Wheelchair/accessory system

• US 7,647,873 B1
• Filed: 06/12/2007
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Livingeazy Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Livingeazy Incorporated
• Inventors: Elflein, Matthew M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley; Kevin
• Application Number:
  US11/811,763
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 280/304.1, 108/158.11
• US Class Current: 108/158.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/10 Parts, details or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1094 Tables, working plates or trays

Abstract

A wheelchair has a frame with rails and wheels. An accessory is adapted to be removably coupled to a rail. The accessory has a short downwardly extending cylindrical projection. A coupling assembly extends between the accessory and the frame. The coupling assembly includes a bottom subassembly. The bottom subassembly is adapted to encompass a rail. The rail has a vertically extending lower component. The lower component has a cylindrical vertical recess. The coupling assembly also includes an extension subassembly. The extension subassembly is provided between the bottom subassembly and the accessory. A supplemental cylindrical recess is provided in the accessory above its projection. The recess is adapted to receive a supplemental component.

Claims

1. A wheelchair/accessory system comprising:

a wheelchair having a frame with rails and wheels;

an accessory adapted to be removably coupled to a rail with a short downwardly extending cylindrical projection and a supplemental cylindrical recess;

the accessory further includes a vertically extending rod with a downwardly extending projection at its lower end positioned in the supplemental cylindrical recess of the accessory and an upwardly facing recess at its upper end, the rod being formed with an L-shaped finger with an aperture through the finger adjacent to a central extent thereof and a carabineer ring positioned within the aperture, the carabineer ring adapted to secure a laundry basket and like objects;

a coupling assembly extending between the accessory and the frame including a bottom subassembly adapted to encompass a rail with a vertically extending lower component having a cylindrical vertical recess; and

the coupling assembly also including an extension subassembly between the bottom subassembly and the accessory.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the accessory has a horizontal planar support surface in a rectangular configuration with an upwardly extending peripheral flange, the support surface having a circular aperture there through for receiving and removably supporting a cup with a generally conical surface, the short downwardly extending cylindrical projection being laterally spaced from the aperture.

3. A wheelchair/accessory system comprising:

a wheelchair having a frame with rails and wheels;

an accessory adapted to be removably coupled to a rail;

wherein the accessory includes a vertically extending rod with a downwardly extending projection at its lower end connected to the vertical recess in the coupling assembly and an upwardly facing recess at its upper end, the rod being formed with an L-shaped finger adapted to receive and support an aperture in a bag;

a coupling assembly extending between the accessory and the frame including a bottom subassembly adapted to encompass a rail with a vertically extending lower component having a cylindrical vertical recess;

the coupling assembly also including an extension subassembly between the bottom subassembly and the accessory.

4. A wheelchair/accessory system for extending the safety and utility of a wheelchair and for increasing the comfort and convenience to a user comprising, in combination:

a wheelchair having a frame, the frame having laterally spaced horizontal seat rails with laterally spaced generally vertical back rails, the frame also having laterally spaced horizontal arm rails forward of the back rails above the seat rails and laterally spaced horizontal leg rails forward of the back rails below the seat rails, the frame also having laterally spaced vertical front rails coupled to the arm rails and the seat rails and leg rails, the wheelchair having large wheels positioned laterally outwardly of all the rails with an axis beneath the back rails and beneath the seat rails, the wheelchair having small wheels positioned beneath the front rails;

an accessory adapted to be removably coupled to the wheelchair at a location above one of the arm rails forward of one of the back rails, the accessory having a horizontal planar support surface in a rectangular configuration with an upwardly extending peripheral flange, the support surface having a circular aperture there through for receiving and removably supporting a cup with a generally conical surface, the support surface having a short downwardly extending cylindrical projection laterally spaced from the aperture;

a coupling assembly extending between the accessory and the frame, the coupling assembly including a bottom subassembly with an interior semi-circular section with an exterior semi-circular section, the semi-circular sections adapted to encompass one of the leg rails, the semi-circular sections having vertical projections with threaded coupling apertures and coupling bolts extending through the coupling apertures for coupling purposes, the interior semi-circular section having a horizontally projecting female member with a cylindrical recess formed with a threaded rotational positioning aperture, the bottom subassembly having a vertically extending lower component with a horizontally projecting male member with a cylindrical projection positioned in the cylindrical recess and a rotational positioning bolt in the rotational positioning aperture for rotational positioning purposes, the vertically extending lower component having a cylindrical vertical recess;

the coupling assembly also having an extension subassembly including a vertical upper component and a similarly configured vertical intermediate component, the intermediate component having a lower end with a downwardly extending cylindrical projection positioned within the vertical recess of the bottom component and an upper end with a vertically extending cylindrical recess, the upper component having a lower end with a downwardly extending cylindrical projection positioned within the vertical recess of the intermediate component and an upper end with a vertically extending cylindrical recess to receive the projection of the accessory; and

a supplemental cylindrical recess in its planar surface of the accessory above its projection adapted to receive a supplemental component.