Wheelchair container

Details Wheelchair container Wheelchair container

2000-03-13

2001-04-17

Bui, Luan K. (Department: 3728)

Special receptacle or package

For a vehicle

C220S004280

Reexamination Certificate

active

06216867

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to a wheelchair container and more particularly, to a container for a wheelchair that protects it from damage during air travel.
Under the Disability Act, airlines are required to transport wheelchairs free of charge for the general public. In fact, roughly 6.4 million people per year travel with their wheelchairs. As a result, a large and expensive burden is placed on the airline industry. By failing to adequately store a wheelchair in a cargo section of a jet, it is extremely common for the wheelchair to be damaged upon reaching its destination. In fact, the lack of a suitable container forces the airlines to spend at least $1.00 in repairs for every wheelchair carried. As wheelchairs become more expensive (wheelchairs range in price between $600.00 and $20,000.00) and more prevalent, the repair and administrative cost will become a more significant expense of the airlines bottom line
However, any container will not solve the above problem. Numerous factors must be taken into account in order to design one suitable for air travel including weight, uniformity, durability, ease to load and cost. In a typical example, a passenger reaches the airport less than one hour before take-off. In that one hour period, the wheelchair must be processed, packaged and loaded onto the plane. The baggage handlers for the airlines neither have the time, nor the training to disassemble the chair, rather they have just enough time to securely load it in the plane. As a result, certain traveling cases in the market place will not meet the demands of the airline industry. For example, a traveling case for a bicycle exists. However, the bicycle needs to be disassembled in order to be securely fastened in the container. That is, the handle bars, at least one wheel and the pedals are all removed. Thereafter, each piece is individually secured and mounted with foam, a process which can take in excess of one hour. Because the process is so labor intensive, the passenger loads and stores the bicycle prior to arrival at the airport. However, in the case of a disabled person, he uses the wheelchair to arrive at the airport. Therefore, he can not load it until he has checked-in.
Accordingly, it is desired to provide a container for a wheelchair that is light weight, durable and easy to load to enable the wheelchair to be shipped without damage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Generally speaking, in accordance with the present invention, an apparatus for storing a wheelchair is provided. The apparatus includes a substantially rigid container dimensioned to receive a wheelchair including a first section and a second section. The first section includes at least a first end, a first wall extending from the first end, a second wall opposite the first wall, a first side panel extending from the first end positioned between the first and second walls and a second side panel opposite the first side panel. The second section includes a first end, a first wall extending from the first end, a second wall opposite the first wall, a first side panel extending from the first end and positioned between the first and second walls and a second side panel opposite the first side panel. The first section is releasably coupled to the second section to form an interior region for receiving a wheelchair.
Another apparatus for receiving a wheelchair is provided comprising a substantially rigid container dimensioned to receive a wheelchair including a first section and a second section. The first section includes at least a first end, a first wall extending from the first end, a second wall opposite the first wall, a first side panel extending from the first end and positioned between the first and second walls and a second side panel opposite the first side panel. The second section is substantially flat. The first section is releasably coupled to the second section to form an interior region for receiving a wheelchair.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved container for securely storing a wheelchair during transportation.
Another object of the invention is to provide a container for a wheelchair that is lightweight, durable and easy to load to enable the wheelchair to be shipped without damage.
Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and in part be apparent from the specification.
The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.


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