Patent ID: 7540504

Claim:
A step climbing wheelchair apparatus comprising: right and left axles extending out from rotational axes of corresponding right and left rear wheels of a wheelchair; right and left lift arms, and a longitudinal slot defined in a middle portion of each lift arm, and a handle on a front end of each lift arm; wherein the right and left axles extend through the slots defined by corresponding right and left lift arms, and a fastener is attached to secure each lift arm on the corresponding axle such that each lift arm can slide longitudinally substantially perpendicular to the axle from an extended position, where the axle is located at a front handle end of the slot, to a retracted position where the axle is located at an opposite rear step end of the slot; wherein the lift arms are configured such that when in the extended position rear step ends of the lift arms are located rearward of the outer rim of the rear wheel, and the handles are located generally forward of the outer rim of the rear wheel; and a front lift mechanism comprising a lift wheel and a lift lever operative to push the lift wheel downward to raise the front caster wheels of the wheelchair.