GB2473423A

GB2473423A - A portering chair with a foot rest displaced by pressure on a seat

Info

Publication number: GB2473423A
Application number: GB0913717A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel Blair; Alastair Kingsland; Christopher Ager; Nicholas Field
Original assignee: Vernacare Ltd
Current assignee: Vernacare Ltd
Priority date: 2009-08-06
Filing date: 2009-08-06
Publication date: 2011-03-16
Also published as: WO2011015876A2; GB0913717D0; WO2011015876A3

Abstract

A portering chair comprising a seat 12, a plurality of wheels 54 and a foot rest 64 moveable between a lowered and a raised position wherein movement of the footrest 64 from the lowered to the raised position is activated by the positioning of weight on the seat 12. The chair may also have brakes and the foot rest 64 may be urged to the raised position upon release of the brakes. The brakes may also be activated by downward displacement of the footrest 64. Also disclosed is a portering chair with a one piece cover that may conform to the shape of the chair frame. Also disclosed is a portering chair with elongate frame portions. The device is suitable for use in hospitals or other healthcare facilities.

Description

DESCRIPTION

PORTERING CHAIR

The present invention relates to portering chairs.

Portering chairs are used in hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities to transport patients having limited mobility. A typical portering chair comprises a tubular metal frame supported on four castors and having a seat base and seat back secured to the frame. The tubular frame is formed into a handle which allows a porter to push the chair along the floor.

io Known portering chairs also have one or more foot rests upon which a patient's feet can rest during transport, thereby preventing the feet from contacting the ground as the chair is wheeled along. Since most users of portering chairs have very limited mobility, it is necessary for the foot rest or foot rests to be movable so that the patient can be seated on is the chair without having to lift his or her feet up and onto the foot rests.

In one known portering chair, there are two foot rests, one for each foot, which are pivotable from a horizontal, supporting position and a vertical position which is adopted when a patient is manoeuvring himself/herself onto or off the chair. In another known arrangement, there is a single foot rest which is slidably mounted on the frame between a forwardrnost support position and a rearmost position in which the support is moved rearwardly to allow a user to gain access to or to move from the chair.

In either case, it is necessary for the porter or other person to displace the foot support manually and to lift the patient's feet onto and off the support(s) as necessary. Not only is this time consuming, but it can contribute to a patient feeling excessively dependent upon a helper.

Moreover, known portering chairs are relatively difficult to clean as each part of the tubular framework must be wiped with antiseptic liquid, which is both time consuming and troublesome, as the frame normally comprises many different tubes with several hard-to-reach regions.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a portering chair comprises seat means, a plurality of wheels, foot rest means movable between a first, lowered position and a second, raised position and foot rest displacement means, the footrest displacement means being actuated by weight on the seat means to move the footrest means from the first, lowered position to the second, raised position.

is When the portering chair is empty, there is no weight on the seat means, which allows the footrest means to move to the lowered position, which affords easy access to a patient wishing to sit on the chair, While in the process of moving himself or herself onto the chair, a patient will place his or her feet on the footrest before engaging the seat means. However, once the weight of the patient is received on the seat means, the footrest and the patient's feet located on the footrest will be lifted upwardly to allow the portering chair to be wheeled. Similarly, when a patient wishes to move off the footrest, as the patient's weight is lifted from the seat means, the footrest will be lowered, which then allows the patient to step off the footrest without having also to step down from it to any significant degree.

Consequently, the footrest is automatically raised and lowered as the patient sits on or moves off the seat. It is not necessary for the footrest to be manually manoeuvred into the correct position to allow a patient to sit on, or move off, the chair. Moreover, it is not necessary for a porter or other person to lift the patient's feet onto and off the footrest, in

contrast to the prior art portering chairs.

In one embodiment, the footrest displacement means comprises lever means connected to the footrest means and disp'aceable by weight on the seat means. The footrest displacement means preferably comprises plate means adapted to bear a portion of the weight of the patient seated on the seat means.

In one embodiment, the seat means comprises a seat base portion is and a backrest, and the footrest displacement means is actuated to move the footrest to its second, raised position by weight on the seat base portion.

In one embodiment, the foot rest means comprises a single footrest.

The portering chair preferably comprises brake means and preferably also comprises means for selectively applying the brake means.

The portering chair may further comprise means for urging the foot rest means from the first, lowered position to the second raised position upon release of the brake means. This allows the portering chair to be moved when unoccupied, without the foot rest means fouling on the s ground.

Preferably, when the weight on the seat means is insufficient to move the foot rest means from the first, lowered position to the second, raised position and the foot rest means is moved from the first, lowered position to the second raised position upon release of the brake means, downward displacement of the foot rest results in application of the brake means. In this way, when the seat means is unoccupied and the brake means released (which would otherwise result in displacement of the foot rest means to the second, raised position), if a person steps on the foot rest means in an attempt to sit on the chair, the brake means will be applied, thereby improving the safety of the procedure.

The portering chair may further comprise frame means on which the seat means and footrest actuating means are mounted.

Preferably, the first, lower position of the footrest is at, or substantially at, ground level, In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, a portering chair comprises frame means, a plurality of wheels mounted to the frame means, seat means mounted with respect to the frame means and cover means enclosing at least a part of the frame means.

By providing cover means, the frame means will require cleaning much less frequently, since any spiliages and the like are likely to be on the cover means rather than the frame means.

Moreover, the cover means is much easier to clean than a frame means and this decreases the reluctance of people to clean the portering chair and increases the cleanliness of the cleaned chair.

Preferably, the cover means conforms to the shape of at least part of the frame means.

In a preferred embodiment, the cover means is formed in one piece.

Preferably, the outer surface of the cover means is substantially continuous. This reduces the likelihood of bacteria or viruses being harboured and makes the cover easier to clean, In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, a portering chair comprises frame means, a plurality of wheels mounted to the frame means and seat means fixedly mounted with respect to the frame means, the frame means comprising a frame member having an elongate lower frame portion to which a front wheel and a rear wheel are attached, an elongate upper frame portion to which the seat means is mounted and a connecting portion connecting the elongate lower frame portion to the elongate upper frame portion.

Such a construction provides a greatly simplified frame

arrangement as compared with the prior art.

In a preferred embodiment, the connecting portion connects the front of the elongate lower frame portion to the rear of the elongate upper frame portion.

Preferably, there is a plurality of said frame members. In a preferred embodiments the plurality of said frame members is substantially identical, Moreover, the plurality of said frame members may be arranged substantially parallel to one another.

By way of example, a specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of portering chair in accordance with the present invention; is Fig. 2 is a side view of the portering chair shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a rear view of the portering chair shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a perspective view from the font and one side of a base portion of the portering chair of Fig. 1 with its cover removed and with a foot rest in a towered position; Fig. 5 is a perspective view from the front, the other side and below of the base portion shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a perspective view from the front, the other side and above of the base portion of Fig. 4, showing the foot plate in a lowered position; Fig. 7 is a similar view to that of Fig. 6, with the foot plate in a raised position; and Fig. 8 is a perspective view from above of the seat portion of the portering chair of Fig. 1, with the seat portion removed, Referring to the Figures, a portering chair comprises a seating portion 10 having a generally horizontal seat base portion 12 and an upright backrest 14. Two armrests 16, 18 are pivotally mounted to the sides of the backrest and are pivotable between a horizontal position shown in Figs. I to 3 and a vertical position in which the armrests 16, 18 lie substantially parallel to the backrest. The seating portion 10 is formed as a one-piece rotational moulding from polyurethane and although it holds its shape it does flex when a patient is seated on it, The rearmost face of the backrest 14 is recessed as shown at 20 and a retaining fixture 22 is secured across the lowermost end of the recess, A pushing hand'e 24 is secured to and extends from the uppermost portion of the rear face of the backrest and a telescopic IV drip mount 26 projects vertically out of the edge of the backrest.

The seating portion 10 is mounted on a base 30. The base 30 comprises a frame 32 shown in Figs. 4 to 6 which is covered with a one-piece rotationally moulded polypropylene or polyethylene cover 34 having a substantiaUy continuous outer surface. The base is therefore less likely to harbour viruses and bacteria and is easier to clean.

As best seen in Figs. 4 to 6, the frame 32 includes two parallel lower frame members 34a, 34b positioned on opposite sides of the frame.

Front and rear castors 50, 54 are mounted at the opposite ends of each lower frame member 34a, 34b. A rearwardlyinclined connecting portion 36a, 36b extends upwardly and rearwardly from the front end of each of the lower frame members 34a, 34b and a horizontal seat support member 38a, 38b extends from the upper end of each of the rearwardly-inclined connecting portions 36a, 36b. An upper planar reinforcing frame member extends perpendicularly across, and is secured to, each of the seat support members 38a, 38b and similarly a lower reinforcing frame member 42 extends perpendicularly across, and is welded to, the front ends of the lower frame members 34a, 34b.

is The frame 32 is enclosed by the cover 34 which is rotationally moulded in one piece. The cover has a continuous, unbroken outer surface and its shape generally follows the shape of the frame 32 and comprises an upper seat-engaging portion 56 which also extends behind the backrest to provide, in combination with the recess 20 in the rear face of the backrest 14 and the retaining fixture 22, a support ledge for oxygen cylinders and the like, a skirt portion 58 which encloses the castor mounting portion 38 of the frame 32 and a connecting portion 60 connecting the seat engaging portion 56 and the skirt portion 58 and generafly covering the connecting portion 40, 42 of the frame 32. The provision of the frame cover 34 greatly facilitates cleaning and/or disinfection of the lower portions of the portering chair.

The pedal 59 of a foot-actuated brake extends around the rear edge of the skirt portion 58. The pedal 59 is rounded and arcuate and its shape merges smoothly with that of the skirt portion 58. The pedal acts on the front castors 50 by means of two rods 60, one end of which is connected to the brake pedal 59 and the other end of which is pivotally attached to a respective one of two connecting rods 61. The opposite end of each connecting rod 61 is secured to a common, transversely extending brake actuation spindle 62, each end of which is provided with a brake cam C which can actuate a brake on a respective one of the two front castors 50. Depression of the brake pedal 59 into the "on" position pulls the rods 60 rearwardly, which causes the front castor brakes to be applied.

Releasing the brake pedal 59 pushes the rods 60 forwardly, which causes the front castor brakes to be released. It will also be observed that a further connecting rod 63 is provided extending downwardly and forwardly from the brake actuation spindle 62, to which the upper end of the further connecting rod 63 is secured. The opposite, lower end of the further connecting rod 63 is provided with an interaction pin P which extends perpendicularly to the further connecting rod 63. The interaction pin P interacts with a foot rest mechanism, as will be explained.

As seen in the Figures, the portering chair further comprises a footrest 64 located at the frontmost and lowermost portions of the skirt 58.

As best seen in Figs. 4 to 7 (Figs. 4 to 6 showing the base portion of the chair with the cover 34 removed, to show the internal construction), the footrest 64 is secured to one end of a lever 66 which has a first inclined portion 66a extending between the two rearwardly-inclined frame members, a vertical portion 68 extending upwardly from the upper end of the inclined portion and a second inclined portion 70 extending upwardly and forwardly from the top of the vertical portion 68. The end of the uppermost inclined portion 70 is pivotally connected to a further lever 72 which is also pivotally mounted about a point between its ends, and near to its centre, by means of pivot 74, seated in an elongate recess 75 in the io upper planar reinforcing member 40, and whose opposite end has an actuating plate 76 secured to its upper face. The actuating plate is located in a complementarily-shaped recess in the seat base portion 12 and since the covering of the seat portion is flexible, downward displacement of the actuating plate 76 causes the opposite end of the uppermost lever 72 to is move upwardly which in turn pulls the other lever 66, which causes the footrest 64 to be pulled upwardly from a lowered position shown in Figs. 4 and 5 to a raised position shown in Fig. 6.

The above-described displacement of the foot rest 64 by means of the weight of a patient on the actuating plate 76 applies when the brakes on the front castors 50 are applied. When the brakes are applied, the interaction pin P is withdrawn such that it cannot hinder the movement of the lever 66 and the foot rest 64. However, if the brakes are released, the interaction pin P is displaced forwardly, so that the lever 66 and footrest 64 ii are displaced upwardly, so that the portering chair can be pushed without the foot rest 64 fouling on the floor.

When a patient wishes to sit on the chair, the brake pedal 59 is firstly depressed in order to apply the brakes to the front castors 50. Since there is no weight on the seat portion of the chair and since the interaction pin P is in its withdrawn position, the foot rest is allowed to move to its lowered position. Consequently, when a patient wishes to sit on the portering chair, it is not necessary for the footrest 64 to be lifted out of his or her way, since it will be at, or very close to, floor level. When the io patient is seated on the seat base portion 12, this causes the actuating plate 76 to be depressed downwardly, which causes the footrest 64 to be drawn upwardly into the position shown in Fig. 6. However, before the patient's weight is received on the seat base portion 12, the patient's feet will already be resting on the upper surface of the footrest 64 and thus as is the patient's weight is received on the seat base portion 12, the patient's feet are automatically lifted with the footrest 64. The brake on the front castors 50 may then be released, to allow the portering chair to be wheeled as desired, with the footrest 64 in the raised position. Similarly, when an occupant of the portering chair wishes to move off the chair, his or her feet will already be on the upper face of the footrest 64. The brake pedal 59 is depressed, thereby braking the front castors and withdrawing the interaction pin P. Consequently, as the patient's weight is lifted from the seat base portion 12, the actuating plate 76 will be allowed to rise, and consequently the footrest 64 will be lowered to the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5, whereby the patient can simply walk off the lowered footrest 64.

If there is no patient on the chair, it is still possible to wheel the chair without the footrest 64 fouling on the floor. Without any weight on s the seating portion, and with the brakes applied, the footrest 64 is in its lowered position, to allow access to and from the chair as described.

However, if the brake is released, the interaction pin P is displaced forwardly, which engages the lever 66 and lifts the footrest 64 from the lowered position to its raised position, as if someone were sitting in the chair, despite the fact that there is no weight on the seating portion, thereby allowing the chair to be displaced without the foot plate fouling on the ground.

In the event that a patient were to step on the footrest 64 without the brakes having been applied, the weight of the patient on the footrest is would displace the interaction pin P rearwardly, which would result in rotation of the brake actuation spindle 62 in the brake actuating direction, thereby causing actuation of the brakes on the front castors 50 even if the brake pedal 59 is not depressed.

Similarly, if a patient sitting in the chair were to attempt to leave the chair without the brakes having been applied, the patienVs weight would first of all be transferred to the footrest 64 and off the seta portion, thereby automatically applying the brakes by rearward displacement of the interaction pin P and consequent rotation of the brake actuation spindle 62 and actuation of the brakes on the front castors, The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment.

S

Claims

CLAIMS1. A portering chair comprising seat means, a plurality of wheels, foot rest means moveable between a first, lowered position and a second, raised position and foot rest displacement means, the foot rest displacement means being activated by weight on the seat means to move the foot rest means from the first, lowered position to the second, raised position.
2. A portering chair as claimed in claim 1, wherein the foot rest displacement means comprises lever means connected to the foot rest means and displaceable by weight on the seat means.
3. A portering chair as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the foot rest displacement means comprises plate means adapted to bear a portion of the weight of a patient seated on the seat means.
4. A portering chair as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the seat means comprises a seat base portion and a backrest and wherein is the foot rest displacement means is actuated to move the foot rest to its second, raised position by weight on the seat base portion,
5. A portering chair as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the foot rest means comprises a single foot rest.
6. A portering chair as claimed in any of the preceding claims, further comprising brake means.
7. A portering chair as claimed in claim 6, further comprising actuation means for selectively applying the brake means.
8. A portering chair as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, further comprising means for urging the foot rest means from the first, lowered position to the second, raised position upon release of the brake means.
9. A portering chair as claimed in claim 8, wherein when the weight on tthe seat means is insufficient to move the foot rest means from the first, lowered position to the second, raised position and the foot rest means is moved from the first, lowered position to the second, raised position upon release of the brake means, downward displacement of the foot rest means results in application of the brake means.io
10. A portering chair as claimed in any of the preceding claims, comprising a frame means on which the seat means and foot rest actuating means are mounted.
11. A portering chair as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the first, lowered position of the foot rest is at, or substantially at, ground is Ilevel.
12. A portering chair comprising frame means, a plurality of wheels mounted to the frame means, seat means mounted with respect to the frame means and cover means enclosing at least part of the frame means.
13. A portering chair as claimed in claim 12, wherein the cover means conforms to the shape of at least part of the frame means.
14. A portering chair as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the cover means is formed in one piece.
15. A portering chair as claimed in any of claims 12 to 14, wherein the outer surface of the cover means is substantially continuous.
16. A portering chair comprising frame means, a plurality of wheels mounted to the frame means and seat means mounted with respect to the frame means, the frame means comprising a frame member having an elongate lower frame portion to which a front wheel and a rear wheel are attached, an elongate upper frame portion to which the seat means is mounted and a connecting portion connecting the elongate lower frame portion to the elongate upper frame portion.
17. A portering chair as claimed in claim 16, wherein the connecting portion connects the front of the elongate lower frame portion to the rear of the elongate upper frame portion.
18. A portering chair as claimed in claim 16 or claim 17, comprising a plurality of said frame members.
19. A portering chair as claimed in claim 18, wherein the plurality of said frame members are substantially identical.
20. A portering chair as claimed in claim 18 or claim 19, wherein the plurality of said frame members are arranged substantially parallel to one another.
21. A portering chair substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.G:\CLiENT\41O419\VF3\419775\GB\draftO2dOC