Using Wheelchair Side Guards to form a usable tray
A combined wheelchair and tray assembly that utilizes removable specially designed side guards that easily disconnect from their side guard position, then connect together to form a tray that mounts into the end of the arm rests. This design that adds little if any weight to the wheelchair and quickly provides the user with a tray whenever and wherever needed.
Users of self propelled wheelchairs have difficulty carrying objects from place to place. This is because it takes both hands to navigate the wheelchair, leaving no hand free to hold an object during transport. Trays or tables that attach to the wheelchair are useful for this task under certain circumstances. The problem with some trays or tables is that they are not integral to the wheelchair and may not be at the originating transport location when needed. Trays and tables integral to the wheelchair either add weight, make the wheelchair have a wider operating width or interfere with the user's manual locomotion of the wheelchair.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONUtilizing the side guards (the part of a wheelchair that separates the seating area from the wheels) and interlocking them together in such a way that the two side guards become one rigid component (tray) that can span most or all of the distance between the arm rests. Both side guards have an attached protrusion, bracket or tang that can be inserted into a slot in the arm rests. The arm rests provide vertical, lateral and rotational stability for the tray. This design is quickly assembled and disassembled by the wheelchair user as needed
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
As the wheelchair user is seated in the wheelchair shown in
The user now takes the two connected side guards that now form one rigid tray and inserts the tray mounting tangs into the tang slots in the end of the arm rests. The tray is now ready to use.
The user moves about with two hands free to provide locomotion and steering to the wheelchair while carrying an object(s) on the tray from place to place.
To disassemble the tray assembly, the user grasps both sides of the tray and pushes forward, disengaging the tray mounting tangs from the arm rests. The user now pulls the two side guards apart and re-inserts them into their original position.
Claims
1. Utilizing two easily removable side guards which interlock together to form a usable tray.
2. Utilizing two easily removable components mounted next to and parallel to the side guards which interlock together to form a usable tray.
3. The tray as assembled above from the two side guards attaches to the two arm rests which provide vertical, lateral and rotational stability.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 29, 2005
Publication Date: May 31, 2007
Inventor: John Butler (Oneida, NY)
Application Number: 11/164,570
International Classification: A47B 83/02 (20060101);