Wheelchair attached storage bag

• US 4,577,903 A
• Filed: 04/02/1984
• Issued: 03/25/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Carol L. Wells
• Original Assignee: Carol L. Wells
• Inventors: Wells, Carol L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zugel, Francis K.
• Application Number:
  US06/595,964
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 297/191, 297/188, 297/DIG. 4
• US Class Current: 297/188.06
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/10 Parts, details or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 297/04 Wheelchair

Abstract

An attachment for a wheel chair in the form of a storage bag supported vertically between the rearwardly extending handles at the upper end of the wheelchair frame and a pair of bottom tip bars in such a manner that it can be folded with the wheelchair and provide a convenient and readily accessible storage area for various articles. The storage bag may be constructed of various flexible materials, provided with pockets if desired, provided with an open top if desired, provided with a zipper closure or other similar closure if desired and provided with sleeves or loops which receive the rearwardly extending handles and the bottom frame members or tip bars at the lower end of the wheelchair with the storage bag being retained in taut condition so that it does not interfere with rotation of the wheels nor become entangled with the wheels or soiled by engaging the wheels thereby enabling the wheelchair to be operated in the usual manner either by the occupant of the wheelchair or by a person pushing or otherwise manipulating the wheelchair by engagement with the rearwardly extending handles.

Claims

1. In combination with a wheelchair having a seat for an occupant, a frame with rearwardly extending tip bars at the rear lower ends thereof and a pair of handles at the upper ends thereof, a pair of large wheels supporting said wheelchair, a vertically disposed flexible storage bag oriented rearwardly of the seat, between the rearward portions of the wheels and between the handles and tip bars, said bag including a peripheral wall, means on said bag detachably engaged with said handles and tip bars, and means incorporated into said bag enabling access into the interior thereof, said means on the bag engaging the handles including loops at laterally outer edges of the top of the bag, said means engaging the tip bars including a pair of sleeves at the laterally outer edges of the bottom of the bag to support the bag taut between the handles and tip bars and inwardly of the wheels, said bag being generally of rectangular configuration with a front-to-rear dimension confining the bag to the area between the rear portions of the wheels to eliminate interference with operation of the wheelchair and enabling the bag to fold with the wheelchair when used in combination with a folding wheelchair.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said access means includes an open upper end in the peripheral wall, a vertically extending opening said peripheral wall and closure means closing said opening, and a removable rigid panel in the bottom of said bag to prevent the bottom of the bag from sagging downwardly.

3. The combination of claim 2 together with an external storage pocket mounted on the rear of said peripheral wall adjacent the lower end thereof, said pocket including a closure flap at the upper end thereof.

4. In combination, a wheelchair having a seat for an occupant, a frame with rearwardly extending frame members at the lower ends thereof and a pair of rearwardly extending handles at the upper ends thereof, a pair of large side wheels supporting said wheelchair, a vertically disposed storage receptacle oriented rearwardly of the seat, said receptacle extending vertically between the rearward portions of the wheels and between the handles and frame members, means on said receptacle detachably engaged with said handles, means on said receptacle detachably engaged with said frame members, and means incorporated into said receptacle enabling access into the interior thereof, said means on said receptacle engaging the handles extending upwardly from the receptacle and engaging the handles without interfering with normal gripping engagement of the handles by a person pushing the wheelchair, wherein said receptacle is in the form of a flexible bag of generally rectangular configuration and having a front-to-rear dimension confining the bag to the area between the rear portion of the wheels to eliminate interference with operation of the wheelchair, said means on the receptacle engaging the handles including flexible loop means connected with the upper side edge portions of said bag, said means on the receptacle engaging the frame members including flexible sleeve means on the lower side edge portions of the bag for receiving the frame members therethrough, each of the handles and frame members including an enlargement on the free end to retain the loop means and the sleeve means assembled thereon.

5. The combination as defined in claim 4 wherein said storage bag has a vertical dimension to extend substantially from the lower frame members to the handles, said storage bag including an open top oriented horizontally slightly below the handles to enable easy access to the interior of the storage bag by the occupant of the wheelchair seat and by a person pushing the wheelchair.