Patent ID: 9700469
Date: 2017-07-11
CPC Classifications: A61G

Claim:
1. A load transitioning mechanism for alternating a wheelchair between an original load-bearing configuration and a modified load-bearing configuration, the wheelchair comprising a frame having a front portion, the wheelchair further comprising a pair of symmetrically-opposing rear wheels and a pair of symmetrically-opposing front caster wheels, the load transitioning mechanism comprising: I. An overrunning clutch having a joint axis, the overrunning clutch comprising a first bearing surface, a second bearing surface, and a movable bearing, the first bearing surface unified with a fixed joint body, the second bearing surface unified with a movable joint body, the second bearing surface capable of rotating relative to the first bearing surface about the joint axis, the fixed joint body adapted to be immovably affixed to the front portion of the frame of the wheelchair, the movable joint body adapted for affixing a ground-contacting implement, the movable joint body capable of rotating relative to the fixed joint body in a first direction about the joint axis, the movable bearing adapted to transmit torque between the first and second bearing surfaces about the joint axis; II. a force sustainment subassembly comprising a manipulable biasing switch and a forward-force sustaining spring, the force sustainment subassembly adapted to be toggled between: a.) a first biasing state, wherein the forward-force sustaining spring is deflected in a forward direction by the manipulable biasing switch to apply a forward sustaining force to the movable bearing to pre-load the movable bearing to enable movement of the movable bearing into a position of load-bearing torque transmission between the first and second bearing surfaces, and b.) a second biasing state wherein the forward-force sustaining spring is relaxed by the manipulable biasing switch to remove the forward sustaining force from the movable bearing to enable the movable bearing to move out of the position of load-bearing torque transmission between the first and second bearing surfaces; wherein the load transitioning mechanism enables a user to alternate the wheelchair between the original load-bearing configuration and the modified load-bearing configuration upon manipulating the manipulable biasing switch and subsequently reclining the wheelchair, wherein while the wheelchair is in the original load-bearing configuration, a forward portion of a load carried by the wheelchair is supported by the pair of symmetrically-opposing front caster wheels, and wherein while the wheelchair is in the modified load-bearing configuration, the forward portion of the load carried by the wheelchair is substantially supported by the ground-contacting implement affixed to the movable joint body.