Land vehicles – Wheeled – Occupant propelled type
Patent
1989-05-05
1991-07-02
Marmor, Charles A.
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Occupant propelled type
2803041, 297DIG1, 297DIG4, 152323, B62M 114
Patent
active
050280651
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a wheelchair according to the introductory clause of claim 1.
Wheelchairs are known, for example from DE-OS 29 46 391, DE-OS 32 39 472 and DE-GM 85 21 183. Common to all these wheelchairs is that they include as a rule a collapsible carrying frame or a collapsible substructure with tube carriers, levers and rods, on which the two larger rear wheels with hand rail, the front wheels and the seat structure are detachably mounted.
However, wheelchairs of this kind with a metal underframe are relatively heavy and on account of the great number of individual parts can be produced only at great cost.
Furthermore in DE-OS 35 26 985 a sport wheelchair has also already been proposed, which consists of a plastic frame with plastic rims and streamlined spokes as well as plastic sport grip rings. By use of said plastic parts this sport wheelchair is to exhibit a lesser weight in comparison with traditional wheelchairs. But otherwise the basic design of this wheelchair is comparable to traditional wheelchairs, since here too an ordinary underframe with rods is used.
The object of this invention is therefore to provide a wheelchair which, in comparison with traditional wheelchairs, is much more simply designed and therefore cheaper to produce, and which, with comparably light weight, exhibits an optimal rigidity and safety. At the same time the possibility is to exist to improve the sitting comfort also with simple means. According to need and requirements a folding mechanism is also to be possible for a wheelchair of this kind. Advantageous configurations of the invention are given in the subclaims.
By this invention, for the first time a completely different conceptual mode for a wheelchair is chosen.
The wheelchair according to the invention exhibits by its shell design an optimal rigidity which, particularly in one-piece frame design, guarantees a favorable force distribution. At the same time, by the use of plastic, a lightweight embodiment is then also possible, if the wheelchair as a whole is made in a relatively compact manner. Particularly with the use of hard foam material for the wheelchair possible dangers of injury can also be minimized by a homogeneous shape, because individual rods and levers necessary according to prior art are superfluous in this invention. By use of hard and soft foam sections and parts, safety can also be heightened and sitting comfort can be improved.
By use of the shell design in the production of the wheelchair there can be provided by means of a mold casting and without any problem, armrests that can be made in one piece with the frame design as a whole.
The backrest can at the same time be raised up to head level or also be made so that a head rest can be anchored on the upper part of the backrest.
By the armrests being able to be run as far as the pedal, there results improved safety from lateral jolts. In addition, at least on the pedal, yet one more integrated surrounding shock absorber can be designed.
The wheelchair can, as mentioned, consist of cellularly expanded plastic, so that soft-hard material combinations are also possible. The parts formed of soft foam materials thus also serve at the same time as upholstering.
This corrosion resistant material is moreover easy to care for and aseptic and thus offers advantages in use even in hospitals. In addition, the wheelchair as a whole is extremely quiet because of the high material damping values.
The advantages described result especially because of the wheel according to the invention, which is made as a complete plastic wheel. Since it is made as a solid wheel, the handrail can be included in an integrated manner. In addition the solid wheel can also be made of foamed plastic, so that it can also be produced cheaply and exhibits only an extremely light weight. The solid material as a flat tire is also suitable, and on the rolling surface opposite the remaining wheel body softer plastic foam can be used. Thus an optimal shock absorption also results with easy and quiet running. Also the handrail made
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DE-Firmenschrft: Fa. Meyra, Katlog Aug. 1984, S. 90-92.
Boehler A. M.
Marmor Charles A.
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