CN110799152A

CN110799152A - Transport deck chair

Info

Publication number: CN110799152A
Application number: CN201880030003.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: W.费尔尼亚尼; L.库珀
Original assignee: Mowey Medical Co Ltd; UAB Research Foundation
Current assignee: TPM Research Co.; UAB Research Foundation
Priority date: 2017-03-07
Filing date: 2018-03-07
Publication date: 2020-02-14
Anticipated expiration: 2038-03-07
Also published as: CN110799152B; WO2018165319A1; JP7191865B2; AU2018231221B2; AU2018231221A1; EP3592308A1; JP2020509909A; EP3592308A4

Abstract

A transport chair is provided that includes a base frame, a seat assembly pivotably mounted to the base, and a footrest assembly pivotably mounted to the base frame, the footrest assembly being associated with the seat assembly so as to pivot in unison with the seat assembly until the seat assembly pivots forward to the point where the footrest assembly contacts the floor or ground, at which point the footrest assembly does not pivot further as the seat assembly pivots further forward. Additional embodiments of the transport chair allow the seat assembly to recline, either alone or in concert with a leg rest assembly, while the footrest remains in place.

Description

Transport deck chair

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This application is a continuation (pending) of U.S. patent application No. 15/452,454 filed on 7.3.7.2017. U.S. patent application No. 15/452,454 is a continuation (pending) of U.S. patent application No. 15/173,259 filed on 3.6.2016. U.S. patent application No. 15/173,259 is a continuation of U.S. patent application No. 13/574,267 (now U.S. patent No. 9,358,166), filed on 7/2/2012. U.S. patent No. 9,358,166 is the national phase of entry of international patent application No. PCT/US11/21834 (abandoned) filed on 20/1/2011. International patent application No. PCT/US11/21834 cites priority of provisional U.S. patent application No. 61/304,638 (expired) filed on day 2/15 2010, 61/304,699 (expired) filed on day 2/15 2010, and 61/296,724 (expired) filed on day 1/20 2010. The contents of all of the above-mentioned patent applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, although the application procedures of the above-mentioned patent applications are not incorporated by reference.

Background

It is common to transport hospital patients in wheelchairs. In this case, the patient is generally seated on a wheelchair, and an operator (generally referred to as an attendant) pushes the wheelchair to move the patient to a desired position. For this reason, the caregiver typically must maneuver the chair and patient into and out of the elevator, through the hallway, up and down the ramp, into and out of the ward, and the like. In addition, the caregiver must often assist the patient in leaving or sitting in the chair. Unfortunately, conventional wheelchairs are not very effective in this situation because they are designed to be self-moving, rather than transporting patients.

One drawback of conventional wheelchairs is that the caregiver must bend over to be able to reach the handle of the wheelchair to propel the wheelchair. The handle typically extends straight back in an unnatural orientation for the caregiver and is typically not adjustable. Furthermore, wheelchairs do not provide sufficient space for the caregiver's feet when walking, particularly when the caregiver is tall or when the caregiver moves quickly and steps are large. In addition, wheelchairs do not provide sufficient storage space for items such as patient's belongings or medical documents and equipment. Typically, the only storage space provided is a rear pocket integrated into the flexible backrest of the wheelchair. When placed in a pocket, the items tend to poke the back of the patient, making the patient uncomfortable to sit up. Furthermore, even if items are not placed in the rear pocket, the upright sitting position and lack of head support may cause the patient to feel discomfort for a longer period of time.

In addition to these disadvantages, it may be difficult for an attendant to assist a patient in sitting in or out of a conventional wheelchair. In either case, the caregiver must bend over while supporting at least a portion of the patient's weight. Such action may cause injury to the caregiver's back. Even if not suffering from such injuries, the act of helping the patient to sit in or leave the example may require a great deal of force, which the caregiver may not have. Particularly in cases where these patients are physically infirm due to age, illness or injury, sitting in or out of a conventional wheelchair can also cause physical injury to the patient.

Another disadvantage of conventional wheelchairs is that when not in use they take up a lot of space and tend to be placed in a mess in hospital corridors, making them obtrusive to personnel and hospital equipment. In addition, the foot pedals of conventional wheelchairs are removable and easily lost. In addition, conventional wheelchairs are easily stolen.

Another disadvantage of conventional wheelchairs is the inability to recline. Sitting upright for long periods of time can fatigue patients suffering from weakened core muscles, spinal injuries, etc. Conventional wheelchairs may be suitable for relatively robust patients who cannot walk for long periods of time, but in practice wheelchairs are used to transport patients with more severe disabilities. In practice, wheelchairs are not only used to transport patients from one location to another, but often the patients must wait a long period of time on the wheelchair to await medical attention, such as when the patient is taken from a hospital ward to a busy radiology center.

In view of the above disadvantages, it will be appreciated that it would be desirable to have alternative means for transporting individuals (such as hospital patients) from one location to another.

Drawings

The disclosed embodiments of the transporter chair may be better understood with reference to the following drawings. It should be noted that the components illustrated in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an example embodiment of a transport chair.

Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the transport chair of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the transport chair of fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a front view of the transport chair of fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a rear view of the transport chair of fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a top view of the transport chair of fig. 1.

FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of the base frame, seat assembly bottom tray and footrest assembly of the transport chair of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of the base frame, seat assembly bottom tray, and footrest assembly of the transport chair of FIG. 1, with the footrest assembly shown separated from the base frame.

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of the base frame and footrest assembly of the transport chair of FIG. 1 showing the locking of the footrest assembly in a raised orientation.

Fig. 10A-10D are sequential side views illustrating the transport chair of fig. 1 as its seat assembly is articulated from a fully reclined position to a fully reclined (forward tilted) position.

11A and 11B are additional rear perspective views of the transport chair of FIG. 1, except that the chair is shown in a reclined (forward tilted) position to illustrate attachment of the bottom bracket to the seat assembly.

FIG. 12 is a side view of the transport chair of FIG. 1 showing the bottom hanger attached to the seat assembly and deploying the foot board stop assembly.

FIG. 13 is a side view of two transport chairs of the type shown in FIG. 1 nested together for more compact and organized storage.

FIG. 14 is a rear perspective view of another example embodiment of a transport chair.

Fig. 15A is a perspective view of an alternative version of a transport chair in an upright configuration.

FIG. 15B is a perspective view of an alternative version of the transport chair shown in FIG. 15A in a reclined configuration. Note the elevation of the leg rest and the change in armrest angle and position.

Figure 16A is a side view of an alternative version of the transport chair shown in figure 15A in an upright configuration.

FIG. 16B is a side view of an alternative version of the transport chair shown in FIG. 15B in a reclined position.

Figure 17A is a top view of an alternative version of the transport chair shown in figure 15A in an upright configuration.

FIG. 17B is a top view of an alternative version of the transport chair shown in FIG. 15B in a reclined position.

Fig. 18A is a front view of an alternative version of the transport chair shown in fig. 15A in an upright configuration.

Fig. 18B is a front view of an alternative version of the transport chair shown in fig. 15B in a reclined position.

Detailed Description

As mentioned above, conventional wheelchairs have several disadvantages when used to transport individuals (e.g., hospital patients) from one location to another. Disclosed herein are transport chairs specifically designed for transporting such individuals with maximum comfort while reducing the effort required by the individual and the chair operator (e.g., hospital caregiver) and thereby reducing the chance of injury. In some embodiments, the transport chair includes a seat assembly supported by the base frame and pivotable relative to the base frame about a pivot axis located near a front edge of the chair seat. This pivoting capability not only makes it easier for a patient to move into and out of the chair (particularly for patients with weak legs or having balance problems), but also facilitates chair nesting, which significantly reduces the amount of space required to store the chair.

In the present disclosure, specific embodiments are described and illustrated. It should be noted that those embodiments are merely examples, and that many other variations are possible. The present disclosure is intended to encompass all such variations.

Fig. 1-6 illustrate an example embodiment of a transport chair 10. Generally, the transport chair 10 includes a seat assembly 12 supported by a base frame 14. The seat assembly 12 includes a seat frame 16 that includes a plurality of frame components, which may be configured as hollow metal (e.g., steel or aluminum) tubes. For purposes of this discussion, the frame assembly will be referred to as a tube. The seat frame 16 includes two opposing side tubes 18 and a top cross tube 20, a rear cross tube 22, and a bottom support member or tray 24, each of which extends between the two side tubes. At least one seat assembly tube segment 26 is attached to the bottom tray 24 to facilitate articulation of the seat assembly 12, as described below.

Extending between the side tubes 18 is a support member 28 that supports a user (patient) when transported in the chair 10. In some embodiments, support element 28 comprises a flexible material that both conforms to the patient's body and promotes air circulation for increased patient comfort. By way of example, the support member 28 comprises a medical grade vinyl fabric or mesh. Regardless of the specific nature of the support element 28, the side tubes 8 may be continuous so as to form a lower portion of the chair 10 or seat 30 and an upper portion of the chair or backrest 32. In some embodiments, the backrest 32 forms a fixed angle with the seat 30 that is greater than 105 degrees. This angle is referred to as the "hip open angle" and not only increases patient comfort by enabling proper positioning of the spine, but further facilitates entry and exit of the transport chair 10. In some embodiments, the side tubes 18 form a seat profile based on the Grandjean curve that is specifically designed to provide maximum comfort for all body types. Although the seat 30 and backrest 32 are described and illustrated as being formed from continuous side tubes 18 and thus defining a fixed angle therebetween, separate tubes or other assemblies may be provided for the seat and backrest to enable adjustment of the angle between the backrest and the seat.

As further shown in the figures, the lower and upper portions of the side tubes 18 belonging to the seat 30 and the backrest 32, respectively, are individually curved. Specifically, the lower portion of the side tubes 18 curve downwardly at the front of the seat 30 to accommodate the bending of the patient's knees and upwardly at the rear of the seat to accommodate the bending of the patient's hips and transition into the backrest 32. The upper portion of the side tubes 18 are slightly bent forward near the lower middle portion of the backrest 32, slightly bent rearward near the upper middle portion of the backrest, and again slightly bent forward near the top of the backrest to accommodate the natural curvature of the spine and provide support for the shoulders (and the head of a shorter patient). In addition, the top ends of the side tubes 18 extend rearwardly from the support member 28 toward the chair operator.

Referring particularly to fig. 2 and 3, extending rearwardly from the top ends of the side tubes 18 and laterally between the side tubes are operator handles 34 that may be used by a chair operator to move the transport chair 10. In some embodiments, the handle 34 includes side portions 35 extending rearwardly from the side tube 18 and lateral extensions 37 extending between the side portions and forming a handle grip. Because the handles 34 extend back from the side tubes 18, which themselves extend back from the support members 28, the location of the handles ensures that the chair operator has sufficient room for the operator's feet and legs when pushing the seat 10 to walk. Furthermore, because the handle 34 incorporates a lateral extension 37 for gripping, it is easier to grasp than a wheelchair handle.

The handle 34 is pivotally connected to the side tube 18 and may be angularly adjusted to accommodate the height of the operator and/or to account for the recline angle of the seat assembly 12. In the illustrated embodiment, adjustability is achieved by a pivot joint 36 that is normally in a locked orientation, but which can be adjusted when a release button 38 on the side of the pivot joint is depressed and held. For example, the laterally extending portion 37 of the handle 34 may be hinged from a 60 degree downtilt angle to a 60 degree tilt angle, thereby providing about eight inches of vertical adjustment. As best shown in fig. 2 and 5, the laterally extending portion 37 of the operator handle 34 may be economically curved to accommodate the natural position of the operator's hand extension.

An opposite handrail 40 is also mounted on the side tube 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the armrest 40 is mounted to the side tube 18 with a mounting bracket 42 that is fixedly secured to the rear side of the side tube. In some embodiments, the armrest 40 is pivotally mounted to the mounting bracket 42 such that it may be hinged from a bottom generally parallel to the generally horizontal position of the seat 30 to a top generally parallel to the backrest 32 and thus not interfering with the patient's generally vertical position. In some embodiments, the mounting brackets 42 each include an attachment element 44 (e.g., a hook) configured to receive and secure a bottom hanger of the transport chair 10 as described below. This housing and securing facilitates nesting of the transport chair 10, as also described below.

As best shown in fig. 2 and 3, the transport chair 10 optionally includes a rear storage component 46 that can be used to store various items (such as personal items of a patient, medical documents, and equipment) or a power source for the motorized lift mechanism of the chair (if provided). The rear storage member 46 may be made of sheet metal (e.g., steel or aluminum) or a plastic material and, as shown, may be secured to the top and

rear cross tubes

20, 22 of the seat assembly 12. As further shown in the figures, the rear storage component 46 may define an upper storage compartment 48 in the form of a large pocket and a lower storage compartment 50 in the form of a flat tray. As shown in fig. 2 and 6, the storage component 46 may include an integrated iv pole 52 that may be manually extended from a horizontal stowed position (as shown) to a vertically extended position (not shown) so that an iv bag or other component may be hung from a hook 54 of the pole. In the illustrated embodiment, the lower storage compartment 50 supports a power source 55 (e.g., a battery) for the lift mechanism.

As noted above, the seat assembly bottom tray 24 extends between the two side tubes 18. More specifically, the bottom tray 24 extends below the seat 30 between the lower portions of the side tubes 18. The bottom tray 24, like the

cross tubes

20, 22, provides structural integrity to the seat assembly 12. Further, the bottom tray 24 facilitates pivoting of the seat assembly 12 about a front pivot axis 56 of the transport chair 10 located near the front edge of the seat 30. Specifically, the bottom tray 24 supports at least one horizontal seat assembly tube segment 26 that is fixedly mounted on and concentric with a horizontal pivot shaft 58 that is concentric with the pivot axis 56, and thus has a central longitudinal axis that coincides with and defines the pivot axis. In some embodiments, the shaft 58 comprises a hollow metal (e.g., steel) tube. In the embodiment shown, there are two seat assembly tube segments 26. Because the tube segments 26 are fixedly connected to the bottom tray 24 supporting the seat assembly 12, the seat assembly can rotate or pivot about the pivot axis 56 along with the pivot axis 58. As described below with reference to fig. 10A-10D, the seat assembly 12 may be positioned between the fully reclined position and the fully reclined (or forward tilted) position in any number of orientations. In the illustrated embodiment, the pipe segment 26 is mounted to the base tray 24 by a flange 60 extending from the tray to the pipe segment (see fig. 8 and 11A).

The bottom tray 24 also facilitates pivoting of the seat assembly 12 because the bottom tray serves as an attachment point for a lift mechanism 62 that assists the operator in pivoting the seat assembly about the pivot axis 56. Embodiments of the lift mechanism 62 and its operation are described below.

Like the seat frame 16, the base frame 14 includes a plurality of frame components, which may be configured as hollow metal (e.g., steel or aluminum) tubes. For the purposes of this discussion, the base frame assembly will also be referred to as a tube. As best shown in fig. 1 and 4, the base frame 14 includes two opposing, generally vertical head tubes 64. Located at the top end of the front tube 64 is a horizontal base frame tube section 66, which is mounted on the pivot shaft 58 as is the seat assembly tube section 26. However, unlike the seat assembly tube segments 26, the base frame tube segments 66 are not fixed to the pivot shaft 58 so that the pivot shaft can rotate independently of the base frame tube segments. With this configuration, the head tube 64 supports the pivot shaft 58 and thus the seat assembly 12 mounted to the shaft 58.

Attached to the bottom end of head tube 64 is a head tube assembly 68. As shown, the front wheel assemblies 68 are each configured as a caster wheel including a wheel 70 rotatable about a horizontal axis and a bracket 72 rotatable about a vertical axis. For example, the wheel 70 includes a resilient outer surface made of rubber or a polymer having similar properties.

Extending between the front tubes 64 is a generally horizontal front cross tube 74. The front cross tube 74 provides structural support for the front tube 64 and further supports the lift mechanism 62 via a downwardly extending mounting flange 76 to which the lift mechanism 62 is pivotally mounted. Although alternatively configured, the lift mechanism 62 may include an internal motor (not visible) contained within the outer housing 78 that linearly drives a shaft 80 pivotally connected to the bottom tray 24 of the seat assembly 12. When the motor is driven to extend the shaft 80 from the housing 78, the bottom tray 24 moves upward and the seat assembly 12 pivots forward about the pivot axis 56. In contrast, when the motor is driven to retract the shaft 80 into the housing 78, the bottom tray 24 moves downward and the seat assembly 12 pivots rearward about the pivot axis 56.

Fig. 6 illustrates an example controller 77 that may be used to actuate the lift mechanism 62. As shown, the controller 77 is mounted within the upper storage compartment 48 of the rear storage component 46 and includes an up-down button 79. Although the controller 77 is shown as being integrated with the rear storage compartment 48, in other embodiments, the controller may be connected to a long (e.g., 8-10 feet long) cable that enables an operator to remotely actuate the lift mechanism 62 from a location other than behind the chair 10. For example, the cable would enable the operator to actuate the lift mechanism 62 from the front of the chair 10, enabling the operator to actuate the lift mechanism while assisting the patient. In still other embodiments, the controller 77 may be a wireless controller.

Extending rearwardly from the front tube 64 are two opposing, generally horizontal side tubes 82. In embodiments where the transport chair 10 may be nested like a chair, as shown in FIG. 5, the side tubes 82 extend outwardly from the front tube 64 at an angle to provide space for another chair to fit between the side tubes. As best shown in fig. 2, the side tubes 82 each terminate in a vertical rear flange 84 to which rear wheels 86 are mounted. In this embodiment, the rear wheels 86 are significantly larger than the front wheels 70, but like the front wheels, each of the rear wheels may include a resilient outer surface made of rubber or a polymer having similar properties. Fixedly mounted to the interior of each wheel 86 is a toothed hub 88. A braking element (not visible in the figures) operated by a foot pedal 90 positioned adjacent the wheels 86 may engage the teeth of the hub 88 to provide independent positive braking for each wheel 86. Although independent braking has been described, in an alternative embodiment, the braking elements associated with each wheel 86 may be operated simultaneously by a single foot pedal 90.

Extending below the seat assembly 12 is a bottom storage member in the form of a bottom hanger 100. With the front end of the hanger 100 pivotally mounted to the side tube 82 near the point where the side tube connects to the front tube 64 (see fig. 5) and the hanger rear end supported by (resting on) the rear flange 84 of the side tube 82, the rear end of the bottom hanger 100 can be lifted up from the rear flange 84 and connected to the attachment element 44 for nesting purposes (see fig. 11A and 11B). In the illustrated embodiment, the hanger 100 is configured as a wire frame.

Extending downwardly from and between the side tubes 82 is a U-shaped central cross tube 102. The central cross tube 102 provides structural support for the side tubes 82 and further supports a stop assembly 104 pivotally mounted thereto. As described below, stop assembly 104 serves to prevent a foot pedal of another transport chair from damaging lift mechanism 62 when an operator improperly attempts to nest the chairs without first folding the foot pedals of the rear chair. In the retracted or undeployed position shown in fig. 3 and 5, the stop assembly 104 is lifted from the floor or ground and suspended from the bottom hanger 100 due to the magnetic attraction between the magnet provided on the stop assembly 104 and the metal of the bottom hanger (or the associated magnet of the hanger, if provided). When the bottom bracket 100 is lifted upward for nesting, the magnetic coupling is broken and the stop assembly 104 falls under the force of gravity to the floor or ground to assume an extended or deployed position that ensures that the footrest of a potentially nested chair is blocked.

In addition to the seat assembly 12, the pivot shaft 58 of the base frame 14 supports at least one footrest assembly 108. Although a single foot pedal assembly 108 may be provided to support both feet of the patient, the illustrated embodiment includes two foot pedal assemblies, one for each foot. Each foot pedal assembly 108 includes a horizontal foot pedal assembly tube segment 110 mounted on and concentric with the pivot shaft 58. However, unlike the seat assembly tube segment 26, the tube segment 110 is free to rotate about the pivot axis 58. Extending from each foot pedal assembly tube section 110 is a leg 112 similar in length to a person's lower leg. Pivotally mounted to the bottom end of each leg 112 with a pivot joint 114 is a foot pedal 116. In some embodiments, the foot pedals 116 each comprise a generally planar metal plate 118. Attached to the bottom surface of each plate 118 is a layer of resilient, non-slip material 120 that acts as an additional brake for the transport chair 10 when a patient is seated or removed from the chair, as described below.

In some embodiments, the footrest assembly 108 pivots in unison with the seat assembly 12 until contacting the floor or ground, at which time the patient can stand on the footrest and sit in or out of the chair 10. In the illustrated embodiment, this functionality is provided by the key and slot arrangement defined by the seat assembly tube segment 26 and the foot pedal assembly tube segment 110. An example key and slot arrangement is shown in fig. 7 and 8, which show the base frame 14 (with the lift mechanism 62 removed), the bottom tray 24 of the seat assembly 12, and the footrest assembly 108. Specifically, the key and slot arrangement defined by the pair of seat assembly tube segments 26 and the foot pedal tube segment 108 is shown.

As shown in fig. 7 and 8, a key 122 in the form of a rectangular and arcuate marker extends from the inner edge of each seat assembly tube section 26 toward its adjacent footboard tube section 10. The key 122 is received in an arcuate slot 124 disposed along the outer edge of the foot board tube section 110 facing the adjacent seat assembly tube section 26. Each slot 124 has a top end 126 and a bottom end 128, and the keys 122 can travel along the slots and engage at least the top ends of the slots. The key and slot pairs are positioned angularly on the

tube sections

26, 110 such that when the seat assembly 12 is reclined past a predetermined point (e.g., past the point where the seat 30 is level), the key 122 engages the top end 126 of the slot 124, and continued recline of the seat assembly will lift the footrest assembly 108 off the floor or ground so that the footrest assembly will pivot in unison with the seat assembly. When the seat assembly 12 is again pivoted forward to the point where the footrest 116 is again supported by the floor or ground, the footrest assembly 108 will "disengage" from the seat assembly and will remain stationary even if the seat assembly continues to pivot forward. During this continued pivoting, the key 122 of the seat assembly tube segment 26 travels unimpeded along the slot 124 of the foot pedal assembly tube segment 110. An example of such an operation is shown in fig. 10A-10D below.

In some embodiments, the foot pedal assembly 108 may be independently locked in a predetermined orientation relative to the seat assembly 12 to raise one or both feet of the patient. An example of such locking is shown in fig. 9. The figure shows the base frame 14 of the transport chair 10 (with the lift mechanism 62 removed) with the foot pedal assembly 108 attached. As shown in fig. 9, the left foot pedal assembly 08 has been locked in a raised orientation relative to the right foot pedal assembly 108 using the locking pin 130, which has passed through openings formed in the left foot pedal assembly tube section 110 and pivot shaft 58. When the pin 130 is so placed, the foot pedal assembly 108 is fixedly connected to the pivot shaft 58, and thus will move in unison with the seat assembly 12 (not shown) that is also fixed to the shaft.

Having described the configuration of the example transport chair 10 above, the operation of the chair will now be discussed. As described above, the seat assembly 12 is infinitely adjustable between a fully reclined orientation in which a patient can sit in the chair 10 and a fully forward or tilted orientation in which a patient can sit in or out of the chair. Fig. 10A-10D illustrate the seat assembly 12 hinged from a fully reclined orientation (fig. 10A) to a fully forward tilted or forward tilted orientation (fig. 10D). As shown in fig. 10A, both the seat 30 and the backrest 32 are reclined when the seat assembly 12 is in the fully reclined orientation. In some embodiments, when the seat assembly 12 has been fully reclined, the seat 30 forms an angle of about 10 to 30 degrees with the horizontal plane and the backrest 32 forms an angle of about 20 to 40 degrees with the vertical plane. For example, in a fully reclined orientation, the seat 30 is inclined at an angle of about 20 degrees (from horizontal) and the backrest 32 is inclined at an angle of about 30 degrees (from vertical). As also shown in FIG. 10A, the foot pedal assembly 108 is lifted upward off the floor or ground due to the key and slot arrangement described above.

When the lift mechanism 62 is activated to extend the shaft 80, the seat assembly 12 will pivot forward about the pivot axis 56 and the recline angle of the seat assembly will decrease. Fig. 10B shows the transport chair after the lift mechanism 62 has been operated to place the seat 30 in a horizontal rearward orientation. Also as shown, when the seat assembly 12 is pivoted forward to the point where the footrest 116 initially contacts the floor or ground, the footrest assembly 108 pivots downward. Although the footrest 116 has been described and illustrated as first contacting the floor or ground when the seat 30 is in a horizontal position, it should be noted that this relationship is merely exemplary and the footrest may first contact the floor or ground when the seat is in another orientation.

If the lift mechanism 62 continues to operate, the seat assembly 12 continues to pivot forward, as shown in FIG. 10C, and both the seat 30 and the backrest 32 will begin to tilt forward. Notably, however, because the footrest assembly 108 is now supported by the floor or ground, which footrest assembly no longer continues to pivot with the seat assembly 12, fig. 10D shows the seat assembly 12 in a fully forward tilted or forward tilted orientation. As shown, the foot pedal assembly 108 is not moving. In some embodiments, when the seat assembly 12 is fully reclined, the seat 30 forms an angle of about-10 to-30 degrees with the horizontal plane and the backrest 32 forms an angle of about 0 to-20 degrees with the vertical plane. For example, in a fully reclined orientation, the seat 30 is tilted forward at an angle of about-20 degrees (from horizontal) and the backrest 32 is tilted forward at an angle of about-10 degrees (from vertical).

When the seat assembly 12 has been tilted forward as shown in fig. 10D, the patient is more likely to come out of the transport chair 10. Specifically, pivoting of the seat assembly 12 places the patient in a more upright position that is closer to standing than the seating position of a conventional wheelchair. Thus, less energy and leg strength is required to stand. When the patient begins to stand, the weight of the patient is pressed against the foot pedal 116, and this force brings the foot pedal 116 into close contact with the floor or ground. This force, in combination with the non-slip material 120 disposed on the underside of the footrest 116, stabilizes the chair 10 and the patient when the patient leaves the chair. The forward tilt of the seat assembly 2 also reduces the amount of energy or effort required by a person (e.g., a hospital attendant) summoned to assist the patient in exiting the chair 10.

The forward tilt of the seat assembly 12 also makes it easier for the patient to sit on the chair 10. Specifically, because the chair 30 is tilted forward and upward in the orientation shown in fig. 10D, the patient does not need to be lowered to sit as would be required if the patient were to use a conventional wheelchair. This also results in less work for the individual helping the patient to sit on the chair 10.

The pivoting of the seat assembly 12 not only facilitates the patient's ingress and egress to and from the transport chair 10, but also facilitates the storage of the chair through nesting. Fig. 11A shows the transport chair 10 from the back when the chair is in or near a fully reclined (forward tilted) orientation. As shown, the bottom hanger 100 is still supported by the rear flange 84 of the side tube 82 of the base frame 14. When the stand 100 is in this position, it occupies space between the rear wheels 86 that is available for nesting. If nesting is desired, the hanger 100 can be manually pivoted upward and attached to the seat assembly 12, as shown in FIG. 11B. Specifically, the hanger 100 may be suspended from an attachment element 44 disposed on a mounting bracket 42 that is connected to the side tube 18 of the seat assembly 12. In some embodiments, this attachment is performed when the seat assembly 12 has been tilted forward a little bit to a fully forward tilted position. Once the hanger 100 has been attached, the seat assembly 12 can be pivoted fully forward. Regardless, once the hanger 100 has been connected to the seat assembly 12, the space between the rear wheels 86 is open and unobstructed.

When the bottom hanger 100 is pivoted upward, the magnetic coupling connecting the foot pedal stop assembly 104 to the hanger is broken and the stop assembly is lowered to the floor or ground into its deployed state, as shown in FIG. 2. As described above, once deployed, the stop assembly 104 is positioned to block the passage of another foot pedal 116 of a chair that one may attempt to nest behind the chair 10, and thus prevent the foot pedal from damaging the lift mechanism 62. Due to the stop assembly 104, the footrest 116 of another chair that will nest behind the chair 10 must be folded upward prior to nesting.

This upward folding is shown in fig. 12. Specifically, the foot board 116 has been pivoted approximately 90 degrees such that it moves from a generally horizontal orientation to a generally vertical orientation. In some embodiments, friction holds the foot pedal 116 in a vertical orientation to prevent it from inadvertently falling into a horizontal orientation.

Fig. 13 shows the nesting of two transport chairs: a front chair 10a and a rear chair 10 b. As shown in this figure, the rear chair 10b has moved into the space between the rear wheels 86 of the front chair 10a so that the two chairs occupy less space than they would otherwise be stored separately. As further shown in fig. 13, the seat assembly 12 of the rear chair 10b does not occupy space under the seat assembly 12 of the front chair 10 a.

To place the

chairs

10a, 10b in the orientation shown in fig. 13, the chair operator may first place the front chair 10a in the desired storage position and set the brakes of the chair. Next, the operator may pivot the front chair 10a forward and attach the front chair's bottom hanger 100 to its associated seat assembly 12 at a position somewhere between full recline and full recline (forward tilt). Once the bottom hanger 100 is attached to the seat assembly 12, the operator can complete the forward tilting of the front chair 10 a. Next, the operator may fold up the foot pedals 116 of the rear chair 10b and then push the rear chair forward between the rear wheels 86 of the front chair 10a until the foot pedals of the rear chair contact the deployed stop members 104 of the front chair. At this point, the operator may set the brakes of the rear chair 10b and, if desired, may attach the bottom hanger 100 to the seat assembly 12 and tilt the seat assembly fully forward so that another chair may nest behind the rear chair.

The operator may perform the reverse operation to un-nest the rear chair 10b from the front chair 10 a. For example, the operator can pivot the seat assembly 12 of the rear chair 0b rearward and remove the bottom hanger 100 so that it can be placed in a horizontal orientation (supported by the rear flanges 84 of the side tubes 82). Once the seat 12 assembly has reclined, the operator may release the brakes of the rear chair 10b and remove the rear chair from the front chair 10 a. Before the patient can use the rear chair 10b, the operator must deploy the foot pedal 16. If deemed necessary, the seat assembly 12 may be tilted forward again after the footrest 116 has been deployed to facilitate easier patient ingress into the chair 10. Because the forward tilt of the chair causes the foot pedals 116 to engage the floor or ground, the operator must recline the chair before he can use the chair 10 to transport a patient. Notably, such recline will still be necessary even if the footrest 116 does not engage the floor or ground because of the forward tilt angle of the seat 30 and backrest 32, such that if transportation is attempted prior to reclining the seat assembly 12, the patient may slide forward and fall out of the chair 10.

Fig. 14 illustrates another example transport chair 200. The chair 200 is similar in many respects to the transport chair 10. However, the lift mechanism 202 of the chair 200 is configured as a gas piston lift mechanism. In the embodiment of fig. 14, the lift mechanism 202 includes two gas pistons 204, each having a housing containing pressurized gas for driving a shaft 208 from the housing. The lift mechanism 202 operates in a similar manner to the lift mechanism of an office chair. Specifically, the plunger 204 maintains a given seat orientation until actuated, in this case by the foot pedal 210. At this point, gas may flow within the piston 204 to apply tension to the shaft 208. In some embodiments, the force provided by the piston 204 is not sufficient by itself to pivot the seat assembly 12 forward when a patient is seated in the chair 10. The piston 204 provides lift assistance to the operator when the operator manually pivots the seat assembly 12 forward using the handle 34. That is, the force provided by the piston 204 greatly reduces the effort required by the operator to pivot the seat assembly 12 forward. When the foot pedal 210 is released, the piston 204 will remain in any orientation in which the seat assembly 12 is positioned.

In addition to having the ability to tilt forward (forward in this regard referred to as "forward tilt" or simply "tilt"), the alternative general embodiment of the wheelchair 300 shown in figures 15-18 is also capable of tilting backward. In some embodiments of the recliner 300, the seat assembly 12 reclines and tilts forward about the same pivot axis 56, which may be the pivot axis 58 described above. A number of additional features may be present to provide a comfortable and ergonomically favorable recline position for the patient.

For example, there may be one or more functions that raise the patient's legs when the patient reclines. One such feature is a leg rest assembly 302 that is separate from the foot board assembly 108. Although the foot rest may be designed to rise as the patient reclines, such an approach has a number of problems. Too large an angle of the foot pedal will prevent the patient's foot from resting smoothly and the patient's foot will tend to slide off (lacking some complex mechanism for reorienting the foot pedal). The foot rest will protrude in front of the patient and may hit objects in front of the chair when moving or rotating forward. In the reclined position, the foot is not well positioned to support the rest of the patient's leg. Independently hinged leg rest does not have these problems.

Accordingly, embodiments of the wheelchair 300 may include a leg rest assembly 302 that is configured to pivot independently of the footrest assembly 108 to rise and configured to pivot in unison with the seat assembly 12 to rise as the seat assembly 12 pivots to recline. When the wheelchair 300 is in its upright position, the leg rest assembly 302 is retracted to a non-elevated position (see fig. 15A and 16A). The leg rest assembly 302 may be raised by any of a variety of types of actuators known in the art. The leg rest assembly 302 may be configured to stop lifting once the patient's leg is lifted to an approximately horizontal position. Some embodiments of the leg rest assembly 302 may have the ability to be raised independently of the seat assembly 12 to allow a patient sitting upright to rest one or both legs. Although the embodiment of the leg rest assembly 302 shown in fig. 15-18 is shown with two leg rest pads 304 (left and right), it is contemplated that the leg rest assembly 302 may have a single pad 304 on which both legs rest. In the embodiment of the leg plate 302 having two pads 304 as shown, the leg plate assembly 302 may be configured to allow each leg to be raised independently of each other. This may be useful in various situations, such as when one of the patient's legs is in a cast or brace that does not allow the patient to bend the knee.

The degree of elevation of the leg rest assembly 302 may be a function of the degree of recline of the seat assembly 12 as the leg rest assembly 302 is raised in unison with the seat assembly 12 as it reclines. This arrangement has the advantage of allowing the back of the patient to recline without leaving the legs in a seated position which may be uncomfortable. The leg rest assembly 302 may also have the ability to be raised independently of the recline of the seat assembly 12, such as to support a patient's injured leg while sitting upright.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the leg rest assembly 302 pivots about an axis 306 at the front edge of the seat, just forward of the pivot axis 58 of the seat assembly. In the illustrated embodiment, the axis 306 is proximate to the axis 56 about which the footrest assembly 108 and seat assembly 12 pivot. In further embodiments, the leg rest assembly 302, the footrest assembly 108, and the seat assembly 12 pivot about a common axis (not shown). As shown, the leg rest pivot axis 306 intersects the engaged left and right leg pad support assemblies 308. In other possible embodiments, the leg rest assembly 302 may share the pivot axis 58 with the seat assembly 12.

Another possible feature of the chair 300 is a pair of hinged armrests 310. As the patient reclines, the patient's shoulders translate downward, thereby reorienting the arms. This may cause the arm to be pulled to a position where the elbow does not contact the stationary armrest. This is not only uncomfortable, but if the patient is undergoing an intravenous infusion, this position may place unnecessary strain on the intravenous catheter or cause the hypodermic needle to damage surrounding tissue. In the illustrated embodiment of the wheelchair 300, the armrests 310 pivot about pivot axes 312 located near the backs of the armrests 310 and translate toward the rear wheels 86 as the seat assembly 12 reclines. Thus, the arm of the patient is always supported by the arm rest 310. Superior ergonomic positioning may be achieved by pivoting the armrest 310 such that the armrest is always parallel to the footrest assembly 108 as the armrest 310 pivots and translates. In another embodiment of the wheelchair 300, the armrest 310 translates toward the rear wheels 86 until the armrest 310 contacts the rear wheels 86 (shown in fig. 15B and 16B). Such contact may have the effect of limiting or preventing the wheel 86 from rolling. It can be used to lock the wheelchair 300 from moving when the patient is in a reclined position.

Another possible feature of the lounge chair 300 shown in FIGS. 15-18 is a headrest 314. Conventional wheelchairs do not provide head support. The absence of the headrest prevents the use of conventional wheelchairs for patients with neck injuries or neck muscle weakness, requiring the use of a gurney or like transport means. Furthermore, even for a patient who can keep his head in an upright position, sitting in a wheelchair for a long time may be tiring, and the patient cannot lie on a conventional wheelchair without his head being biased to one side, which often wakes up the patient (and thus cannot fall asleep). The headrest 314 may be configured to be adjustable to meet the needs of patients having different body shapes. As shown, in the illustrated embodiment, the position may be adjusted using a headrest support arm 316 that rotates about an axis 318 behind the patient's head and translates toward or away from the axis 318. The headrest 314 may also have a generally arcuate profile 320 as shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B; this maintains the head in the same orientation as the upright position, i.e., in the reclined position.

In the foregoing disclosure, various embodiments are discussed. It should be noted that those embodiments are merely examples, and that many other variations are possible. In one such variation, a motor may be added to the chair to drive the rear wheels. In such embodiments, the patient may actuate himself. In another example, the lift mechanism may include a compressor that pneumatically raises and lowers the seat assembly. In another example, the chair may be a stationary chair that does not include wheels. In this case, the chair may be used in other situations where a sitting or standing assistance is required. For example, the chair may be used in a doctor's or dentist's office. Many other modifications are possible, and all such modifications are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A wheelchair configured to recline and tilt forward, the wheelchair comprising:

(a) a base frame having a first pivot axis;

(b) at least two wheels rotatably mounted to the base frame;

(c) a seat assembly and a footrest assembly configured to pivot about the first pivot axis from a first seating position to a reclined seating position; and

(d) a leg rest assembly pivotably coupled to the base frame and configured to pivot about a second pivot axis to rise in unison with the seat assembly when the seat assembly reclines but is unconstrained by the footrest assembly.

2. The wheelchair of claim 1 in which the second pivot axis is proximate to or coincident with the first pivot axis.

3. The wheelchair of claim 1 comprising:

a pivot shaft defining the first pivot axis, wherein the seat assembly is fixedly mounted to the pivot shaft such that the seat assembly pivots about the pivot shaft to recline;

wherein a frame assembly extends from the pivot axis to the at least two wheels such that the pivot axis is free to pivot independently of the frame assembly; and is

Wherein the footrest assembly is pivotally mounted to the pivot shaft such that the footrest assembly is free to pivot independently of the pivot shaft, the footrest assembly being associated with the seat assembly so as to pivot in unison with the seat assembly as the seat assembly is lowered forwardly until the footrest assembly pivots forwardly to the extent that the footrest assembly contacts the floor or ground, at which point the footrest assembly does not pivot to further lower forwardly as the seat assembly is pivoted further forwardly without human intervention.

4. The wheelchair of claim 1 comprising:

a front wheel, and wherein the two wheels rotatably mounted to the base frame are rear wheels mounted to a rear portion of the base frame;

a pivot shaft on the base frame positioned near a front edge of the seat, the pivot shaft defining the first pivot axis about which the seat assembly is pivotable to tilt forward or backward, the seat assembly being fixedly mounted to the pivot shaft;

wherein

The seat assembly defines a seat and a backrest;

the base frame supporting the seat assembly; and is

The footrest assembly is mounted to the pivot shaft, the footrest assembly being free to pivot independently of the pivot shaft to tilt forward and being physically coupled with the seat assembly to pivot in unison with the seat assembly to tilt forward until the seat assembly tilts forward to the extent that the footrest assembly contacts the floor or ground, at which time the footrest assembly does not pivot to tilt further forward when the seat assembly tilts forward further, without human intervention.

5. The wheelchair of claim 1 comprising:

(a) a pivot shaft defining the first pivot axis and pivotally mounted to the base frame so as to be pivotable relative to the base frame, wherein the seat assembly is fixedly mounted to the pivot shaft such that the seat assembly pivots about the pivot shaft to recline and tilt;

(b) a frame assembly extending from the pivot shaft to at least one wheel such that the pivot shaft is free to pivot independently of the frame assembly;

(c) a member disposed on the seat assembly and the footrest assembly to pivot the footrest assembly in unison with the seat assembly to tilt forward when the footrest assembly is not in contact with a floor or ground, but to enable the footrest assembly to remain stationary as the seat assembly tilts forward if the footrest assembly is in contact with a floor or ground; and is

Wherein the footrest assembly is pivotally mounted to the pivot shaft such that during use of the chair by a seat occupant, the footrest assembly is free to pivot independently of the pivot shaft and in unison with the seat assembly to recline, but when the seat assembly reclines, the footrest assembly does not pivot in unison with the seat assembly to recline.

6. The wheelchair of claim 1 in which

The seat assembly includes a seat having a front edge and a rear edge, the seat assembly configured to tilt forward and backward;

the footrest assembly includes a support member having an upper end and a lower end and a footrest extending from the support member adjacent the lower end of the support member;

the seat assembly and the footrest assembly are pivotably coupled to one another proximate the front edge and the upper end; and is

The seat assembly and the foot pedal are configured to pivot in unison while pivoting about the first pivot axis to tilt forward from a first seating position in which the pedal is elevated above a floor to a second seating position in which the pedal contacts the floor when the seat assembly is configured to decouple from the foot pedal assembly and continue tilting forward.

7. The wheelchair of claim 1 comprising a pivot axle defining the first pivot axis.

8. The wheelchair of claim 1 in which the second pivot axis is forward of the first pivot axis.

9. The wheelchair of claim 1 in which the second pivot axis is at a front end of the seat assembly.

10. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein the leg rest assembly comprises a right leg pad and a left leg pad.

11. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein the leg rest assembly comprises a right leg pad supported by a right leg pad arm, and a left leg pad supported by a left leg pad arm, and wherein the left leg pad arm and the right leg pad arm each extend to and pivot about the second pivot axis.

12. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein the leg rest assembly is configured to be raised independently of the seat assembly when the seat assembly is in the first seating position.

13. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein the leg rest assembly is configured to be raised and lowered independently of the seat assembly except to be raised in unison with the seat assembly when the seat assembly reclines.

14. The wheelchair of claim 1, comprising a pair of armrests configured to allow the armrests to translate relative to the base frame and pivot relative to the base frame about a third pivot axis.

15. The wheelchair of claim 1, comprising a pair of armrests configured to allow the armrests to translate relative to the base frame and pivot about a third pivot axis relative to the base frame, wherein the armrests are configured to translate toward the rear and bottom of the wheelchair in unison with the seat assembly when the seat assembly pivots to recline.

16. The wheelchair of claim 1, comprising a pair of armrests configured to allow the armrests to translate relative to the base frame and pivot relative to the base frame about a third pivot axis, wherein the armrests are configured to pivot to maintain an inclination parallel to an inclination of the footrest when the seat assembly pivots to recline.

17. The wheelchair of claim 1, comprising a pair of armrests configured to allow translation of the armrests relative to the base frame, wherein the armrests are configured to translate in unison with the seat assembly to contact wheels of the wheelchair as the seat assembly pivots to recline, such contact limiting rotation of the wheels.

18. The wheelchair of claim 1 comprising a headrest mounted to the seat assembly and adjustable in at least two degrees of freedom.

19. The wheelchair of claim 1, comprising a headrest mounted to the seat assembly by a headrest post connected to the seat assembly by a pivotal connection with a headrest pivot axis substantially parallel to a coronal plane.

20. The wheelchair of claim 1, comprising a headrest mounted to the seat assembly by a headrest post connected to the seat assembly by a sliding connection that allows adjustment of a distance from the seat assembly to the headrest.

21. A wheelchair configured to recline and tilt forward, the wheelchair comprising:

(a) a base frame having a first pivot axis;

(b) at least two wheels rotatably mounted to the base frame;

22. The wheelchair of claim 21 in which the second pivot axis is proximate to or coincident with the first pivot axis.

23. A wheelchair in accordance with any one of claims 21 to 22, comprising:

24. A wheelchair in accordance with any one of claims 21 to 23, comprising:

wherein

The seat assembly defines a seat and a backrest;

the base frame supporting the seat assembly; and is

25. A wheelchair in accordance with any one of claims 21 to 24, comprising:

26. A wheelchair in accordance with any one of claims 21 to 25, wherein

27. A wheelchair in accordance with any one of claims 21 to 26, comprising a pivot axis defining the first pivot axis.

28. A wheelchair in accordance with any one of claims 21 to 27, wherein the second pivot axis is forward of the first pivot axis.

29. The wheelchair of any one of claims 21-28 in which the second pivot axis is at a front end of the seat assembly.

30. The wheelchair of any one of claims 21-29, wherein the leg rest assembly comprises a right leg pad and a left leg pad.

31. The wheelchair of any one of claims 21-30, wherein the leg rest assembly comprises a right leg pad supported by a right leg pad arm and a left leg pad supported by a left leg pad arm, and wherein the left leg pad arm and the right leg pad arm each extend to and pivot about the second pivot axis.

32. The wheelchair of any one of claims 21-31, wherein the leg rest assembly is configured to be raised independently of the seat assembly when the seat assembly is in the first seating position.

33. The wheelchair of any one of claims 21-32, wherein the leg rest assembly is configured to be raised and lowered independently of the seat assembly except to be raised in unison with the seat assembly when the seat assembly reclines.

34. The wheelchair of any one of claims 21-33 comprising a pair of armrests configured to allow the armrests to translate relative to the base frame and pivot relative to the base frame about a third pivot axis.

35. The wheelchair of any one of claims 21-34, comprising a pair of armrests configured to allow the armrests to translate relative to the base frame and pivot relative to the base frame about a third pivot axis, wherein the armrests are configured to translate toward the rear and bottom of the wheelchair in unison with the seat assembly when the seat assembly is pivoted to recline.

36. The wheelchair of any one of claims 21-35, comprising a pair of armrests configured to allow the armrests to translate relative to the base frame and pivot relative to the base frame about a third pivot axis, wherein the armrests are configured to pivot to maintain an inclination parallel to an inclination of the footrest when the seat assembly pivots to recline.

37. The wheelchair of any one of claims 21-36, comprising a pair of armrests configured to allow translation of the armrests relative to the base frame, wherein the armrests are configured to translate in unison with the seat assembly to contact wheels of the wheelchair as the seat assembly pivots to recline, such contact limiting rotation of the wheels.

38. A wheelchair in accordance with any one of claims 21 to 37, comprising a headrest mounted to the seat assembly and adjustable in at least two degrees of freedom.

39. A wheelchair in accordance with any one of claims 21 to 38, comprising a headrest mounted to the seat assembly by a headrest post connected to the seat assembly by a pivotal connection with a headrest pivot axis substantially parallel to a coronal plane.

40. The wheelchair of any one of claims 21-39, comprising a headrest mounted to the seat assembly by a headrest post connected to the seat assembly by a sliding connection that allows adjustment of a distance from the seat assembly to the headrest.