Wheelchair accessory apparatus

• US 6,254,116 B1
• Filed: 06/16/1995
• Issued: 07/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Janiece L. Gallagher, Thomas S. Szumlic
• Original Assignee: Janiece L. Gallagher, Thomas S. Szumlic
• Inventors: Szumlic, Thomas S., Gallagher, Janiece L.
• Primary Examiner(s): BOEHLER, ANNE MARIE M
• Application Number:
  US08/491,124
• Time in Patent Office: 2,209 Days
• Field of Search: 280/304.1, 280/304.5, 280/32.5, 280/250.1, 280/202, 248/279.1, 248/274.1, 248/539, 297/174, 297/161, 224/407, 224/409, 224/411, 224/908, D12/131, D12/133
• US Class Current: 280/304.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/10 Parts, details or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2021 around a horizontal axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/24 changeable in height or length of legs, also for transport only, e.g. by means of tubes screwed into each otherF16M11/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle

Abstract

An accessory mount for a wheelchair which further comprises a stably mounted telescoping shaft, a gripping arm at the top of the telescoping shaft which is adapted to be easily handled by a wheelchair-bound person and facilitate the angular disposition of a variety of accessory mounts, such as umbrellas, cameras, book stands, and the like.

Claims

1. A wheelchair and apparatus for mounting and stabilizing any one of a variety of accessories to said wheelchair, the apparatus comprising:

a mounting means, said mounting means further comprising a mounting shaft which may be mounted to the frame of the wheelchair at a point along the side of the wheelchair and sufficiently forward of a wheel of the wheelchair to permit a person free access to the wheel and wheel-gripping member of the wheelchair, said mounting shaft further having one or more telescoping sections;

said one or more telescoping sections further having releasable fastening means adapted to enable said telescoping sections to be set and locked throughout a range of vertical motion, said vertical fastening means further comprising a series of exterior vertical positioning holes which are vertically positioned along an outer base shaft member and which are further adapted to be aligned with an interior vertical positioning hole within an enclosed shaft member of said telescoping sections, said enclosed shaft member further having a spring loaded button with a button end which may be pushed within said interior vertical positioning hole and is further adapted to align said spring loaded button and then allow said spring loaded button to be released so that its button end may spring up through said interior vertical positioning hole and a desired one of said exterior vertical positioning holes and lock said base shaft member and enclosed shaft member together at a desired point;

an uppermost shaft member of said telescoping sections having locking means adapted to permit said uppermost member to be securely locked within a range of rotation, said rotational locking means further comprising a rotational positioning hole within said enclosed shaft member which is adapted to align with one of a series of radial positioning holes which radially surround the uppermost shaft member enclosing the enclosed shaft member, said enclosed shaft member being further adapted with an additional spring loaded button with a button end which may be pushed within said rotational positioning hole and then released so that its button end may spring up through said rotational positioning hole and a desired one of said radial positioning holes and lock said uppermost shaft member and enclosed shaft member together at a desired point;

gripping means, said gripping means resting upon the uppermost shaft member of said telescoping sections and extending out through a range of angular dispositions including from perpendicular to said telescoping sections to nearly vertical from said uppermost telescoping shaft member, said gripping means further receiving accessory mounting means; and

said accessory mounting means further being adapted to receive and mount an accessory which may be of use to a wheelchair bound person and is to be received by said accessory mounting means.

2. The wheelchair and apparatus described in claim 1 in which said gripping means is adapted to receive a mount for an umbrella.

3. The wheelchair and apparatus described in claim 1 in which said gripping means is adapted to receive a mount for a camera tripod surface apparatus.

4. The wheelchair and apparatus described in claim 1 in which said gripping means is adapted to receive a mount for a tray surface.