GB2262915A

GB2262915A - Wheelchair tool supports.

Info

Publication number: GB2262915A
Application number: GB9127487A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Francis Cecil Holton
Original assignee: GUILD OF DISABLED HOMEWORKERS
Current assignee: GUILD OF DISABLED HOMEWORKERS
Priority date: 1991-12-30
Filing date: 1991-12-30
Publication date: 1993-07-07
Anticipated expiration: 2011-12-30
Also published as: GB9127487D0; GB2262915B

Abstract

A support 1 for enabling a disabled person to operate hand tools A, B while sitting in a wheelchair, comprises a tray 2 having a turntable 6 for attachment to the tools A, B and for supporting the tools A, B in a desired position where it can be operated by said person. Elastic loops 10 are provided for releasably securing the support to the wheelchair. Bags 8 are provided for items produced using the tool, eg wire clips. <IMAGE>

Description

"Wheelchair Tool Supports" The invention relates to wheelchair tool supports.

Many disabled people who need a wheelchair, but have use of one or both of their hands, are hindered in earning a living because they are unable to use hand tools in a satisfactory manner.

In this specification "hand tool" is intended to include any hand operated device.

The invention seeks to overcome this disadvantage, among others, by providing a device for enabling a person to operate a hand tool while sitting in a wheelchair.

According to the invention there is provided a wheelchair tool support for enabling a person to operate a hand tool while sitting in a wheelchair, comprising support means for attachment to the hand tool and for supporting the hand tool in a position where it can be operated by said person, and securing means for releasably securing the support means to the wheelchair.

Preferably, the support means is adapted to allow the hand tool to be rotatable with respect to the wheelchair.

In this case, the axis of rotation need not pass through the hand tool itself, so that the hand tool may be movable along the arc of a circle from one location to another.

In this specification, the word "rotatable" indicates movement through any angle, including angles of less than 360".

In one embodiment of the invention, the support means includes a tray adapted to be positioned in front of said person sitting in the wheelchair.

The support means may, additionally or alternatively, comprise a rotatable turntable for supporting said tool.

The turntable may be adapted for attachment to, and to support, any number of tools.

Conveniently, the support means includes locking means for releasably locking the turntable in a selected position.

Conveniently, the securing means is adapted to secure the support means to at least one arm of the wheelchair.

In this case, the securing means may include an elastically deformable member for sliding over said one arm of the wheelchair so as to hold a part of the wheelchair tool support against said one arm.

The support means may be provided with one or more bags attached to one or more sides of the support means.

Preferably, the or each bag is releasably attachable to the support means.

The invention also provides a wheelchair tool support as described above in combination with at least one hand tool attached to the support means of the wheelchair tool support.

The invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a wheelchair tool support attached to two tools A and B.

The wheelchair tool support 1 comprises a tray 2 having two projecting portions 4, a rectangular rotatable turntable 6 mounted on the tray 2, and two bags 8 clipped to opposite sides of the tray 2. The tools A and B are bolted to opposite ends of the turntable 6.

In order to attach the tray 2 to a wheelchair, the two projecting portions 4 are placed over the arms of the wheelchair and elastically deformable loops 10 are then moved along the projecting portions 4 and over the arms of the wheelchair, so as to hold the projecting portions 4 against said arms.

The turntable 6 is rotatable about a bolt 12 by means of which it is attached to the tray 2. In order that the turntable 6 does not rotate during use of the tools A and B, a suitable releasable locking device (not shown) may be provided for preventing rotation of the turntable 6 after it has been rotated to a selected position. Alternatively, there may be sufficient friction between the turntable 6 and the tray 2 to prevent unwanted rotation of the turntable 6.

The embodiment shown in the drawing enables a person having use of only one of their hands to make use of both of the tools A and B, since either tool may be positioned at either side of the tray 2 so as to be in a suitable position for operation by the appropriate hand of the user.

The tools A and B are designed to bend short lengths of insulated wire so as to form wire clips suitable for attaching clothes to a clothes line. The user takes straight pieces of insulated wire from one of the bags 8, and drops the clips formed by the tools A and B into the other of the bags 8.

It will be appreciated that the invention is suitable for use with a wide range of mechanical tools, as well as with, for example, hand operated electric power tools and electronic devices.

In a non-illustrated variant of the invention, tools are positioned along both sides 14 and 16 of the turntable 6. Such an arrangement allows a person, having use of one or both hands, to position each tool in a suitable position for use, as and when that tool is required.

The wheelchair tool support may also be provided with a retractable leg (not shown) for supporting one end of the tray 2 when the projecting portion 4 associated with said one end of the tray 2 has been released from the associated wheelchair arm in order to allow a person using the wheelchair tool support to move into and out of the wheelchair. The retractable leg could be pivotally connected to the tray 2 so as to be movable between an non-operative position in which it lies parallel with the general plane of the tray 2, and an operative position in which it extends perpendicularly to the general plane of the tray 2.

Claims

1. A wheelchair tool support for enabling a person to operate a hand tool while sitting in a wheelchair, comprising support means for attachmeng to the hand tool and for supporting the hand tool in a position where it can be operated by said person, and securing means for releasably securing the support means to the wheelchair.

2. A wheelchair tool support as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the support means is adapted to allow the hand tool to be rotatable with respect to the wheelchair.

3. A wheelchair tool support as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the axis of rotation does not pass through the hand tool itself, so that the hand tool is movable along the arc of a circle from one location to another.

4. A wheelchair tool support as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the support means includes a tray adapted to be positioned in front of said person sitting in the wheelchair.

5. A wheelchair tool support as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the support means comprises a rotatable turntable for supporting said tool.

6. A wheelchair tool support as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the turntable is adapted for attachment to, and to support, a plurality of tools.

7. A wheelchair tool support as claimed in Claim 5 or 6, wherein the support means includes locking means for releasably locking the turntable in a selected position.

8. A wheelchair tool support as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the securing means is adapted to secure the support means to at least one arm of the wheelchair.

9. A wheelchair tool support as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the securing means includes an elastically deformable member for sliding over said one arm of the wheelchair so as to hold a part of the wheelchair tool support against said one arm.

10. A wheelchair tool support as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the support means is provided with one or more bags attached to one or more sides of the support means.

11. A wheelchair tool support as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the or each bag is releasably attachable to the support means.

12. A wheelchair arrangement comprising a wheelchair tool support as claimed in any preceding claim, and at least one hand tool attached to the support means of the wheelchair tool support.

13. A wheelchair tool support . substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.