Patent ID: 6012555
Filing Date: 2000-01-11
Classification: A61G,B62B,F16D

Abstract:
A braking system, for mounting to a wheelchair having a wheelchair frame and a pair of wheels, for stopping motion of the wheels when a passenger is not fully seated in the wheelchair, the braking system comprising:a housing, the housing adapted to be rigidly attached to the frame;an axle assembly, the axle assembly attached to one of the wheels;a block assembly located within the housing, comprising a block, the block assembly having a cylindrical passageway for supporting the axle, the axle rotatably mounted within the block assembly, the block capable of controlled relative vertical motion with respect to the housing;a locking gear, fixed to the axle assembly;a main spring between the block and the housing, the spring biased between the housing and the block, the spring moving the block down within the housing when a passenger is absent from the wheelchair, said spring contracting when the passenger is fully seated in the wheelchair, allowing the block to move upward within the housing; anda foremast assembly, mounted to the housing, the foremast assembly including a foremast body which is selectively brought into engagement with the locking gear when the block is low within the housing to stop the locking gear, and thus stop the wheels when the passenger is not exerting sufficient weight upon the wheelchair when the passenger is in the process of standing up or sitting down, when the passenger is fully seated in the wheelchair, the upward movement of the block frees the foremast body from the gear and allows the gear and the wheels to rotate.