Patent ID: 8496261
Filing Date: 2013-07-30
Classification: A61G

Abstract:
1. A mobility chair, comprising: a frame having an upper side and a lower side, said frame being bisected by a vertical bisecting plane into a front portion and a rear portion; a first wheel set rotatably secured to said frame about a first axle axis, said first wheel set having first and second wheels axially spaced apart along said first axle axis by a first wheel spacing dimension, said first and second wheels having a first radius defining a first axle height of said first axle axis, said first wheel spacing dimension being greater than said first axle height, a first axle plane parallel to said bisecting plane and a second axle plane perpendicular to said bisecting plane, each extending through said first axle axis; a seat secured to said frame and positioned between said first and second wheels to locate a center of gravity of said chair rearwardly from said first axle plane, said seat having a base portion with a seating surface defining a seating zone at which a user sits facing generally forwardly, said seating surface being below said second axle plane, said seat including side walls and a rear wall extending upwardly from a perimeter of said seating zone, wherein said base portion, said side walls, and said rear wall are formed as a single molded unit; a second wheel set secured to said frame rearwardly of said first axle plane and comprising at least one pivotable first caster each having a first pivot axis parallel to said bisecting plane, and a first rotation axis perpendicular to said first pivot axis and below said second axle plane, said at least one first caster being pivotable about a respective said first pivot axis and rotatable about a respective said first rotation axis, said at least one pivotable first caster defines upper and lower first caster tangent points on a circumference thereof, with said lower first caster tangent point being distal from said second axle plane relative to said upper first caster tangent point, and being contained within a first lower tangent plane that is perpendicular to said bisecting plane, said first lower tangent plane extending through a first wheel set tangent point of said first and second wheels at an intersection with said first axle plane; a third wheel set secured to said frame forwardly of said first axle plane and comprising at least one pivotable second caster having a second pivot axis parallel to said bisecting plane, and a second rotation axis perpendicular to said second pivot axis and below said second axle plane, said at least one pivotable second caster being pivotable about a respective said second pivot axis and rotatable about a respective said second rotation axis; and a torso retainer extending upwardly from said seating zone perimeter opposite from said rear wall, said torso retainer defining first and second leg openings between said torso retainer and said side walls.