Wheeled attachment for a chair

• US 3,945,449 A
• Filed: 01/31/1975
• Issued: 03/23/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Henry J. Ostrow
• Original Assignee: Henry J. Ostrow
• Inventors: Ostrow, Henry J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Song, Robert R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pekar, John A.
• Application Number:
  US05/546,102
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 280/35, 280/242 WC, 280/250, 280/211, 180/6.5, 180/65 R, 180/65 A, 180/DIG. 3
• US Class Current: 180/6.5
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/023 acting directly on hubs or axis
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/026 Cranks or hand wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/045 Rear wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1018 on the running surface
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/40 Rider propelled cycles with auxiliary electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 180/907 Motorized wheelchairs

Abstract

A generally rectangularly shaped support frame provided with ground-engaging wheels upon which almost any type and size of conventional chair may be readily mounted so as to provide mobile means for transporting non-ambulatory persons; certain of the ground engaging wheels are capable of being rotated manually by the person using the converted wheel chair in order to propel the chair in two embodiments of the invention, electrically in a third embodiment and selectively manually or electrically or both manually or electrically in a fourth embodiment thereof; a retractible foot rest is also incorporated in the support frame.

Claims

1. A wheeled attachment for converting a chair having leg means into mobile means for transporting non-ambulatory persons, comprising, a generally rectangularly shaped chair support frame lying generally in a horizontal plane having a pair of transversely spaced and parallel, longitudinally extending side sill members, a transversely extending front sill member and a transversely extending rear sill member longitudinally spaced and parallel with respect to said front sill member, one end of each side sill member being rigidly connected to a respective end of said front sill member and its opposite end rigidly connected to a respective end of said rear sill member;

means for individually adjusting the length of each of said front, rear, and side sill members;

ground-engaging wheel means at each corner of said chair support frame for supporting said chair support frame in a generally horizontal plane, the rotational axes of said wheel means being vertically spaced above said generally horizontal plane of said chair support frame chair leg supporting and securing means at each corner of said chair support frame, each of said chair leg supporting and securing means being operatively connectible to a respective leg means of a chair and including a generally flat mounting plate for supporting a respective one of the chair leg means, socket means carried by said mounting plate for receiving said respective one of said chair leg means, means for detachably securing said respective one of said chair leg means in said socket means, and means for adjustably securing said mounting plate to a respective one of said front and rear sill members at any one of a plurality of positions along the length thereof independently of said means for individually adjusting the length of each of said front, rear, and side sill members, said mounting plate being substantially horizontally disposed when in use and longitudinally spaced intermediate said wheel means at the two forwardmost corners and said wheel means at the two rearwardmost corners of said chair support frame in all of its adjusted positions.

2. A wheeled attachment as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said ground-engaging wheel means at each of the two forwardmost corners of said chair support frame includes a bracket integrally formed with a respective one of said side sill members and extending longitudinally forwardly therefrom, said brackets being substantially Z-shaped in side elevation so as to provide a pair of substantially horizontally disposed, vertically spaced and parallel legs, a first one of said bracket legs lying substantially in said horizontal plane of said chair support frame and a second one of said bracket legs being vertically spaced above said horizontal plane, and a swivel-type caster carried by said second one of said bracket legs, said caster being capable of pivoting 360°

about a substantially vertical axis.

3. A wheeled attachment as set forth in claim 2, wherein each of said socket means includes an elongated rubber sleeve having one end secured to a respective one of said flat mounting plates and extending generally vertically therefrom, and wherein said means for adjustably securing said mounting plate to a respective one of said front and rear sill members at any one of a plurality of positions along the length thereof additionally includes means for further individually adjusting the longitudinal and transverse position of said rubber sleeve associated therewith at each of said plurality of adjusted positions of said mounting plate.

4. A wheeled attachment as set forth in claim 2, further including drive means for individually and selectively rotating each of said wheel means at each of the two rearwardmost corners of said chair support frame in forward and reverse directions.

5. A wheeled attachment as set forth in claim 4, wherein said wheel means at each of the two rearwardmost corners of said chair support frame includes a generally upright standard having its lowermost end rigidly secured to said chair support frame at the intersection of a respective side sill member and said rear sill member, said standard extending generally vertically from said chair support frame and carrying a transversely extending stub shaft at its uppermost end, and a ground-engaging rear wheel rotatably supported on said stub shaft;

and said drive means includes a hand wheel of less diameter than said rear wheel and secured to said rear wheel on the exteriorly facing side thereof whereby the wheeled attachment may be manually propelled by the chair occupant.

6. A wheeled attachment as set forth in claim 4, wherein each of said drive means includes a transversely outwardly projecting stub shaft at each of the two rearwardmost corners of said chair support frame, a ground-engaging rear wheel rotatably supported on said stub shaft;

and wherein each of said drive means for rotating each rear wheel includes a manually-operable mechanism.

7. A wheeled attachment as set forth in claim 6, further including a manually operable brake means associated with each of said rear wheels for preventing rotation thereof.

8. A wheeled attachment as set forth in claim 4, wherein each of said drive means includes a transversely outwardly projecting stub shaft at each of the two rearwardmost corners of said chair support frame, a ground-engaging rear wheel rotatably supported on said stub shaft;

and wherein each of said drive means for rotating each rear wheel includes electrically driven power means and power transmission means operatively interconnecting said electrically driven power means and a respective on of said rear wheels.

9. A wheeled attachment as set forth in claim 8, including manually operable control means operatively connected to said power transmission means for selectivvely rendering said power transmission means effective and ineffective for operatively interconnecting said electrically driven power means and said respective one of said rear wheels;

and wherein each of said drive means for rotating each rear wheel further includes a manually-operable mechanism capable of being operated independently of said electrically driven power means.

10. A wheeled attachment for converting a chair having leg means into mobile means for transporting nonambulatory persons, comprising, a generally rectangularly shaped chair support frame having a pair of transversely spaced and parallel, longitudinally extending side sill members, a transversely extending rear sill member longitudinally spaced and parallel with respect to said front sill member, one end of each side sill member being rigidly connected to a respective end of said front sill member and its opposite end rigidly connected to a respective end of said rear sill member;

chair leg supporting and securing means at each corner of said chair support frame, each of said chair leg supporting and securing means being operatively connectible to a respective leg means of a chair, each of said chair leg supporting and securing means at each corner of said chair support frame including a generally flat mounting plate for supporting a respective one of the chair leg means, socket means carried by said mounting plate for receiving said respective one of said chair leg means, means for detachably securing said respective one of said chair leg means in said socket means, and means for adjustably securing said mounting plate to a respective one of said front and rear sill members at any one of a plurality of positions along the length thereof, said mounting plate being substantially horizontally disposed when in use;

means for individually adjusting the length of each of said front, rear, and side sill members;

ground-engaging wheel means at each corner of said chair support frame for supporting said chair support frame in a generally horizontal plane, the rotational axes of said wheel means being vertically spaced above said generally horizontal plane of said generally horizontal plane of said chair support frame, each of said ground-engaging wheel means at each of the two forwardmost corners of said chair support frame including a bracket integrally formed with a respective one of said side sill members and extending longitudinally forwardly therefrom, said brackets being substantially Z-shaped in side elevation so as to provide a pair of substantially horizontally disposed, vertically spaced and parallel legs, a first one of said bracket legs lying substantially in said horizontal plane of said chair support frame and a second one of said bracket legs being vertically spaced above said horizontal plane, and a swivel-type caster carried by said second one of said bracket legs, said caster being capable of pivoting 360°

about a substantially vertical axis; and

drive means for individually and selectively rotating each of said wheel means at each of the two rearwardmost corners of said chair support frame in forward and reverse directions, each of said means including a transversely outwardly projecting stub shaft at each of the two rearwardmost corners of said chair support frame, a ground-engaging rear wheel rotatably supported on said stub shaft, and each of said drive means for rotating each rear wheel including electrically driven power means and power transmission means operatively interconnecting said electrically driven power means and a respective one of said rear wheels, each of said electrical power means including, a reversible electric motor-speed reducer unit mounted on said rear sill member at a respective end thereof, and said power transmission means including a driven gear fixed to the interiorly facing side of a respective one of said rear wheels, and a drive pinion gear in meshing engagement with said driven gear, said drive pinion gear being drivingly connected to the output shaft of said electric motor-speed reducer unit.

11. A wheeled attachment as set forth in claim 10, further including a source of electrical energy for supplying both of said electric motor-speed reducer units with electrical energy, said source of electrical energy being in the form of a storage battery supported on said rear sill member substantially midway between the ends thereof.

12. A wheeled attachment as set forth in claim 10, including manually operable control means operatively connected to said drive pinion gear for selectively moving said drive pinion gear into and out of meshing engagement with said driven gear;

and wherein each of said drive means for rotating each rear wheel further includes manually operable power means and power transmission means operatively interconnecting said manually operable power means and a respective one of said rear wheels, said power transmission means including a rotatable driven member drivingly connected to a respective one of said rear wheels, a rotatable drive member spaced from said driven member, and an endless power transmitting means trained around and drivingly interconnecting said drive and driven members; and

said manually operable power means includes a manually rotatable hand wheel operatively connected to said drive member whereby said hand wheel and drive member are rotatable in unison, means for supporting said hand wheel and drive member are rotatable in unison, means for supporting said hand wheel and drive member for rotation about a transversely extending, substantially horizontal axis, and hand grip means carried by said hand wheel to facilitate rotation of the same.

13. A wheeled attachment for converting a chair having leg means into mobile means for transporting non-ambulatory persons, comprising, a generally rectangularly shaped chair support frame having a pair of transversely spaced and parallel, longitudinally extending side sill members, a transversely extending front sill member and a transversely extending rear sill member longitudinally spaced and parallel with respect to said front sill member, one end of each side sill member being rigidly connected to a respective end of said front sill member and its opposite end rigidly connected to a respective end of said rear sill member;

chair leg supporting and securing means at each corner of said chair support frame, each of said chair leg supporting and securing means being operatively connectible to a respective leg means of a chair, each of said chair leg supporting and securing means at each corner of said chair support frame including a generally flat mounting plate for supporting a respective one of the chair leg means, socket means carried by said mounting plate for said said respective one of said chair leg means, means for detachably securing said respective one of said chair leg means in said socket means, and means for adjustably securing said mounting plate to a respective one of said front and rear sill members at any one of a plurality of positions along the length thereof, said mounting plate being substantially horizontally disposed when in use;

means for individually adjusting the length of each of said front, rear, and side sill members; and

ground-engaging wheel means at each corner of said chair support frame for supporting said chair support frame in a generally horizontal plane, the rotational axes of said wheel means being vertically spaced above said generally horizontal plane of said chair support frame, each of said ground-engaging wheel means at each of the two forwardmost corners of said chair support frame includes a bracket integrally formed with a respective one of said side sill members and extending longitudinally forwardly therefrom, said brackets being substantially Z-shaped in side elevation so as to provide a pair of substantially horizontally disposed, vertically spaced and parallel legs, a first one of said bracket legs lying substantially in said horizontal plane of said chair support frame and a second one of said bracket legs being vertically spaced above said horizontal plane, and a swivel-type caster carried by said second one of said bracket legs, said caster being capable of pivoting 360°

about a substantially vertical axis; and

drive means for individually and selectively rotating each of said wheel means at each of the two rearwardmost corners of said chair support frame in forward and reverse directions, each of said drive means including a transversely outwardly projecting stub shaft at each of the two rearwardmost corners of said chair support frame, a ground-engaging rear wheel rotatably supported on said stub shaft, and each of said drive means for rotating each rear wheel including a manually-operable mechanism, each of said drive means for rotating each rear wheel including manually operable power means and power transmission means operatively interconnecting said manually operable power means and a respective one of said rear wheels, said power transmission means including a rotatable driven member fixed to the interiorly facing side of a respective one of said rear wheels, a rotatable drive member spaced from said driven member, and endless power transmitting means trained around and drivingly interconnecting said drive and driven members, said manually operable power means including a manually rotatable hand wheel operatively connected to said drive member whereby said hand wheel and drive member are rotatable in unison, means for supporting said hand wheel and drive member for rotation about a transversely extending, substantially horizontal axis, and hand grip means carried by said hand wheel to facilitate rotation of the same.

14. A wheeled attachment as set forth in claim 13, wherein said means for supporting said hand wheel and drive member about a transversely extending, substantially horizontal axis includes an elongated casing substantially enclosing said drive and driven members and said endless power transmitting means, and a stub shaft carried by said casing adjacent the normally uppermost end thereof for rotatably supporting said drive member and said hand wheel, said casing being angularly adjustable about the rotational axis of the rear wheel with which it is associated to a plurality of angular postions with respect to said generally horizontal plane of said chair support frame and releasable securing means for rigidly securing said casing in each of said angularly adjusted positions.

15. A wheeled attachment as set forth in claim 14, wherein said releasable securing means includes an elongated brace means having one end pivotally connected to said casing at a point intermediate its ends, and means for detachably connecting the other end of said brace means to a respective one of said side sill members at any one of a plurality of points spaced along the longitudinal axis of said side sill member.

16. A wheeled attachment as set forth in claim 14, wherein said drive and driven members are in the form of pulley sheaves and said endless power transmitting means is an endless, flexible belt, said driven pulley sheave having a pitch diameter larger than the pitch diameter of said drive pulley sheave.

17. A wheeled attachment for converting a chair having leg means into mobile means for transporting non-ambulatory persons, comprising, a generally rectangularly shaped chair support frame having a pair of transversely spaced and parallel, longitudinally extending side sill members, a transversely extending front sill member and a transversely extending rear sill member longitudinally spaced and parallel with respect to said front sill member, one end of each side sill member being rigidly connected to a respective end of said front sill member and its opposite end rigidly connected to a respective end of said rear sill member;

chair leg supporting and securing means at each corner of said chair support frame, each of said chair leg supporting and securing means being operatively connectible to a respective leg means of a chair, each of said chair leg supporting and securing means at each corner of said chair support frame including a generally flat mounting plate for supporting a respective one of the chair leg means, socket means carried by said mounting plate for receiving said respective one of said chair leg means, means for detachably securing said respective one of said chair leg means in said socket means, and means for adjustably securing said mounting plate to a respective one of said front and rear sill members at any one of a plurality of positions along the length thereof, said mounting plate being substantially horizontally disposed when in use;

ground-engaging wheel means at each corner of said chair support frame in a generally horizontal plane, the rotational axes of said wheel means being vertically spaced above said generally horizontal plane of said chair support frame, each of said ground-engaging wheel means at each of the two forwardmost corners of said chair support frame includes a bracket integrally formed with a respective one of said side sill members and extending longitudinally forwardly therefrom, said brackets being substantially Z-shaped in side elevation so as to provide a pair of substantially horizontally disposed, vertically spaced and parallel legs, a first one of said bracket legs lying substantially in said horizontal plane of said chair support frame and a second one of said bracket legs being vertically spaced above said horizontal plane, and a swivel-type caster carried by said second one of said bracket legs, said caster being capable of pivoting 360°

about a substantially vertical axis;

means for individually adjusting the length of each of said front, rear, and side sill members; and

a generally rectangularly shaped and horizontally disposed foot rest, means for supporting said foot rest on said chair support frame for longitudinal sliding movement between a retracted position wherein the forwardmost edge of said foot rest is closely adjacent said front sill member and an extended position wherein said forwardmost edge of said foot rest is longitudinally spaced forwardly of said front sill member, and manually operable means for moving said foot rest between its retracted and extended positions.