GB2360255A - A foldable wheelchair - Google Patents

Abstract

A chair comprising first 1, second 2 and third 3 frames pivotally connected together and pivotable from a first collapsed position in which the frames are aligned and the chair may be stowed (Fig 2) to a second erected position for use. The first frame 1 provides a back and the second frame 2 a seat for the chair. The third frame 3 provides a support for wheels 26. The second 2 and third 3 frames may both be U-shaped. The chair may include a headrest 14 and a support for a gas cylinder. The chair is suitable for use with an ambulance.

Description

2360255 A CHAIR The present invention relates to a chair particularly, but

not exclusively, a chair for transporting patients from ambulance to house or hospital.

Chairs of this general type are known, but they can be difficult to handle and store. In this latter respect as the chair must be carried on the ambulance or other similar vehicle when not in use, it is important that it can be stored in the ambulance in such a way that it does not obstruct normal use of the ambulance.

According to the present invention, there is provided a chair comprising first, second and third frames pivotally connected together and pivotable from a first collapsed position in which the frames are aligned and the chair may be stowed to a second erected position for use, said first frame providing a back for the chair, said second frame providing a seat for the chair and said third frame providing a support for wheels.

In a preferred embodiment, each frame is made from hollow tubular metal or synthetic plastics material. The metal may be aluminium or other strong light metal. The back and seat comprise a flexible washable synthetic plastics material mounted on the first and second frame respectively. The second frame has a U-shaped part and pivots/slides are mounted on the free ends of the U to slide along adjacent parts of the first frame. The third frame is pivotally connected to the base of the U of the second frame via a pair of hinges. The third frame is also pivotally connected to the first frame and has a U-shape with wheels being mounted at the free ends of the U. One end of the first frame forms a handle and the other end part of a footrest. When erecting the chair from the collapsed position the slides on the second frame slide along the first frame to a stop position on the first frame. This pivots the third frame, with respect to the first frame and, via the hinges, with respect to the second frame. The s lides may be locked in the stop position, for example, by means of pins extending through the slides and the first frame.

A headrest may be adjustably mounted on the chair. The chair may also comprise a support for a gas cylinder, for example any oxygen cylinder, or the like. The support may comprise a sling which may be suspended from the first frame. Formations may be located at opposite ends of the footrest.

in order that the invention may be more clearly understood, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of chair according to the invention in the erected condition; Figure 2 is a plan view of the chair of Figure 1 in a collapsed condition; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of another form of chair according to the -3 invention in the erected condition, with the seat and back removed.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 the chair comprises three substantially parallelepiped frames 1,2 and 3 pivotally connected together. Each frame is made from metal, such as aluminium, or a synthetic plastics material and is advantageously tubular for lightness and strength. Frame 1 extends the length of the chair and forms a handle 4 at one end and provides for a footrest 5 at the other. The footrest comprises a piece of material 6 which again may be metal or plastics and which extends between part of the frame 1 and a transverse member 7. This member 7 and further transverse members 8,9 and 10 also serve to give the frame 1 rigidity.

A back or squab is formed from flexible washable synthetic plastics materia 1 which extends between transverse members 9 and 10 and further members 11 and 12 extending longitudinally between members 9 and 10.

A material strip 13 (for example of Velcro) extends transversely between members 11 and 12 and provides a restraint for a patient in the chair. A washable headrest 14 is slidably mounted on the squab and this headrest carries a material strip 15 (also for example of Velcro) to provide a patient head restraint.

Frame 2 comprises a U-shaped part 16 and a transverse member 17 extending between the legs of the U a short distance away from their free ends. These free ends are slidably and pivotally connected to the frame 1 through pivot/slides 18 and 19. At the base of the U-shaped part 16, the frame 2 is connected by a pair of hinges 20 and 21 to the frame 3. A seat 22 is formed from flexible washable synthetic plastics material which extends between the members of the frame 2. Frame 3 is also pivotally connected to frame 1 through pivots 23 and 24. Frame 3 is also U-shaped and wheels 25 and 26 are disposed at the free ends of the U.

In the erected condition shown in Figure 1 the pivot slides 18 and 19 abut the transverse member 9 preventing further downwards movement of the pivot slides 18 and 19. These pivot slides 18 and 19 may be locked in that position by means of pins extending through apertures in both slides and the adjacent frames upon which they are sliding. Any alternative method of locking could equally well be used. To collapse the chair to the position shown in Figure 2 any locks on the pivot slides 18 and 19 are unlocked and the slides slid along the frame 1 in the direction of the arrows.

As the slides 18,19 move along the frame 1, frame 2 pivots in an anticlockwise direction about pivot/slides 18 and 19 and frame 3 pivots in a clockwise direction about pivots 23 and 24, relative pivotal movement between frames 2 and 3 being permitted by the hinges 20 and 21. Once the chair has reached the fully collapsed position shown in Figure 2, it can be stowed within the ambulance for example by means of clips on the internal walls of the ambulance or alternatively under the ambulance seating.

Referring to Figure 3, the chair shown is generally similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2. The main differences are as follows.

A headrest 27 is slidably mounted on a cross member 28 of one of the frames 29 of the chair by way of legs 30 which can slide relative to apertures formed in the cross member 29. The legs 30 are shown extending through the cross member 29.

A support for an oxygen cylinder comprising a fabric sling 31 is mounted on a further cross member 32 of frame 29 of the chair. An oxygen cylinder (not sAown) can be inserted into the sling 31 and used to deliver oxygen to a patient seated on the chair via a tube 33 and mask 34, The tube may be secured to the chair by clips (not shown). Similar provision may be made for supporting other equipment on the chair.

One end of frame 29 forms a footrest. This comprises two loop formations 35 at opposite sides respectively of the frame fastened together by a cross bar 36. A patients feet may be conveniently restrained by fastening them to the cross bar 36, for example using material strips. The loop formations 35 can help prevent lateral movement of a patient's legs and feet in particular movement outside the sides of the frame 29, reducing the risk of the patients legs and feet fouling on another structure when the chair is moved, for example when passing through the door of an ambulance.

Frame 29 is generally L-shaped in that the part of the frame forming the footrest projects at an angle to the plane of the remainder of the frame.

When the chair is in the collapsed condition the footrest will project from an otherwise generally flat combination of frameworks and the wheels 37 will be located at the footrest end of the frameworks. In this state the chair can be used as a conventional equipment trolley of the 'sack barrow' type.

Equipment to be carried can be supported on the footrest and against the remainder of the frameworks which can be pushed along on the wheels u sing the opposite end of framework 29 which forms a handle 38.

The above described chairs provide a light but strong fully collapsible patient transport for transporting patients from homes and hospitals to the ambulance. The frame and wheels permit ambulance personnel such as paramedics to wheel the patient where possible whilst the patient is sitting comfortably but physically restrained if necessary. The nature of the frame also allows the patient to be carried in the chair by two personnel, one holding the handle and the other the frame around the footrest.

The above embodiments are described by way of example only and many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (12)

1 A chair comprising first, second and third frames pivotally connected together and pivotable from a first collapsed position in which the frames are aligned and the chair may be stowed to a second erected position for use, said first frame providing a back for the chair, said second frame providing a seat for the chair and said third frame providing a support for wheels.

2. A chair as claimed in claim 1, wherein each frame is made from a hollow tubular metal or synthetic plastics material.

3. A chair as claimed in either claim 1 or 2, wherein the back and seat comprise a flexible washable synthetic plastics material on the first and second frame respectively.

4. A chair as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the second frame has a U-shaped part and slides are mounted on the free ends of the U-shaped part to slide along adjacent parts of the first frame.

5. A chair as claimed in claim 4, wherein the third frame is pivotally connected to the base of the U-shaped part of the first frame via a pair of hinges.

6. A chair as claimed in claim 5, wherein the third frame is also pivotally connected to the first frame and has a U-shape with wheels being mounted at the free ends of the U-shape.

7. A chair as claimed in any of claims 4 to 6, wherein when erecting the chair from the collapsed position the slides on the second frame slide along the first frame to a stop position on the first frame.

8. A chair as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein one end of the first frame forms a handle and the other end forms part of a footrest.

9. A chair as claimed in any preceding claim comprising an adjustably mounted headrest.

10. A chair as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a support for a gas cylinder.

11. A chair as claimed in claim 10, wherein the support comprises a sling which may be suspended from the first frame.

12. A chair substantially as herein described with reference to either Figures 1 and 2 or 3 of the accompanying drawings.