Wheelchair apparatus
First Claim
1. An apparatus for a wheelchair to assist the wheelchair and an occupant thereof to ascend or descend a stairway, comprising a pair of elongated track assemblies, each track assembly having a continuous tread rotatably spaced therearound such that the tread moves with respect to the track, each track assembly removably mounted to a mounting bracket, each said mounting bracket rigidly secured to at least one frame member of the wheelchair;
- each said track assembly mounted to each mounting bracket by a means for pivoting the track assembly with respect to the mounting bracket and by a means for adjusting the angle of the track assembly with respect to the mounting bracket;
each said track assembly positioned with respect to the rear wheels of the wheelchair such that as the wheelchair is raised or lowered along a stairway having a series of individual stair steps, the track assemblies carry the weight of the wheelchair along the individual stair steps.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for use on standard or customized wheelchairs for providing means by which the wheelchair and occupant may be moved up or down a stairway or curb with a minimum of inconvenience to the occupant of the chair and to the handler of the chair. The apparatus having a pair of mounting brackets attached to the side frame of the chair with a tread assembly adjustably positioned thereon at a select angle to the mounting brackets. The tread assembly having a series of rollers over which a tread is placed so that the tread will interact with the stairsteps or curb to allow the wheelchair to glide up or down the stairsteps or curb without experiencing the bumps commonly associated with rolling a wheelchair up or down a set of stairs or curb. The apparatus has a brake assembly and extension handlebars allowing the operator of the chair to control the chair and the speed upon which the chair ascends or descends the stairs. The apparatus is removable from the chair when not in use.
57 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus for a wheelchair to assist the wheelchair and an occupant thereof to ascend or descend a stairway, comprising a pair of elongated track assemblies, each track assembly having a continuous tread rotatably spaced therearound such that the tread moves with respect to the track, each track assembly removably mounted to a mounting bracket, each said mounting bracket rigidly secured to at least one frame member of the wheelchair;
- each said track assembly mounted to each mounting bracket by a means for pivoting the track assembly with respect to the mounting bracket and by a means for adjusting the angle of the track assembly with respect to the mounting bracket;
each said track assembly positioned with respect to the rear wheels of the wheelchair such that as the wheelchair is raised or lowered along a stairway having a series of individual stair steps, the track assemblies carry the weight of the wheelchair along the individual stair steps. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
- each said track assembly mounted to each mounting bracket by a means for pivoting the track assembly with respect to the mounting bracket and by a means for adjusting the angle of the track assembly with respect to the mounting bracket;
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15. An apparatus for attachment to a wheelchair to assist the wheelchair in ascending or descending a stairwell, said apparatus comprising a pair of elongated track assemblies removably secured to a pair of mounting brackets, said mounting brackets each rigidly fixed to a frame member of the wheelchair and each adjacent one of a pair of rear wheels of the wheelchair, such that each mounting bracket is parallel to the other and to the rear wheels of the wheelchair thereby causing the track assemblies to be mounted in parallel to each other, each elongated track assembly having a continuous, flexible tread rotatably mounted therearound such that the tread will freely rotate around the track, a means connected to each track assembly for pivoting each track assembly with respect to each mounting bracket and a means connected to each track assembly for adjusting each track assembly with respect to each mounting bracket;
- such that the means for adjusting each track assembly cooperates with the means for pivoting each track assembly and positions each track assembly in either a use position on the mounting bracket or a storage position on the mounting bracket and such that when positioned in the use position the tread of each track assembly is adjacent each rear wheel of the wheelchair and contacts individual stairs of the stairwell as the wheelchair is raised or lowered thereon.
- View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A wheelchair for transporting an occupant therein having means for assisting the wheelchair and occupant to ascend or descend a stairway, said stairway having individual stairsteps thereon, said wheelchair having a frame, a seating area for said occupant formed in said frame, two front wheels connected to the front of the frame such that the front wheels are parallel to each other, two rear wheels connected to the frame, each of said rear wheels having an outer circular end such that the rear wheels are parallel to each other and handgrips formed on the frame for the guiding and pushing of the wheelchair and occupant by an attendant;
- said means for assisting the wheelchair and occupant in ascending and descending the stairway comprising a pair of elongated track assemblies, each track assembly having a glide means mounted thereon, each said track assembly pivotally mounted to a mounting bracket, said mounting bracket rigidly fixed to the frame of the wheelchair adjacent one of the rear wheels of the wheelchair and parallel to said rear wheel, each said track assembly adjustable from a use position to a storage position by a positioning bracket attached to each track assembly and selectively engageable with each said mounting bracket such that each positioning bracket locks each track assembly in either said use position or said storage position, each said track assembly having a length sufficient to contact at least two stairsteps on said stairway and said track assemblies mounted to the mounting bracket so as to position the glide means adjacent the outer circular ends of the rear wheels, when the track assemblies are in the use position such that each of the track assemblies support the wheelchair and occupant on the individual stairsteps and allows the wheelchair to ascend or descend the stairway.
- View Dependent Claims (24)
Specification