FOOT OPERATED MECHANICAL STEERING SYSTEM FOR A MANUAL WHEELCHAIR

摘要

This invention relates to standard manual wheelchairs. Previously, hemiplegic and one-armed patients did not have safe and effective directional control when attempting to operate the standard manual wheelchair. Embodiments of the present invention use a foot controller assembly pivotably mounted to a platform and comprising a foot plate (24) configured to receive the foot of the user and a rod coupled to the foot plate. A drag linkage member (22) is coupled to the rod of the foot controller assembly. A pair of lever arm assemblies is pivotably mounted to the drag linkage member. Pivotable movement of the foot plate is transferred through the drag linkage member to permit two lever rods of the pair of lever arm assemblies to pivot, thereby enabling simultaneous pivotal adjustments of caster wheels and thus the wheelchair.