Patient transport apparatus with adjustable handle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11241345-B2
Application number	US-201916454234-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 27, 2019
Priority date	Jun 27, 2018
Publication date	Feb 8, 2022
Grant date	Feb 8, 2022

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. Each handle assembly comprises a handle and a handle extension supporting the handle. The handle extension is configured to articulate relative to the frame from a stowed position to a use position such that the handle is adjacent to the frame in the stowed position and the handle is extended from the frame by the handle extension in the use position. The apparatus also includes a locking device comprising one or more locking elements configured to discretely lock and unlock the handle extension relative to the frame in the use position or the stowed position.

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 surface to support the patient;
wheels coupled to the base to facilitate movement of the support structure;
a handle assembly coupled to the frame and comprising a handle to be manipulated by a user to manually move the support structure, the handle assembly further comprising a handle extension supporting the handle and defining an interior space, wherein the handle extension is configured to articulate relative to the frame when the handle assembly is moved from a stowed position to a use position such that the handle is adjacent to the frame in the stowed position and the handle is extended from the frame by the handle extension in the use position;
a locking device comprising:
a base member fixed to the frame and having a first locking groove and a second locking groove, and
one or more locking elements operable between a locked state and an unlocked state to discretely lock and unlock the handle assembly relative to the frame, the one or more locking elements comprising: a plunger disposed within the interior space of the handle, and a ball bearing arranged for movement between the first locking groove and the second locking groove; and

a manual release actuator coupled to the handle extension and disposed in communication with the plunger, the manual release actuator being carried by the handle extension for movement with the handle extension between the stowed position and the use position,
wherein the handle extension comprises a distal end portion opposite the handle and wherein the manual release actuator is located adjacent to the distal end portion of the handle extension, the manual release actuator being operable by the user adjacent to the distal end portion of the handle extension to place the one or more locking elements in the unlocked state while the user grasps the handle extension, to allow the user to articulate the handle extension between the use position and the stowed position, wherein the ball bearing is arranged to be captured in the first locking groove by the plunger in the locked state to retain the handle assembly in the stowed position, and wherein the ball bearing is arranged to be captured in the second locking groove by the plunger in the locked state to retain the handle assembly in the use position.

2. The patient transport apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plunger includes
a recessed section disposed between proximal and distal raised sections, and a release pin section disposed for engagement by the manual release actuator.

3. The patient transport apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ball bearing is movable out of the locking grooves in the unlocked state.

4. The patient transport apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the ball bearing is positioned adjacent to the distal raised section of the plunger in the locked state and wherein the ball bearing is positioned adjacent to the recessed section of the plunger in the unlocked state.

5. The patient transport apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the manual release actuator is moveable from a non-depressed position to a depressed position to move the plunger to the unlocked state so that the ball bearing is positioned adjacent to the recessed section.

6. The patient transport apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the handle extension defines a pin opening and the locking device further comprises a spring biasing the plunger so that the release pin section of the plunger extends through the pin opening when the manual release actuator is in the non-depressed position.

7. The patient transport apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the manual release actuator comprises an actuating lever to engage the release pin section of the plunger.

8. The patient transport apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the manual release actuator is moveable from the non-depressed position to the depressed position upon the application of force by the user on the actuating lever whereby the actuating lever is adjacent to an outer surface of the handle extension in the depressed position.

9. The patient transport apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the base member has a recessed region including a pair of semicircular notches, a first of the pair of semicircular notches configured to receive the handle extension in the stowed position and a second of the pair of semicircular notches configured to receive the handle extension in the use position.

10. The patient transport apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the handle extension is moveable away from the recessed region upon the application of force by the user on the handle assembly when the manual release actuator is in the depressed position and the one or more locking elements are in the unlocked state.

11. The patient transport apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the locking device further comprises a cap coupled to the handle extension and a spring acting between the cap and the base member to bias the handle extension toward the recessed region.

12. The patient transport apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the handle assembly is moveable between the stowed position and the use position by rotating the handle extension when the one or more locking elements are in the unlocked state.

Assignees

• Stryker Corp

Inventors

• Brubaker Michael T

Classifications

• A61G1/02

  with wheels · CPC title

• A61G1/013

  foldable or collapsible (A61G1/017 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61G1/048 Primary

  Handles · CPC title