Abstract:
An automatic wheelchair brake is provided which automatically locks both wheels when a patient attempts to rise from the wheelchair. While seated the patient manually operates a three-way lever brake with manually locked, manually unlocked and automatic positions. If the patient attempts to rise while the brake lever is in the manually unlocked position, the lever automatically returns to the automatic position and both wheels still lock automatically. After the patient has exited, the wheelchair may easily be moved by shifting the operating lever to the manual unlock position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of wheel chairs, and, more specifically to brake systems which allow the safe operation thereof. 
     At the present state-of-the-art, almost all wheelchairs use a locking lever system in which a wheelchair user must remember to lock both wheels of the wheel chair before attempting to rise or before being transferred with the help of an ambulatory party such as a nurse. If the patient or helper doesn&#39;t remember to lock the brakes, the wheel chair may roll backward and injure the patient who may then fall. Depending upon the slope of the surface upon which the wheelchair is located, the wheelchair may freewheel away and be lost or damaged. Patients often forget to set the brakes because of mental infirmities brought on by old age, due to drug induced drowsiness, or because of other pre-occupations. Some patients are also unable to operate side-mounted levers because of physical infirmities such as quadriplegia and hemiplegia. 
     A number of inventions have been proposed to deal with this problem. For example, H. M. Eagelson, Jr. et. al. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,302,757) provided an automatic immobilizing device; H. E. Marshall (U.S. Pat. No. 3,529,700) provided a brake assembly for wheelchairs; and R. E. Knoche (U.S. Pat. No. 4,350,227) provided a wheelchair brake assembly; however, none of the referenced inventions provides the fully automatic operation and safety features addressed by the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide an automatic wheel chair brake which locks both wheels whenever the patient attempts to rise from a sitting position. This is accomplished by using an automatic actuating arm which the patient normally sits upon. When the patient attempts to rise, this arm rotates upwards, locking both wheels. 
     Another object is to provide an automatic wheel chair which may be manually operated by hand-operated lever type locks mounted on the sides of the wheel chair which may be operated by the seated patient. 
     A further object is to provide an automatic wheel chair brake which automatically locks the wheels when a patient attempts to rise even though the manual lever brake handle has been left in the unlocked position. This is accomplished by providing the operating lever with three positions: a locked position, an unlocked position, and a center, automatic, position. When the lever is set to the unlocked position, and the patient occupies the chair, the operating handle automatically reverts to the automatic position, and the wheels lock as the patient rises. 
     A yet further object is to provide an automatic wheel chair whose lever brake system is operable by an ambulatory helping party even though there is no patient in the wheel chair. 
     A still further object is to provide an automatic wheel chair in which the automatic operating mechanism may be easily retrofitted to existing wheelchairs. 
     Another further object is to provide an automatic wheel chair which is reliable in operation, easy to use, and inexpensive to fabricate. 
     Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     The figures in the drawings are briefly described as follows: 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a conventional wheel chair incorporating the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view with parts broken away of the invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 3--3 in FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line 4--4 in FIG. 3. 
     FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on line 5--5 in FIG. 3. 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the invention with parts broken away in order to illustrate the internal cooperation of the components of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates the use of the wheel chair brake 10 applied to a conventional wheelchair 12. The automatic wheelchair brake 10 controls the motion of wheelchair 12 by a friction braking system in which brake shoe 14 indents into rubber rim 16. Although only one wheel and one braking system are illustrated, it is understood that the unseen wheel may be equipped with a duplicate automatic brake system. 
     The wheel chair brake 10 is attached to wheelchair crossbar 80 by tightening screws 82 and 84 which secure crossbar mounting plate 86 to mounting bracket 88. 
     The operation of the invention may best be understood by first considering the operation of the manual lever actuated brake system and then considering the operation of the automatic brake system. Finally, the interaction between the two will be considered. 
     Operating lever 18 is free to move upward into a manual lock position, downward into a manual unlock position or may be left in a center automatic position as indicated by arrows. Operating lever 18 is cantilevered at pivot 20 which is supported by pivot plate 22 and pivot plate arm 24 which is screwed to cover plate 26, which is, in turn screwed to base 28. Operating lever 18 moves cam plate 30 up and down. Cam plate 30 is equipped with a three-position cam 32 which has a rectangular opening at the top, which becomes an oblique slot angled toward the back of the plate and finally ends in another rectangular slot at the bottom of the aperture. A protrusion 34 in sliding plate 36 causes sliding plate 36 to move forward and backward as cam plate 30 moves up and down. When edge 38, of sliding plate 36 slides forward it compresses brake actuating spring 40 which biases brake shoe plate 42. As brake shoe plate 42 moves, brake shoe 44 also moves, guided by bushing 46. 
     Manual application of the brake. When operating lever 18 is shifted upwards, cam plate 30 moves downward, causing sliding plate 36 to move forwards and at the same time protrusion 34 is locked in the upper rectangular part of three-position cam 32. Edge 38 of sliding plate 36 compresses brake actuating spring 40 and brake shoe 44 moves forward locking the wheels of the wheelchair. The resilience of brake actuating spring 40 compensates for normal variations in the diameter of the wheelchair&#39;s rim. 
     Manual unlocking of the brake. When the brake is to be released, operating lever 18 is shifted all the way down to the manual unlock position as illustrated. Cam plate 30 moves upward, causing sliding plate 36 to move backward and at the same time protrusion 34 is locked in the lower rectangular part of three-position cam 32. Biasing pressure on brake actuating spring 40 is released, and brake shoe 44 retracts with the assistance of brake shoe return spring 48. 
     Automatic operation of the brake. Operating lever 18 is in the central Automatic position as illustrated. Assume that a patient is sitting upon automatic actuating arm 50. When the patient attempts to rise, actuating arm 50 rotates with automatic actuating shaft 52, in the direction of the auto lock arrow due to the rotary biasing of automatic actuating arm with partial assistance of return spring 54 which is attached to collar 56 and the force supplied by spring 66. Shaft pin 58, which is attached to actuating arm shaft 52 by collar 60, rests in cradle 62. Linkpin 64, which is biased by linkpin return spring 66, is guided by linkpin extension 67 and is capped by nut 69, and moves along with linear cam 68. 
     Conversely when the patient begins to sit, a full brake release will be effected when bar pin 70 moves to rest on flat portion of the linear cam link 68 shown as the outer edge of the cam link member 68 at the end of the angular portion thereof, because the force is applied to the cradle 62 by pin 58 and spring 66 is compressed. 
     Brake actuating bar pin 70, which projects from brake actuating bar 72, rides in linear cam 68 and, in the braking position, is fully extended by biasing due to brake activating bar return spring 74. Brake activating bar 72 presses against brake shoe plate 42 and forces brake shoe 44 against the wheelchair&#39;s rim. The resilience of brake activating bar return spring 74 allows for normal variations in the diameter of the rim. 
     When a patient returns to the wheelchair and sits on automatic actuating arm 50, automatic actuating shaft 52 rotates in the auto unlock direction as shown by the arrow. Linkpin 64 advances linear cam 68, causing brake actuating bar 72 to be withdrawn from contact with brake shoe plate 42. Brake shoe plate 42 and brake shoe 44 are then withdrawn by the biasing forces due to brake shoe return spring 48 and the wheel is unlocked. 
     The range of motion of brake actuating bar 72 is limited not only by linear cam 68 but also by rectangular aperture 76 in sliding plate 36. When sliding plate 36 is withdrawn, as is the case when operating lever 18 is shifted to the manual unlock position, brake actuating bar 72 is locked in its retracted position. This assures absolute control of the braking system by the manual brake when the patient is sitting. 
     If the patient happens to sit while operating lever 18 is in the manual unlock position lateral motion of cam 68 will relieve the pressure pin 70 against sliding plate 36 allowing cam plate 30 to drop in to the automatic position, and thus the brakes will apply as the patient rises. The wheelchair can then be moved by shifting the manual lever from the central automatic position into the manual unlock position. 
     While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and the details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.