SEAT COVER WITH STORAGE FOR A MOTORIZED WHEELCHAIR OR SCOOTER

Abstract

A removable seat cover having storage compartments for attachment to a wheelchair or motorized scooter. A substantially “T-shaped” seat portion has pockets disposed both laterally and forwardly thereon. When the seat portion is placed upon the seat of the scooter and attached thereto by means of straps, the lateral pockets hang downwardly from the seat on both sides thereof, and forward pocket (s) depend downwardly from the front of the seat behind the user's legs. All pockets comprising the seat portion are accessible to the user. A back portion fits over the scooter's backrest and provides additional storage in pockets contained therein. Both the seat portion and the back portion are removable for cleaning.

Description

The present invention relates to a seat cover and a back cover for a motorized scooter and the like, the seat and back covers having storage pockets disposed thereon.

BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART

Handicapped people confined to a motorized wheelchair or scooter employ such ambulating devices for performing daily activities such as shopping. Storage space for personal articles and purchased articles is minimal or nonexistent. Many handicapped people hand a back pack from the chair or scooter to provide means for storing such articles. There is a need for a slip cover that can be releasably attached to a motorized wheelchair or scooter that provides organized storage space.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,938 to Gross, et al. discloses a wheelchair slip cover that includes an elongated member having an anterior portion that is received over the front surface of the seat back, and a posterior portion received over the rear surface of the seat back. The anterior and posterior portions merge at an intermediate portion which is received over the upper side of the seat back. A first connecting member extends from the elongated member and is wrappingly received about the first post of the seat back. A second connecting member also extends from the elongated member, and is wrappingly received about the second post of the seat back. The slip cover, while releasably attachable to a wheelchair, does not provide storage means for the user.

Maxwell, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,477, discloses a storage compartment for a wheelchair that includes a lower tray for holding at least one item, the lower tray or a holding member for the lower tray, being bolted permanently to one arm of the wheelchair and the lower tray having an upper opening. A cover member is pivotally secured on the lower tray for covering the upper opening of the lower tray when the cover member is in a closed position, the cover member having an upper surface which provides an arm rest for a user of the wheelchair. Detachable storage compartments, and compartments for use with clothing guards, are also disclosed. The device is adaptable to all known wheelchairs, and can be used to replace existing arm rests. The device, which is permanently mounted on the wheelchair, disposes storage compartments at points that are inconvenient or inappropriate for the user when performing an activity such as shopping. There remains a need for a releasably attachable cover for attachment to a motorized wheelchair or scooter that includes a plurality of pockets disposed for easy access by the user.

SUMMARY

A combination cover and pocket system for an ambulatory device such as a wheelchair or scooter is disclosed. The ambulatory device has a seat portion and a backrest portion. The seat portion has a horizontal top surface and four vertical side surfaces; the backrest portion has a vertical front surface and a vertical back surface.

The cover for the ambulatory device also has a seat portion and a backrest portion. The seat portion fits snugly over the seat portion of the ambulatory device; the backrest portion fits snugly over the backrest portion of the ambulatory device. The cover further comprises storage pockets intergrally disposed therewithin.

The features of the invention believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. However the invention itself, both as to organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a somewhat front perspective view of a motorized scooter (in phantom) having a seat and back rest assembly affixed thereto.

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of a motorized scooter (again, in phantom) having a seat cover in accordance with the present invention releasably attached to the seat and back rest of the scooter.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the motorized scooter in accordance with FIGS. 1 and 2 of the present invention showing the back portion of the seat cover releasably attached to the back rest of the scooter.

FIG. 4(a) is a top plan view of the seat portion of the seat cover of the present invention.

FIG. 4(b) is a front plan view of the back portion of the seat cover.

FIG. 4(c) is a rear plan view of the back portion of the seat cover shown in FIG. 4(b).

DESCRIPTION OF NUMERALS USED IN THE DRAWINGS

• • 10—scooter or wheelchair
  • 11—seat of scooter or wheelchair
  • 12—back rest of scooter or wheelchair
  • 21—pocket
  • 22—pocket
  • 23—zipper
  • 40—seat cover
  • 41—seat portion of cover
  • 42—back portion of cover
  • 43—central section of seat portion
  • 44—left lateral flange of seat portion
  • 45—right lateral flange of seat portion
  • 46—forward flange of seat portion
  • 47—strap
  • 48—strap
  • 49—fastenings means
  • 50—pocket for receiving back rest

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference first to FIGS. 4(a)-(c), the seat cover of the present invention is indicated at numeral 40. The seat cover 40 comprises a seat portion 41 (FIG. 4(a)) and a back portion 42 (FIGS. 4(b)-4(c)). If preferred, the seat portion can be fixably attached to the back portion either by temporary means such as velcro, or by permanent means such as stitching. The seat portion 41 includes a central portion 43 having a left lateral flange 44 and a right lateral flange 45 attached thereto and integral therewith. The seat portion 41 further includes a forward flange 46 affixed thereto. The seat portion 41 is generally “T-shaped”, with the forward flange 46 forming the “base” of the T. A pair of straps 47 and 48 attached to the seat portion 41 have fastening means 49 thereon, such as hook and loop fasteners, that are operable for releasably attaching the seat portion 41 to the seat 11 of the motorized scooter 10 (FIG. 1).

With continued reference to FIGS. 4(b) and 4(c), the back portion 42 of the seat cover 40 is shown in front plan view in FIG. 4(b). The back portion 42 has a pocket 50 therein operable for receiving the back rest 12 (FIG. 1) of the scooter 10 therewithin to support the back portion thereon. The rear side of the back portion 42 is shown in FIG. 4(c). The rear side of the back portion 42 has at least one, and more preferably two, pockets 21 and 22 disposed thereon. A closure such as a zipper 23 can be employed to secure articles within pocket 21.

Turning now to FIGS. 1-3, wherein a seat cover 40 in accordance with the present invention is disposed upon a motorized scooter 10, various portions of the seat cover 40 are visible, depending upon the view. The scooter 10 includes a seat 11 and a backrest 12. In FIG. 1, which illustrates the scooter 10 in front perspective view, the back portion 42 is shown disposed upon the back rest 12 of the scooter. In FIG. 2, which illustrates the scooter 10 in rear view, a rear view of the back portion 42 is shown disposed upon the back rest 12 of the scooter. The back portion 42 includes two pockets 21 and 22. The pocket 21 includes a zipper 23 to provide secure closure thereof. FIG. 3 illustrates the scooter 10 in side view, with the back portion 42 disposed upon the back rest 12 of the scooter, and the seat portion 41 disposed upon the seat 11 of the scooter 10.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The seat cover 40 can be made from a fabric or a sheet of plastic. The pockets can be formed by sewing, gluing or welding the pockets thereinto. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A combination cover and pocket system for an ambulatory device such as a wheelchair or scooter, said ambulatory device having a seat portion and a backrest portion, said seat portion of said ambulatory device having a horizontal top surface and four vertical side surfaces, said backrest portion of said ambulatory device having a vertical front surface and a vertical back surface, said combination cover and pocket system comprising:

A cover for said ambulatory device, said cover having a seat portion and a backrest portion, wherein said seat portion of said cover fits snugly over said seat portion of said ambulatory device, wherein said backrest portion of said cover fits snugly over said backrest portion of said ambulatory device, and wherein said cover further comprises storage pockets intergrally disposed therewithin.

2. A combination cover and pocket system for an ambulatory device as in claim 1 wherein said seat portion of said cover comprises a horizontal top surface and one or more vertical side surfaces, and wherein at least one of said one or more vertical side surfaces of said seat portion of said cover comprises one or more storage pockets intergrally disposed therewithin.

3. A combination cover and pocket system for an ambulatory device as in claim 1 wherein said backrest portion of said cover comprises a vertical front surface and a vertical back surface, and wherein said back surface of said backrest portion of said cover comprises one or more storage pockets intergrally disposed therewithin.

4. A combination cover and pocket system for an ambulatory device as in claim 1 wherein said seat portion of said cover is fixably connected to said backrest portion of said cover.

5. A combination cover and pocket system for an ambulatory device as in claim 1 wherein said seat portion of said cover is not connected to said backrest portion of said cover.

6. A combination cover and pocket system for an ambulatory device as in claim 1 wherein said cover further comprises connection means capable of securing said cover to said ambulatory device.