GB2289023A - "Piggyback" accessory mounting system for wheelchairs (width adjustable) - Google Patents

Abstract

A wheelchair attachment 1 comprises an adjustable bracket 1a, 1b, 1c. Bracket parts 1a and 1b are fitted to mountings W1 and W2, which are already fitted on legs L1 and L2 of wheelchair W. Panel 1c bridges parts 1a and 1b. Legs 11 to 14 of brackets 1a and 1b locate in grooves 10 in panel 1c; the width of the bracket is adjusted by sliding, and set by tightening screws 15. A wheelchair accessory A, for example a leg support cushion, can be fitted to part 1c. Mountings W1 and W2 are effectively reproduced in bracket parts 1a, 1b, so that a leg support S, normally fitted to mountings W1, W2 can now be fitted to bracket parts 1a, 1b even though wheelchair accessory A has been fitted to the wheelchair. <IMAGE>

Description

WHEELCHAIR ATTACHMENT This invention relates to an attachment for a wheelchair that can be fitted to the wheelchair utilising existing mountings provided on the legs or framework/chassis of the wheelchair.

Such mountings are common to a large number of different wheelchairs and may be used for releasably fixing attachments such as leg supports or footrests or indeed other wheelchair accessories. Furthermore, although wheelchairs differ in width and form the leg support mountings are usually common or of standard form and provided at similar distances below the chair seat. Thus, for any wheelchair with such mountings for detachable leg supports, wheelchair accessories such as wheelchair trays, knee/leg guards or waterproof canopies could be provided with means cooperable with said mountings so that an attachment other than a leg support could alternatively be attached to the wheelchair at said mountings.However, it tends to be disadvantageous that certain accessories may require fitting to both of said mountings (a mounting being provided on each leg of the wheelchair) so that they could only be fitted to a range of standard wheelchairs of the same width. Furthermore, it tends to be disadvantageous that, once the particular accessory has been fitted to the wheelchair, it is no longer possible to also fit the leg supports. Thus, it is believed that a more versatile arrangement is possible allowing accessories to be fitted to wheelchairs whilst utilising existing mountings on the chair legs. Accessories usually require special brackets to be fitted or built into the wheelchair framework or chassis or, alternatively, they may be attached by clamping onto said framework/chassis.The use of such brackets or clamping, disadvantageously, may require substantial time and the use of tools to assist in attaching the accessory and often requires the services of a skilled technician.

An object of the present invention is to alleviate the aforementioned problem, or other problems associated with attaching wheelchair accessories.

According to the present invention there is provided a wheelchair attachment in the form of an adjustable adaptor or bracket, said adaptor or bracket being adapted for fitting to wheelchair mountings and said bracket or adaptor having mountings substantially similar to said wheelchair mountings, said bracket/adaptor mountings being locatable adjacent the wheelchair mountings, in use on the wheelchair, thereby allowing fitting of wheelchair accessories such as leg Supports onto said bracket/adaptor mountings as well as providing an additional means for mounting a further accessory or accessories.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a combination of a wheelchair attachment as described in the immediately preceding paragraph and a wheelchair.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a method of attaching an accessory to a wheelchair, said method comprising mounting a bracket or adaptor to a wheelchair on wheelchair mountings intended for mounting a leg support or other wheelchair accessory, said bracket or adaptor having mountings substantially similar to said wheelchair mountings and arranged adjacent thereto, said bracket or adaptor preferably being adjustable to cater for different widths of wheelchair, and an accessory being attached to the wheelchair via said bracket or adaptor, said accessory being attached to additional mounting means on the bracket or adaptor rather than by way of said bracket/adaptor mountings similar to said wheelchair mountings.

Usually, the adjustable bracket or adaptor will comprise a first bracket part attachable to one of the wheelchair mountings provided on a leg or framework part of the wheelchair with a second bracket part attachable to a second wheelchair mounting provided on a second opposed leg or framework part of the wheelchair. Sometimes, the bracket/adaptor may comprise a third bracket part connecting said first and second bracket parts together such that the distance apart of the first and second bracket parts can be selectively adjusted, in order to cater for different widths of wheelchair. In an alternative embodiment, it is possible that the first and second bracket parts may be connected together in some other way to allow for width adjustment, for example by telescopic spring loading.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the third bracket part comprises a C-shaped plate having hook portions that can be fitted over axially aligned bars of the first and second bracket parts and which can be attached thereto for example by means of friction locking means e.g. in the form cf screws extending through holes in the third bracket part, in order to hold the first and second bracket parts at a selected distance from one another. The third bracket part may provide means for mounting a further accessory thereto and said accessory may be provided with a bracket or plate portion which engages with the third bracket part. The accessory bracket or plate portion may readily snap-locate or clip onto said third bracket part or be attached thereto by any convenient fixing means.

In one embodiment of the present invention, each wheelchair mounting on each wheelchair leg or framework part comprises upper and lower flanges with three upwardly extending pegs. One peg may be provided on the upper flange extending outwardly from the leg or framework part; another peg may be provided on a lower flange, said lower flange extending outwardly from the leg (framework part) and a third peg may be provided on a lower flange extending inwardly of the leg (framework part), said inwardly extending flange usually extending on the same level as the outwardly extending lower flange.

The bracket/adaptor may be attachable to the wheelchair in one of at least two preselectable positions, the spacing of the bracket/adaptor from the front of the wheelchair being different in each preselected position.

Advantageously, embodiments of the present invention may provide an attachment which can be quickly and readily connected to wheelchair leg mountings for quick fitting of an accessory. Equally the attachment and accessory may be readily detachable from the wheelchair.

Still further according to the present invention there is provided the combination of a wheelchair accessory having a bracket or plate portion that can be connected to an attachment in the form of an adjustable bracket or adaptor that can be fitted to leg mountings on a wheelchair, said bracket/adaptor preferably being adjustable in width to cater for different widths of wheelchair.

Many advantageous features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings.

Embodiments of a wheelchair attachment and method of attaching an accessory to a wheelchair in accordance with the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 shows a perspective view of the component parts of the first embodiment of the attachment in relation to wheelchair mountings, a leg support and a wheelchair accessory, and FIGURE 2 shows a second embodiment of the attachment positioned in relation to a wheelchair (part shown only in chain-dotted lines).

FIGURE 1 of the drawings shows a wheelchair attachment 1 comprising an adjustable bracket or adaptor consisting of three parts la, Ib and ic. Bracket part la is to be fitted to an existing wheelchair mounting W1 on leg or framework part L1 of wheelchair W (only part of which is shown in the FIGURE). The wheelchair W has a mirror image mounting W2 provided on opposed leg or framework part L2 of the wheelchair. The wheelchair mountings W1 and W2 are of a standard form common to at least six different wheelchairs known to the Applicant.

Bracket part ib is connectable to mounting W2 on the wheelchair W in a similar fashion as bracket part la is connected to mounting W1. Bracket part lc is connected to bracket parts la and lb in a manner bridging the parts la and ib. A wheelchair accessory A (for example in the form of a pneumatic lifting device or bag providing a leg supporting cushion such as described in our co-pending British Patent Application No. 226743A) can be fitted to bracket part ic in a manner to be described. Accessory A needs to be fitted under the wheelchair occupant's legs so that bracket plate portion A1 is about 25 mm below seat level, to avoid contact with the occupants legs which could cause sores on the legs.

Mountings W1 and W2 provided on legs or framework parts L1 and L2 of the wheelchair are standardised mountings of a known form positioned at a standard distance below the seat W3 of the wheelchair. Each mounting W1, W2 has an upper, similar, laterally outwardly extending flange f1, with a similar, short upwardly extending cylindrical peg P2 projecting therefrom. Each mounting W1, W2 has similar lower flanges f2 and f3 extending laterally outwardly and inwardly of the associated chair leg L1, L2.

Each flange f2, is provided with a similar short upwardly extending peg P3 and each flange f3 is provided with a similar short upwardly extending capped peg P4. The mountings W1 and W2 allow a leg support or footrest S (only part of one shown) to be attached thereto in known manner.

Leg support S is a known type of support having an upper horizontally extending flange S1, and a receiving hole S2 matching the diameter of peg P2 through which the locating peg P2 of mounting W2 can be inserted as indicated by the chain dotted arrow X1. Leg support S is provided with a larger horizontal flange S3 having a receiving hole 54 (matching the diameter of peg P3) for peg P3 of mounting W2 and a spring-loaded engaging hook Sg that can be fitted onto a peg P4 of the mounting W2 in a manner which is generally known.

When the wheelchair is not fitted with leg supports on the mountings W1 and W2, the adjustable bracket or adaptor 1 can be fitted to the mountings W1, W2 in a manner to be described. The adjustable bracket parts la and 1b are similar. Bracket part la has a vertical cylindrical leg portion 2 (of similar diameter to wheelchair leg L1) with upper and lower horizontal, right angled flanges 3 and 4 which extend outwardly and rearwardly relative to the wheelchair in use. Flange 3 is provided with two receiving holes 3a and 3b, each matching the diameter of the peg P2 and flange 4 is provided with two receiving holes 4a and 4b each matching the diameter of the peg P3.In fitting bracket part la to mounting W1 there is a choice of fixing peg P2 into hole 3a with peg P3 into hole 4a or, if required, peg P2 can be fitted into receiving hole 3b with peg P3 fitting into receiving hole 4b. Thus, two preselected positions of the bracket 1 are possible with two different spacings thereof from the front of the wheelchair. In any event, the vertical spacing between flanges 3 and 4 matches the vertical spacing between flanges fl and f3 of mounting W1 of the wheelchair. Pegs 5 and 6 are provided at the corners of each horizontal, right-angled flange 3 and 4 and these pegs are of a similar size to pegs P2 and pegs P3 so that when bracket part la is attached to mounting W1 it provides bracket or adaptor mountings allowing fitting of the leg supports S in a very similar manner to fitting the leg supports on the mountings W1, W2.Thus, the mountings W1,W2 are effectively reproduced in the bracket parts la and Ib and in use said bracket mountings are positioned adjacent associated wheelchair mountings W1 and W2.

In order to reproduce mounting W1 effectively completely on bracket la, an inwardly directed flange 7 is provided opposite flange 4 and this is provided with an upwardly depending peg 8 similar to peg P4 of the mounting W1. Bracket portion Ib is similar to bracket portion la but is a mirror image thereof. Nevertheless, similar parts of the bracket part la as previously described have been designated the same reference numeral as those of bracket la.Chain-dotted arrow X2 shows how peg P2 of mounting W2 can be located in a hole 3a of bracket part Ib and chaindotted arrow X3 shows the alternative location of hole of leg support S onto peg 5 of bracket part lb with simultaneous location of hole S4 onto peg 6 of bracket part lb and hook Sg onto peg 8 of bracket part ib. Thus the leg support S can be connected to the wheelchair while the adjustable bracket 1 is also attached by means of the original mountings W1, W2 originally intended for the leg support S. A second leg support (mirror image of leg support S) can be fitted onto pegs 5, 6 and 8 of bracket la in a manner which should readily be envisaged.

Bracket part lc consists of a substantially rectangular C-shaped plate having upper and lower rightangled hook portions 9 and 10 that can be fitted over respective horizontal square section tubular bars 11,12,13 and 14 of the bracket parts la and lb once the square section tubular bars 11,12,13 and 14 are axially aligned, as shown in the FIGURE. Screws 15 (only one shown) locate in threaded bosses holes 16 and 17 and can be screwed tightly onto the upper surfaces of bars 11 and 13 (or into selected holes provided) in order to fix the plate lc thereto in a manner which should be evident and which is illustrated by chain dotted arrows X4 and X5. In this manner, the distance apart of brackets la, 1b is adjustable to cater for different widths of wheelchair. Width tolerance on individual wheelchair models may be + 10 mm and the seat width may be between 36 cm and 50 cm of a range of known wheelchairs. The bars 11 and 12, and 13, 14 are slidable in and out of plate lc when the screws 15 are loosened, enabling an adjustable width of bracket/adaptor 1 to be selected to suit the width of wheelchair. Thus bracket part Ic holds the bracket parts la and 1b spaced apart from one another and also provides means in the form of a mounting platform for the wheelchair accessory A which has a bracket plate portion A1 designed to engage over plate lc and to be held thereto by bosses 16 and 17 engaging in semi-circular recesses A2 and A3 in a manner which should be evident from the drawings.

FIGURE 2 shows a second embodiment of a wheelchair attachment 1' positioned in relation to a wheelchair W' (part shown only in chain-dotted lines in the FIGURE).

Pegs P'2, P'3, and P'4 are similar to pegs P2, P3 and P4 shown on leg L2T of wheelchair W. The bracket B is of a different shape to bracket part 1b of bracket 1, but reproduces the wheelchair mounting (P'2,P'3,P'4) by pegs 5', 6', 8' which are similar to the pegs 5,6,8 of bracket ib. Whilst bracket part 1b (before connection to bracket part la via bracket part lc) is able to pivot on pegs P2 and P3, bracket B is effectively rigidly attached to the wheelchair W' so that it does not pivot. Bracket B has an upper flange 3' with locating hole 3'a positioned over peg P'2. Flange 4' has locating hole 4'a positioned on peg P'3 and flange 7' is provided with springloaded hook h (pivotable about capped peg 8') locating onto capped peg P4. Release lever r is provided to operate hook h.

Tubular portion 2' of bracket B has an open upper end e for the mounting of an accessory A' by means of accessory foot A'e being inserted into the open end e of tubular portion 2'. Although bracket B is designed to be substantially rigidly fixed to the wheelchair mounting, whilst reproducing said mounting and additional mounting means for an accessory, a similar bracket could be fixed to a wheelchair mounting on an opposed chair leg, perhaps in order to support a second foot (not shown) of the accessory where provided.

It is to be understood that the scope of the present invention is not to be unduly limited by the particular choice of terminology and that a specific term may be replaced or supplemented by any equivalent or generic term.

Further it is to be understood that the individual features, method or functions related to the wheelchair attachment or bracket parts might be individually patentably inventive. The singular may include the plural or vice versa. It is possible that said attachment may be attachable to items or bracket parts other than wheelchairs (e.g. other forms of invalid carriages). It is possible that the wheelchair mountings could include holes receiving downwardly extending pegs on the attachment/adaptor rather than vice versa as illustrated.

Additionally, for some wheelchairs, it is possible that the bracket/adaptor may instead be provided with bracket/adaptor mountings dissimilar to the wheelchair leg mountings but similar to other standard wheelchair mountings, thus in some instances, enabling superior accessories (e.g. leg supports) to be fitted to wheelchairs having wheelchair mountings not originally designed for such accessories.

Claims (36)

1. A wheelchair attachment in the form of an adjustable adaptor or bracket, said adaptor or bracket being adapted for fitting to wheelchair mountings and said bracket or adaptor having mountings substantially similar to said wheelchair mountings, said bracket/adaptor mountings being locatable adjacent the wheelchair mountings, in use on the wheelchair, thereby allowing fitting of wheelchair accessories such as leg supports onto said bracket/adaptor mountings as well as providing an additional means for mounting a further accessory or accessories.

2. A wheelchair attachment as claimed in Claim 1 in which the adjustable bracket or adaptor comprises a first bracket part attachable to one of the wheelchair mountings provided on a leg or framework part of the wheelchair with a second bracket part attachable to a second wheelchair mounting provided on a second opposed leg or framework part of the wheelchair.

3. A wheelchair attachment as claimed in Claim 2 in which the bracket/adaptor comprises a third bracket part connecting said first and second bracket parts together such that the distance apart of the first and second bracket parts can be selectively adjusted.

4. A wheelchair attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the first and second bracket parts can be connected together to allow for width adjustment.

5. A wheelchair attachment as claimed in Claim 4 in which the first and second bracket parts are telescopically spring loaded.

6. A wheelchair attachment as claimed in Claim 3 in which the third bracket part comprises a C-shaped plate having hook portions that can be fitted over axially aligned bars of the first and second bracket parts and which can be attached thereto.

7. A wheelchair attachment as claimed in Claim 6 in which the hook portions are fitted to said bars by friction locking means.

8. A wheelchair attachment as claimed in Claim 7 in which said friction locking means is in the form of screws extending through holes in the third bracket part, in order to hold the first and second bracket parts at a selected distance from one another.

9. A wheelchair attachment as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 8 in which the third bracket part provides means for mounting a further accessory thereto.

10. A wheelchair attachment as claimed in Claim 9 in which said accessory is provided with a bracket or plate portion which engages with the third bracket part.

11. A wheelchair attachment as claimed in Claim 10 in which the accessory bracket or plate portion readily snaplocates or clips onto said third bracket part.

12. A wheelchair attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which each bracket/adaptor mounting, for mounting on an associated wheelchair mounting on and associated wheelchair leg or framework part, comprises upper and lower flanges with three upwardly extending pegs.

13. A wheelchair attachment as claimed in Claim 12 in which one peg is provided on the upper flange, which flange extends outwardly, in use, from the associated leg or framework part.

14. A wheelchair attachment as claimed in Claim 13 in which another peg is provided on a lower flange, said lower flange extending, in use, outwardly from the associated leg (framework part).

15. A wheelchair attachment as claimed in Claim 14 in which a third peg is provided on a lower flange extending inwardly of the associated leg (framework part).

16. A wheelchair attachment as claimed in Claim 15 in which said inwardly extending flange extends on the same level as the outwardly extending lower flange.

17. A wheelchair attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the bracket/adaptor is attachable to a wheelchair in one of at least two preselectable positions, the spacing of the bracket/adaptor from the front of the wheelchair being different in each preselected position.

18. A wheelchair attachment substantially as herein described with reference to FIGURE 1 or FIGURE 2 of the accompanying drawings.

19. A combination of a wheelchair attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and a wheelchair.

20. A combination as claimed in Claim 19 in which an attachment and accessory are readily detachable from the wheelchair.

21. A combination as claimed in Claim 19 and substantially as herein described with reference to FIGURE 1 or FIGURE 2 of the accompanying drawings.

22. The combination of a wheelchair accessory having a bracket or plate portion that can be connected to an attachment in the form of an adjustable bracket or adaptor that can be fitted to leg mountings on a wheelchair, said bracket/adaptor preferably being adjustable in width to cater for different widths of wheelchair.

23. A wheelchair attachment in the form of an adjustable adaptor or bracket, said adaptor or bracket being adapted for fitting to wheelchair mountings and said bracket or adaptor having mountings substantially similar to standard or particular wheelchair mountings, said bracket/adaptor mountings being locatable adjacent the wheelchair mountings, in use on the wheelchair, thereby allowing fitting of wheelchair accessories such as leg supports onto said bracket/adaptor mountings as well as providing an additional means for mounting a further accessory or accessories.

24. A method of attaching an accessory to a wheelchair, said method comprising mounting a bracket or adaptor to a wheelchair on wheelchair mountings intended for mounting a leg support or other wheelchair accessory, said bracket or adaptor having mountings substantially similar to said wheelchair mountings (or at least similar to standard or particular wheelchair mountings) and arranged adjacent thereto, said bracket or adaptor preferably being adjustable to cater for different widths of wheelchair, and attaching an accessory to the wheelchair via said bracket or adaptor by additional mounting means on the bracket or adaptor rather than by way of said bracket/adaptor mountings similar to said wheelchair mountings (or at least similar to standard or particular wheelchair mountings).

25. A method as claimed in Claim 24 comprising attaching a first bracket part of the adjustable b iket/adaptor to one of the wheelchair mountings provided on a leg or framework part of the wheelchair and attaching a second bracket part of the adjustable bracket/adaptor to a second wheelchair mounting provided on a second opposed leg or framework part of the wheelchair.

26. A method as claimed in Claim 25 comprising connecting said first and second bracket parts together such that the distance apart of the first and second bracket parts can be selectively adjusted, by means of a third bracket part.

27. A method as claimed in Claim 25 or Claim 26 comprising connecting the first and second bracket parts together to allow for width adjustment.

28. A method as claimed in Claim 27 comprising fitting the first and second bracket parts in telescopical spring loaded fashion.

29. A method as claimed in Claim 26 comprising fitting hook portions of a C-shaped plate of the third bracket part over axially aligned bars of the first and second bracket parts and attaching thereto.

30. A method as claimed in Claim 29 comprising fitting the hook portions to said bars by friction locking means.

31. A method as claimed in Claim 30 comprising passing screws of said friction locking means through holes in the third bracket part, to hold the first and second bracket parts at a selected distance from one another.

32. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 26 to 31 comprising mounting a further accessory to the third bracket part.

33. A method as claimed in Claim 32 comprising engaging a bracket or plate of said accessory with the third bracket part.

34. A method as claimed in Claim 30 comprising readily snap-locating or clipping the accessory bracket or plate portion onto said third bracket part.

35. A method as claimed in any one of the Claims 25 to 34 comprising attaching the bracket/adaptor to a wheelchair in one of at least two preselectable positions, the spacing of the bracket/adaptor from the front of the wheelchair being different in each preselected position.

36. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 24 to 35 and substantially as herein described.