Extendible and elevating footrest for wheelchair

摘要

The device is a footrest support structure for attachment to the frame of a wheelchair. A footrest is carried on the end of a telescoping leg pivotally engaged to a wheelchair frame. The telescoping leg automatically extends as it is elevated, by means of a folding link that engages the two parts of the leg. The link is engaged as well by a lever lock that permits the first arm to slide freely in a first direction but not in a second direction until the lock is actuated. The first arm of the folding link is pivotally engaged to the upper leg at a first pivot point intermediate the ends of the first arm and the leg, respectively, for pivoting the arm in a generally vertical plane. The second arm is pivotally engaged at its lower end to the lower leg at a second pivot point. The distance between said first and second pivot points extends as the footrest support structure is elevated, thus causing the leg to elongate.