# US 10,945,901 B2 · Means for connecting a wheelchair backrest > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,945,901 B2 - Document ID: US10945901B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/301,391 - Filed: 2017-05-15 - Published: 2020-10-22 - Granted: 2021-03-16 - Earliest claimed: 2016-05-16 - Assignees: Rolapal Limited - Applicants: Rolapal Limited - Inventors: Roydon Mark Scarlett - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10945901B2 ## CPC - A61G 5/1067: {adjusting the backrest relative to the seat portion} - A61G 5/1048: {for the back-rest} - A61G 5/12: Rests specially adapted therefor, e.g. for the head or the feet - A61G 5/122: {for the back} - A61G 2203/78: for clamping - A61G 2210/10: for orthopedics - 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 The invention relates to means for releasably connecting a wheelchair backrest to a wheelchair frame. This is desirable to facilitate collapse of the wheelchair for transport or storage. In the preferred embodiment there is a wheelchair having a support frame, a backrest (16) and connector comprising a saddle (1) and a clamp (17). The saddle has a slot (3) with top and front openings and a locking lever (7). Two pins (12) are received in the slot so they extend through the front opening, and the lever (7) is able to move to divide the slot into top and bottom zones so that a lower one of the pins is prevented from being withdrawn from the slot via the top opening by the lever. The lever can then be moved to unblock the lower pin and allow the slot (3) and the pins (12) to be dissociated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wheelchair having: a support frame; a backrest; and a connector having: a slot comprising a top opening and a front opening; and a locking lever; the connector providing or facilitating a releasable connection between the support frame and backrest, wherein at least a pair of pins are received in the slot so they extend through the front opening and the lever is able to move to divide the slot into top and bottom portions so that a lower one of the pins is prevented from being withdrawn from the slot via the top opening by the lever, and wherein the lever can be moved to unblock the lower pin and allow the slot and the pins to be dissociated. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein the backrest is rigid. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A wheelchair according to claim 1, Wherein the position of at least an upper one of the pins is position adjustable to enable backrest incline to be changed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a saddle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a saddle, a clamp and a bracket, the clamp joining the saddle to the wheelchair's support frame and the bracket joining the saddle to the backrest. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein the lever is pivotable inwards and outwards with respect to the slot. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein a saddle has an opening in a sidewall thereof and a portion of the lever is able to pivot into and out of the slot via the opening. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein the pins have mushroom heads that prevent them from being pulled out of the slot through its front opening. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein a bracket is generally L-shaped and incorporates the pins. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A wheelchair according to claim 9, wherein the bracket has elongate slots and the pins are position adjustable by way of the slots. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein the lever has a pair of notches at positions corresponding to locked and unlocked positions, and a saddle is formed so that at each position a spring loaded ball bearing locates in a respective one of the notches to restrain the lever. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein a leading portion of the lever butts against a ledge of a saddle when in the/a locked position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A connector formed for use in a wheelchair according to claim 1, the top opening of the slot having a length greater than the width of the front opening, a pivoting lever which is able to swing inwards to a locking position to divide the slot and then outwards to reverse the division, in each case via an opening in a sidewall of the connector, the connector having a ledge against which a leading portion of the lever butts when in the locking position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A connector according to claim 13, wherein the lever has a pair of spaced notches and a spring biased ball bearing arranged such that when the lever is moved to locking and unlocking positions the ball bearing locates in one or other of the notches to retain the lever.