초록 ▼

A structural member for use in a wheelchair which includes an elongate section having side members connected by at least one central member and movement accommodating channels. Preferably, the elongate section has a W-shaped cross-sectional configuration. The preferred cross-section has a generally

A structural member for use in a wheelchair which includes an elongate section having side members connected by at least one central member and movement accommodating channels. Preferably, the elongate section has a W-shaped cross-sectional configuration. The preferred cross-section has a generally round outline. The preferred wheelchair structural member also includes a mechanism for imparting torsional stiffness thereto. Preferably, that mechanism includes stiffening disks which have a solid, circular cross-sectional appearance, and which are formed integrally with the elongate section. Similarly, the preferred structural member may include a mechanism for imparting bending strength. Stiffening disks, as well as increased cross-sectional diameter and increased wall thickness may be used to reduce the tendency of a structural member to bend. A preferred injection molding method and the preferred use of fiber-reinforced plastic materials are also disclosed.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [8.] An elongate structural member suitable for wheelchair frame structural applications, adapted to substantially resist longitudinal compression while absorbing transverse shock and further adapted when used in such applications to deform elastically in response to torsional

[ What is claimed is:] [8.] An elongate structural member suitable for wheelchair frame structural applications, adapted to substantially resist longitudinal compression while absorbing transverse shock and further adapted when used in such applications to deform elastically in response to torsional and transversely applied loads, said structural member including:an elongate and continuous structural section formed of a resilient structural material and including a longitudinally extending first thin wall, a longitudinally extending second thin wall, a longitudinally extending apex region along which the first wall and second wall are coupled integrally with respect to one another, and a longitudinally extending first channel between the first and second walls, wherein the apex region of the structural section includes a longitudinally extending third thin wall coupled integrally to the first and second walls and cooperating with the first and second walls to form a longitudinally extending second channel between the second and third walls, with the first channel disposed between the first and third walls; anda plurality of stiffening regions arranged along the structural section in longitudinally spaced apart relation to one another, wherein the structural material at each of the stiffening regions extends transversely from the first wall to the second wall to occupy and at least partially fill the first channel;wherein the first wall and the second wall are adapted to undergo resilient beam twisting and flexure in response to torsional and transverse loads applied to the structural section to allow the structural section to undergo twisting about a longitudinal axis in response to torsional loads and to undergo flexure about transverse axes in response to transverse loads; andwherein the stiffening regions are arranged at predetermined longitudinal distances from one another to selectively increase a resistance of the structural section to said twisting and said flexure, whereby the structural section, when in use in a wheelchair frame structural application, is adapted to absorb transverse shock and to undergo controlled elastic deformation from an unstressed configuration in response to the torsional and transverse loads, and further is adapted to resiliently return to the unstressed configuration upon removal of the torsional and transverse loads.