Wheelchair and method of deployment for rearward pushing

Abstract

A wheelchair 10 comprising a frame 12 and a plurality of wheels rotationally coupled to the frame. A seat 18 is coupled to the frame and a pair of armrests 20 are located at opposite sides of the seat

Description

(12) UK Patent Application (19)GB (11) 2703027 (13) A (43) Date of A Publication 08.07.2026 (21) Application No: 2418039.0 (22) Date of Filing: 10.12.2024 (71) Applicant(s): John Mclean Flat 4, 48 Annandale Street, Edinburgh, EH7 4FA, GB (72) Inventor(s): John Mclean (74) Agent and / or Address for Service: Cameron Intellectual Property Ltd Moncrieff House, 69 West Nile Street, Glasgow, G1 2QB, GB (51) INT CL: A61G 5 / 10 (2006.01) (56) Documents Cited: JP 3226653 U US 2009 / 0302570 A1 US 2007 / 0114755 A1 WO 2020 / 143767 A1 (58) Field of Search: INT CL: A61G, A61H Other: SEARCH-PATENT (54) Title of the Invention: Wheelchair and method of deployment for rearward pushing Abstract Title: Wheelchair with stowable front-facing handlebars (57) A wheelchair 10 comprising a frame 12 and a plurality of wheels rotationally coupled to the frame. A seat 18 is coupled to the frame and a pair of armrests 20 are located at opposite sides of the seat.A primary push member is located rearwardly of the seat facilitating forward pushing of the wheelchair by an assistive user. A pair of secondary push members (24, figure 1) are coupled to the frame and configured to move about a vertical axis between a stowed position and an operative position in which the secondary push members extend forwardly of, and optionally above, the pair of armrests to facilitate rearward pushing of the wheelchair by an assistive user while facing its occupant. Preferably, the secondary push members are defined by elongate handlebars, a proximal section 30 of which are coupled to the frame below the seat and pivotable about said vertical axis to move each secondary push member between said stowed and operative positions.[Figure 2] 12 Abstract A wheelchair 10 includes a frame 12 and a plurality of wheels rotatably coupled to the frame. A seat 18 is coupled to the frame, and a pair of armrests 20 are located on opposite sides of the seat. A main push member is located behind the seat to assist the user in pushing the wheelchair forward. A pair of auxiliary push members (24, FIG. 1) are coupled to the frame and configured to move about a vertical axis between a stowed position and a working position, in which the auxiliary push members extend forward from and optionally above the pair of armrests to assist the user in pushing the wheelchair backward when facing the wheelchair occupant. Preferably, the auxiliary push members are defined by an elongated handlebar, the proximal section 30 of which is coupled to the frame below the seat and is pivotable about the vertical axis to allow each auxiliary push member to move between the stowed position and the working position.

Claims

1. A wheelchair comprising:a frame;a plurality of wheels rotationally coupled to the frame;a seat coupled to the frame;a pair of armrests located at opposite sides of the seat;at least one primary push member located rearwardly relative to the seat facilitating forward pushing of the wheelchair by an assistive user; anda pair of secondary push members coupled to the frame;wherein the pair of secondary push members is configured to move about a substantially vertical axis between a stowed position and an operative position in which the secondary push members extend forwardly of, and optionally above, the pair of armrests to facilitate rearward pushing of the wheelchair by an assistive user while facing its occupant.

2. A wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein each secondary push member, in its stowed position, is located outside a vertical occupant volume defined by lateral boundaries of the seat and the armrests.

3. A wheelchair according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each secondary push member, in its stowed position, is configured to avoid entering a lateral arm movement zone adjacent to the armrests, wherein the lower boundary of the lateral arm movement zone is defined by the upper surface of the armrests.

4. A wheelchair according to any preceding claim, wherein each of the secondary push members is defined by an elongate handlebar, a proximal section of which is coupled to the frame below the seat and pivotable about said substantially vertical axis to move each secondary push member between said stowed and operative positions.

5. A wheelchair according to claim 4, wherein the elongate handlebar is defined by multiple sections having longitudinal axes that intersect to define an obtuse angle relative to one another.

6. A wheelchair according to claim 5, wherein at least two sections of the elongate handlebar are hingedly connected to permit adjustment of the obtuse angle formed between their longitudinal axes.

7. A wheelchair according to claim 5 or 6, wherein at least one section of the elongate handlebar is telescopically extendable.

8. A wheelchair according to any of claims 5 to 7, wherein a distal section of the elongate handlebar defines a gripping portion provided at or towards a distal end thereof.

9. A wheelchair according to claim 8, wherein the gripping portion is configured to extend substantially horizontally in both the stowed and operative positions of the secondary push members.

10. A wheelchair according to any of claims 5 to 9, wherein the proximal section of the elongate handlebar is configured to extend substantially vertically in both the stowed and operative positions of the secondary push members.

11. A wheelchair according to any of claims 5 to 10, wherein an intermediate section of the elongate handlebar is configured to extend between the gripping portion and the proximal section at an oblique angle in both the stowed and operative positions of the secondary push members.

12. A wheelchair according to claim 11, wherein the intermediate section of the elongate handlebar is telescopically extendable and lockable to present and fix the gripping portion at a suitable height for pushing.

13. A method of deploying the wheelchair according to any one of claims 1 to 12 for rearward pushing by an assistive user while facing its occupant, the method comprising:(i) pivoting the secondary push members away from the respective armrests whilst maintaining them at a level at or below that of upper surfaces of the armrests;(ii) locking the secondary push members relative to the frame; and, optionally;(hi) extending the length of the secondary push members once they are positioned forward of the secondary push members.s

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