Mobile chair for paraplegics

Claim 1

In a wheel chair having: a chair frame with spaced, opposite sides; means at the front of said frame extending between and rigidly interconnecting said sides; and front and back wheels operatively connected to the frame at each side to provide a rolling support for the frame; a rigid horizontal platform extending between said sides at the bottom of the frame; a seat jack mounted on said platform and extending upward therefrom between said sides of the frame, said jack having an operating member movable between a retracted, lowered position and an extended, raised position; a horizontal seat operatively connected to said operating member of the jack to be vertically raised and lowered while being maintained horizontal; said chair frame being open at the back between said sides above said platform for the entry and withdrawal of the user to and from the seat at the back of the chair frame; and mechanical actuator means for the jack operatively coupled at the lower end thereof to said operating member of the jack to selectively control the latter's operation for raising and lowering the seat, said actuator means extending up from said jack and terminating at the upper end thereof in handle means located for operation by the occupant of said seat; the improvement wherein said mechanical actuator means comprises: a first elongated rod-like member operable in one direction for operating said jack to raise the seat, a first handle on the upper end of said first rod-like member; and a second elongated rod-like member operable in one direction for actuating said jack to lower the seat, and a second handle on the upper end of said second rod-like member.