Easy-adjust stair climber for wheelchair

Claim 1

An apparatus for moving a wheelchair having a pair of upright rear frame members, the apparatus comprising: a support adapted to engage underneath the wheelchair in an upright condition of same, the wheelchair being pivotal on the support between erect and inclined positions; two endless tracks on the support and supporting same and the wheelchair carried thereon, whereby the tracks allow the wheelchair to move on an incline; a frame element pivotal on the support about a horizontal axis transverse to the tracks; a transverse mount vertically displaceable on the frame element and having outer ends respectively juxtaposed with the wheelchair frame members; an adjustment spindle extending along and rotatable about a horizontal axis through the mount ends adjacent the frame members and having oppositely threaded ends at the outer ends; respective mounting blocks axially slidable in the outer mount ends and threaded on the adjustment-spindle ends, whereby rotation of the spindle in one direction about its axis moves the two blocks axially apart and opposite rotation moves them axially together, the mounting blocks being formed with seats to fit with the respective wheelchair frame members, whereby the blocks can be moved together and apart by means of the spindle to fit to chairs of different sizes; respective clips pivotal on the blocks about respective upright axes between holding positions securing the respective wheelchair frame members in the respective seats and releasing positions out of engagement with the respective wheelchair frame members, and respective means for securing the clips in the holding positions, the securing means including respective spring-loaded pins parallel to and offset from the respective upright clip axes, the pins being axially displaceable into and out of engagement with the respective clips.

Claim 2

An apparatus for moving a wheelchair having a pair of upright rear frame members, the apparatus comprising: a support adapted to engage underneath the wheelchair in an upright condition of same, the wheelchair being pivotal on the support between erect and inclined positions; two endless tracks on the support and supporting same and the wheelchair carried thereon, whereby the tracks allow the wheelchair to move on an incline; a frame element pivotal on the support about a horizontal axis transverse to the tracks; a transverse mount vertically displaceable on the frame element and having outer ends respectively juxtaposed with the wheelchair frame members; an adjustment spindle extending along and rotatable about a horizontal axis through the mount ends adjacent the frame members and having oppositely threaded ends at the outer ends; respective mounting blocks axially slidable in the outer mount ends and threaded on the adjustment-spindle ends, whereby rotation of the spindle in one direction about its axis moves the two blocks axially apart and opposite rotation moves them axially together, the mounting blocks being formed with seats to fit with the respective wheelchair frame members, whereby the blocks can be moved together and apart by means of the spindle to fit to chairs of different sizes; respective clips pivotal on the blocks about respective upright axes between holding positions securing the respective wheelchair frame members in the respective seats and releasing positions out of engagement with the respective wheelchair frame members, and respective means for securing the clips in the holding positions, the securing means including respective spring-loaded pins parallel to and offset from the respective upright clip axes, the pins being axially displaceable into and out of engagement with the respective clips.