Collapsible mobility aid

Abstract

A collapsible mobility aid with two frame elements, on each of which at least one wheel is secured or can be secured, and with a folding mechanism by which the frame elements are connected to each other, and a distance between the frame elements in a first position of the folding mechanism can be adapted to a transport distance and in a second position of the folding mechanism can be adapted to a use distance, wherein the folding mechanism has a central element with a slide arranged moveably with respect thereto, at least two connection arms which are each articulated on a frame element and on the central element, and at least two levers which are each articulated on a connection arm and on the slide, wherein the swivel axes, about which the levers are arranged on the connection arms and the slide such that they can be swiveled, are on one plane when the folding mechanism is in the second position.

Claims

1. A collapsible mobility aid, comprising: two frame elements, on each of which at least one wheel is secured, or on each of which at least one wheel is to be secured; a folding mechanism by which the frame elements are connected to each other and a distance between the frame elements in a first position of the folding mechanism is a transport distance and in a second position of the folding mechanism is a use distance; wherein the folding mechanism has a central element with a movable slide, at least two connection arms which are articulated on a respective one of the frame elements and on the central element, and at least two levers which are articulated on a respective one of the connection arms and on the slide, and swivel axes, about which the at least two levers are arranged on the connection arms and the slide such that the at least two levers swivel relative to the connection arms and slide, and the swivel axes are on one plane when the folding mechanism is in the second position; wherein the folding mechanism is pre-tensioned towards the second position with a spring element.

2. The collapsible mobility aid according to claim 1, wherein the swivel axes, about which the connection arms are arranged on the frame elements and the central element such that the connection arms swivel relative to the frame elements and the central element, and the connections arms are on one plane when the folding mechanism is in the second position.

3. The collapsible mobility aid according to claim 1, wherein the spring element is tensioned when the folding mechanism is brought out of the second position into the first position.

4. The collapsible mobility aid according to claim 1, wherein the folding mechanism is lockable in the first position by way of a locking device.

5. The collapsible mobility aid according to claim 1, further comprising an adjustable end stop arranged on one of the connection arms, a respective one of the frame elements fitting closely on the adjustable end stop when the folding mechanism is in the second position.

6. The collapsible mobility aid according to claim 1, wherein the central element comprises at least one end stop, the slide fitting closely on the at least one end stop when the folding mechanism is in the second position.

7. The collapsible mobility aid according to claim 1, wherein the slide comprises a grip element.

8. The collapsible mobility aid according to claim 1, wherein the folding mechanism comprises at least four connection arms, each of which is connected to one of the frame elements and to the central element.

9. The collapsible mobility aid according to claim 8, wherein the connection arms are movable within different planes as the connection arms move about the swivel axes from the second position to the first position.

10. A collapsible mobility aid, comprising: first and second frame elements; at least a first wheel secured to the first frame element; at least a second wheel secured to the second frame element; a folding mechanism connecting the frame elements to each other, the folding element having a first position that defines a transport distance between the first and second frame elements, and a second position that defines a use distance between the first and second frame elements, the folding mechanism in the second position being at a dead center wherein the folding mechanism is fixed from folding, the folding mechanism comprising: a central element having a slide arranged moveably; at least two connection arms which are articulated on a respective one of the frame elements and on the central element; at least two levers which are articulated on a respective one of the connection arm and on the slide; swivel axes about which the at least two levers are arranged on the connection arms and the slide such that the at least two levers swivel relative to the connection arms and slide, the swivel axes being on one plane when the folding mechanism is in the second position.

11. The collapsible mobility aid according to claim 10, wherein the swivel axes, about which the connection arms are arranged on the frame elements and the central element such that the connection arms swivel relative to the frame elements and the central element, and the connection arms are on one plane when the folding mechanism is in the second position.

12. The collapsible mobility aid according to claim 10, wherein the folding mechanism is pre-tensioned towards the second position with a spring element.

13. The collapsible mobility aid according to claim 12, wherein the spring element is tensioned when the folding mechanism is brought out of the second position into the first position.

14. The collapsible mobility aid according to claim 10, wherein the folding mechanism is lockable in the first position with a locking device.

15. The collapsible mobility aid according to claim 10, further comprising an adjustable end stop arranged on one of the connection arms, a respective one the frame elements fitting closely on the adjustable end stop when the folding mechanism is in the second position.

16. The collapsible mobility aid according to claim 10, wherein the central element comprises at least one end stop, the slide fitting closely on the at least one end stop when the folding mechanism is in the second position.

17. The collapsible mobility aid according to claim 10, wherein the slide comprises a grip element.

18. The collapsible mobility aid according to claim 10, wherein the folding mechanism comprises at least four connection arms, each of which is connected to one of the frame elements and to the central element.

19. The collapsible mobility aid according to claim 18, wherein the connection arms are movable within different planes as the connection arms move about the swivel axes.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be explained in more detail by way of the attached figures: They show:

(2) FIG. 1—a schematic three-dimensional view of a part of a mobility aid,

(3) FIGS. 2a and 2b—a schematic top view and a schematic three-dimensional view of a fully unfolded folding mechanism,

(4) FIGS. 3a and 3b—the depictions from FIGS. 2a and 2b when slightly folded,

(5) FIGS. 4a and 4b—the depictions from FIGS. 2a and 2b when folded to a considerable degree,

(6) FIGS. 5a and 5b—the depictions from FIGS. 2a and 2b when fully folded,

(7) FIG. 6—an enlarged section of a folding mechanism and

(8) FIG. 7—the schematic depiction of a part of a mobility aid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) FIG. 1 shows a schematic three-dimensional view of a part of a mobility aid. Two frame elements 2 are visible which feature hollow axes 4, into which the axes or hubs of a wheel 50 of a mobility aid can be inserted. A folding mechanism 6 is situated between the two frame elements 2, the folding mechanism comprising a central element 8 on which a slide 10 is situated. Four connection arms 12 are situated on the central element 8, these arms each being arranged on the central element 8 by way of a first arm swivel axis 14 and on the respective frame element 2 by way of a second arm swivel axis 16 and adjustable end stops 54.

(10) In FIG. 1 it should also be noted that two levers 18 are each fixed to one of the connection arms 12 and to the central element 8. They are each fixed on the central element 8 such that they can be swiveled by way of a first lever swivel axis 20 and are each connected to the central element 8 by way of a second lever swivel axis 22. It can also be recognised in FIG. 1 that a total of four connection arms 12 are provided, which can be divided into two front and two rear connection arms. The front and rear connection arms are articulated at different “heights” on the central element 8. As can also be seen in FIGS. 5a and 5b for instance, this causes the swivel movement of the front and rear connection arms to occur on different planes so they do not obstruct each other when the folding mechanism is in the first position, as depicted in FIGS. 5a and 5b. When unfolded, as shown in FIG. 1, the four connection arms span one plane. This plane preferably intersects the plane of the wheelchair or another configured mobility aid in the front third of its seating surface. This reinforces the stability and the sense of safety for the user of the mobility aid.

(11) FIG. 2a shows a schematic top view of a folding mechanism 6, while FIG. 2b shows the schematic 3D view of the folding mechanism 6. In both FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b, the folding mechanism is in the second position, i.e. fully unfolded. The distance between the two frame elements 2 is at its maximum with the selected folding mechanism 6 and thus corresponds to the use distance. In FIG. 2a, it can be recognised that both the first arm swivel axes 14 and the second arm swivel axes 16 for two connection arms 12 that face one another lie on one plane, i.e. in one line. The same applies for the first lever swivel axes 20 and the second lever swivel axes 22, even if this is not especially clear from the geometric shape of the depicted lever 18.

(12) The slide 10, which is particularly clear in FIG. 2b, is in the position in which it has been moved backwards as far as possible, wherein in the left-hand area of FIG. 2a, it is at the front in the direction of motion of the mobility aid.

(13) FIGS. 3a and 3b, and 4a and 4b, show the depiction from FIGS. 2a and 2b when it is slightly folded and folded to a considerable degree. The further the folding process progresses, the further to the left the slide 10 is moved. A grip element 24 is located in the frontal area of the slide 10; a pulling element, such as a string or a cord, may be arranged on this grip element.

(14) In FIGS. 5a and 5b, the depicted folding mechanism 6 is fully folded up, i.e. it is shown in the first position. The distance between the two frame elements 2 is minimal and thus corresponds to the transport distance. In FIG. 5b in particular it is clear that the swivel movements of the two connection arms 12, which are arranged on the same side of the central element 8, have been executed on different planes. In the example of an embodiment depicted, the connection arms 12 are arranged below each other. This ensures that, in the first position of the folding mechanism as shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b, they are also arranged on top of each other and therefore do not obstruct each other during folding. This enables a smaller transport distance. The first position may be maintained with a locking device 52 that is automatically or manually actuated when the folding mechanism reaches the first position.

(15) FIG. 6 depicts an enlarged section of the folding mechanism. The central element 8 with the slide 10 is visible, as well as the front two connection arms 12 on which the two levers 18 are situated. The first arm swivel axes 14 and the second lever swivel axes 22 can also be seen.

(16) On the rear end of the slide is a gripper element 26, which is configured to at least partially encompass an end stop 28 when the slide 10 is situated on the end stop 28. In this case, the folding mechanism 6 is in the second position.

(17) In FIG. 6, a spring element 20—also shown in FIG. 1—is particularly clear to see; this spring element is used to pre-tension the slide 10 towards the end stop 28.

(18) FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of part of a mobility aid. The frame element 2 can be recognised, which has a horizontal part 30. A seating surface 32 is arranged on top of this which the user of the mobility aid sits when the mobility is in use. The folding mechanism 6 is represented underneath this, whereby it can be clearly seen that the different connection arms 12 are arranged at different heights relative to the seating surface 32, i.e. at different distances from the seating surface 32. In this position, the connection arms 12 span a connection plane, which is depicted as a dashed line. It can be recognised that this imaginary line 34 intersects the seating surface 32 in the front third of the seating surface 32. This is not necessary but is an advantage, as it improves the stability and also the sense of safety felt by a user of the mobility aid.

REFERENCE LIST

(19) 2 frame element 4 hollow axis 6 folding mechanism 8 central element 10 slide 12 connection arm 14 first arm swivel axis 16 second arm swivel axis 18 lever 20 first lever swivel axis 22 second lever swivel axis 24 grip element 26 gripper element 28 end stop 30 horizontal part 32 seating surface 34 connection arms