Patient transport apparatus with adjustable handle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11890235-B2
Application number	US-202117562256-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 27, 2021
Priority date	Jun 27, 2018
Publication date	Feb 6, 2024
Grant date	Feb 6, 2024

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 including a base member coupled to the frame, a cot pin operatively attached to the base member, a handle to be manipulated by a user to manually move the support structure, and a handle extension supporting the handle, wherein the handle extension is configured to articulate relative to the frame about the cot pin 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 operable between a locked state and an unlocked state to discretely lock and unlock the handle assembly relative to the frame; and
a manual release actuator coupled to the handle extension, 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 arranged for engagement by the user adjacent to the distal end portion of the handle extension to place the locking device 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.

2. The patient transport apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the handle extension is supported for pivoting movement relative to the base member about an axis between the use position and the stowed position.

3. The patient transport apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the cot pin defines the axis.

4. The patient transport apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the manual release actuator is supported for translational movement to place the locking device in the unlocked state in response to user engagement with the manual release actuator.

5. The patient transport apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the manual release actuator moves towards the cot pin in response to user engagement to place the locking device in the unlocked state.

6. The patient transport apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the locking device includes a wedge pin operatively attached to the manual release actuator for concurrent translational movement with the manual release actuator.

7. The patient transport apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the locking device further includes the cot pin, with the wedge pin being arranged to contact the cot pin in the locked state to restrict pivoting movement of the handle extension.

8. The patient transport apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the wedge pin defines a wedge pin flat section; and
wherein the cot pin defines a cot pin flat section arranged to contact the wedge pin flat section in the locked state to restrict pivoting movement of the handle extension.

9. The patient transport apparatus of claim 8 , wherein operation of the locking device from the locked state to the unlocked state in response to user engagement with the manual release actuator brings the wedge pin flat section out of contact with the cot pin flat section to permit pivoting movement of the handle extension.

10. 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 including:
a base member operatively attached to the frame,
a handle to be manipulated by a user to manually move the support structure, and
a handle extension supporting the handle and being movably coupled to the base member adjacent to a distal end portion for articulation relative to the frame between a stowed position and 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 operable between a locked state and an unlocked state to discretely lock and unlock the handle assembly relative to the frame, the locking device including:
a cot pin operatively attached to the base member of the handle assembly, and
a wedge pin arranged to contact the cot pin in the locked state; and

a manual release actuator coupled to the handle extension adjacent to the distal end portion for concurrent movement with the handle extension between the stowed position and the use position, the manual release actuator being operatively attached to the wedge pin and arranged for engagement by the user to place the locking device in the unlocked state while the user grasps the handle extension to bring the wedge pin out of contact with the cot pin and allow the user to articulate the handle extension between the use position and the stowed position.

11. The patient transport apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the manual release actuator moves towards the cot pin in response to user engagement to place the locking device in the unlocked state.

12. The patient transport apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the manual release actuator is supported for translational movement to place the locking device in the unlocked state in response to user engagement with the manual release actuator.

13. The patient transport apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the wedge pin is operatively attached to the manual release actuator for concurrent translational movement with the manual release actuator.

14. The patient transport apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the handle extension is supported for pivoting movement relative to the base member about an axis between the use position and the stowed position, with the cot pin defining the axis.

15. The patient transport apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the wedge pin is arranged to contact the cot pin in the locked state to restrict pivoting movement of the handle extension.

16. The patient transport apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the wedge pin defines a wedge pin flat section; and
wherein the cot pin defines a cot pin flat section arranged to contact the wedge pin flat section in the locked state to restrict pivoting movement of the handle extension.

17. The patient transport apparatus of claim 16 , wherein operation of the locking device from the locked state to the unlocked state in response to user engagement with the manual release actuator brings the wedge pin flat section out of contact with the cot pin flat section to permit pivoting movement of the handle extension.

Assignees

• Stryker Corp

Inventors

• Brubaker Michael T
• Gentile Christopher

Classifications

• A61G1/048 Primary

  Handles · CPC title

• A61G1/013

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

• A61G1/02

  with wheels · CPC title