The invention relates to a mechanical wheelchair drive, comprising a rotatably mounted lever, a handle fastened to the lever, and a force transfer unit for transferring rotational motion of the lever to a wheelchair wheel, wherein the lever has a variable length and is guided along a closed guide of a guide plate, said guide deviating from the circular form, such that the length of the lever changes during the rotational motion.

Wheelchair drive boost apparatuses, drive assisted wheelchairs, and wheelchair drive boost systems are disclosed. A wheelchair drive boost apparatus includes a housing, a drive wheel including a drive axis that is movable with respect to the housing, a drive lever that engages with the drive wheel to cause the drive wheel to rotate, a transmission that couples the drive lever to the drive wheel, and an engager having a first position and a second position. The engager is configured to move the drive axis with respect to the housing.

Wheelchair drive boost apparatuses, drive assisted wheelchairs, and wheelchair drive boost systems are disclosed. A wheelchair drive boost apparatus includes a housing, a drive wheel including a drive axis that is movable with respect to the housing, a drive lever that engages with the drive wheel to cause the drive wheel to rotate, a transmission that couples the drive lever to the drive wheel, and an engager having a first position and a second position. The drive wheel is coupled to the transmission via a one-way engagement mechanism that permits free rotation of the drive wheel with respect to the drive lever in a first direction and constrains rotation of the drive wheel with respect to the drive lever in a second direction opposite the first direction. The engager is configured to move the drive axis with respect to the housing.

A manual wheelchair including a collapsible frame having a first lateral member that is connected to first and second braces at their respective first ends. A drive wheel axel extends along a first axis of rotation and engages a drive wheel, the first brace, and a portion of a transmission. A push rim axel extends along a second axis of rotation and engages a push rim wheel, the second brace, and a portion of the transmission, which transmits rotation of the push rim to rotation of the drive wheel. The collapsible frame additionally includes a second lateral member that is connected to the first and second braces as their respective second ends. The first and second braces are configured to release the second lateral member to collapse the manual wheelchair.

A wheelchair including a steering assembly configured to selectively attach to the wheelchair, the steering assembly including a steering member, a front wheel operably connected to the steering member, a frame assembly configured to carry the steering member and the front wheel, and a mounting assembly coupled to the frame assembly, and a drive assembly coupled to the wheelchair. The drive assembly is configured to operate in a first configuration in response to the steering assembly being detached from the wheelchair, and the drive assembly is configured to operate in a second configuration in response to the steering assembly being attached to the wheelchair.

An alignment system for a wheelchair based steering column includes a fork assembly configured to carry a front wheel, a bearing coupled to the fork assembly, a tube member that receives the bearing and a portion of the fork assembly, a cam defining sloped cam surface leading to a recess, the cam positioned in the tube member, a biasing member configured to apply a restoring force onto the cam, the biasing member positioned in the tube member, and a steering device coupled to the fork assembly. In response to applying a rotational force to the steering device, the fork assembly rotates, responsively rotating the front wheel and sliding the bearing along the cam surface away from the recess, the cam responsively linearly translates relative to the fork assembly overcoming the restoring force.

A wheelchair including a steering assembly configured to selectively attach to the wheelchair, the steering assembly including a steering member, a front wheel operably connected to the steering member, a frame assembly configured to carry the steering member and the front wheel, and a mounting assembly coupled to the frame assembly, and a drive assembly coupled to the wheelchair. The drive assembly is configured to operate in a first configuration in response to the steering assembly being detached from the wheelchair, and the drive assembly is configured to operate in a second configuration in response to the steering assembly being attached to the wheelchair.