US3382000A - Vertically adjustable armrests for wheelchairs - Google Patents

Description

y 7, 1968 F. F. sum 3,382,000

VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE ARMRESTS FOR WHEELCHAIRS Filed Dec. 16. 1966 United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A collapsible wheelchair including a pair of side frames between which a seat is suspended wherein each side frame has an armrest carried by the upper portion thereof and adjustable vertically with respect thereto, the armrest having a pair of vertical armrest posts which slide through the tubes comprising portions of the side frame.

Disclosure This invention relates to a wheelchair having vertically adjustable armrests. Present day wheelchairs are of tubular frame construction, the upper horizontal tube of which generally comprises a support to which an armrest pad is secured. In some forms the upper horizontal support is offset laterally outwardly from and detachably secured to the side frame proper. In the present invention the armrest pad is carried by vertical tubular supporting means which is vertically slidable through the offset and detachable upper horizontal tubular portion of the side frame of the wheelchair, and means is provided for releasably locking the armrest in various vertically adjusted positions relative to the side frame of the wheelchair. However the invention can be used with a nondetachable upper horizontal side frame member. Preferably, two vertical armrest supports are utilized in spaced relation longitudinally of the side frame of the wheelchair to maintain the armrest in alignment with the side frame. The releasable catch means for maintaining the armrest in various vertically adjusted positions is located in the upper horizontal tubular frame portion between the armrest support for compactness of arrangement and to prevent it from being accidentally caught and actuated by the clothing of the occupant of the chair. The armrest, adjustable armrest support and catch means are located within a common generally vertical plane, enabling my invention to be incorporated in the collapsible type wheelchair widely in use, without interfering with such collapsibility.

The objects of the invention are set forth above. Other t objects and advantages will more fully appear from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a collapsible wheelchair embodying my invention, the adjustable armrest being shown in full and broken lines in three positions of adjustment;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detail taken approximately on the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a section taken approximately on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail taken approximately on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary detail taken approximately on the line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

In the drawing there is shown a wheelchair 6 having a side frame 8 comprising a lower horizontal tubular member 10 and an upper horizontal tubular member 12. The tubular member 12 has downwardly directed end portions 12A with reduced lower extremities 12B rearwardly received in socket sleeves 12C, the socket sleeves being welded to a forward upright tubular frame member 14 and a rear upright frame member 16. Combined braces and seat bars 13 extend horizontally between the uprights 14 and 16. The rear upright tubular member 16 extends above the upper horizontal tubular member 12 to provide back-supporting means and a push button handle 18. There is a similar side frame on each side of the chair and the two side frames are connected by cross-braces 20 pivoted at 22 in accordance with the construction shown in Patent No. 2,618,319 granted Nov. 18, 1952, to Herbert A. Everest and Harry C. Jennings.

As is customary, the wheelchair is supported by large propulsion wheels 24 and smaller caster wheels 26'. Also, each side frame may be provided with a footrest support 28 carrying a suitable footrest unit 30, as is well known in the art.

The detachable upper horizontal tubular portion 12 of the side frame has a pair of vertically disposed spaced sleeves 32 and 34 extending therethrough and secured to the tubular member 12 as by welding. Vertically slidable in the sleeves 32 are vertically disposed tubular armrest supports 36 and 38. The upper ends of these armrest supports are connected by a horizontal cross-member 40 which may be welded thereto and said cross-member 40 has an armrest pad 42 suitably secured thereto as by screws or bolts 44 extending upwardly through said crossmember 40.

The detachable upper horizontal tubular side frame member 12 has a tubular portion 46 which lies between the two vertically disposed sleeves 32 and 34. Slidably disposed within the tubular section 46 is a catch bolt 48 having a catch pin 50 which extends through an aperture 52 in the sleeve 32 and into one of a series of apertures 54 in the vertical tubular armrest support 36. A catch bolt operator 56 has an inner end 58 threaded into the catch bolt 48 and a portion extending through a longitudinal slot 60 in the tubular section 46. The outwardly extending portion of the bolt operator 56 is vertically disposed and is aligned with the sleeves 32 and 34 and the tubular armrest supports 36 and 38. A compression spring 62 is disposed between the catch bolt 48 and the vertical sleeve 34 to yieldably urge the catch bolt and the catch pin 50 to the right, as viewed in FIG. 3.

It should be noted that the sleeves 32 and 34, the vertical tubular armrest supports 36 and 38, the armrests 42 and the catch bolt operator 56 are all generally in the same vertical plane. This provides not only a compact and neat construction, but is highly advantageous in the widely used collapsible wheelchairs because there is nothing appreciably wider than the side frame itself to prevent collapsing of the wheelchair so that it will take up a desired minimum of space when so collapsed. The catch bolt operator 56 is located between the vertical tubular armrest supports 36 and in alignment therewith in the same plane so that the catch bolt actuator, while readily accessible, is to a considerable extent shielded so it will not catch upon the clothing of the occupant of the chair. This is not only a matter of comfort or convenience, but a safety measure, since it is protected from accidental dislodgement and release of the arm chair support with a possible sudden and unexpected lowering of the support which might occur if the catch operator were not so protected. This could be a matter of considerable concern, depending upon the physical condition of the occupant.

It should be understood that various changes can be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a wheelchair, a pair of side frames of tubular material generally defining the thickness of the side frames, pivoted cross-brace means connecting the side frames for collapsing movement toward each other, a seat supported between the side frames at a fixed height, each side frame having an upper horizontal tubular arm portion externally parallel to and closely approximately the vertical plane of the remaining portion of the side frame, an arm rest disposed above said tubular arm portion in longitudinal alignment therewith and in said vertical plane, a pair of spaced parallel vertical armrest posts secured at their upper ends to said armrest and vertically slidable through said tubular arm portion to adjust their vertical heights relative to the side frames and the seat, and catch means movably carried by said tubular arm portion and selectively movable into releasable locking engagement with at least one of said armrest posts at different vertical heights of said posts.

2. The structure in claim 1, and said tubular arm portion including a tubular section between said arm rest posts, and said catch means being located in and guided for movement by said tubular section.

3. The structure in claim 1, and said catch means being slidably movable within said tubular arm portion between said vertical arm rest posts, and an operator for said catch means extending exteriorly of said tubular arm portion and lying within the defined thickness of the tubular arm portion.

4. The structure in claim 1, and said tubular arm portion having shor-t spaced sleeve sections extending vertically therethrough, and said armrest posts being vertically slidable and guided in said short spaced sleeve sections.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 885,339 4/1908 Hargrove 135--50 2,486,015 10/ 1949 Everest et a1 297-45 2,630,128 3/1953 Slater 135-50 2,679,283 5/ 1954- Mahone 297422 X 3,002,200 10/ 1961 Murcott 5--331 CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner.

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