WO2007056778A1

WO2007056778A1 - Transport apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2007056778A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2006/000117
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Stegmann
Original assignee: John Stegmann
Priority date: 2005-10-17
Filing date: 2006-10-17
Publication date: 2007-05-18
Also published as: ZA200804224B

Abstract

Apparatus which can function as a wheelchair which is particularly suited for use in rough terrain, or as a stretcher, which includes a backrest, at least one ground-engaging wheel mounted to a lower end of the backrest, a support frame pivotally attached to the backrest, a seat pivotally attached to the support frame and at least one stop mechanism which prevents rotational motion of the seat relatively to the backrest.

Description

TRANSPORT APPARATUS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to transport apparatus which is generally in the nature of a foldable wheelchair or a stretcher.

[0002] Many areas in the rural third world cannot be serviced easily by motorized vehicles, either for geographical or financial reasons. Also, areas which are affected by natural disasters can often only be reached by helicopter. Rapid evacuation by airborne helicopter requires safe hoisting of the evacuee up to, and securing of the evacuee in, the aircraft. Many evacuees are not physically strong enough to be hoisted into the air by a harness, and every occupant of the aircraft needs to be seated securely.

[0003] Under these and other conditions a person in need may be helped fairly effectively by means of a wheelchair. However a conventional wheelchair is normally not suited for use in adverse circumstances, e.g. to traverse a narrow footpath or rough terrain.

[0004] Issues of inaccessibility and unaffordability have serious implications when sick, infirm, weak or elderly patients have to be transported, particularly over long distances, to a source of treatment or care. [0005] A preferred means of transport for this type of patient can be a wheelbarrow or a bicycle. These devices are however not designed to transport a patient and as a consequence the patient can suffer great discomfort and possibly a further deterioration in his condition.

[0006] A stretcher, sedan chair or pole hammock is another alternative to transportation of a patient by wheelbarrow or as a bicycle passenger, but each requires two carriers.

[0007] There is a need for a simple and affordable apparatus that can be used as a wheelchair or as a stretcher when necessary i.e. when the patient needs to be lifted over an obstacle or up and down stairs.

[0008] The present invention at least partially addresses the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0009] The invention provides a transport apparatus which includes a backrest, at least one ground-engaging wheel mounted to a lower end of the backrest, a support frame pivotal Iy attached to the backrest, a seat pivotally attached to the support frame and at least one stop mechanism which prevents rotational motion of the seat relatively to the backrest.

[0010] The seat may include a seat frame and sheet material may extend across and be fixed to the seat frame. [0011] The backrest may include a backrest frame and sheet material extending across and fixed to the backrest frame.

[0012] The sheet material used with the seat frame and the backrest frame may be any material of suitable strength and durability. The material may be selected from the following: leather, woven wicker, cotton fabric, acrylic fabric and polyester fabric.

[0013] The sheet material used for the backrest frame and for the seat frame may be a single piece.

[0014] The seat may be attached to the backrest by engagement with at least one catch formation which allows for releasable attachment of the seat to the backrest.

[0015] The transport apparatus may be folded from a seating configuration, wherein the seat is orientated in such a way that a person may sit thereon, to a folded configuration, at which opposing sides of the seat lie adjacent a first arm and second arm of the support frame respectively, by detaching the seat from the backrest e.g. by releasing the stop mechanism or mechanisms, and rotating the seat about the first axis.

[0016] The support frame may include at least a first cross bar which provides a footrest for a person seated on the seat.

[0017] The support frame may include a handgrip which a person, pushing the transport apparatus in the seating configuration, may hold and push. [0018] The first cross bar may act as a handlebar to a first bearer when the transport apparatus is carried, in the seating configuration with the ground-engaging wheel raised from the ground, by the first bearer and a second bearer holding the handgrips.

[0019] The at least one ground-engaging wheel may be mounted to an axle attached at a lower end of the backrest.

[0020] The lower end of the backrest may support an axle of a single wheel, or the axle or axles of a pair of wheels.

[0021] The stop mechanism may comprise a flexible strap which is attached to a lower end of the support frame and to the backrest, below the seat, and on the same side. A second flexible strap may be attached to corresponding fixing points on the second arm and an opposing side of the backrest.

[0022] The flexible straps may be adjusted so that they are of assistance when engaging the seat with the backrest.

[0023] The flexible straps may brace the arms of the frame and help to prevent them from bending when the transport apparatus is used as a stretcher.

[0024] A stand may be provided to provide more stable support the apparatus when it acts as a chair. The stand may be mounted to the axle and be rotatable between an operative position, at which a lower end of the stand contacts the ground, and an inoperative position, at which the lower end is clear of the ground. When the stand is lowered to the operative position, the transport apparatus may function as a chair with the ground-engaging wheel or wheels clear of the ground.

[0025] Preferably, the lower end of the backrest is extended to act as a stand when the transport apparatus functions as a chair.

[0026] When the transport apparatus functions as a chair the wheel, or wheels, are thus clear of the ground. No parking brake is required and the wheel or wheels may be serviced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The invention is further described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a transport apparatus according to a first form of the invention, in a seating configuration;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the transport apparatus;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the transport apparatus, in the seating configuration, with a person seated thereon;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the transport apparatus in the seating configuration with a person pushing the transport apparatus;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the transport apparatus being used as a stretcher;

Figure 6 shows the apparatus in a folded configuration being ported,

Figures 7 and 8 are views, similar to Figures 1 and 2 respectively of apparatus according to another form of the invention; and Figures 9 and 10 show variations of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings show transport apparatus 10, according to the invention, which includes a seat 12 attached to a backrest 14 at a point 16.

[0029] A catch 18 is fixed between arms 20 and 22 of a frame 24 of the backrest. The catch includes a groove formation in which a section 26 of a frame 28 of the seat engages.

[0030] The seat frame and the backrest frame are attached to a support frame 30. The seat frame has arms 28A and 28B which are attached, at an end opposing the section 26, to an attachment point 32 and an attachment point 34, on arms 36 and 38 of the support frame respectively which define an axis 40.

[0031] The backrest frame is attached to attachment points 42 and 44, on the arms 30 and 36 respectively, which define an axis 46 which is parallel to the axis 40.

[0032] The attachment of the seat frame and the backrest frame, to the support frame, is facilitated by means of a nut and bolt arrangement.

[0033] The seat frame, backrest frame and support frame are made of metal tubes. The metal used in the manufacture of the tubes depends on inherent factors such as mass, durability and malleability as well as cost and availability considerations.

Aluminum and mild steel are suitable metals.

[0034] The support frame includes, at an end 48 proximal to the axis 40, a cross bar 50 which lies between the arms 36 and 38 and which is parallel to the axis 40.

[0035] The support frame and the cross bar are of continuous construction, manufactured integrally from the same metal pipe. The cross bar confers strength to the support frame.

[0036] The backrest frame is manufactured from a single metal tube worked into a substantially "U" shape. The backrest frame has a closed end 52 and an open end 54. An axle 56 is fixed, at the open end, between arms 58 and 60 of the backrest frame. A wheel 62 which is mounted to the axle is substantially similar to a wheel of a wheelbarrow, i.e. of modest size relative to the wheelbarrow and durably constructed, either as a solid rubber tyre or as a pneumatic rubber tyre.

[0037] A kickstand 64, made from a metal tube, includes legs 66 and 68 and is mounted to the axle 56. The kickstand is rotatable between an operative position, at which legs 66 and 68 simultaneously engage with the ground, and an inoperative position, at which the legs 66 and 68 are raised clear of the ground. In the operative position, the kickstand provides support to the apparatus 10 to function as a chair as is illustrated in Figure 3. [0038] Sheet material 70 of a durable nature, such as woven wicker or leather, is stretched across and fixed to the seat frame, to provide a surface on which a person may sit. The backrest frame, of similar construction, provides back support to a seated person 72 (see Figure 3). Also, the arms 36 and 38 provide a constraint to, and lateral support for, the person 72.

[0039] The cross bar 50 provides a footrest for the seated person 72.

[0040] The arms 36 and 38 terminate, at an end of the support frame proximal to the axis 46, in respective handles 74 and 76. A person 78 pushing the apparatus may grasp the handles 74 and 76 (see Figure 4). To avoid catching on obstructions, whilst the apparatus is being pushed, the kickstand is moved to the inoperative position, with the legs 66 and 68 clear of the ground.

[0041] Figure 5 illustrates the apparatus performing the function of a stretcher. The person 78, grasping the handles 74 and 76, and a second person 82, grasping the cross bar 50, lift the apparatus off the ground with the person 72 now in a supine recumbent position. The arms 36 and 38 provide lateral constraints for the person 72.

[0042] Figure 6 illustrates the apparatus in a folded configuration. In order to fold the apparatus to the closed configuration, the seat frame is disengaged from the catch 18 and is then rotated about the axis 40 until the arms 28A and 28B of the seat frame come to lie adjacent the arms 36 and 38 of the support frame. Likewise, the backrest frame is rotated about the axis 46 until the arms 24 and 26 of the backrest frame come to lie adjacent the arms 36 and 38 of the support frame. [0043] The apparatus of the invention is sturdy and yet relatively inexpensive. It provides stable support for a patient when being used in "wheelbarrow" fashion, as shown in Figure 4 and, as shown in Figure 5, can conveniently be used in a stretcher mode.

[0044] For storage purposes, or for transport without a patient, the apparatus is readily folded into a compact configuration.

[0045] In the arrangement shown in Figure 7 flexible straps 90, which extend between the support frame and the backrest frame, are used to constrain the assembly against unwanted pivotal movement.

[0046] The backrest frame is composed of two "U"-shaped frames instead of one.

[0047] The upper portion of the backrest frame assembly facilitates the attachment of the backrest membrane.

[0048] A wheel 54 is mounted to the lower portion of the backrest frame which has a bulbous U-shape so as to act as a ground-engaging member 92 which replaces the kickstand 64.

[0049] The variation of the invention shown in Figure 9 has two small wheels 96A and 96B respectively which are mounted on a single axis 98. [0050] The variation of the invention shown in Figure 9 also has, as an optional feature, two pairs of small wheels 100 and 102 respectively which are mounted to lower ends of the arms 36 and 38 to facilitate pushing movement of the apparatus when it is used in a manner akin to that of a conventional wheelchair.

[0051] In the arrangement shown in Figure 10, which is similar to that shown in Figure 7 the member 92 is replaced by a narrow U-bend which, nonetheless, is laterally extended by means of adjacent supports 104 and 106. This helps to impart stability to the apparatus when it is in a ground-engaging and non-moving position. The narrow U- bend is easier to form than the bulbous U-shape of Figure 7 but the bulbous U-shape provides more stable support.

[0052] In all configurations it is possible to use the apparatus substantially as a conventional wheelchair or, when required, to tip the apparatus so that it rides on the rear wheel or rear wheels only. In the latter mode the traversing of difficult paths or terrain is facilitated. Also, the apparatus can be used as a stretcher, as shown in Figure 5, and two carriers can transport a person lying on the wheelchair.

Claims

1. Transport apparatus which includes a backrest, at least one ground-engaging wheel mounted to a lower end of the backrest, a support frame pivotally attached to the backrest, a seat pivotally attached to the support frame and at least one stop mechanism which prevents rotational motion of the seat relatively to the backrest.

2. Transport apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the seat includes a seat frame and sheet material fixed to the seat frame, and the backrest includes a backrest frame and sheet material fixed to the backrest frame.

3. Transport apparatus according to claim 2 wherein a single piece of sheet material is used for the seat frame and the backrest frame.

4. Transport apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 which is foldable from a seating configuration, wherein the seat is orientated in such a way that a person may sit thereon, to a folded configuration, where opposing sides of the seat lie adjacent a first arm and second arm of the support frame respectively, by detaching the seat from the backrest.

5. Transport apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the support frame includes a cross bar which acts as a footrest for a person seated on the seat and which acts as a handlebar to a second bearer when the transport apparatus is carried, in the seating configuration with the ground-engaging wheel raised from the ground.

6. Transport apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the ground- engaging wheel is mounted to an axle attached at a lower end of the backrest.

7. Transport apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the stop mechanism and structural members comprise flexible straps attached to a lower end of the support frame and to the backrest, below the seat.

8. Transport apparatus which includes a backrest frame, at least one wheel mounted to a lower end of the backrest frame, a seat frame which is pivotally secured to the back frame, sheet material over the backrest frame and the seat frame, a support frame, with a ground-engaging lower end and an upper end with at least one handle, which is fixed to the backrest frame and to the seat frame, and at least one stop mechanism which restricts movement of the support frame relatively to the backrest frame at least in one direction and which also structurally resists bending.