# US 4,397,607 A · Method of carrying a wheelchair

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- Number: US 4,397,607 A
- Document ID: US4397607A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/341,732
- Filed: 1982-01-22
- Granted: 1983-08-09
- Earliest claimed: 1982-01-22
- Inventors: Authur H. Neill, Jr.; John A. Hinch
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4397607A

## CPC

- A61G 3/0209: {with storage means for unused wheelchair or stretcher}
- B60R 9/06: at vehicle front or rear {(rear luggage compartments within vehicle extensible externally of the vehicle body B60R5/041)}
- Y10S 414/134: Handicapped person handling
- 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)
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

A method of carrying a wheelchair externally of a vehicle without first folding the wheelchair. The wheelchair is placed so that its rear wheels rest against the rear of the vehicle; it is then lifted by a bumper-attached carrier, and the rear wheels roll up the rear bumper of the vehicle.

## Claims

### Claim 1

The method of carrying a wheelchair on a vehicle, the vehicle having affixed to its rear bumper a carrier of the type comprising two vertical upright members and a horizontal cross-member and having a lifting device on its horizontal member, which comprises:
a. affixing one end of a cable to said lifting device;
b. positioning said wheelchair with its back facing the rear of said vehicle and its rear wheels touching said rear bumper;
c. affixing the other end of said cable to said wheelchair; and
d. raising said wheelchair off the ground by means of said lifting device, said rear wheels of said wheelchair rolling up the rear bumper of said vehicle.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further including fastening said wheelchair to said vehicle after it has been raised by a second means to prevent swinging.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2 wherein said lifting device is a winch.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3 wherein said winch is on the front side of said horizontal cross-member.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4 wherein said winch is electrically operated.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5 wherein said winch is operated by the vehicle's electrical system.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5 wherein said wheelchair is electrically operated.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7 wherein said winch is operated by the wheelchair's electrical system.