WO2007099565A1

WO2007099565A1 - Wheelchair for the disabled and framework thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2007099565A1
Application number: PCT/IT2006/000124
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gaetano Danilo Ragona
Original assignee: Gaetano Danilo Ragona
Priority date: 2006-03-02
Filing date: 2006-03-02
Publication date: 2007-09-07
Also published as: EP1993502A1; WO2007099565A8

Abstract

A foldable wheelchair (1) for obtaining compact dimensions in a direction perpendicular to the seat (19) . The wheelchair (1) is also reconfigurable and comprises a framework (2) and fastening portions (13, 14, 32) carried by the framework (2) and adapted to snappingly cooperate with stabilising accessories (14, 28, 29) of the wheelchair (1) trim.

Description

WHEELCHAIR FOR THE DISABLED AND FRAMEWORK THEREOF

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an improved wheelchair for the disabled. BACKGROUND ART

The wheelchairs currently present on the market are distinct and dedicated to daily activities, sports or leisure thus forcing the disabled person to laboriously switch from one wheelchair to another and to carry several types of cumbersome wheelchairs during the same day. A need to reduce the dimensions of the known wheelchairs is also felt.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION It is the object of the present invention to make a wheelchair free from the drawbacks de-scribed above.

According to the present invention a wheelchair as defined in claim 1 is made.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of the present invention, it will now be described a preferred embodiment only by way of non-limitative example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

- figure 1 is a perspective view of a wheelchair according to the present invention;

- figures from 2 to 4 are respective perspective views of constructive details of the wheelchair in figure - figure 5 is a second embodiment of a constructive detail of the wheelchair in figure 1; and

- figure 6 is a perspective enlarged view of a detail of the wheelchair in figure 1 made according to a second embodiment.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In figure 1, it is indicated as a whole by 1 a wheelchair comprising a rigid carbon fibre framework 2, a pair of rear wheels 3 symmetrically connected to the framework 2 and a front wheel 4 adjustably connected to the framework 2.

The framework 2 comprises a pair of reciprocally parallel supporting bars 5, a rear crossbar 6 perpendicularly and rigidly connected to the supporting bars 5 and an essentially S-shaped arm 7 rigidly connected to the crossbar 6 in intermediate position between the bars 5.

In particular, the arm 7 comprises a fixed portion 8 connected to the crossbar 6 essentially coplanar to the supporting bars 5 and an inclined folding portion 9 supporting the front wheel 4 and also presenting a pair of end guiding grooves 10 arranged at opposite side parts of the folding portion 9 and having a straight segment 10a and two curved descending end segments 10b. The guiding grooves 10 guide respective footboards 11 sliding between an advanced position and a retracted position defined by respective daps 12 arranged on the curved segments 10b (figure 3) . The framework 2 further presents a hollow cylindrical fastening portion 13 aligned with the arm 7 and protruding downwardly from the crossbar 6 to radially accommodate an anti-overturning stabilising wheel member 14 snappingly engageable by known means and arranged on the opposite side of the arm 7 with respect to the crossbar 6.

In particular, the known snapping means present a radial hole carried by the fastening portion 13 and the stabilising wheel member 14 presents a mobile spring pin adapted to snap inside the radial hole when it is inserted in the fastening portion 13.

The framework 2 also comprises a pair of shock absorbers 15 vertically protruding from the respective bars 5 and connected to the rear wheels by means of respective blocks 16 each of which carries two coupling holes 17, 18 having respective axes A, B respectively horizontal and convergingly inclined towards the seat 19 to define a camber position and a camber position of each rear wheel 3.

The framework 2 supports a seat 19 connected to the bars 5 and a backrest 20 comprising a continuous rigid bearing member 21, elongated appendixes 22 integral with the bearing member 21 and hinged to the bars 5 and a cushion 23 removably connected to the bearing member 21. In particular, the backrest 20 is provided with screw adjustment means 24 connected to the bars 5 and to the bearing element 21 for adjusting the slant and comprising pushing handles 25 hinged on the bearing member 21 on the opposite side of the elongated appendixes 22 and mobile between a projecting position and a foldaway closed position inside complementary hollows 26 carried by the bearing member 21.

The wheelchair 1 also envisages the possibility of being reconfigured to move on sandy terrain and envisages for this purpose a snap-fit fastening device 27 similar to the snap-fit means for the member ^'14 carried by the folding portion 9 of the arm 7 and comprising an end hole 27a adapted to accommodate an auxiliary stabilising wheel member 28 having a radius and a tread width larger than that of the front wheel 4.

The wheelchair 1 may also be provided with supplementary treads 29 defining a respective inner seat 30 accommodating the respective rear wheels 3 and presenting elastic foil snap-fit connection means 31 adapted to cooperate with the respective handrails 32 rigidly connected to the rear wheels 3. In particular, the supplementary treads 29 are radially flexible and rigid in a direction parallel to the axis A and present a width wider than that of the rear wheels 3.

The device 1 operates as follows. In normal configuration, the rear wheels 3 turn about the respective axes A and the footboards 11 are in advanced position.

In carrying configuration, the rear wheels 3 are disconnected from the respective blocks 16 and the end portion 9 and the backrest 20 are folded arranging themselves on opposite sides of the seat 19.

Therefore, in the folded carrying configuration, the framework 2 of the wheelchair 1 presents an essentially parallelepiped shape in which the larger dimensions are represented by the width and the length of the seat 19 measured on a supporting plane C defined by the bars 5 for supporting the seat 19. Figure 2 shows the plane C and a reference system with orthogonal axes X, Y, Z to which reference is made.

In particular, taking as reference the width of the framework 2 measured along direction X parallel to the axis F passing through the coupling holes 17 of both blocks 16 and essentially horizontal in use, the dimension of the framework 2 in direction Z perpendicular to the plane C is smaller than the width along the axis X, preferably at least 10% smaller than the dimension along direction X. Furthermore, the dimension in direction Z is smaller than the dimension of the framework 2 in direction Y. Preferably, the dimension in direction Z is at least 15% smaller than the dimension in direction Y. Still more preferably, the dimension in direction Z is 20% smaller than the dimension in direction Y.

Furthermore, the dimension in direction X is at least 15% smaller than the dimension in direction Y. Still more preferably, the dimension in direction Z is 20% smaller than the dimension in direction Y.

The aboveiαentioned ratios of the dimensions along directions X, Y, Z are maintained also when the seat 19 and the backrest 20 are not connected to the framework 2. As a non-limitative example, a dimension in folded position of the framework 2 with the seat 19 and the backrest 20 is possible being 50x40x35 centimetres along directions X, Y, Z, respectively.

The wheelchair 1 may also be used in sports configuration, by connecting the rear wheels 3 to the respective holes 15 allowing the camber, by arranging the footboards 11 in retracted position, by locking the shock absorbers 15 in a fixed position with the known means carried by the blocks 16 and by adding the stabilising wheel member 14, according to the sports activity.

The wheelchair 1 further allows a configuration suitable for sandy terrain because both the auxiliary wheel member 28 and the supplementary treads 29 present a large contact surface on the terrain allowing to float on the sand. In particular, the rear wheels 3 are surrounded by respective supplementary treads 29 and support them radially.

From an examination of the features of the wheelchair 1 made according to the present invention the advantages that it allows to obtain are apparent.

In particular, the framework 2 of the wheelchair 1 has a simple and light structure thus facilitating use and minimising dimensions also when it is folded. Furthermore, it can be reconfigured for different activities, thus eliminating the need to resort to a plurality of specific wheelchairs.

The different stabilising accessories, i.e. the stabilising wheel member 14, the auxiliary wheel member

28 and the supplementary treads 29 are snap-fitted as well as the footboards 11 thus increasing reconfiguration simplicity.

The stabilising accessories are small and easy to carry, the supplementary treads 29 being radially flexible and foldable into a backpack as well as the framework 2 removed from the rear wheels 3.

The backrest 20 reduces the number of components thus increasing the structural solidity and the foldaway handles reduce the number of projecting components thus decreasing the risk of catching in clothing.

It is finally apparent that changes and variations can be made to the wheelchair 1 here described and illustrated without departing from the scope of protection, as defined in the accompanying claims.

For example, the materials used for construction are light alloys or polymeric matrix composites, such as for example carbon fibre, in order to increase lightness.

Furthermore, the rear wheels 3 can be either traditional with metallic spokes or lenticular or comprising at least one transparent material disk supporting a hub adapted to connect to the block 16 to replace the spokes. In order to adapt to the needs of people having a particularly heavy build, the framework 2 may comprise additional structural members (figure 5) such as for example a curved beam 40 having downward concavity reciprocally connecting the two blocks 16, or may have respective metallic wires 41 having respective first ends connected to respective blocks 16 and respective second ends connected to the crossbar 6.

Optionally, the rear wheels 3 are provided with brakes integrated in the respective hubs.

Figure 6 shows a second embodiment of the connecting member between the rear wheels 3 and the bars 5.

In particular, according to such alternative embodiment, the wheelchair 1 comprises a shock absorber assembly 40 connected to each of the bars 5 to support the respective rear wheels 3.

Each shock absorber assembly 40 comprises a fixed portion 41 perpendicularly protruding from the bar 5 and a body 42 guided by the fixed portion 41 to slide along a straight direction essentially parallel to direction Z, the movement being damped by a shock absorber, preferably a gas shock absorber, not shown, contained within the body 42.

The body 42 integrally comprises a cylindrical portion 43 accommodating the shock absorber and guided by the fixed portion 41, and a cylindrical protrusion 44 having a skew axis with respect to that of the cylindrical portion 43. The protrusion 44 partially accommodates on one axial end an insert 45 fixedly and releasably connected to the protrusion 44 by means of a screw knob 46. The insert 45 defines a housing hole 47 for a pin 48 (figure 1) of the rear wheel and the rotation axis of the latter. When the camber of the rear wheels 3 needs to be changed, it is sufficient to remove the insert 45 by loosening the knob 46 and inserting a second interchangeable insert having a hole 47 with differently slanted axis. It is possible to envisage the shock absorber assembly 40 being fitted also on different wheelchairs than the one described above.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. A framework (2) for a wheelchair (1) for the disabled comprising rigid supporting means (5, 6) defining a supporting plane (C) for a seat (19) and connection means (16, 17) for respective rear wheels (3) and at least one supporting element (7) for a front wheel (4), characterised in that said supporting member (7) is foldable so that, in a folded position of said framework (2), the dimension of said framework (2) along a direction perpendicular to said supporting plane (C) is smaller than the width of said framework (2), said width being measured along a direction essentially parallel to an axis (F) passing through said connection means (16, 17) .

2. A framework according to claim 1, characterised in that said rigid supporting means comprise a pair of reciprocally parallel side bars (5) defining said rigid supporting means (5), a crossbar (6) rigidly connected to said bars (5) .

3. A framework according to claims 1 or 2, characterised in that said supporting element (7) is a single folding arm connected to said crossbar (6) between said bars (5) .

4. A wheelchair characterised in that it comprises a framework (2) according to any of the previous claims and a seat (19) supported by said framework (2) .

5. A wheelchair according to claim 4, characterised in that it comprises releasable fastening means (13, 27, 32) adapted to cooperate with respective stabilising accessories (14, 28, 29) of the trim of said wheelchair (1) for reconfiguring said wheelchair (1) .

6. A wheelchair according to claim 5, characterised in that said stabilising accessories (28, 29) comprise at least one auxiliary front wheel (28) having a tread width larger than that of said at least one front wheel (4), and cooperating with first of said fastening means (27) carried by said framework (2) , said stabilising accessories (28, 29) further comprising supplementary treads (29) cooperating with second (32) of said fastening means carried by the respective said rear wheels (3) .

7. A wheelchair according to claim 6, characterised in that said supplementary treads (29) are radially flexible.

8. A wheelchair according to any of the claims from 4 to 7, characterised in that it comprises a backrest (20) comprising a bearing wall (21) hinged onto said framework (2) and foldable on said seat (19) .

9. A wheelchair according to claim 8, characterised in that said backrest (20) comprises foldaway push handles (25) within complementary cavities (26) carried by said bearing wall (21) .

10. A wheelchair according to any of the preceding claims from 4 to 9, characterised in that it comprises footboards (11) sliding along guiding grooves (10) carried by said framework (2) between at least one advanced position and one retracted position.

11. A wheelchair according to any of the claims from 4 to 10, characterised in that said framework (2) comprises a third of said fastening means (13) and in that said stabilising accessories (14) comprise an anti- overturning wheel accessory (14) adapted to be connected to said third of said fastening means (13) .

12. A wheelchair according to any of the claims from 4 to 11, characterised in that it comprises an interchangeable member (46) to define the camber of a pair of rear wheels (3) of said wheelchair (1) .

13. A wheelchair according to claim 12, characterised in that said interchangeable member (46) is carried by a mobile body (42) of a shock absorber assembly (40) connected to said framework (2) .

14. A wheelchair (1) characterised in that it comprises a framework (2) according to any of the claims from 1 to 3, a pair of rear wheels (3) and at least one front wheel (4) connected to said framework (2) , releasable fastening means (13, 27, 32) and a plurality

^■ of stabilising accessories (14, 28, 29) of the trim of said wheelchair (1) cooperating with said releasably fastening means (13, 27, 32), said stabilising accessories (14, 28, 29) being according to any of the claims from 6 to 11.