Reconfigurable transport apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9510981-B2
Application number	US-201414206151-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 12, 2014
Priority date	Mar 14, 2013
Publication date	Dec 6, 2016
Grant date	Dec 6, 2016

Abstract

A transport apparatus includes a frame, a lift mechanism supporting the frame, and a litter deck for supporting a person. The litter deck is adapted to be reconfigured between a chair configuration and a cot configuration. The litter deck is also adapted to be removably mounted to the frame, with the litter deck being adapted to be supported by the frame while the litter deck is in its chair configuration and also while being reconfigured between its chair configuration and its cot configuration.

First claim

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A transport apparatus comprising:
a base;
a frame;
a lift mechanism supporting said frame on said base; and
a litter deck for supporting a patient, said litter deck having an articulatable back section and an additional section, said litter deck adapted to be reconfigured between first and second configurations, said litter deck being adapted to be removably mounted to said frame, when mounted to said frame said lift mechanism located between said litter deck and said base, and said litter deck being adapted to be at least partially supported by said base while said litter deck is in said first configuration and while being reconfigured between said first and second configurations wherein said base comprises a first base, said transport apparatus system further comprising a second base, after being removed from said first base said litter deck being adapted to be removably supported by said second base.

2. The transport apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said first configuration comprises a chair configuration.

3. The transport apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a track, said track mounted relative to said litter deck, and said track being located between said litter deck and said frame when said litter deck is in said first configuration and mounted to said frame.

4. The transport apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said lift mechanism comprises an X-frame lift mechanism.

5. The transport apparatus: according to claim 4 ,
wherein said X-frame lift mechanism comprises first and second pairs of X-frames, said first and second pairs of X-frames having telescoping legs to tilt said deck.

6. The transport apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said litter deck has a foot print when in said second configuration, and said lift mechanism being substantially within said foot print of said deck when said litter deck is in said second configuration and is mounted to said frame.

7. The transport apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said additional section comprises a seat section, said frame is coupled to said seat section wherein said back section is independently articulatable with respect to said frame and said lift mechanism.

8. The transport apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said deck has an articulatable leg section.

9. The transport apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein said deck includes an extendible head or foot rest to thereby extend the length of said deck.

10. The transport apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said deck is removable from said lift mechanism without disassembly; and
said lift mechanism configured to tilt said deck when said deck is mounted to said lift mechanism.

11. The transport apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein said additional section comprises a seat section, said frame mounting said lift mechanism to said seat section.

12. The transport apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein said deck further includes a leg section articulatable relative to said seat section.

13. The transport apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein said lift mechanism comprises an X-frame lift mechanism.

14. The transport apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein said X-frame lift mechanism comprises first and second pairs of X-frames.

15. The transport apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein each of said first and second pairs of X-frames includes telescoping legs to adjust said angular orientation of said deck.

16. A transport apparatus system comprising:
a first base for forming a part of a first transport apparatus;
a litter frame movably mounted to said first base;
a second base for forming a part of a second transport apparatus;
a litter deck configured to be supported by said second base for supporting a patient thereon, said litter deck reconfigurable between a chair configuration and a cot configuration wherein said litter deck lies in a generally horizontal configuration;
a track mounted relative to said litter deck; and
said second base and said litter deck being adapted to be mounted to said litter frame to thereby form a transport apparatus surface for said first transport apparatus.

17. The transport apparatus system according to claim 16 , further comprising a lift mechanism supporting said litter frame relative to said first base and for moving said litter frame relative to said first base.

18. The transport apparatus system according to claim 17 , wherein said lift mechanism comprises first and second pairs of X-frames, each of said pairs of X-frames having upper ends and lower ends, with the upper ends of said first pair of X-frames pivotally coupled to respective lower ends of the second pair of X-frames.

19. The ambulance apparatus system according to claim 18 , wherein one pair of the upper ends of said second pair of X-frames is pinned at said litter frame and another pair of said upper ends of said second pair of X-frames is slidably, pivotally mounted to said litter frame.

20. The transport apparatus system according to claim 19 , wherein one pair of the lower ends of said first pair of X-frames is pinned at said first base and another pair of said lower ends of said first pair of X-frames is slidably, pivotally mounted to said first base and is beneath the upper ends of said second pair of X-frames that are slidably, pivotally mounted to said litter frame.

21. The transport apparatus system according to claim 17 , wherein said lift mechanism comprises first and second pairs of X-frames, each of said first and second pairs of X-frames having telescoping legs wherein said lift mechanism can tilt said litter deck with respect to said first base when said litter deck is mounted to said litter frame.

22. The transport apparatus system according to claim 16 , wherein said litter deck has a seat section and articulatable back and leg sections.

Assignees

• Stryker Corp

Inventors

• Lambarth Clifford Edwin
• Wroblewski Jason James
• Naber Brandon David
• Dacy Iv Alfred James
• Puvogel Thomas Alan
• Lucas Ross Timothy

Classifications

• A61G1/0567

  folding in x-shape · CPC title

• A61G5/1067

  adjusting the backrest relative to the seat portion · CPC title

• A61G1/0212

  2 pairs having wheels within a pair on the same position in longitudinal direction, e.g. on the same axis · CPC title

• A61G1/017 Primary

  convertible into chairs · CPC title

• A61G5/104

  Devices for lifting or tilting the whole wheelchair (transfer lifts A61G3/06; arrangements for adjusting the seat height A61G5/1059) · CPC title