Elevatable wheelchair

Abstract

An elevatable wheelchair having a hydraulic system for elevating and lowering the wheelchair and a drive gear arrangement for motivating the wheelchair while the wheelchair is in an elevated position. The hydraulic system comprises four hydraulic legs, each corresponding to and coupled to one of a pair of front wheels or to one of a pair of auxiliary rear wheels. When hydraulic fluid is introduced to the four hydraulic legs, the hydraulic legs begin to extend, thereby elevating the wheelchair. The hydraulic system also comprises a pair of flow equalizers to ensure a uniform flow of hydraulic fluid to each hydraulic leg, thereby enabling each hydraulic leg to extend at the same rate. The elevatable wheelchair also comprises a drive gear arrangement which coacts with the main wheels of the wheelchair in order to transfer motion to the auxiliary rear wheels, thereby enabling the wheelchair user to motivate the wheelchair while in the elevated position by engaging the hand rails on the main wheels. The elevatable wheelchair provides an individual confined to the wheelchair with the ability not only to elevate the wheelchair to a desired height for reaching shelves, countertops and similar higher surfaces but also to maneuver the wheelchair while in this elevated position.