Patent ID: 7290776

Claim:
An extension handle apparatus for a wheeled chair which includes handle support tubes for supporting one or more wheeled-chair handles, comprising: an extension support portion, an extension handle portion connected to said extension support portion, a pair of clamping plates, wherein each clamping plate includes an extension-support reception region and a wheeled-chair-handle-support-tube reception region, first and second clamping fasteners connected between said clamping plates, and a retention assembly connected between said clamping plates for retaining said clamping plates in opposite positions with respect to each other, wherein said retention assembly includes: a retention rod connected between said clamping plates, a bias spring supported by said retention rod for maintaining said clamping plates in opposite positions with respect to each other, and stop portions, connected to ends of said retention rod, for preventing said clamping plates from separating from said retention rod, and wherein said pair of clamping plates has a longitudinal extent, said first and second clamping fasteners connected between said clamping plates being spaced from one another along said longitudinal extent, and wherein said retention assembly is disposed between said first and second clamping fasteners along said longitudinal extent such that said retention rod and said stop portions thereof prevent said clamping plates from separating from said retention rod when said first and second fasteners are loosened relative to said pair of clamping plates, and wherein each one of said pair of clamping plates includes a first concave portion for defining said extension-support reception region and a second concave portion for defining said wheeled-chair-handle-support tube reception region, and wherein said longitudinally spaced first and second clamping fasteners and said retention rod of said retention assembly therebetween are located intermedially between said first concave portion and said second concave portion of each one of said pair of clamping plates.