Seat back recliner kit for wheelchair

Chairs and seats – Movable back – Tiltable

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C297SDIG004, C280S304100, C280S043160

Reexamination Certificate

active

06224156

ABSTRACT:

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to wheelchairs and more particularly to a seat back recliner kit which may be mounted on an existing wheelchair to convert the wheelchair from a fixed angle seat back to an adjustable angle seat back.
Most wheelchairs are provided with a seat back which has a fixed angle relative to the seat bottom. Higher priced wheelchairs also are available with relining seat backs. When a person is confined to a wheelchair for mobility, a single seat back position may become uncomfortable after several hours of sitting in the same position. If the person desires to take a nap or to watch television or to do some task which does not require an upright sitting position, it may be necessary to move the person from a wheelchair having a fixed angle seat back for the person's comfort.
If a wheelchair user initially purchases a wheelchair having a fixed angle and seat back later desires to have a wheelchair with a reclining seat back, it has been necessary for the user to purchase a second wheelchair. This may involve a significant expense which is not covered by medical insurance. There has been no convenient way for converting a fixed angle seat back wheelchair to a reclining seat back wheelchair. One major difference between the two types of wheelchairs which has prevented conversion is in the location of the rear drive wheels. If the seat back is reclined, the center of gravity is moved to the rear. In a conventional non-reclining wheelchair, the rear wheel axle is located either directly below or slightly forward of the seat back support. This will locate the center of gravity of the occupied wheelchair between the front and rear wheels. If a seat back in a conventional wheelchair were modified to recline, reclining the seat back may move the center of gravity of the occupied wheelchair to a point where the wheelchair becomes unstable. Consequently, there may a risk that a conventional wheelchair fitted with a seat back recliner will tip over.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, a kit is provided for converting an existing wheelchair having a fixed seat back angle to a reclining seat back wheelchair. This eliminates the need and the cost to purchase a new wheelchair when a reclining seat back is desired.
A wheelchair includes a frame assembly having two spaced side frames. Cross braces may maintain a permanent spaced relationship between the side frames, or may be designed to allow the side framed collapse together to facilitate transportation of the wheelchair. At least one hole is provided on each side frame for mounting a rear wheel on each side frame. Frequently, two vertically spaced wheel mounting holes are provided on each side frame so that the wheelchair may be configured for either of two heights. The seat back recliner kit includes two wheel mounting brackets. One wheel mounting brackets bolts to at least one existing rear wheel mounting hole on each side frame, or is otherwise secured to each side frame. The brackets provide new wheel mounting holes which are located to the rear of the existing wheel mounting holes. This sufficiently increases the wheelbase of the wheelchair to provide stability when the wheelchair is occupied with the seat back reclined.
A separate seat back mounting section is secured to a rear member on each side frame on the wheelchair. A seat back support is pivotally connected to each seat back mounting section. A conventional wheelchair seat back is secured between the two seat back supports. For each side of the wheelchair, an adjustable length brace extends between a pivot on the seat back support and the wheel mounting bracket. By changing the length of the brace, the angle of the seat back support is changed. The brace includes a releasable locking mechanism for use in adjusting and maintaining its length.
The seat back support may be provided with a handle at its upper end for pushing the wheelchair and for use when adjusting the seat back angle. Preferably, a releasable locking mechanism on the brace is connected to a releasing lever mounted on or adjacent the handle. The seat back angle is adjusted by operating the releasing levers to release the brace locks while grasping the handles, positioning the seat back to the desired angle and releasing the levers to engage the brace locks.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a kit for attachment to wheelchair for permitting the wheelchair seat back to be reclined.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings.


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Quickie Manual Products parts Manual, Jan., 1996, pp. 1.4, 8.9, 9.16 and 9.21.

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