A lightweight motorized and tracked sled for attachment to a variety of stair chairs is described. A power supply or power source provides power to a motor driving a track configured to engage a set of stairs. The motor and track can lift and support the stair chair and a patient thereon up or down
A lightweight motorized and tracked sled for attachment to a variety of stair chairs is described. A power supply or power source provides power to a motor driving a track configured to engage a set of stairs. The motor and track can lift and support the stair chair and a patient thereon up or down one or more flights of stairs. The track driven by the motor has a length sufficient to simultaneously engage the lips or edges of a pair of sequential steps, but may be otherwise limited in length to reduce the weight of the track. To ensure that the sled and attached stair chair are stably supported while ascending or descending stairs, the sled may have rails, skis, or passive tracks having a length sufficient to ensure that the rails, skis, or passive tracks are always over the edge or lip of no fewer than two steps.
대표청구항▼
1. A motorized sled for attachment to a stair chair including first and second rear wheels, the sled comprising: a motorized track configured to engage steps of a staircase; andfirst and second spaced apart stair-engaging portions configured to contact steps of the staircase while the motorized trac
1. A motorized sled for attachment to a stair chair including first and second rear wheels, the sled comprising: a motorized track configured to engage steps of a staircase; andfirst and second spaced apart stair-engaging portions configured to contact steps of the staircase while the motorized track is engaging steps of the staircase, said first and second stair-engaging portions being pivotably attachable to the stair chair proximate the stair chair rear wheels, wherein the first and second stair-engaging portions comprise first and second rails;said motorized track being separately attachable to and detachable from said first and second stair-engaging portions while said first and second stair-engaging portions remain pivotably attached to the stair chair, wherein said motorized track and said first and second stair-engaging portions are pivotable in unison from a generally upright stowed position to a deployed position for engagement with steps of the staircase. 2. The motorized sled as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second stair-engaging portions have long axes disposed substantially parallel to each other and substantially parallel to a long axis of the motorized track on opposite sides of the motorized track. 3. The motorized sled as recited in claim 1, wherein a portion of the motorized track extends in a stair-ward direction past stair-ward portions of the first and second stair-engaging portions. 4. The motorized sled as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second stair-engaging portions have a length to permit the first and second stair-engaging portions to simultaneously rest on the edges of three sequential steps of the staircase and the track has a length to permit the track to simultaneously engage two sequential steps of the staircase. 5. The motorized sled as recited in claim 1, further comprising an attachment mechanism for attaching the sled to a stair chair. 6. The motorized sled as recited in claim 1, further comprising a frame, said frame supporting said first stair-engaging portion and said motorized track. 7. The motorized sled as recited in claim 6, wherein said motorized track is removably mounted to said frame. 8. The motorized sled as recited in claim 1, wherein said motorized track includes an engagement surface for engaging steps of a stair case, and at least a portion of said engagement surface positioned below said first stair-engaging portion and said second stair-engaging portion. 9. A motorized stair chair system comprising: a stair chair including first and second rear wheels; anda motorized sled pivotably attached to the stair chair, the motorized sled comprising: a motorized continuous track configured to engage steps of a staircase;a power source for powering the motorized track; andfirst and second spaced-apart elongate portions configured to at least intermittently contact steps of the staircase while the motorized track is engaging steps of the staircase, the first and second elongate portions being pivotably attachable to the stair chair proximate the stair chair wheels;wherein the motorized track, the power source, and the first elongate portion are attachable and detachable as a unit from the stair chair and are pivotable in unison from a generally upright stowed position to a deployed position for engagement with steps of a the staircase, the motorized track and the power source being separately attachable and detachable as a unit from the stair chair while the first elongate portion remains attached to the stair chair, and the power source being separately attachable and detachable from the stair chair while the motorized continuous track remains attached to the stair chair. 10. The motorized stair chair system as recited in claim 9, wherein the first and second elongate portions have a length to permit the first and second elongate portions to simultaneously contact the edges of three sequential steps of the staircase and the track has a length to permit the track to simultaneously engage two sequential steps of the staircase. 11. The motorized stair chair system as recited in claim 9, wherein the motorized sled is reversibly attached to the stair chair. 12. The motorized stair chair system as recited in claim 9, wherein the motorized sled is configured to fold up against the stair chair when not in use for storage. 13. A method for using a motorized sled with a stair chair to transport a patient comprising: attaching a motorized sled as a unit to a stair chair including first and second rear wheels, the motorized sled comprising: a motorized continuous track configured to engage steps of a staircase; andfirst and second stair-engaging portions spaced laterally outward of the track and configured to contact steps of the staircase while the motorized track is engaging steps of the staircase, the first and second stair-engaging portions being pivotably attachable to the stair chair proximate the first and second rear wheels;placing a patient in the stair chair;moving the stair chair to a staircase;rotating the motorized continuous track and the first and second stair-engaging portions in unison from an upright stowed position to a deployed position for engagement with the steps of the staircase;tipping and moving the stair chair until the motorized continuous track engages a step of the staircase;activating the motorized continuous track to move the sled and the stair chair in a direction selected from the group consisting of: up the staircase; anddown the staircase; andremoving the motorized continuous track from the stair chair while the sled remains attached to the stair chair. 14. A method as recited in claim 13, further comprising repeating the steps of: moving the stair chair to a staircase;tipping and moving the stair chair until the motorized continuous track engages a step of the staircase; andactivating the motorized continuous track to move the sled and the stair chair up or down the staircase. 15. A method as recited in claim 13, further comprising: moving the stair chair while the motorized continuous track is removed from the stair chair. 16. The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising: removing the sled from the stair chair; andmoving the stair chair while the sled is removed from the stair chair. 17. A sled for attachment to a stair chair having first and second rear wheels, said sled comprising: a frame having an upper end portion and a lower end portion, said frame including first and second spaced-apart rails extending from said upper end portion to said lower end portion, wherein said first and second rails comprise an engagement surface spaced from said track to stabilize said sled;a quick-release stair chair mount at said lower end portion of said frame for pivotally mounting said frame to a stair chair proximate the stair chair rear wheels, said quick-release mount configured to allow said frame to be pivoted between a deployed position and a generally upright stowed position relative to the stair chair when mounted to the stair chair, and to allow said frame to be separated from the stair chair via actuation of said quick-release mount;at least one motorized track provided at said frame for engaging a support surface, wherein said track and said first and second spaced-apart rails are pivotal in unison from the generally upright stowed position to the deployed position for engagement with the steps of a staircase;a transverse support coupled to said first and second rails;a latch assembly at said transverse support, said latch assembly configured to releasably engage a portion of said motorized track;a laterally extending support coupled to said motorized track;a motorized track mount coupled to said rails of said frame, said motorized track mount configured to releasably engage said laterally extending support of said motorized track; andwherein said latch assembly and said motorized track mount cooperate to releasably secure said motorized track to said rails of said frame, and wherein said laterally extending support disengages from said motorized track mount upon release of said latch assembly. 18. The sled according to claim 17, wherein said track is formed by a closed loop belt around a portion of said frame.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (18)
Misawa Rintaro (Tokyo JA), Apparatus for supporting loads in a cart.
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