Patient transport apparatus with adjustable handles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10369063-B2
Application number	US-201815939794-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 29, 2018
Priority date	Mar 30, 2017
Publication date	Aug 6, 2019
Grant date	Aug 6, 2019

Abstract

A patient transport apparatus comprises a support structure. The support structure comprises a base, a frame, and a patient support surface to support a patient. One or more handle assemblies are coupled to the frame to maneuver the patient transport apparatus. The handle assemblies comprise one or more handles to be manipulated by a user. The handles are capable of being adjusted to facilitate maneuvering of the patient transport apparatus, such as pushing/pulling the patient transport apparatus along a floor surface, lifting the patient transport apparatus over obstacles, loading the patient transport apparatus into an emergency vehicle, and/or unloading the patient transport apparatus from the emergency vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A patient transport apparatus for transporting a patient, the patient transport apparatus comprising:
a support structure comprising a base, a frame, and a patient support deck comprising a plurality of sections defining a patient support surface to support the patient, said plurality of sections including a back section capable of articulating relative to said frame;
wheels coupled to said base to facilitate movement of said support structure; and
a handle assembly coupled to said frame and comprising a handle to be manipulated by a user and a handle extension, said handle assembly configured to translate relative to said frame from a stowed position to an extended position, wherein said handle is adjacent to said frame in said stowed position and said handle is spaced from said frame by said handle extension in said extended position,
said handle extension configured to articulate relative to said frame from a first orientation to a second orientation, wherein said handle is located at a first height relative to said frame in said first orientation and said handle is located at a second height relative to said frame, different than said first height, in said second orientation.

2. The patient transport apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said frame comprises a rail and said handle extension is configured to slide in translation relative to said rail from said stowed position to said extended position.

3. The patient transport apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said rail comprises a translation axis along which said handle extension slides from said stowed position to said extended position, wherein said handle extension comprises an extension axis parallel with said translation axis in said first orientation and transverse to said translation axis in said second orientation.

4. The patient transport apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said second orientation comprises an upright orientation relative to said frame and said extension axis is perpendicular to said translation axis in said upright orientation.

5. The patient transport apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a locking device configured to lock said handle extension relative to said frame, wherein said handle extension is configured to articulate relative to said frame from said first orientation to a third orientation in which said handle is located at a third height relative to said frame, different than said first and second heights, said locking device comprising one or more orientation locking elements configured to discretely lock said handle extension relative to said frame in each of said first, second, and third orientations.

6. The patient transport apparatus of claim 5 , wherein said handle extension is configured to slide along a translation axis from said stowed position to said extended position and to rotate about said translation axis relative to said frame to a first rotational position, a second rotational position, or a third rotational position, said locking device comprising one or more rotational locking elements configured to discretely lock said handle extension relative to said frame in each of said first, second, and third rotational positions.

7. The patient transport apparatus of claim 6 , comprising an actuator operable to move said locking elements to unlocked positions.

8. The patient transport apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said handle assembly comprises a slide member pivotally connected to said handle extension to form a joint, said slide member configured to slide along said translation axis within said rail from said stowed position to said extended position, said joint being arranged to be disposed within said rail in said stowed position and to extend outside of said rail in said extended position.

9. The patient transport apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said handle assembly comprises a second handle and a second handle extension, said handles and said handle extensions coupled together to move in unison relative to said frame.

10. The patient transport apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a second handle assembly comprising a second handle and a second handle extension, said second handle assembly coupled to said frame, said handle assemblies configured to move independently of one another relative to said frame.

11. The patient transport apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said frame comprises a head end and a foot end and said handle assembly is arranged nearer said foot end than said head end.

12. The patient transport apparatus of claim 11 , comprising a pair of loading wheels coupled to said frame to assist with loading of the patient transport apparatus into a vehicle, wherein said pair of loading wheels are arranged nearer said head end than said foot end.

13. The patient transport apparatus of claim 12 , comprising:
a second handle assembly coupled to said frame nearer said head end than said foot end and comprising a second handle and a second handle extension, said second handle extension configured to translate relative to said frame from a stowed position to an extended position and to articulate relative to said frame from an initial orientation to an upright orientation with respect to said frame;
a locking element configured to lock said second handle extension relative to said frame in said upright orientation; and
an actuator operable to move said locking element to an unlocked position, wherein said actuator is associated with said second handle so that the user is able to actuate said actuator while grasping said second handle.

14. The patient transport apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a locking element configured to lock said handle extension relative to said frame in one or more of said first and second orientations and an actuator operable to move said locking element to an unlocked position, wherein said actuator is associated with said handle so that the user is able to actuate said actuator while grasping said handle.

15. A patient transport apparatus for transporting a patient, the patient transport apparatus comprising:
a support structure comprising a base, a frame, and a patient support deck comprising a plurality of sections defining a patient support surface to support the patient, said plurality of sections including a back section capable of articulating relative to said frame;
wheels coupled to said base to facilitate movement of said support structure; and
a handle assembly coupled to said frame and comprising a handle to be manipulated by a user, said handle assembly further comprising one or more handle extensions with said handle assembly being configured to translate relative to said frame from a stowed position to an extended position, wherein said handle is adjacent to said frame in said stowed position and said handle is spaced from said frame by said one or more handle extensions in said extended position,
said handle assembly configured to freely articulate relative to said frame in said extended position between a first orientation and a second orientation, wherein said handle is located at a first height relative to said frame in said first orientation and said handle is located at a second height relative to said frame, different than said first height, in said second orientation.

16. The patient transport apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said frame comprises one or more rails and said one or more handle extensions are configured to slide in translation relative to said one or more rails from said stowed position to said extended position.

17. The patient transport apparatus of claim 15 , comprising a locking device configured to lock said

Assignees

• Stryker Corp

Inventors

• Matheny Nathan
• Brubaker Michael T
• Gentile Christopher
• Lucas Ross T

Classifications

• A61G1/048 Primary

  Handles · CPC title

• A61G1/02 Primary

  with wheels · CPC title

• A61G5/10

  Parts, details or accessories · CPC title

• A61G7/05

  Parts, details or accessories of beds (devices for prevention against falling out A47C21/08, A47D7/00 {; mattresses A47C27/00}) · CPC title

• A61G5/00

  Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs ({chairs with toilet conveniences A47K11/04; } devices enabling patients or disabled persons to operate an apparatus or device not forming part of the body A61F4/00; {running gear or propulsion features B60K;} bicycles specially adapted for disabled riders B62K3/16 {; Invalid chairs having removable seats specially adapted to be transferred with the invalid to a vehicle and support the invalid during use of the vehicle A61G3/02}) · CPC title