Wheelchair and alarm therefor

Abstract

The present invention relates to a wheelchair and an underseat alarm system therefor.

1 - 22 . (canceled)  
   
   
       23 . A wheelchair alarm system for a wheelchair, the wheelchair comprising a frame and a seat comprising a movable seat member in a generally horizontal orientation, the alarm system comprising: 
 an alarm operable to emit a warning signal;    an alarm actuator communicatable to the alarm; and    a support connected to the alarm actuator, the support being constructed to be connected to the frame so as to mount the underseat alarm actuator such that the alarm actuator is positioned in contact with a movable portion of the seat member;    the alarm actuator being operable to sense whether an occupant seated on the seat member is raising his/her weight from the seat member;    the alarm being operable to emit the warning signal responsive to the occupant raising his/her weight from the seat member as determined by the alarm actuator.    
   
   
       24 . A wheelchair alarm system according to  claim 23 , wherein the support has collapsible support portions extending laterally from the alarm actuator for connection to side frame portions of the frame, the collapsible support portions being constructed to collapse in a folding manner between the side frame portions as the side frame portions move to a storage position thereof.  
   
   
       25 . A wheelchair alarm system according to  claim 24 , wherein the warning signal is selected from the group consisting of an audible signal, a visual signal, and a wireless signal to a remote device.  
   
   
       26 . A wheelchair alarm system according to  claim 24 , wherein the alarm actuator is an electrical switch communicated to the alarm.  
   
   
       27 . A wheelchair alarm system according to  claim 26 , wherein the switch comprises a contact element positioned to be pushed downwardly to an off-state by occupant weight on the seat member and being biased to an on-state upon the occupant weight being raised from the seat member, the alarm being operable to emit the warning signal responsive to the contact element moving to the on-state thereof.  
   
   
       28 . A wheelchair alarm system according to  claim 24 , wherein the alarm system further comprises an on-off switch for activating and deactivating the alarm system.  
   
   
       29 . A wheelchair alarm system according to  claim 27 , wherein the alarm system further comprises an on-off switch for activating and deactivating the alarm system.  
   
   
       30 . A wheelchair alarm system according to  claim 24 , wherein the collapsible support portions comprise flexible straps constructed to be connected to the side frame portions.  
   
   
       31 . A wheelchair alarm system according to  claim 30 , wherein the flexible straps include adjusters for enabling lengths of the flexible straps to be adjusted to position the alarm actuator in contact with a bottom surface of the seat member when the side frame portions are in an operative position thereof.  
   
   
       32 . A wheelchair alarm system according to  claim 27 , wherein the collapsible support portions comprise flexible straps constructed to be connected to the side frame portions.  
   
   
       33 . A wheelchair alarm system according to  claim 32 , wherein the flexible straps include adjusters for enabling lengths of the flexible straps to be adjusted to position the alarm actuator in contact with a bottom surface of the seat member when the side frame portions are in an operative position thereof.