Invacare Corporation

Christopher J Peterson

Mary C Peterson

Neal Joseph Curran

Matthew Robert Cerreto

Wally Radjenovic

Nick Mascari

A wheelchair frame member that includes a first metallic tube member, a second metallic tube member, and a tubular composite member. First and second end portions of the composite member extend into the first and second metallic tube members. The first and second end portions of the composite members are secured to inner surfaces of the first and second metallic tube members. The end portions of the tubular composite members may be connected to the inner surfaces of the metallic tube members in a variety of different ways. For example, the end portions may be forced radially outward into engagement with the inner surface of the tube members to secure the end portions to the inner surfaces of the tube members.

Wheelchair

A wheelchair suspension system comprises a suspension assembly disposed adjacent to each wheel of the wheelchair, and attached to an interconnecting the axle of the wheels to the wheelchair frame. Each of the suspension assemblies includes a front bracket and a rear bracket, wherein the front bracket is attached to the wheelchair frame and the rear bracket is attached to the axle. Top and bottom generally L-shaped arms each are pivotally attached to each of the brackets in a diametrically opposed fashion, and an elastomeric spring is disposed between and interconnects the arms. When one or more of the wheels encounters a bump in a travel surface of the wheelchair, the arms pivot about the brackets, remain parallel to each other, and move closer together to compress the spring which absorbs a significant amount of shock caused by the bump. Further, the wheelchair has a frame with a pair of frame extensions that are supported by a transversely extending camber bar that journals the axles of thee wheelchair drive wheels. The drive wheels can be variably positioned with respect to the front casters by means of the frame extensions.

Lightweight wheelchair frame

A wheelchair suspension system comprises a suspension assembly disposed adjacent to each wheel of the wheelchair, and attached to and interconnecting the axle of the wheels to the wheelchair frame. Each of the suspension assemblies includes a front bracket and a rear bracket, wherein the front bracket is attached to the wheelchair frame and the rear bracket is attached to the axle. Top and bottom generally L-shaped arms each are pivotally attached to each of the brackets in a diametrically opposed fashion, and an elastomeric spring is disposed between and interconnects the arms. When one or more of the wheels encounters a bump in a travel surface of the wheelchair, the arms pivot about the brackets, remain parallel to each other, and move closer together to compress the spring which absorbs a significant amount of shock caused by the bump. Conversely, when one or more of the wheels encounters a depression, the arms again pivot about the brackets, remain parallel to each other, but move farther apart to place tension on the spring which again absorbs a significant amount of shock caused by the depression. The pivoting parallel arrangement of arms and brackets enables displacement of the axle in a substantially vertical, relatively large distance when one or more of the wheels encounters an irregularity in the wheelchair travel surface, which in turn maintains stability and steering control of the wheelchair by keeping the wheels in contact with the travel surface.

Wheelchair suspension system

High performance wheelchair frame

The present invention is directed to a lightweight wheelchair having adjustable wheel camber, adjustable toe-in/toe-out positions, and front-to-rear adjustment of the wheel assembly relative to the frame. The wheel camber is changed by removable camber tubes having plugs in opposite ends with different angular relationships. The camber tube is removed from an axle tube, rotated through one hundred eighty degrees, and reinserted to change the wheel camber. The location of the angular recesses in the camber plugs addresses minor toe-in/toe-out adjustments while rotation of an axle tube provided with indicia assures that proper toe-in/toe-out adjustment is provided for larger wheel camber adjustments. The front to rear location of the wheels relative to the frame can be adjusted via a single fastener on each side. Moreover, the track width of the rear wheels can be adjusted in response to the change in wheel camber.

Camber adjustment assembly for a wheelchair

A sport wheelchair includes a T-frame that interconnects enlarged rear wheels and a single small diameter caster front wheel. A footrest is adjustably secured to the T-frame and may be adjusted height wise and front to rear as desired by the user. Additionally, handles extend outwardly from opposite sides of the front edge of the seat in selected embodiments of the invention. In some embodiments, a central support member extends upwardly from the seat so that the handles also function for lateral restraint of the user's legs. In still other arrangements, a pair of side supports extend outwardly and downwardly in place of the handles and provide the lateral support as needed.

Growing community of inventors

Tierra Verde, FL, United States of America

Christopher J Peterson