Two-piece side frame assembly for small wheelchairs

Abstract

A sideframe for a wheelchair has a top frame and a separate bottom frame. An axle plate extends between and is attached to both said top and bottom frames. A caster plate is attached to the sideframe. The top frame and the bottom frame are removably attached to one another. In particular embodiments of the invention, the top and bottom frames each comprise a plurality of bolt apertures. The axle plate and the axle extension plate may each comprise a plurality of bolt apertures. The sideframe may support a rear-mounted major wheel, with the axle plate being to the rear of the sideframe and the caster plate being in the front of the sideframe. Alternatively, the sideframe may support a front-mounted major wheel, with the axle plate being to the front of the sideframe and the caster plate being to the rear. To mount the top frame to the bottom frame, the top frame may have a downwardly extending portion with a concave end piece extending therefrom. The concave end piece is adapted to engage with the bottom frame, which may be a tubular member. Two sideframes may be interconnected to form a wheelchair frames. Left and right sideframes are removably connected to one another by at least one connecting member extending in between and connected to the first and second sideframes, respectively. The structure of the presently-preferred embodiment of the sideframe permits the construction of very short sideframes for use in wheelchairs for small children.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A sideframe for a wheelchair comprising: 
 a top frame;    a separate bottom frame; and    an axle plate extending between and attached to said top and bottom frames;    wherein said top frame and said bottom frame are removably attached to one another.    
     
     
         2 . A sideframe for a wheelchair as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the vertical spacing between the bottom frame and the top frame is approximately six inches or less, as measured from the bottom of the bottom frame to the top of the top frame.  
     
     
         3 . A sideframe for a wheelchair as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the sideframe further comprises a caster plate attached to said sideframe.  
     
     
         4 . A sideframe for a wheelchair as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the top and bottom frames each comprise a plurality of bolt apertures.  
     
     
         5 . A sideframe as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the axle plate and the axle extension plate each comprise a plurality of bolt apertures.  
     
     
         6 . A sideframe as defined in  claim 3  wherein said axle plate is to the rear of the sideframe and said caster plate is to the front of said sideframe.  
     
     
         7 . A sideframe as defined in  claim 3  wherein said axle plate is to the front of said sideframe and said caster plate is to the rear of said sideframe.  
     
     
         8 . A sideframe as defined in  claim 1  wherein said top frame comprises an upper portion and a downwardly extended rear portion, said downwardly-extending rear portion being removably attached to the lower frame member.  
     
     
         9 . A sideframe as defined in  claim 8  wherein said downwardly extending portion includes a concave end piece adapted for engagement with said lower frame member.  
     
     
         10 . A sideframe as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said caster plate is attached to said bottom member and to said top member to interconnect said bottom member with said upper member.  
     
     
         11 . A wheelchair frame comprising: 
 left and right sideframes, each as defined in  claim 1;     said left and right sideframes being removably connected to one another by at least one connecting member extending in between and connected to the first and second sideframes, respectively.    
     
     
         12 . A wheelchair frame as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said connecting member comprises concave end pieces.  
     
     
         13 . A wheelchair frame as defined in  claim 12 , wherein said concave end pieces each have a bolt receptor.  
     
     
         14 . A wheelchair frame as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said frame further comprises an anti-tip member extending rearwardly therefrom.  
     
     
         15 . A wheelchair frame as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said frame further comprises an anti-tip member extending forwardly therefrom.  
     
     
         16 . A wheelchair frame as defined in  claim 14 , wherein said anti-tip member comprises at least one wheel at an end thereof  
     
     
         17 . A wheelchair side frame comprising: 
 an upper member;    a lower member separate from said upper member;    said upper member being removably interconnected with said lower member; and    said sideframe being free of welds.    
     
     
         18 . A sideframe for a wheelchair as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the vertical spacing between the bottom frame and the top frame is approximately six inches or less, as measured from the bottom of the bottom frame to the top of the top frame.  
     
     
         19 . A sideframe as defined in  claim 17  wherein said upper member comprises a downwardly extending portion that includes a concave end piece adapted for engagement with said lower frame member.  
     
     
         20 . A sideframe as defined in  claim 17  further comprising a removable connector plate extending between and removably attached to said upper and lower frame members to securely connect said upper and lower frame members together.