Automatic locking system for wheelchairs

Abstract

Automatic locking systems for wheelchairs have a locking hub for attachment to a main wheel of the wheelchair, and a lock pin which is reciprocally rectilinearly moveable between locked and unlocked conditions with the lock hub. A rotary actuator is operatively coupled to the lock pin and is rotatable between normal and active positions which responsively causes the lock pin to move rectilinearly between its unlocked and locked positions, respectively. A pivotal actuator lever is provided having one end positionable in close proximity to a seat of the wheelchair. The actuator lever is thus mounted for pivotal movements between raised and lowered conditions relative to the wheelchair seat. A flexible actuator cable connects a proximal end of the actuator lever and the rotary actuator. In operation, therefore, pivotal movement of the distal end of said actuator lever between its raised and lowered conditions responsively causes the actuator cable to rotate the rotary actuator between its normal and active conditions, respectively. As a result, the lock pin is caused to move to its locked position with the lock hub to thereby lock the main wheel of the wheelchair and prevent its rolling movement across the floor surface.