Patient transport apparatus with movable end handle system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11723818-B2
Application number	US-202217700842-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 22, 2022
Priority date	Aug 2, 2019
Publication date	Aug 15, 2023
Grant date	Aug 15, 2023

Abstract

A patient transport apparatus including a patient litter and a litter support apparatus for supporting the patient litter from a ground surface. The litter support apparatus includes a litter support frame including a pair of litter supports spaced a distance apart to define a loading gap for receiving the patient litter therethrough. A handle system is coupled to the pair of litter supports and includes a handle assembly that is positionable between a closed configuration and an open configuration. The handle assembly extends across the loading gap defined between the pair of litter supports in the closed configuration and is positioned away from the loading gap in the open configuration.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A patient transport apparatus comprising:
a patient litter to support a patient; and
a litter support apparatus for supporting the patient litter above a ground surface, the litter support apparatus including:
a base frame with at least one wheel supporting the base frame for movement about the ground surface;
a litter support frame to releasably secure the patient litter, the litter support frame defining a lateral loading gap for receiving the patient litter therethrough in a longitudinal direction;
a lift device operatively attached to the base frame and to the litter support frame to move the litter support frame relative to the base frame; and
a handle system coupled to the litter support frame, the handle system including a locking member disposed on a first lateral side of the lateral loading gap, and a handle assembly disposed on a second lateral side of the lateral loading gap and arranged to pivot relative to the litter support frame between a closed configuration and an open configuration, the handle assembly extending away from the base frame and positioned away from the lateral loading gap in the open configuration, and extending across the lateral loading gap into releasable engagement with the locking member in the closed configuration.

2. The patient transport apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the litter support frame includes a pair of litter supports with a first litter support spaced a distance from a second litter support to define the lateral loading gap;
wherein the handle system includes a first support member coupled to the first litter support and a second support member coupled to the second litter support;
wherein the handle assembly further includes an upper crossbar extending between the first and second support members, and a lower crossbar spaced a vertical distance from the upper crossbar; and
wherein the upper crossbar and the lower crossbar are movable between the closed configuration and the open configuration.

3. The patient transport apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the upper crossbar is pivotably coupled to the first support member and rotatable about a first pivot axis.

4. The patient transport apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the locking member is further defined as a first locking member and wherein the second support member includes the first locking member, the first locking member being configured to engage the upper crossbar with the upper crossbar in the closed configuration.

5. The patient transport apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the lower crossbar is pivotably coupled to the second support member and rotatable about a second pivot axis.

6. The patient transport apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the first support member includes a second locking member configured to engage the lower crossbar with the lower crossbar in the closed configuration.

7. The patient transport apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the upper crossbar and the lower crossbar are orientated vertically in the open configuration.

8. The patient transport apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the litter support frame includes a pair of litter supports with a first litter support spaced a distance from a second litter support to define the lateral loading gap; and
wherein the handle assembly includes a first collapsible cage assembly coupled to the first litter support and a second collapsible cage assembly coupled to the second litter support.

9. The patient transport apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first collapsible cage assembly contacts the second collapsible cage assembly in the closed configuration; and
wherein the first collapsible cage assembly is spaced apart from the second collapsible cage assembly in the open configuration such that the lateral loading gap is defined therebetween.

10. The patient transport apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first collapsible cage assembly and the second collapsible cage assembly each include a plurality of links pivotably coupled together and configured to form a substantially rectangular shape in the closed configuration and a substantially planar shape in the open configuration.

11. The patient transport apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first collapsible cage assembly is pivotably coupled to the first litter support and rotatable about a first vertical pivot axis; and
wherein the second collapsible cage assembly is pivotably coupled to the second litter support and rotatable about a second vertical pivot axis.

12. The patient transport apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the litter support frame includes a pair of litter supports with a first litter support spaced a distance from a second litter support to define the lateral loading gap; and
wherein the handle assembly includes a wagon handle assembly pivotably coupled to the first litter support and extending between the first litter support and the second litter support in the closed configuration.

13. The patient transport apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the handle system includes a first support member coupled to the first litter support and a second support member coupled to the second litter support, and
the wagon handle assembly includes a pivot support coupled to the first support member, the pivot support configured to allow rotation of the wagon handle assembly about a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis.

14. The patient transport apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the wagon handle assembly is positionable to a stowed configuration along a side of the litter support apparatus.

15. The patient transport apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the wagon handle assembly includes
an upper support bar extending between the first and second support members;
a lower support bar spaced a vertical distance from the upper support bar; and
a secondary handle assembly extending between the upper support bar and the lower support bar.

16. The patient transport apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the secondary handle assembly is rotatably coupled to the upper support bar and configured to rotate about the upper support bar.

17. The patient transport apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the upper support bar extends between a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to the pivot support.

18. The patient transport apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the wagon handle assembly includes a latch mechanism configured to releasably couple the wagon handle assembly to the second support member with the wagon handle assembly in the closed configuration.

19. The patient transport apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the litter support frame includes a pair of litter supports with a first litter support spaced a distance from a second litter support to define the lateral loading gap; and
wherein the handle assembly includes:
a first upper handle rotatably coupled to the first litter support and configured to rotate about a first rotational axis, and
a second upper handle rotatably coupled to the second litter support and configured to rotate about a second rotational axis parallel to the first rotational axis.

20. The patient transport apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the first upper handle and the second upper handle are configured to be orientated substantially horizontally in the closed configuration; and
wherein the handle assembly includes a first lower handle and a second lower handle.

Assignees

• Stryker Corp

Inventors

• Xu Shaofei Wilson
• Konopacz Kaitlin
• Cunningham Gwynneth
• Mcdavid Alexander Christopher
• Mclouth Justin Thomas
• Trimble Shawn
• Feliksa Neil
• Gentile Christopher
• Ryan Jennifer
• Eagleman Erik P

Classifications

• A61G1/04 Primary

  Parts, details or accessories, e.g. head-, foot-, or like rests specially adapted for stretchers · CPC title

• A61G1/02

  with wheels · CPC title

• A61G1/048 Primary

  Handles · CPC title

• A61G1/017

  convertible into chairs · CPC title