Backrest assembly for a wheelchair

A contoured backrest for a wheelchair may be moved to and retained in different positions and thus accommodates individuals of varying size and disabilities. The backrest carries clamps to which outriggers are fitted, and these outriggers extend transversely across the back face of the backrest. The outriggers are laterally adjustable to accommodate wheelchairs of different widths. They have offset ends beyond the sides of the backrest, and these ends fit into brackets on back posts that are part of the wheelchair. When the clamps are released, the outriggers may be rotated. This enables the position of the backrest to be adjusted forwardly and backwardly, upwardly and downwardly, and angularly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates in general to seating and, more particularly, to a 
backrest assembly for wheelchairs. 
The typical wheelchair has a pair of side frames to which the wheels of the 
chair are attached and struts interposed between the frames for 
maintaining them apart and generally parallel. The struts for most 
wheelchairs collapse to enable the side frames to move together, thus 
allowing the wheelchair to assume a more compact configuration for storage 
or transport. Usually, the seat and backrest are nothing more than 
flexible slings that extend between the two frames. While the slings fold 
with the chair as it assumes its compact configuration, they fail to 
provide a truly optimum seating surface or back surface. Much of the 
problem resides in the seat, and special seat cushions are available to 
improve seating posture and reduce the incidence of pressure sores. Some 
individuals, particularly those whose muscles have atrophied or those who 
have spinal deformities, need better support than a traditional sling-type 
backrest can provide. 
Special contoured backs exist, but to a large measure they are custom made 
to accommodate the problems peculiar to individual users, and thus are 
very expensive. More universal backrests of a rigid character also exist, 
but they are difficult to adjust to accommodate the needs of individual 
users, do not accommodate different width chairs, and furthermore are not 
easily removed from chairs to enable such chairs to fold to their compact 
configurations. 
The present invention resides in a backrest assembly for enhancing the 
posture and comfort of those confined to wheelchairs. Aside from a 
contoured backrest, it includes outriggers and brackets for supporting the 
backrest on the backposts that rise upwardly from the side frames of a 
wheelchair. The brackets and outriggers are such that the backrest may be 
moved to a multitude of positions--and in that sense the backrest is 
suited for use by a wide variety of individuals. The backrest outriggers 
also are adjustable in width to accommodate chairs of different widths and 
to reduce the number of different sizes that must be kept in inventory. 
Moreover, the backrest is easily removed from the wheelchair, so that the 
wheelchair may be folded to a compact configuration. 
These and other objects and advantages will become apparent hereinafter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Referring now to the drawings, a wheelchair A (FIG. 1) includes two side 
frames 2, each having a spindle 4 on which a large wheel 6 rotates. Fitted 
to the front of each side frame 2 is a smaller caster-type wheel 8. The 
two frames 2 are maintained generally parallel and a fixed distance apart 
by struts 10 which fold so that the side frames 2 will move together. This 
enables the wheelchair A to assume a more compact configuration suitable 
for storage or transport. Each side frame 2 has a horizontal member 12, 
and the horizontal members 12 of the two side frames 2 support a seat 14 
which extends between them. Each side frame 2 at its rear also has back 
post 16 which rises well above the horizontal member 12 and the wheel for 
the frame 2, and at its upper end turns rearwardly in the form of a handle 
18. The back posts 16 of the two side frames 2 carry a backrest assembly B 
which, generally speaking, occupies the space between the two posts 16 
where it extends well above the seat 14 and indeed up to and beyond the 
handles 18. Whereas, the seat 14 carries most of the user's weight, the 
backrest assembly B to measure supports the user's back and certainly 
positions the back. The side frames 2, wheels 6 and 8, struts 10 and seat 
14 are conventional. The invention resides in the backrest assembly B. 
The backrest assembly B (FIGS. 2 and 3) includes a contoured backrest 24 
having a top section 26 portion which is generally flat, a slightly 
concave upper back region 28 which is immediately below the top section 
26, a forwardly bowed lumbar region 30 immediately below the concave 
region 28, and a generally flat lower end section 32 below the lumbar 
region 30. The upper margin of the top section 26 extends horizontally at 
the center of the top section 26 and then curves downwardly and merges 
with the side margins which lie along upper back region and lumbar region 
and as such are set inwardly from the back posts 16 of the two side frames 
2. At the bottom section 32 the side margins merge into a horizontal 
bottom margin which occupies most of the width of the bottom section 32 
and is thus longer than horizontal portion of the top section 26. Whereas 
the top section 26 and bottom section 32 are to a large measure flat, the 
upper back region 28 is slightly concave from side to side on its front 
surface. The lumbar region 30, while bowing forwardly and thus being 
convex on its forward surface is also concave from side to side (FIG. 10), 
so that side margins of the backrest 24 along the lumbar region project 
farther forwardly then the midsection of the lumbar region 30. 
The backrest 24 has a rigid backing plate 34 (FIG. 3) and a cushion 36 
attached to backing plate 34. The backing plate may be formed from a sheet 
of generally rigid polymer such as ABS plastic. The cushion 36, on the 
other hand, may be a simple foam located over the forwardly presented face 
of the backing plate 34 or it may be a cellular cushion of the type 
manufactured and sold by ROHO, Inc., of Belleville, Ill. 
In addition to the backrest 24, the backrest assembly B includes upper and 
lower outriggers 40 and 42 (FIG. 2) which are adjustable in width (as will 
be explained hereinafter) and which extend transversely across the 
backrest 24, to which they are attached, and upper and lower brackets 44 
and 46 which are mounted on the back posts 16 for the side frames 2 of the 
wheelchair A and engage the ends of the outriggers 40 and 42 to support 
the backrest 24 between the two back posts 16. The location of the ends of 
the outriggers 40 and 42 with respect the backrest 24 may be altered and 
likewise the location of the brackets 44 and 46 along the backposts 16 may 
be changed. These adjustments permit the backrest 24 to assume a multitude 
of positions with respect to the seat 14, and thus the backrest 24 can 
meet the requirements of many different users and many different types of 
chairs. In short, the outriggers 40 and 42 serve as positioning members 
which control the vertical, horizontal and angular positions of the 
backrest 24. 
The upper outrigger 40 has a cross rod 50 divided into two sections 50a and 
50b (FIG. 2) which extends transversely across the backrest 24 behind its 
upper back region 28. The two sections 50a and 50b are connected by a 
sleeve 51 and secured to the sleeve 51 by set screws 51a. This connection 
allows the cross rod 50 to be adjusted in length to accommodate wheel 
chairs of different widths. The cross rod 50 passes through two clamps 52 
which are attached to the backing plate 34 of the backrest 24, and 
normally hold the outrigger 40 rigid with respect to the backrest 24. 
However, the clamps 52 may be released to relax their grips on the cross 
rod 50, and when released, the outrigger 40 will rotate relative to the 
backrest 24 and the upper brackets 44 as well. This permits the backrest 
24 to move relative to posts 16 and seat 14, in that the upper cross rods 
50 engage the upper brackets 44 at ends 54 which are offset radially from 
the cross rod 50. More specifically, the cross rod 50 extends slightly 
beyond the side margins of the backrest 24, and here the rod 50 turns 
radially in the form of positioning arms 56 which extend out to the offset 
ends 54. The two arms 56 extend in the same direction from the cross rod 
50 and indeed are parallel. The ends 54, which derive from the arms 56 
being turned outwardly, lie parallel to the cross rod 50 and in axial 
alignment, that is they are the same distance from the cross rod 50. If 
the width adjustment feature is not desired, the entire outrigger 40 may 
be formed from a single length of rod stock. 
Each clamp 52 includes (FIG. 4) an inside disk 60 and outside disk 62 which 
have opposed horizontal grooves 64 through which the cross rod 50 of the 
upper outrigger 40 extends. In depth, the grooves 64 are less than the 
radius of the cross rod 50, so that when the two disks 60 and 62 are 
clamped together, the cross rod 50 is captured tightly between the two and 
will not turn. The clamping is provided by two screws 66 which pass 
through the outer disk 62 and thread into the inner disk 60, one above the 
grooves 64 and the other below. When rotated inwardly, the screws 66 urge 
the outer disk 62 toward the inner disk 60 and thus prevent the outrigger 
40 from rotating between the two disks 60 and 62. The inner disk 60 is 
attached to the backing plate 34 of the backrest 24 at the upper back 
region 28 of the plate 34, preferably by screws 68 which pass through the 
backing plate 34 and thread into the inner disk 60. 
The lower outrigger 42 is essentially the same as the upper outrigger 40 
and as such has a cross rod 50 composed of sections 50a and 50b, offset 
ends 54 and connecting arms 56 located between the ends of the cross rod 
50 and the offset ends 54 (FIG. 2). The two sections 50a and 50b are 
connected by a sleeve 51 and secured to the sleeve 51 by set screws 51a. 
This connection allows the cross rod 50 to be adjusted in length to 
accommodate wheel chairs of different widths. The cross rod 50 of the 
outrigger 42 extends horizontally behind the flat bottom section 32 of the 
backrest 24 and here the cross rod 50 is attached to the backing plate 34 
of the backrest 24 at two lower clamps 70 which are identical to the upper 
clamps 52. As such, each has inner and outer disks 60 and 62 provided with 
grooves 64 and screws 66 which urge the disks 40 and 42 together. The 
offset ends 54 of the lower outrigger 42 fit into the lower brackets 46. 
Each lower bracket 46 includes (FIGS. 5 and 6) a block 72 having a concave 
forward face which matches the curvature of the back post 16 against which 
it fits. The block 72 near its lower end contains a short slot 74 that 
extends from side to side in the block 72 with its elongation 
perpendicular to the axis of the post 16. The slot 74 in turn contains a 
cross bar 76 which fits somewhat loosely so that it can move toward and 
away from the post 16. The cross bar 76 is slightly longer than the block 
72 is wide, and has end caps 77 connected to its ends. The cross bar 76 
carries a strap 78 which passes around the front of the post 16. At its 
ends, the strap 78 is provided with openings 79 which are slightly larger 
than end caps 77. The end caps 77 fit through the openings 79 to connect 
the strap 78 to the cross bar 76. When the bar 76 is at the front of its 
slot 74, the strap 78 fits rather loosely around the post 16 and the 
bracket 46 may move upwardly and downwardly on the post 16. However, the 
location of the cross bar 76 is under the control of a headed machine 
screw 82 which extends loosely through an opening 84 in the block 72 from 
its back face. Beyond the opening 84 the screw 82 threads into the cross 
bar 76 midway between the ends of the cross bar 76. When the head of the 
screw 82 is turned down against the back face of the block 72, the cross 
bar 76 moves rearwardly and draws the strap 78 tightly around the post 16. 
This secures the block 72 firmly against the post 16. In addition, the 
block 72 contains a vertical slot 86 which extends transversely and opens 
out of the upper end of the block 72. The slot 86 is large enough to 
accommodate one of the offset ends 54 of the lower outrigger 42 somewhat 
loosely and indeed receives that offset end 54. Thus, the lower brackets 
46, by confining the offset ends 54 of the lower outrigger 42 in the 
vertical slots 86, serve to position lower end of the backrest 24, at 
least when the lower clamps 70 tightly grip the cross rod 50 of the 
outrigger 42 and prevents that rod from turning. 
The upper brackets 44 are somewhat similar to the lower brackets 46 (FIGS. 
7-9). In this regard, each has a block 72 provided with a concave front 
surface that fits against the surface of one of the back posts 16. Each, 
near its lower end, also has a short slot 74 containing a crossbar 76 
which serves to anchor the ends of a strap 78 that passes around the post 
16, the strap having openings 79 slightly larger than the cross bar end 
caps 77. The end caps 77 are connected to the ends of the cross bar 76 by 
reduced portions 77a. A machine screw 82 extends loosely through an 
opening 84 in the block 72 from its back face. The screw 82, midway 
between the sides of the block 72, threads into the crossbar 76. Thus, 
when the head of the screw 82 is turned downwardly against the back face 
of the block 72, the cross bar 78 is drawn rearwardly until the strap 78 
tightly grips the post 16. In addition, the block 72 contains a vertical 
slot 86, which extends transversely and opens upwardly, and is furthermore 
large enough to receive one of the offset ends 54 on the upper outrigger 
rod 40. However, the slot 86 in the upper bracket 44 is shorter than the 
vertical slot 86 in the lower bracket 46 and furthermore is somewhat wider 
at its open top. Aside from that, the block 72 of the upper bracket 44 has 
another vertical slot 88 located midway between its sides, and this slot 
intersects the transverse slot 86. Between the bottom of the transverse 
slot 86 and the short slot 74 in which the cross bar 76 is contained, the 
block 72 of the upper bracket 44 contains a pivot pin 90 about which a 
latch 92 rotates between a locking or closed position and a release 
position. Urging the latch 92 to its closed position is a spring 94 which 
wraps around the pivot pin 90 and is to a large measure contained within 
the slot 88. 
When the latch 92 is in its closed position (FIG. 7), it blocks the upper 
end of the vertical slot 86, indeed, with an arcuate surface that conforms 
to the curvature of the offset end 54 of the upper outrigger 40. Enough 
space exists between the arcuate surface and the bottom of the slot 86 to 
accommodate the offset end 54, even as the latch 92 is moved to its 
release position. Of course, when the latch 92 is in its release position, 
it no longer blocks the vertical slot 86 and the offset end 54 may be 
lifted upwardly out of the slot 86. Indeed, as the latch 92 approaches its 
release position, another portion of the latch 92 enters the bottom of the 
slot 86 and actually pushes the offset end 54 of the upper outrigger 40 
upwardly. 
The clamps 52 and 70, the outriggers 40 and 42 and the brackets 44 and 46 
enable the backrest 24 to assume a multitude of positions, and by reason 
of the adjustment afforded by the clamps 52 and 70 and the brackets 44 and 
46, a therapist should be able to position the backrest 24 to fit users of 
different sizes as well as users having different skeletal deformities. By 
releasing the upper clamps 52, which is achieved simply by backing off the 
set screws 66, one can rotate the upper outrigger 40. Since the offset 
ends 54 of the outrigger 40 are confined to a fixed axis by the upper 
brackets 44, the rotation of the upper outrigger 40 moves the upper end of 
the backrest 24 forwardly and rearwardly as well as vertically. In effect, 
the cross rod 50 of the upper outrigger 40 serves as the end of a crank 
arm and the connected portion of the back rest 24 merely follows it. 
The lower brackets 46, while confining the offset ends 54 of the lower 
outriggers 42 horizontally, do not restrict it vertically, and hence the 
lower end of the backrest 24 is free to move to accommodate the vertical 
motion and rotation imparted to the upper outrigger 40. If the rotation 
elevates or depresses the upper end of the backrest 24 too much, the upper 
brackets 46 may be repositioned along the posts 16 by backing off the 
screws 82 that control their straps 78 and moving them to a new location. 
On the other hand, the location of the lower end of the backrest 24 is 
under the control of the lower outrigger 42, and it too, when turned, 
functions like a crank arm. However, its offset ends 54, not being 
confined vertically by the lower brackets 46, are free to rise and fall in 
the vertical slots 84 of those brackets. Hence, rotation of the lower 
outrigger 42 moves the lower end of the backrest 24 either forwardly or 
rearwardly. Should the adjustments provided by rotational of either one of 
the outriggers 40 or 42 move or elevate the offset ends 54 of the lower 
outrigger 42 above the lower brackets 46, those brackets may be raised to 
again recapture the offset ends 54 of the lower outrigger 42, simply by 
loosening the screws 82 and moving the brackets 46 upwardly to the desired 
location, whereupon the screws 82 are again tightened. The same holds true 
if the rotation of either outrigger 40 or 42 crams the offset ends 54 of 
the lower outriggers 42 into the bottoms of the slots 86 for the lower 
brackets 46. 
The backrest 24 does not detract from the capacity of the wheelchair A to 
fold into a highly compact configuration. Should one desire to collapse 
the wheelchair A, that individual fully depresses the latches 92, causing 
the latches 92 to push the offset ends 54 of the upper outriggers 40 
upwardly in the slots 86 of the upper brackets 44. This, in effect, frees 
the offset ends 54 of the upper outriggers 40 from the upper brackets 44, 
so that the backrest 24 may be lifted upwardly. As this occurs, the offset 
ends 54 of the upper outriggers 40 come out of the vertical slots 86 in 
the upper bracket 44, whereas the offset ends 54 of the lower outriggers 
42 come out of the vertical slots 86 in the lower brackets 46. 
This invention is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the 
example of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure 
which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the 
invention.