Mobile and adaptable wheel chair
First Claim
1. A wheel chair comprising:
- a frame;
a transverse torsion bar rotatably mounted near its ends on the forward portion of said frame;
a pair of rearwardly extending, elongated wheel support arms non-rotatably mounted on the ends of said torsion bar;
a rear wheel rotatably mounted at the trailing end of each of said wheel support arms;
a control arm non-rotatably secured to the mid-portion of said torsion bar;
a hydraulic ram pivoted between said control arm and said frame so that the position of the piston in said hydraulic ram will determine the angular disposition of said wheel support arms, and said hydraulic ram when set holds said mid-portion against rotation, so that torsion at one end of said torsion bar is not transmitted to the other end thereof; and
at least one front wheel rotatably mounted at the forward end of said frame.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wheel chair, including a frame, with the rear wheels mounted independently, each on an elongated arm, which extends rearward from a torsion bar. The center of the torsion bar is normally gripped against rotation to prevent transmittal of torsion from one end of the bar to the other, but the torsion bar may be turned through an arc to raise and lower the rear wheels, so as to maintain the chair level when going up or down a grade. A leg support panel is mounted on a linkage to enable it to pivot about an axis corresponding to the knee axis of the patient and the back support pivots between upright and horizontal position generally about the hip axis of the person. A padded support extends upward when the back support is lowered from its erect position in order to maintain continued support of the head.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A wheel chair comprising:
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a frame; a transverse torsion bar rotatably mounted near its ends on the forward portion of said frame; a pair of rearwardly extending, elongated wheel support arms non-rotatably mounted on the ends of said torsion bar; a rear wheel rotatably mounted at the trailing end of each of said wheel support arms; a control arm non-rotatably secured to the mid-portion of said torsion bar;
a hydraulic ram pivoted between said control arm and said frame so that the position of the piston in said hydraulic ram will determine the angular disposition of said wheel support arms, and said hydraulic ram when set holds said mid-portion against rotation, so that torsion at one end of said torsion bar is not transmitted to the other end thereof; andat least one front wheel rotatably mounted at the forward end of said frame. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A wheel chair comprising:
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a frame; at least one front wheel and a pair of rear wheels rotatably mounted on said frames; a seat supported on said frame; a back-support carried at the rear of said frame; a leg support panel at the forward end of said frame; a transverse leg support shaft rotatably mounted on the forward end of said frame; a pair of extensible linkages, each including two adjacent pivoted links, one secured to said leg support shaft to rotate therewith and the other pivoted to the forward end of said frame, and two remote links pivoted at one pair of adjacent ends to said adjacent links and at the other pair of adjacent ends to a side of said support panel so that when said leg support shaft is turned upward, said linkage is extended to pivot said panel about a transverse axis located above said shaft; and
means for turning said shaft partially in either direction. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A wheel chair comprising:
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a frame; front and rear wheels rotatably mounted on said frame; a seat support on said frame; a back-support carried at the rear of said frame comprising; a pair of posts pivoted at their lower ends to the rear end of said frame; a back-support panel slidable on said posts; and a restraining link pivoted at opposite ends to said frame and said back-support panel so that said back-support panel remains at a fixed distance from approximately the user'"'"'s hip axis throughout pivotal movement of said posts; and means for pivoting said posts between upright and generally horizontal positions. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification