GB2184006A

GB2184006A - Adjustable wheelchair

Info

Publication number: GB2184006A
Application number: GB08530964A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jeremy Joseph Fry
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-12-16
Filing date: 1985-12-16
Publication date: 1987-06-17
Also published as: GB8530964D0

Abstract

An adjustable wheelchair has a chair (1) and is tiltable on a wheeled base (2) between a first position in which an occupant's feet are in a lowered position and a second position in which the occupant's feet are in a raised position to increase the clearance from the ground. Catches (24, 25) are preferably provided to hold the chair in the first and second positions and are manually or electrically releasable to allow tilting of the chair (1). A leg-support (8) with a footrest (9) may be pivotally mounted on the chair (1) so as to be movable rearwardly in order to reduce the overall length of the chair (1). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Adjustable Wheelchair The present invention relates to an adjustable wheelchair.

A wheelchair normally requires a low ground clearance for the occupant's feet if it is to be used indoors, so that the occupant's knees can be accommodated under a table or desk. However, if the wheelchair is to be used outside, a high ground clearance for the occupant's feet is desirable, e.g.

when travelling over bumpy or undulating ground.

The invention provides an adjustable wheelchair comprising a chair and a wheeled base, wherein the chair is tiltable on the wheeled base between a first position in which the occupant's feet are in a lowered position and a second position in which the occupant's feet are in a raised position to increase the clearance from the ground.

Thus, the wheelchair may be used indoors with the chair in the first position and outdoors in the second position.

Preferably, a leg support having a footrest is pivotally mounted to the chair so as to be movable rearwardly, e.g. against a spring bias, to reduce the overall length of the chair.

This feature is particularly useful if the wheelchair is used in a confined space, e.g. in a lift.

Preferably, the leg support is movable rearwardly to a sufficient extent to allow knee overhang of the chair occupant.

This feature is particularly useful for men or boys since it allows them to urinate conveniently from the chair.

Preferably, the chair is releasably attached to the base. Both the chair and the base may be collapsible to facilitate carriage and storage.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure lisa perspective view of the wheelchair with the chair in the first position.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the wheelchair of Figure 1 with the chair in the second position, and Figures 3a and b show diagrammatically in side view the leg support and footrest in an extended and retracted position, respectively.

In Figures 1 and 2, a wheelchair has a chair 1 detachably mounted on a wheeled base 2 by means of a releasable locking device 3. The chair has opposite side portions 4 having a bottom edge with two surfaces 5,6 inclined relative to each other, e.g.

at about 163 . This allows the chairto tilt about 17 from a first position shown in Figure 1 to a second position shown in Figure 2 about a pivot 7.

The chair has a leg support 8 and a footrest 9. As can be seen from a comparison of Figures 1 and 2, the distance between the footrest 9 and the ground is considerably greater in Figure 2 than in Figure 1.

In the first position as shown in Figure 1, the wheelchair is particularly suitable for indoors, and the occupant can accommodate his or her knees under a table or desk. In the second position as shown in Figure 2, the wheelchair is particularly suitable for outdoors since the footrest 9 will clear normal obstacles, e.g. bumps and undulations, and standard kerbs.

The pivot 7 is positioned so that the chair 1 may be tilted between the first and second positions merely by shifting weight. Catches 24, 25 for holding the chair in the first and second positions, respectively, are released manually, e.g. by means of levers 10, to allow tilting of the chain between the first and second positions.

As shown in Figures 3a and 3b, the front of the base 2 has a cutout portion 12 to allow rearward movement of the leg support 8 against a spring bias (not shown) when the foot rest 9 encounters an obstacle (e.g. a WC bowl). In the retracted position shown in Figure 3b, the wheelchair can be accommodated more easily in a confined space, e.g.

in a lift. Furthermore, in this position the knees overhang the front of the chair 1. Thus, when the wheelchair is driven against a WC bowl urinating for a man or boy is facilitated.

The wheelchair may be electrically driven and may have four-wheel drive and four-wheel steering as disclosed in my copending applications of even data entitled "Wheelchair Drive" (8530961) and "Wheelchair Steering" (8530962). The drive and steering may be controlled from a single joystick assembly 13 mounted in either armrest 11, and therefore the joystick indirectly controls the movement of the footrest from the position shown in Fig. 3a to that shown in Fig. 3b by driving the wheelchair against an obstacle.

The wheelchair maybe fully collapsible for carriage and storage. Thus, the chair 1 may be unlatchable, e.g. by means of the releasable locking device 3, from the wheeled base 2 at the pivot 7 and liftable in the direction of the arrow 14 in Figure 1.

Back 16 (together with headrest 15) armrests 11 and armrest supports 17 may all be hingeable inwardly to lie substantially flat on the chair 1 as shown by the arrows 18 in Figure 1, after the joystick assembly 13 has been pulled out in the direction of arrow 19.

Similarly, the leg support 8 and the footrest 9 may be hinged upwardly in the direction of arrows 20 to lie against the underside of the chair 1.

Alternatively, the back 16, arm resits 11 and armrest supports 17 may all be hingeable outwardly to permit transfer of the occupant, e.g. to a bed, or stretcher.

Finally, motors 21 driving wheels 22 may be unlatched by means of pulls 23 to allow the motors 21 and wheels 22 to be pivoted up against the underside ofthe base 2.

1. An adjustable wheelchair comprising a chair and a wheeled base, wherein the chair is tiltable on the wheeled base between a first position in which an occupant's feet are in a lowered position and a second position in which the occupant's feet are in a raised position to increase the clearance from the ground.

2. An adjustable wheelchair as claimed in claim 1, wherein catches are provided to hold the chair in the first and second position and are releasable to allow

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Adjustable Wheelchair The present invention relates to an adjustable wheelchair. A wheelchair normally requires a low ground clearance for the occupant's feet if it is to be used indoors, so that the occupant's knees can be accommodated under a table or desk. However, if the wheelchair is to be used outside, a high ground clearance for the occupant's feet is desirable, e.g. when travelling over bumpy or undulating ground. The invention provides an adjustable wheelchair comprising a chair and a wheeled base, wherein the chair is tiltable on the wheeled base between a first position in which the occupant's feet are in a lowered position and a second position in which the occupant's feet are in a raised position to increase the clearance from the ground. Thus, the wheelchair may be used indoors with the chair in the first position and outdoors in the second position. Preferably, a leg support having a footrest is pivotally mounted to the chair so as to be movable rearwardly, e.g. against a spring bias, to reduce the overall length of the chair. This feature is particularly useful if the wheelchair is used in a confined space, e.g. in a lift. Preferably, the leg support is movable rearwardly to a sufficient extent to allow knee overhang of the chair occupant. This feature is particularly useful for men or boys since it allows them to urinate conveniently from the chair. Preferably, the chair is releasably attached to the base. Both the chair and the base may be collapsible to facilitate carriage and storage. An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure lisa perspective view of the wheelchair with the chair in the first position. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the wheelchair of Figure 1 with the chair in the second position, and Figures 3a and b show diagrammatically in side view the leg support and footrest in an extended and retracted position, respectively. In Figures 1 and 2, a wheelchair has a chair 1 detachably mounted on a wheeled base 2 by means of a releasable locking device 3. The chair has opposite side portions 4 having a bottom edge with two surfaces 5,6 inclined relative to each other, e.g. at about 163 . This allows the chairto tilt about 17 from a first position shown in Figure 1 to a second position shown in Figure 2 about a pivot 7. The chair has a leg support 8 and a footrest 9. As can be seen from a comparison of Figures 1 and 2, the distance between the footrest 9 and the ground is considerably greater in Figure 2 than in Figure 1. In the first position as shown in Figure 1, the wheelchair is particularly suitable for indoors, and the occupant can accommodate his or her knees under a table or desk. In the second position as shown in Figure 2, the wheelchair is particularly suitable for outdoors since the footrest 9 will clear normal obstacles, e.g. bumps and undulations, and standard kerbs. The pivot 7 is positioned so that the chair 1 may be tilted between the first and second positions merely by shifting weight. Catches 24, 25 for holding the chair in the first and second positions, respectively, are released manually, e.g. by means of levers 10, to allow tilting of the chain between the first and second positions. As shown in Figures 3a and 3b, the front of the base 2 has a cutout portion 12 to allow rearward movement of the leg support 8 against a spring bias (not shown) when the foot rest 9 encounters an obstacle (e.g. a WC bowl). In the retracted position shown in Figure 3b, the wheelchair can be accommodated more easily in a confined space, e.g. in a lift. Furthermore, in this position the knees overhang the front of the chair 1. Thus, when the wheelchair is driven against a WC bowl urinating for a man or boy is facilitated. The wheelchair may be electrically driven and may have four-wheel drive and four-wheel steering as disclosed in my copending applications of even data entitled "Wheelchair Drive" (8530961) and "Wheelchair Steering" (8530962). The drive and steering may be controlled from a single joystick assembly 13 mounted in either armrest 11, and therefore the joystick indirectly controls the movement of the footrest from the position shown in Fig. 3a to that shown in Fig. 3b by driving the wheelchair against an obstacle. The wheelchair maybe fully collapsible for carriage and storage. Thus, the chair 1 may be unlatchable, e.g. by means of the releasable locking device 3, from the wheeled base 2 at the pivot 7 and liftable in the direction of the arrow 14 in Figure 1. Back 16 (together with headrest 15) armrests 11 and armrest supports 17 may all be hingeable inwardly to lie substantially flat on the chair 1 as shown by the arrows 18 in Figure 1, after the joystick assembly 13 has been pulled out in the direction of arrow 19. Similarly, the leg support 8 and the footrest 9 may be hinged upwardly in the direction of arrows 20 to lie against the underside of the chair 1. Alternatively, the back 16, arm resits 11 and armrest supports 17 may all be hingeable outwardly to permit transfer of the occupant, e.g. to a bed, or stretcher. Finally, motors 21 driving wheels 22 may be unlatched by means of pulls 23 to allow the motors 21 and wheels 22 to be pivoted up against the underside ofthe base 2. CLAIMS

2. An adjustable wheelchair as claimed in claim 1, wherein catches are provided to hold the chair in the first and second position and are releasable to allow tilting of the chair between the first and second positions.

3. An adjustable wheelchair as claimed in claim 2, wherein the catches are released manually or electrically.

4. An adjustable wheelchair as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the chair is tilted into the first or second position by appropriate movement of the occupant.

5. An adjustable wheelchair as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the chair is biased into the first position by the weight of the occupant.

6. An adjustable wheelchair as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a leg support having a footrest is pivotally mounted to the chair so as to be movable rearwardly to reduce the overall length of the chair.

7. An adjustable wheelchair as claimed in claim 6, wherein the leg support is movable rearwardly to a sufficient extent to allow knee-overhang of the chair occupant.

8. An adjustable wheelchair as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein the leg support is movable rearwardly against a spring bias.

9. An adjustable wheelchair as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the chair is releasably attached to the wheeled base.

10. An adjustable wheelchair as claimed in claim 9, wherein the chair is collapsible to facilitate carriage and storage.

11. An adjustable wheelchair as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein the base has releasable wheels to facilitate carriage and storage.

12. An adjustable wheelchair as claimed in claim 11, wherein the wheels are pivotable under the base.

13. An adjustable wheelchair substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.