U.S. patent application number 13/494523 was filed with the patent office on 2012-10-11 for wheelchair seatback with two-point mounting hardware.
This patent application is currently assigned to SUNRISE MEDICAL (US) LLC. Invention is credited to James L. Christofferson, Vincent J. Frerich, Sy Tran, Thomas J. Whelan.
Application Number | 20120256463 13/494523 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39535449 |
Filed Date | 2012-10-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120256463 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Whelan; Thomas J. ; et
al. |
October 11, 2012 |
Wheelchair Seatback With Two-Point Mounting Hardware
Abstract
Wheelchair seat back mounting hardware permits the seat back to
be mounted on various wheelchairs. The mounting hardware may be in
the form of two-point mounting hardware that connects the seat back
to the wheelchair and permits the seat back height to be adjusted
independently of the mounting hardware location on the
wheelchair.
Inventors: |
Whelan; Thomas J.;
(Longmont, CO) ; Christofferson; James L.;
(Longmont, CO) ; Frerich; Vincent J.; (Arvada,
CO) ; Tran; Sy; (Longmont, CO) |
Assignee: |
SUNRISE MEDICAL (US) LLC
Fresno
CA
|
Family ID: |
39535449 |
Appl. No.: |
13/494523 |
Filed: |
June 12, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12963713 |
Dec 9, 2010 |
8197009 |
|
|
13494523 |
|
|
|
|
12075181 |
Mar 10, 2008 |
7857394 |
|
|
12963713 |
|
|
|
|
60905658 |
Mar 8, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/440.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61G 5/10 20130101; A61G
5/1067 20130101; Y10S 297/04 20130101; A61G 5/1062 20130101; A61G
5/122 20161101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/440.1 |
International
Class: |
A47C 7/42 20060101
A47C007/42 |
Claims
1. A wheelchair seat back assembly comprising a seat back and
mounting hardware dimensioned and configured to mount the
wheelchair seat back on various wheelchairs.
2. The wheelchair seat back assembly of claim 1 wherein the
mounting hardware and the seat back are dimensioned and configured
to permit the height of the seat back to be adjusted independently
of the mounting hardware location on the wheelchair.
3. The wheelchair seat back assembly of claim 1 wherein the
mounting hardware comprises a mounting pin configured to be mounted
in relation to one of the wheelchair or the seat back and a pin
receiver configured to be mounted in relation to the other one of
the wheelchair or the seat back, the mounting pin being structured
to be received by the pin receiver to mount the seat back in
relation to the wheelchair.
4. The wheelchair seat back assembly of claim 3 wherein the pin
receiver is supported in relation to a mounting bracket by
fasteners that pass through by one or more slots in the mounting
bracket, the fasteners mounting the pin receiver in relation to the
mounting bracket, the slots being oversized to permit the pin
receiver to be angularly adjustable in relation to the mounting
bracket.
5. The wheelchair seat back assembly of claim 3 wherein the
mounting pin and the pin receiver are conically shaped.
6. The wheelchair seat back assembly of claim 1 wherein the
mounting hardware comprises a tube clamp configured to be mounted
to wheelchair seat posts of various size and shape.
7. The wheelchair seat back assembly of claim 6 wherein the tube
clamp has inner and outer parts with flat and V-shaped geometries
and a swivel pin engageable with one or more fasteners, the swivel
post along with the flat and V-shaped geometries being configured
to permit the tube clamp to be adapted to a variety of post sizes
and shapes.
8. The wheelchair seat back assembly of claim 1 wherein the
mounting hardware is configured to adjust the seat back to various
width ranges of wheelchairs and also adjust in height, angle and
depth.
9. The wheelchair seat back assembly of claim 1 wherein the
mounting hardware is self-locking in an open position upon pushing
a locking lever in a first direction and when detaching the seat
back, the locking lever is reset in a closed position, so that when
the seat back is reattached to the wheelchair, the seat back is
securely self-locked into place.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/963,713, issued Jun. 12, 2012 as U.S. Pat.
No. 8,197,009, which is a Continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 7,857,394,
and entitled WHEELCHAIR SEAT BACK WITH TWO-POINT MOUNTING HARDWARE.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,857,394 claims priority from U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/905,658, filed Mar. 8, 2007, and
entitled WHEELCHAIR SEAT BACK WITH TWO-POINT MOUNTING HARDWARE. The
above-referenced priority documents are incorporated by reference
in the present application in their entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present invention generally relates to wheelchairs, and
more particularly to wheelchair seat backs.
[0003] A wheelchair comprises a base supported for movement
relative to a supporting surface by wheels, typically
differentially driven wheels and caster wheels. A seat assembly is
supported in relation to the base for supporting a user. The seat
assembly comprises a seat and a seat back is supported in relation
to the seat. The seat back is typically supported by seat canes or
posts. A seat back is conventionally mounted to the posts by
four-point mounting hardware.
[0004] To properly support and position the wheelchair user, many
anatomical and physiological factors may be considered. The needs
of the user can be compensated for by adjusting seat back contours,
height, angle and depth.
[0005] Wheelchairs are manufactured using a wide range of tube
diameters and shapes. This may present a challenge when designing
products, such as seat backs, that are intended to fit on different
style wheelchairs.
[0006] Seat backs that are intended to fit onto various wheelchairs
may be limited in achieving the correct anatomical height for the
seat back by virtue of the design of the wheelchair and seat back
mounting hardware. Most seat backs are mounted to the wheelchair at
four points (i.e., two points on each seat back post). If the
wheelchair structure has limitations regarding where these four
points can be, it may compromise the height position of the seat
back to the user's anatomical and/or physiological needs.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0007] The invention is generally directed towards a wheelchair
seat back mounting hardware system that permits the seat back to be
mounted on various wheelchairs. The mounting hardware may be in the
form of two-point mounting hardware that connects the seat back to
the wheelchair and permits the seat back height to be adjusted
independently of the mounting hardware location on the
wheelchair.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a partially exploded rear perspective view of an
exemplary wheelchair seat back assembly.
[0009] FIGS. 2A-2D are sectional views of an exemplary construction
of a pin receiver in various positions of operation.
[0010] FIGS. 3A and 3B are top plan views of an exemplary tube
clamp mounted in relation to different size seat posts.
[0011] FIGS. 4A and 4B are side elevational views of an exemplary
mounting bracket, pin holder and mounting pin, wherein the pin
holder and the mounting pin are in two different angular
positions.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the wheelchair seat
back assembly shown in FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 6 is an enlarged rear perspective view of a moderately
adjustable tall mounting bracket of the wheelchair seat back
assembly shown in FIG. 5.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of an alternative
wheelchair seat back assembly.
[0015] FIG. 8 is an enlarged rear perspective view of a highly
adjustable tall mounting bracket of the wheelchair seat back
assembly shown in FIG. 7.
[0016] FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of another wheelchair seat
back assembly.
[0017] FIG. 10 is an enlarged rear perspective view of a moderately
adjustable short mounting bracket of the wheelchair seat back
assembly shown in FIG. 9.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIG.
1 a partially exploded rear perspective view of an exemplary
wheelchair seat back assembly, generally indicated at 10. The seat
back assembly 10 may be generally comprised of a seat back 12,
which may be made of any suitable material and which may be
suitable shape or configuration. The seat back 12 is supported in
relation to the seat canes or posts 14 of a wheelchair by mounting
hardware 16.
[0019] The exemplary mounting hardware 16 has four basic
components, namely, a mounting bracket 18, a mounting pin 20, a pin
receiver 22, and a clamp, such as the tube clamp 24 shown, although
other hardware configurations may be suitable for practicing the
invention.
[0020] As clearly shown in the drawings, the mounting bracket 18 is
attachable to the seat back 12 and the mounting pin 20 is supported
in relation to the mounting bracket 18. The tube clamp 24 is
attachable to the posts 14 and the pin receiver 22 is supported in
relation to the tube clamp 24. Conversely, it should be appreciated
that the mounting pin 20 may be supported in relation to the tube
clamp 24 and the pin receiver 22 may be supported in relation to
the mounting bracket 18.
[0021] The mounting bracket 18 may be attached to the seat back 12
in any suitable manner. For example, openings, holes or slots may
be provided in the seat back 12. Similar openings, holes or slots
may be provided in the mounting bracket 18. The openings, holes or
slots in the mounting bracket 18 align with the openings, holes or
slots in the seat back 12 for receiving fasteners for attaching the
mounting bracket 18 to the seat back 12.
[0022] In the drawings, slots 26 are provided in the seat back 12.
Similar slots 27 are provided in the mounting bracket 18. The slots
26, 27 are adjustable in relation to one another to permit the seat
back to be adjusted in relation to the mounting bracket 18. The
exemplary slots 26 in the seat back 12 extend vertically to permit
the mounting bracket 18 to be adjusted vertically. The slots 27 in
the mounting bracket 18 extend horizontally to permit the mounting
bracket 18 to be adjusted horizontally. Conversely, the slots 26 in
the seat back 12 may extend horizontally and the slots 27 in the
mounting bracket 18 may extend vertically. It should be appreciated
that the slots 26, 27 may be extend in directions other than the
vertical and horizontal directions shown, or that other
arrangements may be provided that permit varying degrees of
adjustment of the mounting bracket 18 in relation to the seat back
12.
[0023] Any suitable fasteners may be used to attach the mounting
bracket 18 to the seat back 12. The exemplary fasteners are
threaded fasteners 28 held in fixed relation to one another by a
stud plate 30. The stud plate 30 may be situated forward of the
seat back 12 so that the threaded fasteners 28 extend rearward
through the slots 26, 27. Nuts 32 may be threaded onto the threaded
fasteners 28 and tightened to secure the mounting bracket 18 in
place. The mounting bracket 18 may be adjusted by loosening the
nuts 32 and again held in place by tightening the nuts 32. Instead
of using a stud plate 30, it should be appreciated that the nuts 32
may be held in fixed relation to one another by a nut plate and the
threaded fasteners 28 may be separately threaded into the nuts 32.
Alternatively, other fasteners and fastening arrangements may be
suitable for attaching the mounting bracket 18 to the seat back
12.
[0024] The exemplary mounting pin 20 is supported in relation to
the mounting bracket 18 by a pin holder 34, which may be attached
to mounting bracket 18. Although the pin holder 34 may be attached
in any suitable manner, the exemplary pin holder 34 has threaded
studs 36 and the mounting bracket 18 has openings, holes or slots
for receiving the threaded studs 36. Nuts 38 may be threaded onto
the threaded studs 36 to attach the pin holder 34 to the mounting
bracket 18. It should be appreciated that the threaded studs 36 may
be loosely arranged or form an integral part of the pin holder 34
as shown. Alternatively, the pin holder 34 may be threaded to
receive threaded fasteners.
[0025] The exemplary mounting bracket 18 has slots 40 for receiving
the threaded studs 36. The slots 40 may be oversized (i.e., larger
in dimension than the threaded studs 36). This may permit angular
adjustment of the pin holder 34 in relation to the mounting bracket
18, which will be described in greater detail in the description
that follows. The mounting pin 20 is supported in relation to the
pin holder 34. Though this may be done in any suitable manner, the
exemplary pin holder 34 has threaded holes 42 for receiving
threaded fasteners 44. The threaded holes 42 are arranged to align
with through holes 46 in the pin holder 34. The threaded fasteners
44 may pass through the through holes 46 and thread into the
threaded holes 42. The mounting pin 20 may be secured in place by
tightening the threaded fasteners 44.
[0026] As will become apparent in the description that follows, the
exemplary mounting pin 20 is conically shaped and the pin receiver
22 is conically shaped. A spacer 48 may be provided between the
mounting pin 20 and the pin holder 34 to provide clearance between
the mounting pin 20 and the pin holder 34 that may aid in the
cooperation of the conically shaped mounting pin 20 and the
conically shaped pin receiver 22. The spacer 48 may be provided
with through holes 50 that are arranged to align with the through
holes 46 in the in the pin holder 34 and the threaded holes 42 in
the mounting pin 20 to permit passage of the threaded fasteners 44
through the spacer 48 so that the threaded fasteners 44 may thread
into the threaded holes 42.
[0027] The pin receiver 22 may be supported in relation to the tube
clamp 24 in any suitable manner. For example, the exemplary pin
receiver 22 is provided with through holes 52 for receiving
threaded fasteners 54, which may be threaded into threaded holes in
the tube clamp 24, such as the threaded holes 56 in an inner part
24a of the tube clamp 24, as illustrated in the drawings. The tube
clamp 24 may be provided with multiple threaded holes to permit the
pin receiver 22 to be attached to the tube clamp 24 in a plurality
of positions.
[0028] The exemplary tube clamp 24 is sized and configured to be
clamped upon various size posts 14. Although the tube clamps 24 may
be any suitable configuration, the exemplary tube clamp 24 has two
parts, the inner part 24a mentioned above and an outer part 24b.
The two parts may have one or more through holes, such as the
through holes 58, 60 shown, for receiving threaded fasteners 62.
The threaded fasteners 62 may be threaded into threaded holes 64 in
a swivel pin 66, which is sized to fit in a relief 67 in the inner
part 24a of the tube clamp 24. The swivel pin 66 permits the inner
and outer parts 24a, 24b of the tube clamp 24 to be positioned at
various angles relative to one another, depending on the size of
the posts 14, as will become clear in the description that
follows.
[0029] The exemplary pin receiver 22 is a self-locking pin receiver
with a two-position locking lever 68, which is held in pivotal
relation to the pin receiver 22 by a dowel pin 72. The locking
lever 68 may be alternatively held in either one of the two
positions by a latch plunger 74 biased by a compression spring
76.
[0030] In FIGS. 2A-2D, there are illustrated sectional views of an
exemplary construction of the pin receiver 22 in various positions
of operation. In FIG. 2A, the locking lever 68 is in a first or
locked position in engagement with a detent 78 in the mounting pin
20. The exemplary detent 78 is an annular detent. In this position,
the mounting pin 20 is secured in the pin receiver 22. The
compression spring 76 biases the latch plunger 74 in a first
position (shown in FIG. 2A) in an elongated relief 80 in the pin
receiver 22 and biases the locking lever 68 to hold the locking
lever 68 in the locked position, into engagement with the detent
78. As stated above, the mounting pin 20 and the pin receiver 22
may be conically shaped. It should be appreciated that the conical
shape of the mounting pin 20 may cooperate with the conical shape
of the pin receiver 22 to form firm contact between the mounting
pin 20 and the pin receiver 22.
[0031] In FIG. 2B, the locking lever 68 has been moved to a second
or unlocked position, or clockwise about the dowel pin 72 when
viewing FIG. 2B. In this position, the locking lever 68 is
disengaged from the detent 78 in the mounting pin 20. The latch
plunger 74 is moved (clockwise when viewing FIG. 2B) in a second
position (shown in FIG. 2B) in the elongated relief 80 in the pin
receiver 22. In this position, the compression spring 76 biases the
locking lever 68 to hold the locking lever 68 in the second,
unlocked position, out of engagement with the detent 78 in the
mounting pin 20 to permit the mounting pin 20 to be freely removed
(i.e., moved vertically upward when viewing FIGS. 2C and 2D) from
the pin receiver 22. This permits the seat back 12 to be readily
detached from the posts 14 without the aid of tools.
[0032] In FIG. 2D, the mounting pin 20 has been moved sufficiently
upward to engage the locking lever 68. Upon engaging the locking
lever 68, the locking lever 68 is displaced (i.e., moved
counter-clockwise about the dowel pin 72 when viewing FIG. 2D). It
can be seen from FIG. 2C that when the locking lever 68 is pivoted
to the unlocked position, it is positioned in an interference
relation with the mounting pin 20 so that removal of the mounting
pin 20 from the pin receiver 22 causes contact between the mounting
pin 20 and the locking lever 68, thereby pivoting the locking lever
68 to the locked position, as illustrated in FIG. 2D. The latch
plunger 74 is moved (counter clockwise when viewing FIG. 2D) back
to the second position (shown in FIG. 2A) in the elongated relief
80 in the pin receiver 22. In this position, the compression spring
76 biases the locking lever 68 counter-clockwise back into the
first position, as shown in FIG. 2A. The mounting pin 20, when
inserted back into the pin receiver 22, engages the locking lever
68 and cams the locking lever 68 clockwise. With the mounting pin
20 sufficiently inserted in the pin receiver 22, the locking lever
68 is biased by the compression spring 76 back into engagement with
the detent 78 in the mounting pin 20 to hold the mounting pin 20
firmly in the pin receiver 22. This permits the seat back 12 to be
readily supported in relation to the posts 14 without the aid of
tools.
[0033] It should be appreciated that the mounting pin 20 may be
mounted in relation to the seat back 12 and the pin receiver 22 may
be mounted in relation to the posts 14.
[0034] In FIGS. 3A and 3B, there are illustrated top plan views of
the exemplary tube clamp mounted in relation to two different size
posts 14a and 14b. In FIG. 3A, the tube clamp 24 is mounted to a
relatively small post 14a. In FIG. 3B, the tube clamp 24 is mounted
to a larger post 14b. As shown by comparison in the two drawings,
the threaded fastener 62 has different approaches in relation to
the inner part 24a of the tube clamp 24. To accommodate the
different approaches, the swivel pin 66 is angularly displaceable
(along the line A-A in FIGS. 3A and 3B) relative to the relief 67.
The swivel pin 66, along with flats 23 defining a V-shaped geometry
25 of the inner and outer parts 24a, 24b of the tube clamp 24,
permit the tube clamp 24 to be adapted to a variety of post sizes
and shapes. It can be seen from FIG. 3A that the clamp forms a
third class lever, with the contact between the inner and outer
parts 24a and 24b forming a fulcrum at the rear end of the clamp
24, the front end of the clamp 24 applying a clamp force to the
wheelchair posts 14, and the fastener 62 in conjunction with the
swivel pin 66 providing an axial load at a position intermediate of
the rear end and front end of the clamp 24.
[0035] In FIGS. 4A and 4B, there are illustrated side elevational
views of the exemplary mounting bracket 18, pin holder 34 and
mounting pin 20, wherein the pin holder 34 and the mounting pin 20
are in two different angular positions. As stated above, the
mounting bracket 18 may be provided with oversized slots 40. That
is to say, the slots 40 may be larger in dimension than the
threaded studs 36. This permits angular adjustment of the pin
holder 34 in relation to the mounting bracket 18.
[0036] In FIG. 5, there is illustrated a rear perspective view of
the exemplary wheelchair seat back assembly 10 shown in FIG. 1.
This seat back assembly 10 has a moderately adjustable tall
mounting bracket 18, as shown enlarged in FIG. 6.
[0037] In FIG. 7, there is illustrated a rear perspective view of
an alternative wheelchair seat back assembly. This seat back
assembly has a highly adjustable tall mounting bracket 82, as shown
enlarged in FIG. 8.
[0038] In FIG. 9, there is illustrated a rear perspective view of
another wheelchair seat back assembly. This seat back assembly has
a moderately adjustable short mounting bracket 84, as shown
enlarged in FIG. 10.
[0039] The wheelchair seat back assemblies are quick release,
detachable wheelchair seat back assemblies that fit onto various
wheelchairs and seat back posts via a two-point mounting system,
allowing independent adjustment of height, width, depth and angle
of the seat back in order to meet the anatomical and physiological
needs of the user.
[0040] The height of seat back rest can be fitted anatomically to
user, regardless of wheelchair cushion height, or restrictions due
to wheelchair seat back frame designs. Mounting hardware location
on posts and mounting hardware location on seat back may be
independent of each other.
[0041] The swivel pin has tapped holes, which can be made
perpendicular to the mating clamp part.
[0042] The seat back may be easily attached to and detachable from
the wheelchair or seat posts. The conical shaped mounting pin may
be captured and secured in the pin receiver by the spring loaded
locking lever that is biased to the two positions.
[0043] The mounting hardware is self-locking in an open position
upon pushing the locking lever in a first direction. When detaching
the seat back, the conical shaped mounting pin resets the locking
lever into the biased closed position, such that when the seat back
is reattached to the wheelchair, it securely self-locks into
place.
[0044] The conical mounting pins are aligned to the pin receivers
via numerous slots in the seat back and in the mounting brackets.
The seat back may be adjustable to conform to the anatomical curves
of a user via various geometric shaped blocks. These shaped blocks
can be customized to the user, and are easily repositioned, and
removable.
[0045] The seat back can adjust to various width ranges of
wheelchairs, and also adjust in height, angle and depth. Width,
height, angle and depth adjustments may be made via numerous slots,
the orientation of which may contribute to the adjustments.
[0046] The principle and mode of operation of this invention have
been explained and illustrated in its preferred embodiment.
However, it must be understood that this invention may be practiced
otherwise than as specifically explained and illustrated without
departing from its spirit or scope.
* * * * *