TAPERED SWING-AWAY FOOTREST

Abstract: A folding wheelchair includes a pair of side frames (A) as well as folding frames (D) connecting the side frames for enabling the side frames to be selectively brought together to a folded position and moved apart to an operating position. A pair of footrest brackets (20) are secured to respective side frames. Each of the brackets curve inwardly away from the side frames and toward each other. A pair of footrests (110) are pivotally secured to a respective one of the footrest brackets such that the footrest can be selectively swung between a horizontal orientation for receiving an operator's leg and a vertical orientation for allowing forward access to the chair and for permitting the chair to be folded.

Description: -»- TAPERED SWING-AWAY FOOTREST Background of the Invention The present invention relates to chairs. More particularly, this invention relates to footrests for wheelchairs. The invention finds particular application in conjunction with lightweight foldable wheelchairs which are readily transportable to a site of use. Such chairs are frequently used by the elderly and others who have limited mobility but lack the endurance to get around in a shopping mall or the like. Although described in conjunction with lightweight wheelchairs, it will be appreciated that the invention will find utility in other wheelchairs or devices which require leg supports. The known collapsible wheelchairs which have footrests employ footrest brackets which extend in a plane parallel to the plane of the side frames of the collapsible wheelchair. In other words, the footrests of the conventional collapsible wheelchairs, as well as the conventional pivotable or "swing-away" footrests, have brackets which extend forward and downwardly from the side frames of the wheelchair such that the lower legs of a patient sitting in the wheelchair are separated and there is a gap between the feet of the patient. It has been found that this footrest construction is less than advantageous since the feet, lower legs and knees of the patient sometimes hit objects while the patient is maneuvering the wheelchair. In addition, the turning radius of the wheelchair is not as short as it could be due to the extra overall length of the wheelchair caused by the forwardly extending footrest. In addition, the conventional footrest constructions to be found in folding wheelchairs and in conventional pivotable footrests provide for an approximately sixty degree (60°) angle between the seat portion and the footrest portion. This angle is not necessarily optimum for the patient sitting in the wheelchair. A steeper angle on the order of approximately seventy degrees (70°) would be more comfortable for the patient. However, this steeper angle is impossible to achieve in conventional folding wheelchairs and swing-away footrests since the front wheels of the wheelchair would then impact the footrest brackets or the heels of the patient at certain times during the maneuvering of the wheelchair. In other words, one is restricted as to how close the feet of a patient can be brought in towards the side frames of the wheelchair since the front wheels will then strike either the footrest bracket or the heels of the patient sitting in the chair. Accordingly, it has been considered desirable to develop a new and improved footrest construction, especially for wheelchairs, which would overcome the foregoing difficulties and others while providing better and more advantageous overall results. Brief Summary of the Invention In accordance with the present invention, a new and improved folding wheelchair is provided. More particularly in accordance with the invention, the wheelchair comprises a pair of side frames and a folding means connecting the side frames for enabling the side frames to be selectively brought together to a folded position and moved apart to an operating position. A pair of footrest brackets are secured each to a respective one of the side frames. The brackets each curve inwardly away from the side frames and toward each other. A pair of footrests are secured by a pivot means to a respective one of the footrest brackets such that the footrests can each selectively swing between a horizontal orientation for receiving an operator's legs and a vertical orientation for allowing forward access to the chair and for permitting the chair to be folded. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a wheelchair is provided. More particularly in accordance with this aspect of the invention, the wheelchair comprises first and second generally parallel elongated side frame members extending along opposite sides of the chair from front to back and link members connected between the side frames to form a stable seat. A pair of rear wheels is provided and a first securing means secures each of the rear wheels to a respective one of the side frame members. A pair of front wheels is provided and a second securing means secures each of the front wheels to a respective one of the side frame members in a spaced manner from the rear wheels. A first footrest bracket is secured to, depends downwardly from and angles inwardly from the first side frame. A second footrest bracket is secured to, depends downwardly from and angles inwardly from the second side frame such that the footrests angle toward each other. A first footrest platform is pivotably secured to the first footrest bracket and a second footrest platform is pivotably secured to the second footrest bracket. In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, a wheelchair which is foldable and collapsible for storage and transport and which is openable for use is provided. More particularly in accordance with this aspect of the invention, the wheelchair comprises a pair of opposed first and second side frame members and a seat structure connected between the first and second side frame members. A folding means connecting the first and second side frames enables the side frames to be selectively brought together to a folded position and moved apart to an operating position. A pair of footrest brackets is secured to a respective side frame. The brackets each curve inwardly away from the side frames and toward each other. A pair of footrest platforms are pivotably secured to a respective one of the footrest brackets. One advantage of the present invention is that it provides a new and improved collapsible wheelchair. Another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a wheelchair having a pair of inwardly tapering footrests which can be swung away to ease patient access to the chair. Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a collapsible wheelchair having footrest brackets that curve inwardly away from the side frames to which they are secured and toward each other. Yet another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a collapsible wheelchair with an improved, smaller turning radius. A further advantage of the present invention is the provision of a collapsible wheelchair which brings the chair occupant's legs closer together thereby protecting the legs from injury. A still further advantage of the present invention is the provision of a collapsible wheelchair which provides a more comfortable posture for a patient seated therein by allowing the legs of the patient to descend somewhat more vertically towards the adjacent ground support surface than does the conventional collapsible wheelchair. A yet further advantage of the present invention is the provision of a footrest assembly that can be readily detached from or attached to a chair such as a wheelchair. Still other benefits and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading and understanding of the following detailed specification. SUBSTITUTESHEET Brief Description of the Drawings The drawings herein are only for the purpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. In the drawings: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a wheelchair in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of a footrest bracket of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of a footrest bracket of FIGURE 2; FIGURE 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of a portion of wheelchair frame and a footrest bracket of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of a hinge bracket assembly of FIGURE 4; FIGURE 6 is a cross sectional view of a sector body of FIGURE 4 along lines 6-6; FIGURE 7 is a front elevational view of the wheelchair of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 8 is a front elevational view of the wheelchair of FIGURE 1 in a folded position; FIGURE 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a footrest extension tube and footrest member of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 10 is a photographic perspective view of the wheelchair of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 11 is a photographic front elevational view of the wheelchair of FIGURE 7; and, FIGURE 12 is a photographic front elevational view of the wheelchair of FIGURE 8. Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting same, FIGURE 1 includes a pair of identical side SUBSTITUTESHEET frames A and front wheel assemblies B which are connected to a forward portion of the side frames. Also connected to the forward portion of the side frames are footrest assemblies C. A folding mechanism D (see FIGURE 7) selectively enables the side frames to be moved together for storage and handling. A seat E supports the operator. Arm rest assemblies F are also provided as are rear wheels G which are secured toward a rear portion of the side frames. With continued reference to FIGURE 1, the side frames A are each constructed of relatively thin-walled lightweight metallic tubing material such as aluminum, magnesium, titanium and their alloys. Thin-walled steel tubing is also contemplated. Because the left and right side frames are identical, only one side frame will be discussed in detail, it being appreciated that the other side frame has an identical construction. The side frame comprises a box-like rigid substantially rectangular tubing assembly 10. Secured to a lower end 12 of a forward tube 14 of the side frame assembly 10 is the front wheel assembly B. Secured to an upper end 16 of the forward tube 14 is the foot support or footrest C. With reference to FIGURE 4, the foot support C comprises an upper mounting member or bracket 20 to which is secured a hinge bracket 22. Adapted to be secured to the bracket 22 is a preferably plastic latch housing 24. A preferably plastic pivot 26 is secured to an upper horizontal section 28 of the bracket 20 by a suitable fastener 30. The pivot extends into an open end 32 of the upper end 16 of the forward tube 14. A plug 34 can be provided on the free end of the section 28 to seal the same. It is noted that the tube upper end 28 extends along an axis parallel to the axis of the hinge bracket 22. As shown in FIGURE 5, the latch housing 24 has mounted therein a torsion spring 40. One end of the spring cooperates with and is secured to a latch member 44 that is pivotably mounted to the latch housing 24. A second end 46 of the spring 40 rests against a rib 48 of the housing 24. The latch member 44 includes a handle 50 secured to one end of the member 42. The torsion spring 40 is mounted on a fastener 52 which extends through a suitable vertical aperture 54 provided in the latch housing 24. The fastener 52 is secured to the latch housing 24. Extending through the latch member 44 is a suitable aperture 56 which enables the latch member to be pivotably mounted on the fastener 52. Cooperating with the latch housing 24 is a sector 58 upon which the latch housing is pivotably mounted. With reference now also to FIGURE 6, the sector is fastened to the forward tube 14 of the side frame assembly 10. The sector includes a substantially vertical aperture 61 through which extends a suitable shoulder screw 62. Securing the shoulder screw 62 in place on the sector 58 is a suitable nut 63. In order to secure the sector 58 to the forward tube 14 of the frame member, a suitable fastener 63 extends through aligned horizontal apertures 64 through the frame and a similar aperture 66 running horizontally through the sector 58. The latch has an arcuate surface 68 provided on an end opposite the handle 50 for cooperating with the shoulder screw 62 in order to lock the footrest assembly C in place. The latch 44 is spring biased by the torsion spring 40 to this position in order to insure that the footrest assembly C does not move until such movement is desired by the occupant of the chair. However, when the handle or manual release lever 50 of the latch member 44 is moved against the force of the torsion spring 40, the latch member can be disengaged from the shoulder screw 62. When the latch member 44 is disengaged from the shoulder screw 62, the footrest assembly C, including the hinge bracket 22 and the latch housing 24 pivot on the pivot member 26, and in relation to the sector 58, outwardly away from the seat portion E of the wheelchair. In other words, the stationary portions of this assembly are the sector 58 which is secured to the side frame A, and including the shoulder screw 62 around which the latch member 44 as well as the latch housing 24 pivot. When in the outboard position, at an angle of approximately 90° is achieved in relation to the lock position of the latch member 44 and the shoulder screw 62. When so positioned the entire footrest assembly C can be disengaged from the wheelchair simply by lifting the footrest assembly vertically upward so as to disengage the pivot 26 from the open end 32 of the upper end 16 of the forward tube 14. Therefore, the footrest assembly C of the present invention is not only pivotable out of the way but can be readily disengaged from the wheelchair altogether should this be desired. Reengagement is equally simple in that one needs to merely return the pivot 26 into the open end 32 of the forward tube 14 in an orientation approximately at right angles to the locked, cooperating, position of the latch member 44 and shoulder screw 62. It should also be noted that the footrest assembly and shoulder disclosed in FIGURE 4 is the left hand side of the wheelchair as the occupant sits in the chair. The right hand side would be a mirror image of. the left hand side. In other words, the sector 58 always needs to face outwardly away from the seat portion E of the chair and the handles 50 are always positioned outboard of the frame member A. This can be seen in, e.g. FIGURES 7 and 8. The latch assembly of the present invention allows the footrest assembly C to face straight forward or be swung out of the way by pressing the manual release lever 50 of the latch member 44, biased by the torsion spring 40, out of contact with the shoulder screw 62 to allow the leg support assembly to pivot on the pivot member 26 outwardly away from the seat E. With reference now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper foot support mounting bracket 20 includes, as mentioned, SUBSTITUTESHEET an upper section 28 as well as a lower section 82 which are connected to each other by a central section 84. These three sections are bent in relation to each other as follows. An approximately seventy degree (70°) bend is provided between the upper section 28 and the central section 84 in a vertical plane as shown in FIGURE 3. Also, an approximately thirty degree (30°) bend is provided between the central section 84 and the lower section 82 in a horizontal plane as shown in FIGURE 2. Thus, as is illustrated, the center line of the lower end 82 of the bracket 20 is displaced inwardly from the center line of the upper end 28 of the bracket. This inward displacement can be on the order of 1.5 inches if desired. The seventy degree (70°) bend allows the footrests C to be brought closer in to the seat portion E of the chair and thereby allows for a tighter turning radius for the wheelchair. In addition, displacement of the occupant's legs towards each other is advantageous from the standpoint that it protects the occupant's legs during travel in the wheelchair since the legs, especially the knees and feet are brought closer to each other and further from the side edges of the wheelchair and hence any obstacles which might be encountered by the side edges of the wheelchair. The upper leg support mounting bracket 20 includes on its lower end 82 a plurality of spaced apertures 92 which enable a footrest extension tube 100 (FIGURE 9) to be suitably secured thereto by bolts or the like (not illustrated) which extend through an aperture 102 in the extension tube 100 and one of the apertures 92 of the bracket 20. Preferably, three (3) such apertures 92 are provided on the bracket lower end 82 to enable the wheelchair footrest to be adjusted for various lower leg lengths of the occupants seated therein. The footrest extension tube is, in other words, telescopically received in the mounting bracket lower end 82 with the degree of telescopic receipt being limited by the number of apertures 92 provided on the bracket lower end 82. As shown in FIGURE 9, a generally U-shaped tubular footrest member 110 is connected by suitable fasteners to a mounting bracket 112 that is secured by a fastener to the extension tube 100. The generally U- shaped member 110 and the mounting bracket 112 are the same for both the left and right side footrests but their interconnection is reversed by one hundred eighty degrees (180°) . Preferably, a molded plastic footrest 120 slides over the U-shaped tube 110 and can be anchored thereto by a post 122. A foot support strap 124 can be telescopically received over the extension tube 100 and the post 122. The post 122 can be symmetrically mounted in the U-shaped portion 110 such that the footrest cover 120 can be utilized with either the left side or the right side. As shown in FIGURE 7, the thirty degree (30°) bend in the horizontal plane enables the footrest 110 to be displaced toward the center line of the chair and away from the side frame 10. Such displacement allows also, the seventy degree (70°) bend between the upper section 28 and the central section 84 mentioned previously. That seventy degree (70°) bend allows the occupant's legs to be more comfortably positioned while at the same time not exposing either the lower frame member 100 or the occupant's heels to being impacted by the front wheels B upon the turning of the wheelchair. As shown in FIGURE 1, the wheelchair in the expanded operative position enables an occupant's feet to be brought closer toward each other in a more comfortable stance which also protects the occupant's legs, improves the turning radius of the wheelchair and aids in more comfortably positioning the occupant's legs in the chair by providing a better angle between the occupant's lower leg and thigh. While providing all of these advantages, the footrest is also capable of accommodating the folding SUBSTITUTESHEET of the wheelchair as is illustrated in FIGURE 8 by simply pivoting the U-shaped foot support portion 110 up to a vertical position in line with the lower bracket section 100. In addition, the entire footrest assembly can be pivoted outwardly away from the seat portion in order to accommodate a patient sitting down in the chair. Moreover, the entire footrest assembly can be readily detached from the chair or reattached thereto. The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon the reading and understanding of this specification. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

Claims: Having thus described the preferred embodiment, the invention is claimed as follows: 1. A folding wheelchair comprising: a pair of side frames; a folding means, connecting said side frames, for enabling said side frames to be selectively brought together to a folded position and moved apart to an operating position; a pair of footrest brackets, each of which is secured at a first end to a respective side frame, wherein said brackets each curve inwardly away from said side frames and toward each other; a pair of footrests, each of which is secured by a pivot means to a second end of a respective one of said footrest brackets such that said footrest can selectively swing between a horizontal orientation for receiving an operator's legs and a vertical orientation for allowing forward access to the chair and for permitting the chair to be folded. 2. The chair of claim 1 wherein said folding means comprises a pair of cross members each having an upper end and a lower end, wherein said cross members are pivotably secured together. 3. The chair of claim 1 further comprising: a pair of front wheel assemblies secured to said side frames; and, a pair of rear wheel assemblies secured to said side frames and spaced from said front wheel assemblies. 4. The chair of claim 1 further comprising: a flexible seat member secured between said pair of side frames; and, a flexible back rest member secured between said pair of side frames. SUBSTITUTE SHEET 5. The wheel chair of claim 1 further comprising a means for mounting said footrest brackets for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to a plane extending through said side frames. 6. A wheel chair comprising: first and second generally parallel elongated side frame members extending along opposite sides of the chair from front to back; link members connected between said side frames to form a stable seat; a pair of rear wheels; first securing means for securing each of said rear wheels to a respective one of said side frame members; a pair of front wheels; second securing means for securing each of said front wheels to a respective one of said side frame members in a spaced manner from said rear wheels; a first footrest bracket secured to, depending downwardly from and angling inwardly from said first side frame; a second footrest bracket secured to, depending downwardly from and angling inwardly from said second side frame, wherein said footrests angle towards each other; a first footrest platform pivotably secured to said first footrest bracket; and, a second footrest platform pivotably secured to said second footrest bracket. 7. The chair of claim 6 further comprising: a flexible seat member secured between said pair of side frames; and, a flexible back rest member secured between said pair of side frames. SUBSTITUTE SHEET 8. The chair of claim 6 wherein said first and second footrest brackets are constructed essentially of tubular metal members. 9. The chair of claim 6 further comprising; a first means for pivotally swinging said first footrest bracket between an operative position and an inoperative position about a first fixed support provided on said first side frame; and, a second means for pivotally swinging said second footrest bracket between an operative position and an inoperative position about a second fixed support provided on said second side frame. 10. The chair of claim 9 further comprising means for detaching said first and second footrest brackets from said first and second side frames. 11. A wheelchair which is foldable and collapsible for storage and transport and which is openable for use, said wheelchair comprising: a pair of opposed first and second side frame members; a seat structure connected between said first and second side frame members; a folding means, connecting said first and second side frames, for enabling said side frames to be selectively brought together to a folded position and moved apart to an operating position; a pair of footrest brackets, each of which is secured at a first end to a respective side frame, wherein said brackets each curve inwardly away from said side frames and toward each other; and, a pair of footrest platforms pivotably secured to a second end of a respective one of said footrest brackets. 12. The chair of claim 11 wherein said seat structure comprises: a seat section capable of being collapsed when the wheel chair is in the folded position and expanded when the wheelchair is in the opened position; and, a back support section capable of being collapsed when the wheel chair is in the folded position and expanded when the wheelchair is in the opened position. 13. The chair of claim 12 wherein said footrest platforms can each selectively swing between a horizontal orientation for receiving an operator's legs and a vertical orientation for allowing forward access to the chair and for permitting the chair to be folded. 14. The chair of claim 11 further comprising a means for swinging said pair of footrest brackets outwardly away from each other in order to assist a patient in entering and exiting the chair.

Inventors: CURRAN NEAL J, LOEWENTHAL HOWARD L, CURRAN, NEAL, J., LOEWENTHAL, HOWARD, L.
Applicants: INVACARE CORP, INVACARE CORPORATION
Application year: 1991
Main classification: A61G5
IPC codes: A61G5