Answers
Wheelchair user can walk and climb a few steps if necessary!
yes easy 100%i pushed my nan around with no probs
The first stair-climbing wheelchair : TOPCHAIR, by Topchair SAS (FRANCE) topchair.fr
Step climbing wheelchair - US Patent 7540504 Description
Persons using wheelchairs are limited in their ability to travel by curbs, steps, and the like. Where sloped curbs are not provided at street intersections, wheelchair occupants may be able to maneuver down from the sidewalk curb onto thestreet, but to climb the curb once the street has been crossed is often not possible, forcing the wheelchair to travel down the street in order to find a driveway, alley, or like sloped access to the sidewalk. The present invention provide, in a first embodiment, a step climbing wheelchair apparatus comprising right and left axles extending out from rotational axes of corresponding right and left rear wheels of a wheelchair, and right and left liftalms, and a longitudinal slot defined in a middle portion of each lift arm, and a handle on a front end of each lift arm. The right and left axles extend through the slots defined by corresponding right and left lift arms, and a fastener is attached tosecure each lift arm on the corresponding axle such that each lift arm can slide longitudinally substantially perpendicular to the axle from an extended position, where the axle is located at a front handle end of the slot, to a retracted position wherethe axle is located at an opposite rear step end of the slot. The lift arms are configured such that when in the extended position rear step ends of the lift arms are located rearward of the outer rim of the rear wheel, and the handles are locatedgenerally forward of the outer rim of the rear wheel. A front lift mechanism comprises a lift wheel and a lift lever operative to push the lift wheel downward to raise the front caster wheels of the wheelchair. The present invention provides, in a second embodiment, a method of climbing a step with a wheelchair, the wheelchair having right and left axles extending out from rotational axes of corresponding right and left rear wheels of the wheelchair. The method comprises providing right and left lift arms with a longitudinal slot defined in a middle portion of each lift arm, and a handle on a front end of each lift arm; attaching the right and left lift arms to corresponding right and left rear wheelaxles of the wheelchair by inserting the right and left axles extend through the slots, and attaching a fastener to secure each lift arm on the corresponding axle such that each lift arm can slide longitudinally substantially perpendicular to the axlefrom an extended position, where the axle is located at a front handle end of the slot, to a retracted position where the axle is located at an opposite rear step end of the slot, and wherein the lift arms are configured such that when in the extendedposition rear step ends of the lift arms are located rearward of the outer rim of the rear wheel, and the handles are located generally forward of the outer rim of the rear wheel; providing a front lift mechanism comprising a lift wheel located forwardof front caster wheels of the wheelchair, and a lift lever operative to push the lift wheel downward to raise the front caster wheels of the wheelchair; occupying the wheelchair and maneuvering the wheelchair in a rearward direction such that the rearwheels are adjacent to the step; moving the lift alms to the extended position such that the rear step ends are rearward of the outer rims of the rear wheels above the step; lifting the handles of the lift arms to move the rear step ends down to bearagainst a top of the step and moving the handles upward to exert a force upward and rearward on the axles to roll the rear wheels upward and rearward onto the top of the step; exerting a force on the rear wheels to roll the rear wheels rearward to movethe wheelchair rearward until front caster wheels of the wheelchair are adjacent to the step; manipulating the lift lever to push the lift wheel downward and raise the front caster wheels; exerting a force on the rear wheels to move the wheelchairrearward until the front caster wheels of the wheelchair are on the top of the step; moving the lift arms and front lift mechanism to a stored position. The wheelchair is maneuvered in a rearward direction such that the rear wheels are adjacent to the curb and then manipulates the lift arms to raise the rear wheels onto the curb or step, and then rolls the rear wheels back until the front wheelsare at the curb, then manipulates the lift lever to raise the front wheels up so the rear wheels can be rolled back until the front wheels are on the curb. The lift arms and front lift mechanism are moved to a stored position, where they do notinterfere with conventional operation of the wheelchair, until required again. FIGS. 1-3 schematically illustrate a side view of a step climbing wheelchair apparatus 1 of the present invention moving the rear wheels thereof from a lower street level to a higher curb level. The apparatus 1 comprises a lift arm 3 attached toeach side of a conventional wheelchair 5. The lift arms 3 define a longitudinal slot 7 in middle portions thereof and the axle 9 of the large rear wheel 11 of the wheelchair 5 extends through the slot 7 and a fastener (not shown) on the end of the axle9 secures the lift arm 3 such that same can slide back and forth perpendicular to the axle 9 through the length of the slot 7. The lift arms 3 are configured such that when the axle 9 is located at a front end of the slot 7, as in FIG. 1, the rear stepends 13 of the arms are located rearward of the outer rim of the rear wheel 1 1, and handles 15 at the front ends of the arms 3 are located generally forward of the outer rim of the rear wheel 11. In operation the wheelchair 5 is maneuvered in a rearward direction such that the rear wheels 11 are adjacent to the step to be climbed, illustrated as a curb 19, as in FIG. 1. The lift arms 3 are moved to locate the axle 9 at the front end ofthe slot 7 such that the rear step ends 13 of the lift arms 3 are rearward of the outer rims of the rear wheels 11 above the curb 19. The wheelchair occupant then lifts the handles 15 of the lift arms 3 to move the rear step ends 13 down to bear againstthe ground surface at the top of the curb 19. In the initial position of FIG. 1 the lift arms 3 extend generally at a shallow slope upward from their rear ends 13 to their handles 15 at front ends thereof. As the occupant moves the handles 15 of the lift arms 3 upward the arms 3 pivot about the axles 9, and exert a force F upward and rearward on the axles 9, and the axles 9 move upward and rearward rolling the rear wheels 11 up through theintermediate position of FIG. 2 onto the top of the curb 19 as shown in FIG. 3. When the position of FIG. 3 has been attained the occupant then exerts a force on the rear wheels to roll the wheels 11 rearward conventionally to move the wheelchair 5further onto the curb 19 such that the front caster wheels 21 are adjacent to the curb 19 as illustrated in FIG. 4. The arms 3 are not further required, and can be left to drag on the ground until the operation is complete, and then stored as describedlater. As seen in the schematic drawings, the lift arms 3 move from a shallow slope upward from their rear ends 13 when first engaging the curb 19 as seen in FIG. 1, toward a more upright orientation as the wheelchair 5 moves rearward to the positionsof FIG. 2 and then FIG. 3 and the rear step ends 13 of the lift arms 3 remain stationary on the curb 19. As the arms 3 move upward, the wheels 11 are forced up over the curb 19. The axle 9 slides from the front end of the slot 7 toward the rear end asthe arm 3 moves to the more upright orientation, and the wheels 11 generally remain in contact with the curb 9 throughout the operation. Once the rear wheels 11 are on the curb 19 the wheelchair 5 is rolled rearward until the smaller front caster wheels21 are against the curb 19. FIGS. 4-6 schematically illustrate a side view of the modified wheelchair apparatus 1 of the present invention moving the front caster wheels thereof from the lower street level to the higher curb level. A front lift mechanism comprises a liftwheel 23 and a lift lever 27 operative to push the lift wheel 23 downward to raise the front caster wheels 21 of the wheelchair. The front lift wheel 23 is pivotally attached to a front pivot axis 25 at the front of the wheelchair 5 such that the liftwheel 23 is forward of the front wheels 21 of the wheelchair 5. Typically only a single lift wheel 23 is needed, located laterally about mid-way between the two front caster wheels 21. In any event when needed the lock is released to allow the lift wheel 23 to move down onto the ground as shown in FIG. 4. A lift lever 27 is inserted into a socket 29 on the lift wheel bar 31 such that the lever 27 extends up between the legs ofthe occupant. The lift wheel bar 31 is attached at a rear end thereof to a middle front portion of the wheelchair, and extends forward from the wheelchair 5, and the lift wheel 23 is rotatably attached to a forward end of the lift wheel bar 31 such thatthe lift wheel 23 is forward of the front caster wheels 21. The occupant pushes forward and downward on the lift lever 27 to pivot the lift wheel 23 down and raise the front wheels 21 of the wheelchair 5 up to the position illustrated in FIG. 5 so thatthe occupant can exert a force on the rear wheels to roll the wheelchair 5 rearward until the front wheels 21 are on the curb 19 as shown in FIG. 6, and the wheelchair 5 is fully on the curb. FIG. 7 illustrates the apparatus with the lift arms 3, lift lever 27, and front lift wheel 23 stored on the wheelchair 5 such that, when not in use, they do not interfere with conventional operation of the wheelchair 5. The lift wheel bar 31 isconfigured to slide under the seat of the wheelchair 5, and in the illustrated apparatus 1, a storage bracket 33 is provided to secure the lift arms 3, and the lift lever is secured to clamps 37 on the lift arm 3 on one side of the wheelchair 5. In theillustrated embodiment the lift arm 3 includes a folding extension 35 at the front end 15 that can be folded for more compact storage. Also illustrated in FIG. 7 is a lock mechanism 41 operative to lock the front caster wheels 21 to prevent the frontcaster wheels 21 from pivoting about their caster axes, thereby providing improved stability when mounting the curb 19. The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous changes and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exactconstruction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all such suitable changes or modifications in structure or operation which may be resorted to are intended to fall within the scope of the claimed invention.
News
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Symptoms include progressive weakness, "foot drop" (catching a toe at a curb, or on a step), weakness in the arms and legs, difficulty climbing stairs, and more »Traverse City Record Eagle - Oct 03, 2009
Analysis: GOP's tax attack goes too far but added: "However, that leaves a range of wheelchairs, such as motorized, special grade, stair climbing, stand up, and others hit by the tax.Canton Citizen - Sep 24, 2009
Canton's homecoming festivities set for SaturdayWalgreen's parking lot will house carnival rides and food vendors, and throughout the downtown revelers can enjoy rock climbing, mini-golf, roving clowns and more »Oneida Dispatch - Oct 03, 2009
This attraction is not wheelchair accessible, due to the tour route, requiring stair climbing and narrow passageways. For children, RACC's “Trick-Or-Treat