CONVERTIBLE WHEELCHAIRS WITH MOVABLE CARRIAGES FOR TRANSFERRING PATIENTS TO/FROM THE WHEELCHAIRS

• US 20120292883A1
• Filed: 08/08/2012
• Published: 11/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snow Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Snow Solutions LLC
• Inventors: Noonan, Mark, Fog, Stephen C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,544,866 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/304.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/006 convertible to stretchers or beds
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/125 for arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1034 Rollers, rails or other means

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are provided of wheelchairs. In an exemplary embodiment, a wheelchair generally includes a seat and a carriage coupled to the seat. The carriage and seat are laterally moveable together in a transverse direction relative to a forward direction of the wheelchair. In use, lateral movement of the carriage and seat outside of a wheelbase of the wheelchair enables lateral transfer of a patient to and/or from the wheelchair.

Claims

1. A wheelchair convertible for laterally transferring a patient to and/or from the wheelchair, the wheelchair comprising:

a seat;

at least one armrest alongside the seat and configurable between at least;

a first configuration in which the armrest is generally upright and vertical relative to the seat; and

a second configuration in which the armrest is non-vertical and extends laterally outward relative to the seat;

a carriage coupled to the seat and movable along at least a portion of the armrest when the armrest is in the second configuration, such that the carriage and seat are laterally moveable together in a transverse direction relative to a forward direction of the wheelchair;

whereby lateral movement of the carriage and seat enables lateral transfer of a patient to and/or from the wheelchair.

2. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein the at least a portion of the armrest when in the second configuration integrally defines a path along which the carriage is slidable.

3. The wheelchair of claim 2, wherein the armrest includes:

an upper portion against which a patient'"'"'s arm may rest during use of the wheelchair; and

frame portions depending from the upper portion, the frame portions include tracks defining the path along which the carriage is slidable.

4. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein the armrest includes an extension configured to contact a surface to/from which a patient is being transferred, whereby the armrest and extension are operable as a stabilizer/outrigger such that contact of the armrest and extension with the surface allows weight to be transferred to the surface via the armrest, provides additional stability and support for the wheelchair during patient transfer, and helps prevent backwards tipping.

5. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein:

the wheelchair includes front and back pairs of wheels rotatable about a rotational axis for moving the wheelchair in a forward or rearward direction;

the carriage and seat are laterally moveable together in a transverse direction relative to the forward direction of the wheelchair between at least;

a first position in which the carriage and seat are laterally disposed between the front pair of wheels and the back pair of wheels; and

a second position in which the carriage and seat are laterally disposed outside of the wheels on a left or right side of the wheelchair after being moved along the at least a portion of the armrest in the second configuration that extends laterally outward on the same left or right side of the wheelchair, thereby allowing lateral transfer of a patient to and/or from the wheelchair along the same left or right side thereof.

6. The wheelchair of claim 5, wherein:

the armrest is configured such that the armrest is pivotably movable or foldable downwardly from the first configuration to the second configuration;

the armrest is generally perpendicular to a rotational axis of the front and back pair of wheels when the armrest is in the first configuration; and

the armrest is generally horizontal and parallel with the seat when the armrest is in the second configuration.

7. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein:

the wheelchair includes a seat assembly coupled to the carriage for common movement therewith; and

the seat assembly includes the seat, a backrest, and a leg rest that are laterally movable along with the carriage in a transverse direction relative to a forward direction of the wheelchair.

8. The wheelchair of claim 7, wherein the seat, backrest, and leg rest of the seat assembly are configurable into a plurality of configurations including one or more of:

a first seated upright configuration in which a patient may be laterally transferred from the seat assembly of the wheelchair while sitting; and

/or

a second, feet-up configuration in which a patient may be laterally transferred from the seat assembly of the wheelchair while sitting with his or her feet up; and

/or

a third flattened configuration in which a patient may be laterally transferred from the seat assembly of the wheelchair while lying down in a supine position.

9. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein:

the wheelchair further comprises a lift mechanism configured for raising or lowering the armrest, carriage, and seat to adjust the height thereof to correspond with a height of a surface to/from which a patient is being laterally transferred; and

/or

the seat includes a removable section removably coupled to the seat, the removable section configured such that its removal exposes an opening through the seat and such that when coupled back to the seat, the removable section covers the opening; and

/or

the at least one armrest comprises a pair of armrests along opposite sides of the seat, each said armrest being configurable between the first and second configurations, thereby allowing lateral patient transfers along either side of the wheelchair.

10. The wheelchair of claim 1, further comprising one or more rollers, wheels, and/or bearings coupled to the carriage such that the carriage and seat are laterally moveable together in a transverse direction relative to a forward direction of the wheelchair via said one or more rollers, wheels, or bearings traveling along the at least a portion of the armrest in the second configuration.

11. The wheelchair of claim 1, further comprising:

rollers coupled to the carriage such that the carriage and seat are laterally moveable together in a transverse direction relative to a forward direction of the wheelchair via the rollers rolling along the at least a portion of the armrest in the second configuration;

front and back pairs of wheels for moving the wheelchair in a forward or rearward direction; and

a chair base configured to support the carriage and chair when the carriage and chair are laterally disposed between the front pair of wheels and back pair of wheels, the chair base includes surfaces that align with surfaces of the at least a portion of the armrest when the armrest is configured into the second configuration, thereby allowing the rollers to roll along and transition between the aligned surfaces of the chair base and the armrest.

12. The wheelchair of claim 11, wherein the rollers are configured to bear and transfer weight via axial loading to the corresponding chair base and/or armrest along with the rollers are rolling.

13. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein:

the wheelchair includes a seat assembly coupled to the carriage for common movement therewith;

the seat assembly includes the seat, a backrest, and a leg rest that are laterally movable along with the carriage in a transverse direction relative to a forward direction of the wheelchair;

the seat, backrest, and leg rest of the seat assembly is configurable into at least a flattened configuration in which the seat, backrest, and leg rest are aligned and generally planar with each other so as to collectively define a support surface to/from which a patient may be transferred while lying down in a supine position; and

the support surface defined by the seat, backrest, and leg rest when in the flattened configuration is adjustable between at least a first, horizontal orientation in which the support surface is horizontal and a second, tipped orientation in the support surface is slanted upwardly or downwardly at an angle relative to horizontal.

14. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein:

the wheelchair is configured to enable lateral transfer of a patient to/from the wheelchair regardless of whether the patient is seated upright on the seat or the patient is supine and lying down; and

/or

the wheelchair includes a seat assembly comprising the seat, a backrest, and a leg rest that are laterally movable along with the carriage in a transverse direction relative to a forward direction of the wheelchair; and

the seat assembly includes an outer portion that is rotatable for assisting in conveying a patient on/off the outer portion during patient transfer.

15. A method for transferring a patient to/from the wheelchair of claim 1, the method comprising:

laterally moving the carriage and seat along the at least a portion of the armrest in the second configuration; and

transferring a patient to/from the seat of the wheelchair.

17. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein the at least one armrest alongside the seat is configured to be folded or pivotably moved outward to integrally define a path along which the carriage is slidable.

16. A wheelchair comprising:

a seat;

a carriage coupled to the seat such that the carriage and seat are laterally moveable together in a transverse direction relative to a forward direction of the wheelchair; and

at least one armrest alongside the seat and configured to be folded or pivotably moved outward to integrally define a path along which the carriage is slidable;

whereby lateral movement of the carriage and seat outside of a wheelbase of the wheelchair enables lateral transfer of a patient to and/or from the wheelchair.

18. The wheelchair of claim 16, further comprising:

a lift mechanism configured for raising or lowering the armrest, carriage, and seat to adjust the height thereof to correspond with a height of a surface to/from which a patient is being laterally transferred; and

/or

rollers coupled to the carriage such that the carriage and seat are laterally moveable together in a transverse direction relative to a forward direction of the wheelchair via the rollers rolling along the at least a portion of the armrest in the second configuration.

19. A method relating to patient transfer to/from a wheelchair, the method comprising laterally moving a carriage and seat of the wheelchair in a transverse direction relative to a forward direction of the wheelchair outside of a wheelbase of the wheelchair, wherein the method further comprises reconfiguring an armrest of the wheelchair so that the armrest integrally defines a path along which the carriage and seat are slidable, and wherein laterally moving the carriage and seat comprises sliding the carriage and seat along the path.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the method includes:

transferring the carriage carrying a patient laterally outside of the wheelbase of the wheelchair over tracks or rails defined by the armrest of the wheelchair; and

/or

using armrest of the wheelchair as an outrigger by contacting the armrest with a surface to/from which a wheelchair patient is being transferred, thereby allowing weight to be transferred to the surface via the armrest and providing additional stability and support for the wheelchair during patient transfer.