US 6,854,754 B1Granted

Wheelchair with brake assembly

OwnerJ. Alexander Easley, Jr.inventor

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Abstract

A wheelchair brake system is provided that allows an operator of the brake system to retard and/or stop the motion of the wheelchair. The brake system provides for independent and variable application of a braking force to wheels of the wheelchair. The brake system includes first and second brake force application assemblies, first and second braking assemblies, and actuation lines coupling the respective brake force application assembly to the braking assembly. The brake force application assemblies may be associated with handles of the wheelchair that allow a secondary or ancillary operator to apply a braking force, but may be associated with armrests of the wheelchair for use by an occupant. The brake force application assemblies are rotationally positionable and/or pivotally positionable to achieve various orientations thereof. This provides ergonomic placement of the handles for comfort and ease of brake force application.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A wheelchair comprising:

a frame;
an axle carried by said frame;
a first wheel supported on a first rin and carried for rotation on said axle;
a second wheel supported on a second rim and carried for rotation on said axle;
first and second handles carried by respective first and second handle portions of said frame and positioned to allow a person to grasp said first and second handles when situated behind the wheelchair in order to move the wheelchair, said first and second handles each pivotally coupled to said respective first and second handle portions of said frame to define a first position and a second position, said first position situating the handle in a user operation position wherein the handle is parallel to ground, and said second position situating the handle in a stowed position wherein the handle is perpendicular to ground;
a first brake assembly having a first braking force application component a first wheel braking component, and a first actuation cable operatively coupling said first braking force application component with said first wheel braking component, said first braking force application component associated with said first handle and operative to pivot with said first handle, and said first wheel braking component situated proximate said first wheel to provide selective frictional engagement with said first wheel when a braking application force is applied to said first braking force application component;
and
a second brake assembly having a second braking force application component, a second wheel braking component, and a second actuation cable operatively coupling said second braking force application component with said second wheel braking component, said second braking force application component associated with said second handle and operative to pivot with said second handle, and said second wheel braking component situated proximate said second wheel to provide selective frictional engagement with said second wheel when a braking application force is applied to said second braking force application component.

5 more elements

A wheelchair comprising:

a frame;
an axle carried by said frame;
a first wheel rotatably supported by said axle;
a second wheel rotatably supported by said axle;
a first brake system mounted on the wheelchair for use by an ancillary operator of the wheelchair and operative to receive a braking force applied by the ancillary operator and translate the braking force applied by the ancillary operator to said first and second wheels, said first brake system including a first and second brake assembly each having a braking force applicator mounted to said frame remote from respective said first and second wheels and rotatable relative to their mounting position into a first and second angular orientation respectively corresponding to a use position and a stowed position, a wheel braking applicator associated with and mounted adjacent each one of said first and second wheels, and an actuator operatively coupling each braking force applicator with a respective wheel braking applicator;
and
a second brake system mounted on the wheelchair for use by an occupant of the wheelchair and operative to receive a second braking force applied by the occupant and translate the applied second braking force to said first and second wheels, said second brake system including a third and fourth brake assembly each having a braking force applicator mounted to said frame remote from respective said first and second wheels and rotatable relative to their mounting position into a first and second angular orientation respectively corresponding to a use position and a stowed position, a wheel braking applicator associated with and mounted adjacent each one of said first and second wheels, and an actuator operatively coupling each braking force applicator with a respective wheel braking applicator.

4 more elements

A kit for modifying an existing wheelchair to provide a wheelchair braking system for use by an individual pushing the wheelchair, the kit comprising:

a first brake assembly having a first braking force applicator, a first wheel balking applicator and a first actuator, the first braking force applicator including first braking force applicator mounting hardware configured to mount the first braking force applicator to a first rear handlebar of a frame of the wheelchair and allow the first braking force applicator to be rotatable relative to its mounting position into a first and second angular orientation respectively corresponding to a use position and a stowed position, the first wheel braking applicator including first braking applicator hardware configured to mount the first wheel braking applicator adjacent a first wheel of the wheelchair so as to apply a braking force thereto when actuated by the first braking force applicator, the first actuator configured to couple the first braking force applicator with the first wheel braking applicator to transmit a first braking force applied to the first braking force applicator to the first wheel braking applicator;
and
a second brake assembly having a second braking force applicator, a second wheel braking applicator and a second actuator, the second braking force applicator including second braking force applicator mounting hardware configured to mount the second braking force applicator to a second rear handlebar of a frame of the wheelchair and allow the second braking force applicator to be rotatable relative to its mounting position into a first and second angular orientation respectively corresponding to a use position and a stowed position, the second wheel braking applicator including second braking applicator hardware configured to mount the second wheel braking applicator adjacent a second wheel of the wheelchair so as to apply a braking force thereto when actuated by the second braking force applicator, the second actuator configured to couple the second braking force applicator with the second wheel braking applicator to transmit a second braking force applied to the second braking force applicator to the second wheel braking applicator.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/640,548Filed 13 Aug 2003
Granted: 15 Feb 2005
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

B60T 1/06
Acting by retarding wheels: acting otherwise than on tread, e.g. employing rim, drum, disc, or transmission or on double wheels
A61G 5/10
Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs: parts, details or accessories
A61G 5/1054
Parts, details or accessories: large wheels, e.g. higher than the seat portion
B62L 1/12
By the elements moving substantially parallel to the wheel axis: the elements being mounted on levers pivotable about a common axis