Wheeled apparatus for use as walker and wheelchair

Wheeled apparatus (10) which comprises a frame (12 or 258) having a longitudinal axis (20), first (16A) and second (16B) transversely spaced-apart wheels being operatively attached to said frame, a third wheel (24A) being longitudinally spaced from said first and second wheels and being operatively attached to said frame, and a seat cushion (97) and a seat back (106, 126, 148, 164) being operatively attached to said frame, the improvement which is characterized by:

• means, comprising a push handle (90A or 90B), for using said apparatus as either a wheelchair or a wheeled walker;
• bi-directional seating means (101, 124, 146, or 162) for selectively positioning said seat back toward said push handle when said apparatus is used as a wheelchair, and away from said push handle when said wheeled apparatus is used as a wheeled walker;
• said operative attachment of said seat back (106 or 148) to said frame (12 or 258) comprising a seat-attaching bracket (110 or 166) having a lower end (114 or 174) operatively attached to said frame, and having an upper end (111 or 170) operatively attached to said seat back;
• and
• said means for selectively positioning said seat back toward and away from said push handle (90A or 90B) comprises means for rotationally positioning said seat back around said operative attachment of said upper end of said seat-attaching bracket to said seat back.

Wheeled apparatus (10) which comprises a foldable frame (12 or 258), a seat cushion (97) being operatively attached to said frame, first (16A) and second (16B) transversely spaced-apart wheels being operatively attached to said frame, said frame having an open position (47) wherein said first and second wheels are spaced a maximum distance (62) apart, and having a folded position (121) wherein said first and second wheels are moved toward each other, the improvement which is characterized by:

• bi-directional seating means (101, 124, 146, or 162), comprising said seat cushion, for sitting on said seat cushion facing either toward a front (76) or toward a rear (86) of said wheeled apparatus;
• a seat back (106, 126, 148, or 164) being operatively attached to said frame;
• and
• means for selectively positioning said seat back for sitting while facing either toward said front or toward said rear of said wheeled apparatus.

Wheeled apparatus (10) which comprises a foldable frame (12 or 258) and first (16A) and second (16B) transversely spaced-apart wheels being operatively attached to said frame, said frame having an open position (47) wherein said first and second wheels are spaced a maximum distance (62) apart, and having a folded position (121) wherein said first and second wheels are moved toward each other, the improvement which is characterized by:

• said operative attachment of said first (16A) and second (16B) wheels to said foldable frame (12 or 258) comprising first (22A) and second (22B) axles that are operatively attached to said frame, and said first and second wheels being rotatably assembled to respective ones of said axles;
• means, comprising said axles being disposed at an angle (70) to each other when said frame is in said open position (47), for cambering said wheels at a negative camber angle (60);
• and
• means for reducing said negative camber angle by at least 50 percent when said foldable frame is in said folded position (121).

Wheeled apparatus (10) which comprises a frame (12 or 258) having a longitudinal axis (20), first (16A) and second (16B) transversely spaced-apart wheels being operatively attached to said frame, a third wheel (24A) being longitudinally spaced from said first and second wheels and being operatively attached to said frame, and a seat cushion (97) and a seat back (106, 126, 148, 164) being operatively attached to said frame, the improvement which is characterized by:

• means, comprising a push handle (90A or 90B), for using said apparatus as either a wheelchair or a wheeled walker;
• bi-directional seating means (101, 124, 146, or 162) for selectively positioning said seat back toward said push handle when said apparatus is used as a wheelchair, and away from said push handle when said wheeled apparatus is used as a wheeled walker;
• said seat back (106) includes first (108A) and second (108B) surfaces;
• said means for selectively positioning said seat back toward and away from said push handle (90A or 90B) comprises means for selectively using different ones of said surfaces as a backrest;
• and
• said bi-directional seating means (101) further comprises means for folding said seat back down toward said seat cushion (97).

A seat assembly (275) which comprises a seat frame (28), a seat cushion (97) having a front (98) and a back (99) and being operatively attached to said seat frame, and a seat back (106, 126, or 148) being operatively attached to said seat frame, the improvement which is characterized by:

• said operative attachment of said seat back to said seat frame comprising a link (109A) with an upper end (111) that is pivotally (113A) attached to said seat back and with a lower end (114) that is pivotally (104A) attached to said seat frame;
• means, comprising both of said pivotal attachments, for selectively positioning said seat back proximal to either said front or said back of said seat cushion;
• means, comprising one (113A) of said pivotal attachments, for permitting said seat back to be folded down toward said seat cushion;
• and
• means for preventing said seat back from pivoting backwardly while permitting said folding of said seat back down toward said seat cushion.