A Locking Hinge
AssigneeRolapal Limited
InventorRoydon Scarlett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Wheelchairs have lateral pads for supporting the sides of the human user's torso. The pads can be swung out of the way to enable the user easy access, and then swung back closer to the body and locked in place. The locking hinge is a lateral support forming part of a seat, comprising a hinge plate, a hinge pin, a swivel plate, a swivel pin and a release lever. They are arranged such that the swivel plate is adapted to rotate about the hinge pin with respect to the hinge plate. The release lever is adapted to rotate about the swivel pin with respect to the swivel plate such that an interference surface of the release lever takes up a locking position immediately next to an interference surface of the hinge pin. In the locking position the two interference surfaces present a rotation impasse to one another.
Claims11
A wheelchair comprising a lateral support adapted to provide postural support to the torso of a person when seated in the wheelchair, the lateral support comprising a hinge plate, a hinge pin, a swivel plate, a swivel pin and a release lever, arranged such that:
- the swivel plate is adapted to rotate about the hinge pin with respect to the hinge plate;
- the release lever is adapted to rotate about the swivel pin with respect to the swivel plate such that:
- an interference surface of the release lever takes up a locking position immediately next to an interference surface of the hinge pin;
- wherein
- in the locking position the two interference surfaces present a rotational impasse with respect to one another;
- wherein
- a first side of the release lever is adapted to be pressed by hand, so as to rotate the lever out of the locking position;
- and wherein
- a second side of the release lever, being opposite said first side, can be pulled by hand to rotate the lever out of the locking position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.