Molded, fiber-reinforced, tubular wheelchair frame assembly and method
US5382036A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 2, 1992 |
| Grant date | Jan 17, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 2, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S297/04
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A wheelchair frame assembly and method including a plurality of hollow frame members (22-26, 28, 29, 31) connected together at joints and having a configuration suitable for use as a wheelchair frame (21). Selected ones of the frame members (23, 24) are formed with bracket mounting sites designed to accommodate bracket mounting clamping assemblies (49, 56) that will not crush the tubular frame members (23, 24). At one bracket mounting site (62), a clamping assembly (49) includes a fastener assembly (73) with a force limiting element (74) that prevents over-clamping of the hollow frame member (23). At another clamping site, a groove (91) is provided which cooperates with a locking pin (108) in the clamping assembly (56) to resist rotation of the clamping assembly (56) about the frame member (24) without the need to create high transverse clamping forces. The number of layers of resin and fiber, the orientation of the fibers in each layer, and the cross section of the frame member at various joints and accessory mounting sites is designed to provide the necessary strength in accordance with the loading at these locations.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.