Low profile seat frame

1. A wheelchair comprising:

a chassis;

a positioning module mounted to an upper portion of the chassis, the positioning module being operable to adjust at least one of an angular position and an elevational position of a seating area of the positioning module;

a seat frame comprising:

a support member secured to and spanning the seating area of the positioning module; and

a front frame member secured to a front end of the support member and overhanging a front edge of the seating area of the positioning module, such that the seat frame at least partially straddles the positioning module, the front frame member being connected with and at least partially supporting at least one of a side frame member, foot rest, leg rest and arm rest assembled with and supported by the front frame member; and

a seat secured to an upper surface of the support member;

wherein an upper surface of the front frame member is substantially aligned with an upper surface of the support member.

2. The wheelchair of claim 1 , wherein the seat frame further comprises a rear frame member secured to an upper surface of the support member along a rear end of the support member.

3. The wheelchair of claim 2 , wherein the seat frame further comprises first and second side frame members assembled with the front and rear frame members to define a width of the seat frame.

4. The wheelchair of claim 3 , wherein the front and rear frame members telescopically engage corresponding front and rear extension arms of the first and second side frame members for adjustment of the width of the seat frame.

5. The wheelchair of claim 3 , wherein the front extension arm of each of the first and second side frame members is vertically offset from the corresponding rear extension arm to accommodate a vertical offset between the front and rear frame members.

6. The wheelchair of claim 3 , wherein the front and rear frame members each include tubular first and second ends telescopically receiving corresponding front and rear extension arms of the first and second side frame members for adjustment of the width of the seat frame.

7. The wheelchair of claim 6 , wherein the front extension arm of each of the first and second side frame members is vertically offset from the corresponding rear extension arm to accommodate a vertical offset between the front and rear frame members.

8. The wheelchair of claim 3 , wherein the first and second side frame members are spaced apart from the support member.

9. A wheelchair comprising:

a chassis;

a positioning module mounted to an upper portion of the chassis, the positioning module being operable to adjust at least one of an angular position and an elevational position of a seating area of the positioning module;

a seat frame comprising:

a support member secured to and spanning the seating area of the positioning module; and

a front frame member secured to a front end of the support member and overhanging a front edge of the seating area of the positioning module, such that the seat frame at least partially straddles the positioning module, the front frame member being connected with and at least partially supporting at least one of a side frame member, foot rest, leg rest and arm rest assembled with and supported by the front frame member; and

a seat secured to an upper surface of the support member;

wherein the support member has a maximum height that is smaller than a maximum height of the front frame member.

10. The wheelchair of claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises a plate.

11. The wheelchair of claim 9 , wherein an upper surface of the front frame member is substantially aligned with an upper surface of the support member.

12. A wheelchair comprising:

a chassis;

a positioning module mounted to an upper portion of the chassis, the positioning module being operable to adjust at least one of an angular position and an elevational position of a seating area of the positioning module;

a seat frame comprising:

a support member secured to and spanning the seating area of the positioning module; and

a front frame member secured to a front end of the support member and overhanging a front edge of the seating area of the positioning module, such that the seat frame at least partially straddles the positioning module, the front frame member being connected with and at least partially supporting at least one of a side frame member, foot rest, leg rest and arm rest assembled with and supported by the front frame member; and

a seat secured to an upper surface of the support member;

wherein the support member includes at least first and second downward extending flanges sized to closely receive the positioning module therebetween.

13. A low profile seat frame for assembly with a positioning module of a seating apparatus, the seat frame comprising:

a support plate including a horizontally extending planar portion defining a seating area and a downward extending front flange disposed along a front end of the planar portion;

a front frame member secured to the front flange of the support plate;

a rear frame member secured to an upper surface of the planar portion along a rear end opposite the front end; and

first and second side frame members each having a front extension arm telescopically received in a corresponding tubular end of the front frame member and a rear extension arm telescopically received in a corresponding tubular end of the rear frame member; wherein the front extension arm of each of the first and second side frame members is vertically offset from the corresponding rear extension arm to accommodate a vertical offset between the front and rear frame members.

14. The seat frame of claim 13 , wherein the support plate comprises downward extending first and second side flanges.

15. A method of installing a positioning module on a wheelchair, the positioning module being operable to adjust at least one of an angular position and an elevational position of a seating area at least partially defined by an upper surface of the positioning module, the method comprising:

assembling the positioning module to a chassis of the wheelchair;

providing a low profile seat frame including a support plate having opposed upper and lower surfaces, a front frame member secured to a front end of the support plate and extending beyond the lower surface of the support plate, and a rear frame member secured to the upper surface of the support plate at a rear end of the support plate;

securing the low profile seat frame to the positioning module, such that the support plate spans the seating area of the positioning module, and the front frame member overhangs a front edge of the seating area;

assembling at least one of a side frame member, a foot rest, a leg rest, and an arm rest with the front frame member; and

securing a wheelchair seat to the upper surface of the support plate.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising assembling first and second side frame members with the front and rear frame members to define first and second side edges of the seating area.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising telescopically sliding the first and second side frame members with respect to the front and rear frame members to adjust a width of the seating area.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the support plate includes first and second downward extending side flanges, and wherein securing the low profile seat frame to the positioning module comprises receiving the positioning module between the first and second side flanges.

19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising securing a leg rest assembly to the front frame member and securing a backrest assembly to the rear frame member.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein securing the low profile seat frame to the positioning module and securing the wheelchair seat to the upper surface of the support plate comprise installing fasteners assembled with the wheelchair seat through mounting holes in the support plate and securing the fasteners to the positioning module.