WHEELCHAIR WHEEL

Abstract

A wheelchair wheel which is rotatable around an axis of rotation includes: a hub, which can be connected to a wheel axle of a wheelchair frame; a wheel body which is arranged on the hub, forms a running surface of the wheelchair wheel and constitutes the connection between the running surface and the hub, the wheel body being composed of three wheel body segments, each wheel body segment having a rim profile and a tire portion arranged in the rim profile; three fastening devices which are independent of one another, each wheel body segment being releasably fastened to the hub by one of the fastening devices.

Claims

1: A wheelchair wheel (1), which is rotatable around an axis of rotation (2) and comprises: a hub (3), which can be connected to a wheel axle (18) of a wheelchair frame; a wheel body which is arranged on the hub (3), forms a running surface (12) of the wheelchair wheel (1) and constitutes the connection between the running surface (12) and the hub (3), said wheel body being composed of three wheel body segments (5, 6, 7), each wheel body segment (5, 6, 7) being provided with a rim profile (19) and a tyro tire portion (20) arranged in the rim profile (19); three fastening devices (8, 9, 10) which are independent of one another, each wheel body segment (5, 6, 7) being releasably fastened to the hub (3) by one of the fastening devices (8, 9, 10).

2: The wheelchair wheel according to claim 1, wherein the three fastening devices (8, 9, 10) are arranged at the hub (3) radially offset to the outside in relation to the axis of rotation (2) of the wheelchair wheel (1).

3: The wheelchair wheel according to claim 1, wherein each fastening device (8, 9, 10) has a manually operable handle piece (33) with which the fastening device (8, 9, 10) can be transferred from a closed position securing a wheel body segment (5, 6, 7) to the hub (3) into an open position releasing the wheel body segment (5, 6, 7) from the hub (3), and wherein the handle piece (33) is arranged on the outside of the wheelchair wheel (1) in the area of that wheel body segment (5, 6, 7) which is secured to the hub (3) by this fastening device (8, 9, 10).

4: The wheelchair wheel according to claim 1, wherein the hub (3) has a wheel body segment seat (15) in the form of a circumferential groove on its outside, and wherein the wheel body segments (5, 6, 7) are seated in the wheel body segment seat (15) with a fastening section (16) facing the hub (3).

5: The wheelchair wheel according to claim 4, wherein the wheel body segment seat (15) is formed by two essentially parallel, ring-shaped hub discs (13, 14) protruding radially outwards, which stand at a distance to one another in the axial direction in relation to the axis of rotation (2) of the wheelchair wheel (1) that essentially corresponds to the thickness of the fastening section (16) of the wheel body segments (5, 6, 7).

6: The wheelchair wheel according to claim 1, wherein each wheel body segment (5, 6, 7) is provided with a profile at least in sections on its face ends (21, 22) facing the adjacent wheel body segments (5, 6, 7), and wherein the profiles of adjacent wheel body segments (5, 6, 7) fastened to hub (3) engage in one another.

7: The wheelchair wheel according to claim 6, wherein the profile on the one face end (21, 22) of a wheel body segment (5, 6, 7) is in the form of a groove (23) and on the other face end (21, 22) of the wheel body segment (5, 6, 7) is in the form of a tongue (24), and wherein the wheel body segments (5, 6, 7) fastened at the hub (3) form a tongue and groove joint when connected.

8: The wheelchair wheel according to claim 1, wherein the tyre tire portions (20) of all wheel body segments (5, 6, 7) form a continuous tire (11) with an essentially cohesive running surface (12) around its circumference.

9: The wheelchair wheel according to claim 1, wherein each wheel body segment (5, 6, 7) comprises a hand rim section (25), and wherein the hand rim sections (25) of all wheel body segments (5, 6, 7) fastened to the hub (3) form a continuous, cohesive hand rim of the wheelchair wheel (1).

10: The wheelchair wheel according to claim 9, wherein the hand rim sections (25) of each two wheel body segments (5, 6, 7) secured adjacent on the hub (3) engage in one another.

11: The wheelchair wheel according to claim 1, wherein the three fastening devices (8, 9, 10) are identical.

12: The wheelchair wheel according to claim 1, wherein the fastening devices (8, 9, 10) are in the form of clamping devices which clamp the wheel body segments (5, 6, 7) to the hub (3).

13: The wheelchair wheel according to claim 12, wherein each fastening device (8, 9, 10) comprises an eccentric clamp (29).

14: The wheelchair wheel according to claim 13, wherein the eccentric clamp (29) is self-locking.

15: The wheelchair wheel according to claim 3, wherein the eccentric clamp (29) has a clamping lever (30) that can be rotated around a clamping axis (31) fixed at the hub (3), and wherein the clamping lever (30) comprises the handle piece (33) and a clamping part (34) that has a clamping cam.

16: The wheelchair wheel according to claim 15, wherein the clamping axis (31) is perpendicular to the axis of rotation (2) of the wheelchair wheel (1).

17: The wheelchair wheel according to claim 15, wherein, in an open position of the fastening device (8, 9, 10), the clamping part (34) is at a distance to a wheel body segment (5, 6, 7) arranged on the hub (3) or makes contact with this without force, and wherein in a closed position of the fastening device (8, 9, 10) the clamping part (34) presses against a wheel body segment (5, 6, 7) arranged on the hub (3) with a force specified by the clamping cam.

18: The wheelchair wheel according to claim 17, wherein a counterbearing is arranged at the hub (3) which interacts with the clamping part (34) in the closed position of the fastening device (8, 9, 10), and wherein a wheel body segment (5, 6, 7) is clamped between the clamping part (34) and the counterbearing in the closed position of the fastening device (8, 9, 10).

19: The wheelchair wheel according to claim 5, wherein the counterbearing is formed by one of the two ring-shaped hub discs (13, 14).

20: The wheelchair wheel according to claim 15, wherein each of the wheel body segments (5, 6, 7) has a depression (28) in which the clamping part (34) comes to rest in the closed position of the fastening device (8, 9, 10).

21: The wheelchair wheel according to claim 3, wherein the handle piece (33) on a first side has at least one handle recess (36) for one or more fingers and on a second side facing away from the first side has a support area for a person's ball of the thumb.

22: The wheelchair wheel according to claim 3, wherein the handle piece (33) with the fastening device (8, 9, 10) in a closed position makes contact with that wheel body segment (5, 6, 7) that is fastened by this fastening device (8, 9, 10) to the hub (3), and wherein the wheel body segment (5, 6, 7) thereby forms a stop for the handle piece (33).

23: The wheelchair wheel according to claim 1, wherein each fastening device (8, 9, 10) has a base (32) arranged on the hub (3), parallel to the axis of rotation (2) of the wheelchair wheel (1), and wherein each wheel body segment (5, 6, 7) has a recess (27) on the fastening section (16) facing the hub (3) in which the base (32) lies upon fastening the wheel body segment (5, 6, 7) at the hub (3).

24: The wheelchair wheel according to claim 15, wherein the clamping lever (30) of the eccentric clamp (29) is arranged rotatably on the base (32).

Description

DRAWING

[0037] The drawing shows a model embodiment of a wheelchair wheel according to the invention. Illustrations:

[0038] FIG. 1 Wheelchair wheel in a side view,

[0039] FIG. 2 Cross-section through the wheelchair wheel according to FIG. 1 along the level designated with A-A in FIG. 1,

[0040] FIG. 3 Wheelchair wheel according to FIG. 1 on which one wheel body segment is removed from the hub,

[0041] FIG. 4 Cross-section through the wheelchair wheel according to FIG. 3 along the level designated with A-A in FIG. 3,

[0042] FIG. 5 Wheel body segment of the wheelchair wheel according to FIG. 1 in a top view,

[0043] FIG. 6 Wheel body segment according to FIG. 5 in a view from below,

[0044] FIG. 7 Wheel body segment according to FIG. 5 in a side view,

[0045] FIG. 8 Cross-section through wheel body segment according to FIG. 5 along the level designated with A-A in FIG. 5,

[0046] FIG. 9 Eccentric clamp of a fastening device of the wheelchair wheel according to FIG. 1 in a side view,

[0047] FIG. 10 Eccentric clamp according to FIG. 9 in a different side view,

[0048] FIG. 11 Eccentric clamp according to FIG. 9 in a view from below.

DESCRIPTION OF THE MODEL EMBODIMENT

[0049] FIGS. 1 to 4 show a wheelchair wheel 1 which is rotatable around an axis of rotation 2. The axis of rotation 2 is a straight line. The wheelchair wheel is a rotationally symmetrical body in relation to the axis of rotation 2. The wheelchair wheel 1 has a hub 3 and a wheel body arranged at the hub 3 which is composed of three identical wheel body segments 5, 6, 7. Three independent and identical fastening devices 8, 9, 10 are arranged at the hub 3. With each of the three fastening devices 8, 9, 10 precisely one wheel body segment 5, 6, 7 can be fastened to the hub 3. It is immaterial here which of the three wheel body segments 5, 6, 7 is fastened to the hub 3 with which of the three fastening devices 8, 9, 10. FIGS. 5 to 8 show an example of the wheel body segment 5. An example of the fastening device 8 is shown in the FIGS. 9 and 11.

[0050] The wheel body has a tyre 11 on its circumference that forms a running surface 12 of the wheelchair wheel 1 around the outside. With this running surface the wheelchair wheel rolls along the ground, which is not shown in the drawing. The wheel body also establishes the connection between the hub 3 and the running surface 12.

[0051] The hub 3 has a first hub disc 13 and a second hub disc 14. Both of these hub discs 13, 14 are coaxially arranged to the axis of rotation 2 at a distance to one another. The first hub disc 13 and the second hub disc 14 form the boundary of a groove in which the wheel body segments 5, 6, 7 are inserted. The groove thus forms a wheel body segment seat 15 at the hub 3. The wheel body segments 5, 6, 7 are arranged with a fastening section 16 facing the hub 3 in the wheel body segment seat 15. On the second hub disc 14 the three fastening devices 8, 9, 10 are arranged with a spacing of 120° each. The hub 3 is also provided with ball bearings 17 in which a wheel axle 18 is mounted. Using the wheel axle 18, the wheelchair wheel 1 can be connected to a wheelchair not shown in the drawing.

[0052] Each of the three wheel body segments 5, 6, 7 extends over an angle of 120° and makes up a section of a full circle. The wheel body segments 5, 6, 7 have a rim profile 19 and a tyre portion 20 arranged in the rim profile 19. The tyre portion 20 comprises an elastic material, primarily solid rubber. The tyre portions 20 of the three wheel body segments 5, 6, 7 together form the tyre 11, whose running surface 12 is a cohesive surface with the exception of the transitions between the individual tyre portions 20.

[0053] The wheel body segments 5, 6, 7 are spokeless. They are equipped with a disc made out of carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP). If the three wheel body segments 5, 6, 7 are fastened to the hub 3, the respective adjacent wheel body segments 5, 6, 7 make contact at their face ends 21, 22. Each wheel body segment 5, 6, 7 is provided with a groove 23 on a first face end 21 and on a second face end 22 with a tongue 24 that protrudes past the face end 22. Using the groove 23 and the tongue 24, wheel body segments 5, 6, 7 arranged on the hub 3 form a tongue and groove joint when connected.

[0054] Each of the wheel body segments 5, 6, 7 is provided with a hand rim section 25. If the three wheel body segments 5, 6, 7 are fastened to the hub, the hand rim sections 25 of adjacent wheel body segments 5, 6, 7 make contact, creating a cohesive hand rim of the wheelchair wheel 1. The hand rim section 25 is fastened at the wheel body segment 5, 6, 7 via hand rim bases 26.

[0055] In the area of the fastening section 16, the wheel body segments 5, 6, 7 have a recess 27 for a fastening device 8, 9, 10. The recess 27 runs essentially radial in relation to the axis of rotation 2 of the wheelchair wheel 1. Each wheel body segment is additionally equipped with a depression 28 in the form of a hollow for the fastening device.

[0056] The three identical fastening devices 8, 9, 10 are in the form of clamping devices with an eccentric clamp 29. This is represented in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11. The eccentric clamp 29 has a clamping lever 30 which is rotatable around a clamping axis 31. The clamping axis 31 is a straight line here which runs parallel to a straight line that perpendicularly intersects the wheel axle 2. The clamping axis 31 is in a fixed position in relation to the hub 3. It does not change its position at the hub 3. The clamping lever 30 is arranged rotatably at a base 32. The base is in the form of a pin and extends essentially parallel to the axis of rotation 2 of the wheelchair wheel 1. At one end, the base 32 is fastened to the second hub disc 14. The clamping lever 30 has a handle piece 33 and a clamping part 34. The outer contour of the clamping part 34 is a clamping cam, the centre of which is offset to the clamping axis 31. This creates a lobe 38. In the area of the lobe 38, the clamping part 34 has the greatest expansion in the radial direction in relation to the clamping axis 31. The handle piece 33 is shaped ergonomically. It has on a first side two handle recesses 35, 36 and on a second side facing away from the first side a support area 37 for the ball of the thumb.

[0057] The fastening devices 8, 9, 10 have an open position and a closed position. On the wheelchair wheel 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, all three fastening devices 8, 9, 10 are in the closed position. The three wheel body segments 5, 6, 7 are arranged on the hub 3 and fastened to the hub by means of the fastening devices 8, 9, 10. The wheel body segment 5, 6, 7 are seated with their fastening sections 16 in the wheel body segment seat 15 in the form of a groove at the hub 3 and held between the first and second hub disc 13, 14. At the face ends of the wheel body segments 5, 6, 7, the wheel body segments are held together by a tongue and groove joint. In the closed position, the handle pieces 33 of the fastening devices 8, 9, 10 make contact with the wheel body segments 5, 6, 7. The lobes 38 of the eccentric clamps are arranged in the depressions 28 of the wheel body segments 5, 6, 7 and press the wheel body segments against the second hub disc 14 so that the second hub disc 14 forms a counterbearing to the eccentric clamp 29. Every wheel body segment 5, 6, 7 is clamped between the second hub disc 14 and the eccentric clamp 29 of a fastening device 8, 9, 10.

[0058] On the wheelchair wheel 1 according to FIGS. 3 and 4, the fastening device 8 is in the open position. The wheel body segment 5 is released from the hub 3 and arranged at a distance to this as well as the other two wheel body segments 6, 7. To change from the closed position to the open position, the clamping lever 30 of the eccentric clamp is turned around the clamping axis 31. The handle piece 33 moves from a position primarily in contact with the wheel body segment 5 into a position protruding vertically outwards in the direction of the wheel axis 2. This is especially discernible in FIG. 4. To move the clamping lever 30 from the closed position to the open position using the handle piece 33, pressure is applied from above on the support area 37 with the hand. The association between the fastening device 8 and the wheel body segment 5 is clearly and unambiguously dictated here for the user in that the handle piece 33 of the fastening device 8 makes contact with the wheel body segment 5. When changing from the closed position to the open position, the clamping part 34 is moved relative to the wheel body segment 5 so that the lobe 38 no longer presses against the wheel body segment 5. With the loss of this clamping force, the wheel body segment 5 now only lies loosely in the wheel body segment seat 15 and is only loosely held against the adjacent wheel body segments 6, 7 by the tongue 23 and groove 24. It can now be removed from the hub 3 without great effort.

[0059] To then fasten the wheel body segment 5 at the hub 3 again, the wheel body segment 5 is inserted with its fastening section 16 in the wheel body segment seat 15 so that the base 32 of the fastening device 8 lies in the recess 27 of the wheel body segment 5. In this position of the wheel body segment 5, its face ends touch the face ends of the adjacent wheel body segments 6, 7 and form a tongue and groove joint with these so that the wheel body segment 5 is once again loosely held at the hub 3 and supported by the two adjacent wheel body segments 6, 7. The clamping lever 30 of the fastening device 8 is now moved into the closed position using the handle piece 33. The association between the handle piece 33 of the fastening device 8 and the wheel body segment 5 to be fastened is once again clear and unambiguous for the user as the handle piece 33 of the fastening device 8 protrudes outward from the hub 3 while the handle pieces 33 of the two other fastening devices 9, 10 make contact with the wheel body segments 6, 7. This is particularly discernible in FIGS. 3 and 4. When changing from the open position to the closed position, the clamping part 34 is turned around the clamping axis 31 so that the lobe 38 once again lies in the depression 28 of the wheel body segment 5. The lobe arranged in the depression cannot disengage from the depression by itself. The eccentric clamp is self-locking.

[0060] All features of the invention can be material to the invention both on their own and in any combination.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0061] 1 Wheelchair wheel [0062] 2 Axis of rotation [0063] 3 Hub [0064] 4 [0065] 5 Wheel body segment [0066] 6 Wheel body segment [0067] 7 Wheel body segment [0068] 8 Fastening device [0069] 9 Fastening device [0070] 10 Fastening device [0071] 11 Tyre [0072] 12 Running surface [0073] 13 First hub disc [0074] 14 Second hub disc [0075] 15 Wheel body segment seat [0076] 16 Fastening sector [0077] 17 Ball bearing [0078] 18 Wheel axle [0079] 19 Rim profile [0080] 20 Tyre portion [0081] 21 First face end [0082] 22 Second face end [0083] 23 Groove [0084] 24 Tongue [0085] 25 Hand rim section [0086] 26 Hand rim base [0087] 27 Recess [0088] 28 Depression [0089] 29 Eccentric clamp [0090] 30 Clamping lever [0091] 31 Clamping axis [0092] 32 Base [0093] 33 Handle piece [0094] 34 Clamping part [0095] 35 Handle recess [0096] 36 Handle recess [0097] 37 Support area [0098] 38 Lobe