in each case before the transition into the vertical uprights 15, the two longitudinal members 5a, 5b are each supported by one of the two main rollers 3a, 3b, in that the housing 8 of the bearing unit 13 of the respective main wheel 3a, 3b, which is a appropriate fastening body 8 forms, the respective side rail 5a, 5b clamped surrounds and so the bearing unit 13, which in the present case comprises a disc brake system, attached to the side member 5a, 5b. The main wheels 3 a, 3 b are each connected to the bearing unit 13 with a central bearing bolt (not shown) and can thereby be removed from the tool without tools in a simple and rapid manner, the bearing and the brake system including the brake disk remaining on the bearing unit 13. Located between the two longitudinal members 5a, 5b and substantially centrally below the seat 2 is a cross-beam 6, which is fixed by means of the longitudinal beams 5a, 5b clampingly encompassing mounting body 7 on the longitudinal beams 5a, 5b and the seat 1 via a central, height adjustable Support pillar 12 carries. At the same time the cross-beam 6 is used in this construction, the stabilization of the longitudinal beams 5a, 5b relative to each other. Arranged on the back of the cross-beam 6 is a boom 20 with an end-side support wheel 21, which has no contact with the floor standing on flat main and auxiliary wheels 3a, 3b, 4 and only the prevention of a rear overturning of the wheelchair in certain situations with unstable balance serves.

The mounting body 7, 8, 9 with which the cross-beam 6, the main wheels 3 a, 3 b and the auxiliary wheel 4 are fixed by clamping on the longitudinal beams 5 a, 5 b, are here designed such that the clamping each lifted in a simple manner by loosening clamping screws and can be restored. With raised clamping of the fastening bodies 7, 8, 9, the cross-beam 6, the main wheels 3a, 3b and the auxiliary wheel 4 can be displaced within the respective parallel area to a desired position along the longitudinal beams 5a, 5b and there in this position - New clamping of the associated mounting body 7, 8, 9 fixed by tightening the corresponding clamping screws become. The same applies to the armrests 16 supporting lower cross member 25 of the spars 15, which after a. Loosening clamping screws of their fastening body 26 in height along the spars 15 can be moved to a desired position and then in the desired position by tightening the clamping screws can be fixed.

As a result, the wheelchair can be adjusted by simple adjustments individually to the body mass and capabilities of his user. 4 shows a perspective top view of a second wheelchair according to the invention with the seat removed, which apart from the wheelchair previously shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, apart from the fact that the seat is missing, merely distinguishes here in that two longitudinal members 5a, 5b in the front part of the region in which they extend parallel to each other at a distance of approximately the width of the seat surface 2, each having a hinge point 18 with a horizontal axis of rotation, which the respective longitudinal beams 5a, 5b in two to each other around the Swivel axis divides movable sections around. The axes of rotation of the two articulation points 18 coincide, so that the two front sections of the longitudinal members 5a, 5b, which are connected at their front ends via the fastening body 9 of the auxiliary wheel 4, form a kind of rocker, which around the common axis of rotation relative to the remaining part of the wheelchair is movable. In each case arranged between the housing 8 connected to the rear part of the respective longitudinal member 5a, 5b of the bearing unit 13 of the associated main wheel 3a, 3b and a lever 28 fixedly connected to the front part of the respective longitudinal member 5a, 5b is a gas pressure spring 19 , which counteracts a downward-buckling of the respective longitudinal member 5a, 5b with its spring force. Accordingly, there is a sprung support structure, in which the from the front Parts of the longitudinal beams 5a, 5b formed swingarm can move relative to the rest of the wheelchair against the spring force of the two gas springs 19 at a load of the wheelchair relative to the rest of the wheelchair.

5 shows a perspective plan view of a third wheelchair according to the invention, also with the seat removed, which differs from the wheelchair shown in FIG. 4 only in that its bearing units 13, flanged on their insides, each have an electric motor 14, for driving - ben the main wheels 3a, 3b.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in the present application, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these and may be practiced otherwise within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. wheelchair for disabled, comprising a seat (1) with a seat surface (2), two on both sides of the seat (2) arranged main wheels (3a, 3b), at least one in front of the seat (2) arranged auxiliary wheel (4) and a Seat (1) carrying and supported by the main and auxiliary wheels (3a, 3b, 4) supporting structure with two longitudinal beams (5a, 5b), which extend substantially horizontally below a plane defined by the seat (2) and in the area their front ends viewed in the direction of travel are supported by the at least one auxiliary wheel (4) and in the region of their rear ends by one of the main wheels (3a, 3b), characterized in that in the area below the seat surface (2) a crossbeam ( 6), which is supported by the two longitudinal members (5a, 5b) and in turn supports the seat (1), and which in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal beams (5a, 5b) viewed in stages or continuously in at least two different positions the longitudinal beams (5a, 5b) positionable and in the respective position by locking associated fastening body (7) on the longitudinal beams (5a, 5b) is determined, for adjusting the longitudinal position of the seat surface (2) relative to the longitudinal beams (5a, 5b).

2. Wheelchair according to claim 1, characterized in that the main wheels (3a, 3b) on the longitudinal beams (5a, 5b) in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal beams (5a, 5b) are stepwise or steplessly positionable in at least two different NEN positions and the respective Positions by locking associated fastening body (8) on the longitudinal beams (5a, 5b) are detectable, for adjusting the longitudinal position of the main wheels (3a, 3b) relative to the longitudinal beams (5a, 5b).

3. Wheelchair according to one of the preceding

Claims, characterized in that the at least an auxiliary wheel (4) on the longitudinal beams (5a, 5b) in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal beams (5a, 5b) is gradually or steplessly positionable in at least two different positions and the respective position by locking an associated fastening body (9) on the longitudinal beams (5a, 5b) can be detected, for adjusting the longitudinal position of the at least one auxiliary wheel (4) relative to the longitudinal members (5a, 5b).

4. Wheelchair according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking of the respective fastening body (7, 8, 9) by clamping on the longitudinal members (5a, 5b) is effected.

5. Wheelchair according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the longitudinal members (5a, 5b) in the region in which the at least one auxiliary wheel (4) can be positioned, have a substantially smaller and in particular parallel distance from each other as in the area in which the cross-beam (6) can be positioned.

6. Wheelchair according to claim 5, characterized in that the wheelchair has exactly one arranged in particular in the central longitudinal axis auxiliary wheel (4) which carries the front ends of both longitudinal members (5a, 5b).

7. A wheelchair according to claim 6, characterized in that in the area above the auxiliary wheel (4) two to the central longitudinal axis fold-up running boards (10) are present.

8. Wheelchair according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seat (1) via a central support column (12), in particular gradually or continuously height adjustable, with the cross-beam (6) is connected.

9. Wheelchair according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the main wheels (3a, 3b) in each case by means of a central bearing bolt without tools dismantled on a drum or a disk benbremsanlage comprehensive storage unit (13) are attached.

10. Wheelchair according to claim 9, characterized in that the bearing unit (13) has an electric motor (14) for driving the main wheel carried by this (3a, 3b).

11. Wheelchair according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the longitudinal members

(5a, 5b) at their rear ends in each case in a behind the seat (2) extending substantially vertically upwardly extending spar (15), which, in particular height adjustable, carries an in particular folded back armrest (16).

12. A wheelchair according to claim 11, characterized in that the vertically upwardly extending spars (15) pass at their upper ends in each case in a substantially horizontal handle part (17) for gripping by an assistant located behind the wheelchair.

13. Wheelchair according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the longitudinal members

(5a, 5b) in the region between the fastening elements (7, 9) of the auxiliary wheel (4) and the cross-beam (6) each have a hinge point (18) with a horizontal axis of rotation, wherein the axes of rotation of both hinge points (18) coincide, and each side member (5a, 5b) a

Spring element (19), in particular a gas pressure spring element (19), is present, which is arranged in such a way between the two on the hinge point (18) connected to sections of the respective longitudinal member (5a, 5b), that there is a buckling of the longitudinal member (5a, 5b) towards the bottom around the hinge point (18) around resiliently counteracts.

14. Wheelchair according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cross-beam (6) additionally carries a boom (20) with a support wheel (21) whose axis of rotation behind the axes of rotation of Main wheels (3a, 3b) is arranged and which has no contact with this flat surface when standing on a flat surface with the main and auxiliary wheels (3a, 3b, 4) standing wheelchair.

15. Wheelchair according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the longitudinal members (5a, 5b) are formed from circular tubes, in particular round aluminum tubes.