Chairs and seats – Rest for knee – leg – or foot – Connected to chair or seat for relative movement
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-01
2001-05-22
Nelson, Jr., Milton (Department: 3624)
Chairs and seats
Rest for knee, leg, or foot
Connected to chair or seat for relative movement
C297SDIG004
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234576
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to a wheelchair, and in particular, to a wheelchair footrest bracket assembly capable of being used on either side of the wheelchair.
The use of detachable wheelchair footrests is well known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,857,606 to Rodaway discloses a swing-away footrest no bracket having an upwardly facing lower collar and a downwardly facing upper collar that are attached to each front frame member on the wheelchair. A saddle member is inserted into the upper collar, rotated to abut the front frame member, and lowered into the lower collar to attach the footrest bracket. A spring-loaded latch engages a notch in the upper collar to lock the footrest. A detachable wheelchair footrest allows the occupant to maneuver the wheelchair in smaller places with a minimum amount of effort.
However, many of the prior art devices utilize rather complicated mechanisms for the removal and replacement of the footrest. In addition, all existing wheelchair footrests have a left and right footrest for the respective side of the wheelchair. These “handed” footrests have many parts unique to the left or right side of the wheelchair. Further, the attachment points and the hangers for the footrest 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 healthcare provider. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an universal wheelchair footrest 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 footrest assembly that connects to a wheelchair. An upper support plate is mounted on a front tubular member of the wheelchair. The upper support plate includes a first pivot pin. A lower support plate is mounted on the front tubular member in a spaced-apart, vertically-aligned relationship with the upper support plate. The lower support plate includes a second pivot pin and a pair of latch pins. A footrest support member has an upper pivot flange with at least one pivot hole and a lower pivot flange with at least one pivot hole. The pivot hole of the first pivot plate is capable of being received in the first pivot pin of the upper support plate and the pivot hole of the lower pivot flange is capable of being received in the second pivot pin of the lower support plate for pivotally mounting the footrest support member to the upper and lower support plates. A latch mechanism includes a pair of spring-biased latch members. Each latch member has a latch seat for cooperating with the pair of latch pins on the lower support plate. Each latch member also includes a front cam surface and a rear cam surface. The footrest assembly is in a locked position when the latch seat of each latch member engages the pair of latch pins of the lower support. The footrest assembly is in an unlocked position and can be swung away and detached from the wheelchair when at least one latch seat does not engage at least one latch pin of the lower support plate.
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.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2841208 (1958-07-01), Duke
patent: 2868275 (1959-01-01), Mize
patent: 3453027 (1969-07-01), Pivacek
patent: 3482873 (1969-12-01), Pivacek
patent: 3672722 (1972-06-01), Murcott
patent: 3854774 (1974-12-01), Limpach
patent: 3857606 (1974-12-01), Rodaway
patent: 3883175 (1975-05-01), Rodaway
patent: 4722572 (1988-02-01), Sata
patent: 4813693 (1989-03-01), Lockard et al.
patent: 4981305 (1991-01-01), Lockard et al.
patent: 4988114 (1991-01-01), Thornton, Jr. et al.
patent: 5209509 (1993-05-01), Gay et al.
patent: 5393082 (1995-02-01), Fenley
patent: 5401045 (1995-03-01), Foerster et al.
Jr. Milton Nelson
MacMillan Sobanski & Todd LLC
Sunrise Medical HHG Inc.
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