Wheelchair

Abstract

The invention relates to a wheelchair having a chassis, a seat having a seat cushion and a back unit, and an adjustment unit which is arranged between the chassis and the seat and by means of which the seat can be adjusted relative to the chassis, wherein the adjustment unit has a frame with a closure plate in the direction of the seat, characterized in that the frame is formed, with respect to a longitudinal direction, by two parallel longitudinal members which are frictionally and interlockingly connected to each other in the transverse direction only by means of the closure plate, and the seat is fastened directly to the closure plate.

Description

[0001] wheelchair

[0002] The invention relates to a wheelchair with a chassis, a seat having a seat cushion and a back unit, and an adjusting unit arranged between the chassis and the seat, with which the seat can be adjusted relative to the chassis, wherein the adjusting unit has a frame with an end plate in the direction of the seat.

[0003] Such a wheelchair is known, for example, from DE 102008 024 745 B4 or WO 2013 / 132350 A2.

[0004] The seat can be adjusted at least in height and / or inclination using the adjustment unit. The adjustment mechanism is electrically driven and mounted on the chassis below the seat. The design of the adjustment mechanism, in addition to the thickness of the seat cushion, determines the minimum seat height. The minimum seat height is crucial when, for example, the wheelchair is moved under a tabletop to allow the user to work at or on the tabletop.

[0005] In the wheelchair disclosed in WO 2013 / 132350 A2, the adjustment unit is mounted on an upper portion of the chassis so that at least one angular position and / or one height position of the seat portion can be adjusted. The seat comprises a seat frame with a support element that is attached to and spans the seat portion of the adjustment unit. A front frame element is attached to the front end of the support element and projects beyond the front edge of the seat portion of the adjustment unit such that the seat frame at least partially spans the adjustment unit. The front frame element is connected to a side frame element, a footrest, a legrest, and / or an armrest, which are attached to and supported by the front frame element. The seat is attached to an upper surface of the support element.By spanning the seat frame's support element over the adjustment unit, the minimum seat height is kept low. The structural design of the seat frame is complex and costly due to the need for prefabricated parts.

[0006] The aim of the wheelchair described at the beginning is to overcome this problem by improving it so that the lowest possible minimum seat height is achieved with minimal design effort, without compromising the stability and operational safety of the wheelchair or the adjustment unit.

[0007] To solve the problem, a generic wheelchair is characterized in that the frame is formed by two parallel longitudinal beams in a longitudinal direction, which are connected to each other in a force-locking and form-locking manner in the transverse direction only via the end plate, and the seat is attached directly to the end plate.

[0008] With this design, the seat height is essentially determined by the thickness of the end plate or seat cushion. With the same thickness of the seat cushion, the minimum seat height with the design according to the invention is significantly lower than with conventional wheelchairs.

[0009] The longitudinal direction refers to the direction of travel, i.e. the direction of the track width of the wheelchair's wheels, and the transverse direction refers to the direction of the track width of the wheels.

[0010] Preferably, the back unit is attached directly to the end plate. If the end plate is provided with parallel slots for attaching the back unit, it is possible to position the back unit lengthwise on the end plate in various positions. Furthermore, the back unit is preferably screwed to the end plate, and the screw connection is accessible from above. In this context, "from above" means that the screw connection is accessible from the side of the end plate facing away from the adjustment unit.

[0011] The longitudinal members are preferably formed by lateral folds of the end plate, which are bent (angled) so that the walls form a closed cavity or a C-shaped profile in cross-section, and by reinforcing struts that can be inserted into the cavities or the C-profile. This design simplifies production and reduces weight while maintaining high stability.

[0012] The reinforcing struts are preferably welded to at least one of the walls of the cavities or the C-profile.

[0013] To accommodate the fastening rods of a side seat, each longitudinal member has a front and rear opening opening in the transverse direction.

[0014] A leg support unit can preferably be attached to the front ends of the longitudinal members.

[0015] An embodiment of the invention will be described in more detail below with the aid of a drawing. It shows:

[0016] Figure 1 - a first perspective view of a wheelchair;

[0017] Figure 2 - a second perspective view of the wheelchair according to Figure 1;

[0018] Figure 3 - the frame of the wheelchair in perspective view;

[0019] Figure 4 - the frame of the wheelchair in perspective view;

[0020] Figure 5 - the frame of the wheelchair in perspective view;

[0021] Figure 6 - an exploded view of a detail of the wheelchair;

[0022] Figure 7 - the representation according to Figure 6 in assembled state;

[0023] Figure 8 - a detail of the wheelchair;

[0024] Figure 9 - a perspective view of the seat with additional components;

[0025] Figure 10 - the representation according to Figure 9 in a different perspective;

[0026] Figure 11 - the representation according to Figures 9 and 10 with seat cushion placed on top;

[0027] Figure 12 - the adjustment unit in perspective view;

[0028] Figure 13 - the adjustment unit in perspective view;

[0029] Figure 14 - the adjustment unit in perspective view;

[0030] Figure 15 - the section along the line VV according to Figure 16;

[0031] Figure 16 - a perspective view of the frame with part of the docked leg support unit; Figure 17 - a perspective view;

[0032] Figure 18 - a detail of the wheelchair in perspective view from the

[0033] Bottom;

[0034] Figure 19 - the representation according to Figure 18 from the top;

[0035] Figure 20 - the view according to arrow XX in Figure 19;

[0036] Figure 21 - the representation according to Figure 20 in partial section;

[0037] Figure 22 - the representation according to Figure 20 in section,

[0038] Figure 23 - the side view according to Figure 24,

[0039] Figure 24 - a detail in perspective view.

[0040] Figures 1 and 2 show the wheelchair from different perspectives. It essentially consists of the chassis 1 with the drive unit 1.1 housed therein, the two drive wheels 1.2 and the steering wheels 1.3, the seat with a seat cushion 2.1 and a backrest unit 2.2, and an adjustment unit 3 arranged between the chassis 1 and the seat 2.

[0041] The seat 2 can be adjusted relative to the chassis 1, at least in height and / or inclination (angle), via the adjustment unit 3. The adjustment unit 3 has a frame 4 with a cover plate 5 facing the seat 2.

[0042] The frame 4 is formed by two longitudinal beams 4.1, 4.2 running parallel in the longitudinal direction L, which are connected to each other in a force-locking and form-locking manner in the transverse direction Q via the end plate 5 (see Figures 3 to 5).

[0043] The longitudinal members 4.1, 4.2 are formed by folding the end plate 5 along its long sides, thereby forming walls 4.1.1, 4.1.2, 4.2.1, 4.2.2, each of which has a C-shaped cross-section. Solid reinforcing struts 7.1, 7.2 are then inserted into the cavities of the C-shaped profiles to give the frame 4 increased stability. The reinforcing struts 7.1, 7.2 are detachably or permanently connected, in particular by a material bond, preferably welded, to at least one of the walls 4.1.1, 4.1.2 or 4.2.1, 4.2.2 of the C-shaped profiles. At the front end of the frame 4, the mounting plate 12.1 of the leg support 12.2 is attached. The leg support has supports 12.1.1, 12.1.2 that taper towards the front and are covered by a cover plate 12.1.5. The cover plate 12.1.5 is essentially flush with the end plate 5. In the direction of the wheelchair's footprint, the mounting plate 12.1 has1 two support struts 12.1.3 are attached, at the front end of the fastening plate 12.1 two fastening holes 12.1.4 are provided for receiving the leg support 12.2 with the footrests 12.3 and the cushions 12.4. Alternatively, an actuator 12.5 for lifting the leg support 12.2 can be attached to the support struts 12.1.3 if such an embodiment is desired (cf. Figure 17). The fastening plate 12.1, the leg support 12.2, the footrests 12.3 and the cushions 12.4 form the leg support unit 12. The supports 12.1.1, 12.1.2 which taper towards the front are formed in one piece with the parallel reinforcing struts 7.1, 7.2 so that the.

[0044] Mounting plate 12.1 (see Figure 4) can be connected to the frame 4 by inserting it into the C-shaped profiles.

[0045] As Figure 18 shows, the supports 12.1.1 and 12.1.2 are slotted to accommodate a U-shaped profile 12.1.6, in whose open ends rectangular plates 12.1.7, 12.1.8 are received. Two openings 8, 9 are provided in the rear area of ​​each of the longitudinal supports 4.1, 4.2. The side seating surfaces 11.1, 11.2, with the fastening rods 10.1 arranged thereon, can be attached to the frame 4 via the rectangular plates 12.1.7, 12.1.8 and the openings 8, 9.

[0046] The seat surfaces 11.1, 11.2 are adjustable in the transverse direction Q relative to the frame 4, so that the width of the seat surface can be adjusted so that the seat cushion 2.1 is well supported.

[0047] The seat cushion 2.1 can be removably attached via Velcro strips 13 (see Figure 8) glued to the seat surfaces 11.1, 11.2. Figures 20 to 22 show the arrangement of the seat surfaces 11.1, 11.2 on the frame 4. The fastening rods 10.1 are provided with slots 10.1.1 (see Figure 8) so that the seat surfaces 11.1, 11.2 can be screwed to the rectangular plates 12.1.7, 12.1.8 using screws 14 and can be continuously adjusted in width relative to one another.

[0048] In the embodiment shown in Figure 8, the fastening rods

[0049] 10.1 are arranged on supports 10, to which the side seat surfaces 11.1, 11.2 can be screwed. The side seat surfaces 11.1, 11.2 can thus be designed as thin metal sheets, and the supports 10 providing stability can run parallel to the longitudinal supports 4.1, 4.2, thus not compromising the minimum seat height.

[0050] As Figures 9 and 10 show, the back unit 2.2 is screwed to the end plate 5. For this purpose, the end plate 5 is provided with a plurality of regularly spaced holes 5.2. The seat surfaces 11.1, 11.2 are provided with correspondingly parallel spaced slots 11.1.1, 11.2.1. The slots 11.1.1, 11.2.1 allow the seat surfaces 11.1, 11.2 to be moved relative to each other in the transverse direction Q in order to adjust the seat width and then through the slots 11.1.1,

[0051] 11.2.1 to screw the back unit 2.2 to a plurality of the holes 5.2 (threaded hole) or to set a screw connection (screw / nut) through the holes 5.2 (see Fig. 7).

[0052] The back unit 2.2 essentially consists of the mounting flange 2.2.1, the back cushion 2.2.2, and the width-adjustable armrests 2.2.3. The back unit 2.2 can be actuated or manually adjustable.

[0053] As shown in Figures 12 and 13, the frame 4 and the end plate 5 can be adjusted in height and / or inclination via the adjustment unit 3. The adjustment unit 3 is firmly connected to the chassis 1 of the wheelchair via the lower frame 3.1.

[0054] 1 chassis

[0055] 2 seats

[0056] 2.1 Seat cushion

[0057] 2.2 Back unit

[0058] 2.2.1 Mounting flange

[0059] 2.2.2 Back cushion

[0060] 2.2.3 Support your arm

[0061] 3 adjustment unit

[0062] 3.1 lower frame

[0063] 4 frames

[0064] 4.1 Longitudinal member

[0065] 4.1.1 Wall

[0066] 4.1.2 Wall

[0067] 4.2 Longitudinal members

[0068] 4.2.1 Wall

[0069] 4.2.2 Wall

[0070] 4.3 Cavity

[0071] 4.4 Cavity

[0072] 5 End plate

[0073] 5.1 Page

[0074] 5.2 Drilling

[0075] 7.1 Reinforcing struts

[0076] 7.2 Reinforcing struts

[0077] 8 Opening

[0078] 9 Opening

[0079] 10 carriers

[0080] 10.1 Mounting rods

[0081] 10.1.1 Slot

[0082] 11.1 Seat

[0083] 11.1.1 Slot 11.2 Seat

[0084] 11.2.1 Slot

[0085] 12 Legrest unit

[0086] 12.1 Mounting plate

[0087] 12.1.1 Carrier

[0088] 12.1.2 Carrier

[0089] 12.1.3 Support struts

[0090] 12.1.4 Drilling

[0091] 12.1.5 Cover plate

[0092] 12.1.6 U-profile

[0093] 12.1.7 Rectangular plate

[0094] 12.1.8 Rectangular plate

[0095] 12.2 Legrest

[0096] 12.3 Footrests

[0097] 12.4 Cushions

[0098] 12.5 Actuator

[0099] 13 Velcro strips

[0100] 14 Screw

[0101] L longitudinal direction

[0102] Q transverse direction

Claims

Patent claims 1. Wheelchair with a chassis (1), a seat (2) having a seat cushion (2.1) and a back unit (2.2), and an adjustment unit (3) arranged between the chassis (1) and the seat (2), with which the seat (2) can be adjusted relative to the chassis (1), wherein the adjustment unit (3) has a frame (4) with an end plate (5) in the direction of the seat (2), characterized in that the frame (4) is formed by two parallel longitudinal members (4.1, 4.2) with respect to a longitudinal direction (L), which are non-positively and positively connected to one another in the transverse direction (Q) only via the end plate (5), and the seat (2) is fastened directly to the end plate (5).

2. Wheelchair according to claim 1, characterized in that the back unit (2.2) is attached directly to the end plate (5).

3. Wheelchair according to claim 2, characterized in that the back unit (2.2) can be positioned in the longitudinal direction (L) on the end plate (5).

4. Wheelchair according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the back unit (2.2) can be screwed to the end plate (5) and the screw connection is accessible from above, that is the side (5.1) of the end plate (5) facing away from the adjustment unit (3).

5. Wheelchair according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the longitudinal supports (4.1, 4.2) are formed by lateral folds of the end plate (5), which are angled so that the walls (4.1.1, 4.1.2; 4.2.1, 4.2.2) form a closed or C-shaped cavity (4.3, 4.4), and by reinforcing struts (7.1, 7.2) which can be inserted into the cavities (4.3, 4.4).

6. Wheelchair according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the longitudinal members (4.1, 4.2) form a C-profile with one open side. Wheelchair according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the reinforcing struts (7.1, 7.2) are connected, in particular welded, to at least one of the walls (4.1.1, 4.1.2; 4.2.1, 4.2.2) of the cavities (4.3, 4.4). Wheelchair according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each longitudinal member (4.1, 4.2) has a front (8) and a rear (9) opening opening in the transverse direction (Q) for receiving fastening rods (10.1) of a lateral seat surface (11.1, 11.2). Wheelchair according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that a legrest unit (12) can be fastened to the front ends of the C-profiles (4.1, 4.2) forming the longitudinal members. Wheelchair according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seat (2) is adjustable in height and / or angle.

Images