Convertible wheelchairs with movable carriages for transferring patients to/from the wheelchairs
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
A61G-005/00
A61G-007/14
출원번호
US-0569406
(2012-08-08)
등록번호
US-8544866
(2013-10-01)
발명자
/ 주소
Noonan, Mark
Fog, Stephen C.
출원인 / 주소
Snow Solutions, LLC
대리인 / 주소
Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
11인용 특허 :
30
초록▼
Exemplary embodiments are provided of wheelchairs. In an exemplary embodiment, a wheelchair generally includes a seat and a carriage coupled to the seat. The carriage and seat are laterally moveable together in a transverse direction relative to a forward direction of the wheelchair. In use, lateral
Exemplary embodiments are provided of wheelchairs. In an exemplary embodiment, a wheelchair generally includes a seat and a carriage coupled to the seat. The carriage and seat are laterally moveable together in a transverse direction relative to a forward direction of the wheelchair. In use, lateral movement of the carriage and seat outside of a wheelbase of the wheelchair enables lateral transfer of a patient to and/or from the wheelchair.
대표청구항▼
1. A wheelchair convertible for laterally transferring a patient to and/or from the wheelchair, the wheelchair comprising: a base with two main full-sized wheelchair wheels;a complete connected upper wheelchair seat assembly including a leg support, a seat, and a backrest which are configurable in v
1. A wheelchair convertible for laterally transferring a patient to and/or from the wheelchair, the wheelchair comprising: a base with two main full-sized wheelchair wheels;a complete connected upper wheelchair seat assembly including a leg support, a seat, and a backrest which are configurable in various seating positions and a fully flat position;at least one armrest alongside the seat and configurable between at least: a first configuration in which the armrest is generally upright and vertical relative to the seat; anda second configuration in which the armrest is non-vertical and extends laterally outward relative to the seat;a carriage coupled to the seat and movable along at least a portion of the armrest when the armrest is in the second configuration, such that the carriage and seat are laterally moveable together in a transverse direction relative to a forward direction of the wheelchair;a lifting mechanism that can raise the carriage;wherein the armrest is attached directly to the lifting mechanism or a frame, but the armrest is not directly connected to the backrest, the seat, or leg support;wherein the armrest can rotate or fold down and lock into position to form or extend tracks;wherein the tracks and an underside of the seat and carriage securely attach to one another while allowing lateral fully controlled transverse movement by the carriage without tipping or rocking;whereby the lifting mechanism is operable for lifting the carriage, which can then permit lateral movement of the carriage and seat assembly along the tracks and enable transfer from the seat assembly of a patient in a seated or a supine position laterally without engaging the full-sized wheelchair wheel. 2. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein the at least a portion of the armrest when in the second configuration integrally defines a path along which the carriage is slidable. 3. The wheelchair of claim 2, wherein the armrest includes: an upper portion against which a patient's arm may rest during use of the wheelchair; andframe portions depending from the upper portion, the frame portions include tracks defining the path along which the carriage is slidable. 4. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein the armrest includes an extension configured to contact a surface to/from which a patient is being transferred, whereby the armrest and extension are operable as a stabilizer/outrigger such that contact of the armrest and extension with the surface allows weight to be transferred to the surface via the armrest, provides additional stability and support for the wheelchair during patient transfer, and helps prevent backwards tipping. 5. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein: the wheelchair includes front and back pairs of wheels rotatable about a rotational axis for moving the wheelchair in a forward or rearward directionthe carriage and seat are laterally moveable together in a transverse direction relative to the forward direction of the wheelchair between at least: a first position in which the carriage and seat are laterally disposed between the front pair of wheels and the back pair of wheels; anda second position in which the carriage and seat are laterally disposed outside of the wheels on a left or right side of the wheelchair after being moved along the at least a portion of the armrest in the second configuration that extends laterally outward on the same left or right side of the wheelchair, thereby allowing lateral transfer of a patient to and/or from the wheelchair along the same left or right side thereof. 6. The wheelchair of claim 5, wherein: the armrest is configured such that the armrest is pivotably movable or foldable downwardly from the first configuration to the second configuration;the armrest is generally perpendicular to a rotational axis of the front and back pair of wheels when the armrest is in the first configuration; andthe armrest is generally horizontal and parallel with the seat when the armrest is in the second configuration. 7. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein the seat, backrest, and leg rest of the seat assembly are configurable into a plurality of configurations including one or more of: a first seated upright configuration in which a patient may be laterally transferred from the seat assembly of the wheelchair while sitting; and/ora second, feet-up configuration in which a patient may be laterally transferred from the seat assembly of the wheelchair while sitting with his or her feet up; and/ora third flattened configuration in which a patient may be laterally transferred from the seat assembly of the wheelchair while lying down in a supine position. 8. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein: the seat includes a removable section removably coupled to the seat, the removable section configured such that its removal exposes an opening through the seat and such that when coupled back to the seat, the removable section covers the opening; and/orthe at least one armrest comprises a pair of armrests along opposite sides of the seat, each said armrest being configurable between the first and second configurations, thereby allowing lateral patient transfers along either side of the wheelchair. 9. The wheelchair of claim 1, further comprising one or more rollers, wheels, and/or bearings coupled to the carriage such that the carriage and seat are laterally moveable together in a transverse direction relative to a forward direction of the wheelchair via said one or more rollers, wheels, or bearings traveling along the at least a portion of the armrest in the second configuration. 10. The wheelchair of claim 1, further comprising: rollers coupled to the carriage such that the carriage and seat are laterally moveable together in a transverse direction relative to a forward direction of the wheelchair via the rollers rolling along the at least a portion of the armrest in the second configuration;front and back pairs of wheels for moving the wheelchair in a forward or rearward direction; anda chair base configured to support the carriage and chair when the carriage and chair are laterally disposed between the front pair of wheels and back pair of wheels, the chair base includes surfaces that align with surfaces of the at least a portion of the armrest when the armrest is configured into the second configuration, thereby allowing the rollers to roll along and transition between the aligned surfaces of the chair base and the armrest. 11. The wheelchair of claim 10, wherein the rollers are configured to bear and transfer weight via axial loading to the corresponding chair base and/or armrest along with the rollers are rolling. 12. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein: the seat, backrest, and leg rest of the seat assembly is configurable into at least a flattened configuration in which the seat, backrest, and leg rest are aligned and generally planar with each other so as to collectively define a support surface to/from which a patient may be transferred while lying down in a supine position; andthe support surface defined by the seat, backrest, and leg rest when in the flattened configuration is adjustable between at least a first, horizontal orientation in which the support surface is horizontal and a second, tipped orientation in the support surface is slanted upwardly or downwardly at an angle relative to horizontal. 13. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein: the wheelchair is configured to enable lateral transfer of a patient to/from the wheelchair regardless of whether the patient is seated upright on the seat or the patient is supine and lying down; and/orthe seat assembly includes an outer portion that is rotatable for assisting in conveying a patient on/off the outer portion during patient transfer. 14. A wheelchair comprising: a base with two main full-sized wheelchair wheels;a complete connected upper wheelchair seat assembly including a leg support, a seat, and a backrest which are configurable in various seating positions and a fully flat position;a carriage coupled to the seat such that the carriage and seat are laterally moveable together in a transverse direction relative to a forward direction of the wheelchair; andat least one armrest alongside the seat and configured to be folded or pivotably moved outward to integrally define a path along which the carriage is slidable;a lifting mechanism that can raise the carriage;wherein the armrest attached directly to the lifting mechanism or a frame, but the armrest is not directly connected to the backrest, the seat, or leg support;wherein the armrest can rotate or fold down and lock into position to form or extend tracks;wherein the tracks and an underside of the seat and carriage securely attach to one another while allowing lateral fully controlled transverse movement by the carriage without tipping or rocking; andwhereby the lifting mechanism is operable for lifting the carriage, which can then permit lateral movement of the carriage and seat assembly along the tracks and enable transfer from the seat assembly of a patient in a seated or a supine position laterally without engaging the full-sized wheelchair wheel. 15. The wheelchair of claim 14, further comprising: the lifting mechanism configured for raising or lowering the armrest, carriage, and seat to adjust the height thereof to correspond with a height of a surface to/from which a patient is being laterally transferred; and/orrollers coupled to the carriage such that the carriage and seat are laterally moveable together in a transverse direction relative to a forward direction of the wheelchair via the rollers rolling along the at least a portion of the armrest in the second configuration.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (30)
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