Footrest assembly with manually releasable coupling

Abstract

A footrest assembly for a wheelchair which includes a support body and a footrest structure which is coupled to the support body with a manually releasable coupling.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A footrest assembly for a wheelchair comprising: 
 a footrest structure;    a support body, the support body being adapted for attachment onto a wheelchair and capable of supporting the footrest structure; and    a manually releasable coupling that couples the footrest structure to the support body such that the footrest structure can be manually decoupled from the support body.    
     
     
         2 . A footrest assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the support body is tubular.  
     
     
         3 . A footrest assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the manually releasable coupling is disposed at one end of the support body.  
     
     
         4 . A footrest assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the footrest structure comprises a footrest body and a support arm.  
     
     
         5 . A footrest assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the manually releasable coupling couples the support body to the footrest body.  
     
     
         6 . A footrest assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the manually releasable coupling couples the support arm to the support body.  
     
     
         7 . A footrest assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the footrest body is tubular.  
     
     
         8 . A footrest assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the footrest structure includes a footrest body, the footrest body being curved, and the support body includes a free end that is supported on the footrest body.  
     
     
         9 . A footrest assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the support body has a hollow free end and further comprising an insert guide attached to the footrest body and received in the hollow end of the support body.  
     
     
         10 . A footrest assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the manually releasable coupling includes a spring loaded pin that extends through a hole in the support body into a hole in the insert guide thereby coupling the footrest body to the support body.  
     
     
         11 . A footrest assembly according to  claim 8 , further comprising a support arm attached to the footrest body and in contact with the support body, whereby the footrest body is further supported on the support body.  
     
     
         12 . A footrest assembly according to  claim 8 , further comprising a support arm attached to the footrest body, wherein the manually releasable coupling couples the support arm to the support body, whereby the footrest body is coupled to the support body.  
     
     
         13 . A footrest assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the manually releasable coupling includes a rail which is receivable in a corresponding channel in a coupling block and a stop member that prevents the rail from sliding out of the channel when the footrest assembly is assembled.  
     
     
         14 . A footrest assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the stop member pivots when the rail initially enters the channel to allow the rail to move further within the channel, and pivots to make contact with the coupling block when it exits the channel to make contact with the block in a manner that prevents the rail from sliding out of the channel.  
     
     
         15 . A footrest assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the stop member includes a handle for manually pivoting the stop member, whereby the stop member may move out of contact with the coupling block to allow the rail to slide out of the channel.  
     
     
         16 . A footrest assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the channel further includes an outwardly extending edge that engages an inwardly extending ledge of the channel.  
     
     
         17 . A footrest assembly comprising: 
 a manually releasable coupling that couples a footrest structure to a support body, the manually releasable coupling including a first coupling member that includes a channel and a second coupling member that includes a rail, wherein the rail is received in the channel, the second coupling member further including a stop member which engages the first coupling member to prevent the rail from sliding out of the channel.    
     
     
         18 . A footrest assembly according to  claim 17 , further comprising a footrest structure and a support member, wherein the first coupling member is attached to the support member and the second coupling member is attached to the footrest structure.  
     
     
         19 . A footrest assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the stop member pivots when the rail initially enters the channel to allow the rail to move further within the channel, and pivots to make contact with the first coupling member when it exits the channel to make contact with the first coupling member in a manner that prevents the rail from sliding out of the channel.  
     
     
         20 . A footrest assembly according to  claim 19 , wherein the stop member includes a handle for manually pivoting the stop member, whereby the stop member may move out of contact with the first coupling member to allow the rail to slide out of the channel.  
     
     
         21 . A footrest assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the channel further includes an outwardly extending edge that engages an inwardly extending ledge of the channel.