Wheel chair abstract
An apparatus including a wheel chair, with a horizontal mount positioned
between upper and lower horizontal framework members of the wheel
chair, with a yoke member secured to the mount positioned interiorly
of the wheel chair framework. A bicycle structure includes a forward
and rear wheel mounted within a framework, with the framework further
including drive crank mounted to the frame of the bicycle adjacent
an upper tubular extent of the framework, and wherein the bicycle
includes a rearwardly directed boss member securable to the yoke
of the wheel chair, wherein the boss member is spaced above a lower
contact portion of a rear wheel of the bicycle a predetermined distance
greater than a spacing of the yoke relative to a bottom contact
surface of a forward wheel assembly of the wheel chair to elevate
a forward end of the wheel chair in securement to the bicycle.
Wheel chair claims
What is claimed as being new and desired to be protected by Letters
Patent of the United States is as follows:
1. A wheel chair cycle apparatus comprising, in combination,
a wheel chair assembly, wherein the wheel chair assembly includes
a framework, including a plurality of spaced vertical frame rails,
with each frame rail including an upper and lower horizontal frame
rail, and
the spaced vertical frame rails including a cross brace positioned
rearwardly of the spaced vertical frame rails between the upper
and lower horizontal frame rails, and the cross brace includes a
yoke, with the yoke positioned rearwardly of the spaced vertical
frame rails within the framework of the wheel chair assembly, and
further including a bicycle member, wherein the bicycle member
includes a forward bicycle wheel and a rear bicycle wheel, and
a bicycle framework, wherein the bicycle framework includes a lower
arcuate frame bar and an "L" shaped upper frame bar, with
the upper frame bar including a horizontal bar member, and a vertical
bar member, with the vertical bar member intersecting the lower
arcuate frame bar, and
mounting means integrally secured to the vertical bar member of
the bicycle for securement to the yoke of the wheelchair in order
to fasten the bicycle member to the wheel chair assembly, and
the bicycle framework including a frame neck tube, with the frame
neck tube integrally secured to a forward terminal end of the horizontal
bar and a forward terminal end of the lower arcuate frame bar, and
a forward bicycle wheel including a forward axle, with the forward
axle mounted to a forward wheel support tube, and the forward wheel
support tube rotatably mounted within the frame neck tube, and a
handle bar member mounted to the forward wheel support tube within
the frame neck tube, and
a rear bicycle wheel including a rear axle mounted to the lower
arcuate frame bar at rear terminal end of the lower arcuate frame
bar, and
motive means rotatably mounted to the horizontal bar to effect
rotation of the rear bicycle wheel.
2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the wheel chair
assembly includes a plurality of rear wheels mounted to a rear portion
of the wheel chair assembly framework, and a plurality of front
wheel assemblies, with a front wheel assembly mounted to a lower
terminal end of each vertical frame rail, and each front wheel assembly
including a first contact surface to overlie a support surface,
with a first predetermined spacing defined between the yoke and
the first bottom contact surface, and the mounting means including
a mounting boss mounted to the vertical bar member, with the mounting
boss including a threaded support boss for reception within the
yoke orthogonally and integrally mounted to an upper surface of
the mounting boss, where a second predetermined spacing is defined
between the upper surface of the mounting boss, and a second contact
surface defined by a bottom contact surface of the rear bicycle
wheel, with the second predetermined spacing greater than the first
predetermined spacing to effect elevation of the front wheel assemblies
when the mounting boss is mounted to and underlying the yoke of
the wheel chair assembly.
3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the motive means
includes a drive sprocket, wherein the drive sprocket is rotatably
mounted to the horizontal bar, and a driven sprocket mounted coaxially
of the rear bicycle wheel, and an endless chain directed between
the drive sprocket and driven sprocket, and an idler sprocket mounted
medially of the vertical bar, and the endless drive chain including
an upper extent and a lower extent, with the upper extent overlying
the idler sprocket, and the idler sprocket further including an
idler sprocket guard to capture the lower extent of the endless
drive chain between the idler sprocket guard and the vertical bar
of the "L" shaped upper frame bar.
4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 including a drive chain
shield mounted to the horizontal bar of the "L" shaped
frame bar to prevent inadvertent contact between an occupant of
the wheel chair assembly when the bicycle member is operatively
mounted to the wheel chair assembly.
5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein the drive sprocket
includes a plurality of drive pedals, each drive pedal includes
a platform underlying and mounted to each drive pedal, and each
platform includes a first and second hook and loop fastener strap
member mounted to each platform to effect securement of a foot member
of the occupant mounted within the wheel chair assembly.
Wheel chair description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to a cycle structure for use with
wheel chairs, and more particularly a wheel chair cycle apparatus
wherein the same permits selective securement and association of
a bicycle structure to an associated wheel chair to permit use of
the bicycle structure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The prior art has provided various organizations for use with wheel
chairs to permit the disabled operative use of the wheel chair with
a further type of wheeled vehicle that has heretofore failed to
provide cycle structure as set forth by the instant invention which
permits the use of a bicycle structure to effect mobility of the
wheel chair and guidance thereof. An occupant of the wheel chair
having use of at least one leg member may effect mobility of the
organization in use.
Examples of prior art structure relative to wheel chair apparatus
may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,789,175 to Schramm wherein a unicycle
structure is mounted rearwardly of an associated wheel chair to
permit an occupant of a wheel chair to have use of a helper and
the like when mounted on the cycle structure rearwardly of the wheel
chair.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,720,117 to Hay provides a peddling attachment for
a wheel chair, wherein a unicycle structure is provided with a drive
sprocket structure mounted at an uppermost level thereof to permit
manual manipulation of the drive sprocket structure by an occupant
of the wheel structure.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,132 to Moore provides an exercise device for
use with a wheel chair, with the exercise device mounted upon a
framework to permit securement of the wheel chair to enable an individual
to exercise while seated in the associated wheel chair.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,388 to Wang provides for a wheel chair assembly,
with a cycle structure mounted thereto to permit multiple use of
the cycle structure in association with a wheel chair.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,344 to Romero, Sr., et al. provides for a wheel
chair attachment permitting rotation of a sprocket structure and
associated rotation of the rear wheels of the wheel chair.
As such, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a need
for a new and improved wheel chair cycle apparatus as set forth
by the instant invention which addresses both the problems of ease
of use as well as effectiveness in construction and in this respect,
the present invention substantially fulfills this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types
of wheel chair accessory apparatus now present in the prior art,
the present invention provides a wheel chair cycle apparatus wherein
the same permits selective securement of a bicycle structure to
an associated wheel chair to permit stability in the organization
in use as a cycle structure by an occupant of the wheel chair. As
such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be
described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and
improved wheel chair cycle apparatus which has all the advantages
of the prior art wheel chair apparatus and none of the disadvantages.
To attain this, the present invention provides an apparatus including
a wheel chair, with a horizontal mount positioned between upper
and lower horizontal framework members of the wheel chair, with
a yoke member secured to the mount positioned interiorly of the
wheel chair framework. A bicycle structure includes a forward and
rear wheel mounted within a framework, with the framework further
including drive crank mounted to the frame of the bicycle adjacent
an upper tubular extent of the framework, and wherein the bicycle
includes a rearwardly directed boss member securable to the yoke
of the wheel chair, wherein the boss member is spaced above a lower
contact portion of a rear wheel of the bicycle a predetermined distance
greater than a spacing of the yoke relative to a bottom contact
surface of a forward wheel assembly of the wheel chair to elevate
a forward end of the wheel chair in securement to the bicycle.
My invention resides not in any one of these features per se, but
rather in the particular combination of all of them herein disclosed
and claimed and it is distinguished from the prior art in this particular
combination of all of its structures for the functions specified.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important
features of the invention in order that the detailed description
thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that
the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There
are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be
described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of
the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate
that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily
be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods
and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present
invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded
as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not
depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially
the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not
familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine
quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the
technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither
intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured
by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope
of the invention in any way.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a
new and improved wheel chair cycle apparatus which has all the advantages
of the prior art wheel chair apparatus and none of the disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new
and improved wheel chair cycle apparatus which may be easily and
efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new
and improved wheel chair cycle apparatus which is of a durable and
reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a
new and improved wheel chair cycle apparatus which is susceptible
of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor,
and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale
to the consuming public, thereby making such wheel chair cycle apparatus
economically available to the buying public.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide
a new and improved wheel chair cycle apparatus which provides in
the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages
thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages
normally associated therewith.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new
and improved wheel chair cycle apparatus wherein the same is readily
secured to an associated wheel chair to permit use of the cycle
apparatus by an occupant of the wheel chair and simultaneously effect
stability in use of the organization.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with
the various features of novelty which characterize the invention,
are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and
forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of
the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects
attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying
drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred
embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be better understood and objects other than
those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is
given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description
makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is an isometric illustration of a prior art wheel chair
apparatus in association with a rearwardly mounted cycle structure.
FIG. 2 is an isometric illustration of a prior art unicycle structure
mounted to a forward end of a wheel chair.
FIG. 3 is an orthographic side view, taken in elevation, of the
cycle structure utilized by the instant invention.
FIG. 4 is an orthographic side view, taken in elevation, of the
instant invention in a disassembled orientation.
FIG. 5 is an orthographic side view, taken in elevation, of the
instant invention in an assembled orientation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS.
1 to 5 thereof, a new and improved wheel chair cycle apparatus embodying
the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally
designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.
FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art wheel chair apparatus 1, wherein
the wheel chair 11 cooperates with an exercise structure 2. The
wheel chair apparatus includes spaced vertical frame rails 5, with
a cross brace 3 orthogonally directed therebetween. Further, the
wheel chair assembly 11 includes an upper and lower pair of horizontal
frame bars 9 and 9a respectively mounted orthogonally to each vertical
frame rail 5. Conventional rear wheel assemblies 7 are mounted rearwardly
of the wheel chair, with a plurality of front wheel assemblies 6
mounted in operative association with the vertical frame rails.
The exercise apparatus 2 includes pedal structure for operative
rotation of a drive chain by either use of legs or arm power by
an occupant of an associated wheel chair. The eye bolt, or yoke
4, is mounted to the cross brace 3 to receive an associated upstanding
plug of the exercise apparatus 2, as set forth in U.S. Pat. No.
4,824,132. FIG. 2 sets forth the apparatus, wherein the exercise
organization 8 is mounted to a forward end of the wheel chair 11
forwardly of the framework, in a similar matter as the apparatus
as set forth in FIG. 1, to permit mobility and conversion of the
organization into a tricycle unit, in a manner as set forth in U.S.
Pat. No. 4,720,117.
More specifically, the wheel chair cycle apparatus 10 of the instant
invention essentially comprises a modified wheel chair assembly
11a, wherein the cross brace 3 mounts the yoke, or eye bolt 4, interiorly
of the framework of the wheel chair assembly 11a rearwardly of the
vertical frame rail 5 and positioned between the upper and lower
horizontal frame rails 9 and 9a. Each front wheel assembly 6 includes
a front wheel assembly bottom contact surface 6a in association
with a support surface defining a first predetermined spacing between
the yoke 4 and the front wheel assembly bottom contact surface 6a.
The bicycle member 12 includes a forward bicycle wheel 13 and a
rear bicycle wheel 14, each including a respective bottom contact
13a and 14a. The forward wheel 13 includes a forward wheel support
tube 15, with a forward axle 21 rotatably mounting the forward wheel
13. The bicycle assembly includes a frame neck tube 16 slidably
and rotatably receiving the forward wheel support tube 15 therewithin,
with a handle bar member 17 mounted to the forward wheel support
tube 15 extending upwardly from the frame neck tube 16 to permit
relative rotation of the forward wheel support tube and the associated
forward wheel 13, in a conventional manner. The bicycle member 12
further includes an "L" shaped upper frame bar 18 defined
by a horizontal bar 18a and a vertical bar 18b, with the vertical
bar 18b orthogonally intersecting a lower arcuate frame bar 19.
The lower arcuate frame bar 19 and the horizontal bar 18a are fixedly
mounted to the frame neck tube 16. Drive sprocket 22 is mounted
to the horizontal bar 18a, and includes an endless drive chain 24
operatively associated to a drive sprocket 23 that is coaxially
mounted to the rear axle 20 to effect rotation of the rear bicycle
wheel 14 upon rotation of the drive sprocket 22. The endless drive
chain 24 includes a lower extent positioned over an idler sprocket
25 to position the lower extent of the drive chain 24 above and
out of contact with interference with an individual's legs as they
are rotated through a full cycle in rotation of the drive sprocket
22. The idler sprocket 25 is rotatably mounted medially of the vertical
bar 18b and includes an idler sprocket guard 26 mounted about and
exteriorly of the idler sprocket 25 to capture the lower extent
of the drive chain 24 between the vertical bar 18b and the guard
26. A drive chain shield 34 is mounted to the horizontal bar 18a
to prevent contact of an upper extent of the drive chain 24 with
an occupant of the wheel chair when the bicycle member 12 is mounted
to the wheel chair. The drive sprocket 22 includes a crank drive,
with a drive pedal 27 mounted to each of the drive legs, with each
drive pedal including a platform 28, with each platform including
a first and second hook and loop strap member 29 and 30 mounted
to the platform to fixedly secure each foot of an occupant of the
wheel chair to each drive pedal 27. A mounting boss 31 that includes
a mounting boss fastener 32 is orthogonally directed through the
vertical bar 18b adjacent the horizontal bar 18a, with the mounting
boss 31 including a threaded support boss 33 extending orthogonally
and upwardly relative to the mounting boss to receive the yoke 4
thereabout, in a manner as illustrated in FIG. 5. A second predetermined
spacing is defined between an upper surface of the mounting boss
31 and the rear wheel bottom contact surface 14a, with the second
predetermined spacing greater than the first predetermined spacing
to lift the front wheel assemblies 6 out of contact with the support
surface in use of the organization. It should be further noted that
the bicycle structure in cooperation with the spaced rear wheel
assemblies 7 provide a stable structure in operation of the unit
to minimize and prevent tippage of the organization in use.
As to the manner of usage and operation of the instant invention,
the same should be apparent from the above disclosure, and accordingly
no further discussion relative to the manner of usage and operation
of the instant invention shall be provided.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized
that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the
invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form,
function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily
apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent
relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described
in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present
invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of
the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications
and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is
not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and
operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications
and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of
the invention.
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