Cushion element for use in a wheelchair

A wheelchair seat cushion comprising:

• a cover;
• and
• a cushion element, the cushion element comprising:
• a body having a front edge, a pair of opposed side edges and a rear edge, and being sized and shaped for placement on a seat support of a wheelchair and inside said cover,
• said cushion element including at least one collapsible support means located toward said front edge of said element, said collapsible support means being characterized by having an uncompressed position and a compressed position, said uncompressed position defining a pair of arches formed into an underside of said cushion element generally symmetrically about a middle of said cushion element and extending towards the rear edge of said cushion element in an amount of between about one half a front to back length of said cushion element and about three quarters of said front to back length, whereby under compression said collapsible support means may be compressed sufficiently to facilitate a person to reach the ground while sitting in a wheelchair.

A wheelchair comprising:

• a pair of rear wheels,
• a pair of front wheels,
• a frame connecting the front and rear wheels,
• a backrest,
• a seat support connected to said frame, and
• a covered seat cushion element comprising a body having a front edge, a pair of opposed side edges and a rear edge, and being sized and shaped for placement on the seat support of said wheelchair,
• said seat cushion element including at least one collapsible support means located toward said front edge of said element, said collapsible support means being characterized by having an uncompressed position and a compressed position, said uncompressed position comprising a pair of arches formed into an underside of said cushion element generally symmetrically about a middle of said cushion element and extending towards the rear edge of said cushion element in an amount of between about one half a front to back length of said cushion element and about three quarters of said front to back length, whereby under compression said collapsible support means.