Patent ID: 6250717
Filing Date: 2001-06-26
Classification: A61G,Y10S

Abstract:
A hinge block for angled arm-rests for a wheelchair for the handicapped, the wheelchair including a stand-up articulated structure having an upright back, the arm-rest being designed to be placed either in a generally vertical position wherein the arm-rest provides a side guard for the body of a subject occupying the wheel chair in a sitting position, or in a generally horizontal position wherein the arm-rest constitutes half of a chest-retainer for said subject when in a standing position, the hinge block comprising:a back half-block adapted to be fastened to the upright back and having a substantially horizontal pivot axis;an arm-rest half-block mounted to pivot on the pivot axis from a stable angular position and defining a substantially horizontal bore orthogonal to the pivot axis, and rotatably receiving a cylindrical shank of an angled arm-rest; andmeans interposed between the two half-blocks to ensure:that the shank is locked when the angled arm-rest is occupying either a position that is substantially vertical or a position that is substantially horizontal; andthat partial pivoting of the arm-rest half-block about the pivot axis unlocks said locking means to allow said cylindrical shank to rotate and to be locked angularly after said cylindrical shank has rotated.