Wheelchair

Abstract

A wheelchair capable of ensuring the safety of an occupant by securely restraining the occupant's body when the wheelchair is placed in an automobile, even in the event of collision. The wheelchair may have a seat body in which an occupant is seated, seat belts capable of restraining the occupant's body, and seat belt retractors which apply tension to the seat belts in the winding-up direction and are provided with locking mechanisms for locking the movement of the respective seat belts in the withdrawing direction when tension exceeding a predetermined value is applied to the seat belts.

1 . A wheelchair comprising: 
 a seat for supporting an occupant;    seat belts capable of restraining the body of the occupant; and    at least one seat belt retractor for winding up and applying tension to at least one of the seat belts.    
   
   
       2 . The wheelchair as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the number of seat belt retractors is two or more.  
   
   
       3 . The wheelchair as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said seat belt retractor is mounted on the back side of said seat.  
   
   
       4 . The wheelchair as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said seat belt retractor has a locking mechanism which locks the movement of said seat belt in a withdrawing direction when tension exceeding a predetermined value is applied to said seat belt.  
   
   
       5 . The wheelchair as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein 
 said seat has a monocoque structure in which a seating portion on which the occupant is seated, a backrest portion which receives the upper body of the occupant, and a headrest portion which is positioned on the upper end of the backrest portion and receives the head of the occupant are formed integrally.    
   
   
       6 . The wheelchair as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the monocoque structure includes a mounting portion which is located on a lower surface of said seating portion for mounting a main wheel shaft supporting portion for supporting a main wheel shaft.  
   
   
       7 . The wheelchair as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said seat belt retractor is disposed near said main wheel shaft supporting portion.  
   
   
       8 . The wheelchair as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein at least one rib is disposed on the backrest portion to extend along the longitudinal direction of the backrest portion.  
   
   
       9 . The wheelchair as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising a handle member which is disposed substantially horizontally in parallel with said backrest portion.  
   
   
       10 . The wheelchair as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein an armrest portion for receiving an arm of said occupant and a mud guard covering an upper portion of a main wheel are integrally formed.  
   
   
       11 . The wheelchair as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said seating portion and said backrest portion are arranged to have an angle of  90  degrees or more therebetween.  
   
   
       12 . The wheelchair as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a position of center-of-gravity of the wheelchair is higher than a main wheel shaft and lower than a center point of the lumbar of the occupant when the occupant is seated.  
   
   
       13 . The wheelchair as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the number of said seat belt retractors equals the number of seat belts.  
   
   
       14 . The wheelchair as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the seating portion, the backrest portion, and the headrest portion are made of carbon-fiber reinforced plastic, glass-fiber reinforced plastic, composite material, or resin.  
   
   
       15 . The wheelchair as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one seat belt includes a common buckle and a remaining set of seat belts include tongues.  
   
   
       16 . The wheelchair as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising a buckle accommodation portion for the common buckle.  
   
   
       17 . The wheelchair as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a device for attachment to a securing device of an automobile for securing the wheelchair within the automobile.  
   
   
       18 . A wheelchair comprising: 
 a seat in which an occupant is seated;    seat belts capable of restraining the body of the occupant; and    at least one seat belt retractor for applying tension to said seat belts in a winding-up direction;    wherein the seat includes apertures for allowing the seat belts to pass through the seat.