US3455600A - Rocking wheel chair - Google Patents

Description

July 15, 1969 1.. w. SECOR ETAL I 3,

ROCKING WHEEL CHAIR Filed Feb. 5, 1968 Z Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTURS.

LEW/5 W 5560!? ALICE E. SECOE July 15, 1969 w, s co A 3,455,600

ROCKING WHEEL CHAIR Filed Feb. 5, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOICS.

LEW/5 W. SECOR ALICE E. SECOR 3,455,600 ROCKING WHEEL CHAIR Lewis W. Eecor and Alice E. Secor, Los Altos, Calif.

(both of 722-1) E. Olive Ave., Burbank, Calif. 91501) Filed Feb. 5, 1968, Ser. No. 702,886 Int. Cl. A47c 4/28, 3/02 US. Cl. 297-45 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A wheel chair having a rocking mechanism and a stability inducing locking mechanism selectively operable by the occupant.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention Description of the prior art Conventional wheel chairs have the seat rigidity -attached to the base frame so that no rocking is possible. Accordingly, with conventional wheel chairs, an individual must dismount from the wheel chair and transfer to a rocking chair or attach auxiliary apparatus to the wheel chair in order to enjoy the relaxation, recreation and physical therapy of rocking.

The only wheel chairs, which include a rocking feature, known to us are disclosed in US. Patent 3,167,350 in which a pair of spring centered opposed arcuate surfaces are provided and which therefore does not provide true rocking motion, and US. Patent 3,306,660 in which a rocking channel is placed under the wheels and which is insecure and not wheeled when on the channel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The desirability of a chair which may be wheeled about while in a stable mode in a conventional manner, placed in a rocking mode for use as a rocking chair and then returned to the original stable mode by the nonambulatory occupant while remaining seated and without assistance has been well established. It is additionally apparent that such a chair should be safe, simple, reliable and adaptable for folding and manufacture by existing practices. It is consequently a general object of the present invention to provide a unitized apparatus constituting a rocking wheel chair.

Another object is to enable a nonambulatory occupant to singularly and unaidedly convert a wheel chair into a rocking chair while at all times remaining seated in the chair.

A further object is to provide a rocking wheel chair which is foldable for ease in transportation and to conserve space in storage.

Still another object is to provide menas for attaining the foregoing objectives while securing complete safety for the individual in the wheel chair.

Briefly, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a wheeled base frame, a body supporting chair States Patent O 3,455,600 Patented July 15, 1969 ice including a seat and a back portion, a spring centered rocking mechanism interconnecting the chair and the frame and a locking means for stabilizing the chair upon the frame.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of. a preferred embodiment of the invention when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a left side elevational view of a rocking wheel chair constructed in accordance with the present invention, the chair being shown in the stable mode;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the rocking mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the rocking mechanism taken on lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the locking mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the locking mechanism taken on lines 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevational view of FIG. 1 taken on lines 6-6 illustrating the transverse strut arrangement between base frame members;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged rotated fragmentary sectional view taken on lines 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged rotated sectional view through the backrest and its supports on lines 8-8 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the backrest and its supports illustrated in FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the figures in which like reference characters designate like parts, and particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown an invalid wheel chair embodying the features of the invention which comprises a wheeled base frame 101 carrying a body supporting chair 102 mounted thereto by a rocking mechanism 103 and a locking mechanism 104 for locking chair 102 to base frame .101 to form a rigid assembly thus preventing relative movement between the chair and the base frame.

Wheeled base frame 101 has a pair of spaced apart vertical frame members, one of which is designated generally 2, which are identical in construction so that a description of one covers both. Each frame member has parallel spaced horizontally extending upper and center longitudinal members 21 and 22, and a lower frame section 23 structurally joined by a vertical rear post 19 and a vertical caster post 20. The rear post 19 carries an axle 18 with a horizontal axis upon which is rotatably mounted a relatively large driving wheel 4. A swiveling caster wheel 3 is mounted to the caster post 20 and with the driving wheel 4 provides rolling support for the base frame. Frame member 2 is further provided with a foot and/ or leg rest assembly generally indicated at 7.

As best seen in FIG. 2, a bearing support block 8 is interposed between and secured to the upper and center longitudinal members 21 and 22 as indicated. Bearing support block 8 provides the main structural element through which loads of chair 102 and its occupant are transferred to the base frame 101. Bearing support block 8 is also used in the foldable connective structure between the frame members as described below.

Opposite vertical frame members 2 are connected, as best illustrated in FIG. 6, one to theother by means of a pair of diagonal transverse struts 5 and 6. Each strut is pivotally connected at its lower end to the lower frame section 23 of a frame member. Transverse struts 5 and 6 are connected together intermediate the ends thereof by means of a pivot such as bolt 41 extended through aligned openings in each strut. As best seen in FIG. 7, strut support brackets 38, configured to accept the upper ends of the transverse struts, are afiixed to the bearing support block 8 of the frame member. The upper ends of each transverse strut are provided Witha notch 42 located to accept a bent tang portion of strut support brackets 38.

As best seen in FIG. 7, safety lock pins 39 passing through aligned openings of the transverse struts 5 and 6 and the support brackets 38 provide positive attachment thereof. Chain lanyards 40 are provided to secure safety lock pins 39 to the strut support brackets to prevent their loss.

Body supporting chair 102, as best seen in FIG. 1, has a spaced apart pair of side frames 44 which are sub stantially in alignment with one another. Each side frame is provided with a side panel 14, an arm rest 17 and the terminal end of a vertically extending back support 15 to which is secured a flexible fabric backrest 47. The upper portion of upstanding back support 15 has a horizontally extending section adapted to receive a hand grip 16. Interposed between the pair of parallel spaced side frames 44 is a foldable solid or hammock seat 13.

As best seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, a spreader bar 48 is disposed across vertical back supports 15, 15 to maintain the lateral spacing thereof. Spreader bar 48 is pivotally mounted to one vertical back support 15 by a pivot bolt 50 and is secured to the opposing back support by a notch therein which engages a standoff screw 51 as indicated. A lock clip 49 is pivotally mounted to the back support by a pivot bolt 54. Lock clip 49 in a normally gravity depended latch will prevent disengagement of standoff screw 51 and the spreader bar. To remove spreader bar 48 upon folding the wheel chair, lock clip 49 is rotated about pivot bolt 54, spreader bar 48 is lifted disengaging it from standoff screw 51 and vertical back supports 15, 15 are thus free to move toward each other as fabric backrest 47 and foldable seat 13 fold.

The spring centered rocking mechanism 103 disposed between wheeled base frame 101 and body supporting chair 102 is best illustrated and understood by referring to FIGS. 2 and 3. Rocking mechanism 103 includes brackets and pivots by which the side frames 44 of chair 102 are rotatably afiixed to frame members 2 of base frame 101 and a spring means resiliently biasing rotational motion about a neutral position. The primary structural element of the rocking mechanism is a support bracket 9 aflixed to side frame 44 of the chair and pivotally supported on base frame member 2 through a pivot bolt 10. Pivot bolt 10 is rotatably attached to the base frame member through a bearing 26 in support block 8. A spacer 27 and bearing retainer 28 are provided to assure interference free movement of support bracket 9 with respect to base frame member 2.

The chair is stabilized in a neutral rotational position by a pair of springs 43 connected between side frame 44 of the chair and frame member 2 of the base frame. Springs 43 are interposed between side frame 44 and base frame member 2 on either side of pivot bolt 10. Brackets 52 and 53 secure the upper and lower end portions of springs 43 to side frame 44 and upper longitudinal member 21, respectively. Springs 43 react in opposite rotational sense to each other and resiliently bias the rocking movement of the chair about the pivot bolt 10 in a neutral position.

A controlled locking mechanism 104 for selectively preventing rocking motion of body supporting chair 102 relative to wheeled base frame 101 is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. More specifically, a lever manipulated four-bar linkage is provided which interjects and removes rigid elements between the base frame member and the chair. An upstanding operating lever 11 is pivotally mounted by extended bolt 24 on one side of frame 44 of the chair. The upper portion of lever 11 is engageable by a slotted bracket 12 affixed to the side panel 14 0f the chair which limits ivotal movement of the lever and locks he lever in either extreme of its movement. A linkage engaging pin 37 extends laterally from the lower extremity of lever 11 and passes through an arcuate clearance slot 45 in the support bracket 9. Linkage engaging pin 37 describes an arcuate path as lever 11 is pivotally moved about the bolt 24. Pin 37 moves two connecting rods 35 and 36 attached thereto during its arcuate movement thereby effecting pivotal movement of clevis links 31 and 32 about clevis bolts 46 by which the clevis links are rotatably attached to lugs 29 and 30 secured to the chair side frame 44 as indicated. Shoes 33 and 34 are pivotally attached to clevis links 31 and 32 and include surfaces which mate with and cooperatively engage upper longitudinal member 21 of frame member 2.

Lugs 29 and 30, clevis links 31 and 32 and shoes 33 and 34 of the locking mechanism, when in mutual alignment as illustrated by the solid lines of FIGS. 4 and 5, constitute a rigid connection between base frame 101 and chair 102 and prevents any rotational movement of the chair relative to the base frame. Counterclockwise rotation of operating lever 11 and consequent movement of the clevis links and shoes, as indicated by the phantom lines in FIG. 4, removes the constraint and allows rotational or rocking movement of the chair relative to the base frame.

The rocking wheel chair is folded by moving parallel chair side frames 44 and base frame members 2 together. Foldable characteristics of the rocking wheel chair are provided by the independent assembly of base frame memher 2, chair side frame 44 and rocking and locking mechanisms 103 and 104 on each side of the wheel chair. A firm safe foldable rocking wheel chair is provided by the securely attached, though disengageable, transverse struts 5 and 6 and spreader bar 48. The body supporting seat 13 and backrest 47 also disposed between the side frame assemblies are flexible and/ or foldable and do not mitigate against folding action of the structure.

In its open or occupiable form, base frame member 2 with attached chair side frames 4 are maintained in parallel spaced relationship by the transverse struts 5 and 6 which are secured to corresponding support brackets 38 by the safety pins 39 as illustrated in FIG. 6. Additionally, lateral spacing of back supports 15, 15 is assured by optional spreader bar 48 disposed thereacross as illustrated in FIG. 9.

To fold the rocking wheel chair, the constraint on the lateral spacing of the back supports 15, 15 is removed by rotating the lock cllip 49 from its downwardly depending position and lifting optional spreader bar 48 thereby disengaging it from standoff screw 51. Transverse struts 5 and 6 are similarly disengaged from brackets 38 by removal of safety lock pins 39. The disengaged struts are then free to pivot on lower frame sections 23, 23 and each other at pivot bolt 41 as base frames 2, 2 are brought together. Reversal of folding and locking procedure will, of course, return the foldable rocking wheel chair into a condition to receive an occupant.

It will be understood that the structural assembly of the Wheel chair is preferably formed of tubular metal stock and is secured together by Welding. However, other types of construction may be employed with equally satisfactory results.

Whereas certain operative forms of the invention have been shown and described, it should be understood that this description should be taken in an illustrative or diagrammatic sense only.

What is claimed is:

1. A rocking wheel chair comprising:

a wheeled base frame;

a chair including a seat and a backrest;

a rocking means, said rocking means including a pivot means for pivotally connecting said chair to said base frame to allow said chair to execute a rocking motion about a pivot axis fixed with respect to said frame, and

a spring means int rconnecting said chai and said base frame for resiliently biasing said chair about a neutral position.

2. A rocking wheel chair in accordance with claim 1 which further includes:

a controllable locking means for selectively and operationally enabling and disabling said pivot means.

3. A rocking wheel chair in accordance with claim 2 in which said locking means includes a lever actuated linkage selectively interposing rigid members between said base frame and said chair on either side of said pivot means for preventing rocking motion therebetween.

4. A rocking wheel chair in accordance with claim 1 in which said chair and said base frame include side frame members which are movable between a spaced apart and a folded position, said wheel chair further including a means to lock at least the side frame members of said base frame in said spaced apart position.

5. A rocking wheel chair comprising:

a base frame including a pair of frame members movable between a spaced apart and a folded position, ground engaging wheel means rotatably mounted to said frame members, and diagonal transverse struts pivotally connected to and extending between said frame members, said struts including means for securing said frame members in at least said spaced apart position;

a chair having a pair of side frames also movable between a spaced apart and a folded position, and a foldable seat and backrest extending between said side frames; and

rocking means for connecting each said side frame to one of said frame members, said rocking means in cluding a pivot means for pivotally connecting each side frame to a frame member, and a spring means for biasing at least one of said side frames to the frame member to which it is connected about a neutral position.

6. A rocking wheel chair in accordance with claim 5 which further includes:

a controllable locking means for selectively locking and unlocking said chair to said base frame, said locking means including a lever actuated linkage selectively interposing rigid members between at least one of said side frames and the frame member to which it is connected for preventing motion therebetween.

7. A rocking wheel chair in accordance with claim 6 which further includes a spreader bar for lockingly interconnecting said pair of side frames in the spread apart position.

8. A rocking wheel chair in accordance with claim 7 in which said spreader bar is pivotally attached to one of said side frames and selectively securable to other said side frame in the spread apart position.

9. A rocking wheel chair in accordance with claim 5 in which each said frame member has a lower frame section, each said strut has a lower and an upper end, said lower ends being pivotally connected to said lower frame sections, said struts pivotally connected to each other intermediate the ends thereof, and said upper ends selectively securable to said frame members to constitute a crossbrace structure joining said frame members in said spaced apart position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 326,968 9/1885 Gibson 297270 961,3 89 6/1910 Walker 297--267 2,716,441 8/1955 Jennings 297 3,167,350 1/1965 Kiel 297-267 DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 297--270

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