Single-handedly operable wheelchair

A wheelchair having a frame, a right wheel and a left wheel, a right caster and a left caster, a seat, and a pair of right and left circular cross-sectional handrims concentrically disposed with an axle of each wheel, the wheelchair comprising:

• each of the handrims formed as separate bodies, and having a first portion located at an inner lower portion of the circular cross-section and a second portion occupying a portion other than the first portion of the circular cross-section;
• the first portion connected to the handrim spoke;
• the second portion connected to a base of each wheel;
• and
• a drive mechanism for transmitting a first rotational force generated by the first portion of the handrim on one side and/or another side to the wheel on the one side and the wheel on the other side, wherein
• a second rotational force generated by the second portion of the handrim on the one side and/or the other side is transmitted to the wheel on the corresponding side,
• the drive mechanism has the axle on the one side connected to the handrim spoke on the one side, the axle on the other side connected to the axle on the one side via a rotary shaft and connected to the handrim spoke on the other side, a first one-way clutch disposed on the axle on the one side, and a second one-way clutch disposed on the axle on the other side,
• the first one-way clutch is configured to transmit only the forward rotational force of the first rotational force to the wheel on the one side, and is configured to transmit only the backward rotational force of the second rotational force generated by the second portion of the handrim on the one side to the axle on the one side, and
• the second one-way clutch is configured to transmit only the forward rotational force of the first rotational force to the wheel on the other side and is configured to transmit only the backward rotational force of the second rotational force generated by the second portion of the handrim on the other side to the axle on the other side.

A wheelchair having a frame, a right wheel and a left wheel, a right caster and a left caster, a seat, and a pair of right and left circular cross-sectional handrims concentrically disposed with an axle of each wheel, the wheelchair comprising:

• the handrim on one side formed as separate bodies, and having a first portion located at an inner lower portion of the circular cross-section and a second portion occupying a portion other than the first portion of the circular cross-section;
• the first portion and the handrim on another side connected to the handrim spoke;
• the second portion connected to a base of the wheel on the one side;
• and
• a drive mechanism for transmitting a first rotational force generated by the first portion of the handrim on the one side and/or by the handrim on the other side to the wheel on the one side and the wheel on the other side, wherein
• a second rotational force generated by the second portion of the handrim on the one side is transmitted to the wheel on the one side,
• the drive mechanism has the axle on the one side connected to the handrim spoke on the one side, the axle on the other side connected to the axle on the one side via a rotary shaft and connected to the handrim spoke on the other side, a first one-way clutch disposed on the axle on the one side, and a second one-way clutch disposed on the axle on the other side,
• the first one-way clutch is configured to transmit only the forward rotational force of the first rotational force to the wheel on the one side, and is configured to transmit only the backward rotational force of the second rotational force generated by the second portion of the handrim on the one side to the axle on the one side, and
• the second one-way clutch is configured to transmit only the forward rotational force of the first rotational force to the wheel on the other side.