Pump-action wheelchair and conversion kit

A pump-action wheelchair comprising:

• a frame having a seat arranged between two driving wheels;
• one pumping arm connected to the frame and configured to pivot rearward and forward around a pivot point to provide a pumping action to drive both the driving wheels of the wheelchair;
• a first driving mechanism configured to drive a first one of the two driving wheels in response to the pumping action of the pumping arm;
• a second driving mechanism configured to drive a second one of the two driving wheels in response to the pumping action of the pumping arm;
• and
• a steering mechanism rotatably connected to the pumping arm and configured to provide differential forces to the first and second driving mechanisms such that driving forces applied by the first and second driving mechanisms to the driving wheels are controlled based on an amount of rotation of the steering mechanism.

A conversion kit for converting a conventional wheelchair into a pump-action wheelchair, said conversion kit comprising:

• an attachment mechanism configured to secure the conversion kit to the conventional wheelchair at one or more points along a frame of the conventional wheelchair;
• a single pumping arm configured to permit an operator to drive the wheelchair using a pumping action;
• driving axles configured to secure to driving wheels of the wheelchair and further configured to drive the driving wheels secured to the driving axles in response to the pumping action of the single pumping arm;
• and
• a steering mechanism configured to be rotatably connected to the single pumping arm and to provide differential forces to the driving axles in response to rotation of the steering mechanism.