WHEEL MOUNTING ASSEMBLY AND WHEELCHAIR WITH TWO OF SUCH WHEEL MOUNTING ASSEMBLIES

Abstract

 The present invention refers to a wheel mounting assembly (5, 15) for mounting a wheel (3) of in particular a wheelchair (1) to a frame (2), comprising at least one holding means (6, 7; 16, 17) attachable to the frame (2) to hold n distance means (8, 18) and one wheel axle bearing means (9, 19), with the wheel axle bearing means (9, 19) being fitted together with the n distance means (8, 18) in any one of n + 1 different positions within a fitting plane defined by the holding means (6, 7; 16, 17), and n being an element of the natural numbers. In addition, the present invention refers to a wheelchair with two of such wheel mounting assemblies.

Description

[0001] The present invention refers to a wheel mounting assembly for mounting a wheel of in particular a wheelchair to a frame and to a wheelchair with two of such wheel mounting assemblies.

[0002] A wheel mounting assembly for mounting a wheel of a wheelchair to a frame part thereof is known from EP 1 416 895 B1. The frame part includes an upper frame member and a lower frame member, with the wheel mounting assembly comprising a connecting member, extending generally upwardly and downwardly between said frame members and being secured thereto, and a wheel mounting member extending adjacent said connecting member and secured thereto and to said side frame members. The wheel mounting member has several formations in form of vertically spaced transversely extending apertures for supporting an axle by which the wheel is carried. This allows for the wheel being mounted in a selected height relative to the wheelchair frame. As the wheel mounting member can be mounted in either of two orientations it also allows for the wheel being mounted relatively more forward or rearward, depending on the mounting orientation.

[0003] EP 2 394 622 B1 refers to a wheel mounting assembly that has three connecting elements. A first connecting element is able to enclose at least parts of a second and a third connecting element in the area of a recess. The second connecting element is capable of translational movement along an inclined plane relative to the third connecting element within the first connecting element and restricted by said first connecting element, in such a manner that the first connecting element can be interlocked with the second and third connecting elements. The second and third connecting elements can be releasably connected to each other by means of at least one fastening element that provides a force along an axis, which results in said relative translational movement of the second and third connecting elements along the inclined plane.

[0004] It is broadly the object of the present invention to provide an improved adjustable wheel mounting assembly for mounting a wheel of in particular a wheelchair to a frame. In particular, the improvement of the wheel mounting assembly shall allow an easy adaption of the seat centre of gravity of the wheelchair by relocating the wheel axle relative to the frame.

[0005] This object is solved by a wheel mounting assembly for mounting a wheel of in particular a wheelchair to a frame, comprising at least one holding means attachable to the frame to hold n distance means and one wheel axle bearing means, with the wheel axle bearing means being fitted together with the n distance means in any one of n + 1 different positions within a fitting plane defined by the holding means, and n being an element of the natural numbers.

[0006] With the invention it is proposed that the holding means comprises two parts, with the two parts forming a frame or housing for the n distance means and the wheel axle bearing means in at least the fitting plane, and/or the two parts being detachably connected to each other, in particular via two connections, to define a cavity within the fitting plane for arranging the n distance means and the axle bearing means within said cavity, and/or the two parts being, in particular detachably, connected to a frame connection means.

[0007] Preferred embodiments of the wheel mounting assembly of the invention are characterized in that the n distance means and the wheel axle bearing means are fitted together via a form fit and/or frictional connection, with preferably a form fit and/or frictional connection also being provided between the holding means, in particular the two parts thereof, on the one hand and the n distance means and the wheel axle bearing means on the other hand.

[0008] The frictional connection can comprise a tongue and groove connection.

[0009] It is also proposed with the invention that the cross-section in the fitting plane of each of the n distance means is identical, with preferably the cross-section in the fitting plane of each distance means corresponding to the cross-section in the fitting plane of the wheel axle bearing means.

[0010] Some embodiments of the invention can be characterized in that the cross-section of each distance means and the wheel axle bearing means is substantially in the form of a square, or the cross-section of the wheel axle bearing means is substantially in the form of a circle and the cross-section of each distance means is substantially in form of a circle part, in particular in form of a half moon.

[0011] Still further, it is proposed that the wheel axle bearing means comprises a through hole, in particular provided by a tube, for the wheel axle, with preferably the fitting plane being substantially perpendicular to the axis of the hole, in particular the tube.

[0012] With the invention also a wheelchair with a frame, at least two drive wheels connected by either a wheel axle each or common axle to the frame and two wheel mounting assemblies according to the invention is provided.

[0013] The wheelchair of the invention allows an easy and quick change of the location of a wheel axle relative to a frame to adapt the center of gravity of the wheelchair for a user thereof. This is achieved by changing the relative arrangement of n distance means with respect to one wheel axle bearing means within a fitting plane defined between two holding means parts connected via a frame connection means to the frame. The fitting plane can define one or two displacement axis allowing the change of the wheel mounting position with respect to the frame in a forward and rearward direction and/or at selected heights. The n distance means provide the possibility for n+1 different mounting positions for the wheel axle bearing means and, thus, the wheel axle. Like n+1 pieces of a puzzle the n distance means and the one wheel axle bearing means can be assembled or fitted together, and, in addition, they can form n different puzzles due to their shape with n different positions of the one wheel axle bearing means.

[0014] These and other features of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which :

Figure 1a

is a perspective view of a wheelchair of the invention;

Figure 1b

is a perspective view of the wheelchair of Figure 1a with one drive wheel having been dissembled;

Figure 2a

is a perspective view of the wheel mounting assembly of the wheelchair of Figure 1a;

Figure 2b

is a perspective view of the wheel mounting assembly of Figure 2a, but differing from the one of Figure 2a with respect to the placement of a wheel axle bearing means;

Figures 2c and 2d

are two explosive views of the wheel mounting assembly of Figure 2a with a third position of the wheel axle bearing means;

Figure 3a

is an explosive view of an alternative wheel mounting assembly of the invention;

Figures 3b - 3d

are perspective views of the wheel mounting assembly of Figure 3a with three different positions of a wheel axle bearing means.

[0015] A wheelchair of the invention is shown in Figure 1a, but without a seat and backrest. Such a wheelchair 1 comprises a frame 2 and two drive wheels 3 each attached via an axle 4 to a wheel mounting assembly 5 which in turn is secured to the frame 2. The wheel mounting assembly 5 of the invention can be better seen in Figure 1b.

[0016] In the following, the wheel mounting assembly 5 of a first embodiment of the invention is described in further detail with respect to Figures 2a to 2c. The wheel mounting assembly 5 comprises two holding means parts 6, 7, substantially each in form of an L to define there between a cavity having a cross-section in form of a square within a fitting plane. In said fitting plane nine positions are provided for eight distance means 8 and one wheel axle bearing means 9 i i.e. the wheel axle bearing means 9 can be placed at any one of said nine positions allowing for two displacement positions in a first direction and two further displacement positions in a second direction. The cross-section of each distance means 8 and the wheel axle bearing means 9 within the fitting plane is substantially in form of a cube, to provide a form fit of the means 8, 9 within the parts 6, 7. The parts 6, 7 can be connected to each other via connection screws 11, 12, and the form fit of the means 8, 9 can be stabilized by a frictional connection achieved by tongue and groove connections 13, which can be best seen in Figures 2c and 2d.

[0017] The wheel axle bearing means 9 is provided with a tube 10 through which an wheel axle (not show) can extend such that the wheel axle is carried by the wheel axle bearing means 9 within the tube 10. The axis of the tube 10 is substantially perpendicular to the fitting plane.

[0018] Figure 3a to 3d show a second embodiment of a wheel mounting assembly of the invention. In detail, Figure 3a depicts a frame connection means 14 secured to a not shown frame of a wheelchair as part of the wheel mounting assembly 15. In addition, the wheel mounting assembly 15 comprises two holding means parts 16, 17, with a first holding means part 16 being secured to the frame connection means 14 and the second holding means part 17 being detachably connectable to the first holding means part 16 for example by a screw connection (not shown). Between the two holding means parts 16, 17 a cavity in form of an elongated hole is provided. Within this cavity two distance means 8 and one wheel axle bearing means 19 can be arranged, with Figures 3b to 3d showing three possible positions of the wheel axle bearing means 19.

[0019] The wheel axle bearing means 19 substantially is provided in form of a tube through which a not shown wheel axle can extend. Therefore, the cross-section of the wheel axle bearing means 19 within the fitting plane in the cavity between the two holding means parts 16, 17 has the form of a circle. Each distance means 18 has a cross-section within the fitting plane in form of a circle part, in particular in form of a half moon. This enables the distance means 18 to be either both arranged at the right side of the wheel axle bearing means 19, see Figure 3b, one on each side of the wheel axle bearing means 19, see Figure 3c or both on the left side of the wheel axle bearing means 19, see Figure 3d.

[0020] In order to change the position of the wheel axle bearing means 19, the connection between the two holding means parts 16, 17 has to be opened and both of the distance means 18 as well as the wheel axle bearing means 19 can be relocated. Finally, the connection between the two holding means parts 16, 17 has to be closed again.

[0021] The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Reference Signs

[0022] 

1

wheelchair

2

frame

3

drive wheel

4

wheel axle

5

wheel mounting assembly

6

holding means part

7

holding means part

8

distance means

9

wheel axle bearing means

10

tube

11

connection screw

12

connection screw

13

tongue and groove connection

14

frame connection means

15

wheel mounting assembly

16

holding means part

17

holding means part

18

distance means

19

wheel axle bearing means

Claims

1. Wheel mounting assembly (5, 15) for mounting a wheel (3) of in particular a wheelchair (1) to a frame (2), comprising at least one holding means (6, 7; 16, 17) attachable to the frame (2) to hold n distance means (8, 18) and one wheel axle bearing means (9, 19), with the wheel axle bearing means (9, 19) being fitted together with the n distance means (8, 18) in any one of n + 1 different positions within a fitting plane defined by the holding means (6, 7; 16, 17), and n being an element of the natural numbers.

2. Wheel mounting assembly according to claim 1, wherein
the holding means (6, 7; 16, 17) comprises two parts, with
the two parts forming a frame or housing for the n distance means (8, 18) and the wheel axle bearing means (9, 19) in at least the fitting plane, and/or
the two parts being detachably connected to each other, in particular via two connections (11, 12), to define a cavity within the fitting plane for arranging the n distance means (8, 18) and the axle bearing means (9, 19) within said cavity, and/or
the two parts being, in particular detachably, connected to a frame connection means (14).

3. Wheel mounting assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
the n distance means (8, 18) and the wheel axle bearing means (9, 19) are fitted together via a form fit and/or frictional connection, with
preferably a form fit and/or frictional connection also being provided between the holding means (6, 7; 16, 17), in particular the two parts thereof, on the one hand and the n distance means (8, 18) and the wheel axle bearing means (9, 19) on the other hand.

4. Wheel mounting assembly according to claim 3, wherein
the frictional connection comprises a tongue and groove connection (13).

5. Wheel mounting assembly according to any one of the proceeding claims, wherein
the cross-section in the fitting plane of each of the n distance means (8, 18) is identical, with
preferably the cross-section in the fitting plane of each distance means (8) corresponding to the cross-section in the fitting plane of the wheel axle bearing means (9).

6. Wheel mounting assembly according to claim 5, wherein
the cross-section of each distance means (8) and the wheel axle bearing means (9) is substantially in the form of a square, or
the cross-section of the wheel axle bearing means (19) is substantially in the form of a circle and the cross-section of each distance means (18) is substantially in form of a circle part, in particular in form of a half moon.

7. Wheel mounting assembly according to any one of the proceeding claims, wherein
the wheel axle bearing means (9, 19) comprises a through hole, in particular provided by a tube (10), for the wheel axle, with
preferably the fitting plane being substantially perpendicular to the axis of the hole, in particular the tube (10).

8. Wheelchair (1) with a frame (2), at least two drive wheels (3) connected by either a wheel axle (4) each or a common wheel axle to the frame (2) and two wheel mounting assemblies (5) according to any one of the proceeding claims.

Drawing