Patent ID: 6131940
Filing Date: 2000-10-17
Classification: A61G

Abstract:
In a tilt-in space wheelchair, said wheelchair comprising in combination a frame and associated seating means attached thereto, two opposed operating wheels rotationally mounted on said frame, a foot support mounted on said frame, a pair of sleeves fixedly mounted in a substantially vertical orientation to a forward end of said frame, and two opposed casters having posts swivelly mounted to said pair of sleeves and wheels rotatable mounted to lower ends of said posts, the improvement comprising:two laterally opposed four bar linkages, each four bar linkage including a first bar in the form of a first plate fixedly attached to a respective sleeve, a second bar having a forward end pivotally connected to said first plate and a rearward end pivotally connected to a third bar through selective adjustable locking means, said third bar being a second plate fixedly connected to said frame, and a fourth bar having a forward end pivotally connected to said first bar and a rearward end pivotally connected to said third bar, said adjustable locking means being configured for permitting said frame and said associated seating means to tilt by pivoting about an angular range of approximately 45 degrees in finite steps of selectable locked positions of adjustment relative to said second bar; wherein said bars are selected in length such that said pair of sleeves are maintained in said substantially vertical orientation as said frame and said associated seating means tilts.