IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,931,583
Granted Patent B2
US 8,931,583 · App. 13/168,262 · Granted Jan 13, 2015

Wheelchair

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,931,583
App. No.
13/168,262
Filed
Jun 24, 2011
Granted
Jan 13, 2015
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3611
USPC
180/907
Abstract

The present application relates generally to conveyances and, more particularly, to wheelchairs. In one embodiment, a wheelchair includes a seat assembly coupled to a chassis. The chassis includes a frame having a rear wheel support member, one or more front wheel support members extending in a forward direction from the rear wheel support member, and a seat support member. The rear wheel support member comprises a central portion and left and right portions extending downward from the central portion. The wheelchair also includes one or more drive wheels for propulsion of the wheelchair, a set of front wheels for supporting the wheelchair, and a shrouding system for at least partially covering the frame and other components of the wheelchair.

Claims (25)

1. A wheelchair having a shrouding system comprising:

a rear shroud, a top shroud, and a front shroud configured to at least partially cover a top and front of a wheelchair frame, wherein the top shroud includes a rear portion, a front portion, a left portion, a right portion, a central portion having a concave depression, and a top surface having a convex portion that curves outward and slopes downward from the rear portion to the front portion of the top shroud, and wherein the top surface of the top shroud slopes upward from the left portion and the right portion to the central portion of the top shroud, and wherein the front shroud includes a top portion, a bottom portion, and an outer surface having a convex portion that curves outward and slopes downward from the top portion to the bottom portion of the front shroud; and

a lower shroud configured to at least partially cover a left, right, bottom, and rear of the wheelchair frame, wherein the lower shroud includes a left side wall, a right side wall, a rear wall, and a bottom, and wherein each side wall includes a top portion, a bottom portion, a front portion, and a rear portion, and wherein each side wall extends rearward from the front portion to the rear portion of the side wall and curves inward to transition to the rear wall, and wherein each side wall extends downward from the top portion to the bottom portion of the side wall and curves inward to transition to the bottom.

2. The wheelchair of claim 1 , wherein the depression includes a rear wall and a bottom, and wherein the rear wall extends downward from the rear portion of the top shroud at an acute angle to a vertical axis and then curves to transition to the bottom of the depression, and wherein the bottom of the depression extends from the rear wall of the depression substantially parallel to a horizontal axis and transitions to the front portion of the top shroud.

3. The wheelchair of claim 1 , wherein the depression includes a left side wall, a right side wall, and a bottom, and wherein the top surface of the top shroud curves downward to form a convex transition to the left side wall and the right side wall of the depression, and wherein the left side wall and the right side wall of the depression extend downward from the top surface of the top shroud at an acute angle to a vertical axis and then curve to transition to the bottom of the depression.

4. The wheelchair of claim 1 , wherein each side wall of the lower shroud comprises a convex outer surface that curves outward from the front portion to the rear portion of the side wall.

5. The wheelchair of claim 1 , wherein each side wall of the lower shroud includes a concave perimeter that curves inward and extends from the rear portion to the front portion of the side wall.

6. The wheelchair of claim 5 , wherein the depth of the perimeter increases as the perimeter extends from the rear portion to the front portion of each side wall of the lower shroud.

7. The wheelchair of claim 5 , wherein the width of the perimeter decreases as the perimeter extends from the rear portion to the front portion of each side wall of the lower shroud.

8. The wheelchair of claim 5 , wherein the perimeter transitions to an inward region at the front portion of each side wall of the lower shroud.

9. The wheelchair of claim 1 , wherein the lower shroud includes one or more openings and one or more convex portions that at least partially surround the one or more openings.

10. The wheelchair of claim 1 , wherein the bottom of the lower shroud includes an opening configured to at least partially expose a component of the wheelchair frame.

11. The wheelchair of claim 1 , wherein the front shroud includes a left portion and a right portion, and wherein the outer surface of the front shroud includes a convex region on the left portion and the right portion of the front shroud.

12. A wheelchair having a shrouding system comprising:

a rear shroud, a top shroud, and a front shroud configured to at least partially cover a top and front of a wheelchair frame, wherein the top shroud includes a rear portion, a front portion, a central portion having a concave depression, and a top surface having a convex portion that curves outward and slopes downward from the rear portion to the front portion of the top shroud, and wherein the depression includes a rear wall and a bottom, and wherein the rear wall extends downward from the rear portion of the top shroud at an acute angle to a vertical axis and then curves to transition to the bottom of the depression, and wherein the bottom of the depression extends from the rear wall of the depression substantially parallel to a horizontal axis and transitions to the front portion of the top shroud, and wherein the front shroud includes a top portion, a bottom portion, and an outer surface having a convex portion that curves outward and slopes downward from the top portion to the bottom portion of the front shroud; and

a lower shroud configured to at least partially cover a left, right, bottom, and rear of the wheelchair frame, wherein the lower shroud includes a left side wall, a right side wall, a rear wall, and a bottom, and wherein each side wall includes a top portion, a bottom portion, a front portion, and a rear portion, and wherein each side wall extends rearward from the front portion to the rear portion of the side wall and curves inward to transition to the rear wall, and wherein each side wall extends downward from the top portion to the bottom portion of the side wall and curves inward to transition to the bottom.

13. The wheelchair of claim 12 , wherein the depression includes a left side wall and a right side wall, and wherein the top surface of the top shroud curves downward to form a convex transition to the left side wall and the right side wall of the depression, and wherein the left side wall and the right side wall of the depression extend downward from the top surface of the top shroud at an acute angle to the vertical axis and then curve to transition to the bottom of the depression.

14. The wheelchair of claim 12 , wherein each side wall of the lower shroud comprises a convex outer surface that curves outward from the front portion to the rear portion of the side wall.

15. The wheelchair of claim 12 , wherein each side wall of the lower shroud includes a concave perimeter that curves inward and extends from the rear portion to the front portion of the side wall.

16. The wheelchair of claim 15 , wherein the depth of the perimeter increases as the perimeter extends from the rear portion to the front portion of each side wall of the lower shroud.

17. The wheelchair of claim 15 , wherein the width of the perimeter decreases as the perimeter extends from the rear portion to the front portion of each side wall of the lower shroud.

18. The wheelchair of claim 15 , wherein the perimeter transitions to an inward region at the front portion of each side wall of the lower shroud.

19. The wheelchair of claim 12 , wherein the lower shroud includes one or more openings and one or more convex portions that at least partially surround the one or more openings.

20. The wheelchair of claim 12 , wherein the bottom of the lower shroud includes an opening configured to at least partially expose a component of the wheelchair frame.

21. The wheelchair of claim 12 , wherein the front shroud includes a left portion and a right portion, and wherein the outer surface of the front shroud includes a convex region on the left portion and the right portion of the front shroud.

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 →
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: 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 →
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 (TRANCHE II NOTES) Recorded May 10, 2023
From: GLAS TRUST CORPORATION LIMITED, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: INVACARE CORPORATION; FREEDOM DESIGNS, INC.
Reel/Frame 063601/0183 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RELEASE (TRANCHE I NOTES) Recorded May 10, 2023
From: GLAS TRUST CORPORATION LIMITED, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: INVACARE CORPORATION; FREEDOM DESIGNS, INC.
Reel/Frame 063594/0906 →
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 →
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 →
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 (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 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 5, 2014
From: 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
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 032162/0921 →