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A connector for releasably attaching a vehicle such as a shopping cart to a wheelchair includes a pivoting frame that is mounted for use on the cart by a front attachment device and that can be releasably attached to the wheelchair by the chair's occupant. The frame is pivoted to an in-use position

A connector for releasably attaching a vehicle such as a shopping cart to a wheelchair includes a pivoting frame that is mounted for use on the cart by a front attachment device and that can be releasably attached to the wheelchair by the chair's occupant. The frame is pivoted to an in-use position and aligned with the wheelchair for attachment. The frame can also be readily released from attachment to the wheelchair by the chair's occupant.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A connector for releasably attaching a wheeled vehicle to a wheelchair, the connector comprising: a frame;a front attachment device for attaching the frame to a wheeled vehicle;a rear attachment device for attaching the frame to a wheelchair;wherein said frame comprises a first arm, a second arm,

1. A connector for releasably attaching a wheeled vehicle to a wheelchair, the connector comprising: a frame;a front attachment device for attaching the frame to a wheeled vehicle;a rear attachment device for attaching the frame to a wheelchair;wherein said frame comprises a first arm, a second arm, and an actuator arm;said actuator arm comprises first and second ends;said first arm comprises third and fourth ends and an attachment point; wherein said attachment point is positioned along said first arm between the third and fourth ends;said second arm comprises an end, an offset proximal portion and a distal portion; wherein said offset proximal portion is longitudinally offset from said distal portion;said frame further comprises right and left pivotal arm joints;said right pivotal arm joint pivotally attaches the first end of the actuator arm to said attachment point; andsaid left pivotal arm joint pivotally attaches the second end of the actuator arm to the end of the second arm;wherein said right and left pivotal arm joints provide pivotal movement of the first and second arms about an axis that is generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the actuator arm; andwherein said offset proximal portion includes fifth and sixth ends;said distal portion includes seventh and eighth ends; andsaid seventh end is disposed adjacent to said offset proximal portion between said fifth and sixth ends; and said sixth end is disposed adjacent to said distal portion between said seventh and eighth ends of said distal portion. 2. The connector of claim 1, wherein said attachment point is positioned along said first arm at a distance closer to the third end than to the fourth end. 3. The connector of claim 1, wherein said distal portion and said first arm are approximately equal in length. 4. The connector of claim 1, wherein said front attachment device comprises first and second brackets attached to the frame. 5. The connector of claim 1, wherein said first bracket is pivotally attached to the seventh end of the distal portion and said second bracket is pivotally attached to the third end of the first arm. 6. The connector of claim 5, wherein said first bracket comprises a first yoke, a first pivoting piece, a first pivot pin and a third pivot pin; wherein said first pivoting piece is pivotally secured to the third end of the first arm by the first pivot pin, and said first pivoting piece is pivotally attached to the first yoke by the third pivot pin, and said first and third pivot pins extend generally perpendicularly to each other; and said second bracket comprises a second yoke, a second pivoting piece, a second pivot pin, and a fourth pivot pin; wherein said second pivoting piece is pivotally attached to the seventh end of the second arm by the second pivot pin, the second pivoting piece is pivotally attached to the second yoke by the fourth pivot pin, and said second and fourth pivot pins extend generally perpendicularly to each other. 7. The connector of claim 5, wherein said first and second arms pivot between a non-use position to an in-use position; wherein in said in-use position, the first and second arms extend generally outwardly and away from the attached wheeled vehicle, and in said non-use position, the first and second arms extend generally downwardly and alongside the attached wheeled vehicle. 8. The connector of claim 5, wherein said rear attachment device includes a first vehicle attaching assembly on the fourth end of the first arm and a second vehicle attaching assembly disposed on the eighth end of the second arm; and wherein each of said first and second vehicle attaching assemblies releasably attaches the frame to a wheelchair. 9. The connector of claim 8, wherein said first vehicle attaching assembly comprises a first fork, a first chain attached to the first arm, and a first notch disposed in the first arm; and said first vehicle attaching assembly is adapted to attach said frame to one side of the wheelchair; and said second vehicle attaching assembly comprises a second fork, a second chain attached to the second arm, and a second notch disposed on the distal portion of the second arm. 10. The connector of claim 5, wherein when said front attachment device is attached to a wheeled vehicle, an included angle between the actuator arm and the first arm is greater in magnitude than an included angle between the actuator arm and the second arm. 11. A connector for releasably attaching a wheeled cart to a wheelchair, the connector comprising: a frame;means for releasably attaching the frame to a wheelchair; andmeans for attaching the frame to a wheeled cart;wherein said frame is generally U-shaped and comprises a first arm, a second arm, an actuator arm, and right and left pivotal arm joints;said actuator arm is pivotally attached to the first and second arms by the right and left pivotal arm joints, respectively;said first arm comprises an attachment point located along a length of the first arm; andsaid actuator arm is pivotally attached to the first arm at said attachment point;wherein said second arm comprises an offset proximal portion and a distal portion; said offset proximal portion is attached to said actuator arm, and one end of said distal portion is attached to said means for attaching the frame to a wheeled cart;wherein said means for attaching the frame to a wheeled cart is further attached to an end of said first arm. 12. The connector of claim 11, wherein said means for releasably attaching the frame to a wheelchair is disposed on an end of said distal portion opposite said means for attaching the frame to a wheeled cart, and said means for releasably attaching the frame to a wheelchair is further disposed on an end of said first arm opposite said means for attaching the frame to a wheeled cart. 13. The connector of claim 12, wherein said distal portion and said first arm are approximately equal in length. 14. A connector for releasably attaching a wheeled cart to a wheelchair, the connector comprising: a frame;a front attachment device;a rear attachment device; anda stop limit;said frame comprises a first arm, a second arm, and an actuator arm; wherein said actuator arm extends between the first and second arms and further coordinates movement between the first and second arms;said actuator arm comprises first and second ends;said first arm comprises third and fourth ends and an attachment point; wherein said attachment point is located between the third and fourth ends at a distance closer to the third end than to the fourth end;said second arm comprises an offset proximal portion and a distal portion;wherein said distal portion and said first arm are approximately equal in length;said offset proximal portion includes fifth and sixth ends;said distal portion includes seventh and eighth ends;wherein said offset proximal portion is longitudinally offset from the distal portion; said seventh end is disposed adjacent to said offset proximal portion and is positioned between said fifth and sixth ends; and said sixth end is disposed adjacent to said distal portion between said seventh and eighth ends of the distal portion;wherein said stop limit extends outwardly from said fifth end of said offset proximal portion in a direction away from the actuator arm;said frame further comprises right and left arm joints; wherein said right arm joint pivotally attaches the first end of the actuator arm to said attachment point of the first arm; said left arm joint pivotally attaches the second end of the actuator arm to the fifth end of said second arm; and said right and left arm joints provide pivotal movement of the first and second arms about an axis that is generally perpendicular to a length of the actuator arm;said front attachment device comprises first and second brackets;said first bracket includes a first yoke, a first pivoting piece, a first pivot pin and a third pivot pin;wherein said first pivoting piece is pivotally secured to the third end of the first arm by the first pivot pin, said first pivoting piece is pivotally attached to the first yoke by the third pivot pin, and said first and third pivot pins extend generally perpendicularly to each other;said second bracket comprises a second yoke, a second pivoting piece, a second pivot pin, and a fourth pivot pin;wherein said second pivoting piece is pivotally attached to the seventh end on the second arm by the second pivot pin, the second pivoting piece is pivotally attached to the second yoke by the fourth pivot pin, and said second and fourth pivot pins extend generally perpendicularly to each other;wherein said yokes are adapted for attachment to the cart;said rear attachment device includes a first vehicle attaching assembly and a second vehicle attaching assembly;wherein said first and second vehicle attaching assemblies releasably attach the frame to a wheelchair;said first vehicle attaching assembly comprises a first fork, a first chain and a first notch; wherein said first vehicle attaching assembly is disposed on the fourth end of said first arm, and releasably attaches said frame to one side of the wheelchair;said first fork comprises two prongs and two protective covers, wherein each of said two protective covers is disposed over a respective one of said two prongs; andsaid second vehicle attaching assembly includes a second fork, a second chain and a second notch, wherein said second vehicle attaching assembly is disposed on the eighth end of said second arm and releasably attaches said frame to a side of the wheelchair opposite the first vehicle attaching assembly;said second fork includes two prongs and two protective covers; wherein each of said two protective covers is disposed on a respective one of said two prongs;wherein said first and second arms pivot respectively about the first and second pivot pins on the front attachment devices, the first and second arms move toward each other simultaneously, the first and second arms move away from each other simultaneously, and said fourth end of the first arm and the eighth end of the second arm move together approximately the same distance;wherein said first and second arms pivot together about the respective third and fourth pivot pins between a non-use position to an in-use position;wherein in said in-use position, the first and second arms extend generally outwardly and away from the attached cart, and in said non-use position, the first and second arms extend generally downwardly and alongside the attached cart; andwherein when said front attachment device is attached to a cart, an angle formed between the actuator arm and the first arm is greater in magnitude than another angle formed between the actuator arm and the second arm. 15. The connector of claim 14, wherein to attach the connector to a wheelchair, the first and second vehicle attaching assemblies are engaged; wherein to engage the first and second vehicle attaching assemblies to a wheelchair, the wheelchair is generally aligned in tandem with a rear of the cart, the first and second arms are moved upwardly from the non-use position and away from the cart; the first and second arms are moved laterally to position at least one of the first and second vehicle attaching assemblies adjacent to a respective post on the wheelchair's support; the prongs of one of the first or second forks are placed around the respective post; the prongs of the other of the first and second forks are placed around an other adjacent post; the first and second chains are wrapped around the respective posts and under the respective first and second forks; the first and second chains are engaged with respective first and second notches to secure the rear attachment device to the wheelchair; and wherein to detach the wheelchair from the connector, the first and second vehicle attaching assemblies are released; wherein to release the first and second vehicle attaching assemblies, said first and second chains are removed from the respective first and second notches; said first and second chains are unwound from the wheelchair frame; and the first and second prongs are disengaged from the wheelchair frame.