Brake system for a wheelchair

A brake system on a wheelchair, the system comprising in combination a base member fixed to a frame of an associated wheelchair, a swing lever pivotally mounted to the base member for movement into and out of engagement with the wheel of an associated wheelchair, a toggle linkage for operating the swing lever between said positions thereof, the toggle linkage including a first link pivotally mounted to the base member, a second link pivotally connected to the swing lever, pivot means pivotally interconnecting said first and second links for movement between a retracted inoperative position and an extended braking position, said links including cam surfaces respectively located on opposite sides of said pivot means, an operating lever pivotally mounted by said pivot means for movement about said pivot means in opposite directions on said pivot means, said operating lever having cam surfaces engageable with said cam surfaces of said first and second links respectively upon pivotal movement of said operating lever in either of two opposite directions about said pivot means to move said first and second links to said extended position, and means biasing said first and second links towards said retracted position.