Patent · US Expired

Modular wheelchair

US5176393A · kind A · utility

116Cited by
78References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 27, 1990
Grant dateJan 5, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 27, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S297/04
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A modular wheelchair that may be rapidly assembled and disassembled includes an adjustable chassis for releasably attaching a wheel module and a seating module having a detachable leg rest module. The one-piece chassis is constructed from composite materials and has hollow or foam filled longitudinal sides and cross-bars connecting the sides, and two cantilevered or trussed forwardly extending arms which connect swivel castors. The sides include mounts for adjustably attaching the seat module at a selectable center of gravity and height. The composite materials of the arms provide shock and vibration protection and further provide a space behind the arms and beneath the seating assembly for storing and attaching optional equipment. The wheel assembly includes drive wheels constructed from composite materials, smaller travel wheels for traversing narrow openings, anti-tip wheels and wheel locks. the wheels may be composite or tensioned disk wheels that may be locked by wheel locks having a spring device for automatically opening or closing the lock. The wheels are removably attached within lateral recesses in the chassis sides by interchangeable wheel axle alignment plugs which rece…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.