Wheelchair brake apparatus and wheelchair including same

An automatically engageable and releasable brake apparatus adaptable to be attached to a wheelchair, said brake apparatus comprising:

• a first connection mechanism adapted to be attached directly to a portion of the frame of the wheelchair proximate a rear wheel of the wheelchair;
• a first seat actuation member extending from a portion of said first connection mechanism and adapted to be positioned substantially beneath the seat of the wheelchair;
• a first shaft member extending in a longitudinal direction from a first end thereof to an opposed second end thereof, and positioned to extend substantially downwardly in said longitudinal direction from a portion of said first connection mechanism proximate said first end of said first shaft member;
• a first friction member positioned proximate said second end of said first shaft member and adapted to contact a ground surface on which the wheelchair is sitting;
• a second connection mechanism adapted to be attached directly to a portion of the frame of the wheelchair proximate the other rear wheel of the wheelchair;
• a second seat actuation member extending from a portion of said second connection mechanism and adapted to be positioned substantially beneath the seat of the wheelchair;
• a second shaft member extending in a longitudinal direction from a first end thereof to an opposed second end thereof, and positioned to extend substantially downwardly in said longitudinal direction from a portion of said second connection mechanism proximate said first end of said second shaft member;
• and
• a second friction member positioned proximate said second end of said second shaft member and adapted to contact a ground surface on which the wheelchair is sitting;
• wherein occupational ingress activates said first seat actuation member to move from a first position to a second position, which in turn causes said first shaft member to move such that said first friction member substantially contemporaneously moves from a first position in substantial contact with the surface on which the wheelchair is located to a second position spaced a distance above the surface on which the wheelchair is located, and further activates said second seat actuation member to move in relative concert with said first seat actuation member from a first position to a second position, which in turn causes said second shaft member to move such that said second friction member substantially contemporaneously moves in relative concert with said first friction member from a first position in substantial contact with the surface on which the wheelchair is located to a second position spaced a distance above the surface on which the wheelchair is located.

An automatically engageable and releasable brake apparatus adaptable to be attached to a wheelchair, said brake apparatus comprising:

• a first connection mechanism adapted to be attached directly to a portion of the frame of the wheelchair proximate a rear wheel of the wheelchair;
• a second connection mechanism adapted to be attached directly to a portion of the frame of the wheelchair proximate the other rear wheel of the wheelchair;
• a seat actuation member having a first portion extending from a first portion of said first connection mechanism, a second portion extending from a second portion of said second connection mechanism, a third portion substantially connecting said first and said second portions of said seat actuation member, said seat actuation member being adapted to be positioned substantially beneath the seat of the wheelchair;
• a first shaft member extending in a longitudinal direction from a first end thereof to an opposed second end thereof, and positioned to extend substantially downwardly in said longitudinal direction from a second portion of said first connection mechanism proximate said first end of said first shaft member;
• a first friction member positioned proximate said second end of said first shaft member and adapted to contact a ground surface on which the wheelchair is sitting;
• a second shaft member extending in a longitudinal direction from a first end thereof to an opposed second end thereof, and positioned to extend substantially downwardly in said longitudinal direction from a second portion of said second connection mechanism proximate said first end of said second shaft member;
• and
• a second friction member positioned proximate said second end of said second shaft member and adapted to contact a ground surface on which the wheelchair is sitting;
• wherein occupational ingress activates said seat actuation member to move from a first position to a second position, which in turn causes said first shaft member to move such that said first friction member substantially contemporaneously moves from a first position in substantial contact with the surface on which the wheelchair is located to a second position spaced a distance above the surface on which the wheelchair is located, and said seat activation member causes said second shaft member to move such that said second friction member substantially contemporaneously moves, from a first position in substantial contact with the surface on which the wheelchair is located to a second position spaced a distance above the surface on which the wheelchair is located in relative concert with said first friction member.

A wheelchair comprising:

• a frame configuration;
• a seat member incorporated into and substantially supported by said frame configuration;
• a wheel assembly having a plurality of first wheels rotatably connected proximate a front end of said frame configuration, and a plurality of second wheels rotatably connected proximate a rear portion of said frame configuration;
• and
• a brake apparatus comprising a connection mechanism attached directly to a portion of said frame of said wheelchair proximate at least one of said second wheels of said wheelchair, a seat actuation member extending from a portion of said connection mechanism and positioned substantially beneath said seat member of said wheelchair, a shaft member extending from a portion of said connection mechanism proximate a first end thereof in a longitudinal direction toward an opposing second end thereof, and a friction member positioned proximate said second end of said shaft member and adapted to substantially contact a ground surface on which said wheelchair is sitting;
• wherein occupational ingress activates said seat actuation member to move from a first position to a second position, which in turn causes said shaft member to move such that said friction member moves from a first position in substantial contact with the surface on which said wheelchair is located to a second position spaced a distance above the surface on which said wheelchair is located, and occupational egress activates said seat actuation member to move from said second position to said first position, which in turn causes said shaft member to move such that said friction member moves from said second position spaced a distance above the surface on which said wheelchair is located to said first position in substantial contact with the surface on which said wheelchair is located.