WHEELCHAIR

Abstract

A wheelchair comprising a support frame (200), a seat frame (210), which is connected movingly in its front part to the support frame (200), and is connected in its rear part to the support frame (200) via a spring shock absorbing mechanism in the form of a torsion beam (105) connected to the rear axle (101) of the wheelchair, via at least one connecting element (104) allowing for immobilization of the connection between the torsion beam (105) and the rear axle (101), wherein at least one end of the torsion beam (105) is fixedly connected to the lever (110) which is pivotally connected to the connector (120) connected to the rear part of the seat frame (210), furthermore, the ends of the torsion beam are pivotally supported by the slide sleeves (103) located in the brackets (102) mounted on the rear axle (101).

Claims

1. A wheelchair comprising a support frame (200), a seat frame (210), which is connected movingly in its front part to the support frame (200), and is further connected in its rear part to the support frame (200) via a shock absorbing mechanism characterized in that the shock absorbing mechanism is in the form of: a torsion beam (105) connected to a rear axle (101) of the wheelchair via at least one connecting element (104) which allows for immobilization of connection between the torsion beam (105) and the rear axle (101), wherein at least one end of the torsion beam (105) is fixedly connected to the lever (110), which is connected pivotally to a connector (120) connected to the rear part of the seat frame (210), and wherein the ends of the torsion beam are supported pivotally by slide sleeves (103) located in the brackets (102) mounted on the rear axle (101).

2. The wheelchair according to claim 1, characterized in that both ends of the torsion beam (105) are fixedly connected to the levers (110) which are connected pivotally to the connectors (120) connected to the rear part of the seat frame (210).

3. The wheelchair according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises two connecting elements (104) which allow for immobilization of the connection between the torsion beam (105) and the rear axle (101).

4. The wheelchair according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one connecting element (104) is slidingly mounted on the torsion beam (105).

5. The wheelchair according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one connecting element (104) is located centrally between the ends of the torsion beam (105).

6. The wheelchair according to claim 3, characterized in that the connecting element (104) is in the form of a clamp.

7. The wheelchair according to claim 1, characterized in that the connector (120) is pivotally connected to the rear part of the seat frame (210).

8. The wheelchair according to claim 7, characterized in that the front part of the seat frame (210) is pivotally connected to the support frame (200).

9. The wheelchair according to claim 1, characterized in that the connector (120) has multiple openings for connecting the lever (110), the torsion beam (105), and/or the seat frame (210).

10. The wheelchair according to claim 1, characterized in that the seat frame (210) in its front part has multiple openings (150) for connecting it to the support frame (200).

11. The wheelchair according to claim 1, characterized in that the seat frame (210) in its rear part has multiple openings (135) for connecting it to the support frame (200).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The subject of the invention has been illustrated in the embodiment on the drawing on which:

[0031] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the wheelchair with the dismounted wheel and a frame fragment;

[0032] FIG. 2 is a side view of the wheelchair with the dismounted wheel and a frame fragment;

[0033] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the torsion beam connected to the rear axle via connecting elements (clamps) allowing for immobilization of the connection between the torsion beam and the rear axle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

[0034] The wheelchair 1 comprises a support frame 200, a seat frame 210, and a rear axle 101 mounted to the support frame 200 with clamps 100. The seat frame 210 including a backrest 220 is connected at points 145 to the support frame 200 using a pair of connectors 160 mounted to a series of openings 150 located in the front part of the seat frame 210, wherein the pair of connectors 160 located on both sides of the seat frame is connected by a stabilizing bar 140. In turn, in the series of openings 135 located in the rear part of the seat frame 210 a pair of connectors 170 is mounted which are connected to each other by a stabilizing bar 130.

[0035] The wheelchair 1 further comprises a shock absorbing mechanism in the form of a torsion beam 105 connected to the rear axle 101 of the wheelchair using two connecting elements 104 which allow for immobilization of the connection between the torsion beam 105 and the rear axle 101 in the form of clamps slidingly mounted on the torsion beam 105. This allows the position of the mounting points of the elements connecting the torsion beam with the rear axle on the torsion beam to be changed in a smooth way, which causes the change in length of the torsion beam's active section located between the ends of the torsion beam and the mounting points of the elements connecting the torsion beam with the rear axle which affects the characteristics of the torsion beam's performance and allows control of the wheelchair frame rigidity. The ends of the torsion beam 105 are further pivotally supported by sliding sleeves 103 placed in the 102 brackets mounted on the rear axle 101, which stabilizes the torsion beam 105 and eliminates the bending effect of the torsion beam 105.

[0036] Both ends of the torsion beam 105 are fixedly connected to the levers 110, which are pivotally connected to the connectors 120. The connectors 120 are pivotally connected to the seat frame 210 at point 125 via connectors 170. The connectors 120 have multiple openings for connecting the lever 110 of the torsion beam 105 and/or the seat frame 210, which allows for stepwise regulation of seat frame 210 angle relative to the main frame of the wheelchair 200.

[0037] The torsion of the torsion beam 105 is done by the wheelchair user applying pressure on the rear part of the seat frame 210, which is transferred via the connector 120 onto the levers 110, which cause the torsion moment of the torsion beam 105. The changes in the pressure force caused by the user during the ride, related to overcoming various types of uneven surfaces, cause the seat frame 210 of the wheelchair 1 together with the user moves relative to the ground and the support frame 200, simultaneously causing the change in the degree of torsion of the torsion beam 105, thus bringing about the shock absorption effect of the seat frame 210, and increasing the comfort of the wheelchair 1 use.

[0038] Aligning the connecting elements 104 in the center of the torsion beam 105 results in the maximum symmetrical release of each side of the torsion beam 105, consequently providing the greatest symmetrical shock absorption.

[0039] The maximum symmetrical separation of the connecting elements 104 causes blockage of the torsion beam 105 and maximum suspension rigidity of the shock absorbing mechanism.

[0040] Any symmetrical intermediate settings of the connecting elements 104, going from the inside to the outside, allow for stiffening the shock absorbing mechanism from the most flexible to the stiffest.

[0041] The maximum displacement of both connecting elements 104 towards one of the torsion beam's 105 ends causes blockage of that side of the shock absorbing mechanism on which the clamps 104 are located, while maximally releasing the opposite side.

[0042] Any other asymmetrical settings of the connecting elements 104 separately or in pair allow for obtaining various level of rigidity of each side, wherein the closer to the ends of the torsion beam 105 the clamp(s) 104 is/are of the mechanism, the more rigid the given side becomes.