Foot rest holder for wheelchairs

Abstract

An apparatus for holding a wheelchair's footrests when not in use. The apparatus comprises an elongated upright member having a first predetermined shape and formed of a first predetermined material. Such first member is engageable with a rear upright post of a wheelchair. A clip member is attachable to such elongated upright member for holding such footrest of such wheel chair. The clip member has a second predetermined shape and is formed of a second predetermined material. There is a first means for securing the elongated upright member to such rear upright post of such wheelchair and a bolt for securing such clip member to the elongated upright member.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is closely related to and claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/783,358 filed Mar. 17, 2006.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to a foot rest holder, and, more particularly, the present invention relates to a foot rest holder for wheelchairs that provides storage for such foot rest when not in use which permits such foot rest to remain with the wheelchair.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When not in use many wheelchair footrests are removed for convenience. The footrests are then placed under the bed, in a closet, in drawers or any other easy accessible location. Unfortunately, when it comes time to replace the footrests for use when they are needed, they invariably cannot be found. Some people cannot remember the location where the footrests were stored or some one has moved the footrests. So the wheel chair user needs the footrests but they are unavailable. This frustrating occurrence happens quite frequently in hospitals, private care homes, nursing homes and other locations that serve a variety of wheelchair bound individuals, not to mention even in private residences. This is particularly true in places such as nursing homes or similar care homes where one nurse or aide may remove the footrests and then later another nurse or aide is present when the footrests are needed but is not aware of where the other aide put the footrests.

Thus, it would be advantageous if there were a means available that would provide the wheelchair user or the attendant involved s with the wheelchair user to keep the footrests of the wheelchair with the wheel chair when not being used so as to insure that they will be available when needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect the present invention provides an apparatus for holding a wheelchair's footrests when not in use. The apparatus comprises an elongated upright member having a first predetermined shape and formed of a first predetermined material. Such first member is engageable with a rear upright post of a wheelchair. A clip member is attachable to such elongated upright member for holding such footrest of such wheel chair. The clip member has a second predetermined shape and is formed of a second predetermined material. There is a first means for securing the elongated upright member to such rear upright post of such wheelchair and a second means for securing such clip member to the elongated upright member.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for storing footrests for a wheelchair with the wheel chair even when not in use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for storing footrests when not in use that is easily affixed to a wheelchair.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that stores such foot rests with the wheelchair when not in use so as to prevent misplacing the foot rests.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus in which the foot rests of a wheelchair are easily secured and removed from the apparatus.

These and various other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent after a full reading of the following detailed description, particularly, when read in conjunction with the attached drawings as described below and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus for storing a footrest of a wheelchair according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus show in FIG. 1 attached to the rear upright post of a wheelchair.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 attached to the rear upright post of a wheelchair with the footrest shown in a stored position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding with the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity, identical components which have identical functions have been designated by identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawings.

In a first aspect the present invention provides an apparatus, generally designated 10, for holding a wheelchair's footrests 2 when not in use. The apparatus 10 comprises an elongated upright member 4 having a first predetermined shape and formed of a first predetermined material. Such first elongated upright member 4 is engageable with a rear upright post 6 of a wheelchair. A clip member 8 is attachable to the elongated upright member 4 for holding such footrest 2 of such wheel chair. The clip member 8 has a second predetermined shape and is formed of a second predetermined material. There is a first means, generally designated 20, for securing the elongated upright member 4 to such rear upright post 6 of such wheelchair and a second means, generally designated 30, for securing the clip member 8 to the elongated upright member 4.

The first predetermined material that is used to form such elongated upright member 4 is selected from one of metal or plastic. It is presently preferred that such first predetermined material is metallic and even more preferred that such metal is a spring steel. Being made of spring steel further assists in securing such elongated first member 4 to such rear upright post 6 of the wheelchair. Such first means includes one of thumb screws, allen screws and bolts for securing such elongated member 4 to the rear upright post 6 of the wheel chair.

Such second means 30 includes a bolt and nut for securing the clip member 8 to the elongated upright member 4. The second predetermined material for forming the clip member 8 is one of plastic or metal. It is presently preferred that such clip member 8 be made of metal and even more preferred that the clip member 8 be made of spring steel. The footrests 2 are merely pushed onto the clip member 8 and are secured to the rear upright post 6 of the wheelchair. Because of the shape of the clip member 8 it is simple to push the footrest onto the clip member 8 by simply pushing against the outer edges of the clip member 8 and because such clip member is made of spring steel the ends of the clip member expand when the footrest is pushed in and then contract after the footrest is in place.

As is evident in the drawing Figures the predetermined shape of the elongated upright member 4 is substantially cylindrical so as to conform to the tubular rear upright post 6 of the wheelchair. Such clip member 8 is engageable with the elongated upright member 4 at substantially a midpoint of the substantially cylindrical elongated upright member 4. The clip member 8 extends outwardly from the elongated upright member 4. The second predetermined shape of the clip member 8 is partially cylindrical for retaining such foot rest 2 but has an arcuate channel portion for permitting such footrest 2 to snap into the clip member 8. FIG. 3 shows the footrest 2 in the stored position on the back of the wheelchair. Normally the foot portion of the footrest 2 would be folded up so it would be completely out of the way but it is shown in FIG. 3 in a down position so as to more clearly see the elongated upright member 4 and the clip member 8 holding the footrest 2.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention such apparatus 10 is further coated with a material to prevent scratches on the foot rests 2. Such material is a plastic coating which can be coated when the apparatus is being formed or sprayed onto the apparatus at a later time.

Thus, the present invention provides an apparatus 10 for storing the footrests 2 of a wheelchair with the wheel chair when not in use. Such footrests 2 are usually removed from the wheelchair when not in use. This would be when the wheelchair is used by the individual as simply a chair or is being self propelled by the user in which case the footrests 2 are an impediment as the user's feet simply are on the floor and the user basically moved his/her feet while propelling the wheelchair with the hand rim of the wheelchair. However, when the wheelchair is being pushed by another individual is important that the patient's (wheelchair user's) feet are resting on the footrests so as not to impede the movement of the wheelchair, otherwise the user must either hold his/her feet off the ground or move the feet as fast as the wheelchair is being propelled which is very difficult and tiring for the individual. Unfortunately, such footrests are not always readily accessible either because the user forgot where they were put or in the case of a hospital, nursing home, personal care home or whatever, the nurse or aide that is to push the wheelchair cannot find where some other aide put them after they were last used. With the present invention an apparatus 10 is placed on the rear upright posts 6 of the wheelchair and such footrest are just clipped onto the clip member 8 to store the footrests and thus, the footrests are always available.

While a presently preferred embodiment and alternate embodiments of the present invention has been described in detail above, it should be understood that various other adaptations and/or modifications of the invention can be made by those persons who are particularly skilled in the art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for holding a wheelchair's footrests when not in use, said apparatus comprising:

(a) an elongated upright member having a first predetermined shape and formed of a first predetermined material engageable with a rear upright post of a wheelchair;

(b) a clip member attachable to said elongated upright member for holding such footrest of such wheel chair, said clip member having a second predetermined shape and formed of a second predetermined material; and

(c) a first means for securing said elongated upright member to such rear upright post of such wheelchair; and

(d) a second means for securing said clip member to said elongated upright member.

2. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein such foot rest of such wheel chair is secured to said clip member by clipping on to said clip member.

3. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said first means is selected from one of thumb screws, allen screws and bolts.

4. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said first predetermined material of said elongated upright member is selected from one of plastic and metal.

5. The apparatus, according to claim 4, wherein said first predetermined material is metal.

6. The apparatus, according to claim 5, wherein said metal is spring steel which further aids in securing said elongated upright member to such rear upright post of such wheelchair.

7. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said second means includes a bolt and nut.

8. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said second predetermined material is one of plastic and metal.

9. The apparatus, according to claim 8, wherein said second predetermined material is metal.

10. The apparatus, according to claim 9, wherein said metal is spring steel.

11. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is further coated with a material to prevent scratches on the foot rests.

12. The apparatus, according to claim 11, wherein said material is a plastic coating.

13. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said first predetermined shape of said elongated upright member is substantially cylindrical.

14. The apparatus, according to claim 13, wherein said clip member is engageable with said elongated upright member at substantially a midpoint of said substantially cylindrical elongated upright member.

15. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said clip member extends outwardly from said elongated upright member.

16. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said second predetermined shape of said clip member is partially cylindrical for retaining such foot rest and having arcuate channel portions for permitting such footrest to snap into said clip member.