Combination wheelchair and walker

• US 5,558,358 A
• Filed: 06/19/1995
• Issued: 09/24/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Candace L. Johnson
• Original Assignee: Candace L. Johnson
• Inventors: Johnson, Candace L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Boehler, Anne Marie
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAR, MICHAEL Y
• Application Number:
  US08/492,216
• Time in Patent Office: 463 Days
• Field of Search: 297/5, 297/DIG. 4, 280/250.1, 280/304.1, 280/639, 280/647, 280/648, 280/650, 280/87.01, 280/87.021, 280/87.051, 280/47.4, 135/67
• US Class Current: 280/648
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/00 Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs chairs with toilet conveniences A47K11/04; devices enabling patients or disabled persons to operate an apparatus or device not forming part of the body A61F4/00; running gear or propulsion features B60K; bicycles specially adapted for disabled riders B62K3/16 ; Invalid chairs having removable seats specially adapted to be transferred with the invalid to a vehicle and support the invalid during use of the vehicle A61G3/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/08 foldable
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/0833 folding front to back, e.g. reducing or expanding the overall depth of the wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/0883 having locking means for maintaining a folded or unfolded condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/0891 having rigid supports, e.g. seat or back supports which retain their shape after folding of the wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2003/046 with braking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1633 Seat A61H2201/0149 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/04 Wheeled walking aids for disabled persons A61H3/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 297/04 Wheelchair

Abstract

A combination wheelchair/walker when in a wheelchair configuration having four spaced apart surface support wheels positioned on each corner of a generally rectangular form in which a person is supported thereby. The rear pair of wheels fixed in their direction of travel and the front pair of wheels being pivotable through 360 degrees. In the walker configuration the generally rectangular form is converted into a generally triangular or trapezium support form with the two rear wheels remaining in their original spaced apart position with the front two wheels moved closer together in a relatively reduced spaced apart relationship acting effectively as slightly spaced apart dual wheels. The seat platform of the wheelchair is rigid and folds up against the front of the back of the device in its walker or transport/storage configuration. For storage the rigid seat folds up against the back, the sides of the wheelchair/walker fold inwardly against the back one side over the other in a minimum front to back dimension nesting relationship. A spring biased locking pin secures the sides in the three positions.

Claims

1. A convertible wheelchair/walker device which is convertible between a wheelchair, a walker, and a transport or storage configuration, comprising:

a back frame formed by a pair of uprights interconnected by at least one cross-member, one of said uprights having an extension member extending forwardly therefrom and each of said uprights having a surface support wheel with a fixed direction of rotation mounted at a lower end thereof;

a substantially planar rigid seat pivotably connected to said cross-member;

a pair of side frame members, each having a surface support wheel mounted at a lower forward end thereof for pivotable movement about a vertical axis, one of said side frame members being pivotally connected at a rearward end directly to one of said pair of uprights by means of a first pivotal connection and the other side frame member being connected at a rearward end to said extension member of said one upright by means of a second pivotal connection, the wheelchair/walker device being in a wheelchair mode with a substantially rectangular configuration in plan form when the side frame members are extending forwardly from the uprights and substantially parallel to each other and the seat has been pivoted to a substantially horizontal position between the side frame members, a walker mode with a triangular configuration in plan form when the seat has been pivoted to a substantially vertical position extending between the uprights and the side frame members have been pivoted to bring their forward ends into close proximity, and a transport/storage mode with the side frame members extending parallel to the back frame when the seat has been pivoted to a substantially vertical position extending between the uprights, the one side frame member has been pivoted against an under surface of the seat, and the other side frame member has been pivoted against the one side frame member; and

locking means located within said first and second pivotal connections for selectively locking said pair of side frame members in selected pivotal positions relative to the uprights to define the wheelchair, walker, and transport/storage modes.

2. The convertible wheelchair/walker device as defined in claim 1, wherein said locking means for each of said first and second connections comprises a spring biased translatable pin which is insertable into a selective one of apertures which define pivotal positions of the side frame member relative to the upright.