EP2328536A1 - Fauteuil roulant pliable - Google Patents

Fauteuil roulant pliable

Info

Publication number
EP2328536A1
EP2328536A1 EP09807988A EP09807988A EP2328536A1 EP 2328536 A1 EP2328536 A1 EP 2328536A1 EP 09807988 A EP09807988 A EP 09807988A EP 09807988 A EP09807988 A EP 09807988A EP 2328536 A1 EP2328536 A1 EP 2328536A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
wheelchair
cross
strut
pivotal connection
link element
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP09807988A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP2328536B1 (fr
Inventor
Nicolas Bernard
Thomas Kohler
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Invacare International SARL
Original Assignee
Invacare International SARL
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Invacare International SARL filed Critical Invacare International SARL
Priority to EP09807988A priority Critical patent/EP2328536B1/fr
Publication of EP2328536A1 publication Critical patent/EP2328536A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2328536B1 publication Critical patent/EP2328536B1/fr
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
    • A61G5/00—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs
    • A61G5/08—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs foldable
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
    • A61G5/00—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs
    • A61G5/08—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs foldable
    • A61G5/0808—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs foldable characterised by a particular folding direction
    • A61G5/0816—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs foldable characterised by a particular folding direction folding side to side, e.g. reducing or expanding the overall width of the wheelchair
    • A61G5/0825—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs foldable characterised by a particular folding direction folding side to side, e.g. reducing or expanding the overall width of the wheelchair comprising a scissor-type frame, e.g. having pivoting cross bars for enabling folding

Definitions

  • the present invention relates in general to foldable wheelchairs, and more particularly, to wheelchairs which have X-shaped cross-bracing frame assemblies that fold or scissor to allow the side frames of the wheelchairs to be moved between a spaced apart deployed position for use and a folded position for storage or transport.
  • Foldable wheelchairs comprising a link element as disclosed in US 4,989,890 and US 6,050,582 are difficult to fold and/or unfold. Especially for a wheelchair user constrained to make the wheelchair ready for use from a sitting position, unfolding is difficult. For example, when a wheelchair user sits on the side of a bed and prepares the wheelchair before the moving onto the wheelchair it would be important, that unfolding is easy to accomplish. However, even with foldable wheelchairs commercialised in these days, the wheelchair user encounters the difficulty that the unfolding or folding requires substantial efforts. It is observed that the geometry of the foldable wheelchair using a link element actually opposes or counteracts the folding and/or unfolding, and a substantial effort is needed to unfold and/or fold the wheelchair.
  • the geometry of the cross-bracing arrangement of the foldable wheelchair is at the origin of the exhausting folding process. More particularly, there is the problem that during the folding process, the side frames have the tendency not to stay in parallel but assume a V-shape, with the upper side frames staying apart from each other. This can also be referred to as a splaying or tilting of the side frames during folding, due to the geometry of the articulation provided by the link element together with the cross-struts, comprising as many as seven pivoting axis. The link element experiences forces in its longitudinal axis during folding, and thus resists to the side frames getting together in parallel.
  • the aspect of convenience and easy manipulation is a main objective underlying the present invention. It is a goal to provide a foldable wheelchair, that can be folded and/or unfolded with less effort than any other foldable wheelchair available on the market. Preferably, such an effortlessly foldable and/or unfoldable wheelchair still presents a high stability and/or firmness, in the unfolded position of use as well as during the folding process and in the folded position of storage and transport.
  • US 2,165,529 discloses a foldable wheelchair with unequal cross-struts, wherein slotted link elements are used. Similar to the situation in DE 201 12335 and US 2006/0145456, the connection via a slot results in unstable, loose connection between the side frames, which will be noted in particular during the folding process.
  • the wheelchair of US 2,165,529 thus further requires upper and lower pivotally jointed cross-bar connections in order to stabilise the entire chair and in particular the back in the unfolded position of use.
  • the present invention provides the wheelchair a foldable wheelchair, the wheelchair comprising a pair of left and right side frames, each side frame comprising: a longitudinal frame profile; and, a hinge with an axis of pivoting for pivotal connection of each side frame with a cross-strut at a lower section of said cross-strut; the wheelchair further comprising: a cross brace assembly coupling the said side frames together for movement between a spaced apart deployed position and a proximate folded position, said cross brace assembly comprising: at least two crosswise arranged struts and left and right seat profiles with substantially horizontal axis, wherein each one of said seat profiles is attached substantially perpendicularly to one of said at least two cross-wise arranged struts, and wherein said at least two struts are pivotally connected one to the other at a central pivot axis; wherein the wheelchair further comprises at least one link element, pivotally connecting at least one of said side frames with at least one of said struts.
  • said link element comprises a first pivotal connection to one of said side frames and a second pivotal connection to one of said struts, said second pivotal connection being provided at an upper section of said strut.
  • a pivot axis of said second pivotal connection is situated above a plane a, said plane a being the plane defined by the axis of pivoting of said hinge and by said central pivot axis, said plane a extending beyond said central pivot axis.
  • Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a foldable frame assembly according to a first embodiment of the wheelchair of the present invention in an unfolded position. The left and right castor wheels are not shown.
  • Figure 2 shows the same view as Figure 1 , with the frame assembly being in a completely folded position.
  • Figure 3 is a front view showing a foldable frame assembly according to the wheelchair of the first embodiment in an unfolded position.
  • Figure 4 is the same view as Figure 3, with the frame assembly being in a completely folded position.
  • Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a foldable frame assembly according to a second embodiment of the wheelchair of the present invention in an unfolded position. The left and right castor wheels are not shown.
  • Figure 6 shows the same view as Figure 5, with the frame assembly being in a completely folded position.
  • Figure 7 is a front view showing a foldable frame assembly according to the wheelchair of the second embodiment in an unfolded position.
  • Figure 8 is the same view as Figure 7, with the frame assembly being in a completely folded position.
  • Figure 9 shows an extract of Figure 3 in an enlarged view.
  • Figure 10 shows a front view of a third embodiment of the wheelchair of the invention in an unfolded position of use.
  • the present invention concerns a foldable wheelchair comprising two lateral side frames.
  • Each side frame may be substantially arranged within a plane.
  • the left and right side frames may be arranged in two planes extending substantially vertically and substantially in parallel with each other in a rear-to-front direction.
  • situations and directions of elements of the wheelchair are determined by the perspective of a user seated in the wheelchair. Accordingly, the left side of the wheelchair corresponds to the right side of Figure 1 and vice versa.
  • central follow the same rule.
  • substantially longitudinal indicates a direction of an element, such as a tube, having, as a major direction component, the rear-to- front direction. Such an element may also to some or to a minor extent be skewed laterally and or towards the bottom or the top.
  • a "profile" for the purpose of the present invention encompasses any three-dimensional structure having a substantially constant cross- section contour along at least part of its three-dimensional extension.
  • Tubes, struts with circular, rectangular, X-shaped, open or closed cross-sections are examples of typical profiles.
  • Further examples of profiles are rail profiles, rim profiles and U-profiles.
  • One, some or all of the profiles of the wheelchair of the present invention may be selected from the above examples, independently from other profiles of the wheelchair.
  • Preferably, light construction materials and, whenever possible, aluminium instead of steal is used as building material for the profiles.
  • the wheelchair of the present invention comprises two lateral, left and right side frames 3, 4, respectively connected to each other by a cross brace assembly comprising at least two cross struts 9, 10.
  • the lateral side frames comprise upper left and right side frame tubes 7, 8 and lower left and right side frame tubes 5 and 6.
  • a pair of upper and lower side frame tubes of one side, for example tubes 5 and 7 of the left side extend in parallel in a rear-to-front direction.
  • a pair of upper and lower side frame tubes on each side, that is tubes 5 and 7 on the left side, as well as tubes 6 and 8 on the right side, are connected to each other by further lateral frame tubes.
  • the rear tubes 15, 16 and intermediate tubes 17, 18 are extending in a substantially vertical direction.
  • said longitudinal upper side frame tube 7, 8, said lower longitudinal side frame tube 5, 6, said rear side frame tube 15, 16 and a front side frame tube 13, 14 form the sides of a quadrilateral.
  • the quadrilateral may more particularly be a trapezoid.
  • the left and right front tubes 13, 14, connecting the upper and lower side frame tubes of their respective side at their front end with each other, are shown not to be exactly vertical. With respect to horizontal, the front tubes 13, 14 form an angle of less than 90° and are skewed, with their upper end, in a backward direction, towards the rear end of the wheelchair. The skilled person will understand that the exact angle of the front tubes 13 and 14 with respect to horizontal is not relevant for the present invention.
  • the lower side frame tubes 5 and 6 thus are a bit longer than the upper side frame tubes 7, 8, which means that the castor wheels can be fixed further to the front with respect to the seat.
  • the lateral side frames 3, 4 are vertical and in parallel.
  • the drive wheels 2, 2' are vertical.
  • the rear frame tubes 15, 16 and the intermediate frame tubes 17, 18 are vertical and in parallel, and the upper and lower side frame tubes 7, 8 and 5, 6, respectively, are in parallel with each other and parallel to the floor.
  • side frames and/or the wheels are not parallel, but skewed with respect to each other.
  • side frames instead of straight tubes, more or less curved profiles can be used.
  • side frames have the purpose of providing a chassis and/or the structural support for carrying the seat, for attaching the wheels and for further functions.
  • the side frames need to provide a structure 5.1 , 6.1 for pivotally connecting the cross-struts 9, 10 at lower ends of said cross-struts, and a generally longitudinal support for stabilizing the seat tubes 1 1 , 12 in the deployed position.
  • some wheelchairs use only a single lateral main profile, instead of a pair of an upper and a lower side frame tube on each side, said single lateral main profile extending from a rear to front direction in a substantially longitudinal way, generally close to parallel to the ground, whereby these single profiles may be more or less bent or assume an L-shaped configuration, as disclosed, for example, in EP 0911009. Wheelchairs having frame structures as in EP 091 1009 may be adapted for the purpose of the present invention.
  • substantially is used in the present specification in order to express that a specific orientation is closer to the indicated orientation than to the respective opposed orientation. Accordingly, “substantially vertical” indicates that a respective structural entity is in a position that is closer to vertical than to horizontal. “Substantially horizontal” means closer to horizontal than to vertical. “Substantially parallel” means closer to parallel than to perpendicular, and so forth.
  • the embodiments shown in the figures have the rear tubes 15, 16, which extend vertically above the upper side frame tubes 7, 8, and are then referred to as left and right rear upholstery tubes 23, 22, respectively, as they form support for attaching the back upholstery, the latter not being shown in the figures. At their upper ends, the left and right rear upholstery tubes 23, 22 may be bent backwards (not shown) to extend a short distance backwards so as to form left and right handholds or grippers.
  • a pair of left and right drive wheel fixing elements 19, 20 can be seen.
  • the drive wheel fixing elements as shown are arranged so as to allow to adjust the fixing position of the drive wheels to the side frames according to the user's preferences, thereby determining parameters such as the height of the seat surface and the rear-to- front position of the drive wheels.
  • the cross brace assembly of the embodiments shown in the figures comprises two crosswise arranged struts 9, 10. As indicated with respect to the term “tube” above, a “strut” may be any profile.
  • the cross-struts 9, 10 are pivotally connected to each other at the central pivot axis 30, which, in the embodiment shown, is located on the vertical axis of symmetry of the wheelchair.
  • the central pivot axis 30 maybe arranged exactly in the middle of each cross strut, but does not need to.
  • the axis 30 may be displaced slightly upwardly or downwardly in dependency of preferences.
  • the central pivot axis 30 is located slightly below half-way of each cross-strut. In general, however, this displacement remains within a few centimetres, for example, up to 10 cm from the exact mid-point of each cross-strut.
  • each left and right cross-strut comprises an upper and a lower section 43, 44 and 48, 47, respectively.
  • the upper section 43, 44 of each cross-strut 9, 10 is the section starting from the central pivot axis 30 and extending upwardly to the seat tube 1 1 , 12, whereas the lower section 47, 48 is the section starting from the central pivot point 30 and extending downwardly to the pivotal hinge 5.1 , 6.1 (indicated in Figures 1 and 5), where each cross-strut is directly pivotally connected to the one of the side frames 3, 4.
  • the cross-struts are pivotally attached to each side frame at the lower end of each cross-strut 9, 10.
  • the left cross strut 9 is pivotally attached, at its lower end, to the right lower frame tube 6, at the right pivotal hinge 6.1
  • the right cross- strut 10 is pivotally attached to the left lower frame tube 5 at the left pivotal hinge 5.1.
  • the left cross strut 9 is named "left” only for purpose of definition, because it carries, at its upper end, the left seat tube 1 1
  • the "right" cross strut 10 carries the right seat tube 12.
  • the left and right seat tubes are attached approximately in the centre of their rear-to-front longitudinal extension in a substantially perpendicular way to the upper end of each respective cross strut, thus forming a shape reminding of the letter
  • the above mentioned pivotal connection of the left and right cross-struts 9, 10 at pivot axis 30 to each other forms a scissor like articulation. This articulation is used during the folding and unfolding process as will be described further below, bringing the side frames 3, 4 together and deploying them, respectively.
  • the seat tubes 1 1 and 12 are provided in a way that allows the attachment of a flexible seat surface on them.
  • the present invention encompasses assemblies comprising a total of three or four, or even more such struts.
  • the number and/or thickness of the struts are variables that may be determined as a function of the weight and/or size of a wheelchair user.
  • a single pivotal hinge 5.1 and/or 6.1 may be rigidly connected, for example, welded, to more than one cross-struts of one side.
  • pivotal hinges 5.1 , 6.1 are centred or close to the centre with respect to the rear-to-front extension of the seat tubes 1 1 , 12, thereby enabling essentially central connection of each cross-strut 9, 10 at the respective seat tube, as mentioned above.
  • Each left and right cross-strut 9, 10 is pivotally connected, by way of an oblong link element 41 , 42 to the respective left and right side frame 3, 4.
  • the connection via the link element requiring two pivoting articulations, can be regarded as an "indirect" pivotal connection of a cross-strut with the respective side frame.
  • the link elements 41 , 42 are oriented perpendicularly with respect to the side frames and thus extend in a lateral-to-central direction. More particularly, the left link element 41 is pivotally attached with its laterally outwardly oriented, distal end to the left upper side frame tube 7, and with the other, proximal end, which is oriented towards the centre of the wheelchair, to the left cross strut 9. Accordingly, the right link element 42 (not visible in Figure 1 ), is pivotally attached with its laterally outwardly oriented, distal end to the right upper side frame tube 8, and with the other, proximal end, which is directed towards the centre of the wheelchair, to the right cross strut 10.
  • each link element is a rigid element, made of a rigid metal, such as aluminium, or of a rigid plastic. In this way, the stability is increased.
  • the use of rigid link elements entails the problems of increased efforts for folding and unfolding.
  • these efforts are surprisingly reduced by optimising the position of the pivot axis 45, 46 of the second pivotal articulations of the link elements 41 , 42 to the respective cross struts 9, 10, as described in more detail further below.
  • the pivot axis 45, 46 of the pivotal articulations (or connections) are situated at higher positions than corresponding pivot axis in the prior art, that is, at a position that is closer to the seat, that is, towards the top, of the wheelchair.
  • each of the cross-struts 9 and 10 assumes an S-shaped configuration.
  • each cross-strut comprises curves along its longitudinal extension.
  • each cross strut can be divided in two sections, that is, a lower section 47, 48 and an upper section 43, 44. It is noted that the link elements 41 , 42 of each left and right side are pivotally attached at pivot axis 45, 46 within the upper sections 43, 44 of each respective cross strut.
  • Figure 2 shows the same frame assembly of the wheelchair of the wheelchair as Fig. 1 in a folded position.
  • the left and right cross-struts 9, 10, respectively are displaced in a rear to front direction so as not to hinder the folding process.
  • the left cross-strut 9 is pivotally attached, on the right lower side frame tube 6 in a position that is more forward than the pivotal attachment of the right cross-strut 10 to the left lower side frame tube 5.
  • the attachment of the cross-struts 9, 10 to the seat tubes 1 1 , 12 is accordingly displaced in a way that said seat tubes 1 1 , 12 are aligned in parallel and also with respect to the rear-to-front position next to each other.
  • the left link element 41 is attached in front of the left cross-strut 9, whereas the right link element 42, is attached behind the right cross-strut 10, so as to avoid interference between the link elements during folding/unfolding.
  • each cross-strut 9, 10 is brought by two bends provided in each cross strut.
  • each cross strut comprises three sequential straight tube-elements, wherein a bend element is provided between two successive straight tube elements.
  • Each of the two bend elements achieves a change in the direction of the straight elements, thereby creating a bend.
  • the central pivot axis 30 is provided in the central straight tube element.
  • a strut as a single continuous tube, said continuous tube comprising two bends, without the use of bend elements.
  • each cross-strut 9, 10 are the parts including the two ends of the elongated cross-strut. Accordingly, the lower distal part includes the end of the cross-strut where the cross-strut is pivotally attached to the lower side frame tube 5, 6, at pivotal hinge 5.1 and 6.1 , respectively, whereas the upper distal part is the part close to the end of the cross-strut where it is rigidly connected to the seat tube 1 1 , 12.
  • the pivot axis 45, 46 of the second pivotal connection which pivotally connects the link element 41 , 42 to the respective cross-strut 9, 10, is displaced upwardly if compared to a pivot axis situated on a (hypothetic) cross strut taking a straight course between the central pivot axis 30 to the seat tube 1 1.
  • FIG. 3 This displacement if compared to prior art foldable wheelchairs is illustrated in Figure 3.
  • a straight line referred to with letter "a" can be seen, which actually represents a plane a extending in a direction that is perpendicular to the two- dimensional plane of the figure.
  • Plane a is the plane in which both, the axis of pivoting 9.1 of the right hinge 6.1 (hinge 6.1 , not visible in Figure 3, pivotally connects the left cross strut 9 to the right side frame 4) is situated, and, also the axis of the central pivot axis 30 (pivot axis 30 pivotally connects the two cross-struts 9, 10 to each other).
  • plane a is defined by two pivotal axis, pivot axis 9.1 and pivot axis 30. Plane a then extends beyond pivot axis 30.
  • plane a is seen as a line, because the viewer sees plane a as cut by way of a cross-section, said cross-section being provided in a plane that is parallel to the plane of the figures and perpendicular to plane a.
  • an axis of the respective cross strut would also extend in plane a.
  • the link element would be pivotally connected to the cross strut at a pivotal connection located on or very close to the line a as seen in Figures 3 and 9.
  • the pivot axis 45 of the second pivotal connection is located at a certain distance above plane a.
  • This distance in the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 9, is at least the distance b, wherein b is a distance drawn as a straight line perpendicularly with respect to plane a, and wherein said distance b reaches up to the pivot axis 45 of the second pivotal connection of the link element 41. It is apparent from Figures 3, 7 and 9, that distance b represents a specific, limited distance.
  • plane a (and also line c, length axis e and horizontal line f discussed further below) is a theoretical tool used for illustrating a geometrical configuration or situation in the wheelchair of the present invention.
  • the distance b is at least 0.5 cm, preferably at least 1 cm, more preferably at least 1.5 cm, even more preferably at least 2 cm. Also distances of > 2.5 cm or even > 3 cm are encompassed by the present invention.
  • cross-struts are generally straight, but may also be bent.
  • cross-struts of prior art wheelchairs are bent, they are not bent in the same way as shown in Figures 3 and 4 and the surprising reduction in effort for folding the wheelchair is not obtained.
  • S-shaped cross-struts are as such disclosed in Figs. 1 and 14 of WO 2007/00781 1.
  • the cross-struts are bent differently from the present inventions and the technical effects disclosed herein are not obtained.
  • the pivot axis 45, 46 of the second pivotal connections of the link elements to the cross-strut according to the present invention is closer to the seat, and the link elements 41 , 42 as such extend more horizontally, that is, closer to horizontal.
  • it could also be horizontally arranged, or even skewed upwardly towards the centre, but care must be taken that the cross-strut and/or the link element does not abut against the bottom side of the seat surface in the deployed position of use, thereby affecting seat comfort.
  • Angle ⁇ therefore illustrates the deviation from horizontal of the length axis e of the link element in a completely deployed position of the wheelchair. It can be seen that in the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the angle ⁇ is only a few degrees.
  • At least one link element 41 , 42 has a length axis e, wherein, in a position of use, said length axis e is close to horizontal so as to include an angle ⁇ of ⁇ 20° preferably ⁇ 15° more preferably ⁇ 10° and most preferably ⁇ 7° with respect to horizontal.
  • the present invention more particularly also encompasses angles ⁇ that are ⁇ 6° ⁇ 5° ⁇ 4° and ⁇ 3°.
  • the length axis e may be exactly horizontal, in other words, correspond to line f in Figures 3 and 9.
  • the angle for a specific wheelchair will depend on parameters of the wheelchair, such as seat width, height, for example.
  • said link element 41 , 42 has a length axis e, wherein said length axis e pivots upwards with the wheelchair passing from said deployed position to said folded position, thereby rotating about an angle ⁇ , said angle being ⁇ 90° preferably ⁇ 80° more preferably ⁇ 75° and most preferably ⁇ 70°.
  • the present invention more particularly encompasses angles ⁇ that are ⁇ 73° ⁇ 70° ⁇ 68° ⁇ 65° and ⁇ 62°.
  • the angle may be >40° preferably >50° and most preferably >55°.
  • the angle ⁇ of a specific wheelchair will depend of wheelchair parameters, such as width and height of the wheelchair.
  • the left and right link elements 41 , 42 are, when seen in a front view as shown in Figures 3, 4, 7 and 8, mirror-inverted at a vertical plane, said plane extending in longitudinal, rear-to-front direction and crossing the centre of the wheelchair (pivot axis 30), this vertical plane is also referred to as the axis of symmetry. Therefore, the indications in terms of angles and orientation provided with respect to the left link element (plane a, length axis e, horizontal line f, distance b, angular distance d and angles ⁇ and ⁇ ) preferably also apply to the right link element 42.
  • the link element covers a larger angular distance d during folding in that it starts from a more downwardly inclined situation and ends in a close to vertical or vertical position.
  • the sector designed by the link element during folding and/or unfolding is generally larger than or equal to about 90°.
  • the sector of a circle covered by the left link element 41 when passing from an unfolded to a folded position of the wheelchair and vice versa, is highlighted.
  • the angle ⁇ of the sector is about 60°.
  • the link elements 41 , 42 may be arranged in a way that the specific position of compression of the link element, which was so far reported in prior art wheelchairs, is circumvented.
  • the present inventors surprisingly found that by suitably selecting the pivotal connections 45, 46, 61 , 62 of the link element, the link element can be positioned in a way that there is no, or nearly no, compression of the link element any more. In this way, the efforts required for folding and/or unfolding of the wheelchair can be drastically and unexpectedly reduced, while still maintaining the stability advantages of a rigid link element.
  • Figures 5-8 show a second embodiment of the wheelchair of the present invention in views corresponding to Figs. 1 -4, with the same reference numbers being used in Figs. 5-8 for the elements in common with the first embodiment.
  • Figs. 5 and 7 show a perspective and a front view, respectively, of the second embodiment of the wheelchair of the invention in an unfolded position of use.
  • the S-shaped configuration of the cross-struts 9, 10 is absent, the latter extending in a substantially straight manner, similar to prior art devices.
  • the left and right link elements 41 , 42 have the same orientation as described above with the first embodiment, in that they are closer to horizontal than comparable prior art link elements pivotally connecting the upper side frame tubes 7, 8 (Fig. 5) to the respective cross strut.
  • the position of the link element 41 , 42 is not provided by an S-shaped cross-strut, but by a protuberance 51 , 52, rigidly attached to the cross-strut, said protuberance extending above the otherwise uniformly extending cross strut and providing an attachment structure for the pivot axis 45, 46 for pivotal attachment of the proximal end of each link element 41 , 42.
  • the protuberances 51 , 52 extend in a direction that is perpendicular to the axis of cross-strut above the cross-strut.
  • the protuberance could have any desired orientation, as long as the aim of the invention with respect to the location of the pivot axis of the second pivotal connection 45, 46 is achieved.
  • the pivot axis 45, 46 of the second pivotal connection is displaced upwardly by a distance b with respect to prior art devices, bringing the link element into a less skewed, close to horizontal position as shown in Figure 7.
  • the protuberances 51 , 52 are rigidly secured to the respective cross-struts 9, 10, for example by welding, the pivotal attachments of the respective link element 41 , 42 at 45, 46 to the respective protuberance corresponds, from the stability point of view, to a pivotal attachment to the cross-strut as such.
  • one or both protuberances 51 , 52 are a separate piece that is not welded to the respective cross-strut 9, 10, but which can be rigidly and detachably be secured to said cross-struts by way of a screw and a crew nut, for example.
  • this embodiment it is possible to apply the protuberances to the cross-strut of a prior art wheelchair, followed by pivotal attachment of the link elements 41 , 42 to the protuberance thereby obtaining the wheelchair of the present invention. In this way, with little adjustment necessary, prior art devices can be conveniently modified so as to achieve the advantages of the invention.
  • the elements 51 , 52 are generally referred herein as protuberances. Their function and structure can also be described by the terms “elevations” or “elevated structures”, which are considered, for the purpose of the present specification, as synonyms of the term "protuberance”.
  • Figures 6 and 8 show the assembly according to the second embodiment of the invention in a folded position, for storage or transport of the wheelchair.
  • Figure 10 shows a front view of a third embodiment of the wheelchair of the invention in an unfolded position of use.
  • the cross-struts 9, 10 also carry protuberances 51 and 52 as the second embodiment.
  • the cross- struts 9, 10 of the third embodiment are not straight as in Figures 5-8, but each cross- strut comprises a single bend in the lower sections 48, 47. Due to the bends in each cross-strut, the upper section 43, 44 of each cross strut 9, 10 is slightly steeper than in the second embodiment, and, as a result, the distance b between plane a and the pivot axis of the second pivotal connection 45 of the left link element is slightly larger than in the second embodiment.
  • the wheelchair of the third embodiment is equally easy to fold as the one of the first and the second embodiment.
  • the cross-strut may only locally be enlarged, for example by flattening of the tube, thereby creating a protuberance. It is also possible, for example, that a combination of S-shaped cross-struts further comprising a protuberance is provided in a single foldable wheelchair.
  • plane a is the plane defined by the central pivot axis 30 and the axis 63 being the axis of the left seat tube 1 1 , instead of the pivot axis 9.1 of the left cross-strut 9 and the central pivot axis 30.
  • This alternative embodiment does not change anything with respect to the wheelchair shown in Figs. 5-8, because in this wheelchair, the plane a according to the original embodiment as shown in the figures and according to the present alternative embodiment is the same. More particularly, in Figure 7, plane a crosses all points 9.1 , 30 and 63.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Handcart (AREA)
  • Carriages For Children, Sleds, And Other Hand-Operated Vehicles (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un fauteuil roulant pliable et de préférence non motorisé, présentant un ensemble d’encadrement à châssis en forme de X qui se plie ou se referme en ciseaux pour permettre aux cadres latéraux du fauteuil de se déplacer entre une position déployée espacée pour son utilisation et une position repliée pour son rangement ou son transport. L’invention élimine la nécessité de plier en biais ou d’incliner les cadres latéraux lors du pliage, grâce à la géométrie de l’articulation fournie par un élément de liaison qui relie en pivotement les cadres latéraux à des croisillons de l’ensemble d’encadrement à châssis.
EP09807988A 2008-08-22 2009-08-21 Fauteuil roulant pliable Active EP2328536B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP09807988A EP2328536B1 (fr) 2008-08-22 2009-08-21 Fauteuil roulant pliable

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP08105107A EP2156814A1 (fr) 2008-08-22 2008-08-22 Fauteuil roulant pliable
PCT/IB2009/053696 WO2010020967A1 (fr) 2008-08-22 2009-08-21 Fauteuil roulant pliable
EP09807988A EP2328536B1 (fr) 2008-08-22 2009-08-21 Fauteuil roulant pliable

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2328536A1 true EP2328536A1 (fr) 2011-06-08
EP2328536B1 EP2328536B1 (fr) 2012-07-18

Family

ID=40428332

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP08105107A Withdrawn EP2156814A1 (fr) 2008-08-22 2008-08-22 Fauteuil roulant pliable
EP09807988A Active EP2328536B1 (fr) 2008-08-22 2009-08-21 Fauteuil roulant pliable

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP08105107A Withdrawn EP2156814A1 (fr) 2008-08-22 2008-08-22 Fauteuil roulant pliable

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (2) EP2156814A1 (fr)
ES (1) ES2391674T3 (fr)
PT (1) PT2328536E (fr)
WO (1) WO2010020967A1 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR3115981A1 (fr) 2020-11-10 2022-05-13 Gilles DESCAMPS Fauteuil roulant, présentant des jambes support de roues, articulées sur une platine support d’assise en vue d’être regroupées en position de pliage
US11559459B2 (en) 2021-02-16 2023-01-24 Drive Devilbiss Healthcare Rollator
USD976763S1 (en) 2021-02-10 2023-01-31 Drive Devilbiss Healthcare Rollator

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP6713168B2 (ja) * 2016-08-09 2020-06-24 株式会社スワニー 車椅子
AU2022387142A1 (en) * 2021-11-12 2024-06-20 Kylix Pty Ltd Wheelchair frame assembly

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US2165529A (en) * 1938-06-03 1939-07-11 John A Barie Foldable chair
US4351540A (en) 1980-11-13 1982-09-28 Quadra Wheelchairs, Inc. Wheelchair construction
US4989890A (en) 1986-09-30 1991-02-05 Invacare Corporation Length and width adjustable wheelchair
DE19742267C2 (de) 1997-09-25 1999-10-21 Bock Orthopaed Ind Kreuzstrebe für einen Faltrollstuhl
CH689177A5 (de) 1997-12-23 1998-11-30 Kueschall Design Ag Rollstuhl mit geschlossenem dreidimensionalem Rahmen.
DE20112335U1 (de) 2001-07-26 2002-11-28 Otto Bock Healthcare Gmbh Kreuzstrebe für einen Faltrollstuhl
US7384058B2 (en) 2005-01-05 2008-06-10 Ki Mobility Llc Foldable wheelchair with extensible link assembly and method
WO2007007811A1 (fr) 2005-07-13 2007-01-18 Swany Corporation Fauteuil roulant pliable

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See references of WO2010020967A1 *

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR3115981A1 (fr) 2020-11-10 2022-05-13 Gilles DESCAMPS Fauteuil roulant, présentant des jambes support de roues, articulées sur une platine support d’assise en vue d’être regroupées en position de pliage
WO2022101111A1 (fr) 2020-11-10 2022-05-19 Costiou Annabelle Fauteuil roulant, présentant des jambes support de roues, articulees sur une platine support d'assise en vue d'etre regroupees en position de pliage
USD976763S1 (en) 2021-02-10 2023-01-31 Drive Devilbiss Healthcare Rollator
US11559459B2 (en) 2021-02-16 2023-01-24 Drive Devilbiss Healthcare Rollator
US11766378B2 (en) 2021-02-16 2023-09-26 Drive Devilbiss Healthcare Rollator
USD1077691S1 (en) 2021-02-16 2025-06-03 Medical Depot, Inc. Backrest of a rollator

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2328536B1 (fr) 2012-07-18
WO2010020967A1 (fr) 2010-02-25
PT2328536E (pt) 2012-09-20
EP2156814A1 (fr) 2010-02-24
ES2391674T3 (es) 2012-11-28

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