IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,520,518
Granted Patent B2
US 7,520,518 · App. 11/258,488 · Granted Apr 21, 2009

Wheelchair

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,520,518
App. No.
11/258,488
Granted
Apr 21, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A wheelchair frame member that includes a first metallic tube member, a second metallic tube member, and a tubular composite member. First and second end portions of the composite member extend into the first and second metallic tube members. The first and second end portions of the composite members are secured to inner surfaces of the first and second metallic tube members. The end portions of the tubular composite members may be connected to the inner surfaces of the metallic tube members in a variety of different ways. For example, the end portions may be forced radially outward into engagement with the inner surface of the tube members to secure the end portions to the inner surfaces of the tube members.

Claims (26)

1. A wheelchair frame member comprising:

a) a first metallic tubular member;

b) a second metallic tubular member; and

c) a curved composite tubular member including a first end portion that extends into the first metallic tubular member and a second end portion that extends into the second metallic tubular member, wherein the first and second metallic tubular members and the first and second ends of the curved composite tubular portion are joined together by:

i) positioning an inflatable mandrel within material that forms the curved composite tubular member;

ii) placing a portion of the material that forms the first end portion of the curved composite member into the first metallic tubular member;

ii) placing a portion of the material that forms the second end portion of the curved composite portion into the second metallic tubular member;

iii) placing the inflatable mandrel, metallic tubular members, and the material that forms the curved composite tubular member into a mold having a curved portion that corresponds to the curved composite tubular member;

iv) heating the material that forms the composite tubular portion; and

v) inflating the mandrel to force the material that forms the composite tubular member against inner surfaces of the metallic tubular members and against a surface of the mold.

2. The wheelchair frame member of claim 1 wherein outer dimensions of the first metallic tubular member, and the composite tubular member are substantially the same.

3. The wheelchair of claim 1 wherein the composite tubular portion further comprises ribs extending radially inward from an interior surface of the composite tubular portion.

4. The wheelchair of claim 1 wherein the composite tubular portion includes first and second linear end portions that are connected by a curved portion of the composite tubular portion.

5. A wheelchair comprising:

a) a pair of drive wheels;

b) a frame supported by the drive wheels, the frame including a frame member that comprises a metallic tubular portion and a composite tubular portion, the composite tubular portion including an end portion that extends into the metallic tubular portion, wherein the metallic tubular portion and the composite tubular portion are joined together by:

i) positioning an inflatable mandrel within material that forms the composite tubular portion;

ii) placing a portion of the material that forms the end portion of the composite portion into the metallic tubular portion;

iii) placing the inflatable mandrel, metallic tubular portion, and the material that forms the composite tubular portion into a mold;

iv) heating the material that forms the composite tubular portion; and

v) inflating the mandrel to force the material that forms the composite tubular portion against an inner surface of the metallic tubular portion and against a surface of the mold.

6. The wheelchair of claim 5 wherein outer dimensions of the metallic tubular portion and the composite tubular portion are substantially the same.

7. The wheelchair of claim 5 wherein the composite tubular portion further comprises ribs extending radially inward from an interior surface of the composite tubular portion.

8. The wheelchair of claim 5 wherein the composite tubular portion includes first and second linear end portions that are connected by a curved portion of the composite tubular portion.

9. The wheelchair of claim 5 wherein the composite tubular portion comprises carbon fiber.

10. The wheelchair of claim 5 wherein the metallic tubular portion comprises titanium.

Assignments (19)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 17, 2024
From: GLAS TRUST COMPANY LLC
To: INVACARE CORPORATION; FREEDOM DESIGNS, INC.; MOTION CONCEPTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 069386/0475 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 13, 2024
From: WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB
To: INVACARE CORPORATION; FREEDOM DESIGNS, INC; MOTION CONCEPTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 069352/0322 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2024
From: INVACARE CORPORATION; MOTION CONCEPTS L.P.; FREEDOM DESIGNS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 069340/0095 →
ASSIGNMENT OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 13, 2024
From: WHITE OAK COMMERCIAL FINANCE, LLC
To: WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB
Reel/Frame 068895/0111 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 18, 2023
From: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: INVACARE CORPORATION; ADAPTIVE SWITCH LABORATORIES, INC.; FREEDOM DESIGNS, INC.; MEDBLOC, INC.; INVACARE CREDIT CORPORATION; INVACARE HOLDINGS, LLC; INVAMEX HOLDINGS LLC
Reel/Frame 063695/0106 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 16, 2023
From: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: ADAPTIVE SWITCH LABORATORIES, INC.; INVACARE CORPORATION; THE AFTERMARKET GROUP, INC.; ALTIMATE MEDICAL, INC.; CENTRALIZED MEDICAL EQUIPMENT LLC; CHAMPION MANUFACTURING INC.; FAMILY MEDICAL SUPPLY LLC; THE HELIXX GROUP, INC.; INVACARE CANADIAN HOLDINGS, INC.; INVACARE CANADIAN HOLDINGS, LLC; INVACARE CONTINUING CARE, INC.; INVACARE CREDIT CORPORATION; INVACARE FLORIDA CORPORATION; INVACARE HOLDINGS, LLC; INVACARE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION; INVACARE SUPPLY GROUP, INC.; INVAMEX HOLDINGS LLC; KUSCHALL, INC.; ROADRUNNER MOBILITY, INCORPORATED; FREEDOM DESIGNS, INC.; GARDEN CITY MEDICAL INC.; INVACARE FLORIDA HOLDINGS, LLC; INVACARE HCS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063668/0679 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 16, 2023
From: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: INVACARE CORPORATION; FREEDOM DESIGNS, INC.; GARDEN CITY MEDICAL INC.; THE AFTERMARKET GROUP, INC.; DYNAMIC MEDICAL SYSTEMS, LLC; INVACARE CONTINUING CARE, INC.; MEDBLOC, INC.; ADAPTIVE SWITCH LABORATORIES, INC.; CENTRALIZED MEDICAL EQUIPMENT LLC; THE HELIXX GROUP, INC.; INVACARE CANADIAN FINANCE, LLC; INVACARE CANDIAN HOLDINGS, INC.; INVACARE CREDIT CORPORATION; INVACARE FLORIDA CORPORATION; INVACARE FLORIDA HOLDINGS, LLC; INVACARE HOLDINGS, LLC; INVACARE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION; INVAMEX HOLDINGS LLC; INVACARE OUTCOMES MANAGEMENT LLC
Reel/Frame 063668/0639 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 16, 2023
From: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: INVACARE CORPORATION; ADAPTIVE SWITCH LABORATORIES, INC.; THE AFTERMARKET GROUP, INC.; ALTIMATE MEDICAL, INC.; CENTRALIZED MEDICAL EQUIPMENT LLC; CHAMPION MANUFACTURING INC.; FAMILY MEDICAL SUPPLY LLC; THE HELIXX GROUP, INC.; INVACARE CANADIAN HOLDINGS, INC.; INVACARE CANADIAN HOLDINGS, LLC; INVACARE CONTINUING CARE, INC.; INVACARE CREDIT CORPORATION; INVACARE FLORIDA CORPORATION; INVACARE HOLDINGS, LLC; INVACARE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION; INVACARE SUPPLY GROUP, INC.; INVAMEX HOLDINGS LLC; KUSCHALL, INC.; ROADRUNNER MOBILITY, INCORPORATED; FREEDOM DESIGNS, INC.; GARDEN CITY MEDICAL INC.; INVACARE FLORIDA HOLDINGS, LLC; INVACARE HCS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063662/0430 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TRANCHE II NOTES) Recorded May 15, 2023
From: INVACARE CORPORATION; MOTION CONCEPTS L.P; FREEDOM DESIGNS, INC.
To: GLAS TRUST COMPANY LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 063637/0705 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 15, 2023
From: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: INVACARE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063638/0261 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TRANCHE I NOTES) Recorded May 12, 2023
From: INVACARE CORPORATION; MOTION CONCEPTS L.P; FREEDOM DESIGNS, INC.
To: GLAS TRUST COMPANY LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 064005/0231 →
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS Recorded May 11, 2023
From: GLAS TRUST CORPORATION LIMITED, AS EXISTING COLLATERAL AGENT
To: GLAS TRUST COMPANY LLC, AS SUCCESSOR COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 063625/0607 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RELEASE (DIP PAYOFF) Recorded May 10, 2023
From: GLAS TRUST CORPORATION LIMITED, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: INVACARE CORPORATION; FREEDOM DESIGNS, INC.; MOTION CONCEPTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 063594/0272 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 5, 2023
From: INVACARE CORPORATION; FREEDOM DESIGNS, INC.; MOTION CONCEPTS L.P.
To: WHITE OAK COMMERCIAL FINANCE, LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 063553/0217 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 3, 2023
From: INVACARE CORPORATION; ADAPTIVE SWITCH LABORATORIES, INC.; FREEDOM DESIGNS, INC.; MEDBLOC, INC.; INVACARE CREDIT CORPORATION; INVACARE HOLDINGS, LLC; INVAMEX HOLDINGS, LLC
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 062739/0687 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 3, 2023
From: INVACARE CORPORATION; MOTION CONCEPTS L.P.; FREEDOM DESIGNS, INC.
To: GLAS TRUST CORPORATION LIMITED, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 063090/0603 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Aug 9, 2022
From: INVACARE CORPORATION; FREEDOM DESIGNS, INC.
To: GLAS TRUST CORPORATION LIMITED, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 061131/0814 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TRANCHE I NOTES) Recorded Aug 9, 2022
From: INVACARE CORPORATION; FREEDOM DESIGNS, INC.
To: GLAS TRUST CORPORATION LIMITED, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 061131/0833 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TRANCHE II NOTES) Recorded Aug 9, 2022
From: INVACARE CORPORATION; FREEDOM DESIGNS, INC.
To: GLAS TRUST CORPORATION LIMITED, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 061131/0852 →