Combination wheelchair and walker apparatus
First Claim
1. A wheelchair apparatus comprising:
- frame means having a base portion and spaced side portions to define a space for receiving an operator'"'"'s body;
means for supporting said frame means above a ground surface for movement therealong and including means for moving said apparatus over said ground surface;
means to permit an operator within said space to control movement of said apparatus along said ground surface; and
seat assembly means for supporting and selectively moving an operator between a fully seated position and a substantially upright position within said apparatus to permit said operator to control and move said apparatus over said ground surface from both said fully seated position and said substantially upright position;
wherein said seat assembly means includes seat means, seat back means, and seat control means to maintain said seat means and said seat back means in position to support said operator in said fully seated position, in said substantially upright position and in any operator-selected position therebetween; and
wherein said seat means includes means to selectively and continuously move said seat means between a first substantially horizontal position and a second substantially horizontal position which is vertically upwardly disposed relative to said first horizontal position, when said operator is in said fully seated position.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wheelchair apparatus is disclosed and includes a frame having a base portion and spaced side portions to define a space for receiving an operator'"'"'s body. A device is provided for supporting the frame above a ground surface for movement therealong and includes a mechanism for moving the apparatus over the ground surface. A device is provided to permit an operator within the space to control movement of the apparatus along a ground surface. Finally, a seat assembly supports and selectively moves an operator between a fully seated position and a substantially upright position within the apparatus to permit the operator to control and move the apparatus over the ground surface from both the fully seated position as well as the substantially upright position.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A wheelchair apparatus comprising:
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frame means having a base portion and spaced side portions to define a space for receiving an operator'"'"'s body; means for supporting said frame means above a ground surface for movement therealong and including means for moving said apparatus over said ground surface; means to permit an operator within said space to control movement of said apparatus along said ground surface; and seat assembly means for supporting and selectively moving an operator between a fully seated position and a substantially upright position within said apparatus to permit said operator to control and move said apparatus over said ground surface from both said fully seated position and said substantially upright position; wherein said seat assembly means includes seat means, seat back means, and seat control means to maintain said seat means and said seat back means in position to support said operator in said fully seated position, in said substantially upright position and in any operator-selected position therebetween; and wherein said seat means includes means to selectively and continuously move said seat means between a first substantially horizontal position and a second substantially horizontal position which is vertically upwardly disposed relative to said first horizontal position, when said operator is in said fully seated position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A wheelchair apparatus comprising:
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frame means having a base portion and spaced side portions to define a space for receiving an operator'"'"'s body; means for supporting said frame means above a ground surface for movement therealong and including means for moving said apparatus over said ground surface; means to permit an operator within said space to control movement of said apparatus along said ground surface; and seat assembly means for supporting and selectively moving an operator between a fully seated position and a substantially upright position within said apparatus to permit said operator to control and move said apparatus over said ground surface from both said fully seated position and said substantially upright position; wherein said seat assembly means includes seat means, seat back means, and seat control means to maintain said seat means and said seat back means in position to support said operator in said fully seated position, in said substantially upright position and in any operator-selected position therebetween; wherein said seat means is selectively moveable between a first substantially horizontal position and a second substantially horizontal position which is vertically upwardly disposed relative to said first horizontal position when said seat assembly means is in said fully seated position; wherein said seat control means includes a first control arm assembly mounted to move said seat means between said first and second horizontal positions while simultaneously moving said seat means rearwardly relative to said base portion as it moves said seat means to said second horizontal position.
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10. A wheelchair apparatus comprising:
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frame means having a base portion and spaced side portions to define a space for receiving an operator'"'"'s body; means for supporting said frame means above a ground surface for movement therealong and including means for moving said apparatus over said ground surface; means to permit an operator within said space to control movement of said apparatus along said ground surface; and seat assembly means for supporting and selectively moving an operator between a fully seated position and a substantially upright position within said apparatus to permit said operator to control and move said apparatus over said ground surface from both said fully seated position and said substantially upright position; wherein said seat assembly means includes seat means, seat back means, and seat control means to maintain said seat means and said seat back means in position to support said operator in said fully seated position, in said substantially upright position and in any operator-selected position therebetween; wherein said seat means is selectively moveable between a first substantially horizontal position and a second substantially horizontal position which is vertically upwardly disposed relative to said first horizontal position when said seat assembly means is in said fully seated position; wherein said seat means includes pivot means disposed along its forward edge to tilt said seat means forwardly and raise an operator to a substantially standing, upright position, from any selected position between the first and second horizontal positions of said seat means; wherein said seat control means includes a first power control assembly connected to said base portion to selectively move said seat means between said first and second substantially horizontal positions, and a second power control assembly connected to said base portion to selectively pivot and tilt said seat means along its forward edge, said first and second power control assemblies being adapted for independent activation and movement. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. In a wheelchair apparatus having a frame, means for selectively moving said frame over a ground surface, and seat means for receiving an operator to permit the operator to control and move said apparatus from a fully seated position therein, the improvement comprising seat assembly means for supporting and selectively moving an operator between said fully seated position and a substantially upright position within said apparatus to permit the operator to control and move said apparatus over a ground surface from both said fully seat position and said substantially upright position;
wherein said seat assembly means further includes power means to selectively raise and lower said seat means to any desired position between a first substantially horizontal position and a second substantially horizontal position elevated relative to said first horizontal position to adjust said seat means in accordance with the size, height and comfort of said operator while said operator remains positioned in said seat assembly means.
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15. In a wheelchair apparatus having a frame, means for selectively moving said frame over a ground surface, and seat means for receiving an operator to permit the operator to control and move said apparatus from a fully seated position therein, the improvement comprising seat assembly means for supporting and selectively moving an operator between said fully seated position and a substantially upright position within said apparatus to permit the operator to control and move said apparatus over a ground surface from both said fully seated position and said substantially upright position;
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wherein said seat assembly means further includes means to selectively raise and lower said seat means between a first substantially horizontal position and a second substantially horizontal position elevated relative to said first horizontal position to adjust said seat means in accordance with the size and height of said operator; wherein said means for raising and lowering said seat means is adapted such that said second horizontal position is disposed rearwardly relative to said first horizontal position.
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16. In a wheelchair apparatus having a frame, means for selectively moving said frame over a ground surface, and seat means for receiving an operator to permit the operator to control and move said apparatus from a fully seated position therein, the improvement comprising seat assembly means for supporting and selectively moving an operator between said fully seated position and a substantially upright position within said apparatus to permit the operator to control and move said apparatus over a ground surface from both said fully seated position and said substantially upright position;
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wherein said frame includes means defining a front entryway and gate means for selectively closing said entryway and abutting the knees of an operator disposed on said seat means, said gate means providing support to the legs of said operator in cooperation with said seat assembly means as said operator is raised from said fully seated position to said substantially upright position without requiring independent leg muscular control by said operator; and wherein said frame is disposed at and below the level of said gate means to provide a nominal barrier exterior to said operator when in a raised, upright position.
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Specification