WHEELCHAIR FRAME AND WHEELCHAIR COMPRISING THE SAME
There is described a wheelchair frame including first and second side frame members each having a first, rearward section designed to be coupled to a seat portion of a wheelchair and a second, forward section designed to be coupled to a foot portion of the wheelchair wherein the rearward and forward sections are connected to one another to form a substantially L-shaped profile. Each of the first and second side frame members exhibits, at least in part, a varying cross-section and further has an intermediate section shaped to act as a hand grip, which intermediate section is interposed between the rearward and forward sections and exhibits a cross-section that differs from a cross-section of the rearward section and/or forward section. The rearward section, the intermediate section and the forward section are successive sections of a same integral piece that is shaped to exhibit the varying cross-section. The rearward section exhibits a substantially circular cross-section and the forward section exhibits a substantially polygonal cross-section, the intermediate section being a substantially rectilinear section and exhibiting a varying cross-section that transitions gradually from the substantially circular cross-section of the rearward section to the substantially polygonal cross-section of the forward section.
1 - 19 . (canceled)
20 . A wheelchair frame comprising first and second side frame members each comprising a first, rearward section designed to be coupled to a seat portion of a wheelchair and a second, forward section designed to be coupled to a foot portion of the wheelchair, wherein the rearward and forward sections are connected to one another to form a substantially L-shaped profile,
wherein each of the first and second side frame members exhibits, at least in part, a varying cross-section and further comprises an intermediate section shaped to act as a hand grip, which intermediate section is interposed between the rearward and forward sections and exhibits a cross-section that differs from a cross-section of the rearward section and/or forward section,
wherein the rearward section, the intermediate section and the forward section are successive sections of a same integral piece that is shaped to exhibit the varying cross-section,
wherein the rearward section exhibits a substantially circular cross-section,
wherein the forward section exhibits a substantially polygonal cross-section,
wherein the intermediate section is a substantially rectilinear section,
and wherein the intermediate section exhibits a varying cross-section transitioning gradually from the substantially circular cross-section of the rearward section to the substantially polygonal cross-section of the forward section.
21 . The wheelchair frame according to claim 20 , wherein the first and second side frame members are made from tubular members shaped to exhibit the varying cross-section.
22 . The wheelchair frame according to claim 21 , wherein the tubular members are made of aluminum.
23 . The wheelchair frame according to claim 21 , wherein the first and second side frame members are hydroformed tubular members.
24 . The wheelchair frame according to claim 21 , wherein the tubular members are shaped to exhibit a substantially constant and uniform wall thickness.
25 . The wheelchair frame according to claim 20 , wherein the intermediate section exhibits a length of the order of 100 mm.
26 . The wheelchair frame according to claim 20 , wherein an angle of the intermediate section with respect to a horizontal, ground plane is comprised between 5° and 40°.
27 . The wheelchair frame according to claim 26 , wherein the angle of the intermediate section with respect to the horizontal, ground plane is of the order of 25°.
28 . The wheelchair frame according to claim 20 , wherein the rearward and forward sections are substantially rectilinear sections,
wherein an angle of the rearward section with respect to a horizontal, ground plane is comprised between 0° and 40°,
and wherein an angle of the forward section with respect to the horizontal, ground plane is comprised between 55° and 90°.
29 . The wheelchair frame according to claim 20 , wherein the forward section is designed to support a caster wheel support assembly.
30 . The wheelchair frame according to claim 29 , wherein the forward section exhibits a substantially constant cross-section along at least a portion of the forward section, said portion of the forward section being designed to allow adjustment of a position of the caster wheel support assembly along the said portion.
31 . The wheelchair frame according to claim 20 , wherein the intermediate section exhibits, at least partly, a substantially polygonal cross-section.
32 . The wheelchair frame according to claim 31 , wherein an upper portion of the intermediate section is wider than a lower portion of the intermediate section.
33 . The wheelchair frame according to claim 32 , wherein a width of a middle portion of the intermediate section, between the upper and lower portions, is larger than a width of the upper and lower portions.
34 . The wheelchair frame according to claim 20 , wherein the intermediate section is shaped to provide an ergonomic grip.
35 . A wheelchair comprising a wheelchair frame in accordance with claim 20 .
36 . The wheelchair according to claim 35 , wherein the intermediate section of each of the first and second side frame members is located such as to project forward from a leading edge of the seat portion.
37 . A wheelchair comprising a wheelchair frame with first and second side frame members each comprising a first, rearward section designed to be coupled to a seat portion of the wheelchair and a second, forward section designed to be coupled to a foot portion of the wheelchair, wherein the rearward and forward sections are connected to one another to form a substantially L-shaped profile,
wherein each of the first and second side frame members exhibits, at least in part, a varying cross-section and further comprises an intermediate section shaped to act as a hand grip, which intermediate section is interposed between the rearward and forward sections and exhibits a cross-section that differs from a cross-section of the rearward section and/or forward section,
wherein the rearward section, the intermediate section and the forward section are successive sections of a same integral piece that is shaped to exhibit the varying cross-section,
and wherein the intermediate section of each of the first and second side frame members is located such as to project forward from a leading edge of the seat portion.
38 . The wheelchair frame according to claim 37 , wherein the first and second side frame members are made from tubular members shaped to exhibit the varying cross-section.
39 . The wheelchair frame according to claim 38 , wherein the tubular members are made of aluminum.
40 . The wheelchair frame according to claim 38 , wherein the first and second side frame members are hydroformed tubular members.
41 . A method of producing the wheelchair frame in accordance with claim 20 , including the steps of:
providing first and second tubular members;
shaping the first and second tubular members into the first and second side frame members to form the rearward section, the intermediate section and the forward section.
42 . The method according to claim 41 , wherein shaping of the first and second tubular members into the first and second side frame members is performed by hydroforming.