초록 ▼

A wheelchair brake system is provided that allows an operator of the brake system to retard and/or stop the motion of the wheelchair. The brake system provides for independent and variable application of a braking force to wheels of the wheelchair. The brake system includes first and second brake fo

A wheelchair brake system is provided that allows an operator of the brake system to retard and/or stop the motion of the wheelchair. The brake system provides for independent and variable application of a braking force to wheels of the wheelchair. The brake system includes first and second brake force application assemblies, first and second braking assemblies, and actuation lines coupling the respective brake force application assembly to the braking assembly. The brake force application assemblies may be associated with handles of the wheelchair that allow a secondary or ancillary operator to apply a braking force, but may be associated with armrests of the wheelchair for use by an occupant. The brake force application assemblies are rotationally positionable and/or pivotally positionable to achieve various orientations thereof. This provides ergonomic placement of the handles for comfort and ease of brake force application.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A wheelchair comprising:a frame; an axle carried by said frame; a first wheel supported on a first rin and carried for rotation on said axle; a second wheel supported on a second rim and carried for rotation on said axle; first and second handles carried by respective first and second handle port

1. A wheelchair comprising:a frame; an axle carried by said frame; a first wheel supported on a first rin and carried for rotation on said axle; a second wheel supported on a second rim and carried for rotation on said axle; first and second handles carried by respective first and second handle portions of said frame and positioned to allow a person to grasp said first and second handles when situated behind the wheelchair in order to move the wheelchair, said first and second handles each pivotally coupled to said respective first and second handle portions of said frame to define a first position and a second position, said first position situating the handle in a user operation position wherein the handle is parallel to ground, and said second position situating the handle in a stowed position wherein the handle is perpendicular to ground; a first brake assembly having a first braking force application component a first wheel braking component, and a first actuation cable operatively coupling said first braking force application component with said first wheel braking component, said first braking force application component associated with said first handle and operative to pivot with said first handle, and said first wheel braking component situated proximate said first wheel to provide selective frictional engagement with said first wheel when a braking application force is applied to said first braking force application component; and a second brake assembly having a second braking force application component, a second wheel braking component, and a second actuation cable operatively coupling said second braking force application component with said second wheel braking component, said second braking force application component associated with said second handle and operative to pivot with said second handle, and said second wheel braking component situated proximate said second wheel to provide selective frictional engagement with said second wheel when a braking application force is applied to said second braking force application component. 2. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein said frame is collapsible.3. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein said first and second wheel braking components each comprise a caliper assembly.4. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein said wherein said first and second braking force application components each comprise a brake lever component.5. The wheelchair of claim 4, wherein said brake lever component comprises a brake lever operatively coupled to a brake lever bracket.6. A wheelchair comprising:a frame; an axle carried by said frame; a first wheal rotatably supported by said axle; a second wheel rotatably supported by said axle; a first brake assembly having a first braking force applicator mounted to said frame remote from said first wheel, a first wheel braking applicator mounted adjacent said first wheel, and a first actuator operatively coupling said first braking force applicator to said first wheel braking applicator, said first braking force applicator rotatable relative to its mounting position into a first and second angular orientation respectively corresponding to a use position and a stowed position; and a second brake assembly having a second braking force applicator mounted to said frame remote from said second wheel, a second wheel braking applicator mounted adjacent said second wheel, and a second actuator operatively coupling said second braking force applicator to said second wheel big applicator, said second braking force applicator rotatable relative to its mounting position into a first and second angular orientation respectively corresponding to a use position and a stowed position. 7. The wheelchair of claim 6, wherein:said first braking force applicator is movable into a plurality of angular orientations including said first and second angular orientations; and said second braking force applicator is movable into a plurality of angular orientations including said first and second angular orientations. 8. The wheelchair of claim 6 wherein said first and second braking force applicators are mounted on the wheelchair for use by an ancillary operator of the wheelchair.9. The wheelchair of claim 8, wherein said first and second braking force applicators are mounted on respective first and second handle assemblies.10. The wheelchair of claim 6, wherein said first and second braking force applicators are mounted on the wheelchair for use by an occupant of the wheelchair.11. The wheelchair of claim 10, wherein said fine and second braking force applicators are mounted on respective first and second arms.12. A wheelchair comprising:a frame; an axle carried by said frame; a first wheel rotatably supported by said axle; a second wheel rotatably supported by said axle; a first brake system mounted on the wheelchair for use by an ancillary operator of the wheelchair and operative to receive a braking force applied by the ancillary operator and translate the braking force applied by the ancillary operator to said first and second wheels, said first brake system including a first and second brake assembly each having a braking force applicator mounted to said frame remote from respective said first and second wheels and rotatable relative to their mounting position into a first and second angular orientation respectively corresponding to a use position and a stowed position, a wheel braking applicator associated with and mounted adjacent each one of said first and second wheels, and an actuator operatively coupling each braking force applicator with a respective wheel braking applicator; and a second brake system mounted on the wheelchair for use by an occupant of the wheelchair and operative to receive a second braking force applied by the occupant and translate the applied second braking force to said first and second wheels, said second brake system including a third and fourth brake assembly each having a braking force applicator mounted to said frame remote from respective said first and second wheels and rotatable relative to their mounting position into a first and second angular orientation respectively corresponding to a use position and a stowed position, a wheel braking applicator associated with and mounted adjacent each one of said first and second wheels, and an actuator operatively coupling each braking force applicator with a respective wheel braking applicator. 13. The wheelchair of claim 12, wherein said braking force applicators of said first and second brake assemblies of said first brake system are mounted on respective first and second handle assemblies of said frame; andsaid braking force applicators of said third and fourth brake assemblies of said second brake system are mounted on respective first and second armrests of said frame. 14. A kit for modifying an existing wheelchair to provide a wheelchair braking system for use by an individual pushing the wheelchair, the kit comprising:a first brake assembly having a first braking force applicator, a first wheel balking applicator and a first actuator, the first braking force applicator including first braking force applicator mounting hardware configured to mount the first braking force applicator to a first rear handlebar of a frame of the wheelchair and allow the first braking force applicator to be rotatable relative to its mounting position into a first and second angular orientation respectively corresponding to a use position and a stowed position, the first wheel braking applicator including first braking applicator hardware configured to mount the first wheel braking applicator adjacent a first wheel of the wheelchair so as to apply a braking force thereto when actuated by the first braking force applicator, the first actuator configured to couple the first braking force applicator with the first wheel braking applicator to transmit a first braking force applied to the first braking force applicator to the first wheel braking applicator; and a second brake assembly having a second braking force applicator, a second wheel braking applicator and a second actuator, the second braking force applicator including second braking force applicator mounting hardware configured to mount the second braking force applicator to a second rear handlebar of a frame of the wheelchair and allow the second braking force applicator to be rotatable relative to its mounting position into a first and second angular orientation respectively corresponding to a use position and a stowed position, the second wheel braking applicator including second braking applicator hardware configured to mount the second wheel braking applicator adjacent a second wheel of the wheelchair so as to apply a braking force thereto when actuated by the second braking force applicator, the second actuator configured to couple the second braking force applicator with the second wheel braking applicator to transmit a second braking force applied to the second braking force applicator to the second wheel braking applicator. 15. The kit of claim 14, wherein:the first braking force applicator hardware is further configured to mount the first braking force applicator to allow movement into a plurality of angular orientations including its first and second angular orientations; and the second braking force applicator hardware is further configured to mount the second braking force applicator to allow movement into a plurality of angular orientations including its first and second angular orientations.