Wheelchair attachment for exercise equipment

Abstract

An attachment is provided that may be used to convert exercise equipment typically used in gyms to equipment that may be used by persons in wheelchairs. The attachment generally includes an upper frame member and a lower frame member, each of which are selectively engageable with the existing equipment. The upper frame member provides an adjustable back pad that can be used with an adjustable belt to stabilize the exerciser's upper body when using the equipment. The lower frame member includes wheel locks to stabilize the wheelchair after it has been rolled into the lower frame member. It may further include fork members to secure handles and cables of the existing machine to make them more accessible for the wheelchair user. A lap belt of the lower frame member may allow a user to stabilize his or her lower body relative to the wheelchair when using the equipment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An attachment for converting existing exercise equipment into exercise equipment compatible for a person in a wheelchair, the attachment comprising:
 an upper frame member for selective engagement with an upper portion of the existing exercise equipment, the upper frame member including a back pad used to stabilize an upper body of a person in a wheel chair;   a lower frame member for selective engagement with a lower portion of the existing exercise equipment, the lower frame member including wheel locks located near a bottom portion of the lower frame member; and   wherein the wheel locks are used to stabilize wheels of a wheelchair when the wheelchair is positioned within the lower frame member.   
     
     
         2 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the back pad of the upper frame member is rotatably attached to the upper portion of the existing exercise equipment. 
     
     
         3 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the lower frame member includes at least one fork member extending upwardly therefrom for receiving and retaining at least a portion of a cable associated with the existing exercise equipment. 
     
     
         4 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the wheel locks are rotatable levers. 
     
     
         5 . The attachment of  claim 3 , wherein the lower frame member includes a U-shaped base and at least one side frame extending upwardly from a side portion of the base. 
     
     
         6 . The attachment of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one fork member is located on a rear portion of the at least one side frame. 
     
     
         7 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the lower frame member includes at least one pin member extending therefrom that prevents over-rotation of the wheel locks when the wheel locks are in an unlocked position. 
     
     
         8 . The attachment of  claim 5 , wherein the base includes a lap belt for securing a lower body of a person in a wheelchair using the existing exercise equipment. 
     
     
         9 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the upper frame member includes a chest belt for securing an upper body of a person in a wheelchair using the existing exercise equipment. 
     
     
         10 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein attachment points of the upper frame member and the lower frame member align with attachment points of handles and a seat attachment, respectively, of the existing exercise equipment. 
     
     
         11 . An attachment for converting existing exercise equipment into exercise equipment compatible for a person in a wheelchair, the attachment comprising:
 a lower frame member for selective engagement with a lower portion of the existing exercise equipment, the lower frame member including at least one fork member positioned on the lower frame member such that it may receive and retain at least one cable of the existing exercise equipment to make the cable more accessible to a person in a wheelchair using the existing equipment.   
     
     
         12 . The attachment of  claim 11 , wherein the attachment includes an upper frame member for selective engagement with an upper portion of the existing exercise equipment, the upper frame member including a back pad used to stabilize an upper body of a person in a wheel chair. 
     
     
         13 . The attachment of  claim 11 , wherein the lower frame member includes wheel locks located near a bottom portion of the lower frame member. 
     
     
         14 . The attachment of  claim 13 , wherein the wheel locks are rotatable levers. 
     
     
         15 . The attachment of  claim 11 , wherein the lower frame member includes a U-shaped base and at least one side frame extending upwardly from a side portion of the base. 
     
     
         16 . The attachment of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one fork member is located on a rear portion of the at least one side frame. 
     
     
         17 . The attachment of  claim 13 , wherein the lower frame member includes at least one pin member extending therefrom that prevents over-rotation of the wheel locks when the wheel locks are in an unlocked position 
     
     
         18 . The attachment of  claim 15 , wherein the base includes a lap belt for securing a lower body of a person in a wheelchair using the existing exercise equipment. 
     
     
         19 . The attachment of  claim 12 , wherein the upper frame member includes a chest belt for securing an upper body of a person in a wheelchair using the existing exercise equipment. 
     
     
         20 . The attachment of  claim 11 , wherein attachment points of the lower frame member align with attachment points of a seat attachment of the existing exercise equipment.