Patient transport and care vehicle

• US 4,453,732 A
• Filed: 12/24/1981
• Issued: 06/12/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Albert A. Assanah, Fitzroy Assanah, George G. Assanah
• Original Assignee: Albert A. Assanah, Fitzroy Assanah, George G. Assanah
• Inventors: Assanah, Fitzroy, Assanah, Albert A., Assanah, George G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAR, MICHAEL Y
• Application Number:
  US06/334,233
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: 280/647, 280/648, 280/242 WC, 280/289 WC, 297/433, 297/DIG. 4, 297/118, 5/68, 5/73, 5/80, 5/81, 5/432, 5/433
• US Class Current: 280/648
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/006 convertible to stretchers or beds
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 297/04 Wheelchair

Abstract

The invention is an improved vehicle for the transport and care of patients, particularly incontinent patients. The vehicle combines the facility of a wheel chair and a bed-like transport vehicle, such as a mobile stretcher. The vehicle is particularly useful in providing care for incontinent patients who also are difficult to move when providing the care. The basic vehicle resembles a wheel chair which can be conveniently modified, without first moving the patient, into a bed-like facility. In making the modification the vehicle has a collapsible support device as the back portion of the basic wheel chair is lowered to form the bed-like configuration. The vehicle also serves as a temporary rest facility for wheel chair patients who are difficult to move from the wheel-chair to a normal bed facility. The vehicle thus facilitates one attendant care of a patient.

Claims

1. A patient transport and care vehicle, comprising:

a wheelchair structure, said wheelchair structure having a base frame, a pair of wheels, a foot rest member, a pair of casters, a pair of armrest members, a back frame, and a plurality of releasable detent locking means, said base frame having a first end and a second end and a left side and a right side, said pair of wheels being rotatably affixed to said base frame, said pair of wheels resting on and interfacing with the floor, said pair of wheels being located one on said left side of said base frame and one on said right side of said base frame, said foot rest member being rotatably affixed to said first end of said base frame, said pair of casters being swivally affixed to said foot rest member opposite to said point where said foot rest member is rotatably affixed to said base frame, said pair of casters interfacing with said floor, said pair of arm rest members being located and rigidly affixed to said left and right sides, respectively, of said base frame, said back frame having a first end and a second end and a left side and a right side, said first end of said back frame being hingeably affixed to said second end of said base frame, said back frame defining a pocket-like aperture therewithin, said pocket-like aperture being located in the outboard portion of said second end of said back frame, a first portion of said detent locking means being affixed to each said arm rest member to releasably connect and lock to said left and right sides, respectively, of said back frame, a second portion of said detent locking means being similarly affixed to each said arm rest member to releasably connect and lock to said left and right sides, respectively, of said back frame, said second portion of said detent locking means serving as a safety lock, a third portion of said detent locking means being similarly affixed to each said arm rest member to releasably connect and lock to said rotatably foot rest member;

a mobile stretcher structure, said mobile stretcher structure being a partial conversion of said wheelchair structure, said mobile stretcher structure utilizing said back frame hingeably affixed to said second end of said base frame, when in a horizontal position, and said foot rest member when in a horizontal position;

said mobile stretcher structure having a collapsible support member, a brace means, a support wheel; and

a pair of side guard members, said collapsible support member being pivotably affixed at said second end of the rearmost side of said back frame, said brace means being pivotably affixed at one end to said collapsible support member and pivotably affixed at the opposite ends to the left and right sides, respectively, of the rearmost side of said back frame, said pivotably affixed ends of said collapsible support member affixed to said left and right sides of said back frame being of a locking index configuration, said support wheel being affixed to the distal end of said collapsible support member and interfacing with said floor, said side guard members being removably affixed to said left and right sides, respectively, of said back frame, said side guard members being suitably stored under said base frame when not in use.

2. A patient transport and care vehicle as recited in claim 1 and additionally, a seat cushion and a back cushion, said seat cushion being removably located on said base frame between said pair of arm rests, said back cushion being removably located on said back frame and centrally situated between said left and right sides of said back frame.

3. A patient transport and care vehicle as recited in claim 2 and additionally, a spring-like webbing affixed to and between said first and second ends of said back frame and between said left and right sides of said back frame, said spring-like webbing providing support for said back cushion.

4. A patient transport and care vehicle as recited in claim 1 and additionally, an extension member, said extension member being slidably inserted into said pocket-like aperture in said second end of said back frame.

5. A patient transport and care vehicle as recited in claim 4, and additionally, a pillow, said pillow being located on said extension member.

6. A patient transport and care vehicle as recited in claim 1 and additionally, a back panel, said back panel being rigidly affixed to said foot rest member to provide a continuous surface when said foot rest member is rotated to its upper position.