Inventors:
Matthew Volk - Ardmore PA, US
Holly Alderman - Bryn Mawr PA, US
Karl-Rainer Blumenthal - Glenside PA, US
Benjamin Cooperman - West Conshohocken PA, US
Dana Henry - Media PA, US
Lauren Herman - Bala Cynwyd PA, US
Vincent Johnson - Philadelphia PA, US
Tara Miller - Philadelphia PA, US
Peter O'Keefe - Philadelphia PA, US
Daniel Orlowitz - Melrose Park PA, US
John Peet - Wyndmoor PA, US
William Rouse - Philadelphia PA, US
Victor Scarpato - Philadelphia PA, US
Joshua Sperling - Philadelphia PA, US
Jeffrey Suway - Rydal PA, US
John Zeglinski - Philadelphia PA, US
Randy Granger - Sumneytown PA, US
International Classification:
B62M001/14
Abstract:
A wheelchair or a vehicle for sand or loose soil comprises one or more skids, each equipped with a spring-loaded roller or roller plate. Examples of the vehicle include a wheelchair and a planetary rover. Preferably, a beach, shower or pool wheelchair comprises two front skids in place of front wheels. The skids provide a resistance-free, broad footprint in the sand and a low-resistance narrow footprint when used on hard, e.g. boardwalk, surfaces. A wheelchair may further comprise a lightweight, easy to fold frame, which closes like a pair of eyeglasses. Still further, a wheelchair may provide a removable and reclining lounge chair seat to allow the user to exit the wheelchair to enter the water or sit and recline on the sand. In addition, dog bone or dumbbell shaped wheels provide the wheelchair strong, lightweight support and a wide footprint and can be equipped with grip notches for user self-propulsion. The inventive wheelchair provides the user with a combination of improvements, which respect the user's grace and dignity.