Drop on lift off basket assembly for a wheelchair

• US 4,158,428 A
• Filed: 05/18/1978
• Issued: 06/19/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Clarence W. Bates
• Original Assignee: Clarence W. Bates
• Inventors: Bates, Clarence W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scherbel, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Forsberg, Jerold M.
• Application Number:
  US05/907,232
• Time in Patent Office: 397 Days
• Field of Search: 224/42.42 R, 224/42.42 A, 224/42.43, 224/42.45 R, 224/42.45 B, 224/42.46 R, 224/42.46 B, 224/29 R, 224/29 D, 297/DIG. 4, 297/148, 297/149, 297/150, 297/153, 280/289 WC, 280/289 R, 280/202, 280/727
• US Class Current: 224/275
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/10 Parts, details or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1094 Tables, working plates or trays
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/925 Carrier for grocery bag
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 297/04 Wheelchair

Abstract

A generally rectangular basket, having a two-level bottom with lower level forward, is supported on a wheelchair, having horizontal foot and arm rests vertically spaced apart. Vertical legs are adjustably fixed to the forward and lower bottomed end of the basket to extend downward therefrom and engage the horizontal foot rest. Horizontal arms are adjustably fixed to opposite sides of the basket and extend rearward and over the wheelchair arm rests, the adjustable arms being recessed to fit over and around the wheelchair arms. The basket is thus displaceable only by a lifting force. The depending lower bottom increases carrying space without interfering with the line of sight of an occupant, and also without decreasing the stability of the wheelchair. A lift-off cover for the basket also acts as a horizontal support for things necessary to the limited activities of the wheelchair occupant, while the basket itself is lightened by a multiplicity of perforations for easy attachment and removable by the occupant without help.

Claims

1. A drop-in lift-off basket assembly for a wheelchair, having foot and arm rests, and comprising in combination:

(a) rectangular and open-topped basket means, having a two-step closed bottom that depends forwardly;

(b) telescoping legs mounted on the forward and depending end of said basket means, said legs being extendable vertically downward to engage said foot rest; and

(c) bottom-recessed arm rests respectively mounted on the oppositely disposed sides of said basket means and intermediate the top and bottoms thereof to extend rearward therebeyond, and being adapted to engage in said bottom recesses said wheelchair arm rests, and in cooperation with said legs, support said basket means horizontally on said wheelchair against transverse and downward forces.

2. A drop-on lift-off basket assembly as described in claim 1, wherein the two-step bottom of said basket means conforms to the bent knees of a seated wheelchair occupant and extends the storage capacity of said basket means without decreasing stability of the wheelchair and without increasing overall fore and aft dimensions.

3. A drop-on lift-off basket assembly as described in claim 1 wherein a flat cover slidably engages the side edges of the open top for use as a desk.