US3580591A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wheelchair attachment
Assignee: LOVELACE FOUNDATION FOR MEDICA
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Filing: 1968-12-24
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Granted: 1971-05-25
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Expires: 1988-12-24
Abstract
Abstract Wheelchair attachments, ordinarily installed in pairs, for enabling patients confined to wheelchairs to easily negotiate obstacles, such as curbs, in a conventional wheelchair having two small front wheels and two large rear wheels which the patient manually rotates to propel and maneuver the wheelchair. Each attachment includes an elevating member attachable to an axle of one of large rear wheels and having one or more prongs extending for a distance greater than the distance from the point at which the elevating member is attached to the wheelchair to the ground so that to mount a curb or similar obstacle the wheelchair can be made to stand on the elevating member with the large wheels elevated above the ground and against the curb or obstacle. The large wheels can then be manually rotated while against the curb to cause the wheelchair to climb the curb. The attachments of the invention must be used with a second attachment which includes an extendible wheel, or dolly, which is connectable to the wheelchair through supporting members and which can be manually extended backwards by the patient to a locked position. When both dollies of a pair of attachments are in this extended and locked position, the wheelchair can be tilted backwards manually to rest in a stable, tilted position on the two large wheels and the extended dollies or wheels with the two small front wheels, or casters, elevated. Curbs and other obstacles can then be simply negotiated in this tilted position by manually rotating the two large wheels so as to cause the wheelchair to stand on the pair of elevating members and then to climb the obstacle.
Inventors
- 👤 H Franklin Coffey
- 👤 Samuel T Powers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 00:25
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61G; A61G5/00; A61G5/06; A61G5/063; A61G5/10; A61G5/1089
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A wheelchair attachment for overcoming obstacles in a wheelchair with a pair of driving wheels, each having an axle, comprising means mountable on said wheelchair for enabling said wheels to be elevated above the ground including stilt means with a member attached to said axle of one of said wheels having a length greater than the distance from said axle to the ground and a spiked wheel connected to the end of said member which contacts the ground, said member being manually rotatable from a storage position to an operative position in contact with the ground and further rotatable in response to manual rotation of said wheels to cause said wheels to be elevated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
A wheelchair attachment for overcoming obstacles in a wheelchair with a pair of driving wheels, each having an axle, comprising means mountable on said wheelchair for enabling said wheels to be elevated above the ground including stilt means with a member attached to said axle of one of said wheels having a length greater than the distance from said axle to the ground and a spiked wheel connected to the end of said member which contacts the ground, said member being manually rotatable from a storage position to an operative position in contact with the ground and further rotatable in response to manual rotation of said wheels to cause said wheels to be elevated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
An attachment as in claim 1 wherein said stilt means includes a member and spiked wheel attached to each said axle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
An attachment as in claim 2 wherein said member terminates in a single end which contacts the ground.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
An attachment as in claim 2 wherein said member terminates in two ends at different distances from the point of said member attached to said axle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
80 words
In combination, wheelchair attachments for a wheelchair with a pair of driving wheels comprising, wheelchair-supporting means mountable behind said wheelchair so that said wheelchair can be tilted backwards to a stable tilted position in which at least a portion of the weight of said wheelchair and the weight supported by said wheelchair is supported by said supporting means, and means mountable on said wheelchair for enabling said wheels to be elevated above the ground while said wheelchair is tilted backwards.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
80 words
In combination, wheelchair attachments for a wheelchair with a pair of driving wheels comprising, wheelchair-supporting means mountable behind said wheelchair so that said wheelchair can be tilted backwards to a stable tilted position in which at least a portion of the weight of said wheelchair and the weight supported by said wheelchair is supported by said supporting means, and means mountable on said wheelchair for enabling said wheels to be elevated above the ground while said wheelchair is tilted backwards.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
75 words
An attachment as in claim 5 wherein said attachments are for overcoming obstacles and wherein said supporting means includes means for holding said supporting means in position supporting saiD wheelchair during the time said wheelchair is operated to overcome said obstacle, and said enabling means includes stilt means manually rotatable from a storage to a operative position and further rotatable in response to manual rotation of said wheels to cause said wheels to be elevated.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
An attachment as in claim 1 wherein said wheelchair includes a pair of small front wheels and said driving wheels include a pair of large rear wheels which are manually operated to move said wheelchair, wherein said supporting means includes at least a single wheel and wherein said wheelchair is operated to overcome said obstacle by manually rotating said large rear wheels.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
An attachment as in claim 7 wherein said supporting means includes at least two of said single wheels, each independently attached to said wheelchair.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
An attachment as in claim 8 including manually operable means for moving each of said single wheels from a storage position to an operative position in which said wheelchair can be tilted backwards to said stable position and for moving each of said single wheels to said storage from said operative position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
An attachment as in claim 9 including means to lock each of said single wheels in said operative position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
173 words
An attachment as in claim 10 wherein said supporting means includes a first member connected at one end to one of said single wheels to as to allow said one single wheel to rotate freely and at the other end pivotably connected to said wheelchair, said first member having a length less than the distance from the point said first member is attached to said wheelchair to the ground when said wheelchair is in the upright position, a second member pivotably connected one end to said first member between said ends, and a third member pivotably attached at one end to the other end of said second member and pivotably connected to said wheelchair at a point lower than the point of connection to said first member at the other end of said third member so that said first member can be pivoted about its point of connection to said wheelchair to extend said one single wheel backwards by manually pushing downward on the point of connection between said second and third members.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
An attachment as in claim 11 wherein each of said wheels has an axle and said stilt means includes a member attachable to said axle of one of said wheels and having a length greater than the distance from said axle to the ground.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
An attachment as in claim 12 including a spiked wheel connected to an end of said member which contacts the ground.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
An attachment as in claim 13 wherein said stilt means includes a member and spiked wheel attached to each said axle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
An attachment as in claim 14 wherein said member terminates in a single end which contacts the ground.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
An attachment as in claim 15 wherein said member terminates in two ends at different distances from the point of said member attached to said axle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
126 words
A wheelchair comprising: a pair of small front wheels, a pair of manually rotatable rear wheels, frame means connected to said front and rear wheels and forming a seat, wheelchair-supporting means mounted on said frame means including first and second supporting wheels, means attaching said supporting wheels to said frame means and means for moving said supporting wheels from a storage position with said supporting wheels above the ground and adjacent said rear wheels a tilted position rearwardly spaced from said rear wheels and in which at least a portion of the weight of said wheelchair and the weight supported by said wheelchair is supported by said supporting means, and means mounted on said wheelchair for enabling said rear wheels to be elevated above the ground.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
126 words
A wheelchair comprising: a pair of small front wheels, a pair of manually rotatable rear wheels, frame means connected to said front and rear wheels and forming a seat, wheelchair-supporting means mounted on said frame means including first and second supporting wheels, means attaching said supporting wheels to said frame means and means for moving said supporting wheels from a storage position with said supporting wheels above the ground and adjacent said rear wheels a tilted position rearwardly spaced from said rear wheels and in which at least a portion of the weight of said wheelchair and the weight supported by said wheelchair is supported by said supporting means, and means mounted on said wheelchair for enabling said rear wheels to be elevated above the ground.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
A wheelchair as in claim 17 wherein said supporting means includes a pair of extendible wheels.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
49 words
A wheelchair as in claim 18 wherein said supporting means is movable from a storage to an operative position and from said operativE to said storage position and, wherein said enabling means is movable to a storage to an operative position and from an operative to a storage position.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of operating a wheelchair driven by a pair of wheels to overcome obstacles comprising the steps of tilting the wheelchair backwards until the wheelchair is in a stable tilted position in which the weight of the wheelchair and the weight supported by the wheelchair is at least partially supported by supporting means mounted behind said wheelchair elevating the driving wheels above the ground and then against the obstacle to be overcome, and manipulating said wheelchair in said stable tilted elevated position to climb said obstacle.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of operating a wheelchair driven by a pair of wheels to overcome obstacles comprising the steps of tilting the wheelchair backwards until the wheelchair is in a stable tilted position in which the weight of the wheelchair and the weight supported by the wheelchair is at least partially supported by supporting means mounted behind said wheelchair elevating the driving wheels above the ground and then against the obstacle to be overcome, and manipulating said wheelchair in said stable tilted elevated position to climb said obstacle.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 20 including the step of manually shifting said supporting means from a storage to an operative position.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 21 including the step of manually shifting said supporting means from said operative to said storage position after said obstacle has been overcome.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
245 words
A method of overcoming obstacles in a wheelchair having a pair of small front wheels, a pair of large manually rotatable rear wheels, a pair of extendible wheels manually movable from a storage position to a stable, operative position in which said extendible wheels are behind said rear wheels and are elevated above the ground when said wheelchair rests on said front and rear wheels and stilt means mounted on the axle of said large wheels and having a member whose length is greater than the distance from said axle to the ground so that said large wheels can be elevated above the ground by rotating the large wheels when the stilt means is placed in contact of the ground in front of the large wheel comprising the steps of: manually moving said extendible wheels from said storage to said operative position, manually moving said stilt means from said storage to said operative position, manually tilting said wheelchair backwards, to a stable tilted position in which said wheelchair rests on said extendible wheels and said rear wheels, manually rotating said rear wheels to cause said large wheels to be elevated and to contact said obstacle above said ground, manually continuing the rotation of said rear wheel to cause said wheelchair to overcome said obstacle, manually returning said extendible wheels to said storage position after said obstacle has been overcome, and manually returning said stilt means to said storage position after said obstacle has been overcome.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
245 words
A method of overcoming obstacles in a wheelchair having a pair of small front wheels, a pair of large manually rotatable rear wheels, a pair of extendible wheels manually movable from a storage position to a stable, operative position in which said extendible wheels are behind said rear wheels and are elevated above the ground when said wheelchair rests on said front and rear wheels and stilt means mounted on the axle of said large wheels and having a member whose length is greater than the distance from said axle to the ground so that said large wheels can be elevated above the ground by rotating the large wheels when the stilt means is placed in contact of the ground in front of the large wheel comprising the steps of: manually moving said extendible wheels from said storage to said operative position, manually moving said stilt means from said storage to said operative position, manually tilting said wheelchair backwards, to a stable tilted position in which said wheelchair rests on said extendible wheels and said rear wheels, manually rotating said rear wheels to cause said large wheels to be elevated and to contact said obstacle above said ground, manually continuing the rotation of said rear wheel to cause said wheelchair to overcome said obstacle, manually returning said extendible wheels to said storage position after said obstacle has been overcome, and manually returning said stilt means to said storage position after said obstacle has been overcome.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of overcoming obstacles in a wheelchair having two driving wheels and an elevating member attached to each of said wheels, rotatable about the center of said wheels and having a length greater than the point of attachment of said member to said wheel to the ground so that said wheelchair can be made to rise, with said wheels elevated, onto said members comprising the steps of: manually rotating both of said members so that said members contact the ground, rotating said wheels so that said wheels are elevated above the ground and then moved into contact with said obstacle, and continuing rotating said wheels so that said wheelchair climbs said obstacle.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of overcoming obstacles in a wheelchair having two driving wheels and an elevating member attached to each of said wheels, rotatable about the center of said wheels and having a length greater than the point of attachment of said member to said wheel to the ground so that said wheelchair can be made to rise, with said wheels elevated, onto said members comprising the steps of: manually rotating both of said members so that said members contact the ground, rotating said wheels so that said wheels are elevated above the ground and then moved into contact with said obstacle, and continuing rotating said wheels so that said wheelchair climbs said obstacle.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
113 words
A wheelchair attachment for overcoming obstacles in a wheelchair with a pair of driving wheels, each having an axle, comprising means mountable on said wheelchair for enabling said wheels to be elevated above the ground including stilt means with a member attached to said axle of one of said wheels having a length greater than the distance from said axle to the ground and a wheel connected to the end of said member which contacts the ground, said member being manually rotatable from a storage position to an operative position in contact with the ground and further rotatable in response to manual rotation of said wheels to cause said wheels to be elevated.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
113 words
A wheelchair attachment for overcoming obstacles in a wheelchair with a pair of driving wheels, each having an axle, comprising means mountable on said wheelchair for enabling said wheels to be elevated above the ground including stilt means with a member attached to said axle of one of said wheels having a length greater than the distance from said axle to the ground and a wheel connected to the end of said member which contacts the ground, said member being manually rotatable from a storage position to an operative position in contact with the ground and further rotatable in response to manual rotation of said wheels to cause said wheels to be elevated.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
118 words
An attachment for a wheelchair with a pair of driving wheels attached to an axle comprising means mountabLe on said wheelchair for enabling said wheels to be elevated above the ground for overcoming obstacles, said enabling means including stilt means with a member attached to said axle and terminating at two ends at different distances from the point of attachment of said member to said axle, said member being manually rotatable from a storage position to an operative position with one of said ends in contact with the ground and further rotatable in response to manual rotation of said wheels to cause said wheels to be elevated with the other of said ends in contact with the ground.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
118 words
An attachment for a wheelchair with a pair of driving wheels attached to an axle comprising means mountabLe on said wheelchair for enabling said wheels to be elevated above the ground for overcoming obstacles, said enabling means including stilt means with a member attached to said axle and terminating at two ends at different distances from the point of attachment of said member to said axle, said member being manually rotatable from a storage position to an operative position with one of said ends in contact with the ground and further rotatable in response to manual rotation of said wheels to cause said wheels to be elevated with the other of said ends in contact with the ground.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-24 | 1974-11-23 | 1975-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-24 | 1978-11-23 | 1979-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-24 | 1982-11-23 | 1983-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |