Abstract: A cushion element for use in the wheelchair. The cushion element includes a generally rectangular body in plane having a front edge, a pair of opposed side edges and a rear edge. The cushion element is sized and shaped to be placed on a seat support of a wheelchair. The cushion element includes at least one collapsible support located toward the front edge of the element. The collapsible support is characterized by being more easily compressed towards the front edge and less easily compressed towards the rear edge. Thereby, under compression, the collapsible support forms a wedge shaped section in cross-section beneath a wheelchair occupant's legs. In this manner, the person is permitted to reach their foot down to the ground without the formation of a pressure point at the front edge of the seat cushion.

Abstract: A wheelchair frame includes a pair of side frame assemblies, a connector connecting the two side frame assemblies, a seat, caster wheel mountings, drive wheel mountings, and a leg rest mounting. Each of the side frame assemblies have an upper frame member and a lower frame member. The upper frame member is pivotally connected at its forward end to the forward portion of the lower frame member and supported at its rearward end by a suspension support member (i.e., shock absorber) connected to the rearward end of the lower frame member. The seat is attached between the upper frame members of each side frame assembly. With this configuration, the upper frame members and the seat are free to pivot about the pivotal connection between the upper frame member and the lower frame member. In operation, the upper frame members and seat "float" up and down on the shock absorber to provide cushioning to the user.

Abstract: A foldable wheelchair has a folding mechanism connecting two side frame assemblies to each other. The side frame assemblies each support a castor frame piece, pivoting shafts of the folding mechanism, drive wheel axles and a seat back tube. The side frame assemblies are made of two halves that are secured together and may be fabricated from compression or injection molded composite plastics. The seat angle is adjusted by pivoting the side frame assemblies around a pivot point located in an upward and forward region of the side frame assembly.

Abstract: A modular wheelchair that is fully adjustable for a wide range of users in a wide range of uses includes a wheelchair chassis, a wheel assembly and a seat assembly. Drive wheels of the wheel assembly may be adjusted to have a different camber angle without changing the wheel base or the height of the wheelchair chassis. The modular wheelchair may also include a leg rest assembly that is adjustable to provide easy access to the wheelchair. The seat assembly and the leg rest assembly are each foldable so that the wheel chair may be easily stored.

Abstract: A modular power drive wheelchair is provided for rapid assembly and/or disassembly of relatively compact modular components. The wheelchair comprises a base module including a base frame and related support wheels, wherein the base frame is adapted for facilitated mounting or dismounting of a seat module. A battery module including at least one storage battery is provided for relatively easy slide fit mounting onto the base frame at a position below the seat module. A controller module is also provided for mounting onto the base module and functions during wheelchair operation to control battery powered operation of one or more drive motors coupled to the wheelchair wheels. The various modules are designed for rapid disassembly to permit easy transporting of the wheelchair, for example, within the trunk of a standard automobile. Moreover, the base and seat modules are designed for relatively easy size adjustment to accommodate changing size requirements, for example, of a growing child.

Abstract: An improved wheelchair is constructed with a base frame formed from composite material tubing. The base frame comprises a pair of unitary side frames of composite material tubing which preferably has an elliptical cross section oriented to provide increased structural strength along a primary loading axis during normal use. The side frames are interconnected by a plurality of cross braces of composite material tubing, wherein the lengths of the cross braces can be selected in accordance with a desired wheelchair frame width. A folding seatback is mounted on the side frames for releasable locking in an upright orientation, with a pair of spring-loaded lock pins being releasable by pulling a pull cord to permit seatback folding to a collapsed condition.

Abstract: An improved camber sleeve assembly is provided for rotatably supporting the main or large rear wheels on the frame of a wheelchair or the like. The camber sleeve assembly comprises a camber plate adapted for connection to the wheelchair frame at one side thereof. A pair of camber sleeve members are mounted in aligned relation at opposite sides of the camber plate and cooperatively define an angularly set bore for receiving and supporting an axle bushing at a selected chamber angle, with the axle bushing being adapted in turn to receive an axle pin of a wheelchair wheel. An alternative camber angle can be obtained by use of a different pair of sleeve members defining a bore set at the alternative angle.

Abstract: A modular power drive scooter, including as modular components a seat, a seat post, a mainframe, a trailer and at least one battery, is built in a manner allowing quick and easy disassembly of the scooter for compact storage. In assembled form, the seat post supports the seat and also serves as a lock pin which prevents separation of the mainframe from the trailer. The mainframe includes a front wheel, a tiller assembly for steering the scooter, and recesses for accommodating one or more batteries. The trailer includes a pair of rear wheels coupled to a differential which is driven by an electric motor, and a removable storage tray that provides access to the motor. A stem member extending from the trailer engages the mainframe in an overlapping relation whereby apertures in the stem member align with ports in the mainframe. The seat post is inserted into a selected port to determine the spacing of the seat from the tiller assembly.

Abstract: An improved caster wheel assembly for a wheelchair or the like includes adjustable bearing components for variably resisting swivel motion of a caster wheel to prevent undesired wheel flutter. The caster wheel assembly includes a wheel fork unit having a rotatable caster wheel, and a housing sleeve adapted for mounting onto the frame of a wheelchair or other castered device. An upstanding swivel post on the wheel fork unit is supported within the housing sleeve by the bearing components for rotation about an upright swivel axis. The bearing components include an outer bushing mounted on the housing sleeve, and having a conical bearing surface for axially engaging a mating bearing surface of a longitudinally split inner bushing. A nut threaded onto the swivel post urges the inner bushing axially against the outer bushing with a selected adjustable axial load to resist rotation of the swivel post, and thereby resist undesired rotational flutter of the swivel post and the associated caster wheel.

Abstract: A modular power drive wheelchair is provided for rapid assembly and/or disassembly of relatively compact modular components. The wheelchair comprises a base module including a base frame and related support wheels, wherein the base frame is adapted for facilitated mounting or dismounting of a seat module. A battery module including at least one storage battery is provided for relatively easy slide fit mounting onto the base frame at a position below the seat module. A controller module is also provided for mounting onto the base module and functions during wheelchair operation to control battery powered operation of one or more drive motors coupled to the wheelchair wheels. The various modules are designed for rapid disassembly to permit easy transporting of the wheelchair, for example, within the trunk of a standard automobile. Moreover, the base and seat modules are designed for relatively easy size adjustment to accommodate changing size requirements, for example, of a growing child.

Abstract: A cantilever arm weighing apparatus comprises two arm portions joined by two linkage members disposed in parallel one above the other. A load cell extends from the arm portion attached to a support structure to the arm portion which receives the weight to be measured. A bearing coacts with the load cell and the arm portion bearing the weight to receive the load from the arm portion and transfer it to the load cell. The linkage members act to nullify the moment effect and minimize losses due to friction. A readout device is attached to the load cell providing a readout of the weight applied to the load cell through the bearing.

Abstract: An improved pivot joint assembly is provided for use in the frame of a folding wheelchair or the like, wherein the pivot assembly provides a simple yet sturdy pivot interconnection between tubular frame members. The pivot joint assembly comprises a bearing of plastic or the like anchored within an open end of a first tubular frame member and defining an outwardly presented concave bearing seat, preferably of semi-cylindrical shape, for engaging the exterior of a second tubular frame member at a selected position intermediate the length of the second frame member. A strap bracket of generally U-shaped configuration is wrapped about the second frame member and secured by a lock pin or the like to the first frame member and to the bearing to retain the frame members in generally T-shaped relation with the first frame member pivotal about a central axis of the second frame member.

Abstract: An improved footrest unit is provided for use with a wheelchair or the like for supporting the foot and leg of a person using the wheelchair. The footrest unit includes an elongated leg tube having an upper end joined to an upper frame sleeve adapted for in-line rotatable connection between vertically aligned frame members of a wheelchair frame, and a lower end carrying a footplate for supporting the foot of a person using the wheelchair. The entire footrest unit is rotatable about a central axis of the frame sleeve and relative to the wheelchair frame for swinging movement between a normal operating position at the front of the wheelchair and an out-of-the-way position at one side of the wheelchair. Lock members are provided for releasably locking the footrest unit in the normal operating position. Two of the footrest units are normally provided for each wheelchair for respectively supporting both feet of a wheelchair user.

Abstract: A lightweight folding wheelchair is provided with relatively wide range adjustment capability and/or adaptation to meet the specific needs of an individual wheelchair user. The folding wheelchair includes left and right tubular frame sections which are connected by pivoting cross braces to permit rapid movement between folded and unfolded positions. The frame sections include a respective pair of camber plates carrying wheel bushings for quick release attachment of relatively large rear wheels for the wheelchair, wherein the camber plates are adapted for mounting in one of several different orientations on their respective frame sections to select the specific wheel camber angle. The folding wheelchair further includes improved armrests adapted for rapid and facilitated positional adjustment with minimum dexterity requirement. Fabric side panels for the wheelchair are provided for easy installation without the use of tools and conveniently include accessible pockets for storage of selected items.