# US 10,307,314 B2 · Modular wheelchair system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,307,314 B2 - Document ID: US10307314B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/700,818 - Filed: 2017-09-11 - Published: 2017-12-28 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2015-10-06 - Applicants: Erich C. Griffith; Jason L. Ward - Inventors: Erich C. Griffith; Jason L. Ward - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307314B2 ## CPC - A61G 5/006: {convertible to stretchers or beds} - A61G 1/06: Supports for stretchers, e.g. to be placed in or on vehicles {(A61G1/0293 takes precedence; supports fixed to a vehicle A61G3/02 - A61G3/08)} - A61G 5/0866: {folding down backrest, e.g. where the backrest folds down onto the seat support} - A61G 5/0875: {dismountable, e.g. where the wheelchair can be disassembled for transportation or storage} - A61G 5/0883: {having locking means for maintaining a folded or unfolded condition} - A61G 5/1067: {adjusting the backrest relative to the seat portion} - A61G 5/128: {for feet} - A61G 5/125: {for arms} - A61G 5/127: {for lower legs} - A61G 2203/80: for connecting a trolley to a device, e.g. bed or column table - A61G: TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS (appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00); OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES (embalming corpses A01N1/00) ## Abstract A convertible transport system including a seat portion, a back support portion, and a pivoting mechanism coupled to the seat portion and to the back support portion. The pivoting mechanism is configured to adjust and lock the back support portion relative to the seat portion, the pivoting mechanism having three operative states: a free pivoting state allowing the back support portion to pivot relative to the seat portion about an axis; a ratcheting state allowing the back support portion to only pivot toward the seat portion about the axis; and a locking state in which the pivoting mechanism is locked to thereby prevent a pivoting movement of the back support portion relative to the seat portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A convertible transport system, comprising: a seat portion; a back support portion; a pivoting mechanism coupled to the seat portion and to the back support portion, the pivoting mechanism being configured to adjust and lock the back support portion relative to the seat portion, the pivoting mechanism having three operative states: a free pivoting state allowing the back support portion to pivot relative to the seat portion about an axis; a ratcheting state allowing the back support portion to only pivot toward the seat portion about the axis; and a locking state in which the pivoting mechanism is locked to thereby prevent a pivoting movement of the back support portion relative to the seat portion; and a foot support portion; and a connecting member coupled to the foot support portion and to the seat portion, the connecting member being pivotally coupled to the foot support portion, the connecting member being pivotally coupled to the seat portion, the connecting member including a mechanism that couples an angular movement of the foot portion relative to the connecting member to an angular movement of the connecting member relative to the seat portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The convertible transport system of claim 1, further comprising a wheeled portion couplable to the seat portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The convertible transport system of claim 2, further comprising a support couplable to the seat portion and not to the wheeled portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The convertible transport system of claim 1, wherein the mechanism of the connecting member causes a clockwise movement of the connecting member relative to the seat portion to result in a counter-clockwise movement of the foot support portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The convertible transport system of claim 1, further comprising a control device controllingly coupled to the pivoting mechanism, the control device being movable by an operator to select the operative state of the pivoting mechanism. ### Claim 6 A convertible transport system, comprising: a seat portion; a back support portion; and a pivoting mechanism coupled to the seat portion and to the back support portion, the pivoting mechanism being configured to adjust and lock the back support portion relative to the seat portion, the pivoting mechanism having three operative states: a free pivoting state allowing the back support portion to pivot relative to the seat portion about an axis; a ratcheting state allowing the back support portion to only pivot toward the seat portion about the axis; a locking state in which the pivoting mechanism is locked to thereby prevent a pivoting movement of the back support portion relative to the seat portion; and a control device controllingly coupled to the pivoting mechanism, the control device being movable by an operator to select the operative state of the pivoting mechanism, the control device being connected to the back support portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The convertible transport system of claim 6, wherein the control device is connected at an end of the back support portion opposite of the pivoting mechanism. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The convertible transport system of claim 7, wherein the control device is also a handle that is used to manipulate the convertible transport system. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The convertible transport system of claim 8, wherein the handle is twistable to select the operative state of the pivoting mechanism. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The convertible transport system of claim 1, wherein when the pivoting mechanism has transitioned to a locking state the ratcheting state remains engaged, but immobilized. ### Claim 11 A convertible wheelchair system, comprising: a seat portion; a wheeled portion decouplable from the seat portion; a back support portion; a pivoting mechanism coupled to the seat portion and to the back support portion, the pivoting mechanism being configured to adjust and lock the back support portion relative to the seat portion; a foot support portion; and a connecting member coupled to the foot support portion and to the seat portion, the connecting member being pivotally coupled to the foot support portion, the connecting member being pivotally coupled to the seat portion, the connecting member including a mechanism that couples an angular movement of the foot portion relative to the connecting member to an angular movement of the connecting member relative to the seat portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The convertible wheelchair system of claim 11, further comprising a support couplable to the seat portion and not to the wheeled portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The convertible wheelchair system of claim 11, wherein the mechanism of the connecting member causes a clockwise movement of the connecting member relative to the seat portion to result in a counter-clockwise movement of the foot support portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The convertible wheelchair system of claim 11, further comprising a control device controllingly coupled to the pivoting mechanism, the control device being movable by an operator to select an operative state of the pivoting mechanism. ### Claim 15 A convertible wheelchair system, comprising: a seat portion; a wheeled portion decouplable from the seat portion; a back support portion; a pivoting mechanism coupled to the seat portion and to the back support portion, the pivoting mechanism being configured to adjust and lock the back support portion relative to the seat portion, the pivoting mechanism having three operative states: a free pivoting state allowing the back support portion to pivot relative to the seat portion about an axis; a ratcheting state allowing the back support portion to only pivot toward the seat portion about the axis; and a locking state in which the pivoting mechanism is locked to thereby prevent a pivoting movement of the back support portion relative to the seat portion; and a control device controllingly coupled to the pivoting mechanism, the control device being movable by an operator to select the operative state of the pivoting mechanism, the control device being connected to the back support portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The convertible wheelchair system of claim 15, wherein the control device is connected at an end of the back support portion opposite of the pivoting mechanism. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The convertible wheelchair system of claim 16, wherein the control device is also a handle that is used to manipulate the convertible wheelchair system, the handle being twistable to select the operative state of the pivoting mechanism. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The convertible wheelchair system of claim 15, wherein when the pivoting mechanism transitions to a locking state the ratcheting state remains engaged, but immobilized.