Universal elevating leg rest assembly

Details Universal elevating leg rest assembly Universal elevating leg rest assembly

1998-06-01

2001-08-14

Mai, Lanna (Department: 3619)

Land vehicles

Wheeled

Occupant propelled type

C280S250100, C297S423100

Reexamination Certificate

active

06273443

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to a wheelchair, and in particular, to an elevating leg rest assembly capable of being used on either side of the wheelchair.
Up until now, many of the prior art devices utilize rather complicated mechanisms for elevating the leg of the occupant. In addition, all existing wheelchair leg rests have a left and right leg rest for the respective side of the wheelchair. These “handed” leg rests have many parts unique to the left or right side of the wheelchair. Further, the attachment points and the hangers for the leg rest are also unique for the left or right side of the wheelchair. As a result, the wheelchair supplier or health care provider is required to manufacture, assemble, and stock parts that are unique to the left and right side of the wheelchair, thereby increasing the cost of manufacturing the wheelchair and creating an inventory problem for the wheelchair dealer or health care provider. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an universal elevating leg rest assembly that can be used for either the left or right side of the wheelchair.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a universal elevating leg rest assembly for connecting to a wheelchair. The elevating leg rest assembly includes an upper hanger plate having at least one pivot pin being mounted on a front tubular member of the wheelchair. A lower hanger plate having at least one pivot pin is mounted on the front tubular member in a vertically-aligned, spaced-apart relationship with the upper support plate. A universal bracket assembly is pivotally mounted to the pivot pins of the upper and lower hanger plates using pivot holes. The universal bracket assembly allows the elevating leg rest assembly to be positioned on the either side of the wheelchair. A locking mechanism locks the elevating leg rest assembly in a forward position and allows the occupant to unlock and detach the elevating leg rest assembly, if desired. A calf clamp assembly includes an arcuate-shaped opening for hingedly connecting the calf clamp assembly to the universal bracket assembly. The calf clamp assembly includes an arcuate-shaped cam surface for allowing the occupant to position the elevating leg rest assembly at a desired height. A release mechanism includes a push knob, a release plate and a locking cam having an elliptical-shaped cam surface for frictionally engaging the arcuate-shaped cam surface of the calf clamp assembly. A calf support assembly includes a support plate for supporting the leg of the occupant.
Various objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, when read in light of the accompanying drawings.


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