IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0030392
(2005-01-05)
|
등록번호 |
US-7384058
(2008-06-10)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Munsey,Douglas H.
- Slagerman,Murray G.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
15 인용 특허 :
20 |
초록
▼
A foldable wheelchair (21) and foldable wheelchair frame assembly (26, 126) including a pair of side frames (24, 124, 224, 324), a cross-bracing frame assembly (36, 136) coupling the side frames (24, 124, 224, 324) together for movement transversely between a spaced apart deployed position and a pro
A foldable wheelchair (21) and foldable wheelchair frame assembly (26, 126) including a pair of side frames (24, 124, 224, 324), a cross-bracing frame assembly (36, 136) coupling the side frames (24, 124, 224, 324) together for movement transversely between a spaced apart deployed position and a proximate folded position. A variable length link assembly (61, 161, 261, 361) is mounted into and forms a part of the cross-bracing frame assembly (36, 136) in a position between at least one of the side frames (24, 124, 224, 324) and a remainder of the cross-bracing frame assembly. The extensible link assembly (61, 161, 261, 361) being formed for variation of the overall length in a direction extending transversely between the side frames (24, 124, 224, 324) during movement of the side frames (24, 124, 224, 324) between the deployed and the folded positions so as not to force the side frames (24, 124, 224, 324) into unparallel motion which causes the upholstery to bind the folding mechanism. The extensible link assembly (61, 161, 261, 361) is preferably and over-center linkage that is resiliently biased to the extended position. A method of providing a foldable wheelchair frame assembly (26, 126) is also disclosed.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A foldable wheelchair frame assembly comprising: a pair of side frames; a cross-bracing frame assembly coupling the side frames together for movement transversely between a spaced apart deployed position and a proximate folded position; and a link assembly mounted in the cros
What is claimed is: 1. A foldable wheelchair frame assembly comprising: a pair of side frames; a cross-bracing frame assembly coupling the side frames together for movement transversely between a spaced apart deployed position and a proximate folded position; and a link assembly mounted in the cross-bracing frame assembly in a position between at least one of the side frames and a remainder of the cross-bracing frame assembly, the link assembly being formed and arranged for variation of the overall length of the link assembly in a direction extending transversely between the side frames during movement of the side frames between the deployed position and the folded position to prevent forcing of the side frames into unparallel movement during movement of the side frames between the deployed position and the folded position. 2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein, the link assembly is pivotally coupled at one end to a side frame and is pivotally coupled at the other end to the remainder of cross-bracing frame assembly, and the link assembly includes a slidable link member reciprocally mounted to a sleeve for extension and retraction of one of the link member and the sleeve during pivoting of the link assembly, and a spring biasing member biasing the link member and the sleeve toward an extended condition. 3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein, the link assembly moves along an arcuate path between opposite path end points over a center line during movement of the side frames between the deployed position and the folded position, and the slidable link member is retracted at the center line and is extended at the path end points. 4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein, the link assembly further includes a biasing member biasing the link assembly toward an extended condition. 5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein, the cross-bracing frame assembly is an X-tube assembly including two tubular cross-bracing members pivotally coupled to each other proximate a midpoint of the lengths thereof, and the cross-bracing members are pivotally coupled to the side frames proximate lower ends of the cross-bracing members. 6. The apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein, the wheelchair frame assembly includes two extensible link assemblies mounted in the cross-bracing frame assembly with each link assembly being formed as over-center extensible and retractable link assembly, and each of the link assemblies being pivotally coupled at one end to an upper end of a cross-bracing member and being pivotally coupled at an opposite end to a side frame. 7. The apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein, each over-center link assembly has an extensible and retractable slidable link member resiliently biased toward the extended condition. 8. The apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein, each extensible link assembly is provided as an extension of a cross-bracing member in the cross-bracing frame assembly, the cross-bracing member having an upper portion thereof hinged to a lower portion of the cross-bracing member, a slidable link member carried by the upper portion of the cross-bracing member with one end of a slidable link member being pivotally coupled to a side frame and an opposite end of the slidable link member being slidably mounted to the upper portion of the cross-bracing member. 9. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein, the slidable link member is resiliently biased toward an extended position. 10. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein, the slidable member is mounted in telescoped relation to the upper portion of the cross-bracing member. 11. The apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein, the slidable link member is formed with an elongated slot extending transversely through the slidable link member, and the upper portion of the cross-bracing member includes a transversely extending pin positioned to and extending through the slot in the slidable link member. 12. The apparatus as defined in claim 8, and a receiver structure carried by the side frame, and the receiver structure being formed to receive and support one of the slidable link member and the upper portion of the cross-bracing member when the side frames are in the deployed position. 13. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein, the link assembly is provided by a sleeve pivotally coupled to a side frame at one end thereof and having a link member slidably mounted to the sleeve at an opposite end thereof, the slidable link member being pivotally coupled to the remainder of the cross-bracing frame assembly. 14. The apparatus as defined by claim 13 wherein, the cross-bracing frame assembly is provided by an X-tube assembly including two pairs of cross-bracing tubular members with each pair of cross-bracing tubular members being pivotally coupled to each other proximate a midpoint of the length of the cross-bracing members, and the two pairs of cross-bracing members being spaced apart from each other in a fore and aft direction of the wheelchair frame assembly. 15. The apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein, the link assembly is mounted between the two pairs of cross-bracing members and coupled to upper ends of both pairs of cross-bracing members. 16. The apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein, each of the upper ends of the pairs of cross-bracing members carry a seat rail member extending in a fore and aft direction substantially parallel to the side frames. 17. The apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein, each side frame includes an upper side frame member, and the seat frame members are positioned in side-by-side relation to the upper side frame members. 18. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein, the link assembly includes at least two link members pivotally coupled to each other for variation of the overall length of the link assembly, and a spring biasing member mounted to the link members to resiliently bias the link members toward an extended condition. 19. The apparatus as defined in claim 18 wherein, the spring biasing member is a torsion spring. 20. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein, the link assembly is pivotally coupled at one end to an arm mounted to a side frame, the arm extending downwardly below an upper member of the side frame. 21. The apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein, the link assembly includes a slidably link member reciprocally mounted to a sleeve for extension and retraction to vary the overall length of the link assembly, and a spring biasing member mounted to bias the link member and the sleeve toward an extended condition. 22. A foldable wheelchair frame assembly comprising: a pair of tubular, substantially vertically oriented, side frame assemblies; an X-tube assembly including at least two tubular cross-bracing members pivotally coupled to each other proximate midpoints thereof and pivotally coupled at a first end of the cross-bracing members to the side frame assemblies for movement of the side frame assemblies between a spaced apart deployed position and a proximate folded position; and an extensible link assembly mounted in the cross-bracing assembly in a position between each side frame assembly and a second end of the cross-bracing members, the link assembly including a link member formed and mounted for variation of the overall length of the link assembly during movement of the side frames between the deployed position and the folded position, and a spring biasing member biasing the link assembly toward an extended condition to allow the side frames to move between the folded position and the deployed position without being forced to undergo unparallel movement. 23. The apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein, the link assembly includes a tubular sleeve slidably receiving the link member therein; the link member is pivotally coupled to an upper member of the side frame assembly; and the sleeve member is pivotally coupled to the cross-bracing member. 24. The apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein, the link assembly moves along an arcuate path between two path end points over a center line during movement of the side frame assemblies between the deployed position and the folded position, and the slidable link member is retracted by a maximum amount at the center line and is extended from the retracted position at both path end points. 25. The apparatus as defined in claim 24 wherein, the spring biasing member biases the slidable link member toward the extended condition. 26. The apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein, the link assembly includes two link members pivotally coupled together for arcuate movement to change the overall length of the link assembly, and the spring biasing member is a torsion spring mounted to cause pivoting of the two link members toward the extended condition. 27. A link assembly for use in a foldable wheelchair frame assembly including a pair of side frames, and a cross-bracing frame assembly coupling said side frames together for movement between a spaced apart deployed position and a proximate folded position, the link assembly comprising: a first link member formed proximate one end for pivotal mounting to one of the cross-bracing assembly and a side frame; a second link member formed proximate one end for pivotal mounting to the other of the cross-bracing assembly and the side frame; the first link member and the second link member being coupled to each other for relative movement to vary the overall length of the link assembly during movement of the side frames between the deployed position and the folded position; and a spring biasing member mounted to the link assembly to bias one of the first link members and the second link member toward an extended condition. 28. The apparatus as defined in claim 27 wherein, the first link member is a sleeve member, and the second link member is a slidable link member mounted inside the sleeve member. 29. The apparatus as defined in claim 27 wherein, the first link member and the second link member are pivotally coupled to each other, and the spring biasing member is a torsion spring. 30. A foldable wheelchair comprising: a pair of substantially vertically oriented side frame assemblies including a backrest assembly and a foot rest assembly carried thereby; a pair of drive wheels rotatably mounted to the side frame assemblies; a pair of castor wheels rotatably mounted to the side frame assemblies in front of the drive wheels; a cross-bracing assembly coupling the side frame assemblies together for lateral movement between a deployed position and a folded position; and a variable length link assembly mounted to form a part of the cross-bracing assembly and coupled to at least one of the side frames, the link assembly being formed and arranged for variation of the overall length of the link assembly in a direction extending transversely between the side frames during movement of the side frames between the deployed position and the folded position; the link assembly being resiliently biased toward an extended condition; and the variation of the overall length of the link assembly being arranged to prevent forcing the side frames into unparallel movement during movement of the side frames between the deployed position and the folded position. 31. A foldable wheelchair frame assembly comprising: a pair of side frames; a cross-bracing frame assembly coupling the side frames together so as to be arranged for relative movement in a transverse direction extending between the side frames between a spaced apart deployed position and a proximate folded position; and a link assembly mounted in the cross-bracing frame assembly in a position between at least one of the side frames and a remainder of the cross-bracing frame assembly; the link assembly being arranged for variation of the overall length of the link assembly in said transverse direction during movement of the side frames between the deployed position and the folded position; and the variation of the overall length of the link assembly being driven by movement of the side frames between the deployed position and the folded position such that forcing of the side frames into unparallel movement is prevented during movement of the side frames between the deployed position and the folded position.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.