Rehabilitating chairs for handicapped persons

Claim 1

A wheel chair for supporting an individual in the sitting position, in the walking position and for lifting said individual from the sitting to the walking position, which comprises a frame, a seat mounted thereon, rear wheel means for rolling the wheel chair and front wheel means of size smaller than said rear wheel means, said front wheel means being slidable forwardly to increase the wheel base when the individual is in the walking position, lifting means mounted at one side of said frame comprising a lower member pivotally connected to the lower end of the chair and an upper member slidably fitted to said frame, means for pivotally connecting said lower and said upper member of said lifting means which comprise a forwardly directed toggle joint, hydraulic means for actuating the upper member of said lifting means comprising a piston and a cylinder, said piston being pivotally connected to said upper member, said cylinder being pivotally connected to said chair, said piston and said toggle joint being adapted to co-act and cause said upper member of the lifting means to perform a forwardly-upwardly directed movement, means for moving said front wheels which operate synchronously with the hydraulic means actuating the lifting means and means for braking said chair.