Foldable caster chair for the handicapped

Claim 2

A foldable caster chair for use by the handicapped, comprising: a rigid, generally rectangular seat member having first bearing means on each of its opposite front corners, and second bearing means on each of its opposite rear corners;

Claim 3

a front leg assembly, including a pair of front legs each having third bearing means thereon near their upper end, said third bearing means being engaged with said first bearing means to pivotally mount said front leg assembly to the front corners of said seat member, so that said front leg assembly can be folded backwardly beneath said seat member; a rear leg assembly, including a pair of rear legs, said rear legs being substantially longer than said front legs and each having fourth bearing means centrally thereon, said fourth bearing means being engaged with said second bearing means to pivotally mount said rear leg assembly to the rear corners of said seat member, so that said seat member can be folded upwardly toward said rear leg assembly; a pair of L-shaped arms, each including a generally horizontal portion and a generally vertical portion; means pivotally mounting the outer end of the generally horizontal portion of each of said L-shaped arms on the upper portion of one of said rear legs, said L-shaped arms being of a length so that the lower ends of the generally vertical portions thereof are alignable with said front legs when both of said front leg assembly and said rear leg assembly are in an erect position relative to said seat member, and said L-shaped arms being pivotally mounted to swing in a generally horizontal plane when said front and rear leg assemblies are in said erect position, from a position wherein said generally vertical portions of said L-shaped arms are generally aligned with their respective front legs to a position wherein said L-shaped arms present no obstacle to the sideways movement of a person entering or leaving said seat member; first locking means on the upper ends of said front legs; second locking means on the lower ends of said generally vertical portions of said L-shaped arms, releasably engageable with said first locking means to releasably secure said rigid seat member, said front leg assembly and said rear leg assembly in said erect position; and caster wheels mounted on the lower ends of each of said front legs and said rear legs.

Claim 4

a front leg assembly, including a pair of front legs each having third bearing means thereon near their upper end, said third bearing means being engaged with said first bearing means to pivotally mount said front leg assembly to the front corners of said seat member, so that said front leg assembly can be folded backwardly beneath said seat member; a rear leg assembly, including a pair of rear legs, said rear legs being substantially longer than said front legs and each having fourth bearing means centrally thereon, said fourth bearing means being engaged with said second bearing means to pivotally mount said rear leg assembly to the rear corners of said seat member, so that said seat member can be folded upwardly toward said rear leg assembly; a pair of L-shaped arms, each including a generally horizontal portion and a generally vertical portion; means pivotally mounting the outer end of the generally horizontal portion of each of said L-shaped arms on the upper portion of one of said rear legs, said L-shaped arms being of a length so that the lower ends of the generally vertical portions thereof are alignable with said front legs when both of said front leg assembly and said rear leg assembly are in an erect position relative to said seat member, and said L-shaped arms being pivotally mounted to swing in a generally horizontal plane when said front and rear leg assemblies are in said erect position, from a position wherein said generally vertical portions of said L-shaped arms are generally aligned with their respective front legs to a position wherein said L-shaped arms present no obstacle to the sideways movement of a person entering or leaving said seat member; first locking means on the upper ends of said front legs; second locking means on the lower ends of said generally vertical portions of said L-shaped arms, releasably engageable with said first locking means to releasably secure said rigid seat member, said front leg assembly and said rear leg assembly in said erect position; and caster wheels mounted on the lower ends of each of said front legs and said rear legs.

Claim 5

A foldable caster chair as recited in claim 1, wherein said upper portions of said rear legs are connected by a back member.

Claim 6

A foldable caster chair as recited in claim 1, wherein said rigid seat member includes a central toilet openings, and wherein the space between the portions of said rear legs beneath said seat member is unobstructed and of sufficient width so that said chair can be backed over a conventional water closet bowl.

Claim 7

A foldable caster chair as recited in claim 1, wherein said L-shaped arms are rigidly constructed, and wherein said means for pivotally mounting said arms on the upper portions of said rear legs includes: an elongated sleeve rotatably mounted on each rear leg, the outer end of the generally horizontal portion of one of said rigid, L-shaped arms being rigidly secured to each of said elongated sleeves; and means on said rear legs arranged to prevent upward or downward sliding movements of said elongated sleeves.

Claim 8

A foldable caster chair as recited in claim 4, wherein said first locking means comprises a stub shaft on each of said front legs, arranged to project upwardly from said third bearing means, and wherein said second locking means includes: a locking sleeve carried by the lower end of the generally vertical portion of each of said L-shaped arms, and arranged for translational movement thereon; and means securing said locking sleeves to the lower ends of said generally vertical portions, said stub shafts and said L-shaped arms being arranged to that when the generally vertical portions of said arms are aligned with said stub shafts, the lower ends of said vertical portions and the upper ends of said stub shafts will be in closely spaced, abutting relationship, and said locking sleeves being arranged to be moved to an engaged position wherein they are received on substantial portions of both said generally vertical arm portions and said stub shafts.

Claim 9

A foldable caster chair as recited in claim 1, including additionally; handle means mounted on the upper end of each of said rear legs.

Claim 10

A foldable caster chair as recited in claim 6, wherein said handle means are retractably mounted.

Claim 11

A foldable caster chair as recited in claim 1, wherein said seat member includes: a rigid rectangular frame; and a padded seat element secured to said frame.

Claim 12

A foldable caster chair as recited in claim 8, wherein said padded seat element has a central toilet opening therein.

Claim 13

A foldable caster chair as recited in claim 1, wherein said chair is about 20 inches in width, and said generally horizontal portions of said L-shaped arms are spaced about 8 inches above said seat member, said caster wheels being mounted by adjustable means allowing the height of said seat member above the floor to be selected over a given range.