US3154127A

US3154127A - Resilient wheel for portable hospital cots, beds, wheelchairs, and the like

Info

Publication number: US3154127A
Application number: US351807A
Authority: US
Inventors: John M Felton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-03-13
Filing date: 1964-03-13
Publication date: 1964-10-27
Anticipated expiration: 1981-10-27

Description

1964 .1 M. FELTON 3,15 27 RESILIENT WHEEL. FOR PORTABLE HOSPITAL COTS, BEDS, WHEELCHAIRS, AND THE LIKE Filed March 13, 1964 United States Patent 3,154,127 RESILIENT WHEEL FGR PQRTABLE HOSPITAL C(DTS, BEDS, WHEELCHAIRS, AND THE LIKE John M. Felton, 614 S. 17th St., Philadelphia, Pa. Filed Mar. 13, 1964, Ser. No. 351,807 1 Claim. (Cl. 152-102) The present invention relates to wheels, and more particularly to resilient or yieldable wheel constructions for use on hospital beds, portable cots, wheelchairs or the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide a resilient wheel for portable hospital beds, cots, wheelchairs and the like wherein by means of the wheel construction of the present invention patients may be conveniently moved from one location to another as, for example, in a hospital in such a manner that jolts and bumps to the patient will be prevented or minimized.

Another object is to provide a resilient wheel construction which is especially useful in hospitals or other localities where sick people are being moved or handled since it permits the sick people or patients to be moved with minimum discomfort and, for example, permits the patients to be moved after an operation in a gentle manner so that, for example, stitches in the patient will not become broken due to jolts and jars or bumps so that the persons on the device equipped with the wheels of the present invention can be transported or moved with increased safety and comfort.

Still another object is to provide such a resilient wheel that is economical to manufacture and efiicient in operation and which is rugged in structure and foolproof in use.

Further objects and advantages are to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in a device of the character described that is economical to produce, durable in form, and conducive to the most economical use of materials and uniformity of members formed therefrom.

Still further objects and advantages will become apparent in the subsequent description in the specification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the resilient wheel for portable hospital beds, cots, wheelchairs and the like, and with parts broken away and in section.

FIG. 2 is a view generally similar to FIG. 1 but showing the position of the parts when a weight is applied thereto as, for example, showing the position of the parts when the weight of a patient is on a bed or cot or wheelchair equipped with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 20 indicates a resilient wheel for portable hospital beds, cots, wheelchairs or the like, constructed according to the present invention, and the wheel 20 includes a centrally disposed hub 21 which is adapted to be suitably connected to a member such as an axle which forms part of a hospital bed, cot, wheelchair, or the like, and as shown in the drawings there is provided a plurality of spokes which are indicated generally by the numeral 22, and the spokes 22 are disposed radially around the hub 21. The spokes 22 each have the same construction and each includes a hollow cylindrical sleeve or housing or cylinder 23 which has its inner end suitably affixed as by Welding as at 24 to the outer periphery of the hub 21.

The numeral 25 indicates a circular rim which comprises an intermediate wall portion 26, FIG. 3, and the rim 25 further includes side wall sections 27 which are arranged angularly with respect to the wall portion 26, and the numeral 28 indicates a tire of yieldable material such as rubber which is mounted in or on the rim 25.

The outer end portions of the cylinders or sleeves 23 are threaded externally as at 30. The wall portion 26 of the rim 25 is provided with a plurality of spaced 3,154,127 Patented Oct. 27, 1964 ice apart apertures or openings 29 therein, for a purpose to be later described. A cap or closure 31 is arranged in threaded engagement with the threaded portion 30 of the cylinder 23, and the cap 31 has an opening 32 therein for the projection therethrough of a rod or stud 33. The numeral 34 indicates a head or piston which is formed integral with or secured to the inner end of the rod 33, and the head 34 is movably mounted within the cylinder 23. As shown in the drawings, the head 34 is rounded so as to facilitate movement thereof in order to make it easier for the parts to move as for example in case the wheel gets out of alignment. The

numerals

35 and 36 indicate first and second resilient means or coil springs which are arranged in the cylinder 23 on opposite sides of the head 34, and as shown in FIG. 3 for example the spring 35 is interposed between the head 34 and the hub 24. Similarly, the spring 36 is interposed between the head 34 and the cap 31.

- The outer end of each of the rods 33 is provided with an enlargement 37, and the numeral 38 indicates a disk or Washer which is arranged contiguous to the enlargemerit 37 adjacent the outer surface of the wall portion 26.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided a resilient wheel for wheelchairs, portable hospital beds, cots and the like, and in use with the parts arranged as shown in the drawings, a plurality of wheels 20 are adapted to be used on a member such as a hospital cot, bed, wheelchair or the like, and due to the yieldable or resilient construction thereof, the parts can move slightly from a position such as that shown in FIG. 1 to a position such as that shown in FIG. 2 so that a person being moved such as a patient in a hospital will not be subjected tojolts, bumps or the like. The hub 21 is adapted to be suitably connected to an axle of a bed or cot or wheelchair, and due to the provision of the movable rod 33 which has the head 34 on its inner end and the

springs

35 and 36 on opposite sides of the head 34, it will be seen that in conjunction with the yieldable tire 28, any bumps or slight obstructions that may be encountered by the wheels will be taken up by the give of the

springs

35 and 36 so that the shocks and jolts will not be transmitted to the patient being moved. The

springs

35 and 36 function as counter-balancing resilient means to help equalize pressure on the head 34 of the rod 33 and also function as shock absorbers to cushion the jolts and bumps as the patient is being moved. The opening 32 is of sufficient size to permit the rod 33 to shift or move slightly therein as, for example, when the weight of the patient on the bed or cot causes such movement or when a bump or obstruction is encountered by the wheel. The opening 29 in the rim 25 has the rod 33 extending therethrough, and the enlargement 37 is of suflicient diameter or size so as to insure that the parts will be maintained in their proper assembled position.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes.

The present invention is especially suitable for use as a resilient wheel construction for invalid wheelchairs, portable hospital cots and the like, and with the present invention certain jolts to a patient being moved will be avoided. The wheel is constructed so that it will function efficiently and properly without requiring attention thereto by way of maintenance. The spokes are equally spaced apart around the hub as shown in the drawings. The parts are arranged or constructed so that the parts will be maintained in their proper aligned position during use of the wheel, and the hospital bed or cot or wheelchair equipped with wheels of the present invention will provide smooth transportation for patients because any undulations in the surface such as the floor being traveled along will be absorbed by the

springs

35 and 36. In

certain instances a suitable fluid may be arranged within the cylinder 23 or it may be omitted. Due to the wheel construction of the present invention, as for example when a patient is being moved from an operating room, injury to the patient will be prevented and, for example, stitches will not be broken when a bump or undulation is encountered.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resented to in actual practice, if desired.

What is claimed is:

In a resilient wheel for portable hospital beds, cots, wheelchairs and the like wherein jolts and bumps to a patient will be minimized and wherein patients can be moved in a gentle manner with a minimum amount of discomfort, a hub, a plurality of similar spokes disposed radially around said hub, a rim embodying an. intermediate wall portion having a plurality of spaced apart apertures therein, said rim further embodying side wall sections which are arranged angularly with respect to said wall portion, a yeildable tire mounted on said rim, each of said spokes embodying a fluid cylinder having its inner end fixedly secured to said hub at the outer surface of said hub, the outer end portion of the cylinder being threaded exteriorly for a portion of its length, a cap arranged in threaded engagement with the threaded portion of said cylinder and said cap having an opening therein, a rod extending through the opening in said cap, and the opening in said cap being larger than said rod, said rod having a rounded head on its inner end and said head being arranged within said cylinder, the outer portions of said rod extending through the apertures in the Wall portion of said rim, first and second coil springs disposed in said cylinder on opposite sides of said head, said first coil spring being interposed between said head and hub and having its ends engaging and abutting said head and hub, said head terminating at a point which is coplanar with the outer end of the first coil spring, said second coil spring being disposed between said head and cap, an enlargement on the outer end of said rod, and an apertured disk aligned with the aperture in the wall portion of said rim and said disk being arranged contiguous to the outer surface of the wall portion of the rim and engaging said enlargement, said enlargement being of sufiicient diameter and size to insure that the parts will be maintained in their proper assembled position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 835,793 11/06 Kerwin et a1 152-101 X 1,026,822 5/12 Oldham 152102 1,481,852 1/24 Lazaro et al 152-101 ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner.