Folding sports wheelchair
First Claim
1. A folding wheelchair comprising:
- a frame assembly including left and right lower side frame portions and left and right back support frame portions;
an operator supporting means including a lower supporting portion operatively connected with the left and right lower side frame portions for supporting the operator and a back supporting portion operatively connected with the back support frame portions for supporting the operator'"'"'s back;
left and right rear wheel mounting assemblies for mounting left and right rear wheels to the left and right side frame portions, respectively, the rear wheel mounting assemblies being connected with the lower side frame portions;
a pair of front wheel mounting assemblies for mounting front wheels to the lower side frame portions;
a folding mechanism interconnecting the left and right side frame portions for selectively moving the side frame portions into a close parallel folded relationship, the folding mechanism including;
a left pivot shaft,a right pivot shaft,a first left spacer member connected with the left pivot shaft for rotation therewith and pivotally connected with the left side frame portion,a first right spacer member connected with the right side pivot shaft for rotation therewith and pivotally connected with the right side frame portion,a second left spacer member connected with the left pivot shaft for rotation therewith and pivotally connected with the left side frame portion,a second right spacer member connected with the right pivot shaft for rotation therewith and pivotally connected with the right side frame portion, and,a rotation coordination means for coordinating the relative rotation of the left and right pivot shafts to rotate the first and second left and right spacer members in coordination with each other such that the first and second left and right spacer members rotate in coordination with each other as the wheelchair is folded and unfolded.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The sports wheelchair includes a frame portion (A) having left and right side frame portions. Rear wheel assemblies (B) are connected with the left and right side frame portions such that the rear wheels are connectable to the frame in any one of a plurality of positions and with an adjustable camber. A pair of front wheel assemblies (C) selectively interconnect front wheels with the frame with any one of a plurality of adjustable height, inward-outward, and forward-aft positions. An operator supporting seat (D) having a segmented center portion and an outer portion is selectively interconnected with the left and right side frame portions. A folding mechanism (E) enables the left and right side frame portions to be folded together for easier transportion and storage.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A folding wheelchair comprising:
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a frame assembly including left and right lower side frame portions and left and right back support frame portions; an operator supporting means including a lower supporting portion operatively connected with the left and right lower side frame portions for supporting the operator and a back supporting portion operatively connected with the back support frame portions for supporting the operator'"'"'s back; left and right rear wheel mounting assemblies for mounting left and right rear wheels to the left and right side frame portions, respectively, the rear wheel mounting assemblies being connected with the lower side frame portions; a pair of front wheel mounting assemblies for mounting front wheels to the lower side frame portions; a folding mechanism interconnecting the left and right side frame portions for selectively moving the side frame portions into a close parallel folded relationship, the folding mechanism including; a left pivot shaft, a right pivot shaft, a first left spacer member connected with the left pivot shaft for rotation therewith and pivotally connected with the left side frame portion, a first right spacer member connected with the right side pivot shaft for rotation therewith and pivotally connected with the right side frame portion, a second left spacer member connected with the left pivot shaft for rotation therewith and pivotally connected with the left side frame portion, a second right spacer member connected with the right pivot shaft for rotation therewith and pivotally connected with the right side frame portion, and, a rotation coordination means for coordinating the relative rotation of the left and right pivot shafts to rotate the first and second left and right spacer members in coordination with each other such that the first and second left and right spacer members rotate in coordination with each other as the wheelchair is folded and unfolded. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A folding wheelchair comprising:
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a frame assembly including left and right lower side frame portions and left and right back support frame portions; an operator supporting means including a lower supporting portion operatively connected with the left and right lower side frame portions for supporting the operator and a back supporting frame portion operatively connected with the back support frame portions for supporting the operator'"'"'s back; left and right rear wheel mounting assemblies for mounting left and right rear wheels to the left and right side frame portions, respectively, the rear wheel mounting assemblies being connected with the lower side frame portions; a pair of front wheel mounting assemblies for mounting front wheels to the lower side frame portions; a folding mechanism interconnecting the left and right side frame portions for selectively moving the side frame portions into a close parallel folded relationship, the folding mechanism including; a first, left pivot shaft, a second, right pivot shaft, a first left spacer member connected with the left pivot shaft for rotation therewith and pivotally connected with the left side frame portion, a first right spacer member connected with the right pivot shaft for rotation therewith and pivotally connected with the right side frame portion, a third pivot shaft disposed substantially in a central vertical plane which passes between the left and right pivot shafts, connecting means for connecting the third pivot shaft in a fixed spatial relationship with the left and right pivot shafts such that the left, right, and third pivot shafts move together generally parallel to the central vertical plane, additional left and right spacer members pivotally connected adjacent the third pivot shaft and each pivotally connected with one of the left and right side frame portions, and, a rotation coordination means for coordinating the relative rotation of the left and right pivot shafts to rotate the first left and right spacer members in coordination with each other such that the left and right side frame portions are held parallel as the wheelchair is folded and unfolded. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A folding sports wheelchair comprising:
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a. a frame assembly including left and right side frame portions; b. a folding mechanism interconnecting the left and right side frame portions such that the left and right side frame portions are adapted to be moved into a relatively close parallel relationship, the folding mechanism including; i. a pair of forward, upper spacer members, one of the upper, forward spacer members being pivotally connected at an outer end with the left side frame portion and the other being pivotally connected at an outer end to the right side frame portion adjacent an upward, forward portion thereof; ii. a pair of upper, rearward spacer members, one of the upper rearward spacer members being pivotally connected at its outer end to the left side frame portion and the other upper rearward spacer member being pivotally connected at an outer end to the right side frame portion adjacent an upper, rearward portion thereof; iii. an upper pivotal connecting means for pivotally interconnecting inner ends of the upper, forward spacer members and for pivotally interconnecting inner ends of the upper rearward spacer members; iv. a pair of lower, forward spacer members, one of the lower, forward spacer members being pivotally connected at an outer end with the left frame side portion and the other lower, forward lower spacer member being pivotally connected at an outer end with the right frame side portion adjacent a lower, forward portion thereof; v. a pair of lower, rearward spacer members, one of the lower, rearward spacer members being pivotally connected with the left side frame portion and the other lower, rearward spacer member being pivotally connected with the right side frame portion adjacent a lower rearward portion thereof; and
,vi. a lower pivotal connecting means for pivotally interconnecting inner ends of the lower, forward spacer members and for pivotally interconnecting inner ends of the lower, rearward spacer members, the upper and lower pivotal connecting means being disposed in a central vertical plane which is disposed centrally between the left and right side frame portions; vii. a pair of gear segments, operatively connected with one of the pairs of spacer members, one of the gear segments being operatively connected with one spacer member of the pair of the other gear member being operatively connected with the other spacer member of the pair, the gear segments intermeshing such that the spacer members of each pair are constrained to be positioned substantially the same degree of angular displacement to either side of the central vertical plane; c. left and right rear wheel mounting assemblies for selectively mounting left and right rear wheels to the left and right side frame portions, respectively, in one of a plurality of positions; and
,d. left and right adjustable front wheel mounting assemblies for selectively mounting left and right front wheels to the left and right side frame portions, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A folding wheelchair comprising:
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a first side frame portion; a second side frame portion; a plurality of wheels operatively connected with the first and second frame portions; an overcenter toggle folding mechanism interconnected with the first and second side frame portions for selectively enabling the first and second side frame portions to be disposed in one of (1) a closely adjacent or folded relationship and (2) a normal operating or unfolded relationship, the folding mechanism including; a first spacer member pivotally connected with the first side frame portion with a first pivotal connection; a second spacer member pivotally connected with the second side frame portion with a second pivotal connection, the first and second spacer members being pivotally interconnected at a central pivotal connection assembly; rotation coordinating means for constraining the first and second spacer member to coordinated rotation about the central pivotal connection assembly; the central pivotal connection assembly being movable along a central vertical plane as the side frame portions are moved between the folded and unfolded relationships, the central vertical plane being disposed centrally between the first and second side frame portions; the first and second spacer members being disposed on and moving along a second plane as the side frame portions are moved between the folded and unfolded relationships, the second plane being perpendicular to the central vertical plane; the first and second pivotal connections moving along a linear horizontal path as the first and second side frame portions are moved between the folded and unfolded relationships, the horizontal path extending transverse to the central vertical plane and generally along the second plane; a stop means for limiting movement of the central pivotal connection assembly a short distance to one side of the horizontal path when the first and second side portions are in the unfolded relationship and for permitting free movement of the central pivotal connection assembly past the horizontal path freely to the other side thereof; such that, as the central pivotal connection assembly approaches the horizontal path from the one side thereof, the first and second spacer members become disposed generally parallel to the horizontal path moving the side frame portions further apart than in the unfolded position and, as the central pivotal connection assembly moves away from the horizontal path on the other side thereof, the side frame portions are moved together toward the folded relationship; whereby moving the side frame portions further apart in order to move the side frame portions together from the unfolded relationship holds the wheelchair stable when unfolded. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification