Wheelchair attachments

• US 20070114755A1
• Filed: 08/25/2006
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lisa Pasternak, Peter Pasternak
• Original Assignee: Lisa Pasternak, Peter Pasternak
• Inventors: Pasternak, Lisa, Pasternak, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,500,689 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/304.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/10 Parts, details or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1054 Large wheels, e.g. higher than the seat portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1094 Tables, working plates or trays

Abstract

The wheelchair attachments are configured for removable attachment to a wheelchair to facilitate use of the wheelchair by occupants and/or attendants. One attachment is a retractable tray spanning the armrests at the front of the chair when deployed and retracting between the chair structure and a wheel for storage. Another attachment is a series of interchangeably installable handgrips or handles removably installable to the front or back of the chair for use by an attendant. At least some of the various handgrips or handle assemblies provide horizontal and/or vertical adjustment. Yet another attachment is an underseat storage compartment, primarily accessible by an attendant from the back of the chair. All of the various attachments may be installed upon and/or used with a wheelchair independently of one another or in combination with one another, or may be adapted for use with other devices as well.

Claims

1. Wheelchair attachments for a wheelchair having at least a pair of armrests, a wheel disposed outboard of each of the armrests, a pair of seatback support uprights, a seat, and a seat and wheel support frame, the attachments comprising:

a telescoping tray extension arm adapted for attachment to one of the chair armrests;

an articulating tray attached to the tray extension arm;

at least one handgrip attachment adapted for being interchangeably installed to the armrests and to the seatback support uprights; and

an underseat storage compartment adapted for being secured to the seat and wheel support frame beneath the seat.

2. The wheelchair attachments according to claim 1, wherein said articulating tray comprises a first portion and a second portion pivotally attached to the first portion along a lateral line when said articulating tray is deployed across the front of the wheelchair.

3. The wheelchair attachments according to claim 1, wherein said at least one handgrip attachment comprises a plurality of laterally symmetrical handgrip assemblies adapted for being removably and selectively attached to the wheelchair.

4. The wheelchair attachments according to claim 3, wherein at least one of said handgrip assemblies further includes means for positionally adjusting said at least one handgrip assembly on the wheelchair.

5. The wheelchair attachments according to claim 4, wherein said means for adjusting further includes means for adjusting the position of said at least one handgrip assembly both horizontally and vertically.

6. The wheelchair attachments according to claim 3, further comprising means for adjusting lateral spacing between at least two of said handgrip assemblies.

7. The wheelchair attachments according to claim 6, further comprising a second tray disposed between two of said handgrip assemblies.

8. The wheelchair attachments according to claim 1, wherein said underseat storage compartment is formed of a folding, flexible material.

9. An attachment for a wheelchair having at least a pair of armrests, a wheel disposed outboard of each armrest, a pair of seatback support uprights, a seat, and a seat and wheel support frame, the attachment comprising:

a tray attachment arm adapted for attachment to, and telescopically extending from, one of the armrests of the wheelchair, the tray attachment arm having an armrest attachment portion and a distal tray attachment end portion;

an articulating tray extending from the tray attachment end portion of the tray attachment arm, the tray having a tray attachment arm attachment end and a distal end; and

a telescoping tray support arm adapted for attachment to the chair armrest opposite the tray attachment arm for supporting the distal end of the tray when the tray is deployed across the front of the armrests of the wheelchair.

10. The attachment for a wheelchair according to claim 9, wherein said articulating tray comprises a first portion and a second portion pivotally attached to the first portion along a lateral line when said articulating tray is deployed across the front of the wheelchair.

11. The attachment for a wheelchair according to claim 9, further including at least one handgrip attachment adapted for being interchangeably installed to the wheelchair.

12. The attachment for a wheelchair according to claim 11, wherein said at least one handgrip attachment comprises a plurality of laterally symmetrical handgrip assemblies adapted for being removably and selectively attached to the wheelchair.

13. The attachment for a wheelchair according to claim 12, wherein at least one of said handgrip assemblies further includes means for positionally adjusting said at least one handgrip assembly on the wheelchair.

14. The attachment for a wheelchair according to claim 13, wherein said means for adjusting further includes means for adjusting the position of said at least one handgrip assembly both horizontally and vertically.

15. The attachment for a wheelchair according to claim 12, further comprising means for adjusting lateral spacing between at least two of said handgrip assemblies.

16. The attachment for a wheelchair according to claim 15, further comprising a second tray disposed between two of said handgrip assemblies.

17. The attachment for a wheelchair according to claim 9, further including an underseat storage compartment adapted for attachment to the seat and wheel support frame beneath the seat.

18. The attachment for a wheelchair according to claim 17, wherein said underseat storage compartment is formed of a folding, flexible material.

19. An attachment for a wheelchair having at least a pair of armrests, a wheel disposed outboard of each armrest, a pair of seatback support uprights, a seat, and a seat and wheel support frame, the attachment comprising at least one handgrip assembly adapted for being removably and selectively attached to the wheelchair.

20. The attachment for a wheelchair according to claim 19, wherein said at least one handgrip assembly comprises a plurality of laterally symmetrical handgrip assemblies adapted for being removably and selectively attached to the wheelchair.

21. The attachment for a wheelchair according to claim 20, wherein at least one of said handgrip assemblies further includes means for positionally adjusting said at least one handgrip assembly on the wheelchair.

22. The attachment for a wheelchair according to claim 21, wherein said means for adjusting further includes means for adjusting the position of said at least one handgrip assembly both horizontally and vertically.

23. The attachment for a wheelchair according to claim 20, further comprising means for adjusting lateral spacing between at least two of said handgrip assemblies.

24. The attachment for a wheelchair according to claim 23, further comprising a second tray disposed between two of said handgrip assemblies.

25. The attachment for a wheelchair according to claim 19, further including:

a telescoping tray extension arm adapted for attachment to one of the chair armrests; and

an articulating tray attached to the tray extension arm.

26. The attachment for a wheelchair according to claim 25, wherein said articulating tray comprises a first portion and a second portion pivotally attached to the first portion along a lateral line when said articulating tray is deployed across the front of the wheelchair.

27. The attachment for a wheelchair according to claim 19, further including an underseat storage compartment adapted for attachment to the seat and wheel support frame beneath the seat, the underseat storage compartment being formed of a folding, flexible material.

28. An attachment for a wheelchair having at least a pair of armrests, a wheel disposed outboard of each armrest, a pair of seatback support uprights, a seat, and a seat and wheel support frame, the attachment comprising a folding underseat storage compartment adapted for being attached to the seat and wheel support frame of the wheelchair, the underseat storage compartment being formed of a folding, flexible material.

29. The attachment for a wheelchair according to claim 28, further including:

a telescoping tray extension arm adapted for attachment to one of the chair armrests; and

an articulating tray attached to the tray extension arm.

30. The attachment for a wheelchair according to claim 29, wherein said articulating tray comprises a first portion and a second portion pivotally attached to the first portion along a lateral line when said articulating tray is deployed across the front of the wheelchair.

31. The attachment for a wheelchair according to claim 28, further including at least one handgrip assembly adapted for being interchangeably installed to the wheelchair.

32. The attachment for a wheelchair according to claim 31, wherein said at least one handgrip assembly comprises a plurality of laterally symmetrical handgrip assemblies adapted for being removably and selectively attached to the wheelchair.

33. The attachment for a wheelchair according to claim 31, wherein at least one of said handgrip assemblies further includes means for positionally adjusting said at least one handgrip assembly on the wheelchair.

34. The attachment for a wheelchair according to claim 33, wherein said means for adjusting further includes means for adjusting the position of said at least one handgrip assembly both horizontally and vertically.

35. The attachment for a wheelchair according to claim 32, further comprising means for adjusting lateral spacing between at least two of said handgrip assemblies.

36. The attachment for a wheelchair according to claim 32, further comprising a second tray disposed between two of said handgrip assemblies.