초록 ▼

A collapsible chair for transporting people up and down stairs, comprising a main frame, a seating assembly, and a rail assembly. The seating assembly is provided to form a seat for a person, and this assembly is pivotally connected to the main frame for pivotal movement between open and closed pos

A collapsible chair for transporting people up and down stairs, comprising a main frame, a seating assembly, and a rail assembly. The seating assembly is provided to form a seat for a person, and this assembly is pivotally connected to the main frame for pivotal movement between open and closed positions. The rail assembly is used to support the chair for movement down steps, and this assembly is also pivotally connected to the main frame for pivotal movement between open and closed positions. In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, the chair is provided with uniquely designed gripping bars that may be used to help carry the chair upstairs. Also, the chair is provided with a set of wheels that are uniquely located to help stabilize the chair. Preferably, an improved locking mechanism is mounted on the chair to help lock the seating assembly and the rail assemblies in their open positions, and a specially designed latching assembly is provided to lock an upper frame of the chair in various positions. With the preferred embodiment of the invention, the chair is provided with a harness system to hold a person in the chair, and this system is especially designed to hold the legs of that person so that the person's legs do not interfere with someone carrying the chair upstairs.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A collapsible chair for transporting people up and down stairs, the chair comprising: a main frame; a seating assembly pivotally connected to the main frame for pivotal movement between open and closed positions; a pair of wheels rotatable mounted on the main frame to s

The invention claimed is: 1. A collapsible chair for transporting people up and down stairs, the chair comprising: a main frame; a seating assembly pivotally connected to the main frame for pivotal movement between open and closed positions; a pair of wheels rotatable mounted on the main frame to support the chair for movement over a surface; a rail assembly to support the chair for movement down stairs, and pivotally connected to the main frame for pivotal movement between open and closed positions; an upper frame section connected to and supported by the main frame, wherein the upper frame section has retracted and extended positions, and has forwardly facing and rearwardly facing positions; and a latching assembly operative to releasably secure the upper frame section in the retracted, extended, forwardly facing and rearwardly facing positions. 2. A collapsible chair according to claim 1, wherein the latching assembly further includes means for holding the latch in the disengaged position, against the urging of a biasing means. 3. A collapsible chair according to claim 2, wherein: the latch includes an end portion; the main frame forms a retaining slot; the holding means includes the end portion of the latch and the retaining slot; the latch is supported for pivotal movement between a first position and a second position; in the first position, the latch is slidable between the engaged and disengaged positions; in the second position, the end portion of the latch extends into the retaining slot, and the main frame holds the latch in the second position. 4. A collapsible chair according to claim 3, wherein: the main frame includes i) left and right support members, and ii) a cross member supported by and positioned between the left and right support members; and the latching assembly is mounted on the cross member. 5. A collapsible chair according to claim 4, wherein: the upper frame section includes first and second legs supported by the left and right support members of the main frame; the first leg forms a first side opening; the second leg forms a second side opening; in the engaged position, the latching assembly extends into the first and second side openings to hold the first and second legs in place relative to the left and right side members; in the disengaged position, the latching assembly is disengaged from the first and second side openings, and the first and second legs are moveable relative to the left and right support members. 6. A collapsible chair according to claim 5, wherein: the latching assembly includes first and second retaining latches; in the engaged position, the first retaining latch extends into the first side opening to hold the first leg in place, and the second retaining latch extends into the second side opening to hold the second leg in place. 7. A collapsible chair for transporting people down stairs, the chair comprising: a main frame; a seating assembly pivotally connected to the main frame for pivotal movement between open and closed positions; a rail assembly to support the chair for movement down steps, and pivotally connected to the main frame for pivotal movement between open and closed positions; a pair of wheels rotatably mounted on the main frame to support the chair for movement over a surface; a locking subassembly for connecting the rail assembly to the seating assembly to lock the rail assembly in the open position thereof; an upper frame section connected to and supported by the main frame, wherein the upper frame section is configured to be secured in retracted, extended, forwardly facing and rearwardly facing positions; and a locking bar connected to the main frame for movement between engaged and disengaged positions, wherein in the engaged position the locking bar engages the seating assembly to help lock the seating assembly and the rail assembly in the open positions, and in the disengaged position, the locking bar is disengaged from the seating assembly, wherein the locking bar includes i) first and second legs pivotally connected to and extending from the main frame, ii) a cross leg connected to and extending between the first and second legs, iii) a locking piece mounted on the cross leg for pivotal movement therewith, and forming an outwardly facing notch; and when the locking bar is in the engaged position, the cross bar is received in said notch, and the locking piece helps lock the cross bar in place. 8. A collapsible chair according to claim 7, further including a safety strap operative to hold the locking bar in place, and also operative to hold the chair in the folded position. 9. A collapsible chair according to claim 7, further including a retaining magnet mounted on the main frame operative to hold the locking bar releasably in the disengaged position. 10. A collapsible chair for transporting people up and down stairs, the chair comprising: a main frame; a seating assembly pivotally connected to the main frame for pivotal movement between open and closed positions; a rail assembly to support the chair for movement down steps, and pivotally connected to the main frame for pivotal movement between open and closed positions; a pair of wheels rotatable mounted on the main frame to support the chair for movement over a surface; and a front support assembly to help support the seating assembly, and including i) first and second support legs pivotally connected to and extending downward from the seating assembly, to help support the seating assembly and to help position the legs of an occupant of the chair, and ii) a bottom subframe pivotally connected to the main frame and extending forward therefrom, and including a laterally extending forward cross member located forward of the first and second support legs, to form a gripping bar, below and forward of the legs of the occupant of the chair, for a person to grip the chair to help carry the chair upstairs. 11. A collapsible chair according to claim 10, further comprising a strap mounted on the first support leg, and adapted to wrap around the second support leg and the legs of the occupant of the chair, to hold the legs of the occupant securely in place adjacent the support legs and rearward of the forward cross member. 12. A collapsible chair according to claim 10, wherein: the bottom subframe further includes left and right side members pivotally connected to and extending forward from left and right sides, respectively, of the main frame; each of the side members includes forwardly downwardly extending front portions; and the forward cross member is connected to and laterally extends between said front portions. 13. A collapsible chair according to claim 12, wherein the left and right legs are pivotally connected to the bottom subframe.