An impaired person care system which includes a reconfigurable powered wheelchair operating in conjunction with a segmented bed having a main bed section and multiple reconfigurable bed sections. The wheelchair has back, seat and leg sections configurable to an upright sitting position or a horizont
An impaired person care system which includes a reconfigurable powered wheelchair operating in conjunction with a segmented bed having a main bed section and multiple reconfigurable bed sections. The wheelchair has back, seat and leg sections configurable to an upright sitting position or a horizontal lying-down bed resting position. In the sitting position the wheelchair is positionable over a regular commode; in the lying-down position the wheelchair is positionable on the multiple reconfigurable bed sections and movable vertically in response to corresponding movement of the reconfigurable bed sections to the level of the main bed section. The wheelchair also has an opening in the seat section with allowing unobstructed passage of fecal waste from bowel movements when the wheelchair is positioned over the commode.
대표청구항▼
1. An impaired person care system comprising: a bed having a main bed section and a set of reconfigurable bed sections adjacent the main bed section, wherein the main bed section includes a mattress and the set of reconfigurable bed sections comprises a middle reconfigurable bed section having a mat
1. An impaired person care system comprising: a bed having a main bed section and a set of reconfigurable bed sections adjacent the main bed section, wherein the main bed section includes a mattress and the set of reconfigurable bed sections comprises a middle reconfigurable bed section having a mattress, a bottom frame, and a lifting mechanism between the mattress and the bottom frame for raising the mattress from a low height setting in which the mattress is below the main bed section mattress to a high height setting in which the mattress is substantially commensurate in height with the main bed section mattress; anda powered wheelchair reconfigurable from an upright sitting position to a horizontal lying-down resting position, the wheelchair including a frame structure, wheelchair locomotion components including wheels, and a patient support area comprising at least a seat section with a toilet access aperture defined therethrough; the locomotion components and the seat section being supported by the frame structure;wherein the frame structure is configured to provide a space of predetermined width and height beneath the seat section and between the wheels that is free from structural obstacles;wherein the mattress, lifting mechanism and bottom frame of the middle reconfigurable bed section are configured to fit within said free space;wherein, in the upright sitting position of the wheelchair, the seat section of the wheelchair is positionable over a standard toilet when said free space is disposed around the toilet, andwherein, in the upright sitting position of the wheelchair, the seat section is positionable over the mattress, lifting mechanism, and bottom frame of the middle reconfigurable bed section when the middle reconfigurable bed section is in its low height setting and disposed within said free space so that the mattress of the middle reconfigurable bed section may be raised into engagement with the seat section upon activation of the lifting mechanism. 2. An impaired person care system comprising: a segmented bed having a main bed section and at least one reconfigurable bed section adjacent the main bed section, each bed section including a mattress; the at least one reconfigurable bed section having a lifting mechanism for raising the reconfigurable bed section mattress from a low height setting in which the mattress is below the main bed section mattress to a high height setting in which the reconfigurable bed section mattress is substantially commensurate in height with the main bed section mattress; anda reconfigurable powered wheelchair including a frame structure, wheelchair locomotion components, and a patient support area comprising at least a seat section with a toilet access aperture defined therethrough; the locomotion components and the seat section being supported by the frame structure;wherein the at least one reconfigurable bed section comprises upper, middle, and lower reconfigurable bed sections, each of the upper, middle, and lower reconfigurable bed sections being smaller than the main bed section and including a bottom frame, a mattress, and a lifting mechanism between the bottom frame and the mattress for raising the mattress from its low height setting to its high height setting;wherein the frame structure is configured to provide a space of predetermined width and height beneath the seat section that is free from structural obstacles;wherein the seat section of the wheelchair is positionable over a standard toilet when the free space is disposed around the toilet, and the seat section of the wheelchair is positionable over the mattress of the middle reconfigurable bed section when the middle reconfigurable bed section is in its low height setting and disposed within the free space; andwherein the lower reconfigurable bed section is additionally movable from an extended position adjacent the middle reconfigurable bed section to a retracted position under the main bed section and vice versa when in its low height setting; and the seat section of the wheelchair is positionable over the mattress of the middle reconfigurable bed section when the middle reconfigurable bed section is in its low height setting and the lower reconfigurable bed section is in its retracted position under the main bed section. 3. An impaired person care system comprising: a segmented bed having a main bed section and at least one reconfigurable bed section adjacent the main bed section, each bed section including a mattress; the at least one reconfigurable bed section having a lifting mechanism for raising the reconfigurable bed section mattress from a low height setting in which the mattress is below the main bed section mattress to a high height setting in which the reconfigurable bed section mattress is substantially commensurate in height with the main bed section mattress; anda reconfigurable powered wheelchair including a frame structure, wheelchair locomotion components, and a patient support area comprising at least a seat section with a toilet access aperture defined therethrough; the locomotion components and the seat section being supported by the frame structure;wherein the at least one reconfigurable bed section comprises upper, middle, and lower reconfigurable bed sections, each of the upper, middle, and lower reconfigurable bed sections being smaller than the main bed section and including a bottom frame, a mattress, and a lifting mechanism between the bottom frame and the mattress for raising the mattress from its low height setting to its high height setting;wherein the frame structure is configured to provide a space of predetermined width and height beneath the seat section that is free from structural obstacles;wherein the seat section of the wheelchair is positionable over a standard toilet when the free space is disposed around the toilet, and the seat section of the wheelchair is positionable over the mattress of the middle reconfigurable bed section when the middle reconfigurable bed section is in its low height setting and disposed within the free space; andwherein the bottom frame of the middle reconfigurable bed section is a narrow extension of the bottom frame of the upper reconfigurable bed section, and edges of the narrow extension function as alignment structure to align the wheelchair over the middle reconfigurable bed section and align the wheelchair with the main bed section. 4. An impaired person care system comprising: a segmented bed having a main bed section and at least one reconfigurable bed section adjacent the main bed section, each bed section including a mattress; the at least one reconfigurable bed section having a lifting mechanism for raising the reconfigurable bed section mattress from a low height setting in which the mattress is below the main bed section mattress to a high height setting in which the reconfigurable bed section mattress is substantially commensurate in height with the main bed section mattress; anda reconfigurable powered wheelchair including a frame structure, wheelchair locomotion components, and a patient support area comprising at least a seat section with a toilet access aperture defined therethrough; the locomotion components and the seat section being supported by the frame structure;wherein the at least one reconfigurable bed section comprises upper, middle, and lower reconfigurable bed sections, each of the upper, middle, and lower reconfigurable bed sections being smaller than the main bed section and including a bottom frame, a mattress, and a lifting mechanism between the bottom frame and the mattress for raising the mattress from its low height setting to its high height setting;wherein the frame structure is configured to provide a space of predetermined width and height beneath the seat section that is free from structural obstacles;wherein the seat section of the wheelchair is positionable over a standard toilet when the free space is disposed around the toilet, and the seat section of the wheelchair is positionable over the mattress of the middle reconfigurable bed section when the middle reconfigurable bed section is in its low height setting and disposed within the free space; andwherein the bottom frame of the middle reconfigurable bed section includes two alignment tracks that function to align the wheelchair over the middle reconfigurable bed section and align the wheelchair with the main bed section. 5. The impaired person care system of claim 1, wherein the seat section includes support rods and the patient support area further comprises a back section having a rod frame rotatably coupled to an end of the seat section support rods, and a leg section having a rod frame rotatably coupled to an opposite end of the seat section support rods; the back section rod frame and the leg section rod frame each having rotational access openings engageable by rotational couplers located in the main bed section to reconfigure the back section and the leg section from the upright sitting position to the horizontal lying-down resting position and vice versa. 6. The impaired person care system of claim 5, wherein the rotational couplers are extendable and retractable into and out of engagement with the access openings when the seat section of the wheelchair is positioned over the middle reconfigurable bed section. 7. The impaired person care system of claim 5, wherein the patient support area includes soft, cushioned material extending between an area encompassed by rods of the back section rod frame, rods of the seat section, and rods of the leg section rod frame; the soft, cushioned material defining sitting and lying-down resting areas in contact with a patient. 8. An impaired person care system comprising: a segmented bed having a main bed section and at least one reconfigurable bed section adjacent the main bed section, each bed section including a mattress; the at least one reconfigurable bed section having a lifting mechanism for raising the reconfigurable bed section mattress from a low height setting in which the mattress is below the main bed section mattress to a high height setting in which the reconfigurable bed section mattress is substantially commensurate in height with the main bed section mattress; anda reconfigurable powered wheelchair including a frame structure, wheelchair locomotion components, and a patient support area comprising at least a seat section with a toilet access aperture defined therethrough; the locomotion components and the seat section being supported by the frame structure;wherein the frame structure is configured to provide a space of predetermined width and height beneath the seat section that is free from structural obstacles;wherein the seat section of the wheelchair is positionable over a standard toilet when the free space is disposed around the toilet, and the seat section of the wheelchair is positionable over the mattress of the at least one reconfigurable bed section when the reconfigurable bed section is in its low height setting and disposed within the free space; andwherein the wheelchair frame structure comprises upper frame portions, middle frame portions, and lower frame portions, the upper frame portions being on opposite sides of the seat section and being provided with elongated slots; the seat section further includes interface flanges attached to the support rods, the interface flanges having comb-like teeth extending through the slots to provide additional support for the seat section and provide guidance for upward and downward seat section movement within the boundaries of the slots. 9. The impaired person care system of claim 8, wherein the slots in the upper frame portions of the wheelchair are capped by a seat assembly cap and an armrest. 10. The impaired person care system of claim 9, wherein a system command controller is housed in one of the armrests. 11. The impaired person care system of claim 8, wherein a removable footrest is attached to the lower frame portions. 12. The impaired person care system of claim 7, wherein the set of reconfigurable bed sections further comprises upper and lower reconfigurable bed sections, each having a bottom frame, a mattress and a lifting mechanism between the bottom frame and its associated mattress for raising its associated mattress from a low height setting in which the mattress is below the main bed section mattress to a high height setting in which the mattress is substantially commensurate in height with the main bed section, andwherein each of the upper, middle, and lower reconfigurable bed sections is smaller than the main bed section. 13. The impaired person care system of claim 12, wherein the lower reconfigurable bed section is additionally movable from an extended position adjacent the middle reconfigurable bed section to a retracted position under the main bed section and vice versa when in its low height setting; andwherein the seat section of the wheelchair is positionable over the mattress of the middle reconfigurable bed section when the middle reconfigurable bed section is in its low height setting and the lower reconfigurable bed section is in its retracted position under the main bed section. 14. The impaired person care system of claim 12, wherein the mattress of the upper reconfigurable bed section is sized to fit within the area encompassed by the rods of the back section rod frame, the mattress of the middle reconfigurable bed section is sized to fit within the area encompassed by the rods of the seat section, and the mattress of the lower reconfigurable bed section is sized to fit within the area encompassed by the rods of the leg section rod frame when the back section and the leg section are in their horizontal lying-down resting position and the mattresses are raised by the lifting mechanisms from their low height setting to their high height setting. 15. The impaired person care system of claim 3, wherein the bottom frame of the upper reconfigurable bed section includes a wheelchair power module connector and wheelchair securing and aligning pins that function to prevent the wheelchair from damaging the power module connector when the wheelchair is being maneuvered over the mattress of the middle reconfigurable bed section. 16. The impaired person care system of claim 15, wherein the frame structure of the wheelchair has lower frame portions, each lower frame portion having an opening for receiving the securing and aligning pins when the wheelchair is positioned over the mattress of the middle reconfigurable bed section. 17. The impaired person care system of claim 16, wherein one of the lower frame portions has an additional opening for receiving the power module connector when the wheelchair is positioned over the mattress of the middle reconfigurable bed section. 18. The impaired person care system of claim 16, wherein each lower frame portion includes a specially configured compartment that houses the locomotion components of the powered wheelchair. 19. The impaired person care system of claim 18, wherein the locomotion components include two batteries, two motors, a steering controller and four wheels attached to a U-shaped bottom plate of the specially configured compartment. 20. The impaired person care system of claim 8, wherein a deadbolt is mounted on a side of the main bed section facing the wheelchair when the wheelchair is positioned over the at least one reconfigurable bed section; and the lower frame portion of the wheelchair facing the main bed section has an opening to allow access of the deadbolt; and wherein the deadbolt, upon being deployed, forces the wheelchair to remain stationary. 21. The impaired person care system of claim 1, wherein the main bed section further includes a bed frame having a contour which prevents the wheelchair from tipping sideways while the wheelchair is configured in the lying-down bed resting position. 22. A method of using an impaired person care system, said method comprising the steps of: providing a segmented bed having a main bed section and at least one reconfigurable bed section adjacent the main bed section, wherein the main bed section includes a mattress and the at least one reconfigurable bed section includes a mattress and a lifting mechanism for raising the reconfigurable bed section mattress from a low height setting in which the mattress is below the main bed section mattress to a high height setting in which the reconfigurable bed section mattress is substantially commensurate in height with the main bed section mattress;providing a reconfigurable powered wheelchair including a frame structure, wheelchair locomotion components including wheels, and a patient support area comprising a seat section with a toilet access aperture defined therethrough, a back section rotatably coupled to the seat section, and a leg section rotatably coupled to the seat section; the frame structure being configured to provide an access space of predetermined width and height beneath the seat section and between the wheels free from structural obstacles, and the patient support area being configured to be convertible from an upright sitting position to a horizontal lying-down bed resting position;maneuvering the wheelchair in the upright sitting position over a standard toilet to position the toilet access aperture in the seat section directly over the toilet;positioning the access space beneath the seat section of the wheelchair over the mattress and the lifting mechanism of the at least one reconfigurable bed section while the wheelchair is in its upright sitting position and the reconfigurable bed section is in its low height setting;thereafter, converting the wheelchair from its upright sitting position to its horizontal lying-down bed resting position; andactuating the lifting mechanism to raise both the reconfigurable bed section mattress and the wheelchair to the high height setting. 23. An impaired person care system comprising: a bed;a motorized wheelchair;wherein the wheelchair comprises four wheels, a seat having forward and rear edges, a backrest pivotally engaged at said rear edge about a first pivot axis, and a footrest pivotally engaged at said forward edge about a second pivot axis parallel to said first pivot axis;wherein said seat has a toilet access aperture defined therethrough;wherein said backrest is selectively pivotable about said first pivot axis between an upright position extending substantially upward from said first pivot axis and a flat position substantially coplanar with said seat;wherein said footrest is pivotable about said second pivot axis between a depending position extending substantially downward from said first pivot axis and a flat position substantially coplanar with said seat;wherein said wheelchair is provided with an open access space beneath said seat sufficiently wide and high to permit the wheelchair to be wheeled into a position with the seat above a standard commode and the toilet access aperture vertically aligned with a bowl of the commode; andmeans for selectively engaging said bed and wheelchair to one another,wherein said means includes rotational couplers on the bed which are extendable and retractable into and out of engagement with said backrest and footrest to selectively pivot said backrest about said first pivot axis and said footrest about said second pivot axis. 24. The impaired person care system of claim 23, wherein said bed comprises: a mattress; anda plurality of reconfigurable bed sections each including a mattress, at least one of said reconfigurable bed sections further including a lifting mechanism for selectively positioning the mattress of said at least one reconfigurable bed section from a low height setting at a level below the bed mattress to a high height setting substantially coplanar with the bed mattress;wherein, when the bed and wheelchair are engaged to one another and the backrest and footrest are in their flat positions, the backrest, seat and footrest rest on the mattresses of the reconfigurable bed sections. 25. The impaired person care system of claim 23, wherein the access space is at least fourteen inches wide and at least fourteen inches high. 26. The impaired person care system of claim 14, wherein the soft, cushioned material defining the sitting and lying-down resting areas in contact with the patient lies directly on and is vertically supported by the mattresses.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (14)
Trkla Theodore A. (205 Ninth St. So. So. St. Paul MN 55075), All purpose wheelchair.
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