Accessories for wheelchairs and the like
First Claim
1. A container accessory for a walker or like mobility aid having a transversely extending tubular frame member located at the front of the user, said accessory comprising a framework and parallel members supported by said framework to define upper and lower rectangular compartments located in aligned over-and-under relationship one above the other, the upper compartment being open at the top, to define a rectangular upper opening facing upwardly in front of the user, the lower compartment being of bin-like configuration and defining a rectangular lower opening facing rearwardly toward the user in always open condition, the lower compartment being closed entirely on three sides by side wall panels and a front wall panel but being only partly closed rearwardly by a rear wall panel extending below said lower opening, whereby a major extent of said lower compartment is located below said lower opening for reliable containment of items, the lower opening thereby being presented to the user for permitting access to said lower compartment only by the user while concealing said lower compartment for out-of-sight containment of items, said framework and panel members being of strong, lightweight material for avoiding objectionable addition to the weight of the walker such as would disturb its balance or prevent its convenient use as a mobility aid, and resilient securement means for removable resilient securement of the container accessory to said transversely extending tubular frame members with said container accessory located in front of the user and with said upper compartment opening proximate said tubular frame member, said resilient securement means comprising at least first and second spring clips carried by said container accessory at a location above the center of gravity of said accessory for suspending of said accessory from said transversely extending tubular frame member, said spring clips being located at opposite sides of said rear wall proximate the opening of said upper compartment for resiliently gripping said transversely extending tubular frame member, thereby to reliably support said accessory.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Container accessories are configured for removable securement to mobility aids such as walkers, wheelchairs or the like with tubular frame members. Each accessory includes a framework and panel members supported by the framework to define at least one compartment, the framework being self-supporting. Both the framework and panel members are of strong, lightweight material, e.g., aluminum. Resilient spring clips are carried by the framework at locations thereon for supporting the framework from the frame members of the aid by engaging its tubular frame members. For use with a walker, the accessory is preferably multiply compartmented and engages a cross member of the walker. For use with wheelchairs, frame components of the accessory framework are adjustable and reconfigurable to permit engagement of arm support members of the wheelchair, even though of different possible frame configurations, at the front or at the side of the wheelchair.
96 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A container accessory for a walker or like mobility aid having a transversely extending tubular frame member located at the front of the user, said accessory comprising a framework and parallel members supported by said framework to define upper and lower rectangular compartments located in aligned over-and-under relationship one above the other, the upper compartment being open at the top, to define a rectangular upper opening facing upwardly in front of the user, the lower compartment being of bin-like configuration and defining a rectangular lower opening facing rearwardly toward the user in always open condition, the lower compartment being closed entirely on three sides by side wall panels and a front wall panel but being only partly closed rearwardly by a rear wall panel extending below said lower opening, whereby a major extent of said lower compartment is located below said lower opening for reliable containment of items, the lower opening thereby being presented to the user for permitting access to said lower compartment only by the user while concealing said lower compartment for out-of-sight containment of items, said framework and panel members being of strong, lightweight material for avoiding objectionable addition to the weight of the walker such as would disturb its balance or prevent its convenient use as a mobility aid, and resilient securement means for removable resilient securement of the container accessory to said transversely extending tubular frame members with said container accessory located in front of the user and with said upper compartment opening proximate said tubular frame member, said resilient securement means comprising at least first and second spring clips carried by said container accessory at a location above the center of gravity of said accessory for suspending of said accessory from said transversely extending tubular frame member, said spring clips being located at opposite sides of said rear wall proximate the opening of said upper compartment for resiliently gripping said transversely extending tubular frame member, thereby to reliably support said accessory.
- 2. A container accessory for removable securement to a wheelchair having first and second tubular frame members, said accessory comprising a framework and panel members supported by said framework to define at least one compartment, said framework being self-supporting, said framework and panel members being of strong, lightweight material, and at least first and second resilient securement means carried by said framework at locations upon said framework for resiliently engaging portions of said tubular frame members to cause said framework to be reliably supported by said tubular frame members, said resilient securement means comprising respective spring clips, said spring clips being located above the center of gravity of said accessory for suspending of said accessory from said tubular frame members, first and second ones of said spring clips resiliently engaging respective first and second ones of said tubular frame members for suspending said accessory above said center of gravity, said framework including a lower extension member below said center gravity for extending laterally toward said wheelchair, said extension member having an outer end carrying a third spring clip for resiliently gripping a tubular frame member of said wheelchair to maintain said accessory in stable orientation spaced from said wheelchair.
Specification