Attachment assembly for attaching a wheelchair wheel to a wheelchair frame

Abstract

The invention relates to a fastening arrangement for attaching a wheelchair wheel to a wheelchair frame (12), wherein the fastening arrangement comprises a plug-in axle (14) which can be inserted into a plug-in axle receptacle (16) of the wheelchair frame (12) and locked to the wheelchair frame (12), in particular the plug-in axle receptacle (16), characterized in that the plug-in axle (14) comprises a haptic and / or optical safety element (42) which indicates, in particular in every state of the wheelchair wheel, whether the plug-in axle (14) is fully inserted and locked.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a fastening arrangement for fastening a wheelchair wheel to a wheelchair frame, wherein the fastening arrangement comprises a quick-release axle which can be inserted into a quick-release axle receptacle of the wheelchair frame and can be locked to the wheelchair frame, in particular the quick-release axle receptacle.

[0002] To transport a wheelchair, it is advantageous if the wheels can be removed from the wheelchair frame. Previously, the usual method was to provide a bolt on a wheelchair wheel onto which the wheelchair frame had to be placed. The wheel could then be swiveled toward the wheelchair frame and then locked into a locking mechanism. It is not possible to determine whether the wheel is securely locked.

[0003] Furthermore, it is common practice for the quick-release axle to remain attached to the wheelchair wheel when the wheel is removed from the wheelchair frame. While this has the advantage that the quick-release axle cannot be lost, it also has the disadvantage that the quick-release axle can be damaged during transport, particularly by bending, which either makes subsequent assembly impossible or at least prevents the wheelchair wheel from running reliably.

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a fastening arrangement so that a wheelchair wheel can be reliably fastened to a wheelchair frame in just a few simple steps.

[0005] This object is achieved according to the invention by a fastening arrangement for fastening a wheelchair wheel to a wheelchair frame, wherein the fastening arrangement comprises a quick-release axle which can be inserted into a quick-release axle receptacle of the wheelchair frame and locked to the wheelchair frame, in particular the quick-release axle receptacle, wherein the quick-release axle comprises a haptic and / or optical safety element which indicates whether the quick-release axle is fully inserted and locked. This considerably improves the safety of a wheelchair. It can be reliably detected whether the quick-release axle is locked to the wheelchair frame. This can prevent a user from driving the wheelchair without the wheelchair wheel being securely attached to the wheelchair frame. The safety element can always indicate, in particular in every assembly state of the wheelchair wheel, whether the quick-release axle is locked or not.

[0006] Particular advantages arise when an actuating element for locking and unlocking the quick-release axle is designed as a safety element. For example, the actuating element can be designed so that locking of the quick-release axle is only possible when the quick-release axle is fully inserted into the quick-release axle mount. This allows multiple functions to be implemented in one element. This simplifies the design of the fastening arrangement.

[0007] The safety element can be movable between a locking position and an unlocking position and vice versa, wherein a spring element, in particular a leg spring, is provided, and the movement from the unlocking position to the locking position occurs against the action of the spring force of the spring element. Because a spring element acts on the safety element, the safety element is held in an open position when the quick-release axle is not locked. In other words, the safety element can only be locked in a locking position if the quick-release axle is correctly inserted. Therefore, if the safety element is not in a locking position, an indication is given that the quick-release axle is not correctly locked.

[0008] The safety element can have a control contour that interacts with a locking slide of the quick-release axle. The control contour allows the locking slide of the quick-release axle to be moved, in particular, into an unlocked position by means of the safety element.

[0009] The control contour can have two flat surfaces, one corresponding to the locking position and one corresponding to the unlocking position. A curved control contour section can be provided between the two flat surfaces. The flat surfaces can be used to establish two defined positions of the safety element: the locking position and the unlocking position.

[0010] The safety element can be rotatable about a rotation axis. The rotation axis can be aligned perpendicular to the plug-in axis.

[0011] The control contour can be provided on an eccentric. The eccentric can move the locking slide of the plug-in axle and, in particular, shift it from an unlocked position to a locked position via the safety element.

[0012] Preferably, the locking slide of the quick-release axle has a control contour that moves at least one locking element radially outward during the transition from the unlocked position to the locked position. The radially outwardly moved locking element can then engage behind the quick-release axle receptacle. In this state, the quick-release axle is reliably locked to the wheelchair frame. If the quick-release axle is not fully inserted into the quick-release axle receptacle, the quick-release axle receptacle blocks radial outward movement of the locking element. Thus, the locking slide cannot move into a locked position, which in turn results in the safety element being held in an open, i.e., unlocked, position.

[0013] The locking slide can be supported on a quick-release axle sleeve via a spring element. The locking slide can be moved into the unlocked position against the action of the spring force. The spring causes the locking slide to move into the locked position and holds it there.

[0014] Further advantages arise when the quick-release axle is completely detachable from the wheelchair wheel. In particular, the quick-release axle can be completely pulled out of the hub of the wheelchair wheel. This way, the quick-release axle does not protrude beyond the hub when the wheelchair wheel is removed and cannot be damaged during transport.

[0015] The wheelchair frame can be provided with a coupling element receptacle into which a coupling element of the wheelchair wheel can be inserted from above. This eliminates the need to first lift the wheelchair frame and place it on a coupling element of the wheelchair wheel to attach the wheelchair wheel to the wheelchair frame. Instead, it is now possible to place the wheelchair wheel onto the coupling element receptacle of the wheelchair frame. This makes assembly considerably easier. The coupling element receptacle can act as a torque absorber, whereby the wheel with the coupling element, which can be implemented as a bolt, is inserted into the torque absorber.

[0016] A mechanical coding can be provided on the wheelchair wheel and / or the wheelchair frame that allows the wheelchair wheel to be mounted only on the designated side of the wheelchair frame. This prevents incorrect operation of the wheelchair. If a wheelchair wheel with a hub drive were mounted on the wrong side, this wheel would actually move backward when a control device was operated to move it forward. The mechanical coding can, for example, prevent the wheelchair wheel from being pivoted to insert the quick-release axle into the wheelchair frame.

[0017] Further advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description and the drawings. Likewise, the above-mentioned and further-described features can be used individually or in combination in any desired manner. The embodiments shown and described are not intended to be exhaustive, but rather are exemplary in nature for describing the invention.

[0018] They show: Fig. 1 a sectional view through a wheel hub of a wheelchair wheel, which is attached to a wheelchair; Fig. 2 one of the Fig. 1 corresponding illustration with the wheelchair frame largely hidden; Fig. 3 a detailed illustration of the front end of a quick-release axle; Fig. 4 a detailed illustration of a rear end of the quick-release axle; Fig. 5 one of the Fig. 2 Corresponding representation with unlocked quick-release axle; Fig. 6 the front end of the quick-release axle in an unlocked position; Fig. 7 the rear end of the quick-release axle in an unlocked position; Fig. 8 a quick-release axle separated from the wheelchair wheel; Fig. 9 the front end of the removed quick-release axle in the unlocked position; Fig. 10 a detailed representation of the rear end of the removed quick-release axle in the unlocked position; Fig. 11 a perspective representation of a quick-release axle; Fig. 12 a sectional representation of the rear end of the quick-release axle; Fig. 13 a perspective view of a wheel hub with inserted quick-release axle; Fig. 14 a section of a wheelchair frame with part of the fastening arrangement; Fig. 15 an enlarged detail showing the coupling of the wheelchair wheel to the wheelchair frame.

[0019] The Fig. 1 shows a sectional view through a wheel hub 10 of a wheelchair wheel. A wheel hub drive (not shown here) can be arranged in the wheel hub 10. The wheelchair wheel is attached to a wheelchair frame 12, shown only in section. The wheelchair wheel is locked to the wheelchair frame 12 via a quick-release axle 14. The quick-release axle 14 extends through the wheel hub 10 and into a quick-release axle receptacle 16 of the wheelchair frame 12.

[0020] Based on the Fig. 2, Fig. 3 und Fig. 4 The locking of the wheelchair wheel to the wheelchair frame 12 using the quick-release axle 14 is explained. Fig. 3 Detail III of the Fig. 2 and the Fig. 4 Detail IV of the Fig. 2 . The quick-release axle 14 has a quick-release axle sleeve 18 in which a locking slide 20 is arranged to be movable parallel to the longitudinal axis of the quick-release axle 14. The locking slide 20 is supported on the quick-release axle sleeve 18 via a spring element 22. In the illustration according to the Fig. 2 and the Fig. 4 The spring element 22 is released. This means that the locking slide 20 in the quick-release axle sleeve 18 has been moved to the right. As a result, a control contour 24 has been pushed under the locking elements 26, 28, displacing the locking elements 26, 28 radially outward so that they engage behind the quick-release axle receptacle 16 and the quick-release axle 14 is locked to the wheelchair frame 12.

[0021] The quick-release axle sleeve 18 has recesses 30, 32 through which the locking elements 26, 28 can be moved outwards.

[0022] In the locking position shown, the locking slide 20 rests with a stop surface 34 against a flat surface 36 of a control contour 38 of an eccentric 40 of a safety element 42. The eccentric 40 and thus the safety element 42 are mounted for rotation about a pivot axis 44.

[0023] Based on the Fig. 5, Fig. 6, und Fig. 7 , where the Fig. 6 a detail VI of the Fig. 5 and the Fig. 7 a detail VII of the Fig. 5 shows, it is explained how the quick-release axle 14 is unlocked. By actuating the safety element 42, which is designed as an actuating element, in particular by pivoting the safety element 42 about the pivot axis 44, the control contour 38 slides with the curved surface 46 (= control contour section) along the stop surface 34 and in the process displaces the locking slide 20 of the quick-release axle 14 to the left while compressing the spring element 22. The control contour 24 thus releases the locking elements 26, 28 for radially inward movement. In particular, the locking elements 26, 28 are thereby completely retracted into the quick-release axle sleeve 18, so that the quick-release axle 14 is no longer locked and can be moved to the right out of the quick-release axle receptacle 16.

[0024] The Fig. 8, Fig. 9 und Fig. 10 show the complete removed from the wheelchair wheel axle 14, whereby the Fig. 9 the detail IX of the Fig. 8 and the Fig. 10 the detail X of the Fig. 8 The safety element 42 is in its unlocked position, in which the flat surface 50 of the control contour 38 and thus of the eccentric 40 rests flat against the stop surface 34. As a result, the safety element 42 assumes a defined unlocked position. The locking slide 20 is held in a defined unlocked position.

[0025] The Fig. 11 shows a perspective view of the plug-in axle 14. The safety element 42 is located in the Fig. 8 corresponding unlocking position. This position of the safety element 42 is supported by a spring element 52, as shown in the illustration of the Fig. 12 can be seen. In particular, the safety element 42 is held in the unlocked position by the spring element 52. In order to establish the locking position when the quick release axle 14 is inserted, the safety element 42 must be pressed downwards and the spring force of the spring element 52 must first be overcome. If the quick release axle 14 is not fully inserted, the quick release axle holder 16 blocks the locking elements 26, 28. These cannot therefore be displaced radially outwards. The spring element 22 is in a partially compressed state and cannot move the locking slide 20 into the locking position. Without the spring element 52, the safety element 42 could be pressed into the locking position and would remain in this position due to gravity, even though the quick release axle 14 is not reliably locked.To indicate the incomplete locking state, the spring element 52 pushes the safety element 42 toward the unlocking position. This visually and haptically confirms that the plug-in spindle 14 is not correctly locked. Only when the locking elements 26, 28 can be displaced radially outward can the locking slide 20 also fully reach its locking position and rest with its stop surface 34 against the flat surface 36 (see . Fig. 4 ) and thus reliably hold the safety element 42 in the unlocking position.

[0026] The Fig. 13 shows a perspective view of the wheel hub 10 of a wheelchair wheel with a through-thru axle 14. A coupling element 60 is provided on the wheel hub 10, which is designed here as a horizontal bolt. This coupling element 60 can be inserted from above into a coupling element receptacle 62 ( Fig. 14 ) of the wheelchair frame 12. The coupling element receptacle 62 has a U-shaped recess 64 in which the bolt 60 can rest flat. To facilitate the insertion of the coupling element 60 into the coupling element receptacle 62, an insertion bevel 66 is provided.

[0027] A coding element 68 is provided on the hub 10. This ensures that the wheelchair wheel can only be attached to the designated side of the wheelchair frame 12. After inserting the coupling element 60 into the coupling element receptacle 62, the wheelchair wheel can be pivoted toward the wheelchair frame 12. To prevent confusion of the wheels, a screw, for example, can be inserted into the hole 70. This prevents the wheelchair wheel from pivoting by preventing the coding element 68 from colliding with the screw in the hole 70. This prevents the quick-release axle 14 from being inserted into the quick-release axle receptacle 16. With the screw removed, the coding element 68 can be pivoted toward the wheelchair frame 12 as intended.

[0028] This is also the case in the Figuren 14 und 15 shown as such.

[0029] The Fig. 15 , which is a detail of the Fig. 2shows the coupling element 60, which is received in the coupling element receptacle 62 when the wheelchair wheel is attached.

Claims

1. Fastening arrangement for fastening a wheelchair wheel to a wheelchair frame (12), wherein the fastening arrangement comprises a plug-in axle (14) which can be inserted into a plug-in axle receptacle (16) of the wheelchair frame (12) and can be locked to the wheelchair frame (12), in particular the plug-in axle receptacle (16), characterized in that the plug-in axle (14) comprises a haptic and / or optical safety element (42) which indicates whether the plug-in axle (14) is fully inserted and locked.

2. Fastening arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that an actuating element for locking and unlocking the plug-in axle (14) is designed as a safety element (42).

3. Fastening arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe safety element (42) is movable between a locking position and an unlocking position and vice versa, wherein a spring element (52), in particular a leg spring, is provided and the movement from the unlocking position into the locking position takes place against the action of the spring force of the spring element (52).

4. Fastening arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the safety element (42) has a control contour (38) which interacts with a locking slide (20) of the plug-in axle (14).

5. Fastening arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control contour (38) has two flat surfaces (36, 50), one surface (36) corresponding to the locking position and one surface (50) corresponding to the unlocking position.

6. Fastening arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the safety element (42) is rotatable about a rotation axis (44).

7. Fastening arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control contour (38) is provided on an eccentric (40).

8. Fastening arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking slide (20) of the plug-in axle (14) has a control contour (24) which moves at least one locking element (26, 28) radially outwards during the transition from the unlocking position to the locking position.

9. Fastening arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking slide (20) is supported on a plug-in axle sleeve (18) via a spring element (22).

10. Fastening arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the quick-release axle (14) can be completely detached from the wheelchair wheel.

11. Fastening arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thata coupling element receptacle (62) is provided on the wheelchair frame (12), into which a coupling element (60) of the wheelchair wheel can be inserted from above.

12. Fastening arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a mechanical coding is provided on the wheelchair wheel and / or on the wheelchair frame (12) which allows the wheelchair wheel to be mounted only on the side of the wheelchair frame (12) provided for this purpose.

Images