U.S. patent application number 10/695973 was filed with the patent office on 2004-08-12 for footrest assembly with manually releasable coupling.
This patent application is currently assigned to GF Health Products, Inc.. Invention is credited to Garven, Douglas M. JR..
Application Number | 20040155508 10/695973 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32829563 |
Filed Date | 2004-08-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040155508 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Garven, Douglas M. JR. |
August 12, 2004 |
Footrest assembly with manually releasable coupling
Abstract
A footrest assembly for a wheelchair which includes a support
body and a footrest structure which is coupled to the support body
with a manually releasable coupling.
Inventors: |
Garven, Douglas M. JR.;
(Englewood, CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OSTROLENK, FABER, GERB & SOFFEN, LLP
1180 Avenue of the Americas
New York
NY
10036-8403
US
|
Assignee: |
GF Health Products, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
32829563 |
Appl. No.: |
10/695973 |
Filed: |
October 28, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60421879 |
Oct 28, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
297/423.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 7/52 20130101; A61G
5/12 20130101; A61G 5/128 20161101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/423.1 |
International
Class: |
A47C 007/50 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A footrest assembly for a wheelchair comprising: a footrest
structure; a support body, the support body being adapted for
attachment onto a wheelchair and capable of supporting the footrest
structure; and a manually releasable coupling that couples the
footrest structure to the support body such that the footrest
structure can be manually decoupled from the support body.
2. A footrest assembly according to claim 1, wherein the support
body is tubular.
3. A footrest assembly according to claim 1, wherein the manually
releasable coupling is disposed at one end of the support body.
4. A footrest assembly according to claim 1, wherein the footrest
structure comprises a footrest body and a support arm.
5. A footrest assembly according to claim 4, wherein the manually
releasable coupling couples the support body to the footrest
body.
6. A footrest assembly according to claim 4, wherein the manually
releasable coupling couples the support arm to the support
body.
7. A footrest assembly according to claim 4, wherein the footrest
body is tubular.
8. A footrest assembly according to claim 1, wherein the footrest
structure includes a footrest body, the footrest body being curved,
and the support body includes a free end that is supported on the
footrest body.
9. A footrest assembly according to claim 8, wherein the support
body has a hollow free end and further comprising an insert guide
attached to the footrest body and received in the hollow end of the
support body.
10. A footrest assembly according to claim 9, wherein the manually
releasable coupling includes a spring loaded pin that extends
through a hole in the support body into a hole in the insert guide
thereby coupling the footrest body to the support body.
11. A footrest assembly according to claim 8, further comprising a
support arm attached to the footrest body and in contact with the
support body, whereby the footrest body is further supported on the
support body.
12. A footrest assembly according to claim 8, further comprising a
support arm attached to the footrest body, wherein the manually
releasable coupling couples the support arm to the support body,
whereby the footrest body is coupled to the support body.
13. A footrest assembly according to claim 12, wherein the manually
releasable coupling includes a rail which is receivable in a
corresponding channel in a coupling block and a stop member that
prevents the rail from sliding out of the channel when the footrest
assembly is assembled.
14. A footrest assembly according to claim 13, wherein the stop
member pivots when the rail initially enters the channel to allow
the rail to move further within the channel, and pivots to make
contact with the coupling block when it exits the channel to make
contact with the block in a manner that prevents the rail from
sliding out of the channel.
15. A footrest assembly according to claim 14, wherein the stop
member includes a handle for manually pivoting the stop member,
whereby the stop member may move out of contact with the coupling
block to allow the rail to slide out of the channel.
16. A footrest assembly according to claim 13, wherein the channel
further includes an outwardly extending edge that engages an
inwardly extending ledge of the channel.
17. A footrest assembly comprising: a manually releasable coupling
that couples a footrest structure to a support body, the manually
releasable coupling including a first coupling member that includes
a channel and a second coupling member that includes a rail,
wherein the rail is received in the channel, the second coupling
member further including a stop member which engages the first
coupling member to prevent the rail from sliding out of the
channel.
18. A footrest assembly according to claim 17, further comprising a
footrest structure and a support member, wherein the first coupling
member is attached to the support member and the second coupling
member is attached to the footrest structure.
19. A footrest assembly according to claim 17, wherein the stop
member pivots when the rail initially enters the channel to allow
the rail to move further within the channel, and pivots to make
contact with the first coupling member when it exits the channel to
make contact with the first coupling member in a manner that
prevents the rail from sliding out of the channel.
20. A footrest assembly according to claim 19, wherein the stop
member includes a handle for manually pivoting the stop member,
whereby the stop member may move out of contact with the first
coupling member to allow the rail to slide out of the channel.
21. A footrest assembly according to claim 17, wherein the channel
further includes an outwardly extending edge that engages an
inwardly extending ledge of the channel.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The application is based on and claims benefit of U.S.
Provisional Application No. 60/421,879, filed on Oct. 28, 2002,
entitled Footrest with Locking Mechanism, to which a claim of
priority is hereby made.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a wheelchair and more
particularly to a footrest assembly for a wheelchair.
[0003] A typical wheelchair includes footrests for the patient. A
footrest may be a platform or a similar structure attached to, for
example, a portion of the frame of the wheelchair at a position
below the seat. As the name conveys, when the patient is seated in
the seat his feet rest on the footrests. Thus, the footrests
provide comfort to the patient by allowing him to keep his feet off
of or dangling above the floor.
[0004] Wheelchairs are available in many varieties. In one variety,
the wheelchair is collapsible for easy storage when it is not in
use. In such a variety, the footrests must be adapted so that they
may be collapsed as well. Collapsible footrests are, however, often
difficult to operate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
footrest assembly for a wheelchair which can be readily removed
manually without a need for tools.
[0006] A footrest according to the present invention includes a
support body which may be attached to a wheelchair, and a footrest
structure which is coupled to the support body by a manually
releasable coupling.
[0007] The support body in a footrest assembly according to the
present invention may be tubular and may include an open free end
allowing access at least to a hollow space therein.
[0008] The footrest structure according to the present invention
may include a footrest body having an insert guide attached
thereto, the insert guide being receivable in the hollow space that
is accessible through the open free end of the support body.
[0009] In a footrest assembly according to the first embodiment of
the present invention, the footrest body is coupled to the support
body by a manually releasable coupling which releasably couples the
insert guide to the support body thereby coupling the footrest body
to the support body. A footrest structure as used in a footrest
assembly according to the present invention may further include a
support arm attached to the footrest body. In the first embodiment
of the present invention the support arm has a free end that bears
against the support body for additional stability.
[0010] The manually releasable coupling in the first embodiment of
the present invention is a spring loaded pin which is mounted over
a hole in the support body. The hole in the support body registers
with a corresponding hole in the insert guide such that when the
insert guide is received in the hollow space at the end of the
support body the pin extends through both holes to couple the
support body to the insert guide.
[0011] In a footrest assembly according to the second embodiment of
the present invention a manually releasable coupling is provided
between the support arm of the footrest structure and the support
body. The manually releasable coupling includes a first coupling
block attached to the support body that includes a channel, and a
second coupling block attached to the support arm that includes a
rail which is receivable in the channel of the first coupling
block. The second coupling block further includes a stop member
pivotally attached thereto. In a footrest assembly according to the
second embodiment the stop member pivots to a position that allows
the rail to be received in the channel and then once the stop
member exits the channel it pivots to make contact with the first
coupling block thereby coupling the footrest structure to the
support body.
[0012] The preferred stop member in the second embodiment further
includes a handle so that it may be manually pivoted to allow the
rail to slide out of the channel so that the footrest assembly may
be disassembled.
[0013] Furthermore, preferably in the second embodiment the rail
includes at least one outwardly extending edge which engages a
corresponding inwardly extending ledge of the channel to further
stabilize the footrest assembly.
[0014] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the following description of the invention
which refers to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a footrest
assembly according to the first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0016] FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a disassembled footrest assembly
according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a footrest assembly according to
the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a footrest assembly
according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 5 shows a disassembled footrest assembly according to
the second embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 6 shows a first plan view of a partially assembled
footrest assembly according to the second embodiment of the present
invention.
[0021] FIG. 7 shows a second plan view of a partially assembled
footrest assembly according to the second embodiment of the present
invention.
[0022] FIG. 8 shows a plan view of a footrest assembly according to
the second embodiment of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of the
footrest assembly according to the second embodiment of the present
invention viewed along line 9-9 in FIG. 8 looking in the direction
of the arrows.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a footrest assembly 10 with
a coupling mechanism according to the first embodiment of the
present invention. Footrest assembly 10 includes a footrest
structure which according to the present invention is coupled to a
support body 12 by a manually releasable coupling.
[0025] The support body 12 in the first embodiment of the present
invention is preferably a tube which can be either adapted for
attachment to a wheelchair or is part of the wheelchair frame, and
is at least mechanically strong enough for supporting the footrest
structure. For example, support body 12 may be a tube that is part
of the wheelchair frame disposed on the side of the seat to extend
downwardly at an angle of, example, ninety degrees.
[0026] The footrest structure in the first embodiment of the
present invention includes footrest body 14 which may be a curved
tubular structure, and support arm 28, which is attached to and may
be integral with footrest body 14. For example, support arm 28 may
be welded to footrest body 14. Footrest body 14 includes a free end
which is adapted to receive a conventional footrest platform (not
shown) on which a patient's foot may rest. The footrest platform
usually extends parallel to and resides below the seat and includes
an adjustable tube which is received by the free end of footrest
body 12. Typically, the adjustable tube can be slidably moved so
that its height relative to the ground can be adjusted.
[0027] A footrest assembly according to the first embodiment of the
present invention further includes insert guide 16. Insert guide 16
is attached to footrest body 14 by, for example, a fastener such as
screw 32, and received by a free end of support body 12.
Specifically, because support body 12 in the first embodiment is a
tube, insert guide 16 is received at its hollow end. Insert guide
16 includes cavity 17, which registers with a corresponding hole 13
on support body 12 when insert guide 16 is received by the hollow
end of support body 12. Once insert guide 16 is received in the
hollow free end of support body 12, footrest body 14 is temporarily
assembled in place and ready to be coupled to the same by a
manually releasable coupling.
[0028] Once footrest body 14 is coupled to support body 12, brace
support 18, which is disposed at the free end of support arm 28,
bears against support body 12 to provide additional mechanical
support and stability to footrest body 14. Brace support 18 is
preferably formed from a compliant material such as a polymer.
[0029] The manually releasable coupling in the first embodiment of
the present invention is a spring loaded pin 27 which extends
through hole 13 on support body 12 to cavity 17 in insert guide 16,
to prevent footrest body 14 from rotating relative to or being
retracted away from support body 12. Specifically, the manually
releasable coupling in the first embodiment of the present
invention includes: pin 27, which may be a threaded shaft; standoff
22, which is attached to support body 12 by, for example, welding;
spring 24; and end nut 20. Standoff 22 includes guide hole 23 which
is positioned in substantial alignment with hole 13 on support body
12 when standoff 22 is secured in place. Optionally, release knob
26 may be attached to pin 27 to facilitate manual handling of pin
27. Spring 24 is fitted over pin 27 and disposed between release
knob 26 and the upper portion of standoff 22. Pin 27 is received in
guide hole 23 of standoff 22 and end nut 20 is threaded onto the
free end of pin 27. The free end of pin 27, which receives end nut
20, is inserted into hole 13 of support body 12. The top end of
spring 24 is attached to release knob 26, while the opposing bottom
end of spring 24 is attached to the upper portion of standoff 22 in
order to suspend pin 27 at a predetermined position such that end
nut 20 is suspended in the interior of support body 12.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 2, insert guide 16, which is fastened onto
footrest body 14, is received by the free end of support body 12
nearest to hole 13 which displaces pin 27 by pressing against end
nut 20 on its free end. Once insert guide 16 is fully inserted in
support body 12, it is rotated either clockwise or counterclockwise
until hole 17 on insert guide 16 registers with end nut 20 that is
threaded to the free end of pin 27. Once end nut 20 is received by
hole 17 on insert guide 16, footrest body 14 is coupled to support
body 12. By manually pulling on release knob 26 end nut 20 can be
pulled out of hole 17 of insert guide 16 which allows footrest body
14 to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise or be removed from
locking tube 12.
[0031] Referring now to FIG. 5 in which like features are
identified with like numerals, a footrest assembly according to the
second embodiment of the present invention includes all of the
features of the first embodiment including a manually releasable
coupling that couples a footrest structure to support body 12. In
the second embodiment of the present invention, a manually
releasable coupling is provided to couple support body 12 and
support arm 28. It has been found that by positioning the manually
releasable coupling between support body 12 and support arm 28
additional stability can be achieved.
[0032] The manually releasable coupling of the second embodiment of
the present invention includes first coupling block 30 which is
attached to support body 12 by, for example, fasteners such as
screws 32, and second coupling block 34 which is preferably
attached to the free end of support arm 28 by, for example, welding
or some other suitable attachment mechanism. First coupling block
30 includes channel 31 which extends from the free end of first
block 30 to a predetermined depth. Second coupling block 34
includes rail 33 which is slidably receivable in channel 31 of
first coupling block 30.
[0033] The manually releasable coupling in the second embodiment
further includes stop member 35 which is pivotally attached to
second coupling block 34 by, for example, a pivot pin (not shown).
Stop member 35 is adapted to freely pivot and includes handle 36
for manual manipulation. It should be noted that stop member 35
includes slanted contact surface 37 which, as will be described
later, engages first coupling block 30 to cause stop member 35 to
pivot.
[0034] In the preferred embodiment, first coupling block 30, second
coupling block 34, and stop member 35 are made from a metal. It
should be noted that other suitable materials may be used for
forming first coupling block 30, second coupling block 34 and stop
member 35 without deviating from the present invention.
[0035] Referring now to FIGS. 6-8, a footrest assembly according to
the present invention is assembled by first aligning insert guide
16 with the free end of support body 12 so that insert guide 16 may
be received by the hollow end thereof as described earlier with
respect to the first embodiment of the present invention. As the
footrest structure is moved toward support body 12, slanted contact
surface 37 of stop member 35 engages first coupling block 30 and
causes stop member 35 to pivot and swing upwardly.
[0036] Referring specifically now to FIG. 7, as insert guide 16 is
further moved within the hollow end of support body 12, rail 33 of
second coupling block 34 is received in channel 31 of first
coupling block 30 and slides therein until stop member 35 exits
channel 31, and as shown in FIG. 8, swings back to make contact
with first coupling block 30. As a result, the footrest structure
cannot be moved in a direction that would allow insert guide 16 to
be retracted from the hollow end of support body 12.
[0037] To allow the disassembly of footrest structure from support
body 12, handle 36 may be moved toward support arm 28 thereby
pivoting stop member 35 such that it may enter channel 31 of first
coupling block 30 to allow the footrest structure to slide off of
support body 12.
[0038] Referring now to FIG. 9, in order to ensure that the
footrest structure does not "swing off" of support body 12, rail 33
includes at least one outwardly extending edge 38 which engages a
corresponding inwardly extending ledge 40 disposed inside of
channel 31 of first coupling block 30. As a result, the footrest
structure is restricted from moving in a direction transverse to
the support body 12, thereby preventing the footrest from "swinging
off" of the same.
[0039] Although the present invention has been described in
relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations
and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those
skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present
invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but
only by the appended claims.
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