Four-line exercising attachment for wheelchairs

Abstract

A four limb exercising attachment for wheelchairs which will permit the occupant of the wheelchair to exercise all four limbs simultaneously, thereby affording proper bilateral movement of the arms and legs. The exercising attachment will also propel the wheelchair when operated in a suitable manner. The attachment may be used with most standard wheelchairs of the type having right and left front and rear wheels. The attachment includes right and left mounting assemblies, each mounting assembly being securable to the frame of a standard 4 wheel wheelchair at three or more spaced apart locations. A common input shaft will extend between the left and right mounting assemblies after they are mounted upon the wheelchair. Left and right arm-drives in the form of levers and leg-drives including foot pedals are in turn interconnected to the common input shaft in such a manner that movement of the arm levers will cause corresponding movement of the foot pedals and vice versa, which movement can be suitably synchronized. A resistance device is in turn connected to the common input shaft, which resistance device may include a propulsion assembly. Finally, steering devices are provided in the forms of manually operated brakes.