| CPC A61G 5/1035 (2013.01) [F16C 1/12 (2013.01); F16D 65/28 (2013.01); F16D 63/006 (2013.01); F16D 2121/14 (2013.01); F16D 2125/60 (2013.01); F16D 2125/64 (2013.01)] | 13 Claims |
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1. A lever assembly for use with a wheelchair having a wheel lock system, said wheel lock system comprising a first wheel lock assembly and a second wheel lock assembly, said first wheel lock assembly having a first wheel lock and a first actuator and a first actuation cable and a first lock-pin in operative engagement with said first actuator, said second wheel lock assembly having a second wheel lock and a second actuator and a second actuation cable and a second lock-pin in operative engagement with said second actuator, each of said first and second actuation cables having a first end and a second end opposite said first end, said first actuator being attached to said first actuation cable first end so as to enable said first actuation cable to manipulate said first actuator to move said first lock-pin between a first position in which said first lock-pin engages said first wheel lock and a second position in which said first lock-pin disengages from said first wheel lock, said second actuator being attached to said second actuation cable first end so as to enable said second actuation cable to manipulate said second actuator to move said second lock-pin between a first position in which said second lock-pin engages said second wheel lock and a second position in which said second lock-pin disengages from said second wheel lock, said first actuator comprising a first biasing member, said first biasing member applying a first engagement force to said first lock-pin, said first engagement force urging said first lock-pin toward its respective said first position, said second actuator comprising a second biasing member, said second biasing member applying a second engagement force to said second lock-pin, said second engagement force urging said second lock-pin toward its respective said first position, said lever assembly comprising:
a. a first cable link, said first cable link having a first end and a second end opposite said first end, said first cable link first end being configured to attach to said first actuation cable second end;
b. a second cable link, said second cable link having a first end and a second end opposite said first end, said second cable link first end being configured to attach to said second actuation cable second end;
c. a body, said body being configured to attach to said wheelchair, said body being further configured to engage said first actuation cable so as to position said first actuation cable second end proximate said first cable link first end, said body being further configured to engage said second actuation cable so as to position said second actuation cable second end proximate said second cable link first end; and
d. a lever adapted to rotate relative to said body about a first axis, said lever being rotatably attached to said first cable link second end about a second axis, said second axis being separated from but oriented generally parallel to said first axis, said lever being rotatably attached to said second cable link second end about said second axis, said first and second cable links being adapted to rotate about said second axis independently relative to one another, said lever being movable between a first position relative to said body where said lever exerts a force on one of said cable links, said force being transferred by said one of said cable links to its respective actuation cable so as to cause said actuation cable's respective actuator to urge its respective lock-pin to its respective second position, and a second position relative to said body where said lever reduces said force on said one of said cable links so as to allow said respective actuator to urge its respective lock-pin to its respective first position.
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