Abstract:
A height adjustable wheelchair apparatus for allowing users to be able to move more easily in and out of the wheelchair. The height adjustable wheelchair apparatus includes a frame, a wheel assembly upon which the frame is mounted, a seat member being mounted to the frame and being adapted to be raised and lowered, a backrest being mounted to the frame, an armrest assembly being removably mounted to the frame; and further includes a lift assembly being mounted to the frame and being adapted to raise and lower the seat member.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a wheelchair and more particularly pertains to a new height adjustable wheelchair apparatus for allowing users to be able to move more easily in and out of the wheelchair. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of a wheelchair is known in the prior art. More specifically, a wheelchair heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,211,414; U.S Pat. No. 5,520,403; U.S. Pat. No. 4,598,944; U.S. Pat. No. 3,882,949; U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,624; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 269,172. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new height adjustable wheelchair apparatus. The inventive device includes a frame and also includes a wheel assembly upon which the frame is mounted; and further includes a seat member being mounted to the frame and being adapted to be raised and lowered; and also includes a backrest being mounted to the frame; and further includes a footrest assembly being removably attached to the frame; and also includes an armrest assembly being removably mounted to the frame; and further includes a lift assembly being mounted to the frame and being adapted to raise and lower the seat member. 
     In these respects, the height adjustable wheelchair apparatus according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of allowing users to be able to move more easily in and out of the wheelchair. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of wheelchair now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new height adjustable wheelchair apparatus construction wherein the same can be utilized for allowing users to be able to move more easily in and out of the wheelchair. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new height adjustable wheelchair apparatus which has many of the advantages of the wheelchair mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new height adjustable wheelchair apparatus which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied b any of the prior art wheelchair, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a frame; and also includes a wheel assembly upon which the frame is mounted; and further includes a seat member being mounted to the frame and being adapted to be raised and lowered; and also includes a backrest being mounted to the frame; and further includes a footrest assembly being removably attached to the frame; and also includes an armrest assembly being removably mounted to the frame; and further includes a lift assembly being mounted to the frame and being adapted to raise and lower the seat member. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new height adjustable wheelchair apparatus which has many of the advantages of the wheelchair mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new height adjustable wheelchair apparatus which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art wheelchair, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new height adjustable wheelchair apparatus which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new height adjustable wheelchair apparatus which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new height adjustable wheelchair apparatus which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such height adjustable wheelchair apparatus economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new height adjustable wheelchair apparatus which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new height adjustable wheelchair apparatus for allowing users to be able to more easily in and out of the wheelchair. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new height adjustable wheelchair apparatus which includes a frame; and also includes a wheel assembly upon which the frame is mounted; and further includes a seat member being mounted to the frame and being adapted to be raised and lowered; and also includes a backrest being mounted to the frame; and further includes a footrest assembly being removably attached to the frame; and also includes an armrest assembly being removably mounted to the frame; and further includes a lift assembly being mounted to the frame and being adapted to raise and lower the seat member. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new height adjustable wheelchair apparatus that would allow users to get in and out of the wheelchair independent of any help. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new height adjustable wheelchair apparatus that reduces the amount of stress and strain placed on the user while getting in and out of the wheelchair. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a new height adjustable wheelchair apparatus according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a detailed front elevational view of the lift assembly of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a detailed side elevational view of the pump of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof a new height adjustable wheelchair apparatus embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the height adjustable wheelchair apparatus  10  generally comprises a frame  11  including a pair of lower elongate side members  14  and a lower elongate cross member  15  conventionally interconnecting the lower elongate side members  14 , and also including a plurality of front and rear tubular members  12 ,  13  being securely and conventionally attached and vertically-disposed at ends of the lower elongate side members  14 , and further including a plurality of elongate arm members  16 , 17  being movably disposed in and extendable from the front and rear tubular members  12 , 13 , and also including a plurality of elongate seat support members  18  being securely and conventionally attached to and extending between and elongate arm members  16 , 17 , and further including a plurality of elongate backrest support members  19  each having a main portion  20  and a handle portion  21  being angled relative to the main portion  20 . The front and rear tubular members  12 , 13  have open top and bottom ends and also having bores extending therethrough. 
     The height-adjustable wheelchair apparatus  10  also comprises a wheel assembly upon which the frame  11  is conventionally mounted. The wheel assembly includes a pair of enlarged rear wheel members  22  being rotatably and conventionally mounted at the bottom ends of the rear tubular members  13  of the frame  11 , and also includes front wheel members being removably mounted in the open bottom ends of the front tubular members  12 . Each of the front wheel members includes a support bracket  23 , a shaft  24  extending outwardly from the support bracket  23 , and a caster-type wheel member  25  being rotatably mounted to the support bracket  23 . The shaft  24  is removably received in the bore and through the open bottom end of a respective front tubular member  12 . 
     A seat member is mounted to the frame  11  and is adapted to be raised and lowered. The seat member includes a platform  27  being securely and conventionally attached to the elongate seat support members  18 , and also includes a seat cushion  26  being supported upon the platform  27 . A backrest is conventionally mounted to the frame  11 . The backrest includes a cushion member  28  being securely and conventionally attached to the elongate backrest support members  19 . 
     A footrest assembly is removably attached to the frame  11 . The footrest assembly includes first and second bracket members  29 , 30  being securely and conventionally attached to the front tubular members  12 , and also includes elongate footrest support members  31  being securely and conventionally fastened to the first bracket members  29 , and further includes footrest members  32  being securely and conventionally attached to ends of the elongate footrest support members  31 , and also includes brace members  33  being securely and conventionally fastened to the second bracket members  30  and to the elongate footrest support members  31 . 
     An armrest assembly is removably mounted to the frame  11  and includes a pair of armrest members  34  being removably mounted to the arm members  16 , 17  of the frame  11 , and also includes pad members  35  being securely and conventionally attached to the armrest members  34 , and further includes side panel members  36  being securely and conventionally attached to the armrest members  34 . Each of the armrest members  34  includes an elongate main portion  37  and a pair of elongate end portions  38  which are angled relative to the elongate main portion  37  and which are removably mounted to the arm members  16 , 17 . The pad members  35  are securely and conventionally mounted to the elongate main portions  37  of the armrest members  34 , and the panel members  36  being securely and conventionally disposed between the elongate end portions  38 . 
     A lift assembly is conventionally mounted to the frame  11  and is adapted to raise and lower the seat member  26 , 27 . The lift assembly includes a hydraulic jack  39  being securely and conventionally mounted upon the elongate cross member  15  of the frame  11  and includes a base member  40  which is securely and conventionally mounted upon the elongate cross member  15 , and also includes a cylindrical reservoir member  41  being conventionally mounted upon the base member  40 , and further includes a first piston member  42  being movably disposed in and extendable from the cylindrical reservoir member  41  and having a top end which is securely and conventionally attached to a bottom of the platform  27 , and also includes a cylindrical member  43  being conventionally mounted upon the base member  40 , and further includes a second piston member  44  being movably disposed in and extendable from the cylindrical member  43 , and also includes a crank assembly being conventionally attached to the second piston member  44  for moving the first piston member  42  in and out of the cylindrical reservoir member  41  to raise and lower the seat member  26 , 27 . The crank assembly includes a crank support bracket  45  being securely and conventionally fastened upon one of the lower elongate side members  14 , and also includes a linkage member  46  having a first end being securely and conventionally attached to the second piston member  44  and having a second end being journaled through the crank support bracket  45 , and further includes a handle member  47  being securely and conventionally attached to the second end of the linkage member  46 . 
     In use, the user pivots the handle member  47  up and down which causes the first piston member  42  to extend upwardly from the cylindrical reservoir member  41  and to raise the seat member  26 , 27 . The user continues to pivot the handle member  47  according to how high the user wishes to raise the seat member  26 , 27 . To lower the seat member  26 , 27 , the user opens a valve member located in the base of the cylindrical reservoir member  41  to release the pressure within the cylindrical reservoir member  41  which allows the first piston member  42  to retract in the cylindrical reservoir member  41  thus lowering the seat member  26 , 27 . 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.