초록 ▼

A wheelchair comprising a frame, a seat assembly attached to the frame, two rear wheels attached to the frame, and at least one front wheel assembly attached to the frame. The frame defines a front face and two side faces. The front face is defined by one or more structural elements situated along a

A wheelchair comprising a frame, a seat assembly attached to the frame, two rear wheels attached to the frame, and at least one front wheel assembly attached to the frame. The frame defines a front face and two side faces. The front face is defined by one or more structural elements situated along a front of the frame, while the side faces are defined by two top side members and two corresponding bottom side members. The front face and the two side faces result in three non-orthogonal planes, which contribute to the strength and stiffness of the frame.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A wheelchair, comprising: a frame with a front face and two side faces, said frame comprising: one or more structural members situated along a front of said frame, said structural members defining said front face;two top side members, wherein one end of each of said top side members extend from s

1. A wheelchair, comprising: a frame with a front face and two side faces, said frame comprising: one or more structural members situated along a front of said frame, said structural members defining said front face;two top side members, wherein one end of each of said top side members extend from said front towards a rear of said frame;two corresponding bottom side members, wherein one end of each of said bottom side members extends from said front, at a location below where said top side members extend from said front, towards said rear of said frame;wherein each of said two side faces are defined in part by: one of said top side members;one of said corresponding bottom side members; andan edge of said front face, extending from where said one of said top side members extend from said front to where said one of said bottom side members extend from said front; andwherein said front face is not substantially perpendicular to either of said side faces, said side faces are not substantially parallel to one another, and said side faces are not substantially perpendicular to the ground;a seat assembly attached to said frame;two rear wheels attached to said frame; andat least one front wheel assembly attached to said frame. 2. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein said one or more structural elements comprise: a substantially horizontal top cross-member;a substantially horizontal bottom cross-member situated below said top cross-member; andtwo side front members, wherein said side front members extend from one end of said top cross-member to a corresponding end of said bottom cross-member; andwherein said front face is defined by said top cross-member, said bottom cross-member, and said side front members. 3. The wheelchair of claim 2, wherein said top cross-member is longer than said bottom cross-member. 4. The wheelchair of claim 3, wherein said front face has a generally trapezoidal shape. 5. The wheelchair of claim 2, wherein said top cross-member is shorter than said bottom cross-member. 6. The wheelchair of claim 2, wherein said top cross-member is of substantially the same length as the bottom cross-member. 7. The wheelchair of claim 2, wherein said top cross-member is situated forward of said bottom cross-member. 8. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein said top side members extend obliquely towards said rear of said frame. 9. The wheelchair of claim 8, wherein said bottom side members extend obliquely towards said rear of said frame, said bottom side members extending obliquely at an angle with a horizontal component different from that of said top side members. 10. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein another end of each of said top side members meets with another end of corresponding said bottom side members to form two rear corner portions. 11. The wheelchair of claim 10, wherein said frame comprises two horizontal slots, wherein one of said slots is situated at each of the two rear corners. 12. The wheelchair of claim 11, wherein each of said rear corner portions are bent such that said rear corner portions are substantially parallel to each other. 13. The wheelchair of claim 12, wherein each of said rear wheels is attached to said frame at one of said slots. 14. The wheelchair of claim 13, wherein said rear wheels is removably attached to said frame. 15. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein said seat assembly is pivotably attached to said one of said structural elements. 16. The wheelchair of claim 15 further comprising one or more gas springs connecting said structural elements and said seat assembly. 17. The wheelchair of claim 16 further comprising a back rest assembly pivotably attached to said seat assembly. 18. The wheelchair of claim 17 further comprising a parallel assembly connecting said structural elements and said backrest assembly. 19. The wheelchair of claim 18, wherein said parallel assembly comprises one or more linkages. 20. The wheelchair of claim 19, wherein said parallel assembly comprises one or more secondary gas springs. 21. The wheelchair of claim 20, wherein said parallel assembly further comprises a fork. 22. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein said frame is of a unitary construction. 23. The wheelchair of claim 22, wherein said frame is made from carbon fibre monocoque construction. 24. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein said frame is of a generally tubular construction. 25. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein said front face is not substantially perpendicular to the ground. 26. A frame for a wheelchair, said frame comprising: one or more structural members situated along a front of said frame, said structural members defining said front face, said front face being not substantially perpendicular to the ground;two top side members, wherein one end of each of said top side members extend from said front towards a rear of said frame;two corresponding bottom side members, wherein one end of each of said bottom side members extend from said front, at a location below where said top side members extend from said front, towards said rear of said frame;wherein each of said two side faces are defined in part by: one of said top side members;one of said corresponding bottom side members; andan edge of said front face, extending from where said one of said top side members extend from said front to where said one of said bottom side members extend from said front; andwherein said front face is not substantially perpendicular to either of said side faces, said side faces are not substantially parallel to one another, and said side faces are not substantially perpendicular to the ground. 27. The frame of claim 26, wherein said one or more structural elements comprise: a substantially horizontal top cross-member;a substantially horizontal bottom cross-member situated below said top cross-member; andtwo side front members, wherein said side front members extend from one end of said top cross-member to a corresponding end of said bottom cross-member; andwherein said front face is defined by said top cross-member, said bottom cross-member, and said side front members. 28. The frame of claim 27, wherein said top cross-member is longer than said bottom cross-member. 29. The frame of claim 26, wherein said top cross-member is situated forward of said bottom cross-member. 30. The frame of claim 26, wherein said top side members extend obliquely towards said rear of said frame. 31. The frame of claim 29, wherein said bottom side members extend obliquely towards said rear of said frame, said bottom side members extending obliquely at an angle with a horizontal component different from that of said top side members. 32. The frame of claim 26, wherein said frame further comprises a transverse horizontal member extending from one of said bottom side members to another of said bottom side members.