Abstract:
An embodiment includes a brake lever, a caliper brake, brake cable, and mounting bracket which mounts the caliper brake so that a wheelchair user&#39;s assistant can control the wheelchair wheel yet does not interfere with propulsion of the wheelchair by the user by rotating the wheelrim. One embodiment bracket has integral construction with a flange for connection to the wheelchair, a web, and a shoulder for connection to the caliper brake.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE(S) 
       [0001]    Not Applicable 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
       [0003]    Not Applicable. 
       BACKGROUND 
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART INCLUDING INFORMATION DISCLOSED UNDER 37 CFR 1.97 AND 37 CFR 1.98 
       [0004]    An embodiment brake assembly allows a person assisting a wheelchair user to have improved control over the movement of the wheelchair, by slowing the movement of the chair while going up or down slopes, or, through selective application of a single brake, by steering the wheelchair while it is being pushed in a forward direction. The brakes are mounted above and behind the wheel axles and do not interfere with the propulsion of a wheelchair by its user. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,204,588 discloses a wheel chair brake which is mounted in front of the wheel. The brake is mounted on a horizontal pipe component of a bracket. The brake is activated by the elbow of the wheelchair user. Two independent brakes are used. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,355 discloses a wheelchair brakes activated by the user. The brakes are mounted below the axle and are activated simultaneously by a single lever. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,854,754 discloses independent brakes for each wheel which are activated by a person pushing the wheelchair. The brakes are approximately over the wheel axle. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. D516,471 discloses the design of a wheelchair brake bracket. 
         [0009]    The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings. These examples do not provide the advantages of embodiment of the present application, that of allowing enhanced control of a wheelchair by an assistant who is pushing it, while still allowing uninhibited access to the handrim for propulsion by the wheelchair user. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0010]    The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tool and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope. In various embodiments, one or more of the above-described problems have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed to other improvements. 
         [0011]    Embodiments include a brake assembly for a wheel on a wheelchair having handles for use by an assistant in moving the wheelchair, two wheels with tires mounted on wheel rims, and handrims mounted on the wheels for propelling the wheelchair by the wheelchair user. The assembly comprises a brake lever attached to the handle,a caliper brake having brake pads capable of restricting the movement of the wheelchair by friction of the brake pads on a wheel rim, and a cable connecting the brake lever and caliper brake. A bracket is mounted to the wheelchair and to the caliper brake, the bracket mounting the caliper brake above and behind the axle of the wheel in a position which allows contact between the brake pads and wheel rim and allows access to the handrim by the user unfettered by the caliper brake and the bracket. 
         [0012]    In embodiments bracket for a brake assembly for a wheel on a wheelchair having handles for use by an assistant in moving the wheelchair, two wheels with tires mounted on wheel rims, and handrims mounted on the wheels for propelling the wheelchair by the wheelchair user, the bracket is mounted with a front surface toward the front on the wheelchair and a rear surface toward the rear of the wheelchair. The bracket comprises a flange having top, bottom, left, and right sides, the flange having a facility for connection to the wheelchair frame. A web has top, bottom, left, and right sides, the lengths of the top and bottom sides are adequate to enable mounting of the caliper brake in a position whereby the brake pads make contact with the wheel rim adequate to retard rotation of the wheel, and the wheelchair user has access to the handrim for propelling the wheelchair by the user unfettered by the caliper brake or bracket. The flange right side is connected to the web left side, the angle between the rear surface plane of the flange and the rear surface plane of the web is between approximately 90° and approximately 180°. Finally, there is a shoulder having top, bottom, left, and right sides, the shoulder left side connected to the web right side, the angle between the rear surface plane of the shoulder and the rear surface plane of the web between approximately 180° and approximately 270°, the shoulder having a facility for connection to a caliper brake. 
         [0013]    In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the drawings and by study of the following descriptions. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment brake assembly showing the brake lever, cable, bracket, and caliper brake attached to a wheelchair frame. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the rear side of an embodiment bracket. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of an embodiment bracket flange 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of an embodiment bracket web. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5 . is a plan view of an embodiment bracket shoulder. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6A  is an end view of the connection between the bottom sides of the bracket web and bracket shoulder. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6B  an end view of the connection between the bottom sides of the bracket web and bracket flange. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6C  an end view of the connection between top sides of the bracket web and bracket shoulder. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6D  an end view of the connection between the top sides of the bracket flange and bracket web. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment brake assembly  100  showing the brake lever  32 , cable  34 , bracket  110 , and caliper brake  36  attached to a wheelchair frame  43 . 
         [0024]    Visible in  FIG. 1  is the wheelchair  40  showing the handle  42  attached to the wheelchair frame  43 . The handle  42  is for use by an attendant in pushing, steering, and stopping the wheelchair. Also visible in  FIG. 1  is the wheelchair back  41  attached to the frame  43 . An arm support cushion  44  is provided for the user&#39;s arms and is also attached to the frame  43 . 
         [0025]    Wheelchair wheel  45  is shown comprised of spokes  49 , rim  47 , and tire  46  mounted on the rim  47 . A handrim  48  is attached to the spokes  49 . The handrim  48  is used by the wheelchair user or occupant when desired to propel the wheelchair forward or backward, selectively to steer the wheelchair, and to brake the wheelchair when the user is not assisted by an attendant. 
         [0026]    The embodiment brake  30  shown in  FIG. 1  comprises a handle assembly  32 , brake cable  34 , and caliper brake assembly  36 . The caliper brake pads  33  bear on the wheel rim  47  and slow or stop the rotation of the wheel by friction between the pads and the rim. 
         [0027]    The embodiment bracket  110  shown in  FIG. 1  is attached by the bracket flange  50  to the wheelchair frame  43  using bolt  51  and lower bolt  53  which extend through holes in the flange and holes in the wheelchair back  41 . A bracket web  60  is attached on one edge to the flange  50  and at an opposite edge to a bracket shoulder  70 . The bracket has a front side closest to the front of the wheelchair and a rear side closest to the rear of the wheelchair. 
         [0028]    The caliper brake  36  is attached by a bolt  37  to a hole in the shoulder  70 . The caliper brake is oriented by the bracket so that the brake pads  33  bear on the wheel rim  47  when the brake is applied. 
         [0029]    The embodiment bracket  110  is part of a right hand brake assembly as depicted in  FIG. 1 . A similar left hand brake assembly is not shown in  FIG. 1  and is identical to the right hand brake assembly except the bracket of the left hand brake assembly is a mirror image of bracket  110  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the rear side of an embodiment bracket  110 . Visible in  FIG. 2  are the flange  50 , web  60 , and shoulder  70 .  FIG. 2  represents a configuration in which flange  50  is in the plane of the paper of  FIG. 2 , web  60  projects from the plane on the paper out toward the reader, and shoulder  70  is above the plane of the paper of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0031]    In some embodiments the flange  50 , web  60  and shoulder  70  are integral and are constructed from one piece of material which is bent. In other embodiments the flange, web and shoulder are separate pieces of material which are attached by welding, bolting, fusing or adhering. 
         [0032]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of an embodiment bracket flange  50 . This embodiment has four sides, top side  58 , bottom side  56 , left side  52 , and right side  54 . Attachment facilities for attaching the flange to the wheelchair, in this embodiment holes which receive bolts or screws for attachment to the wheelchair frame,  82 ,  84 ,  86 , and  88  are arrayed approximately along the center of the flange. 
         [0033]    One embodiment flange  50  has the following approximate dimensions: top side  58 , ⅞ inch; bottom side  56 , ⅞ inch; left side  52 , 7 inches; and right side  54 , 7 inches. The dimensions will vary accordingly to the dimension of the specific wheelchairs to which the brake is attached. 
         [0034]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of an embodiment bracket web  60 . This embodiment has four sides, top side  68 , bottom side  56 , left side  64 , and right side  62 . The left side  64  is attached to the right side  54  of the flange  50 . 
         [0035]    One embodiment web  60  has the following approximate dimensions: top side  68 , 1½ inch; bottom side  66 , 3 inches; left side  64 , 7 inches; and right side  62 , 5 inches. The dimensions will vary accordingly to the dimension of the specific wheelchairs to which the brake is attached. In particular, the top side  68  and bottom side  66  and right side  62  will vary as necessary to accomplish two objectives of the bracket, to mount the caliper brake above and behind the wheel axle so that the user&#39;s hand does not come into contact with the caliper brake when propelling the wheelchair using the handrim ( 48  in  FIG. 1 ), and to mount the caliper brake in the correct orientation to insure contact of the brake pads ( 33  in  FIG. 1 ) with the wheel rim ( 47  in  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0036]      FIG. 5 . is a plan view of an embodiment bracket shoulder  70 . This embodiment has four sides, top side  78 , bottom side  76 , left side  74  and right side  76 . The left side  74  is attached to the right side  62  of the web  60 . Attachment facilities for attaching the caliper brake ( 36  in  FIG. 1 ), in this embodiment holes which receive a bolt ( 37  in  FIG. 1 ) for attachment to the caliper brake,  81 ,  83 ,  85 , and  87  are arrayed in a rectangular orientation on the shoulder. 
         [0037]    One embodiment shoulder  70  has the following approximate dimensions: top side  78 , 4 inches; bottom side  76 , 2¼ inches; left side  74 , 5 inches; and right side  76 , 1¼ inches. The dimensions will vary accordingly to the dimension of the specific wheelchairs to which the brake is attached. The dimensions will vary accordingly to the dimension of the specific wheelchairs to which the brake is attached. In particular, the top side  78 , bottom side  76 , left side  74  and right side  76  will vary as necessary to accomplish the objectives of the bracket described with respect to  FIG. 4 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 6A  is an end view of the connection between the bottom sides of the bracket web and bracket shoulder. The R indicates the rear side of the bracket. In one embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6A  the angle between the web  60  and the shoulder  70  taken at the bottom sides  66  and  76 , respectively, and viewed from the rear is approximately 247.5°. In other embodiments the angle may vary from approximately 180° to approximately 270° as necessary to meet the objectives described with respect to  FIG. 4 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 6B  is an end view of the connection between the bottom sides of the bracket web and bracket flange. The R indicates the rear side of the bracket. In one embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6B  the angle between the web  60  and the flange  50  taken at the bottom sides  66  and  56 , respectively, and viewed from the rear is approximately 112.5°. In other embodiments the angle may vary from approximately 90° to approximately 180° as necessary to meeting the objectives described with respect to  FIG. 4 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 6C  is an end view of the connection between top sides of the bracket web and bracket shoulder. The R indicates the rear side of the bracket. In one embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6C  the angle between the shoulder  70  and the web  60  taken at the top sides  78  and  68 , respectively, and viewed from the rear is approximately 247.5°. In other embodiments the angle may vary from approximately 180° to approximately 270° as necessary to meet the objectives described with respect to  FIG. 4 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 6D  is an end view of the angle between the top sides of the bracket web and flange. The R indicates the rear side of the bracket. In one embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6D  the angle between the web  60  and the flange  50  taken at the top sides  68  and  58 , respectively, and viewed from the rear is approximately 112.5°. In other embodiments the angle may vary from approximately 90° to approximately 180° as necessary to meet the objectives described with respect to  FIG. 4 . 
         [0042]    Any suitable strong brake lever capable of mounting on the wheelchair handle can be used. Bicycle levers for upright (mountain) handlebars are suitable and are used in some embodiments. One embodiment uses BRL37 DIACOMPE Power Control 11 Levers which may be obtained from Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Mass. 
         [0043]    Any suitable strong brake cable may be used to connect the lever and caliper brake. Bicycle cables are suitable and are used in some embodiments. One embodiment uses Jagwire/Quality Stainless Slick premium brake cables which may be obtained from Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Mass. 
         [0044]    Any suitable strong caliper brake can be used. Bicycle caliper brakes are suitable and are used in some embodiments. One embodiment uses Odyssey 1999 Extra Long Reach Caliper brakes which may be obtained from Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Mass. 
         [0045]    While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and subcombinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope.