초록 ▼

A wheelchair or a vehicle for sand or loose soil comprises one or more skids, each equipped with a spring-loaded roller or roller plate. Examples of the vehicle include a wheelchair and a planetary rover. Preferably, a beach, shower or pool wheelchair comprises two front skids in place of front whee

A wheelchair or a vehicle for sand or loose soil comprises one or more skids, each equipped with a spring-loaded roller or roller plate. Examples of the vehicle include a wheelchair and a planetary rover. Preferably, a beach, shower or pool wheelchair comprises two front skids in place of front wheels. The skids provide a resistance-free, broad footprint in the sand and a low-resistance narrow footprint when used on hard, e.g. boardwalk, surfaces. A wheelchair may further comprise a lightweight, easy to fold frame, which closes like a pair of eyeglasses. Still further, a wheelchair may provide a removable and reclining lounge chair seat to allow the user to exit the wheelchair to enter the water or sit and recline on the sand. In addition, dog bone or dumbbell shaped wheels provide the wheelchair strong, lightweight support and a wide footprint and can be equipped with grip notches for user self-propulsion. The inventive wheelchair provides the user with a combination of improvements, which respect the user's grace and dignity.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A wheelchair comprising a seat, two rear wheels, one or more front skids and a frame onto which each of said seat, wheels and skids are mounted, wherein each of said one or more front skids comprises a skid body having within it a spring-loaded roller or roller plate.2. A wheelchair in accordance

1. A wheelchair comprising a seat, two rear wheels, one or more front skids and a frame onto which each of said seat, wheels and skids are mounted, wherein each of said one or more front skids comprises a skid body having within it a spring-loaded roller or roller plate.2. A wheelchair in accordance with claim 1, wherein said frame comprises a lightweight, hollow material.3. A wheelchair in accordance with claim 1, wherein said skid body comprises a socket for receiving said spring and said roller,wherein said roller is disposed within said socket and beneath said spring such that the weight of said wheelchair creates spring tension forcing said roller to protrude from beneath said skid body so as to bear the weight of said wheelchair. 4. A wheelchair in accordance with claim 1, wherein said roller or roller plate provides a footprint of said wheelchair on improved or hard ground.5. A wheelchair in accordance with claim 1, wherein said skid bears the weight of said wheelchair on sand, loose soil and mud.6. A wheelchair in accordance with claim 1, wherein said wheelchair is a wheelchair comprising non-corrosable material or is a floatable wheelchair.7. A wheelchair in accordance with claim 1, wherein said skid body comprises a friction resistant material.8. A wheelchair in accordance with claim 5, wherein said skid provides a footprint that is from about 5 inches wide to about 10 inches wide.9. A wheelchair in accordance with claim 1, wherein said frame comprises a back rest support and side wings pivotally attached to said back rest support such that said side wings fold inwardly against said back rest support.10. A wheelchair in accordance with claim 6, wherein said frame comprises a back rest support and side wings, andfurther wherein said seat is mounted onto said frame via vertical slots in said back rest support or via supports attached to each side wing and conforming to the underside of the frame of said seat and rests on a slidable ledger in the side wings of said frame such that said seat can be removed from said wheelchair by lifting it out of said frame. 11. A wheelchair in accordance with claim 1, wherein said seat extends such that the full length of a user's upper legs can be supported thereon and said seat comprises an adjustable leg rest such that the full length of a user's legs can be supported thereon.12. A wheelchair in accordance with claim 1 wherein said wheels have a dog bone diametrical cross-section, andfurther wherein the footprint of said wheels is from about 3½ to about 6 inches wide. 13. A wheelchair in accordance with claim 1 wherein said frame and said wheels are constructed of polyvinyl chloride (PVC).14. A wheelchair in accordance with claim 12 wherein said wheels further comprise grip notches for user self propulsion.15. A wheelchair comprising a seat, two rear wheels made of a lightweight hollow material, one or more front skids and a frame made of a lightweight hollow material onto which each of said seat, wheels and skids are mounted, wherein the said wheels further comprise grip notches for user self propulsion.16. A wheelchair as claimed in claim 15, wherein the said frame and the said wheels comprise hollow PVC or HDPE (high density polyethylene), or comprise a foam filled material such that the wheelchair is floatable.