GB2476247A

GB2476247A - A folding patient walking trolley

Info

Publication number: GB2476247A
Application number: GB0921911A
Authority: GB
Inventors: G Dale; I Ponting
Original assignee: Proto Magic Innovations Ltd
Current assignee: Proto Magic Innovations Ltd
Priority date: 2009-12-16
Filing date: 2009-12-16
Publication date: 2011-06-22
Anticipated expiration: 2029-12-16
Also published as: GB0921911D0; GB2476247B

Abstract

A patient walking trolley comprising a folding frame 5, 6, 7 with four legs ending in wheels 1, 3, 4, constructed so that it can have one or two trays 20, 21 attached. The trays are attached at both sides by clip fasteners, and may be unclipped from the one side in order to be folded flat against the opposite side of the frame, and clipped to the frame in order to fold the walking trolley substantially flat.

Description

A FOLDING PATIENT WALKING TROLLEY

The construction and use of a patient walking trolley with four wheels and one or two trays is well known. Such patient walking trollies often look generally and superficially like Fig #1. It is common for such patient walking trollies to be welded and/or screwed together. In general such patient walking trollies are not easily foldable. When the patient walking trolley is in it's made up and usable condition it is very much a cuboid shape with a large volume of air within its outer parts. When the patient walking trolley is transported or stored it is of advantage if it can be easily folded up. Similarly it is of advantage if the folded patient walking trolley can be easily unfolded and made ready for use. To be of good practical use the folding/unfolding should be completed quickly and without the use of tools. The present invention conforms to these desirable improvements.

In order that the invention may be better understood reference will be made to the following figures where: -Fig #1 shows a perspective view of the patient walking trolley in its unfolded condition and ready for use.

Fig #2 shows the patient walking trolley in substantially the same perspective view as figure #1 but with some of the component parts exploded.

For ease of viewing this figure the trays (20) (21) have been left off Fig #3 shows the patient walking trolley in its folded condition.

Fig #4 shows one side of the patient walking trolley with the tray in its folded position.

The patient walking trolley is constructed from a left hand side frame (5), a right hand side frame (6) and a rear hinge member (7). The rear hinge member (7) is retained to its correct vertical position by rear hinge member restraint bushes (14) (15) (16) (17). The side frames (5) (6) are both arranged to be free to rotate freely through about 340 degrees in relation to the rear hinge member (7). The patient walking trolley is assembled by taking the left and right hand side frames (5) (6) and sliding on rear hinge member 30 restraint bushes (14) (16), then rear hinge member (7), then rear hinge restraint bushes (15) (17). T Piece joiner tubes (10) (11) are then slid on the horizontal open ended tubes of the side frames (5) (6), T pieces (8) (9) are then slid up the open ended vertical tubes of the side frames (5) (6). The T piece joiner tubes (10) (11) are then slid towards the T pieces (8) (9) until they touch the vertical parts of the T pieces (8) (9) and have the horizontal parts of the T piece (8) (9) within them. Attachment screws, rivets or similar (26) (27) are then applied to the T piece joiner tubes to secure them in place. Rear castor adjuster tubes (12) (13) are then slid up inside the vertical rear tubes of the side frames (5) (6). These are retained in position by tube retaining C clips (22) (23). Similar castor adjustor tubes are fitted to the front vertical tubes of the side frames (5) (6) and retained by tube retaining C clips (24) (25).

Attached to the bottom of the four castor adjuster tubes are castors (1) (2) (3) (4).

Trays (20) (21) are clipped to the horizontal tubes of the side frames (5) (6).

Each tray is clipped in place at each of its four corners and is held in place by snaps (28) (29) (30) (31) (32) (33). There are two such snaps that cannot be seen in the figures.

The mentioned eight snaps (28) (29) (30) (31) (32) (33) keep the trays (20) (21) in position when the patient walking trolley is made up for use.

Tray restraint clips (18) (19) keep the trays (20) (21) in the required horizontal position.

When the patient walking trolley is in its folded condition the top tray (20) is arranged to remain clipped to the horizontal tube of the left hand side frame (5) and to utilise a second pair of snaps (34) (35) to keep it in the required position (See Fig #4).

The bottom tray (21) is kept in place when folded using a similar snap.

Assuming the patient walking trolley is made up and ready for use then in order to fold it the procedure is: - 1) Unclip the right hand side of the top tray (20).

2) Unclip the left hand side of the bottom tray (21).

3) Open out the two side frames (5) (6).

4) Lower the top tray down and clip it to the bottom of the left hand side frame (5).

5) Rotate the bottom tray (2 1) under the patient walking trolley and clip it to the outside of the right hand side frame (6).

6) Rotate the side frames until the two trays (20) (21) are facing outwards.

To fold the patient walking trolley follow the folding instructions on reverse.

The trays may be unclipped from the opposite sides to those described above.

In another embodiment of the invention the snap clips that are fitted to the trays (20) (21) to keep them in place when the patient walking trolley is in use may be of a different design.

The snap clips on the trays (20) (21) that are not removed when folding the patient walking trolley can have retention means to prevent them from being removed from the horizontal tubes of the side frames (5) (6).

In a further embodiment of the invention the two T piece joining tubes (10) (11) are omitted and the two T pieces (8) (9) are permanently attached to the side frames (5) (6). This construction requires that the rear hinge member (7) can be attached to the two side frames (5) (6) horizontally and with a suitable retention means.

The rear vertical tubes of the side frames (5) (6) may be vertical or may be leaning outwards and towards the rear at the bottom in order to aid steering.

In a further embodiment of the invention only one tray is fitted.

Accordingly the present invention comprises a patient walking trolley constructed such that it can be folded for storage and unfolded without the use of tools and also being arranged such thatit is stable and suitable for use when it is in its unfolded state.

Claims

CLAIMS1) A patient walking trolley constructed such that it can be folded for storage and unfolded without the use of tools and also being arranged such that it is stable and suitable for use when it is in its unfolded state.
2) A patient walking trolley as claimed in claim I and arranged such that it is stable and clipped together when in its folded condition.
3) A patient walking trolley as claimed in claims 1 and 2 where one tray is arranged to be non removable from the left hand side frame and the other tray is non removable from the right hand side frame.
4) A patient walking trolley as claimed in any of the preceding claims where only one tray is fitted.Amendments to the claims have been filed as followsCLAIMS1) A patient walking trolley comprising a left hand side frame and a right hand side frame, both side frames having at least two floor engaging wheels being pivotally connected to a rear hinge member and arranged such that the two side frames can be pivoted to a position where they are substantially parallel to each other and substantially at right angles to the hinge member and at least one tray can be attached between the two side frames causing the two side frames and the rear hinge member to be held in a substantially rectangular or square formation and in a condition such that the assembly can be used as a trolley, and said assembly also being able to be arranged such that if all the trays are unattached from at least one side frame then the side frames can be pivotally rotated about the rear hinge member, one side frame being positioned on each side of the rear hinge member, this arrangement forming the folded condition for the trolley.2) A patient walking trolley as claimed in claim 1 and arranged such that it is stable and clipped together when in its folded condition.3) A patient walking trolley as claimed in claims I and 2 where one tray is arranged to be non removable from the left hand side frame and the other tray is non removable from the right hand side frame.4) A patient walking trolley as claimed in claims I and 2 where only one * : 20 trayis fitted.S..... * .* * **.S * S * . * S..S*SS 555S