Adjustable seat cushion for a wheelchair

Abstract

The seat of a wheelchair has a back that is deeply contoured to provide lateral support for a user, and which is adjusted to conform to user torsos of various sizes. The seat back has a rigid, curved shell formed by a back panel with separate wings adjustably projecting forward from opposite sides of the back panel. Adjustment of the wings alters the length of curvature of the shell to conform to user torsos of different sizes. A cushion is attached to the shell and has pleated sections which expand and contract as the shell is adjusted.

1 - 22 . (canceled)  
   
   
       23 . A seat cushion for a wheelchair with a seat back that has a back panel from which a pair of wings project in an adjustable manner from opposite lateral sides wherein adjustment of the pair of wings alters curvature of the seat back, the seat cushion comprising: 
 a body which stretches and contracts to conform to alteration of the curvature of the seat back; and    a fastening system for attaching the body to the seat back of the wheelchair.    
   
   
       24 . The seat cushion as recited in  claim 23  wherein the body comprises a central section adjacent the back panel, a first lateral section extending from the central section, and a second lateral section extending from the central section, wherein the first and second lateral sections stretch and contract with changes in positions of the first wing and second wings with respect to the back panel.  
   
   
       25 . The seat cushion as recited in  claim 24  wherein the first lateral section and the second lateral section of the body are pleated.  
   
   
       26 . The seat cushion as recited in  claim 23  wherein the body has a first surface with a first plurality of grooves extending vertically and a second surface with a second plurality of grooves interleaved with the first plurality of grooves, wherein the first and second plurality of grooves enable the body to stretch and contract with changes in positions of the first wing and second wings.  
   
   
       27 . The seat cushion as recited in  claim 23  wherein the body is formed of a resilient foam material.  
   
   
       28 . The seat cushion as recited in  claim 23  further comprising a cover of stretchable material encasing the body and to which the fastening system is attached.  
   
   
       29 . The cushion as recited in  claim 23  wherein the fastening system comprises a hook and loop fastener.  
   
   
       30 . A seat cushion for a wheelchair with a seat back that has a back panel from which a first wing and a second wing adjustably project from opposite lateral sides, the seat cushion comprising: 
 a body of a resilient material having a central section, a first lateral section extending from the central section, and a second lateral section extending from the central section; and    a fastening system to attach the seat cushion to the seat back wherein the central section is adjacent the back panel, first lateral section is adjacent the first wing, and the second lateral section is adjacent the second wing.    
   
   
       31 . The seat cushion as recited in  claim 30  wherein adjustment of the first wing or the second wing with respect to the back panel alters curvature of the seat back, and wherein the body of the cushion stretches and contracts conforming to alteration of the curvature of the seat back.  
   
   
       32 . The seat cushion as recited in  claim 30  further comprising a cover of stretchable material encasing the body.  
   
   
       33 . The seat cushion as recited in  claim 30  wherein the first lateral section and the second lateral section are pleated.  
   
   
       34 . The seat cushion as recited in  claim 30  wherein the body has a first surface with a first plurality of grooves extending vertically, and a second surface with a second plurality of grooves interleaved with the first plurality of grooves.  
   
   
       35 . The cushion as recited in  claim 30  wherein the fastening system comprises a hook and loop fastener.  
   
   
       36 . A cushion for a wheelchair with a seat back that has a back panel from which a first wing and a second wing adjustably project from opposite lateral sides, the cushion comprising: 
 a body of a resilient material and comprising a central section adjacent the back panel, a pleated first lateral section adjacent the first wing, and a pleated second lateral section adjacent the second wing.    
   
   
       37 . The cushion as recited in  claim 36  further comprising a fastening system to attach the cushion to the seat back.  
   
   
       38 . The cushion as recited in  claim 37  wherein the fastening system comprises hook and loop fastener components.  
   
   
       39 . The cushion as recited in  claim 36  wherein the cushion further comprises a cover of stretchable material encasing the body.  
   
   
       40 . The cushion as recited in  claim 36  wherein the body has a first surface with a first plurality of grooves extending vertically in the first lateral section and the second lateral section, and a second surface with a second plurality of grooves interleaved with the first plurality of grooves.