A Wheelchair

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a wheelchair incorporating an air cooling system.

BACKGROUND

Wheelchairs with a fan blows a positive stream of air onto a user seated in the chair are known. At least some known products of this type are less than optimal as they can undesirably overcool the person using the chair.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of preferred embodiments of the invention to go at least some way towards addressing the above problem. While this applies to preferred embodiments, the object of the invention per se is broader. It is simply to provide a useful choice.

DEFINITIONS

The term “comprising” or “has”, as used in this document in relation to a series of features means that they are present as a combination, but it does not rule out the option of their being additional features. The same applies to related terms such as “comprises” or “having”.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect the invention is a seat (eg a wheelchair), comprising a seat base and a backrest, wherein the backrest is adapted to suction air away from the back of a human occupant when seated in the seat with their back facing the backrest, the backrest comprising a cooler having:

• a cooling pad through which air can flow,

• an air pump with an inlet and an outlet, the cooler being such that:

• the inlet contacts the pad, and

• the pump is adapted to suck air through the pad into the pump through the inlet so that the air is able to exit the pump via the outlet; and • the pump is positioned underneath the seat base.

Optionally the cooler comprises a pouch, and the cooling pad and pump are within the pouch.

Optionally the pouch comprises a pocket and the pump is located in the pocket.

Optionally the pouch is airtight except for vents in the pouch that face the front of the seat and through which air is drawn into the cooling pad.

Optionally the cooling pad comprises mesh.

Optionally the mesh comprises 3D spacer fabric.

Optionally the cooling pad is 6 mm to 14 mm thick.

Optionally the cooling pad is 8 mm to 12 mm thick.

Optionally the pouch comprises a pocket in which the pump is located and arranged such that an air intake of the pump applies suction to the cooling pad to pull air through it.

Optionally the air intake presses against the cooling pad.

Optionally the air intake extends to contact the cooling pad through an aperture in the pocket.

Optionally the pouch comprises an outlet via which air drawn through the cooling pad is expelled.

Optionally the outlet is located in the pocket.

Optionally the cooling pad is located in front of a cushion, the cushion is in turn located in front of a rigid panel, and these are substantially enveloped by a cover.

Optionally the pad extends to a position below the cushion, below the rigid panel, and below the seat base.

Optionally the wheelchair seat of the first paragraph of this “Summary of Invention section is such that, at the same time: a) the cooler comprises a pouch which has a pocket, the cooling pad is 6 mm - 14 mm thick, comprises mesh and is within the pouch, and the pump is located in the pocket; b) the pouch is airtight except for vents in the pouch that face the front of the seat, the vents being such that air is able to be drawn through them into the cooling pad; c) the pump has an air intake that extends to contact the cooling pad through an aperture in the pocket, is pressed against the cooling pad, and is adapted to apply suction to the cooling pad to pull air through it; d) the pouch comprises an outlet located in the pocket through which air drawn through the cooling pad is expelled when the pump is running; e) the cooling pad is located in front of a cushion, the cushion is in turn located in front of a rigid panel, and at least the pad and cushion are substantially enveloped by a cover; and f) the pad extends to a position below the cushion, below the rigid panel, and below the seat base.

DRAWINGS

Some preferred forms of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a front isometric view of a wheelchair;

Figure 2 is a rear isometric view of the wheelchair;

Figure 3 is a side cross-section view of part of the wheelchair;

Figure 4 is a front isometric view of a cooler that forms part of the wheelchair’s backrest;

Figure 5 is a rear isometric view of the cooler;

Figure 6 is a front elevation view of a cooling pad forming part of the cooler;

Figure 7 is a front isometric view of an air pump forming part of the cooler;

Figure 8 is an alternative front isometric view of the air pump; and

Figure 9 is a rear isometric view of the pump. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to Figures 1 & 2, the wheelchair 1 has two primary wheels 2, 3, two smaller steering wheels 4, 5, a pair of footrests 6, 7, a seat 8, a backrest 9, and two handgrips 10, 11 for manoeuvring the wheelchair.

Figure 3 illustrates detail of the backrest 9. It comprises a rigid structural panel 12, a cushion 13 for comfort, and a cooler 14. Preferably at least the cushion 13 and cooler 14 are contained within an overall upholstery cover 15. As shown, the cooler 14 comprises a mesh cooling pad 16 within a fabric pouch 17. The pouch is airtight except that it has a series of front facing air vents 18 through which air can be sucked into the cooling pad 16 through the upholstery cover 15.

Still with Figure 3, the pouch 17 incorporates a lower pocket 20 that has a wall 21 to separate its interior from the pouch’s main chamber 22 that houses the cooling pad 16. As shown, there is an air pump 23 inside the pocket 20, preferably fan driven. The arrangement is such that an air inlet 24 of the pump passes through an aperture 25 between the pocket and the main chamber 22. The pump’s inlet 24 physically presses against or otherwise contacts the cooling pad 16 and sucks air through it. This is possible as the pad 16 is porous or mesh-like.

The suction from the pump causes air to be drawn into the pad 16 via the vents 18, even though the cooler 14 is within the main upholstery cover 15. In this regard the cover 15 is preferably substantially porous to air. That air travels through the pad 16, into the pump 23, exits the pump via a pump outlet 26, and exists the pocket via an aligned aperture 27 of the pocket. The effect of this is that warm air is drawn away from behind the back of someone seated in the wheelchair to help cool the person.

As shown, the lower pocket 20 has a zippered opening 28 to enable access to the pump 23 inside.

Figures 4 and 5 show a particular embodiment of the cooler 14 in which the mesh cooling pad 16 is partially visible through the air vents 18. In this embodiment the cooler 14 may incorporate an upper hooked pocket 29 that sits around the top of the backrest’s rigid panel 12 and cushion 13, to help hold the cooler in place. This is also aided by a lower strap 30 which also forms part of the cooler and is adapted to loop around the back of the backrest’s rigid panel 12. Figure 6 illustrates the cooling pad 16 separate from the pouch 17. As shown, its lower portion is narrowed to compliment the shape of the lower pocket 20 (not shown). The pad 16 is preferably 8-12 mm thick and optionally comprises 3D spacer fabric. The arrangement is such that the pad extends as one continuous sheet, filling the pouch 17, but is outside the lower pocket 20.

Figures 7, 8 & 9 illustrate the air pump 23, and in particular the position and configuration of its air intake 24 and air outlet 26. As shown in Figure 9, the rear of the pump has an on-off switch 31.

Because the cooler 14 serves to suck warm air away from the wheelchair occupant through the vents 18, it helps the person to stay or become cool without subjecting them to a blowing-draft. This helps to prevent over-cooling.

While it is preferred that the cooler is used with a wheelchair, in alternative embodiments it may be used with the backrest of other forms of seating.

In terms of disclosure, this document hereby envisages each item, feature or step mentioned herein, in combination with one or more of any same or other item, feature or step disclosed herein, in each case regardless of whether the combination is claimed.

While some preferred forms of the invention have been described by way of example it should be appreciated that modifications and improvements can occur without departing from the scope of the following claims.