Folding wheelchair frame

The foldable frame for a lightweight wheelchair comprising:

• (a) a pair of cross bracing members pivotally coupled together proximate mid-portions thereof for movement between a deployed position and a collapsed position, said cross bracing members each having an upper end and an opposed lower end;
• (b) a pair of laterally spaced side frame assemblies each having a horizontally extending first side frame member positioned for attachment of a seat assembly thereto and a vertically spaced and horizontally extending second side frame member;
• (c) said upper end of each of said cross bracing members being mounted by a pivot assembly to the first side frame members for vertical displacement of said upper end relative to said first side frame member and said lower end of each of said cross bracing members being pivotally mounted to the second side frame members;
• and
• (d) each said pivot assembly being further formed for interengagement with one of said cross bracing members to secure the cross bracing member in said deployed position with said pivot assembly supporting said cross bracing member in a stable condition for loading of said frame when said frame is deployed.

A foldable frame for a lightweight wheelchair comprising:

• (a) a pair of side frame assemblies each having a substantially horizontally oriented upper side frame member;
• (b) a seat directly mounted on and extending between said upper said frame members;
• and
• (c) a scissors-type cross bracing assembly mounted between said side frame assemblies for movement of said side frame assemblies between a deployed position and a collapsed position, said cross bracing assembly including a pair of cross bracing members pivotally coupled to each other intermediate opposite ends of said cross bracing members by cross bracing pivot means, and said cross bracing members being pivotally coupled proximate upper ends thereof by a frame pivot assembly to the upper side frame members and pivotally coupled proximate lower ends thereof to a remainder of said side frame assemblies, and at least one of said cross bracing members being formed for cooperative interengagement with one of:
• (i) said upper side frame members, and (ii) said frame pivot assembly to secure said cross bracing members in a weight-supporting condition in said deployed position with a longitudinal axis of said one of said cross bracing members intersecting a longitudinal axis of said upper side frame member, said frame pivot assembly being formed for displacement of the upper end of the cross bracing member relative to said upper side frame member.

A foldable frame for a lightweight wheelchair comprising:

• (a) a pair of side frame assemblies each having a substantially horizontally oriented upper side frame member extending for attachment of a seat assembly directly thereto;
• and
• (b) a scissors-type cross bracing assembly mounted between said side frame assemblies for movement of said side frame assemblies between a deployed position and a collapsed position, said cross bracing assembly including a pair of cross bracing members pivotally coupled to each other intermediate opposite ends of said cross bracing members by cross bracing pivot means, and said cross bracing members being pivotally coupled proximate upper ends thereof by a frame pivot assembly to the upper side frame members and each being pivotally coupled proximate lower ends thereof to a remainder of said side frame assemblies, and at least one of said cross bracing members being formed for cooperative interengagement with one of:
• (i) said upper side frame members, and (ii) said frame pivot assembly to secure said cross bracing members in a weight-supporting condition in said deployed position, side frame pivot assembly and at least one of said cross bracing members being formed to releasably couple a distal end of the cross bracing member and said frame pivot assembly together to secure and stabilize said frame in said deployed position.

A foldable frame for a lightweight wheelchair comprising:

• (a) a pair of side frame assemblies each having a substantially horizontally oriented upper side frame member extending for attachment of a seat assembly directly thereto;
• and
• (b) a scissors-type cross bracing assembly mounted between said side frame assemblies for movement of said side frame assemblies between a deployed position and a collapsed position, said cross bracing assembly including a pair of cross bracing members pivotally coupled to each other intermediate opposite ends of said cross bracing members by cross bracing pivot means, and said cross bracing members being pivotally coupled proximate upper ends thereof by a frame pivot assembly to the upper side frame members and each being pivotally coupled proximate lower ends thereof to a remainder of said side frame assemblies, and at least one of said cross bracing members being formed for cooperative interengagement with one of:
• (i) said upper side frame members and (ii) said frame pivot assembly to secure said cross bracing members in a weight-supporting condition in said deployed position, side frame pivot means interengaging with one of said cross bracing members including a link pivotally coupled to said one of said cross bracing members and pivotally coupled to one of said side frame assemblies, said link being formed to pivot into interengagement with a portion of said one of said cross bracing members in said deployed position.

A foldable frame for a lightweight wheelchair comprising:

• (a) a pair of side frame assemblies each having a substantially horizontally oriented upper side frame member extending for attachment of a seat assembly directly thereto;
• and
• (b) a scissors-type cross bracing assembly mounted between said side frame assemblies for movement of said side frame assemblies between a deployed position and a collapsed position, said cross bracing assembly including a pair of cross bracing members pivotally coupled to each other intermediate opposite ends of said cross bracing members by cross bracing pivot means, and said cross bracing members being pivotally coupled proximate upper ends thereof by a frame pivot assembly to the upper side frame members and each being pivotally coupled proximate lower ends thereof to a remainder of said side frame assemblies, and at least one of said cross bracing members being formed for cooperative interengagement with one of:
• (i) said upper side frame member and (ii) said frame pivot assembly to secure said cross bracing members in a weight-supporting condition in said deployed position, said frame pivot assembly including a link member having a slot opening to an upwardly facing side thereof, each of the link members being pivoted proximate one end to one of said side frame assemblies and being pivoted proximate an opposite end to one of said cross bracing members, said frame pivot assembly further including a pin carried by each of said cross bracing members proximate upper ends thereof and positioned and dimensioned for movement into said slot from a side of said link member to produce said interengagement.