WHEELCHAIR GRAB RAIL

Abstract

The invention is a grab rail built onto or attachable onto a wheelchair, having a cross rail reachably above the seated user and forward of the seated user's center of gravity which joins into side rails above the sides of the wheelchair, with support bars extending downward from the rear ends of the side bars to attach rigidly atop the wheelchair's back rest, the grab rail helping the user reposition or transfer independently. The grab rail does not obstruct or interfere with indoor use and can also support a canopy for sun and rain protection outdoors.

Claims

1. a grab rail built onto or attachable onto a wheelchair, having: a cross rail extending horizontally across the wheelchair reachably above a seated user's head and forward of the user's center of gravity; a side rail extending horizontally rearward from each end of the cross rail along each side of the wheelchair, each side rail ending above one side of the wheelchair's back rest; support bars extending downward from the rear ends of the side bars, each support bar terminating at and secured to a push handle, where the wheelchair is equipped with such, or to the top of the side posts of the back rest, thereby securing the whole grab rail to the wheelchair.

2. A grab rail according to claim 1 wherein its attachment to a wheelchair having rearward-facing push handles is accomplished using separate joiners, one for each push handle, each joiner comprised of a forward-facing sleeve part which is slid over and locked to the push handle and an upward-facing sleeve part into which the bottom end of the support bar is inserted and locked, thereby holding the two support bars and the whole grab rail rigidly up and over the wheelchair.

3. A grab rail according to claim 2 wherein each joiner has its own handle extending further rearward, since the joiner's forward-facing sleeve covers the wheelchair's own push handle.

4. A grab rail according to claim 1 wherein its attachment to a wheelchair having no push handles is accomplished using separate joiners, each comprised of a downward-extending clamp locked side-on over the strong near-vertical side framing of the wheelchair's back rest, each joiner having an upward-facing sleeve part into which the bottom ends of the grab rail's support bars are inserted and locked.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective sketch of the grab rail ready to mount on wheelchairs with rearward-extending push handles.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the grab rail mounted on a wheelchair having no push handles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] FIG. 1 shows the grab rail 1 with its overhead grab bars 1a and vertical support bars 1b, the latter inserted detachably into an upward-facing sleeve part of the joiner 2, and the joiner 2 having a forward-facing sleeve part ready to slide over and lock to a wheelchair's rearward-extending push handles PH (dashed lines) to secure the grab rail 1 on the wheelchair. In some cases it is best to first remove the push handle's “cushioning” sleeve from the handle bar before sliding the joiner over it. Thumb screws can be seen near the tops of the joiners 2. The size and shape of wheelchair push handles vary little, but the best positioning of thumb screws is not always the same, so provision of spare threaded holes in each joiner 2 is advisable. One thumb screw or set screw should force the rear of the push handle PH down against the rear interior “floor” of the joiner 2, while another forces the forward part of the push handle (just ahead of its cushioning sleeve, if present) up against the front interior “ceiling” of the joiner 2, imparting maximum strength and rigidity to withstand a user's downward pull on the crossbar of the overhead grab.

[0013] The joiners 2 obstruct the push handles PH, so the joiners 2 themselves may best include push handle extensions as shown.

[0014] FIG. 2 shows the grab rail 1 installed on a power wheelchair having no push handles, each of the grab rail's support bars 1b being inserted down into an upward facing sleeve of a special joiner 3, which joiner 3 has a lower clamp part clasping sideways inward over the upper portion of the sides of the wheelchair's back rest.

[0015] The dashed line over the grab rail 1, in FIG. 2, suggests the opportunity to use the grab rail 1 to support a sunshade over the wheelchair user.