Low profile seat frame
AssigneeMotion Concepts Canada
InventorDavid Ciolfe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wheelchair includes a chassis, a positioning module, a seat frame, and a seat. The positioning module is mounted to an upper portion of the chassis. The seat frame includes a support member secured to and spanning a seating area of the positioning module and a front frame member secured to a front end of the support member and overhanging a front edge of the seating area of the positioning module, such that the seat frame at least partially straddles the positioning module. The front frame member is connected with and at least partially supports at least one of a side frame member, foot rest, leg rest and arm rest assembled with and supported by the front frame member. The seat is secured to an upper surface of the support member.
Claims20
A wheelchair comprising:
- a chassis;
- a positioning module mounted to an upper portion of the chassis, the positioning module being operable to adjust at least one of an angular position and an elevational position of a seating area of the positioning module;
- a seat frame comprising:
- a support member secured to and spanning the seating area of the positioning module;
- and
- a front frame member secured to a front end of the support member and overhanging a front edge of the seating area of the positioning module, such that the seat frame at least partially straddles the positioning module, the front frame member being connected with and at least partially supporting at least one of a side frame member, foot rest, leg rest and arm rest assembled with and supported by the front frame member;
- and
- a seat secured to an upper surface of the support member;
- wherein an upper surface of the front frame member is substantially aligned with an upper surface of the support member.
A wheelchair comprising:
- a chassis;
- a positioning module mounted to an upper portion of the chassis, the positioning module being operable to adjust at least one of an angular position and an elevational position of a seating area of the positioning module;
- a seat frame comprising:
- a support member secured to and spanning the seating area of the positioning module;
- and
- a front frame member secured to a front end of the support member and overhanging a front edge of the seating area of the positioning module, such that the seat frame at least partially straddles the positioning module, the front frame member being connected with and at least partially supporting at least one of a side frame member, foot rest, leg rest and arm rest assembled with and supported by the front frame member;
- and
- a seat secured to an upper surface of the support member;
- wherein the support member has a maximum height that is smaller than a maximum height of the front frame member.
A wheelchair comprising:
- a chassis;
- a positioning module mounted to an upper portion of the chassis, the positioning module being operable to adjust at least one of an angular position and an elevational position of a seating area of the positioning module;
- a seat frame comprising:
- a support member secured to and spanning the seating area of the positioning module;
- and
- a front frame member secured to a front end of the support member and overhanging a front edge of the seating area of the positioning module, such that the seat frame at least partially straddles the positioning module, the front frame member being connected with and at least partially supporting at least one of a side frame member, foot rest, leg rest and arm rest assembled with and supported by the front frame member;
- and
- a seat secured to an upper surface of the support member;
- wherein the support member includes at least first and second downward extending flanges sized to closely receive the positioning module therebetween.
A low profile seat frame for assembly with a positioning module of a seating apparatus, the seat frame comprising:
- a support plate including a horizontally extending planar portion defining a seating area and a downward extending front flange disposed along a front end of the planar portion;
- a front frame member secured to the front flange of the support plate;
- a rear frame member secured to an upper surface of the planar portion along a rear end opposite the front end;
- and
- first and second side frame members each having a front extension arm telescopically received in a corresponding tubular end of the front frame member and a rear extension arm telescopically received in a corresponding tubular end of the rear frame member;
- wherein the front extension arm of each of the first and second side frame members is vertically offset from the corresponding rear extension arm to accommodate a vertical offset between the front and rear frame members.
A method of installing a positioning module on a wheelchair, the positioning module being operable to adjust at least one of an angular position and an elevational position of a seating area at least partially defined by an upper surface of the positioning module, the method comprising:
- assembling the positioning module to a chassis of the wheelchair;
- providing a low profile seat frame including a support plate having opposed upper and lower surfaces, a front frame member secured to a front end of the support plate and extending beyond the lower surface of the support plate, and a rear frame member secured to the upper surface of the support plate at a rear end of the support plate;
- securing the low profile seat frame to the positioning module, such that the support plate spans the seating area of the positioning module, and the front frame member overhangs a front edge of the seating area;
- assembling at least one of a side frame member, a foot rest, a leg rest, and an arm rest with the front frame member;
- and
- securing a wheelchair seat to the upper surface of the support plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.