COLLAPSIBLE WHEELCHAIR

FAUTEUIL ROULANT PLIABLE

English Abstract

The collapsible wheelchair is alternately movable
between a collapsed position and an open position. The
wheelchair comprises a framework having a pair of opposite
side frames. The backrest assembly is pivotally connected at
a lower end to the framework and is alternately movable
between an open position where it is projecting vertically,
and a folded position where it is collapsed against the
seat. Armrests are pivotally connected to the backrest
supports of the backrest assembly. The rear wheels are
removably connected to a corresponding side frame. The front
wheels are each provided at a lower end of a corresponding
mounting member and mounting swivels are used for pivotally
connecting the upper end of the mounting members to the side
frames so that each front wheel is alternately movable in a
vertical plane between a ground-engaged position, where it
is projecting under the framework, and a retracted position
where it is set within the framework. The framework may also
be provided with a horizontal folding system for further
compaction. The wheelchair provides a lightweight
construction that occupies a minimum space when collapsed
for facilitating the manipulation and transportation while
still providing the user with comfort in the normal open
position. Only the rear wheels need to be removed from the
wheelchair.

French Abstract

Fauteuil roulant pouvant passer de l'état replié à l'état déployé. Le fauteuil roulant possède une ossature comportant deux cadres latéraux opposés. L'ensemble dossier est relié en pivotement en son extrémité inférieure et peut passer d'une position ouverte, où il se trouve à la verticale, à une position repliée, où il est rabattu sur le siège. Les appuie-bras sont reliés en pivotement aux supports du dossier. Les roues arrière, amovibles, sont fixées de part et d'autre aux cadres opposés. Les roues avant sont montées à l'extrémité inférieure d'un élément de l'ossature, et des pivots de montage sont utilisés pour relier l'extrémité supérieure des éléments d'ossature aux cadres latéraux, de telle sorte que chacune des roues avant peut passer d'une position où elle se trouve en contact avec le sol, à une position où elle est escamotée à l'intérieur de l'ossature du fauteuil. L'ossature peut aussi comporter un système de pliage horizontal pour une compacité accrue. Le fauteuil roulant est de construction légère, il offre un encombrement minimum à l'état replié, il est facile à manipuler et à transporter, et offre à l'utilisateur le confort attendu. Seules les roues arrière doivent être démontées pour le pliage du fauteuil.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A collapsible wheelchair comprising:
two opposite side frames;
a seat connected to and extending between the side
frames, the seat being made of a flexible material;
a backrest assembly having a backrest section extending
between a pair of elongated backrest supports, each
backrest support being pivotally connected to a
corresponding side frame, the backrest supports
being movable between an open position where they
are projecting substantially vertically, and a
folded position where they are substantially
parallel to the seat, the backrest section being
made of a flexible material;
two rear wheels removably connected to a corresponding
side frame;
two armrests, each having a back end pivotally connected
to a location along a corresponding backrest
support, the armrests being movable between an open
position where they are substantially perpendicular
to the backrest supports, and a collapsed position
where they are upwardly collapsed against their
respective backrest support;
two rotary joints connected in front of a respective
side frame;
two front caster-type wheels;
two mounting members, each having a first end
operatively connected to a respective front wheel,
each mounting member having a second end, opposite
the first end thereof, connected to a respective
rotary joint, the front wheels being movable in a
vertical plane between an open position where they
are ground-engaged, and a collapsed position where
they are located between the side frames and under


the seat;
two footrests;
two hanger brackets, each having a first end operatively
connected to a respective footrest, each hanger
bracket having a second end, opposite the first end
thereof, connected to a respective rotary joint,
the footrests being movable in a vertical plane
between an open position where they project
forwards, and a collapsed position where they are
located between the side frames and under the seat;
two substantially parallel and horizontally disposed
slide guides, each being located under the seat and
longitudinally connected to a respective side
frame;
horizontally disposed X-bracing members located under
the seat and joint together by a central pivot,
each bracing member having a first end pivotally
connected to one of the side frames at a front or
a rear location thereof, and a second end slidably
connected to the opposite side frame at a rear or
a front location thereof, respectively; and
latch means for removably locking the second ends of the
bracing members to the corresponding slide guide.

2. A wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein the first end
of each bracing member is pivotally connected to the
front location of the corresponding side frame and the
second end of each bracing member is slidably connected
to the corresponding slide guides located at a rear
location of the side frames.

3. A wheelchair according to claim 1 or 2, further
comprising two push handles, each pivotally connected to
an upper end of a corresponding backrest support, the
push handles being alternatively movable between an open
position where they extend substantially horizontally,



and a collapsed position where they extend substantially
parallel to the backrest supports.

Description

g

COLLAPSIBLE WHEELCHAIR

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a collapsible wheelchair
for handicapped or invalid persons.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is a need to minimize physical efforts for the
handicapped or invalid persons and to facilitate handling by
reducing the size and the weight of wheelchairs for easing
their manipulation and transportation. Generally, the
wheelchairs known in the prior art have not provided suitable
lightweight and compaction. It is often needed that the
wheelchair be stored in very small locations, such as the
trunk of a vehicle, and conventional wheelchairs with a
foldable body are not satisfactory. Others require that
numerous parts, in addition to the rear wheels, be removed
from the wheelchair for collapsing it very compactly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a
collapsible wheelchair having a lightweight construction that
occupies a minimum space when collapsed for facilitating the
manipulation and transportation while still providing the user
with comfort in the normal open position.
More particularly, the object of the present invention
is to provide a collapsible wheelchair comprising:
two opposite side frames;
a seat connected to and extending between the side
frames, the seat being made of a flexible material;
a backrest assembly having a backrest section extending
between a pair of elongated backrest supports, each

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backrest support being pivotally connected to a
corresponding side frame, the backrest supports
being movable between an open position where they
are projecting substantially vertically, and a
folded position where they are substantially
parallel to the seat, the backrest sect.ion being
made of a flexible material;
two rear wheels removably connected to a corresponding
side frame;
o two armrests, each having a back end pivotally connected
to a location along a corresponding backrest
support, the armrests being movable between an open
position where they are substantially perpendicular
to the backrest supports, and a collapsed position
where they are upwardly collapsed against their
respective backrest support;
two rotary joints connected in front of a respective
side frame;
two front caster-type wheels;
two mounting members, each having a first end
operatively connected to a respective front wheel,
each mounting member having a second end, opposite
the first end thereof, connected to a respective
rotary joint, the front wheels being movable in a
vertical plane between an open position where they
are ground-engaged, and a collapsed position where
they are located between the side frames and under
the seat;
two footrests;
two hanger brackets, each having a first end operatively
connected to a respective footrest, each hanger
bracket having a second end, opposite the first end
thereof, connected to a respective rotary joint,
the footrests being movable in a vertical plane
between an open position where they project
forwards, and a collapsed position where they are



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located between the side frames and under the seat;
two substantially parallel and horizontally disposed
slide guides, each being located under the seat and
longitudinally connected to a respective side
frame;
horizontally disposed X-bracing members located under
the seat and joint together by a central pivot,
each bracing member having a first end pivotally
connected to one of the side frames at a front or
10a rear location thereof, and a second end slidably
connected to the opposite side frame at a rear or
a front location thereof, respectively; and
latch means for removably locking the second ends of the
bracing members to the corresponding slide guide.
A non restrictive description of preferred embodiments
will now be given with reference to the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

2~ FIG. 1 is a side view of the wheelchair according to the
present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view of the wheelchair of FIG. 1,
showing one half thereof.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the wheelchair of FIG. 1, shown
without the footsteps and illustrating how the
wheelchair is collapsed.
FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, shown without the
front wheels and illustrating how the footrests are
retracted.
30FIG. 5 is a front view of the wheelchair of FIG. 1,
shown in a collapsead position.
FIG. 6 is a top view of the wheelchair of FIG. 1,
illustrating the X-bracing members in a normal open
position.
FIG. 7 iS a top view similar to FIG. 6, showing the
bracing members in a collapsed position.



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FIG. 8 is a front view of the wheelchair of FIG. 1, in
a collapsed position.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The drawings and the description use the following
reference numerals:

wheelchair
11 side frames
12 rear wheels
13 hand rims
14 seat
backrest section
16 backrest supports
17 push handles
18 armrests
19 retractable front wheels
rotatory joints
21 footrests
23 rear axle mounting plates
33 X-bracing members
34 vertical pins
central pivot
36 horizontal U-shaped sliding guides
37 latches
43 hand brakes
hanger brackets

As shown in the drawings, the collapsible wheelchair (lo)
according to the present invention comprises a framework
having a pair of opposite side frames (11), namely one left
and one right. Each side frame (11) bears a corresponding rear
wheel (12) operatively attached thereto by means of rear wheel
axle mounting plates (23). The exact location of each plate
(23) can vary as there are various horizontal and vertical

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possible adjustments. The rear wheels (12) also comprise
corresponding hand rails (13) attached on the side thereof so
that the user may move the wheelchair (10) by hand.
A seat (14) is mounted on the framework and extends
between the side frames (11). A backrest assembly is also
pivotally connected to the framework. Elongated backrest
supports (16) are used for holding the backrest section (15).
The seat (14) and the backrest section (15) are preferably
made of a flexible fabric or a polymeric material, as it is
10 apparent to a person skilled in the art.
Push handles (17) may be provided on top of the backrest
supports (16). The pushing handles (17) are pivotally
connected to the corresponding backrest support (16) and fold
out of the way in the plane defined by the backrest supports
(16), as shown in FIG. 3.
Armrests (18) are provided on corresponding left and
right sides of the backrest supports (16). The armrests (18)
have a rear end pivotally connected to a location along a
corresponding backrest support (16) and are collapsible
thereon, as shown in FIG. 3.
The backrest (15), the backrest supports (16) and the
collapsed armrests (18) can further be collapsed on the seat
(14) for moving out of the way.
The pair of front wheels (19) provided on the wheelchair
(10) are each operatively connected to a corresponding side
frame (11) by a rotatory joint (20). The rotatory joints (20)
can be alternately unlocked and rotated backward outside the
framework and locked again in that position for moving out of
the way. The footrests (21), that are usually present on most
30 wheelchairs, are adjustable and retractable. As shown in FIG.
4, each footrest (21) is mounted at the end of a corresponding
hanger bracket (50). The hanger brackets (50) are themselves
alternately movable between an open position and a retracted
position. The hanger brackets (50) are preferably mounted on
the rotatory joints (20). The footrests (21) can then be
alternately rotated outside or inside the framework, where

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they can be locked in normal extended or open position and
partial or fully retracted positions.
Referring to FIGS. 6 to 8, the collapsible wheelchair
(10) comprises a horizontally folding system. The horizontally
folding system comprises a pair of X-bracing members (33)
extending diagonally and transversely of the side frames (11)
in the horizontal plane. Each bracing member (33) has one end,
preferably the front end, pivotally connected to an end of a
corresponding side frame (11) by a vertical pin (34), and
10 another end, pre~erably the back end, slidably connected along
an end of the other side frame (11). The bracing members (33)
are joined together by a substantially central pivot (35).
The horizontal folding system further comprises locking
means for removably and alternately holding the bracing
members (33) in the collapsed and the open position, thereby
preventing unintentional opening or collapsing of the
wheelchair (10). The locking means can be provided by
appropriate latches (37) and/or by an optional actuating means
used for moving the bracing members (33). To collapse or open
20 the wheelchair (10), the user has to push the side frames
(11) .
To slidably connect the end of the bracing members (33)
to the side frames (11), each side frame (11) may comprise a
pair of horizontal U-shaped sliding guides (36) longitudinally
connected to the side frames (11) along a back end thereof and
generally facing each other.
Because of the way the wheelchair (10) is collapsing, the
seat (14) and the backrest t16) are made of a flexible
material.
In conclusion, the present invention provides a
collapsible wheelchair having a lightweight construction that
occupies a minimum space when collapsed for facilitating the
manipulation and transportation while still providing the user
with comfort in the normal open position. Another advantage
of the present invention is that only the rear wheels need to
be removed from the wheelchair for collapsing it.



.
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be removed from the wheelchair for collapsing it.
Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been
described in detail herein and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not
limited to these precise embodiments and that various changes
and modifications may be effected therein without departing
from the scope or spirit of the invention.

Representative Drawing