# US 2013/0154231 A1 · Wheelchair and a method for producing said wheelchair > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0154231 A1 - Document ID: US20130154231A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/358,527 - Filed: 2012-01-26 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2009-07-27 - Assignees: Zriha Hlavin Industries Ltd. - Inventors: Yoav Gabriely; Ruth Reuveni - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130154231A1 ## CPC - A61G 5/08: foldable - A61G 5/00: Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs (devices enabling patients or disabled persons to operate an apparatus or device not forming part of the body A61F4/00; bicycles specially adapted for disabled riders B62K3/16) - A61G 5/02: propelled by the patient or disabled person - A61G 5/0808: {characterised by a particular folding direction} - A61G 5/0816: {folding side to side, e.g. reducing or expanding the overall width of the wheelchair} - A61G 5/0866: {folding down backrest, e.g. where the backrest folds down onto the seat support} - A61G 5/0883: {having locking means for maintaining a folded or unfolded condition} - A61G 5/0891: {having rigid supports, e.g. seat or back supports which retain their shape after folding of the wheelchair} - A61G 5/1002: {with toilet facilities (room closets, night chairs A47K11/04)} - A61G 5/128: {for feet} - 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 A collapsible wheelchair (CW) may be relatively small and lightweight and may be adapted to be easily collapsed/folded into a callable faint, allowing for easy storage, transport and use. The CW may be adapted to be collapsed/folded and expanded/unfolded in a series of simple steps, executable with one hand, by a person in a seated position, allowing for independent use even by a user with limited physical capabilities. The CW may have a relatively small width, allowing for access into constricted spaces. The rear and interior space between its large wheels may be unobstructed, leaving an unobstructed inner width, allowing the CW to be maneuvered in reverse over standing objects, such as a standard toilet. The seat of the CW may be equipped with a trap door, to allow the use of a toilet while seated on the CW. The rim may be beneath the seat for cleanliness. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wheelchair comprising: a chassis and a set of wheels arranged such that: (1) said wheelchair can be maneuvered backwards over a standard toilet by a user seated on said wheelchair; and (2) said wheelchair is no more than 50 cm wide at its widest point. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The wheelchair according to claim 1, further comprising a seat and a driving wheel, wherein said seat is substantially level with the top of said driving wheel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The wheelchair according to claim 2, wherein said wheelchair can be collapsed and expanded by a user seated next to said wheelchair. ### Claim 4 A wheelchair comprising: a chassis; and a pair of driving wheels, each of which is rotatably connected to a side of said chassis at a hub of said wheel such that each of said wheels is adapted to rotate about a common axis; and wherein each of said wheels is laterally supported by at least one contact point between a rim of said wheel and a portion of said chassis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The wheelchair according to claim 4, wherein a portion of said chassis is adjacent to the upper half portion of one of said wheels; and wherein said portion of said chassis has a contour corresponding to a contour of said rim of said given wheel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The wheelchair according to claim 5, wherein at least one spoke of each of said wheels is adapted to serve as a handle/grip for rotating each of said wheels such that the wheelchair is propelled. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The wheelchair according to claim 4, further comprising a leg rest and a handle, the handle connected to said leg rest and adapted to facilitate folding of said leg rest, and wherein said wheelchair is adapted to be collapsed and expanded by a user seated next to said wheelchair. ### Claim 8 A wheelchair comprising: a collapsible chassis; and an assembly forming a seat and backrest, said assembly being adapted to detachably connect with said chassis when said chassis is expanded. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The wheelchair according to claim 8, wherein said assembly is further adapted to fit within said chassis when said chassis is collapsed. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The wheelchair according to claim 8, wherein said assembly inhibits collapse of said chassis when connected to said chassis. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The wheelchair according to claim 10, wherein the weight of a user seated on said assembly inhibits folding of said assembly, when said assembly is connected to said chassis. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The wheelchair according to claim 8, wherein said assembly further comprises an opening on said seat. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The wheelchair according to claim 12, wherein said assembly includes a trapdoor covering said opening. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The wheelchair according to claim 13, wherein said wheelchair further comprises a mechanism for opening said trap door, which mechanism is reachable by a user seated on said seat. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The wheelchair according to claim 12, wherein said wheelchair is further adapted to be maneuvered backwards, by a user seated on said wheelchair, over a standard toilet until the standard toilet is directly beneath said opening. ### Claim 16 A wheelchair comprising: a chassis; a pair of driving wheels connected to the sides of said chassis such that, when a user is seated on a seat of said wheelchair: (1) the center of gravity of said wheelchair is located at a point between the hubs of said driving wheels or behind said point; and (2) the center of the minimal enclosing circle of said wheelchair is located substantially between said driving wheels. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The wheelchair according to claim 16, further comprising a seat located on top of said chassis; wherein the width of said wheelchair is no more than 10% greater than a distance between said seat and the ground; and wherein the length of said wheelchair is no more than 40% greater than said distance. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The wheelchair according to claim 16, wherein said chassis is adapted to collapse and wherein the contour of components of said chassis, adjacent to the upper half of said driving wheels, matches the contour of a rim of said driving wheels. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The wheelchair according to claim 16, wherein each driving wheel has a rim that has a tire that contacts a floor when the wheelchair moves along the floor and wherein the tire on the rim is positioned beneath the seat when the wheelchair moves along the floor. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The wheelchair according to claim 16, wherein at least one spoke of each of said wheels is adapted to serve as a handle/grip for rotating said given wheel such that the wheelchair is propelled.