Patent ID: 7182356
Filing Date: 2007-02-27
Classification: A61G

Abstract:
1. A wheelchair security system for allowing a user to safely and conveniently to be moved through a metal detecting device without the wheelchair generating a positive signal comprising, in combination: a wheelchair body fabricated of non-metallic material having a pair of side portions and a backrest portion and a seat portion, with each of the side portions having a bend thereby providing a right angle to form an armrest, with each side portion having a bearing mounting recess and a footrest and a main wheel axle mounting aperture and a plurality of seat mounting holes, with the backrest portion of the wheelchair body fabricated of a non-metallic material in a general rectilinear configuration and having a bend forming a seat back, the backrest having a pair of rearwardly extending handles to allow a person who is pushing the wheelchair through a metal detector to be outside of the detector as an occupant of the wheelchair is being pushed through a metal detector, the handles constituting the rearward most components of the system; a seat subassembly comprising a plurality of round, cylindrically shaped rods fabricated of a rigid non-metallic material and sized to fit into and received securely by the seat mounting holes of the side portions, and a sheet-like seat portion fabricated of a semi-flexible material with a pair of loops to securely accept the rods and thereby form a seat which is suspended from the rods; a strut fabricated of rigid non-metallic material having a generally rectilinear configuration coupled to the inner surfaces of the side portions; a pair of rectangular shaped footrest pieces fabricated of rigid non-metallic material and coupled to the side portions; a bottom brace having a generally rectilinear configuration and fabricated of rigid non-metallic material coupled to the lower inner surface of the side portions and projecting in a rearwardly direction; an axle fabricated of a rigid non-metallic material and having a round cylindrical configuration and passing through the main wheel axle mounting aperture of each of the side portions; a pair of rear wheels fabricated of rigid non-metallic material coupled to the axle, the axle having a length of between about 22 and 27 inches to space the rear wheels of the wheelchair system a distance of between about 24 and 29 inches apart to enable the wheelchair to pass through a standard 30 inch wide opening of a metal detector, and with an overall chair width to handle height ratio of about 13 to 17, plus or minus 5 percent, the wheels being entirely located forward of the handles; and a metal detector having a passageway sized to allow the passage of the wheelchair system through the passageway, the metal detector having a passageway with inner dimensions of about 30 inches in width and about 80 inches in height and about 23 inches in depth and sized to allow the passage of the wheelchair system through the passageway.