Wheelchair brake apparatus and wheelchair including same

• US 6,739,610 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2002
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Air Movement Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Air Movement Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Famulare, Frank, Iles, Edward, Connors, James B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US10/118,462
• Publication Number:
  US 20030189310A1
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 280/250.1, 280/304.1, 188/2.R, 188/5
• US Class Current: 280/304.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/101 of the parking brake type, e.g. holding the wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1035 manipulated by wheelchair user
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1054 Large wheels, e.g. higher than the seat portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1086 Anti-roll-back devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/14 Standing-up or sitting-down aids
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0404 automatic

Abstract

An automatically engageable and releasable brake apparatus for a wheelchair, including a connection mechanism adapted to be attached to a portion of the frame of the wheelchair proximate a rear wheel of the wheelchair, a seat actuation member extending from a portion of the connection mechanism and adapted to be positioned substantially beneath the seat of the wheelchair, a shaft member positioned to extend substantially downwardly from a portion of the connection mechanism and a friction member positioned proximate the other end of the shaft member and adapted to contact the ground. Occupational ingress activates the seat actuation member to move from a first position to a second position, which causes the shaft member to rotate in concert therewith such that the friction member also moves from a first position in substantial contact with the ground to a second position spaced a distance above the ground.

Claims

1. An automatically engageable and releasable brake apparatus adaptable to be attached to a wheelchair, said brake apparatus comprising:

a connection mechanism adapted to be attached directly to a portion of the frame of the wheelchair proximate a rear wheel of the wheelchair, said connection mechanism comprising a pivoting member having a pivot axis, said pivoting member being rotatably coupled to said connection mechanism and extending in a direction substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the rear wheel of the wheelchair, said pivoting member comprising at least one through-bore passing from a portion of an outer surface of said pivoting member through said pivot axis and terminating at an opposed portion of the outer surface of said pivoting member, and said pivoting member further comprises at least one fastening bore positioned perpendicular to said at least one through-bore, wherein said at least one fastening bore passes from the outer surface of said pivoting member, intersects said pivot axis, and terminates proximate said pivot axis at a position within said at least one through-bore;

a seat actuation member extending from a portion of said connection mechanism and adapted to be positioned substantially beneath the seat of the wheelchair;

a shaft member extending from a first end thereof to an opposed second end thereof, and positioned to extend substantially downwardly from a portion of said connection mechanism proximate said first end of said shaft member; and

a friction member positioned proximate said second end of said shaft member and adapted to contact a surface on which the wheelchair is sitting;

wherein occupational ingress activates said seat actuation member to move from a first position to a second position, which in turn causes said shaft member to move such that said friction member substantially contemporaneously moves from a first position in substantial contact with the surface on which the wheelchair is located to a second position spaced a distance above the surface on which the wheelchair is located.

2. The brake apparatus of claim 1, wherein said connection mechanism further comprises at least one biasing member operatively coupled to said pivoting member to bias said pivoting member in a first rotation direction to cause said friction member in said first position to contact a ground surface on which the wheelchair is sitting.

3. The brake apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said shaft member is received within one of said at least one through-bores, and at least a portion of said seat actuation member is received with another one of said at least one through-bores.

4. The brake apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pivoting member further comprises at least one set screw adapted to be positioned within said at least one fastening bore to operatively retain said portion of at least one of said shaft member and said seat actuation member positioned within said at least one through-bore, wherein respective lengths of said shaft member and said seat actuation member extending from said pivoting member are adjusted by moving said portions thereof positioned within a respective one of said through-bores and fixed via said at least one set screw positioned within said at least one fastening bore.

5. An automatically engageable and releasable brake apparatus adaptable to be attached to a wheelchair, said brake apparatus comprising:

a first connection mechanism adapted to be attached directly to a portion of the frame of the wheelchair proximate a rear wheel of the wheelchair;

a first seat actuation member extending from a portion of said first connection mechanism and adapted to be positioned substantially beneath the seat of the wheelchair;

a first shaft member extending in a logitudinal direction from a first end thereof to an opposed second end thereof, and positioned to extend substantially downwardly in said longitudinal direction from a portion of first connection mechanism proximate said first end of said first shaft member;

a first friction member positioned proximate said second end of said first shaft member and adapted to contact a ground surface on which the wheelchair is sitting;

a second connection mechanism adapted to be attached directly to a portion of the frame of the wheelchair proximate the other rear wheel of the wheelchair;

a second seat actuation member extending from a portion of said second connection mechanism and adapted to be positioned substantially beneath the seat of the wheelchair;

a second shaft member extending in a longitudinal direction from a first end thereof to an opposed second end thereof, and positioned to extend substantial downwardly in said longitudinal direction from a portion of said second connection mechanism proximate said first end of said second shaft member; and

a second friction member positioned proximate said second end of said second shaft member and adapted to contact a ground surface on which the wheelchair is sitting;

wherein said first and said second connection mechanisms each comprise a first and a second pivoting member, respectively, said first pivoting member having a first pivot axis and said second pivoting member having a second pivot axis, and each of said first and said second pivoting members being rotatably coupled to a respective one of said first and said second connection mechanisms and extending in a direction substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the rear wheel of the wheelchair;

wherein said first and said second pivoting members each comprise at least one through-bore passing from a portion of an outer surface of a respective one of said first and said second pivoting members through said first and said second pivot axes to an opposed portion of the outer surface of said first and said second pivoting members, respectively; and

wherein occupational ingress activates said first seat actuation member to move from a first position to a second position, which in turn causes said first shaft member to move such that said first friction member substantially contemporaneously moves from a first position in substantial contact with the surface on which the wheelchair is located to a second position spaced a distance above the surface on which the wheelchair is located, and further activates said second seat actuation member to move in relative concert with said first seat actuation member from a first position to a second position, which in turn causes said second shaft member to move such that said second friction member substantially contemporaneously moves in relative concert with said first friction member from a first position in substantial contact with the surface on which the wheelchair is located to a second position spaced a distance above the surface on which the wheelchair is located.

6. The brake apparatus of claim 5, wherein said first and second shaft members are substantially parallel in said longitudinal direction, and said first and second shaft members axially oppose each other transversely across a distance in a direction substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal direction.

7. The brake apparatus of claim 5, wherein said first and said second connection mechanisms further comprise a first biasing member and a second biasing member, respectively, said first and said second biasing members being operatively coupled to said first and said second pivoting members to bias a respective one of said first and said second pivoting members in a first rotation direction to cause a respective one of said first and said second friction members in said first position to contact a ground surface on which the wheelchair is sitting.

8. The brake apparatus of claim 5, wherein at least a portion of said first shaft member is received within one of said at least one through-bores of said first pivoting member, at least a portion of said second shaft member is received within one of said at least one through-bores of said second pivoting member, at least a portion of said first seat actuation member is received within another one of said at least one through-bores of said first pivoting member and at least a portion of said second seat actuation member is received with another one of said at least one through-bores of said second pivoting member.

9. The brake apparatus of claim 5, wherein each of said first and said second pivoting members further comprise at least one fastening bore positioned perpendicular to said at least one through-bore, wherein said at least one fastening bore passes from the outer surface of a respective one of said first and said second pivoting members, intersects a respective one of said pivot axes, and terminates proximate a respective one of said first and said second pivot axes at a position within a respective one of said at least one through-bores.

10. The brake apparatus of claim 9, wherein said first and said second pivoting members further comprise at least one set screw adapted to be positioned within said at least one fastening bore to operatively retain at least one of said shaft member and said seat actuation member positioned within a portion of said at least one through-bore, wherein the respective lengths of said shaft member and said seat actuation member extending from said pivoting member are adjusted by moving said portions thereof positioned within a respective one of said through-bores and fixed via said at least one set screw.

11. An automatically engageable and releasable brake apparatus adaptable to be attached to a wheelchair, said brake apparatus comprising:

a first connection mechanism adapted to be attached directly to a portion of the frame of the wheelchair proximate a rear wheel of the wheelchair;

a second connection mechanism adapted to be attached directly to a portion of the frame of the wheelchair proximate the other rear wheel of the wheelchair;

a seat actuation member having a first portion extending from a first portion of said first connection mechanism, a second portion extending from a second portion of said second connection mechanism, a third portion substantially connecting said first and said second portions of said seat actuation member, said seat actuation member being adapted to be positioned substantially beneath the seat of the wheelchair;

a first shaft member extending in a longitudinal direction from a first end thereof to an opposed second end thereof, and positioned to extend substantially downwardly in said longitudinal direction from a second portion of said first connection mechanism proximate said first end of said first shaft member;

a first friction member positioned proximate said second end of said first shaft member and adapted to contact a ground surface on which the wheelchair is sitting;

a second shaft member extending in a longitudinal direction from a first end thereof to an opposed second end thereof, and positioned to extend substantially downwardly in said longitudinal direction from a second portion of said second connection mechanism proximate said first end of said second shaft member; and

a second friction member positioned proximate said second end of said second shaft member and adated to contact a ground surface on which the wheelchair is sitting;

wherein said first and said second connection mechanisms each comprise a first and a second pivoting member, respectively, said first pivoting member having a first pivot axis and said second pivoting member having a second pivot axis, and each of said first and said second pivoting members being rotatably coupled to a respective one of said first and said second connection mechanisms and extending in a direction substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the rear wheel of the wheelchair;

wherein said first and said second pivoting members each comprise at least one through-bore passing from a portion of an outer surface of a respective one of said first and said second pivoting members through said first and said second pivot axes to an opposed portion of the outer surface of said first and said second pivoting members, respectively; and

wherein occupational ingress activates said seat actuation member to move from a first position to a second position, which in turn causes said first shaft member to move such that said first friction member substantially contemporaneously moves from a first position in substantial contact with the surface on which the wheelchair is located to a second position spaced a distance above the surface on which the wheelchair is located, and said seat activation member causes said second shaft member to move such that said second friction member substantially contemporaneously moves, from a first position in substantial contact with the surface on which the wheelchair is located to a second position spaced a distance above the surface on which the wheelchair is located in relative concert with said first friction member.

12. The brake apparatus of claim 11, wherein said first and second shaft members are substantially parallel in said longitudinal direction, and said first and second shaft members axially oppose each other across a distance in a lateral direction substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal direction.

13. The brake apparatus of claim 11, wherein said first and said second connection mechanisms further comprise a first biasing member and a second biasing member, respectively, said first and said second biasing members being operatively coupled to said first and said second pivoting members to bias a respective one of said first and said second pivoting members in a first rotation direction to cause a respective one of said first and said second friction members in said first position to contact a ground surface on which the wheelchair is sitting.

14. The brake apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of said first shaft member is received within one of said at lest one through-bores of said first pivoting member, at least a portion of said second shaft member is received within one of said at least one through-bores of said second pivoting member, at least a portion of said first seat actuation member is received within another one of said at least one through-bores of said first pivoting member and at least a portion of said second seat actuation member is received with another one of said at least one through-bores of said second pivoting member.

15. The brake apparatus of claim 11, wherein each of said first and said second pivoting members further comprise at least one fastening bore positioned perpendicular to said at least one through-bore, wherein said at least one fastening bore passes from the outer surface of a respective one of said first and said second pivoting members, intersects a respective one of said pivot axes, and terminates proximate a respective one of said first and said second pivot axes at a position within a respective one of said at least one through-bores.

16. The brake apparatus of claim 15, wherein said first and said second pivoting members further comprise at least one set screw adapted to be positioned within said at least one fastening bore to operatively retain at least one of said shaft member and said seat actuation member positioned within a portion of said at least one through-bore, wherein the respective lengths of said shaft member and said seat actuation member extending from said pivoting member are adjusted by moving said portions thereof positioned within a respective one of said through-bores and fixed via said at least one set screw.

17. A wheelchair comprising:

a frame configuration;

a seat member incorporated into and substantially supported by said frame configuration;

a wheel assembly having a plurality of first wheels rotatably connected proximate a front end of said frame configuration, and a plurality of second wheels rotatably connected to said frame configuration via a respective axle proximate a rear portion of said frame configuration; and

a brake apparatus comprising a connection mechanism attached directly to a portion of said frame of said wheelchair proximate, but spaced a distance from, at least one of said second axles of said wheelchair, a seat actuation member extending from a portion of said connection mechanism and positioned substantially beneath said seat member of said wheelchair, a shaft member extending from a portion of said connection mechanism proximate a first end thereof in a longitudinal direction toward an opposing second end thereof, and a friction member positioned proximate said second end of said shaft member and adapted to substantially contact a ground surface on which said wheelchair is sitting;

wherein occupational ingress activates said seat actuation member to move from a first position to a second position, which in turn causes said shaft member to move such that said friction member moves from a first position in substantial contact with the surface on which said wheelchair is located to a second position spaced a distance above the surface on which said wheelchair is located, and occupational egress activates said seat actuation member to move from said second position to said first position, which in turn causes said shaft member to move such that said friction member moves from said second position spaced a distance above the surface on which said wheelchair is located to said first position in substantial contact with the surface on which said wheelchair is located.

18. The brake apparatus of claim 17, wherein said connection mechanism comprises a pivoting member having a pivot axis, said pivoting member being rotatably coupled to said connection mechanism and extending in a direction substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the rear wheel of the wheelchair.

19. The brake apparatus of claim 18, wherein said connection mechanism comprises at least one biasing member operatively coupled to said pivoting member to bias said pivoting member in a first rotation direction to cause said friction member to contact a ground surface on which the wheelchair is sitting.

20. The brake apparatus of claim 18, wherein said pivoting member comprises at least one through-bore passing from a portion of an outer surface of said pivoting member through said pivot axis to an opposed portion of the outer surface of said pivoting member.

21. The brake apparatus of claim 20, wherein at least a portion of said shaft member is received within one of said at least one through-bores, and at least a portion of said seat actuation member is received with another one of said at least one through-bores.

22. The brake apparatus of claim 20, wherein said pivoting member further comprises at least one fastening bore positioned perpendicular to said at least one through-bore, wherein said at least one fastening bore passes from the outer surface of said pivoting member, intersects said pivot axis, and terminates proximate said pivot axis at a position within said at least one through-bore.

23. The brake apparatus of claim 22, wherein said pivoting member further comprises at least one set screw adapted to be positioned within said at least one fastening bore to operatively retain at least one of said shaft member and said seat actuation member positioned within a portion of said at least one through-bore, wherein respective lengths of said shaft member and said seat actuation member extending from said pivoting member are adjusted by moving said portions thereof positioned within a respective one of said through-bores and fixed via said at least one set screw positioned within said at least one fastening bore.