Purses – wallets – and protective covers – Protective cover made of flaccid material
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-03
2001-03-20
Weaver, Sue A. (Department: 3727)
Purses, wallets, and protective covers
Protective cover made of flaccid material
C280S304100, C280S304500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202722
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to improvements in wheelchair carriers or covers, and more particularly to new and improved carriers or covers into which a collapsed wheelchair may be placed for movement by a person or for transportation of the wheelchair by motor vehicle or during the storage of the wheelchair.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The use of wheelchairs by elderly or disabled persons is widespread and well accepted and their use is likely to increase substantially due to the prolonged life expectancy and the general aging process of the population. Thus, there is an increasing need for collapsible wheelchairs and their accessories.
A collapsible wheelchair is a relatively expensive device having numerous moving and delicate parts. For these reasons, it is desirable to protect the wheelchair during transportation or storage and provide for easy movement of the collapsed wheelchair while in a carrier or cover therefor.
Frequently, a person confined to a wheelchair must be transported by motor vehicle from one location to another. Normally when this is done, the wheelchair is collapsed and placed within the trunk or back seat of an automobile. The lifting and movement of a collapsed wheelchair is very cumbersome and difficult for an able-bodied person and is almost impossible by a disabled person or by a person of small stature. Therefore, there is a need for a carrier, housing or cover for a collapsed wheelchair which permits a person to easily place the collapsed wheelchair within the carrier or housing and to lift the wheelchair with minimum ease.
A search of U.S. patents for wheelchair carriers or housings which are somewhat pertinent to applicant's invention produced the following U.S. patents: namely, U.S. Pat. No. 4,693,289 to Taylor et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,170,826 to Carstensen et al.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,693,289 to Taylor et al. is directed to a first embodiment of a wheelchair carrier comprised of a bottom section and a top section; the bottom section having four side walls and a floor for receiving a collapsed wheelchair rolled therein; the top section having four side walls and a top wall; and means for securing the bottom section to the top section. U.S. Pat. No. 4,693,289 to Taylor et al. is further directed to a second embodiment of the wheelchair carrier comprised of a housing having four side walls, a top wall and a floor, with one side wall being on three of its edges detachable to enable a collapsed wheelchair to be placed in the housing and being reattachable on three of its edges to the housing to enclose the collapsed wheelchair within the carrier. To move the carrier, once the wheelchair is placed therein, a person must reach around the carrier as no handles or the like are provided on the carrier.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,170,826 to Carstensen et al. is directed to a cover for a collapsed wheel chair and comprises a hood portion, having an upper end, two sides and a flap extending from one of the sides for receipt under the collapsed wheelchair and being extended to the other side, and for providing a strap for grasping and carrying the collapsed wheelchair within the cover.
These prior art carriers or housings for wheelchairs have presented numerous problems and disadvantages particularly when compared with the improved carrier or housing of the present invention and have not been widely accepted by the public. There is a need, therefore, for a relatively inexpensive carrier or housing for a collapsed wheelchair of simple construction which overcome the problems and disadvantages associated with the prior art carriers or housings for a collapsed wheelchair. The carrier or housing for wheelchair of the present invention fulfills these needs.
The present invention is directed to a simple, light-weight, housing for covering, carrying, and transporting a collapsed wheelchair. The present invention is not cumbersome and can be easily placed over, and removed from, a collapsed wheelchair, and can be easily grasped to carry the housing and the wheelchair therein for movement from one location to another. The present invention is also designed such that the four wheels of the collapsed wheelchair may extend outside of the housing so that the wheels can be used to roll the collapsed wheelchair within the housing for short distance. The present invention is further designed so that a drawstring can be pulled to tighten the lowermost part of the housing to lock the housing upon the collapsed wheelchair so that a person can easily grasp one or more handles on the interior of the housing to move or carry the housing and collapsed wheelchair therein into a motor vehicle or to another location.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a simple and inexpensive carrier or housing for a wheelchair is provided which allows disabled persons and persons of small stature to easily place the carrier or housing over the collapsed wheelchair and to lift the collapsed wheelchair within the carrier or housing with minimum ease. The wheelchair carrier or housing of the present invention generally comprises a top and side panel member secured to a front panel member and a rear panel member by any suitable means such as stitching, a drawstring or rope associated with the top and side panel member, the front panel and the rear panel. When assembled as generally described, the carrier or housing somewhat resembles an inverted generally oblong cylinder closed at its top and open at its bottom. The drawstring, rope or cord can be tightened or loosened to secure a collapsed wheelchair within the carrier or housing. Two rope or cord locks are provided for holding the drawstring or rope in its tightened condition when a collapsed wheelchair is secured within the carrier or housing. A strap or handle is provided on each of the top and side panel member, the front panel member and the rear panel member to allow a person to easily grasp one or two of the straps of the carrier with the collapsed wheelchair therein and move same with minimum ease.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a carrier or housing for a collapsed wheelchair which is well-suited for protection of the wheelchair and allows a disabled or small statured person to lift the wheelchair to move the wheelchair from one location to another.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a relatively inexpensive and simple carrier or housing for a collapsed wheelchair into which the collapsed wheelchair can be placed, lifted and moved with minimum ease.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a relatively inexpensive and simple carrier or housing for a collapsed wheelchair which has a strap attached to each of the top and two sides of the carrier or housing to enable the carrier or housing with the collapsed wheelchair therein to be lifted and moved with minimum ease.
These objects as well as other objects of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 2243981 (1941-06-01), Rowan
patent: 2570533 (1951-10-01), Elliott
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patent: 4356831 (1982-11-01), Adams
patent: 4679242 (1987-07-01), Brockhaus
patent: 4693289 (1987-09-01), Taylor et al.
patent: 4715646 (1987-12-01), Goffi et al.
patent: 4795207 (1989-01-01), Clarke
patent: 4944340 (1990-07-01), Tortorich
patent: 4948154 (1990-08-01), Guggenheim
patent: 4954384 (1990-09-01), Hartwell
patent: 5028472 (1991-07-01), Gray
patent: 5170826 (1992-12-01), Carstensen et al.
patent: 5282502 (1994-02-01), Ballard
patent: 5372169 (1994-12-01), Norton et al.
patent: 2253781 (1992-09-01), None
Garvin, Jr. John C.
Waddey & Patterson
Weaver Sue A.
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