Wheelchair

Claim 2

A wheelchair comprising: (a) a frame supported on front and rear wheels, (b) a back rest support having front and rear ends and mounted pivotally intermediate its ends on the frame above the wheels thereof for movement between a horizontal, patient reclining position and an inclined, patient sitting position, (c) a seat support having front and rear ends and connected pivotally at its rearward end to the forward end of the back rest support, (d) a seat mounting member on the frame connected pivotally to the seat support adjacent the forward end thereof and movable upwardly and forwardly relative to the frame during movement of the back rest support from said patient sitting position to said patient reclining position, for aligning said back rest and seat supports in a common horizontal plane while simultaneously moving the seat support forwardly, the seat mounting member comprising a rod connected pivotally at one end to the seat support adjacent the forward end thereof and slidable telescopically within a tubular rod support member forming a rigid part of the frame and disposed at an upwardly and forwardly inclined angle relative to horizontal, and (e) a leg rest support having front and rear ends and connected pivotally at its rearward end to the forward end of the seat support for pivotal movement relative to the seat support independently of the back rest support.

Claim 3

A wheelchair comprising: (a) a frame supported on front and rear wheels, (b) a back rest support having front and rear ends and connected pivotally to the wheeled frame on a transverse pivot axis disposed above the wheels, (c) a seat support having front and rear ends and connected to the back rest support on a transverse pivot axis, (d) a seat mounting member on the frame connected pivotally to the seat support and movable upwardly relative to the frame, (e) a leg rest support connected to the seat support on a transverse pivot axis, (f) the back rest, seat and leg rest supports thereby being mounted on the frame for adjusting said supports between a patient reclining position in which said supports are disposed in a common horizontal plane above the wheels of the frame and a patient sitting position in which the back rest support extends upwardly from the rear end of the seat support and the leg rest support extends downwardly from the front end of the seat support, (g) link means operatively interengaging the back rest support and leg rest support for moving the leg rest support by moving the back rest support, (h) adjustment means interengaging the seat support and leg rest support for adjusting the angular relationship therebetween, and (i) adjustment release means on the link means arranged to engage the adjustment means when the link means operatively engages the leg rest support, for releasing the adjustment means from said interengaging to allow movement of the leg rest support relative to the seat support by movement of the back rest support.

Claim 4

A wheelchair comprising: (a) a frame supported on front and rear wheels, (b) a back rest support having front and rear ends and connected pivotally to the wheeled frame on a transverse pivot axis disposed above the wheels, (c) a seat support having front and rear ends and connected to the back rest support on a transverse pivot axis, (d) a seat mounting member on the frame connected pivotally to the seat support and movable upwardly relative to the frame, (e) a leg rest support connected to the seat support on a transverse pivot axis, (f) the back rest, seat and leg rest supports thereby being mounted on the frame for adjusting said supports between a patient reclining position in which said supports are disposed in a common horizontal plane above the wheels of the frame and a patient sitting position in which the back rest support extends upwardly from the rear end of the seat support and the leg rest support extends downwardly from the front end of the seat support, (g) link means operatively interengaging the back rest support and leg rest support for moving the leg rest support by moving the back rest support, (h) adjustment means interengaging the seat support and leg rest support for adjusting the angular relationship therebetween, and (i) adjustment release means on the link means arranged to engage the adjustment means when the link means operatively engages the leg rest support, for releasing the adjustment means from said interengaging to allow movement of the leg rest support relative to the seat support by movement of the back rest support.

Claim 5

The wheelchair of claim 2 wherein the adjustment release means includes cam means on the adjustment means and cam follower means on the link means arranged for mutual engagement when the link means operatively engages the leg rest support, for releasing the adjustment means from said interengagement to allow movement of the leg rest support relative to the seat support by movement of the back rest support.

Claim 6

A wheelchair comprising: (a) a frame supported on front and rear wheels, (b) a back rest support having front and rear ends and connected pivotally intermediate its ends to the wheeled frame on a transverse pivot axis disposed above the wheels, (c) a seat support having front and rear ends and connected to the back rest support on a transverse pivot axis, (d) a seat mounting member on the frame movable upwardly and forwardly relative thereto and connected pivotally to the seat support, (e) a leg rest support connected to the seat support on a transverse pivot axis, (f) the back rest, seat and leg rest supports thereby being mounted on the frame for adjusting said supports between a patient reclining position in which said supports are disposed in a common horizontal plane above the wheels of the frame and a patient sitting position in which the back rest support extends upwardly from the rest end of the seat support and the leg rest support extends downwardly from the front end of the seat support, (g) link means operatively interengaging the back rest support and leg rest support for moving the leg rest support by moving the back rest support, (h) adjustment means interengaging the seat support and leg rest support for adjusting the angular relationship therebetween,

Claim 7

A wheelchair comprising: (a) a frame supported on front and rear wheels, (b) a back rest support having front and rear ends and connected pivotally intermediate its ends to the wheeled frame on a transverse pivot axis disposed above the wheels, (c) a seat support having front and rear ends and connected to the back rest support on a transverse pivot axis, (d) a seat mounting member on the frame movable upwardly and forwardly relative thereto and connected pivotally to the seat support, (e) a leg rest support connected to the seat support on a transverse pivot axis, (f) the back rest, seat and leg rest supports thereby being mounted on the frame for adjusting said supports between a patient reclining position in which said supports are disposed in a common horizontal plane above the wheels of the frame and a patient sitting position in which the back rest support extends upwardly from the rest end of the seat support and the leg rest support extends downwardly from the front end of the seat support, (g) link means operatively interengaging the back rest support and leg rest support for moving the leg rest support by moving the back rest support, (h) adjustment means interengaging the seat support and leg rest support for adjusting the angular relationship therebetween,

Claim 8

(i) adjustment release means on the link means arranged to engage the adjustment means when the link means operatively engages the leg rest support, for releasing the adjustment means from said interengagement to allow movement of the leg rest support relative to the seat support by movement of the back rest support, (j) locking means releasably interengaging the wheel frame and one of the supports for securing the supports in positions of adjustment between said patient reclining and sitting positions, and (k) laterally spaced arm rest mounted on the wheeled frame on opposite sides of the seat support for vertical adjustment between the retracted position below the patient reclining position of the supports and an elevated position above the patient reclining position of the supports, whereby the arm rests serve the additional function of retractable side guard rails in the patient reclining position of the supports.

Claim 9

(i) adjustment release means on the link means arranged to engage the adjustment means when the link means operatively engages the leg rest support, for releasing the adjustment means from said interengagement to allow movement of the leg rest support relative to the seat support by movement of the back rest support, (j) locking means releasably interengaging the wheel frame and one of the supports for securing the supports in positions of adjustment between said patient reclining and sitting positions, and (k) laterally spaced arm rest mounted on the wheeled frame on opposite sides of the seat support for vertical adjustment between the retracted position below the patient reclining position of the supports and an elevated position above the patient reclining position of the supports, whereby the arm rests serve the additional function of retractable side guard rails in the patient reclining position of the supports.

Claim 10

A wheelchair comprising: (a) a frame supported on front and rear wheels, (b) a back rest support having front and rear ends and mounted pivotally intermediate its ends on the frame above the wheels thereof for movement between a horizontal, patient reclining position and an inclined, patient sitting position, (c) a seat support having front and rear ends and connected pivotally at its rearward end to the forward end of the back rest support, (d) a seat mounting member on the frame connected pivotally to the seat support adjacent the forward end thereof and movable upwardly and forwardly relative to the frame during movement of the back rest support from said patient sitting position to said patient reclining position, for aligning said back rest and seat supports in a common horizontal plane, (e) a leg support having front and rear ends and connected pivotally at its rearward end to the forward end of the seat support for pivotal movement relative to the seat support independently of the back rest support, and (f) a rearward link connected pivotally at its rearward end to the back rest support and a forward link connected pivotally at one end to the forward end of the rearward link and at the opposite end pivotally to the seat support, the forward link being arranged to be spaced rearwardly of the leg rest support when the back rest support is in patient sitting position and to abut the leg rest support during movement of the back rest support to patient reclining position, whereby to move the leg rest support to patient reclining position.

Claim 11

A wheelchair comprising: (a) a frame supported on front and rear wheels, (b) a back rest support having front and rear ends and mounted pivotally intermediate its ends on the frame above the wheels thereof for movement between a horizontal, patient reclining position and an inclined, patient sitting position, (c) a seat support having front and rear ends and connected pivotally at its rearward end to the forward end of the back rest support, (d) a seat mounting member on the frame connected pivotally to the seat support adjacent the forward end thereof and movable upwardly and forwardly relative to the frame during movement of the back rest support from said patient sitting position to said patient reclining position, for aligning said back rest and seat supports in a common horizontal plane, (e) a leg support having front and rear ends and connected pivotally at its rearward end to the forward end of the seat support for pivotal movement relative to the seat support independently of the back rest support, and (f) a rearward link connected pivotally at its rearward end to the back rest support and a forward link connected pivotally at one end to the forward end of the rearward link and at the opposite end pivotally to the seat support, the forward link being arranged to be spaced rearwardly of the leg rest support when the back rest support is in patient sitting position and to abut the leg rest support during movement of the back rest support to patient reclining position, whereby to move the leg rest support to patient reclining position.