GB2449369A

GB2449369A - Patient conveying apparatus having removable seat

Info

Publication number: GB2449369A
Application number: GB0809506A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gavin James
Original assignee: Helping Hand Co Ledbury Ltd
Current assignee: Helping Hand Co Ledbury Ltd
Priority date: 2007-05-17
Filing date: 2008-05-15
Publication date: 2008-11-19
Also published as: GB0809506D0; GB0709434D0

Abstract

An apparatus for conveying a patient, such as a walking frame, comprising a wheeled frame including a pair of arms 16 defining an opening there between for accepting a standing patient and removably attached to one or both arms is a seat 18. In use a patient may walk into the space between the arms 16 and the seat member is attached to the arms to provide a support surface for the patient. The seat may be of rigid construction hinged to the first arm and hooked to the second arm; alternatively it may be made of flexible material comprising resilient hooks 36 at one or both ends for clipping onto the arms. A step 42, knee support 44 and hand rail 24 may be provided. Preferably the handrail 24, arms 16 and seat 18 are height adjustable. One or both arms 16 may comprise an L-shaped rod which is pivotally mounted to selectively close the opening at the rear of the walking frame.

Description

* 2449369 Patient conveyinq apparatus The present invention relates to

a patient conveying apparatus, particularly, but not exclusively, a wheeled chair in which a patient of limited mobility sits during conveyance.

Wheeled chairs are known but most have the drawback that a helper has to manoeuvre the chair behind the patient, who then has to slump backwards into the chair. This procedure can be difficult or painful for a patient. Tipping chairs are known but these are complicated, bulky and costly.

One commercially known chair, provided by the applicant, overcomes the slumping problem by providing a wheeled frame having a platform portion. The patient can step on the platform. A seat is attached to the frame closely behind * ** * * * the patient. The patient can then sit down comfortably by bending his knees, *S. * *

rather than having to slump backwards.

S

* 15 The inventor has realised that this known chair could be improved and, in ** S. embodiments of the invention, has devised an arrangement which provides an even quicker and safer sitting procedure. *S..

The invention, according to a first aspect, provides apparatus for conveying a patient comprising a wheeled frame including a pair of arms defining an opening therebetween for accepting a standing patient, and, removeably attached to one or both arms is a seat member, whereby, in use, a patient stands between said arms and then the seat member is attached to one or both said arms providing a seat on which said patient can sit.

Thus a standing patient can manoeuvre themselves relative to the frame into the arms and the seat can be positioned across the arms behind them so that they can sit down.

Preferably the seat member is removably attachable to the or each arm by means of a hooked portion or portions at one or both ends of the seat.

Consequently, the seat is quickly attachable to the or each arm to allow the patient to sit quickly once they are standing in the opening.

Preferably the seat member is removably attachable to only one of the arms of the frame and secured to the other of the arms.

Preferably the or each hooked portion has a shank which extends across the width of the seat member.

Preferably the or each hooked portion is resilient so that it offers * *.

resistance to being attached to and unattached from the or each arm.

I *Ss. *SS.

Preferably the seat member is of flexible material for example flexible : .** 15 plastics. *S.

Alternatively, the seat member is rigid and may be hingedly attached to *

S

one arm and attachment means for attaching to the other arm. S...

Preferably one or both arms include a section moveable relative to the frame, to reduce the width of the opening. Thus, the opening can be reduced in width or closed so that the patient cannot accidentally exit the opening when standing or when seated.

Preferably the or each moveable section is pivotable about an axis and includes a leg extending radially outwardly of the axis, the leg being selectively positionable into or out of the opening.

More preferably the or each moveable section and its respective leg are formed from an L' shaped tube such that said leg is formed from one part of the L. The tube may be insertable into or around a further tube of the arm or frame, so as to provide said pivoting and said axis may be an axis of the further tube.

Preferably the apparatus includes a step adjacent the opening, supported by the frame, onto which the patient may stand prior to being seated.

Preferably the apparatus includes a knee rest adjacent a closed end of the opening.

Preferably the frame includes a handrail for providing a support for a standing patient. * ** * * *

* ** Preferably the arms and seat member supported thereby are height ***. * * ***i

adjustable. Such height adjustment may include adjustment of height of the *5 15 handrail also. **.

The invention, according to a second aspect provides apparatus for conveying a patient comprising a wheeled frame including a pair of arms **..

defining an opening therebetween for accepting a standing patient, and comprising a removable seat attached to one or both arms, for supporting a seated patient, the apparatus being characterised in that one or both of the arms are moveable to substantially open and close the opening.

Thus a standing patient can manoeuvre themselves relative to the frame into the arms, the seat can be positioned across the arms behind them so that they can sit down and the opening can be closed for safety by moving the arms behind them.

Preferably the invention of the second aspect may have any of the characteristics of the invention according to its first aspect.

Although the invention, its preferred features and an embodiment thereof are set out herein, the invention extends to any novel feature described herein or any novel combination of features described herein, whether or not such features are described in that combination herein.

By way of example only, one embodiment of the invention is described below, with reference to the drawings wherein: Figure 1 shows a patient conveying apparatus in use; Figure 2 shows an enlarged view of the same apparatus; and * ** Figure 3 shows an exploded view of some of the parts of the apparatus * *** * shown in Figures 1 and 2. * S. *. *

The apparatus shown in Figure 1 comprises a wheeled chair 10 in which S. a patient P can sit, to be conveyed. Referring to Figure 2 also, the chair comprises a tubular welded frame 12 which is mounted on a set of wheels 14. **.I

The frame has a base portion 22, generally vertically from which extend two uprights 20. The uprights 20 support a pair of arms 16 extending generally horizontally, and the arms 16 in turn support a removable seat member 18. It will be noted that the base 22 extends beneath the seat 18, for stability. The frame includes a hand rail 24 joining both uprights 20. The gap between the arms 26 defines an opening 50, for accepting the patient P.

S I

Removable seat member 18 is permanently secured to one arm by means of fixings 40. At the opposing side the seat has a hooked portion 36, which is manufactured from plastics material. The hook has an opening which is slightly narrower than the width of its supporting tube 26. In use, this causes slight resistance to the hitching and unhitching of the hook. The hooked portion includes a shank 38 which extends across substantially the width of the seat 18 for strength.

The chair includes a step 42 and a knee rest 44, the functions of which are described below.

Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the upper part of the frame 12 shown in figures 1 and 2. Each arm 16 includes a handgrip 28, a sleeve 30 mounted to the end to the arm, an L shaped tube section 26 which includes a leg section * ** 34, a further hand grip 28' and an end stop 32. Each tube 26 is insertable within the sleeve 30 and is pivotable about an axis A to provide pivotable movement of I * * 15 the legs 34 about the axis A, generally in an arc R. The sleeve 30 is in frictional I..

engagement with the tube 26 so that the leg 34 can be positioned manually at ** * * any angle, and will remain in that position until it is moved again. The movement **..

of the wings in arc R can cause the opening 50 to be maximised to dimension B or minimised so that the opening is substantially closed.

In preparation for use, the legs 34 will be rotated so that they do not obstruct the opening 50 and seat 18 will be unhooked from one arm and left hanging from the other. In use, a patient P, who may have at least some mobility, will stand in the unobstructed opening 50 defined by the arms 26, either by walking into the opening or standing still and letting the chair be presented around him. Once in the opening the patient stands on the step 42, possibly steadying himself using arms 26 and/or hand rail 24 and a helper can hitch the hook 36 over the arm 26 and rotate the legs 34 behind the patient, to obstruct the opening 50, so that a patient cannot slide backwards out of the seat 18. The patient can then sit on the seat and be supported thereby during conveyance.

Knee rest 44 stops the patient moving forwards out of the seat 18.

The legs 34 also act as handles which allow a helper to manoeuvre the chair 10 in use, and the rotation of the legs allows the helper to find a comfortable angle of the legs for pushing or pulling using hand grips 28'.

One embodiment of the invention only has been described and illustrated, although it will be readily apparent to the skilled addressee that other embodiments which include modifications, alternatives, variants etc, are possible * ** within the ambit of the invention. For example the shape and size of the **. * ***

components illustrated could be modified, and the relative positioning of the : **** various components described and illustrated could be altered. Further, the seat *I.

could be hooked on both sides or have other means of being removable e.g. a * locking mechanism. The seat may be flexible plastics, having for example a **..

textile reinforcement, or it may be more rigid, e.g. a plastics moulding. If a rigid seat is used it will be preferred that there will be a hinged connection on one arm 16. One leg 34 may be used in place of the two illustrated, which may be longer so that it obstructs more of the opening 50. Motorised and/or patient operable versions of the apparatus are envisaged.

Claims

Claims 1. Apparatus for conveying a patient comprising a wheeled frame

including a pair of arms defining an opening therebetween for accepting a standing patient, and, removably attached to one or both arms is a seat member, whereby, in use, a patient stands between said arms and then the seat member is attached to one or both said arms providing a seat on which said patient can sit.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seat member is removably attachable to the or each arm by means of at least one hooked portion at one or both ends of the seat.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seat member is removably attachable to only one of the arms of the frame and secured to the other of the * * * * *. arms.

I ** S
4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the or each hooked portion has * * 15 a shank which extends across the width of the seat member. * S..
5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or 4, wherein the or each hooked portion S. * S is resilient so that it offers resistance to being attached to and unattached from S..

-the oreach arm.
6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the seat member is of flexible material such as flexible plastics.
7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims I to 5 wherein the seat member is rigid and is hingedly attached to one arm, and wherein attachment means for attaching to the other arm is provided.
8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein one or both arms include a section moveable relative to the frame, to reduce the width of the opening, when a patient is standing or seated.
9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the or each moveable section is pivotable about an axis and includes a leg extending radially outwardly of the axis, the leg being selectively positionable into or out of the opening, to provide said reduction the width of said opening.
10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the or each moveable section and its respective leg are formed from an L' shaped tube such that said leg is formed from one part of the L'.
11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said tube is insertable into or around a further tube of the arm or frame, so as to provide said pivoting and said

S

axis is an axis of the further tube.

S
12. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the

S I.

15 apparatus includes a step adjacent the opening, supported by the frame, onto

S

which the patient may stand prior to being seated.
13. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus includes knee rest adjacent a closed end of the opening.
14. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame includes a handrail for providing a support for a standing patient.
15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said handrail is height

adjustable.
16. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the arms and seat member are height adjustable.
17. Apparatus for conveying a patient comprising a wheeled frame including a pair of arms defining an opening therebetween for accepting a standing patient, and comprising a removable seat attached to one or both arms, for supporting a seated patient, the apparatus being characterised in that one or both of the arms are moveable to substantially open and close the opening.
18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17 further including the apparatus of claims ito 15.
19. Apparatus substantially as described herein optionally with reference to the accompanying drawings.
20. Any novel feature described herein or any novel combination of features described herein, whether or not such features are described in that combination herein. * .a

S * * S..

S * S.. p I* * *

S p...

S