Rotatable swing arm stabilizer assembly for folding wheelchairs
AssigneeSpinergy Inc.
InventorsTod Douglas Boretto, Martin Connolly
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A swing arm assembly for a foldable wheelchair consisting of a camber tube and adapters is disclosed. The adapters mount to the frame of the wheelchair and receive the ends of the camber tube. One end of the camber tube is pinned into an adapter such that it pivots. The other end is pinned in an adapter using a quick release pin. The camber tube improves the stability of the foldable wheelchair. When desired to fold the wheelchair, the quick release pin is removed and the camber tube is rotated approximately 90 degrees, thereby allowing the wheelchair to fold. The adapters may be mounted to the wheelchair frame or to stub axles if used. The swing arm assembly adds substantial stiffness and stability to a folding wheelchair.
Claims19
A method of using a rotatable swing arm assembly for folding wheelchairs, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a foldable wheelchair having a first main wheel and a second main wheel;
- unfolding the foldable wheelchair from a closed configuration to an open configuration such that the first main wheel and the second main wheel define an axis of rotation when the wheelchair is in the open configuration;
- mounting a first end of a camber tube to the foldable wheelchair's frame such that the camber tube rotates with respect to the wheelchair's frame;
- rotating the camber tube from a first position, which is approximately perpendicular to the axis of rotation, to a second position, which is approximately parallel with the axis of rotation, such that the camber tube's second end aligns with a bracket mounted to the wheelchair;
- securing the camber tube's second end to the bracket;
- rolling the wheelchair backwards such that an attachment mechanism aligns with the camber tube;
- and
- engaging the attachment mechanism with the camber tube to secure the camber tube to the attachment mechanism.
A method of using a rotatable swing arm assembly for folding wheelchairs, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a foldable wheelchair having a first main wheel and a second main wheel;
- unfolding the foldable wheelchair from a closed configuration to an open configuration such that the first main wheel and the second main wheel define an axis of rotation when the wheelchair is in the open configuration;
- mounting a first end of a camber tube to the foldable wheelchair's frame such that the camber tube rotates with respect to the wheelchair's frame;
- rotating the camber tube from a first position, which is approximately perpendicular to the axis of rotation, to a second position, which is approximately parallel with the axis of rotation, such that the camber tube's second end aligns with a bracket mounted to the wheelchair;
- securing the camber tube's second end to the bracket;
- providing a motor unit having a clamshell bracket configured to clamp around the camber tube when the camber tube contacts the clamshell bracket;
- and
- backing up the foldable wheelchair until the camber tube contacts the clamshell bracket of the motor unit.
A method of using a rotatable swing arm assembly for folding wheelchairs, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a folding wheelchair comprising:
- a first main wheel comprising a first stub axle,
- a second main wheel comprising a second stub axle, and
- an axis of rotation defined by the first main wheel and the second main wheel;
- mounting a first wheelchair adapter to the first stub axle;
- mounting a second wheelchair adapter to the second stub axle;
- providing a camber tube comprising:
- a first end comprising a first camber tube adapter, and
- a second end comprising a second camber tube adapter;
- securing the first camber tube adapter to the first wheelchair adapter such that the camber tube rotates with respect to the wheelchair's frame;
- rotating the camber tube from a first position approximately perpendicular to the axis of rotation to a second position approximately coaxial with the axis of rotation;
- and
- securing the second camber tube adapter to the second wheelchair adapter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.