Mobile Manual Standing Wheelchair
AssigneeThe United States Government as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs
InventorsGary D. Goldish, Andrew Hansen, Eric A. Nickel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a novel approach to improving the use of wheelchairs by offering the ability for the wheelchair to transition between accommodation for a seated position, and accommodation for a standing position, more particularly, wherein the inventive mobile manual standing wheelchair allows for a standing position during the course of mobile use, and which also permits the user to traverse narrow entrances and doorframes, and also allows the user to have improved access in front for elevated surfaces such as countertops and the like.
Claims11
A standing wheelchair comprising:
- a chassis having a front portion, a rear portion, a center portion, a left portion, a right portion, a top portion, and a bottom portion;
- at least two ground drive wheels, one of said two ground drive wheels being rotatably affixed to said left portion of said chassis, and one of said two ground drive wheels being rotatably affixed to said right portion of said chassis;
- a rotating structure, comprising a left rotating structure and a right rotating structure, wherein each of said left rotating structure and said right rotating structure is attached, respectively, to said left portion and said right portion of said chassis;
- an adjustment actuator for raising and lowering at least a portion of said chassis between a seated position and a standing position and any intermediate positions therebetween;
- at least two user propulsion wheels, each laterally outset relative to said chassis and affixed proximate to said rotating structure, one of said at least two user propulsion wheels being rotatably affixed to said left rotating structure, and one of said at least two user propulsion wheels being rotatably affixed to said right rotating structure;
- linkage system connecting one of said at least two user propulsion wheels with one of said two ground drive wheels at said left portion of said chassis, and a linkage system connecting one of said at least two user propulsion wheels with one of said two ground drive wheels at said right portion of said chassis;
- directional support wheels movably affixed at said front portion of said chassis, wherein said directional support wheels include a caster structure for affixment of said directional support wheels to a foot rest affixed to said front portion of said chassis, and a frontal extension for retraction of said foot rest and said directional support wheels off the ground during seated operation, and for descent during standing operation;
- a set of stabilizing rear wheels situated structurally opposite said directional support wheels;
- and
- wherein each said at least two ground drive wheels is rotatably affixed, respectively at said left portion and said right portion, to said center portion of said chassis, between said directional support wheels and said stabilizing rear wheels, as a means for maintaining a stable center of gravity of said wheelchair at said center portion of said chassis and for focusing a locus of force at each said ground drive wheels at said center portion of said chassis during both seated operation and standing operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.