Patent Publication Number: US-9427364-B2

Title: Adjustable limb support for personal mobility vehicles

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/779,139, filed Mar. 13, 2013, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Certain wheelchairs typically include arm supports that are attached to the seats of the wheelchairs. The arm supports can be adjustable to accommodate different size occupants and the different comfort desires of each occupant. The known arm supports typically have a finite number of positions at which the arm supports can be adjusted to. Further, to adjust the arm supports, pins or bolts have to be removed prior to allow the arm supports to be moved to each position. 
     SUMMARY 
     In an embodiment, an arm support for a wheelchair can include a first member having a first end and a second end spaced from the first end along a first direction, the first end defining a first cavity, and the first member including a first attachment member that extends through the first cavity so as to define an axis that extends along a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The arm support can further include a second member having a first end and a second end spaced from the first end along the first direction, the first end of the second member being disposed within the first cavity such that the second member is pivotally attached to the first member by the first attachment member. The arm support can further include an actuator that extends through the first end of the second member and through the first cavity along a third direction that is substantially perpendicular to at least the second direction, the actuator being operatively coupled to the second member such that actuation of the actuator causes the second member to pivot about the axis. 
     In accordance with another embodiment, an arm support for a wheelchair can include a first member having a first end and including a first attachment member that extends through the first end so as to define an axis that extends along a transverse direction; a second member having a first end that defines a first pair of plates that are spaced from each other along the transverse direction, at least one plate of the first pair of plates including a slot that is elongate along a longitudinal direction that is perpendicular to the transverse direction, the second member further including a nut having at least one engagement member that engages the slot of the at least one plate to thereby pivotally couple the nut between the plates of the first pair of plates, wherein the first attachment member extends through the first pair of plates to thereby pivotally attach the second member to the first member; and an actuator that extends through the first cavity and through the nut, whereby rotation of the actuator moves the nut along the actuator and along the slot to thereby cause the second member to pivot about the axis. 
     In accordance with another embodiment, a method of adjusting an arm support for a wheelchair, can include the steps of rotating a first actuator to thereby cause an upper arm portion of the arm support to pivot about a first vertical axis relative to a shoulder of the arm support; and rotating a second actuator to thereby cause an arm support of the arm support to pivot about a second vertical axis relative to the upper arm portion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of embodiments of the application, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purposes of illustrating the methods, adjustable limb support, and systems of the present application, there is shown in the drawings a preferred embodiment. It should be understood, however, that the application is not limited to the precise methods, adjustable limb support, and systems shown. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a wheelchair in accordance with an embodiment, the wheelchair having a seating system that includes a seat bottom, a seat back, and a pair of adjustable arm supports coupled to opposed sides of the seat back, certain components of the wheelchair have been removed for clarity; 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective of an adjustable arm support in accordance with an embodiment, the adjustable arm support including a first member, a second member pivotably coupled to the first member at a first joint, and a third member pivotably coupled to the second member at a second joint; 
         FIG. 2B  is an exploded view of the adjustable arm support shown in  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 3A  is a top plan view of the first joint showing the angular range through which the second member can pivot relative to the first member; 
         FIG. 3B  is a top plan view of the second joint showing the angular range through which the third member can pivot relative to the first member; 
         FIG. 4A  is a cross-sectional view of the second joint shown in  FIG. 3B , the third member being in a first position relative to the second member; 
         FIG. 4B  is a cross-sectional view of the second joint shown in  FIG. 3B , the third member being in a second position relative to the second member; and 
         FIG. 4C  is a cross-sectional view of the second joint shown in  FIG. 3B , the third member being in a third position relative to the second member. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a personal mobility vehicle, such as a wheelchair  10 , can include a base  14 , and a seating system  18  attached to the base  14 . The base  14  can include a frame  22 , a pair of drive wheels  26  coupled to the frame  22 , and a pair of drives operatively coupled to the drive wheels  26  such that the drives cause the wheels to rotate to thereby propel the wheelchair  10  in a desired direction. The seating system  18  can include a seat base  34 , a seat back  38 , and a pair of adjustable arm supports  42  that are coupled to opposed sides of the seat back  38 . The adjustable arm supports  42  are configured to be easily adjusted to desired positions so as to accommodate different individuals. It should be appreciated, that the mechanisms disclosed can be incorporated into other portions of the wheelchair  10  and that the personal mobility vehicle can have other configurations. For example, the mechanisms that allow the adjustable arm supports  42  to be easily adjusted can be incorporated into leg supports of the wheelchair and the personal mobility vehicle can be configured as a scooter, as desired. 
     Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “right”, “left”, “lower” and “upper” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inner” or “distal” and “outer” or “proximal” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the implant and related parts thereof. The terminology includes the above-listed words, derivatives thereof and words of similar import. 
     The adjustable arm supports  42  are substantially identical. Therefore it should be appreciated, that while a first arm support  42  of the pair of adjustable arm supports  42  will be described, the second arm support  42  will include substantially similar components as the first arm support  42  and will operate in a substantially similar manner. Referring to  FIG. 2A , the adjustable arm support  42  is described herein as extending horizontally along a longitudinal direction “L” and lateral direction “A”, and vertically along a transverse direction “T”. Unless otherwise specified herein, the terms “lateral,” “longitudinal,” and “transverse” are used to describe the orthogonal directional components of various components. It should be appreciated, however, that the directional components of the various components of the adjustable arm support  42  will vary during use. For instance, while the longitudinal directional components of each component of the arm support  42  are parallel to each other in  FIG. 2A , when the arm support  42  is adjusted, the longitudinal directional component of one component of the arm support  42  may be angularly offset from that of a second component of the arm support  42 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the adjustable arm support  42  includes a first member  50 , a second member  54  pivotally coupled to the first member  50  at a first joint  58 , and a third member  62  pivotally coupled to the second member  54  at a second joint  66 . The first member  50  can be configured as a shoulder that is coupled to the seat back  38 , the second member  54  can be configured as an upper arm portion, and the third member  62  can be configured to support an arm rest. It should be appreciated, however, that the first, second, and third members can be any portion of the adjustable arm support  42  unless otherwise claimed. For example, in an embodiment where the adjustable arm support  42  includes a single adjustable portion, the upper arm portion may be considered the first member and the portion that supports the arm rest may be considered the second member or vice versa. Further, it should be appreciated, that the seat back  38  not only includes the portion that an individual rests against but also includes any structure that is supported by that portion. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2B , the first member  50  includes a body  68  that is elongate along a first direction, such as along the longitudinal direction. The body  68  can define a first end  70  and a second end  74  spaced from the first end  70  along the first direction. The first end  70  defines a first cavity  78  that extends into the body  68  along the first direction. The first member  50  can further include a first attachment member  82  that extends through the first cavity  78  so as to define an axis A 1  that extends along a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction, such as along the transverse direction. In particular, the first member  50  can define a pair of bores  86  that are configured to receive the first attachment member  82  to thereby secure the first attachment member  82  to the body  68 . 
     The first attachment member  82  can include a substantially cylindrical body  90  that is elongate along the second direction and a pair of fasteners  94  that are configured to be coupled to opposed ends of the body  90  to thereby trap or otherwise couple the body  90  to the first member  50 . As shown, the cylindrical body  90  is configured to be received by the bores  86  and the fasteners  94  have a dimension that is greater than that of the bores  86  such that when the fasteners  94  are coupled to the body  90 , the body  90  will be trapped within the bores  86 . It should be appreciated, however, that the first attachment member  82  can have any configuration as desired. For example, the first attachment member  82  can be configured as a standard bolt, as desired. 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the second member  54  can include an angled body member  102  that defines a first end  106  and a second end  110  that is spaced from the first end along the first direction. The angled body member  102  extends between the first and second ends  106  and  110  such that the second end  110  of the second member  54  is offset from the first end  106  of the second member  54  along the second direction. The first end  106  of the second member is configured to be disposed within the first cavity  78  such that the second member is pivotally attached to the first member  50  by the first attachment member  82 . It should be appreciated, that while the second member  54  includes an angled body member  102  in the illustrated embodiment, the second member  54  can be substantially straight such that the first and second ends  106  and  110  are not offset from each other along the second direction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2B , the first end  106  includes a first pair of plates  114  that are spaced from each other along the second direction. Each plate  114  defines a respective bore  118  such that when the plates  114  are received within the first cavity  78  the bores  118  align with the bores  86  and the first attachment member  82  extends through the bores  86  and  118  along the second direction to thereby pivotally couple the second member  54  to the first member  50 . As shown in  FIG. 2B , each plate  114  further defines a slot  122  that is elongate along the first direction. As illustrated, each slot  122  can be rearward from the respective bore  118  and can be aligned with the respective bore  118  along the first direction. It should be appreciated, however, that the first end  106  can have any configuration as desired. For example, one of the plates  114  can define a slot  122  while the other plate is void of the slot  122  as desired. 
     Similarly, the second end  110  includes a second pair of plates  124  that are spaced from each other along the second direction. Each plate  124  defines a respective bore  128  and a respective slot  132  that is elongate along the first direction. As illustrated each slot  132  can be forward of the respective bore  128  and can be aligned with the respective bore  128  along the first direction. It should be appreciated, however, that the second end  110  can have any configuration as desired. For example, one of the plates  124  can define a slot  132  while the other plate is void of the slot  132  as desired. 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 2B , the second member  54  further includes a first nut  140  that is pivotally and translatably coupled between the first pair of plates  114 . The nut  140  includes a nut body  144  that defines an aperture  148  that extends through the body  144  along a third direction that is perpendicular to at least the second direction, such as along the lateral direction. The aperture  148  carries an internal thread that is configured to mate with an external thread of an actuator such that rotation of the actuator causes the nut  140  to move along the actuator along the third direction. The nut  140  further includes a pair of engagement members  152  that extend from the nut body  144  along the second direction such that each engagement member  152  extends into a respective slot  122  of the first pair of plates  114  to thereby pivotally and slidably couple the nut  140  to the plates  114 . As illustrated, the engagement members  152  can be ends of a single rod that extends through the nut body  144  along the second direction. It should be appreciated, however, that the engagement members  152  can be separate members that extend from the body  144  in opposite directions and are monolithic with the nut body  144 . The engagement members  152  can have a dimension that is substantially equal to the width of the slots  122 . Therefore, in the illustrated embodiment, the nut  140  can only move along that first direction, and will be substantially translatably fixed in all other directions. 
     In the illustrated embodiment the nut body  144  is elongate along the first direction and the aperture  148  is disposed forward relative to the engagement members  152 . The nut body  144  is pivotable relative to the first end  106  and can move or otherwise translate relative to the first end  106  along the first direction. It should be appreciate, however, that the nut  140  can have any configuration as desired. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2B , the second member  54  further includes a second nut  160  that is pivotally and translatably coupled between the second pair of plates  124 . The nut  160  includes a nut body  164  that defines an aperture  168  that extends through the body  164  along the third direction. The aperture  168  carries an internal thread that is configured to mate with an external thread of an actuator such that rotation of the actuator causes the nut  160  to move along the actuator along the third direction. The nut  160  further includes a pair of engagement members  172  that extend from the nut body  164  along the second direction such that each engagement member  172  extends into a respective slot  132  of the second pair of plates  124 . As illustrated, the engagement members  172  can be ends of a single rod that extends through the nut body  164  along the second direction. It should be appreciated, however, that the engagement members can be separate members that extend from the body  164  in opposite directions and are monolithic with the nut body  164 . The engagement members  172  can have a dimension that is substantially equal to the width of the slots  132 . Therefore, the nut  160  can only move along that first direction, and will be substantially translatably fixed in all other directions. 
     In the illustrated embodiment the nut body  164  is elongate along the first direction and the aperture  168  is disposed rearward relative to the engagement members  172 . The nut body  164  is pivotable relative to the second end  110  and can move or otherwise translate relative the second end  110  along the first direction. 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 2B , the third member  62  includes a body  180  that is elongate along the first direction The body  180  can define a first end  184  and a second end  188  spaced from the first end  184  along the first direction. The first end  184  defines a second cavity  192  that extends into the body  180  along the first direction. The third member  62  can further include a second attachment member  196  that extends through the second cavity  192  so as to define an axis A 2  that extends along the second direction. In particular, the third member  62  can define a pair of bores  198  that are configured to receive the second attachment member  196  to thereby secure the second attachment member  196  to the body  180 . 
     The second attachment member  196  can include a substantially cylindrical body  200  that is elongate along the second direction, and a pair of fasteners  204  that are configured to be coupled to opposed ends of the body  200  to thereby trap or otherwise couple the body  200  to the third member  62 . As shown, the cylindrical body  200  is configured to be received by the bores  198  and the fasteners  204  have a dimension that is greater than that of the bores  198  such that when the fasteners  204  are coupled to the body  200 , the body  200  will be trapped within the bores  198 . It should be appreciated, however, that the second attachment member  196  can have any configuration as desired. For example, the second attachment member  196  can be configured as a standard bolt. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the adjustable arm support  42  can further include an arm rest  214  that is supported by the second end  188  of the third member  62 . The arm rest  214  is elongate along the first direction and is configured to support an infirmed persons arms in a comfortable position. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the adjustable arm support  42  can further include a first actuator  280  that extends through the first end  106  of the second member  54  and through the first cavity  78  along the third direction, and a second actuator  284  that extends through the second end  110  of the second member  54  and through the second cavity  192  along the third direction. The first actuator  280  can be operatively coupled to the second member  54  such that actuation of the first actuator  280  causes the second member  54  to pivot about the axis A 1  and the second actuator  284  can be operatively coupled to the second member  54  such that actuation of the second actuator  284  causes the third member  62  to pivot about the axis A 2 . 
     The first and second actuators  280  and  284  can be configured as respective bolts  296  that define external threads configured to mate with the internal threads of the first and second nuts  140  and  160 , respectively. Each bolt  296  can define a mating interface  300  that is configured to receive a tool such as a wrench. When the wrench is engaged with one of the mating interfaces  300 , rotation of the wrench will cause the bolt  296  to rotate thereby causing the nut to travel along the bolt  296 . It should be appreciated, however, that the first and second actuators  280  and  284  can have other configurations as desired. For example, the first and second actuators  280  and  284  can be a worm drive with a mating worm gear. 
     Now in reference to  FIGS. 3A-3B , the third member  62  may be adjusted relative to the second member  54  by rotating the second actuator  284 . It should be appreciated, that the second member  54  can also be rotated relative to the first member  50  in a similar manner if it is desired to adjust the angular position of the second member  54 . As shown in  FIG. 3A , the second member  54  can be adjusted relative to the first member  50  to any desired angle θ 1  within a specified angular range that is between about −A 1  and about A 1 . For example, the second member can be adjusted relative to the first member  50  to any desired angle θ 1  that is between about −25° and about 25° relative to the longitudinal direction of the first member  50 . Similarly, and as illustrated in  FIG. 3B , the third member  62  can be adjusted relative to the second member  54  to any desired angle θ 2  within a specified angular range that is between about −B 1  and about B 1 . For example, the third member can be adjusted relative to the second member  54  to any desired angle θ 2  that is between about −25° and about 25° relative to the longitudinal direction of the second member  54 . That is, rotation of the actuators  280  and  284  will cause the second member  54  or third member  62  to pivot to any desired angle within the specified angular range. It should be appreciated, however, that the desired ranges can be any ranges as desired. 
     In operation and as shown in  FIGS. 4A-4C , the angular position of the third member  62  can be adjusted by rotating the second actuator  284 . As shown in  FIG. 4A , when the third member  62  is in a first angular position, for example at −B 1 , the engagement members  172  of the nut  160  will be disposed in a first or forward portion of the slots  132  and the nut  160  will be positioned proximate to a first end of the actuator  284 . As shown in  FIG. 4B , as the second actuator  284  is rotated, the nut  160  will move along the second actuator  284  toward the middle of the actuator  284  while the engagement members  172  move toward a second or rearward portion of the slots  132 . In  FIG. 4B , the third member  62  is shown in a second position whereby by the angular position of the third member  62  is 0°. As shown in  FIG. 4C , the third member  62  can be moved toward a third angular position, for example at B 1 . In such a position, the engagement members  172  of the nut  160  will once again be disposed in the first or forward portion of the slots  132  and the nut  160  will be positioned proximate to a second end of the actuator  284 . Because the nut  160  is able to pivot and translate relative to the second member  54 , the nut  160  is able to move along the second actuator  284  when the actuator  284  is rotated to thereby cause the third member  62  to pivot relative to the second member  54 . 
     The second member  54  can be adjusted in a similar manner as the third member  62 . Depending on the position of the first nut  140 , however, the engagement members  152  of the first nut  140  may be in a rearward portion of the slots  122  when the second member  54  is at an angular position of 0° relative to the first member  50 . 
     While the foregoing description and drawings represent the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that various additions, modifications, combinations and/or substitutions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims. In particular, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms, structures, arrangements, proportions, and with other elements, materials, and components, without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention may be used with many modifications of structure, arrangement, proportions, materials, and components, which are particularly adapted to specific environments and operative requirements without departing from the principles of the invention. In addition, features described herein may be used singularly or in combination with other features. For example, features described in connection with one embodiment may be used and/or interchanged with features described in another embodiment. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, and not limited to the foregoing description. 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alterations of the invention can be made without departing from the broad scope of the appended claims. Some of these have been discussed above and others will be apparent to those skilled in the art.