Support assembly for use with wheelchair

• US 6,460,927 B1
• Filed: 03/21/2000
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Comfort Companies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Michael C. Groth
• Inventors: Groth, Michael C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, STEPHEN A
• Application Number:
  US09/531,399
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 297/DIG.4, 297/396, 297/394, 297/410, 297/397, 297/406, 297/407, 297/486, 297/188.06, 297/391, 297/284.9, 297/219.1, 297/220, 297/DIG.10
• US Class Current: 297/284.9
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2200/52 Underarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2200/54 Shoulder
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1054 Large wheels, e.g. higher than the seat portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1091 Cushions, seats or abduction devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/12 Rests specially adapted therefor, e.g. for the head or the feet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 297/04 Wheelchair

Abstract

A torso support assembly is adapted to be mounted to the back of the frame of a wheelchair. The assembly includes a longitudinally extending support tube which is removably attachable to the back of the wheelchair. Integral to the tube and located at each end of it is a quick release locking mechanism. At the ends of the support tube, and insertable within the ends of the support tube, is a pair of support rod members. Each support rod member is rotatable within its respective end of the support tube. Each support rod member is engagable with the quick release mechanism at one end and is fixably attached to a support arm at the other end. Each support arm includes a forwardly extending pad support member. At the end of each support member is mounted a pad member. Each pad member is limitedly rotatable about the pad support member such that its position is adjustable. Each pad member is movable inwardly and outwardly of the pad support member. Each pad member can be constructed or configured in a variety of shapes depending upon the support which is desired or required. Each pad support member and pad member can be quickly, easily and independently adjustable upwardly, outwardly, and forwardly relative to the torso of the wheelchair occupant.

Claims

1. As A torso support mechanism which is removably attachable to an upright portion of a wheelchair seat for stabilizing the torso of a wheelchair occupant, said mechanism comprises;

a longitudinally extending support tube, said support tube having a first end and a second end,

means for attaching the support tube to the back of the upright portion of the wheelchair,

a pair of independently movable support rods, one support rod being slidably and rotatably receivable within the first end of said support tube and the other support rod being slidably and rotatably receivable within the second end of said support tube,

means for releasably securing the support rods within the support tube,

a pair of torso support members, each of said torso support members being attached to a support rod and each of said torso support members further being adjustable upwardly and outwardly relative to the torso of the wheelchair occupant and including a torso support pad.

2. The torso support mechanism of claim 1 wherein each torso support pad is movable relative to the torso support member. relative to the torso support member.

3. The torso support mechanism of claim 2 including means for providing plurality of varied shaped and sized torso pads.

4. A torso support torso mechanism which is attachable to the back of an upright portion of a wheelchair seat for stabilizing the torso of a wheelchair occupant, said mechanism comprises:

a longitudinally extending support tube, said support tube having a first end and a second end,

means for attaching the support tube to he back of the upright portion of the wheelchair,

a first support rod member, said first support rod member having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of said first support rod member being slidably and rotatably receivable within the first end of said support tube,

means for releasably securing the distal end of said first support rod member within said support tube first end,

a second support rod member, said second support rod member having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of said first support rod member being slidably and rotatably receivable within the first end of said support tube,

means for releasably securing the distal end of said second support rod member within said support tube second end,

a first torso support pad member, said first torso support pad member being attached to the proximal end of said first support rod member and further being movable relative to the proximal end of the first support rod member whereby the first torso support pad member is adjustable upwardly and outwardly relative to the torso of the wheelchair occupant, and

a second torso support pad member, said second torso support pad member being attached to the proximal end of said second support rod member and further being movable relative to the proximal end of the second support rod member whereby the second torso support pad member is adjustable upwardly and outwardly relative to the torso of the wheelchair occupant, and

means for providing a plurality of varied shaped and sized torso pads to said first and second torso support pad members.

5. A torso support mechanism for a wheelchair with an upright back portion comprising:

a generally cylindrical shaped hollow frame tube attached generally horizontally behind the wheelchair upright back portion, said frame tube having a first end and a second end,

a first trunk frame rod having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end sliding into the first end of the hollow frame tube,

a second trunk frame rod having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end sliding in the second end of the hollow frame tube,

a first forwardly extending trunk frame having a proximal end attached to the distal end of the first frame rod, a middle portion angled inwardly towards the wheelchair and a distal portion generally parallel to the proximal end,

a second forwardly extending forwardly extending trunk frame having a proximal end attached to the distal end of the first trunk frame rod, a middle portion angled inwardly towards the wheelchair and a distal portion generally parallel to the proximal end,

a means for selectively allowing and preventing rotation and translation of the first trunk frame rod within the frame tube,

a means for selectively allowing and preventing rotation and translation of the second trunk frame rod within the frame tube, and a trunk pad attached to each distal end of the trunk frames.

6. The torso support mechanism of claim 5 wherein the means for selectively allowing and preventing rotation and translation comprises a toggle assembly such that, when the toggle is in the closed position, it provides pressure on the trunk frame whereby the trunk frame is unable to rotate or translate within the frame tube.

7. The torso support mechanism of claim 6 wherein the pads are rotatable.

8. The torso support mechanism of claim 7 wherein the trunk pads slide along the trunk frame.

9. The torso support mechanism of claim 8 wherein at least one of said trunk pads is positioned against the shoulder area of the wheelchair occupant.

10. The torso support mechanism of claim 8 where both said trunk pads are positioned such that one of said pads is positioned against one shoulder and the other pad is positioned against the other shoulder of the wheelchair occupant.

11. The torso support mechanism of claim 8 wherein at least one of said trunk pads is positioned against the chest or armpit area of the wheelchair occupant.

12. The torso support mechanism of claim 8 wherein both said trunk pads are positioned such that one of said pads is positioned against one armpit area and the other pad is positioned against the other armpit area of the wheelchair occupant.

13. The torso support mechanism of claim 8 wherein one of said trunk pads is positioned against the wheelchair occupant'"'"'s one chest or armpit area and the other pad is positioned against the opposing shoulder of the wheelchair occupant.