초록 ▼

A wheelchair footrest retractor (10) is disclosed for use with a footrest (16, 18) in a wheelchair (14) to allow the wheelchair user or caregiver to readily manipulate the footplates (20) between an upper retracted position and a lower use position by simply manipulating a handle(56) located to the

A wheelchair footrest retractor (10) is disclosed for use with a footrest (16, 18) in a wheelchair (14) to allow the wheelchair user or caregiver to readily manipulate the footplates (20) between an upper retracted position and a lower use position by simply manipulating a handle(56) located to the side of the knee of the wheelchair user. The wheelchair footrest retractor (10) can be mounted to the wheelchair with little or no modification of the wheelchair. The rod (58) in the wheelchair footrest retractor (10) can be adjusted in length to fit a particular wheelchair and also adjusted when the length of the footrest(16, 18) is adjusted.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A wheelchair footrest retractor for use on a wheelchair having a footrest, the footrest having a footplate pivoted thereto, comprising:an upper bracket mounted to the footrest; a lower bracket mounted to the footplate; a handle pivoted to the upper bracket in a position to be readily manipulated

1. A wheelchair footrest retractor for use on a wheelchair having a footrest, the footrest having a footplate pivoted thereto, comprising:an upper bracket mounted to the footrest; a lower bracket mounted to the footplate; a handle pivoted to the upper bracket in a position to be readily manipulated by a user of the wheelchair or a caregiver; a rod pivoted at a first end to the handle and at a second end to the lower bracket, the user or caregiver manipulating the handle to move the footplate between a downward use position and an upper retracted position. 2. The wheelchair footrest retractor of claim 1 wherein the length of the rod is adjustable to adapt the wheelchair footrest retractor to a particular wheelchair or length of footrest.3. The wheelchair footrest retractor of claim 1 wherein the wheelchair footrest retractor is mounted to the wheelchair footrest without significant modification of the wheelchair footrest.4. The wheelchair footrest retractor of claim 1 wherein the wheelchair footrest retractor is mounted to the wheelchair without modification of the wheelchair other than the wheelchair footrest.5. The wheelchair footrest retractor of claim 1 wherein the upper bracket is mounted to the footrest by two bolts or screws.6. The wheelchair footrest retractor of claim 1 wherein the rod includes a hollow tube, a solid rod partially telescoped within the hollow tube and a mechanism to fix the solid rod relative the hollow tube to adjust the distance between the first end and the second end.7. The wheelchair footrest retractor of claim 1 wherein the handle has a boomerang shape.8. The wheelchair footrest retractor of claim 1 wherein the rod is pivotally mounted to the handle at a point spaced from the pivotal mounting of the handle to the upper bracket.9. The wheelchair footrest retractor of claim 1 wherein the second end of the rod is connected to the footplate by a universal joint.10. The wheelchair footrest retractor of claim 1 wherein the wheelchair includes left and right footrest, the wheelchair footrest retractor being mountable on either the left or right footrest without modification.11. A wheelchair footrest retractor for use on a wheelchair having a footrest, the footrest having a footplate pivoted thereto, comprising:an upper bracket mounted to the footrest, the upper bracket being mounted by two bolts or screws; a lower bracket mounted to the footplate; a handle pivoted to the upper bracket in a position to be readily manipulated by a user of the wheelchair or a caregiver, the handle having a boomerang shape; a rod pivoted at a first end to the handle through a universal joint at a point on the handle spaced from the pivotal mount to the upper bracket and at a second end to the lower bracket, the rod pivoted to the lower bracket through a universal joint, the user or caregiver manipulating the handle to move the footplate between a downward use position and an upper retracted position. 12. The wheelchair footrest retractor of claim 11 wherein the rod includes a hollow tube, a solid rod partially telescoped within the hollow tube and a mechanism to fix the solid rod relative the hollow tube to adjust the distance between the first end and the second end.13. The wheelchair footrest retractor of claim 11 wherein the wheelchair includes left and right footrests, the wheelchair footrest retractor being mountable on either the left or right footrest without modification.