Patent US4625984A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4625984A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Folding wheelchair
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1985-08-12
•
Granted: 1986-12-02
•
Expires: 2005-08-12
Abstract
Abstract A folding wheelchair comprising first and second side frames which are hingedly secured together to enable the wheelchair to be moved between folded and operative positions. Drive wheels are located at the lower rearward ends of each of the side frames and are driven by hand wheels rotatably mounted on the side frames. A removable seat is positioned between the side frames and when in position, provides a seating area for the user of the wheelchair and also serves to maintain the wheelchair in its operative position. Folding arm supports and foot supports are also provided.
Inventors
- 👤 John V. Kitrell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 14:20
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61G; A61G5/00; A61G5/02; A61G5/021; A61G5/023; A61G5/024; A61G5/026; A61G5/10; A61G5/1091; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S297/00; Y10S297/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
366 words
A folding wheelchair, comprising: first and second generally L-shaped side frames, each of said side frames including a first frame portion with forward and rearward ends, and a second frame portion extending upwardly from the rearward end of said first frame portion, a first back panel hingedly secured at one end to said second side frame portion of said first side frame, a second back panel hingedly secured at one end of said second side frame portion of said second side frame, said first and second panels being hingedly secured together at their other ends, the hinge connection adapted to stop hinged movement of said panels in one direction when said panels are in a generally coplanar orientation, a first generally planar hinge plate hingedly secured at one end to said first frame portion of said first frame, a second generally planar hinge plate hingedly secured at one end to said first frame portion of said second frame, said first and second hinge plates being hingedly secured together at their other ends, the hinge connection adapted to stop hinged movement of said plates in one direction when said plates are in a generally coplanar orientation, the hinge connection between said first and second frame, through said panels and plates, permitting the wheelchair to be moved between a folded inoperative position to an operative position, a first drive wheel rotatably mounted on said first side frame at the lower rearward end thereof, a second drive wheel rotatably mounted on said second side frame at the lower rearward end thereof, a first caster wheel mounted at the forward end of said first side frame portion of said first side frame, a second caster wheel mounted at the forward end of said first side frame portion of said second side frame, first and second armrest assemblies mounted on said first and second side frames, respectively, a seat means positioned between said first and second side frames, and first and second footrest assemblies mounted on said first and second hinge plates, respectively, each of said first and second footrest assemblies being independently movable between a foot supporting position and a non-supporting position while the wheelchair is in an operative position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
366 words
A folding wheelchair, comprising: first and second generally L-shaped side frames, each of said side frames including a first frame portion with forward and rearward ends, and a second frame portion extending upwardly from the rearward end of said first frame portion, a first back panel hingedly secured at one end to said second side frame portion of said first side frame, a second back panel hingedly secured at one end of said second side frame portion of said second side frame, said first and second panels being hingedly secured together at their other ends, the hinge connection adapted to stop hinged movement of said panels in one direction when said panels are in a generally coplanar orientation, a first generally planar hinge plate hingedly secured at one end to said first frame portion of said first frame, a second generally planar hinge plate hingedly secured at one end to said first frame portion of said second frame, said first and second hinge plates being hingedly secured together at their other ends, the hinge connection adapted to stop hinged movement of said plates in one direction when said plates are in a generally coplanar orientation, the hinge connection between said first and second frame, through said panels and plates, permitting the wheelchair to be moved between a folded inoperative position to an operative position, a first drive wheel rotatably mounted on said first side frame at the lower rearward end thereof, a second drive wheel rotatably mounted on said second side frame at the lower rearward end thereof, a first caster wheel mounted at the forward end of said first side frame portion of said first side frame, a second caster wheel mounted at the forward end of said first side frame portion of said second side frame, first and second armrest assemblies mounted on said first and second side frames, respectively, a seat means positioned between said first and second side frames, and first and second footrest assemblies mounted on said first and second hinge plates, respectively, each of said first and second footrest assemblies being independently movable between a foot supporting position and a non-supporting position while the wheelchair is in an operative position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The wheelchair of claim 1 wherein said seat means is selectively removably mounted on said first and second side frames.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The wheelchair of claim 2 wherein said seat means comprises a molded plastic member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
The wheelchair of claim 1 wherein first and second hand wheels are rotatably mounted on said first and second side frames, respectively, and means connecting said first and second hand wheels with said first and second drive wheels, respectively, whereby rotation of said first hand wheel will cause rotation of said first drive wheel and whereby rotation of said second hand wheel will cause rotation of said second drive wheel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The wheelchair of claim 4 wherein said connecting means comprises a drive belt means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The wheelchair of claim 1 wherein a spring-loaded brake means is provided for preventing the rotation of at least one of said drive wheels.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The wheelchair of claim 1 wherein said footrest assemblies are positioned in a vertically disposed position closely adjacent to each other when in their said non-supporting position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
The wheelchair of claim 1 wherein each of said armrest assemblies comprises a normally horizontally disposed first armrest portion pivotally connected, at its rearward end, to one of said second side frame portions, and a second armrest portion which is pivotally secured to one of said side frame portions and selectively detachably secured to one of said first armrest portions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The wheelchair of claim 1 wherein the rotational axis of each of said drive wheels is located at the rearward end of said first side frame portion of said side frames below said second side frame portions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2181420A
Cited
US2621707A
Cited
US2649309A
Cited
US2847058A
Cited
US2946602A
Cited
CH313398A
Cited
US3442532A
Cited
US3968991A
Cited
US3833256A
Cited
FR2252838A1
Cited
US4101143A
Cited
US4380343A
Cited
US4274651A
Cited
US4371183A
Cited
GB2136742A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-12-01 | 1990-06-02 | 1990-12-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-12-01 | 1994-06-02 | 1994-12-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-12-01 | 1998-06-02 | 1998-12-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |