ES2986991T3 - Reclining transport chairs - Google Patents

Abstract

A transport chair is provided that includes a base frame, a seat assembly pivotally mounted to the base, and a footrest assembly pivotally mounted to the base frame, the footrest assembly being associated with the seat assembly such that it pivots in unison with the seat assembly until the seat assembly pivots forward to a point where the footrest assembly contacts the ground, at which point the footrest assembly does not pivot any further as the seat assembly pivots further forward. Other embodiments of the transport chair allow the seat assembly to tilt, alone or in unison with a footrest assembly, while the footrest remains in position. (Automatic translation with Google Translate, without legal value)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Reclining transport chairs

Cross reference to related requests

This application is a continuation of U.S. Patent Application No. 15/452,454, filed Mar. 7, 2017 (pending). U.S. Patent Application No. 15/452,454 is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application No. 15/173,259, filed Jun. 3, 2016 (pending). U.S. Patent Application No. 15/173,259 is a continuation of U.S. Patent Application No. 13/574,267, filed Jul. 2, 2012 (now U.S. Patent No. 9,358,166). U.S. Patent No. 9,358,166 is a national phase entry of International Patent Application No. PCT/US11/21834, filed Jan. 20, 2011 (abandoned). International Patent Application PCT/US11/21834 cites priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 61/304,638 filed Feb. 15, 2010 (expired); 61/304,699 filed Feb. 15, 2010 (expired); and 61/296,724, filed Jan. 20, 2010 (expired).

Background

A reclining transport chair is described in WO2011091120.

It is common to transport hospital patients in wheelchairs. In such situations, the patient typically sits in the wheelchair and an operator, often referred to as an attendant, pushes the wheelchair to move the patient to the desired location. To accomplish this, the attendant must often maneuver the chair and patient in and out of elevators, through hallways, up and down ramps, into and out of rooms, etc. In addition, the attendant must often assist the patient in getting out of the chair or sitting down in the chair. Unfortunately, conventional wheelchairs are not very effective in such circumstances because they are designed for self-mobility, not patient transport.

One drawback of conventional wheelchairs is that attendants must bend down to reach the wheelchair handles to push it. The handles typically extend directly toward the attendant in an orientation that is not natural for the attendant and the handles are typically not adjustable. In addition, wheelchairs do not provide sufficient room for the attendant's feet when walking, especially when taking longer strides, such as when the attendant is tall or when moving quickly. In addition, wheelchairs do not provide adequate storage for items such as the patient's belongings or medical documents and equipment. Typically, the only storage provided is a rear pocket built into the wheelchair's flexible backrest. When items are placed in the pocket, the items tend to dig into the patient's back, thus causing an uncomfortable ride. In addition, the upright sitting position and lack of head support can be uncomfortable for the patient for longer periods of time, even when items are not placed in the rear pocket.

In addition to these inconveniences, it can be difficult for the attendant to assist patients into or out of conventional wheelchairs. In either situation, the attendant must bend over, supporting at least some of the patient's weight. Such an action can result in injuries to the attendant's back. Even when such injuries do not occur, the act of assisting the patient into or out of the chair can require significant strength, which the attendant may not possess. It can also be physically stressful for patients to get into and out of conventional wheelchairs, especially if these patients are in a physically debilitated condition due to age, illness, or injury.

Another drawback of conventional wheelchairs is that they take up a lot of space when not in use and tend to be left in disarray in hospital corridors, thereby hindering hospital staff and equipment. In addition, the footrests of conventional wheelchairs are detachable and tend to get lost. In addition, conventional wheelchairs are easily stolen.

Another drawback of conventional wheelchairs is that they cannot recline. Sitting upright for long periods of time can be tiring for patients with weakened core muscles, spinal injuries, and the like. Conventional wheelchairs might be suitable for relatively robust patients who are unable to walk for long periods of time, but in practice wheelchairs are used to transport patients with more severe disabilities. As a matter of practical use, wheelchairs are not simply used to transport a patient from one place to another, but often the patient must wait for long periods of time in the wheelchair waiting for medical attention, such as when a patient is taken from a hospital room to a busy radiology center.

In view of the drawbacks described above, it can be appreciated that it would be desirable to have alternative means of transporting persons, such as hospital patients, from one place to another. The invention is described in the claims.

Brief description of the drawings

The described embodiments of transport chairs can be better understood with reference to the following figures. It should be noted that the components illustrated in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a transport chair.

Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the transport chair of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the transport chair of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a front view of the transport chair of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a rear view of the transport chair of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a top view of the transport chair of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a bottom perspective view of a base frame, a seat assembly bottom pan, and footrest assemblies of the transport chair of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a top perspective view of the base frame, seat assembly bottom pan, and footrest assemblies of the transport chair of Fig. 1, with the footrest assemblies shown separated from the base frame.

Fig. 9 is a front perspective view of the base frame and footrest assemblies of the transport chair of Fig. 1 illustrating locking a footrest assembly in an elevated orientation.

Figs. 10A-10D are sequential side views illustrating the transport chair of Fig. 1 when its seat assembly is articulated from a fully reclined position to a fully reclined (forward leaning) position.

Figs. 11A and 11B are additional rear perspective views of the transport chair of Fig. 1, but with the chair shown in a tilted (leaning forward) position to illustrate the attachment of a bottom shelf to the seat assembly.

Figure 12 is a side view of the transport chair of Fig. 1, with the bottom shelf attached to the seat assembly and a footrest stop element deployed.

Fig. 13 is a side view of two transport chairs of the type shown in Fig. 1, with the two transport chairs nested together for more compact and organized storage.

Fig. 14 is a rear perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a transport chair. Fig. 15A is a perspective view of an alternative version of the transport chair in an upright configuration.

Fig. 15B is a perspective view of the alternate version of the transport chair shown in Fig. 15A, in a reclined configuration. Note the elevation of the leg rest and the alteration in the inclination and position of the arm rests.

Fig. 16A is a side view of the alternative version of the transport chair shown in Fig. 15A in the upright configuration.

Fig. 16B is a side view of the alternative version of the transport chair shown in Fig. 15B in a reclined position.

Fig. 17A is a top view of the alternative version of the transport chair shown in Fig. 15A in the upright configuration.

Fig. 17B is a top view of the alternative version of the transport chair shown in Fig. 15B in a reclined position.

Fig. 18A is a front view of the alternative version of the transport chair shown in Fig. 15A in the upright configuration.

Fig. 18B is a front view of the alternative version of the transport chair shown in Fig. 15B in a reclined position.

Detailed description

As described above, conventional wheelchairs have several drawbacks when used to transport people, such as hospital patients, from one location to another. Described herein are transport chairs that are specifically designed to transport such people with maximum comfort while reducing the effort required by the people and operators of the chairs (e.g., hospital attendants) and thus reducing the possibility of injury. In some embodiments, the transport chairs comprise a seat assembly that is supported by a base frame and is pivotable relative to the base frame about a pivot axis located near the front edge of the chair seat. This pivoting capability not only makes getting patients into and out of the chair much easier (particularly for patients with weakened legs or balance issues), but also makes it easier to snap the chairs together, significantly reducing the amount of space required to store the chairs.

In this description, particular embodiments are described and illustrated. It should be noted that these embodiments are merely examples and that many other variations are possible. The present description is intended to include all such variations.

[0031] Figs. 1-6 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a transport chair 10. Generally speaking, the transport chair 10 includes a seat assembly 12 that is supported by a base frame 14. The seat assembly 12 comprises a seat frame 16 that includes multiple frame members, which may be configured as hollow metal tubes (e.g., steel or aluminum). For the purposes of this discussion, the frame members will be referred to as tubes. The seat frame 16 includes two opposing side tubes 18 and an upper cross tube 20, a rear cross tube 22, and a lower support component or tray 24, each of which extends between the two side tubes. As described below, at least one tube section 26 of the seat assembly is attached to the bottom tray 24 to facilitate articulation of the seat assembly 12.

Extending between the side tubes 18 is a support element 28 that supports the user (patient) when transported in the chair 10. In some embodiments, the support element 28 comprises a flexible material that both conforms to the patient's body and facilitates air circulation so as to increase patient comfort. By way of example, the support element 28 comprises a hospital grade vinyl fabric or mesh. Regardless of the particular nature of the support element 28, the side tubes 8 may be continuous to form both a lower portion or seat 30 of the chair 10 and an upper portion or back 32 of the chair. In some embodiments, the back 32 forms a fixed angle with the seat 30 that is greater than 105 degrees. Such an angle is referred to as an "open hip angle" and not only increases patient comfort by allowing proper spinal positioning but also facilitates entry and exit from the transport chair 10. In some embodiments, the side tubes 18 form a seat profile based on the Grandjean curve, which is specifically designed to provide maximum comfort for all body sizes. Although the seat 30 and backrest 32 have been described and shown to be formed by the continuous side tubes 18 and thus define a fixed angle between them, separate tubes or other elements could be provided for the seat and backrest to allow adjustment of the angle between the backrest and the seat.

As further illustrated in the figures, the lower and upper portions of the side tubes 18, belonging to the seat 30 and the backrest 32, respectively, are individually curved. Specifically, the lower portions of the side tubes 18 curve downward at the front of the seat 30 to accommodate the curvature of the patient's knees and curve upward at the rear of the seat to accommodate the curvature of the patient's hips and to transition to the backrest 32. The upper portions of the side tubes 18 curve slightly forward near the lower middle portion of the backrest 32, curve slightly rearward near the upper middle portion of the backrest, and curve slightly forward again near the top of the backrest to accommodate the natural curvature of the spine and to provide support for the shoulders (and head for smaller patients). In addition, the upper ends of the side tubes 18 extend rearward from the support member 28 toward the operator of the chair.

With particular reference to Figs. 2 and 3, extending rearwardly from the upper ends of the side tubes 18 and extending laterally between the side tubes is an operator handle 34 that may be used by the chair operator to move the transport chair 10. In some embodiments, the handle 34 comprises side portions 35 extending rearwardly from the side tubes 18 and a laterally extending portion 37 extending between the side portions and forming the grip of the handle. Because the handle 34 extends rearwardly from the side tubes 18, which in turn extend rearwardly from the support member 28, the position of the handle ensures that the chair operator has sufficient clearance for the operator's feet and legs when walking with the chair 10. Furthermore, because the handle 34 incorporates a laterally extending portion 37 for a grip, the handle is much easier to grip than wheelchair handles.

The handle 34 is pivotally connected to the side tubes 18 and may be angularly adjusted to accommodate the height of the operator and/or to account for the recline angle of the seat assembly 12. In the illustrated embodiment, adjustability is permitted by pivot joints 36 which are in a normally locked orientation but may be adjusted when release buttons 38 on the sides of the pivot joints are depressed and held. By way of example, the laterally extending portion 37 of the handle 34 may be articulated from a 60 degree declination angle to a 60 degree tilt angle, thereby providing approximately eight inches (twenty centimeters) of vertical adjustment. As best shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the laterally extending portion 37 of the operator's handle 34 may be economically curved to accommodate the natural positions of the operator's outstretched hands.

Also mounted to the side tubes 18 are opposing armrests 40. In the illustrated embodiment, the armrests 40 are mounted to the side tubes 18 with mounting brackets 42 that are fixedly secured to the rear sides of the side tubes. In some embodiments, the armrests 40 are pivotally mounted to the mounting brackets 42 so that they can be articulated from a lower, generally horizontal position, where they are generally parallel to the seat 30 to an upper, generally vertical position, where they are generally parallel to the backrest 32 and therefore out of the way of the patient. In some embodiments, each of the mounting brackets 42 comprises an attachment element 44, for example a hook, that is configured to receive and secure a lower shelf of the transport chair 10, described below. As also described below, such receiving and securing facilitates the snap-together of the transport chair 10.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the transport chair 10 optionally includes a rear storage component 46 that can be used to store various items, such as a patient's personal items, documents and medical equipment, or a power supply for the chair's motorized lift mechanism (where provided). The rear storage component 46 can be fabricated from sheet metal (e.g., steel or aluminum) or a plastic material and, as illustrated in the figures, can be secured to the upper and rear cross tubes 20, 22 of the seat assembly 12. As further illustrated in the figures, the rear storage component 46 can define an upper storage compartment 48 in the form of a large pocket and a lower storage compartment 50 in the form of a flat tray. As shown in Figs. 2 and 6, the storage component 46 may contain an integral IV pole 52 that may be manually extended from a horizontal, stowed position (shown in the figure) to a vertical, extended position (not shown) so that an IV bag or other component may be hung from a hook 54 of the holder. In the illustrated embodiment, the lower storage compartment 50 supports a power source 55 (e.g., a battery) for the lifting mechanism.

As described above, the seat assembly undertray 24 extends between the two side tubes 18. More specifically, the undertray 24 extends beneath the seat 30 between the lower portions of the side tubes 18. The undertray 24, like the cross tubes 20, 22, provides structural integrity to the seat assembly 12. In addition, the undertray 24 facilitates rotation of the seat assembly 12 about a front pivot axis 56 of the transport chair 10 located near the front edge of the seat 30. In particular, the undertray 24 supports at least one horizontal seat assembly tube section 26 that is fixedly mounted to, and concentric with, a horizontal pivot shaft 58 that is concentric with the pivot axis 56 and thus has a central longitudinal axis coinciding with and defining the pivot axis. In some embodiments, the shaft 58 comprises a hollow metal tube (e.g., steel). In the illustrated embodiment, there are two tube sections of the seat assembly 26. Because the tube sections 26 are fixedly connected to the bottom tray 24, which supports the seat assembly 12, the seat assembly can rotate or pivot about the pivot axis 56 with the pivot shaft 58. As described below with reference to Figs. 10A-10D, the seat assembly 12 can be positioned in any number of orientations between a fully reclined position and a fully reclined (or forward leaning) position. In the illustrated embodiment, the tube sections 26 are mounted to the bottom tray 24 with tabs 60 extending from the tray to the tube sections (see Figs. 8 and 11A).

The lower pan 24 also facilitates rotation of the seat assembly 12 because the lower pan serves as an attachment point for a lift mechanism 62 that assists the operator in rotating the seat assembly about the pivot axis 56. One embodiment for the lift mechanism 62 and its operation are described below.

The base frame 14, like the seat frame 16, comprises multiple frame elements, which may be configured as hollow metal tubes (e.g., steel or aluminum). For the purposes of this discussion, the base frame elements will also be referred to as tubes. As most clearly indicated in Figs. 1 and 4, the base frame 14 includes two opposing, generally vertical front tubes 64. Located at the upper ends of the front tubes 64 are horizontal base frame tube sections 66 which, like the seat assembly tube sections 26, are mounted on the pivot shaft 58. Unlike the seat assembly tube sections 26, however, the base frame tube sections 66 are not secured to the pivot shaft 58 such that the pivot shaft can rotate independently of the base frame tube sections. With this configuration, the front tubes 64 support the pivot shaft 58 and, therefore, the seat assembly 12 which is mounted on the shaft 58.

Connected to the lower ends of the front tubes 64 are front wheel assemblies 68. As shown in the drawings, each of the front wheel assemblies 68 is configured as a caster including a wheel 70 rotatable about a horizontal axis and a support 72 rotatable about a vertical axis. By way of example, the wheel 70 comprises an elastic outer surface made of rubber or a polymer with similar properties.

Between the front tubes 64 extends a generally horizontal front cross tube 74. The front cross tube 74 provides structural support for the front tubes 64 and further supports the lift mechanism 62 with downwardly extending mounting flanges 76 to which the lift mechanism 62 is pivotally mounted. Although capable of an alternative construction, the lift mechanism 62 may comprise an internal electric motor (not visible) contained within an outer housing 78 that linearly drives a shaft 80 that is pivotally connected to the underpan 24 of the seat assembly 12. When the motor is actuated to extend the shaft 80 from the housing 78, the underpan 24 moves upwardly and the seat assembly 12 pivots forward about the pivot axis 56. Conversely, when the motor is actuated to retract the shaft 80 into the housing 78, the lower tray 24 moves downward and the seat assembly 12 pivots rearwardly about the pivot axis 56.

6 illustrates an exemplary controller 77 that may be used to activate the lift mechanism 62. As shown in that figure, the controller 77 is mounted within the upper storage compartment 48 of the rear storage component 46 and includes up and down push buttons 79. Although the controller 77 is shown integrated with the rear storage compartment 48, in other embodiments the controller may be connected to a long cable (e.g., 8 to 10 feet long) that allows the operator to remotely activate the lift mechanism 62 from a position other than behind the chair 10. For example, the cable would allow the operator to activate the lift mechanism 62 from the front of the chair 10 such that the operator could activate the lift mechanism and assist the patient at the same time. In still other embodiments, the controller 77 may be a wireless controller.

Extending rearwardly from the front tubes 64 are two opposing, generally horizontal side tubes 82. In embodiments where the transport chair 10 can be nested with similar chairs, the side tubes 82 extend outwardly at an angle from the front tubes 64 as shown in Fig. 5 to allow room for another chair to fit between the side tubes. As best shown in Fig. 2, each of the side tubes 82 terminates in a vertical rear flange 84 on which a rear wheel 86 is mounted. The rear wheels 86 in this embodiment are significantly larger than the front wheels 70 but, as with the front wheels, each may comprise a resilient outer surface made of rubber or a polymer with similar properties. Fixedly mounted within each wheel 86 is a toothed hub 88. A brake element (not visible in the figures) actuated by a pedal 90 positioned adjacent to wheel 86 may engage the teeth of hub 88 to provide independent positive braking for each wheel 86. Although independent braking has been described, the brake element associated with each wheel 86 may be simultaneously actuated by a single pedal 90 in alternative embodiments.

Extending below the seat assembly 12 is a lower storage component in the form of a lower shelf 100. The front end of the shelf 100 is pivotally mounted to the side tubes 82 near the point where the side tubes connect to the front tubes 64 (see Fig. 5) and the rear end of the frame is supported by (rests on) the rear flanges 84 of the side tubes 82. With this configuration, the rear end of the lower frame 100 can be lifted from the rear flanges 84 and connected to the fastening element 44 for snap-in purposes (see Figs. 11A and 11B). In the illustrated embodiment, the shelf 100 is constructed as a metal wire frame.

Extending downward from and between the side tubes 82 is a U-shaped center cross tube 102. The center cross tube 102 provides structural support for the side tubes 82 and further supports a stop member 104 that is pivotally mounted thereto. As described below, the stop member 104 is used to prevent the footrests of another transport chair from damaging the lift mechanism 62 when an operator attempts to improperly engage the chair without first folding down the rear chair footrests. In the retracted or unfolded position shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the stop member 104 is raised off the floor or ground and suspended from the bottom shelf 100 due to magnetic attraction between a magnet provided in the stop member 104 and the metal of the bottom shelf (or associated shelf magnet if provided). When the lower shelf 100 is lifted upward to facilitate docking, the magnetic coupling is broken and the stop element 104 falls to the floor or ground under the force of gravity to assume an extended or deployed position ensuring that the footrest of a potentially dockable chair is locked.

In addition to the seat assembly 12, the pivot shaft 58 of the base frame 14 also supports at least one footrest assembly 108. Although a single footrest assembly 108 may be provided to support both feet of the patient, the illustrated embodiment includes two footrest assemblies, one for each foot. Each footrest assembly 108 includes a horizontal footrest assembly tube section 110 that is mounted on, and concentric with, the pivot shaft 58. However, unlike the seat assembly tube sections 26, the tube sections 110 are free to rotate about the pivot shaft 58. Each footrest assembly tube section 110 is a leg 112 that is similar in length to the lower portion of a human leg. Pivotably mounted to the lower end of each leg 112 with a pivot joint 114 is the footrest 116. In some embodiments, each of the footrests 116 comprises a generally flat metal plate 118. Affixed to the bottom surface of each plate 118 is a layer of resilient anti-slip material 120 which, as described below, acts as an additional brake for the transport chair 10 when a patient enters or exits the chair.

In some embodiments, the footrest assemblies 108 pivot in unison with the seat assembly 12 until they contact the floor or ground, at which point the patient may stand on the footrests and enter or exit the chair 10. In the illustrated embodiment, such functionality is provided by the key and slot apparatuses defined by the seat assembly tube sections 26 and the footrest assembly tube sections 110. Examples of key and slot apparatuses are illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, which show the base frame 14 (with the lift mechanism 62 removed), the bottom tray 24 of the seat assembly 12, and the footrest assemblies 108. Specifically, key and slot apparatuses defined by pairs of seat assembly tube sections 26 and footrest tube sections 108 are illustrated.

As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, a key 122 in the form of a rectangular, arcuate appendage extends from the inner edge of each seat assembly tube section 26 toward its adjacent footrest tube section 10. The key 122 is received within an arcuate slot 124 that is provided along the outer edge of the footrest tube section 110 facing the adjacent seat assembly tube section 26. Each slot 124 has an upper end 126 and a lower end 128 and the key 122 is movable along the slot and at least engages the upper end of the slot. The key and slot pairs are angularly positioned in the tube sections 26, 110 such that when the seat assembly 12 is reclined beyond a predetermined point (e.g., beyond a point at which the seat 30 is horizontal), the key 122 engages the upper end 126 of the slot 124 and continued reclining of the seat assembly will lift the footrest assemblies 108 off the floor or ground such that the footrest assemblies will pivot in unison with the seat assembly. When the seat assembly 12 is again pivoted forward to the point where the footrests 116 are again supported by the floor or ground, the footrest assemblies 108 will "separate" from the seat assembly and remain stationary even if the seat assembly continues to be pivoted forward. During such continued rotation, key 122 of seat assembly tube section 26 travels unhindered along slot 124 of footrest assembly tube section 110. An example of such operation is described in connection with Figs. 10A-10D below.

In some embodiments, the footrest assemblies 108 may be independently locked in predetermined orientations relative to the seat assembly 12 to elevate one or both feet of the patient. An example of such a lock is illustrated in Fig. 9. That figure shows the base frame 14 of the transport chair 10 (with the lift mechanism 62 removed) with the footrest assemblies 108 attached. As shown in Fig. 9, the left footrest assembly 108 has been locked in an elevated orientation relative to the right footrest assembly 108 using a locking pin 130 that has been passed through openings formed in the tube section 110 of the left footrest assembly and the pivot shaft 58. When the pin 130 has been so positioned, the footrest assembly 108 is fixedly connected to the pivot shaft 58 and will therefore move in unison with the seat assembly 12 (not shown), which is also fixed to the shaft.

The construction of an exemplary transport chair 10 having been described above, the operation of the chair will now be discussed. As described above, the seat assembly 12 is infinitely adjustable between a fully reclined orientation in which a patient may sit in the chair 10 to a fully reclined or forward-tilted orientation in which the patient may sit in or rise from the chair. Figs. 10A-10D show the seat assembly 12 articulated from the fully reclined orientation (Fig. 10A) to the fully reclined or forward-tilted orientation (Fig. 10D). As indicated in Fig. 10A, both the seat 30 and the backrest 32 are reclined when the seat assembly 12 is in the fully reclined orientation. In some embodiments, the seat 30 is at an angle with the horizontal plane of about 10 to 30 degrees and the backrest 32 is at an angle with the vertical plane of about 20 to 40 degrees when the seat assembly 12 is fully reclined. By way of example, the seat 30 is reclined at an angle of about 20 degrees (from the horizontal plane) and the backrest 32 is reclined at an angle of about 30 degrees (from the vertical plane) in the fully reclined orientation. As also shown in FIG. 10A , the footrest assemblies 108 are raised off the floor by the aforementioned key and slot apparatus.

When the lift mechanism 62 is activated to extend the shaft 80, the seat assembly 12 will pivot forward about the pivot axis 56 and the recline angle of the seat assembly will be reduced. Fig. 10B shows the transport chair after the lift mechanism 62 has been actuated to bring the seat 30 to a horizontal orientation. As also shown in that figure, the footrest assemblies 108 have pivoted downward when the seat assembly 12 has pivoted forward to the point where the footrests 116 initially contact the floor or ground. Although it has been described and illustrated that the footrests 116 first contact the floor or ground when the seat 30 is horizontal, it is noted that this relationship is merely exemplary and that the footrests may first contact the floor or ground when the seat is in another orientation.

If the lift mechanism 62 continues to operate, the forward pivoting of the seat assembly 12 continues, as indicated in Fig. 10C, and both the seat 30 and the backrest 32 will begin to tilt forward. It should be noted, however, that the footrest assemblies 108 do not continue to pivot with the seat assembly 12 because they are now supported by the floor or ground.

10D shows the seat assembly 12 in the fully reclined or forward-tilted orientation. As shown in that figure, the footrest assemblies 108 have not moved. In some embodiments, the seat 30 forms an angle with the horizontal plane of about -10 to -30 degrees and the backrest 32 forms an angle with the vertical plane of about 0 to -20 degrees when the seat assembly 12 is fully reclined forward. By way of example, the seat 30 is tilted forward at an angle of about -20 degrees (from the horizontal plane) and the backrest 32 is tilted forward at an angle of about -10 degrees (from the vertical plane) in the fully reclined orientation.

It is much easier for patients to rise from the transport chair 10 when the seat assembly 12 has been tilted forward as shown in Fig. 10D. Specifically, the rotation of the seat assembly 12 places the patient in a more upright position that is closer to standing than the sitting position of a conventional wheelchair. Therefore, less leg energy and strength is required to stand up. As the patient begins to stand up, the patient's weight is pressed down onto the footrests 116. This force presses the footrests 116 into firm contact with the floor or ground. This force, combined with the anti-slip material 120 provided on the bottom of the footrests 116, stabilizes the chair 10 as well as the patient as the patient leaves the chair. The forward tilt of the seat assembly 2 also reduces the energy or strength required of someone (e.g., a hospital attendant) who must assist the patient in getting out of the chair 10.

The forward tilt of the seat assembly 12 also makes it easier for patients to sit in the chair 10. Specifically, because the seat 30 is tilted forward and upward in the orientation shown in Fig. 10D, the patient does not need to drop down as far to sit as a patient would need to with a conventional wheelchair. This also means less work for the person assisting the patient into the chair 10.

The pivoting of the seat assembly 12 not only facilitates patient entry and exit into the transport chair 10 but also facilitates docking storage of the chair. Fig. 11A shows the transport chair 10 from the rear when the chair is in or near the fully tilted (forward tilted) orientation. As shown in that figure, the bottom shelf 100 is still supported by the rear flanges 84 of the side tubes 82 of the base frame 14. When the shelf 100 is in that position, it occupies the space between the rear wheels 86 that could be used for docking. If docking is desired, the shelf 100 can be manually pivoted upward and secured to the seat assembly 12 as indicated in Fig. 11B. Specifically, the shelf 100 can be hung from the attachment members 44 provided on the mounting brackets 42 connected to the side tubes 18 of the seat assembly 12. In some embodiments, such attachment is accomplished when the seat assembly 12 has been tilted slightly just forward of the fully forward tilted position. Once the shelf 100 has been attached, the seat assembly 12 can be fully pivoted forward. Regardless, once the shelf 100 has been connected to the seat assembly 12, the space between the rear wheels 86 is open and unobstructed.

When the lower shelf 100 rotates upward, the magnetic coupling connecting the footrest stop element 104 to the shelf is broken and the stop element falls to the floor or ground in its deployed position, as shown in Fig. 2. As described above, once deployed, the stop element 104 is positioned to block the passage of the footrests 116 of another chair that someone might attempt to fit behind the chair 10 and thereby prevents the footrests from damaging the lift mechanism 62. Because of the stop element 104, the footrests 116 of another chair that is to be fitted behind the chair 10 must be folded upward before being fitted.

Such an upward folding is illustrated in Figure 12. Specifically, the footrests 116 have been pivoted approximately 90 degrees to move from a generally horizontal orientation to a generally vertical orientation. In some embodiments, friction maintains the footrests 116 in the vertical orientation to prevent them from unintentionally falling into the horizontal orientation.

Fig. 13 illustrates the interlocking of two transport chairs: a front chair 10a and a rear chair 10b. As shown in that figure, the rear chair 10b has been moved into the space between the rear wheels 86 of the front chair 10a so that the two chairs take up less space than if they were stored separately. As further shown in Fig. 13, the seat assembly 12 of the rear chair 10b does not occupy the space below the seat assembly 12 of the front chair 10a.

To place the chairs 10a, 10b in the orientation shown in Fig. 13, the chair operator may first place the front chair 10a in a desired storage location and apply the chair brakes. The operator may then pivot the front chair 10a forward and attach the lower shelf 100 of the front chair to its associated seat assembly 12 in a position between fully reclined and fully tilted (tilted forward). Once the lower shelf 100 has been attached to the seat assembly 12, the operator may complete the forward tilt of the front chair 10a. The operator may then fold down the footrests 116 of the rear chair 10b and then push the rear chair forward between the rear wheels 86 of the front chair 10a until the footrests of the rear chair contact the deployed stop member 104 of the front chair. At that time, the operator may apply the brakes on the rear chair 10b and, if desired, attach the lower shelf 100 to the seat assembly 12 and fully tilt the seat assembly forward so that another chair can be fitted behind the rear chair.

The operator may perform the reverse operation to disengage the rear chair 10b from the front chair 10a. For example, the operator may pivot the seat assembly 12 of the rear chair 0b rearward and detach the bottom shelf 100 so that it may be placed in its horizontal orientation (supported by the rear flanges 84 of the side tubes 82). Once the seat assembly 12 has been reclined, the operator may release the brakes of the rear chair 10b and remove the rear chair from the front chair 10a. Before a patient can use the rear chair 10b, the operator must deploy the footrests 16. If deemed necessary, the seat assembly 12 may be tilted forward again after the footrests 116 have been deployed to facilitate entry into the chair 10 by the patient. Because the forward tilt of the chair causes the footrests 116 to engage the floor or ground, the operator must recline the chair 10 before it can be used to transport a patient. In particular, such recline would still be necessary even if the footrests 116 were not engaged the floor or ground because the forward tilt angles of the seat 30 and backrest 32 are such that the patient could slip and fall forward out of the chair 10 if transport were attempted before the seat assembly 12 was reclined.

14 illustrates another example of a transport chair 200+. The chair 200 is similar in many respects to the transport chair 10. However, the lift mechanism 202 of the chair 200 is configured as a gas piston lift mechanism. In the embodiment of FIG. 14, the lift mechanism 202 comprises two gas pistons 204, each of which has a housing containing a pressurized gas that is used to drive a shaft 208 from the housing. The lift mechanism 202 operates in a manner similar to the lift mechanism of an office chair. Specifically, the pistons 204 maintain a given seating orientation until they are activated, in this case by a pedal 210. At that point, gas may flow into the pistons 204 to apply an extension force to the shafts 208. In some embodiments, the force provided by the pistons 204 is not, by itself, sufficient to pivot the seating assembly 12 forward when a patient is seated in the chair 10. Instead, the pistons 204 provide lift assist to the operator when the operator manually pivots the seating assembly 12 forward using the handle 34. That being said, the force provided by the pistons 204 greatly reduces the amount of effort required on the part of the operator to pivot the seating assembly 12 forward. When the pedal 210 is released, the pistons 204 will maintain whatever orientation the seating assembly 12 is in.

The wheelchair 300, shown in Figs. 15-18, is capable of reclining, in addition to having the ability to tilt forward (hereinafter referred to as "tilting forward" or simply "tilting"). In some embodiments of the reclining chair 300, the seat assembly 12 reclines and tilts forward about the same pivot axis 56, which may be the pivot shaft 58 discussed above. Multiple additional features may be present to facilitate a comfortable and economically advantageous reclined position for the patient.

For example, one or more features must be present to elevate the patient's legs as the patient reclines. One such feature is a leg rest assembly 302 that is separate from the foot rest assembly 108. While the foot rest could be designed to elevate as the patient reclines, such an approach has a number of problems. The foot rest would be angled too high for the patient's feet to rest stably and would have a tendency to slide (in the absence of some complex mechanism to reorient the foot rest). The foot rest would stick out in front of the patient and potentially hit objects in front of the chair as it moves forward or turns. In the reclined position, the feet are not well positioned to support the rest of the patient's leg. An independently articulating leg rest has none of these problems.

Accordingly, embodiments of wheelchair 300 comprise a legrest assembly 302 configured to pivot to raise independently of footrest assembly 108, and configured to pivot to rise in unison with seat assembly 12 as seat assembly 12 pivots to recline. When wheelchair 300 is in its upright position, legrest assembly 302 is retracted, in a non-raised position (see FIGS. 15A and 16A ). Legrest assembly 302 is raised by any of a number of types of actuators, as known in the art. Legrest assembly 302 may be configured to stop raising once the patient's legs have been raised to an approximately horizontal position. Some embodiments of the leg rest assembly 302 may have the ability to be raised independently of the seat assembly 12, to allow a patient sitting upright to rest one or more legs. Although the embodiment of the leg rest assembly 302 shown in FIGS. 15-18 is shown with two leg rest pads 304 (left and right), it is contemplated that the leg rest assembly 302 could have a single pad 304 upon which both legs rest. In embodiments of the leg rest 302 having two pads 304 as shown, the leg rest assembly 302 could be configured to allow each leg to be raised independently of the other. This could be useful in various circumstances, such as when a patient has a single leg cast or brace that does not allow the patient to bend his or her knee.

Where the leg rest assembly 302 is raised in unison with the seat assembly 12 as it is reclined, the degree of elevation of the leg rest assembly 302 may be a function of the degree of recline of the seat assembly 12. Such configurations have the advantage of allowing the patient's back to be reclined without leaving the legs in a potentially uncomfortable sitting position. The leg rest assembly 302 may also have the ability to be raised independently of the recline of the seat assembly 12, for example to support an injured leg while the patient sits upright.

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the leg rest assembly 302 pivots about an axis 306 at the front edge of the seat, just forward of the seat assembly pivot shaft 58. The axis 306 in the illustrated embodiment is proximate the axis 56 about which the foot rest assembly 108 and the seat assembly 12 pivot. In further embodiments, the leg rest assembly 302, the foot rest assembly 108, and the seat assembly 12 pivot about a common axis (not shown). The leg rest pivot axis 306, as shown, intersects a left and right leg pad support member 308, which is hinged. In other possible embodiments, the leg rest assembly 302 could potentially share the pivot shaft 58 with the seat assembly 12.

Another possible feature of the recliner chair 300 is a pair of articulated armrests 310. When the patient reclines, the patient's shoulders translate downward, causing the arms to reorient themselves. This can cause the arms to be placed in a position where the elbows are not in contact with a stationary armrest. Not only can this be uncomfortable, but if the patient has the IV in place, this position could potentially place unwanted stress on the IV or cause the hypodermic needle to damage surrounding tissue. In the illustrated embodiment of the wheelchair 300, the armrest 310 rotates about a pivot axis 312 located near the rear of the armrest 310 and translates toward the rear wheels 86 when the seat assembly 12 reclines. In this way, the patient's arms remain supported by the armrests 310. Superior ergonomic positioning can be achieved by pivoting the armrests 310 so that they remain parallel to the footrest assembly 108 as the armrests 310 pivot and translate. In a further embodiment of the wheelchair 300, the armrests 310 translate toward the rear wheels 86 until contact is made between the armrest 310 and the rear wheels 86 (shown in Figs. 15B and 16B). Such contact can have the effect of restricting or stopping the rolling of the wheels 86. It can serve to block movement of the wheelchair 300 when the patient is in a reclined position.

Another possible feature of the recliner chair 300 shown in FIGS. 15-18 is a headrest 314. Conventional wheelchairs do not provide support for the head. The absence of a headrest precludes the use of conventional wheelchairs for patients with neck injuries or weak neck muscles, requiring the use of a stretcher or similar means of transport. Furthermore, even for patients able to hold their head upright, extended periods in a wheelchair can be tiring, but the patient cannot sleep in a conventional wheelchair without the patient's head falling to one side, often awakening the patient (thus making sleep impossible). The headrest 314 can be configured to be adjustable to meet the needs of patients with different body sizes. As shown in the illustrated embodiments, the position may be adjusted using a headrest support arm 316 that pivots about an axis 318 behind the patient's head and translates toward or away from the axis 318. The headrest 314 may also have a generally arcuate profile 320 as shown in Figs. 16A and 16B; this maintains the head in the same orientation in a reclined position as it does in an upright position.

Claims (17)

1. A wheelchair (10) configured to recline and tilt forward, said wheelchair comprising: a. a base frame (14) having a first pivot axis (56); b. at least two wheels (86) rotatably mounted on said base frame; c. a seat assembly (12) and a footrest assembly (108) configured to pivot about said first pivot axis from a first seated position to a reclined seated position; and d. a legrest assembly (302) pivotally coupled to said base frame and configured to pivot about a second pivot axis (306) to rise in unison with the seat assembly when said seat assembly is reclined independently of said footrest assembly. 2. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein the second pivot axis is proximate or congruent with the first pivot axis. 3. The wheelchair of claim 1, further comprising a pivot shaft defining said first pivot axis, wherein the seat assembly is fixedly mounted to the pivot shaft such that the seat assembly pivots about the pivot shaft to tilt forward, and such that the seat assembly pivots about the pivot shaft to recline, wherein a base frame member extends from the pivot shaft to the at least two wheels such that the pivot shaft is free to pivot independently of the base frame member, and wherein the footrest assembly is pivotally mounted on the pivot shaft such that the footrest assembly is free to rotate independently of the pivot shaft, the footrest assembly being associated with the seat assembly to pivot in unison with the seat assembly when the seat assembly pivots forward until the footrest assembly is pivoted forward to an extent where the point at which the footrest assembly is pivoted is such that ... makes contact with the floor or ground, at which point the footrest assembly without manual intervention will not pivot further forward after the seat assembly has pivoted further forward. 4. The wheelchair of claim 1, comprising: a front wheel, and wherein the two wheels rotatably mounted on said base frame are rear wheels mounted on a rear portion of the base frame; a pivot shaft in the base frame positioned proximate a forward edge of the seat defining the first pivot axis about which the seat assembly can pivot to tilt forward or recline, the seat assembly being fixedly mounted on the pivot shaft; wherein The seat assembly defines a seat and a backrest; The base frame supports the seat assembly; and The footrest assembly is mounted on the pivot shaft, the footrest assembly being free to pivot to tilt forward independently of the pivot shaft and being physically coupled with the seat assembly to pivot to tilt forward in unison with the seat assembly until the seat assembly is tilted forward to an extent where the footrest assembly contacts the floor or ground, at which point the footrest assembly without manual intervention does not pivot to tilt further forward upon further forward tilt of the seat assembly. 5. The wheelchair of claim 1, comprising: e. a pivot shaft defining the first pivot axis, and pivotally mounted to the base frame so as to be capable of pivoting relative to the base frame, wherein the seat assembly is fixedly mounted to the pivot shaft so that the seat assembly pivots about the pivot shaft to tilt forward and recline; f. a frame element extending from the pivot shaft to at least one wheel, such that the pivot shaft is free to pivot independently of the frame element; g. means provided on the seat assembly and the footrest assembly for causing the footrest assembly to pivot to tilt forward in unison with the seat assembly when the footrest assembly is not in contact with the floor or ground, but allowing the footrest assembly to remain stationary while the seat assembly is tilted forward if the footrest assembly is in contact with the floor or ground; and wherein the footrest assembly is pivotally mounted on the pivot shaft such that the footrest assembly is freely pivotable to tilt forward independently of the pivot shaft and in unison with the seat assembly during use of the chair by a seated user, but does not pivot to recline in unison with the seat assembly when the seat assembly is reclined. 6. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein The seat assembly comprises a seat having a front edge and a rear edge, said seat assembly being configured to tilt forward and recline; The footrest assembly comprises a support member having an upper end and a lower end, and a foot plate extending from said support member near its lower end; the seat assembly and the footrest assembly are pivotally coupled to each other near said front edge and said upper end; and said seat and footrest assemblies being configured to pivot in unison while pivoting about the first pivot axis to tilt forward from a first seated position in which said foot platform is elevated above the floor to a second seated position in which said foot plate contacts the floor, after which the seat assembly is configured to disengage from said footrest assembly and continue to tilt forward. 7. The wheelchair of claim 1, comprising a pivot shaft defining the first pivot axis. 8. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein the second pivot axis is forward of the first pivot axis. 9. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein the second pivot axis is at a forward end of the seat assembly. 10. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein the leg rest assembly comprises a right leg pad and a left leg pad. 11. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein the leg rest assembly comprises a right leg pad supported by a right leg pad arm, and a left leg pad supported by a left leg pad arm, and wherein the left and right leg pad arms each extend to the second pivot axis and pivot about said second pivot axis. 12. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein the leg rest assembly is configured to be raised independently of the seat assembly when said seat assembly is in the first seated position. 13. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein the leg rest assembly is configured to raise and lower independently of the seat assembly, in addition to raising in unison with the seat assembly when said seat assembly is reclined. 14. The wheelchair of claim 1, comprising a pair of armrests configured to allow the armrests to translate relative to the base frame and pivot relative to the base frame about a third pivot axis. 15. The wheelchair of claim 1, comprising a pair of armrests configured to allow the armrests to translate relative to the base frame and pivot relative to the base frame about a third pivot axis, wherein said armrests are configured to translate toward the rear and bottom of the wheelchair in unison with the seat assembly when the seat assembly pivots to recline or are configured to pivot to maintain a tilt that is parallel to a tilt of the footrest when the seat assembly pivots to recline. 16. The wheelchair of claim 1, comprising a pair of armrests configured to allow the armrests to translate relative to the base frame, wherein said armrests are configured to translate into contact with the wheels of the wheelchair in unison with the seat assembly when the seat assembly pivots to recline, said contact restricting rotation of said wheels. 17. The wheelchair of claim 1, further comprising: h1. a headrest mounted to the seat assembly and adjustable with at least two degrees of freedom; or h2. a headrest mounted to the seat assembly by a headrest post, the headrest post being connected to the seat assembly by a pivot connection with a pivot axis of the headrest approximately parallel to a coronal plane; or h3. a headrest mounted to the seat assembly by a headrest post, the headrest post being connected to the seat assembly by a sliding connection that allows the distance from the seat assembly to the headrest to be adjusted.