Patent ID: 6371503
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: A61B,A61G,B62B

Abstract:
A wheelchair comprising:a frame structure; a rear drive wheel assembly rotatably supported by said frame structure; a front wheel assembly rotatably supported by said frame structure; a seat member supported by said frame structure and constructed and oriented to accommodate an occupant; a one-way brake assembly including a one-way brake member, said one-way brake-assembly being movable between a non-activated position in which said one-way brake member is positioned to permit said rear drive assembly to rotate in forward and rearward directions to enable said wheelchair to move freely in both the forward and rearward directions, and an activated position in which said one-way brake member is positioned to prevent rotation of said rear drive wheel assembly in the rearward direction so as to prevent movement of said wheelchair in the rearward direction while continuing to permit rotation of said rear drive wheel assembly in said forward direction for forward movement of said wheelchair; a biasing member operatively associated with said one-way brake assembly to bias said one-way brake assembly towards the activated position; and a brake releasing assembly operatively associated with said one-way brake assembly and said biasing member, said brake releasing assembly being movable in response to said wheelchair being occupied to overcome the bias of said biasing member so as to move said one-way brake assembly from the activated position to the non-activated position, thus enabling said wheelchair to freely move in both the forward and rearward directions.