Extendable leg rest assembly for a wheelchair

An extendable elevating leg rest assembly for a wheelchair having a frame, comprising:

• mounting means for mounting said leg rest assembly to the frame;
• an elongated shaft member pivotally coupled at a first shaft end to said mounting means for pivotal movement between a lowered position and a raised position;
• ratchet means coupled between and in axial alignment with both a distal end of said mounting means and a distal end of said first shaft end for releasably retaining said shaft member at any one of a plurality of positions along said pivotal movement;
• an elongated extension member having a first extension end and an opposite second extension end, said first extension end telescopically coupled to said shaft member for reciprocating movement relative thereto;
• guide means disposed between said shaft member and said extension member for guiding said reciprocating movement;
• a footrest device carried by said second extension end of said extension member;
• link means pivotally coupled to both said mounting means and said extension member at locations producing extension of said extension member outward and away from said mounting means in response to said pivotal movement to said raised position;
• a lever extending outward from said ratchet means to a position away from said elongated shaft member and said link means for manual operable engagement of said ratchet means;
• and
• cover means extending substantially over and shielding access to said ratchet mechanism, the pivotal coupling of said shaft member to said mounting means, and at least a portion of said link means.