Reciprocating drive motion wheelchair

Abstract

A reciprocating drive motion wheelchair is provided. The wheelchair device includes a low-profile wheelchair that utilizes push bars pivotally connected to the wheelchair frame and operably connected to a crank bar, which run parallel to the ground and connects back to a crank on each wheel. An additional pair of wheels is disposed rearward of the drive wheels and prevents the wheelchair from tipping, thus allowing the user to utilize the push bars to move the wheelchair quickly and easily.

Claims

1. A reciprocating drive motion wheelchair, comprising: a chair frame having a seating portion, a backrest portion, and two hingedly connected footrests wherein the seating area and backrest area intersect orthogonally while the footrests hingedly attach to a leg portion of the chair frame extending from an end of the seating portion opposite the backrest portion; a first pair of wheels mounted to a rear portion of the chair frame, wherein each wheel of the first pair of wheels comprises a frame; wherein a linear distance between a rear edge of the seat portion and the first pair of wheels is less than a linear distance between a front edge of the seat portion and the first pair of wheels; a second pair of wheels having a smaller diameter than the first pair of wheels and rotatably mounted to a forward portion of the chair frame at a point near the hingedly connected footrests wherein the second pair of wheels may freely rotate in a 360-degree fashion relative to the ground surface; a pair of drive bars rotatably attached on each side of the chair frame and operably connected to a pair of crank shafts which in turn are operably connected to the first pair of wheels, wherein each drive handle and crank shaft are independently connected to a wheel of the first pair of wheels to allow for operation in unison or independently of each other; wherein the crank shafts are rotatably connected to a concentric metal bar attached to the frame of each wheel of the first pair of wheels mounted to the chair frame.

2. The reciprocating drive motion wheelchair of claim 1, wherein the pivotal connections between the drive bars and crank shaft and between the crank shaft and concentric metal bar comprises ball and socket joints.

3. The reciprocating drive motion wheelchair of claim 1, wherein the pivotal connection between the drive bars and the chair frame comprise roller bearing joints.

4. The reciprocating drive motion wheelchair of claim 1, wherein a third pair of wheels extends outward from the rear portion of the chair frame, such that the first pair of wheels rest between the second and third pairs of wheels.

5. The reciprocating drive motion wheelchair of claim 1, wherein a braking mechanism is operably attached to the first pair of wheels.

6. The reciprocating drive motion wheelchair of claim 5, wherein the braking mechanism comprises a disk braking assembly wherein a brake pad is selectively applied to the frame of the first pair of wheels to cause deceleration.

7. The reciprocating drive motion wheelchair of claim 5, wherein hand brakes are pivotally connected to the pair of drive handles actuate and selectively control the braking mechanism of the first pair of wheels.

8. The reciprocating drive motion wheelchair of claim 7, wherein the hand brakes may be operated independently of each other to apply deceleration to a single wheel to allow for a change of direction or to turn around completely.

9. The reciprocating drive motion wheelchair of claim 1, wherein the first and second pairs of wheels comprise tires having rubber tread circumferences secured around metal frames.

10. The reciprocating drive motion wheelchair of claim 1, wherein the length of the drive bars are selectively adjustable telescopically.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the reciprocating drive motion wheelchair.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the reciprocating drive motion wheelchair.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a side view of an embodiment of the reciprocating drive motion wheelchair showing the drive mechanism.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a close-up perspective view of the drive bars of an embodiment of the reciprocating drive motion wheelchair.

(6) FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the reciprocating drive motion wheelchair in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the Reciprocating drive motion wheelchair. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for manually propelling a wheelchair via drive bars controlling a reciprocating drive motion. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

(8) Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there are shown multiple perspective views of an embodiment of the reciprocating drive motion wheelchair. The reciprocating drive motion wheelchair 11 comprises a chair frame 12 having a seating portion 13 and a backrest portion 14. A pair of armrests extend orthogonally from each side of the backrest portion 14 of the chair frame 12 in a parallel orientation with the seating portion 13. Legs 15 extend down from an end of the seating portion 13 opposite of the connection with the backrest portion 14 wherein a footrest 16 is hingedly attached to each leg 15. The footrests 16 may be folded up to allow for a user to more easily climb into and out of the reciprocating drive motion wheelchair 11 while the footrests 16 may be folded down at a right angle with the leg 15 of the chair frame 12 to allow for a user to place their feet thereon.

(9) A first pair of wheels 17 is disposed on a rear portion of the chair frame 12 and mounted on either side of the connection between the seating portion 13 and the backrest portion 14. A second pair of wheels 18 having a smaller diameter than the first pair of wheels 17 is rotatably mounted to the bottom of the leg portion 15 of the chair frame 12. This allows the reciprocating drive motion wheelchair 11 to be supported on the two pairs of wheels 17 and 18 with the chair frame 12 in an upright position such that a user may sit within. The second pair of wheels 18 can rotate in a 360-degree fashion on the end of the leg portion 15 of the chair frame 12 to allow the reciprocating drive motion wheelchair 11 to move in varying directions. In one embodiment of the reciprocating drive motion wheelchair 11, a third pair 24 of wheels extends outwardly from the back of the chair frame 12 for stability such that the first pair of wheels is in between the second and third pairs of wheels 18 and 24.

(10) Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a side view of an embodiment of the reciprocating drive motion wheelchair showing the drive motion. A pair of drive bars 19 are disposed on either side of the seating portion 13 opposite of the connection between the seating portion 13 and the backrest portion 14 of the chair frame 12. The drive bars 19 comprise elongated rods which are rotatably connected to the chair frame 12 in a forward position relative to the point at which the leg portion 15 connects to the seating portion 13. The drive bars 19 have a first end 25 and a second end 26 and are rotatably connected to the chair frame 12 at a point between these two ends via a roller bearing joint. The first end 25 of the drive bars 19 extends upward from the chair frame 12 and are adapted to be gripped in a user's hands. The second end 26 of the drive bars 19 extends downward from the rotatable roller bearing joint and terminate in a pivotal connection with a crank shaft 20. Each crank shaft 20 is in turn pivotally connected to each of the first pair of wheels 17. The crank shafts 20 are pivotally connected to each wheel via a concentric bar 21 extending outward from the frame of each of the first pair of wheels 17. In the illustrated embodiment, the pivotal connection between the second end of the drive bar 19 and the crank shaft 20 and between the crank shaft 20 and the concentric bar 21 are comprised of ball and socket joints. Each drive bar 19 is independently attached to a crank shaft 20 which in turn is independently attached to each wheel of the first pair of wheels 17. This allows for a user to operate both wheels in unison or independently of each other through the operation of one or both of the drive bars 19. In this manner, a user may control the speed and direction of the wheelchair's movement and turning. The forward or backward motion of each wheel may be determined by the direction of the initial push or pull on the drive bar 19 connected to each wheel of the first pair of wheels 17.

(11) Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a close-up perspective view of the drive bars of an embodiment of the reciprocating drive motion wheelchair. In some embodiments, a braking mechanism 22 is included on the reciprocating drive motion wheelchair 11. The braking mechanism 22 consists of a disk braking mechanism which is coupled with each wheel of the first pair of wheels 17. The disk braking mechanism is operably connected to hand brakes 23 located on the first end of the drive bars 19. The hand brakes 23 comprise pull triggers which, when actuated, exert pressure from the braking mechanism 22 against the wheel via a brake pad. The frictional engagement of the brake pad against the wheel causes deceleration of the wheel. Each hand brake can be selectively used independently of the other which allows a user to decelerate one or both wheels in order to change direction or come to a complete stop.

(12) Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the reciprocating drive motion wheelchair in use. A user positioned in the seating position 13 will control the reciprocating drive motion wheelchair 11 by gripping each of the drive bars 19 positioned on the outside of either leg with one hand. In the illustrated embodiment, the drive bars 19 are of a height such as to allow the first end of the drive bar 19 be approximately level with a user's torso. This positioning of the drive bars 19 allows for the larger muscle groups of the upper body to be utilized instead of the smaller muscle groups that are utilized in operation of a conventional wheelchair. The larger muscle groups utilized by the drive bars 19 being in a position of a traditional push/pull motion do not fatigue and get overworked as quickly as the smaller groups used to rotate the wheels manually in regular wheelchairs.

(13) The drive system of the present invention allows for many variations of the movement of the reciprocating drive motion wheelchair 11. Alternating or simultaneous pushing and pulling of each drive bar causes forward or rearward motion of the wheelchair, depending upon the direction of the initial push, allowing complete control of motion and providing improved mobility compared to traditional wheelchairs. While the chair is in motion, the hand brakes 23 on each drive bar 19 can be lightly applied independently to allow for course adjustments and turning. While stationary, either one of the hand brakes 23 may be actuated while leaving the opposite open and operating the drive bar 19 will allow the reciprocating drive motion wheelchair 11 to pivot about that wheel and turn around or change directions. In this way, the direction of the wheelchair may be controlled solely via independent application of the brakes.

(14) It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

(15) Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.