IES70586B2 - Apparatus for transferring a wheelchair user - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a wheelchair comprising a wheelchair chassis and a wheelchair seat, the wheelchair further comprising means for slidably detaching the wheelchair seat from the chassis, and an apparatus for transferring a wheelchair occupant to a vehicle comprising said wheelchair wherein the wheelchair seat is transferable to a vehicle. The apparatus further comprises a turn-table base locatable within a vehicle, which when rotated towards an access opening in the vehicle can receive the seat and in that the turn-table further comprises means for engaging and securing the seat.

Description

APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING A WHEELCHAIR USER Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for transferring a wheelchair user from a wheelchair to a vehicle.

Background of the Invention Problems have long since been recognised in transferring a wheelchair user to a vehicle. In many cases the wheelchair user may be an adult. The wheelchair user may be of such a weight so as to make it extremely difficult for one other person acting alone to transfer them to a vehicle seat. Combining the restricted mobility of the person with the restricted access to a vehicle it can prove quite difficult to transfer the wheelchair user to a seat within the vehicle or indeed to the interior of a vehicle at all.

To overcome this problem some vehicles have been equipped with devices such as lifts etc. which lift the entire wheelchair into the vehicle.

The wheelchair is then secured to the floor or wall of the vehicle to prevent movement. However, not all vehicles, and in particular most cars, do not have the facilities or space to accommodate a person sitting within a wheelchair.

S70 5 8 6 - 2 GB 2,124,560 describes one such system for transferring a person from a wheelchair to a vehicle. In particular the system uses a device which ’ comprises a pair of inter-locking trays, one on a frame of the wheelchair and one on the motor vehicle seat, the trays having aligned tracks which are engaged by the wheelchair seat, which upon being released from the wheelchair frame, is moveable from the wheelchair frame onto the tray on the motor vehicle seat. The patent describes a complex series of steps using specialised equipment for transferring the wheelchair user to the vehicle. The complexity of this equipment makes it difficult and cumbersome to use. Such equipment is very expensive and requires the vehicle to be permanently adapted.

DE 2,718,484A describes an alternative system for transferring a wheelchair user to a vehicle. As can be seen from Figure 1 of that document, the wheelchair is aligned so that the wheelchair faces in the same direction as the vehicle. This orientation is essential as the seat of the wheelchair is placed on a seat in the vehicle, the system involves transfer of the wheelchair user onto an intermediate slide-over seat which is then used to move the wheelchair user alongside the seat of a vehicle. The wheelchair user is then transferred to the vehicle seat. This system requires a double transfer i.e. from the wheelchair to the slide-over seat and from that seat to the vehicle seat. This system is very time consuming and the double transfer may be unpleasant for people who suffer extra discomfort on being moved.

Object of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple alternative to the devices of the prior art for transferring a wheelchair user to a vehicle. A further object of the invention is to « allow transfer easily and simply and which can be carried out by one person. It is a further object of the invention to provide an 4 apparatus which is relatively inexpensive, easy to install and which will be easily accommodated in many different types of vehicles, particularly the average motor car. §7058q ή Summary of the Invention The present invention relates to a wheelchair comprising a wheelchair chassis and a wheelchair seat, the seat further comprising means for slidably detaching the wheelchair seat from the chassis. Suitably the means comprises a guide and rail system and preferably the wheelchair further comprises an interface member which retains the seat in its in-use configuration and prevents the seat from folding to a collapsed or partially collapsed disposition when the seat is removed from the chassis.

The wheelchair is configured to form part of an apparatus for transferring a wheelchair occupant to a vehicle comprising a wheelchair as described above, the seat being detachable so as to be transferred to a vehicle characterised in that the apparatus further comprises a turn-table base, locatable within the vehicle, which when rotated laterally towards an access opening in the vehicle can receive the wheelchair seat and in that the turn-table further comprises means for engaging and securing the seat.

In a preferred arrangement the turn-table comprises at least one substantially horizontal platform which is extendable outside the body of the vehicle through an access opening in the vehicle when rotated laterally. Preferably the turn-table further comprises a substantially horizontal plate which is mountable on the internal body of the vehicle, and suitably the horizontal plate has defined therein a socket arrangement which can accommodate a pin located on the base of the platform and thus form a pivot arrangement. Suitably a collar or spacer is fitted between the platform and the plate wheels which prevents them touching.

In a preferred construction the slide mechanism is a guide and rail system. Preferably the guide and rail system does not interfere with the collapsible action of the wheelchair. In a preferred embodiment an interface member is provided between the seat and chassis of the wheelchair. Suitably the interface member comprises a flat plate and the seat is attachable to an upper surface thereof while a lower - 4 surface thereof and the chassis are inter-connectable by the guide and rail system, the interface member moving the seat along the guide and rail system.

In a suitable arrangement the turn-table is situatable in a position normally occupied by a vehicle seat.

The invention also relates to an apparatus for transferring a wheelchair occupant to a vehicle substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a front view of a wheelchair adapted to be used in the transfer system of the invention.

Figure 2 is a view of the underside of the.seat of the wheelchair of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the turn-table system which is located on a vehicle floor.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the lower plate of the turn-table system of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a side view of the turn-table of Figure 3 showing how the upper and lower plates fit together.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the system of Figure 3, the top plate being rotated through approximately 90°.

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing transfer of the seat of the wheelchair of Figure 1 onto the system of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the wheelchair of Figure 1 having its seat removed. - 5 Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments The invention will now be further described with reference to Figure 1 to 7.

Figure 1 shows a wheelchair 1. This wheelchair has a seat 2 and a lower frame or chassis 3. The seat 2 and chassis 3 shown are that of a conventional wheelchair. Fitted to the chassis 3 are a pair of opposing parallel tracks 4 and 5. These tracks accommodate a pair of parallel runners 6 and 7 respectively. Runners 6 and 7 are attached to a plate 8 which in turn is attached to the base of the frame of the seat 2.

With reference to Figure 2 the plate 8 is shown with runners 6 and 7 attached. Runners 6 and 7 have machined therein a number of rollers 9. The runners 6 and 7 are accommodated by tracks 4 and 5. The provision of rollers 9 allow the runners 6 and 7 to move freely on tracks 4,5. Thus the seat 2 situated on plate 8 may be slid along the tracks 4,5. The tracks 4,5 surround the runners 6,7 completely on three sides and partially on the fourth side. Thus the seat 2 is not free to move in any direction except along the tracks 4,5. A catch mechanism (not shown) is provided either on the plate 8 or on track 4 or 5 which may be used to secure the seat 2 in the desired position on plate 8.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a swivel arrangement or turn-table 10 which is located on the floor 11 or a vehicle 12. The vehicle (passenger) seat has been removed. The turn-table 10 consists of an upper steel plate 13 and a lower steel plate 14. As shown in Figure 4 the lower steel plate 14 is secured to the floor 11 of the vehicle 12 using bolts 15. The turn-table 10 may thus be removed easily from the vehicle 12. The vehicle passenger seat may thus be re-fitted when desired. A circular hole 16 is provided in steel plate 14 at a corner thereof close to the door pillar 17 of the vehicle 12.

With reference to Figure 5 a side view of the turn-table 10 is shown.

A hollow cylindrical housing or socket 18 is attached to the underside of the plate 14 substantially perpendicular to the plate 14. The - 6 circular hole 16 and housing 18 are adapted to receive a spigot or pin 19 which is provided on the underside of the upper steel plate 13. Pin 19 has a collar or spacer 20 at its base. When pin 19 is inserted in housing 18 through circular hole 16, spacer 20 ensures that the upper surface of plate 14 and the lower surface of plate 13 do not touch.

The arrangement of pin 19 and housing 18 provides a pivot turn-table system which allows plate 13 to be pivoted relative to the lower plate 14 which is fixed to the floor 11 of the vehicle 12. The pin 19 is provided at a corner of plate. 13 so that when plates 13 and 14 are substantially aligned in a retaining disposition they occupy substantially the same vertical plane.

As shown in Figure 3 upper plate 13 is provided with tracks 21,22 which are identical to tracks 4,5 provided on the lower frame 3 of the wheelchair 1.

As shown in Figure 6 the upper plate 13 is shown in its receiving position i.e. it has been rotated through approximately 90° and now extends outside the vehicle 12. If upper plate 13 abuts a door frame etc a notch can be cut in upper plate 13 which accommodates the door frame to allow rotation to the required angle. A locking device (not shown) may be used to hold upper plate 13 in this position if so required. The wheelchair 1 is then aligned with the upper plate 13 with the front of the wheelchair 1 facing away from the vehicle. The. tracks 21 and 22 provided on upper plate 13 and the tracks 4 and 5 provided on the lower frame 3 of the wheelchair 1 are disposed so as to form a continuous track system when they are aligned. This provides a continuous rail system by which the seat 2 may be transferred from the lower frame 3 onto the rail system of upper plate 13. In this way the person sitting in the wheelchair (not shown) is transferred by a simple pushing motion. It is necessary only to lift the persons legs across the chassis 3 of the wheelchair 1. The tracks 4,5 do not interfere with the lower frame 3 which may then be folded into its transport disposition in the usual way. The wheel chair user is now situated on upper plate 13 while remaining on the seat 2. The upper plate 13 may then be swivelled by 90° to place the wheelchair user in the normal orientation of a person travelling in the vehicle i.e. facing towards the front of the vehicle 12. The seat 2 may then be locked in the - 7 desired position on upper plate 13 and upper plate 13 may itself be locked to prevent swivel movement when the vehicle is in motion. The transfer system described above replaces a vehicle passenger seat. The system is used to position the seat 2 in a disposition similar to that of a standard fitted passenger seat.

In particular it will be noted that the steel plate 8 retains the seat 2 in its normal disposition for seating a user. The seat 2 is collapsable and normally is retained in its extended or in-use disposition by chassis 3. Removing the seat 2 without use of an interface member would cause it to collapse especially as the user remains seated on it.

Figure 8 shows the wheelchair 1 having seat 2 is detachable from plate 8. A series of pins 23 each located at a corner of plate 8 fit into tubular sockets on the seat 2 and thus hold seat 2 in place on plate 8. A similar series of pins are used to attach the plast 8 to the chassis 3 of the wheelchair 1.

The frame of the wheelchair 1 in particular the tubular frame-work bars which extend upwards from the wheels may be adapted so as to be height adjustable. Seat 2 may be locked in this position.

Claims (5)

1. A wheelchair comprising a wheelchair chassis and a wheelchair seat, the wheelchair further comprising means for slidably detaching the wheelchair seat from the chassis.

2. An apparatus for transferring a wheelchair occupant to a vehicle comprising a wheelchair according to claim 1 the wheelchair seat being transferable to a vehicle characterised in that the apparatus further comprises a turn-table base locatable within a vehicle, which when rotated laterally towards an access opening in the vehicle can receive the seat and in that the turn-table further comprises means for engaging and securing the seat.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the turn-table comprises at least one substantially horizontal platform which is extendable outside the body of the vehicle through an access opening in the vehicle when rotated laterally.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the slide mechanism is a guide and rail system and preferably the turn-table is situatable in a position normally occupied by a vehicle seat.

5. An apparatus for transferring a wheelchair occupant to a vehicle or a wheelchair for use therewith, substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.