Patent ID: 7677586
Filing Date: 2010-03-16
Classification: A61G

Abstract:
1. In a wheelchair including a seat carried by a frame having opposed forward and rearward ends, a rear wheel having a first diameter mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation to the frame on either side of the seat proximate to the rearward end of the frame, at least one front wheel mounted to the frame proximate to the forward end of the frame, a circular handrim located outboard of one of the rear wheels encircling the axis of rotation and having a second diameter slightly less than the first diameter of the one of the rear wheels and an inner side facing the one of the rear wheels and an opposed outer side, and spaced-apart connecting pins coupling the inner side of the circular handrim to the one of the rear wheels, improvements therein comprising: a framework having extremities each juxtaposed along the outer side of the handrim opposing one of the connecting pins; a clamp releasably securing each outer extremity to the handrim proximate to one of the connecting pins including a clamp element thereof carried by the outer extremity in juxtaposition to the outer side of the handrim and a complemental element thereof in juxtaposition to the inner side of the handrim proximate to the connecting pin connected to the clamp element and together with the complemental element releasably embracing the handrim; a lever having an inner end and an opposed outer end; a ratchet operatively coupling the inner end of the lever to the framework proximate to the axis of rotation of the one of the rear wheels, the lever extending upwardly from the inner end at the ratchet to the outer end allowing a user seated in the seat of the wheelchair to grasp the outer end of the lever and move the lever between first and second positions; the ratchet for acting on the framework to impart rotation to the one of the rear wheels in response to movement of the lever between the first and second positions; and the complemental element of at least one of the clamps interacting with the connecting pin adjacent thereto preventing the framework from rotating relative to the one of the rear wheels.