Wheelchair handgrip apparatuses

An apparatus for facilitating user propulsion of a wheelchair having a frame for supporting a user and a pair of rear wheels that rotate about an axis, the apparatus comprising:

• a handgrip having an outer surface and an opposite, inner surface, wherein when the user applies a radial force relative to the axis to the outer surface the inner surface is configured to engage a rear wheel in the pair of rear wheels such that the user can rotate the rear wheel and propel the wheelchair;
• and
• a pair of coupling members configured to couple the handgrip to the wheelchair and hold the handgrip in a neutral position, wherein the pair of coupling members are further configured to alternately increase in length and become tensioned as the user moves the handgrip away from the neutral position to rotate the rear wheel, and wherein the coupling member that is tensioned moves the handgrip back to the neutral position when the user releases the handgrip;
• wherein each coupling member in pair of coupling members has a first end that is retained by the handgrip and an opposite, second end that configured to couple to the wheelchair;
• wherein the handgrip defines a pair of holes through which the second ends of the coupling members pass such that the second ends couple to the wheelchair;
• and
• wherein the first ends of the coupling members have a first width, and wherein each hole in the pair of holes has a hole width that is less than the first width such that the first ends of the coupling members are retained by the handgrip.

An apparatus for facilitating user propulsion a wheelchair having a frame for supporting a user and a pair of rear wheels that rotate about an axis, the apparatus comprising:

• a handgrip having:
• a first end and an opposite, second end;
• a first side and an opposite, second side;
• an outer surface and an opposite, inner surface with a plurality of projections extending therefrom, the plurality of projections are equally spaced apart from each other and extend transverse to the first side and the second side, wherein each projection in the plurality of projections is elongated and has a half-cylindrical shape, and wherein when the user applies a force to the outer surface the plurality of projections are configured to engage with a rear wheel in the pair of rear wheels such that the user can rotate the rear wheel and propel the wheelchair;
• a first raised section positioned at the first end of the handgrip and defining a first cavity and a second raised section raised section positioned at the second end of the handgrip and defining a second cavity;
• a cutout defined between the first raised section and the second raised section and configured to receive a hand of the user;
• a first hole defined in the first raised section and in communication with the first cavity, the first hole having a hole width;
• and
• a second hole defined in second raised section and in communication with the second cavity, the second hole having a hole width;
• and
• a first coupling member and a second coupling member configured to couple the handgrip to the wheelchair and hold the handgrip in a neutral position, the first coupling member and the second coupling member each having a first end and an opposite, second end;
• wherein the first coupling member and a second coupling member are configured to alternately increase in length and become tensioned as the user moves the handgrip away from the neutral position and rotates the rear wheel, and wherein the coupling member that is tensioned moves the handgrip back to the neutral position when the user releases the handgrip;
• wherein the second end of the first coupling member is configured to pass through the first hole to thereby couple the handgrip to the wheelchair, and wherein the first end of the first coupling member is retained by the handgrip in the first cavity such that the first end of the first coupling member is spaced apart from the rear wheel;
• and
• wherein the second end of the second coupling member is configured to pass through the second hole to thereby couple the handgrip to the wheelchair, and wherein the first end of the second coupling member is retained by the handgrip in the second cavity such that the first end of the second coupling member is spaced apart from the rear wheel.

An apparatus for facilitating user propulsion of a wheelchair having a frame for supporting a user and a pair of rear wheels that rotate about an axis, the apparatus comprising:

• a handgrip having an outer surface, an opposite inner surface, a first end with a first raised section extending away from the outer surface, and an opposite second end with a second raised section extending away from the outer surface, the handgrip extends between the first end and the second end and a cutout extends between the first raised section and the second raised section, wherein the handgrip has a first hole with a first hole width and a second hole with a second hole width, and wherein as the user engages the outer surface and moves the handgrip, the inner surface is configured to engage a rear wheel in the pair of rear wheels such that the handgrip rotates the rear wheel to thereby propel the wheelchair;
• and
• a first coupling member and a second coupling member configured to couple the handgrip to the wheelchair;
• wherein the first coupling member has a first end with a first end width that is greater than the first hole width such that as the first coupling member extends through the first hole, the first end of the first coupling member contacts the handgrip and the handgrip blocks passage of the first end of the first coupling member through the first hole;
• and
• wherein the second coupling member has a first end with a first end width that is greater than the second hole width such that as the second coupling member extends through the second hole, the first end of the second coupling member contacts the handgrip and the handgrip blocks passage of the first end of the second coupling member through the second hole.