Chair bed

• US 4,974,905 A
• Filed: 06/16/1989
• Issued: 12/04/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Davis, John W.
• Original Assignee: Davis, John W.
• Inventors: Davis, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US07/367,133
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 297/DIG. 4, 297/377, 297/417, 297/325, 297/360, 410/7, 410/3, 5/81 R, 248/503.1, 280/304.1
• US Class Current: 297/377
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/006 convertible to stretchers or beds
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 297/04 Wheelchair

Abstract

A chair bed for supporting an invalid, wheelchair-bound or non-ambulatory person, which includes a seat portion and a hinged backrest attached to the seat portion for adjusting the reclining angle of the occupant, with conventional main wheels, optional rear wheels and 350 degree pivotable front wheels for rolling operation and directional control. The arm rests of the chair bed are pivotally adjustable in two sections and in a preferred embodiment, the seat portion of the chair bed is fitted with a frontal circular recess. A latch element is also provided in the chair bed frame for engaging and locking the chair bed to a receiver mechanism located in close proximity to a conventional or specially designed commode, in order to facilitate movement by the non-ambulatory chair bed occupant to and from the commode.

Claims

1. In a chair bed which functions as a wheelchair and a bed and is adapted for stabilizing in a receiver mechanism in close proximity to a commode, the improvement comprising a frame;

a pair of main wheels journalled for rotation in said frame;

a pair of front wheels rotatably and pivotally carried by said frame in spaced relationship with respect to said main wheels;

a seat provided in said frame for supporting an occupant and a curved recess provided in said seat for receiving a cured front portion of the commode;

a backrest hingedly attached to said seat for supporting the back of the occupant;

backrest adjusting means carried by said frame and said backrest for adjusting the angle of repose of said backrest with respect to said seats;

latch means carried by said frame, said latch means adapted to removably engage the receiver mechanism and secure said chair bed in close proximity to the commode, with the curved front portion of the commode selectively inserted in said curved recess in said seat;

a pair of arm rests pivotally carried by said frame in spaced relationship, said arm rests spanning said seat and adapted for selectively pivoting into a first position spaced from said frame when said backrest is elevated with respect to said seat and into a second position resting on said frame when said backrest is lowered into the plane of said seat;

a pair of foot support bars pivotally carried by said frame and pivotally connected to one end of said arm rests, respectively; and

a pair of rear pivoting members pivotally carried by said frame and the opposite ends of said arm rests, respectively, said rear pivoting members adapted for selectively raising and lowering said arm rests and said foot support bars with respect to said frame.

2. The chair bed of claim 1 wherein said chair bed is adapted for stabilizing in a vehicle and further comprising an engaging bar carried by said frame and a cooperating transport flange secured in the vehicle, said engaging bar adapted for removably engaging said transport flange and securing said chair bed to the vehicle during transportation of the chair bed.

3. The chair bed of claim 1 wherein said backrest adjusting means further comprises at least one air cylinder disposed between said frame and said backrest, for supporting said backrest at a selected angle with respect to said seat.

4. The chair bed of claim 3 wherein said chair bed is adapted for stabilizing in a vehicle and further comprising

an engaging bar carried by said frame and a cooperating transport flange secured in the vehicle, said engaging bar adapted for removably engaging said transport flange and removably securing said chair bed to the vehicle during transportation of the chair bed.

5. The chair bed of claim 4 wherein said backrest adjusting means further comprises a pair of air cylinders, each having a piston end pivotally carried by said frame and a housing end pivotally carried by said backrest, for supporting said backrest at a selected angle with respect to said seat.

6. The chair bed of claim 1 further comprising backrest stabilizing means carried by said backrest and rotatably engaging said arm rests, for smooth adjustment of said backrest with respect to said arm rests.

7. The chair bed of claim 6 wherein said backrest stabilizing means further comprises two lengths of square tubing carried by said arm rests in spaced relationship, respectfully;

a longitudinal slot provided in each of said lengths of square tubing and a pin roller disposed in rotatable relationship in each of said lengths of square tubing;

an arm rest pin projecting through said longitudinal slot in each of said lengths of square tubing, with one end of said arm rest pin fixedly carried by said backrest and the opposite end of said arm rest pin rotatably attached to said pin roller, whereby said pin roller is caused to traverse said square tubing and said arm rest pin traverses said longitudinal slot in each of said lengths of square tubing, respectfully, responsive to adjustment of said backrest with respect to said arm rests.

8. The chair bed of claim 7 wherein said chair bed is adapted for stabilizing in a vehicle and further comprising

an engaging bar carried by said frame and a cooperating transport flange secured in the vehicle, said engaging bar adapted for removably engaging said transport flange and removably securing said chair bed to the vehicle during transportation of the chair bed.

9. The chair bed of claim 8 wherein said backrest adjusting means further comprises a pair of air cylinders disposed between said frame and said backrest, for supporting said backrest at a selected angle with respect to said seat.

10. The chair bed of claim 9 wherein said chair bed is adapted for stabilizing in a vehicle and further comprising:

(a) an engaging bar carried by said frame and a cooperating transport flange secured to the vehicle, said engaging bar adapted for removably engaging said transport flange and removably securing said chair bed to the vehicle during transportation of the chair bed;

(b) backrest stabilizing means carried by said backrest and rotatably engaging said arm rest, for smooth adjustment of said backrest with respect to said arm rests.

11. The chair bed of claim 10 wherein said backrest stabilizing means further comprises two lengths of square tubing carried by said arm rests in spaced relationship, respectively;

a longitudinal slot provided in each of said lengths of square tubing and a pin roller disposed in rotatable relationship each of said lengths of square tubing;

an arm rest pin projecting through said longitudinal slot in each of said lengths of square tubing, with one end of said arm rest pin fixedly carried by said backrest, and the opposite end of said arm rest pin rotatably attached to said pin roller, whereby said pin roller is caused to traverse said square tubing and said arm rest pin traverses said longitudinal slot in each of said lengths of square tubing, respectively, responsive to adjustment of said backrest with respect to said arm rests.

12. The chair bed of claim 1 further comprising a pair of rear wheels rotatably and pivotally carried by said frame in spaced relationship with respect to said main wheels and said front wheels for enhancing the directional control of said chair bed.

13. The chair bed of claim 12 wherein said chair bed is adapted for stabilizing in a vehicle and further comprising:

(a) an engaging bar carried by said frame and a cooperating transport flange secured in the vehicle, said engaging bar adapted for removably engaging said transport flange and removably securing said chair bed to the vehicle during transportation of the chair bed; and

(b) backrest stabilizing means extending from said backrest and rotatably carried by said arm rests, for stabilizing the adjustment of said backrest with respect to said arm rests.

14. The chair bed of claim 13 wherein said backrest adjusting means further comprises a pair of air cylinders each having a piston end pivotally carried by said frame and a housing end pivotally carried by said backrest, for supporting said backrest at selected angle with respect to said seat.

15. The chair bed of claim 14 wherein said backrest stabilizing means further comprises two lengths of square tubing carried by said arm rests in spaced relationship, respectively;

a longitudinal slot provided in each of said lengths of square tubing and a pin roller disposed in rotatable relationship in each of said lengths of square tubing;

an arm rest pin projecting through said longitudinal slot in each of said lengths of square tubing, with one end of said arm rest pin fixedly carried by said backrest and the opposite end of said arm rest pin rotatably attached to said pin roller, whereby said pin roller is caused to traverse said square tubing and said arm rest pin traverses said longitudinal slot in each of said lengths of square tubing, respectively, responsive to adjustment of said backrest with respect to said arm rests.

16. In a chair bed for carrying non-ambulatory persons and adapted for removably latching to a receiver mechanism mounted in close proximity to a commode, the improvement in combination therewith comprising:

(a) a box-like frame;

(b) a pair of main wheels journalled for rotation in said frame and a pair of front wheels rotatably and pivotally carried by said frame in spaced relationship with respect to said main wheels;

(c) a seat fixedly attached to said frame and a curved recess provided in said seat for selectively accommodating the curvature of the commode;

(d) a backrest hingedly carried by said seat, said backrest adapted to pivot from essentially a 90 degree angle with respect to said seat, to essentially a 180 degree with respect to said seat;

(e) backrest adjusting means adjustably carried by said frame and said backrest for selectively adjusting the angle of repose of said backrest with respect to said seat;

(f) a pair of arm rests pivotally carried by said frame in spaced, substantially parallel relationship for supporting the arms of an occupant;

(g) a pair of foot support bars pivotally carried by said frame and pivotally connected to one end of said arm rests, respectively, and a pair of rear pivoting members pivotally carried by said frame and the opposite ends of said arm rests, respectively, said rear pivoting members adapted for selectively raising and lowering said arm rests and said foot support bar with respect to said frame; and

(h) latch means carried by said frame and adapted to removably engage said receiver mechanism for locating the curvature of the commode in said curved recess and securing said chair bed in said close proximity to the commode.

17. The chair bed of claim 16 wherein said chair bed is adapted for stabilizing in a vehicle and further comprising:

(a) an engaging bar carried by said frame and a cooperating transport flange secured in the vehicle, said engaging bar adapted for removably engaging said transport flange and removably securing said chair bed to the vehicle during transportation of the chair bed; and

(b) backrest stabilizing means carried by said backrest and rotatably engaging said arm rests, for smooth adjustment of said backrest with respect to said arm rests.

18. The chair bed of claim 17 wherein said backrest adjusting means further comprises a pair of air cylinders, each having a piston end pivotally carried by said frame and a housing end carried by said backrest, for supporting said backrest at a selected angle with respect to said seat.

19. The chair bed of claim 18 wherein said backrest stabilizing means further comprises two lengths of square tubing carried by said arm rests in spaced relationship, respectively;

a longitudinal slot provided in each of said lengths of square tubing and a pin roller disposed in rotatable relationship in each of said lengths of square tubing;

an arm rest pin projecting through said longitudinal slot in each of said lengths of square tubing, with one end of said arm rest pin fixedly carried by said backrest and the opposite end of said arm rest pin rotatably attached to said pin roller, whereby said pin roller is caused to traverse said square tubing and said arm rest pin traverses said longitudinal slot in each of said lengths of square tubing, respectively, responsive to adjustment of said backrest with respect to said arm rests.

20. The chair bed of claim 19 wherein said main wheels are removed from said frame and further comprising a pair of rear wheels rotatably and pivotally carried by said frame in spaced relationship with respect to said main wheels and said front wheels for enhancing the directional control of said chair bed.

21. In a chair bed for carrying non-ambulatory persons and adapted for stabilizing in a vehicle and removably latching to a receiver mechanism mounted in close proximity to a commode, the improvement comprising:

(a) a box-like frame;

(b) an engaging bar carried by said frame and a cooperating transport flange secured in the vehicle, said engaging bar adapted for removably engaging said transport flange and removably securing said chair bed to the vehicle during transportation of the chair bed;

(c) a pair of main wheels journalled for rotation in said frame and a pair of front wheels rotatably and pivotally carried by said frame in spaced relationship with respect to said main wheels;

(d) a seat fixedly attached to said frame and a curved recess provided in said seat for selectively accommodating the curvature of the commode;

(e) a backrest hingedly carried by said seat, said backrest adapted to pivot from essentially a 90°

angle with respect to said seat to essentially a 180°

angle with respect to said seat;

(f) backrest adjusting means adjustably carried by said frame and said backrest for selectively adjusting the angle of repose of said backrest with respect to said seat;

(g) a pair of arm rests pivotally carried by said frame in spaced, substantially parallel relationship for supporting the arms of an occupant;

two lengths of square tubing carried by said arm rests in spaced relationship, respectively;

a longitudinal slot provided in each of said lengths of square tubing and a pin roller disposed in rotatable relationship in each of said lengths of said square tubing; and

an arm rest pin projecting through said longitudinal slot in each of said lengths of square tubing, with one end of said arm rest pin fixedly carried by said backrest and the opposite end of said arm rest pin rotatably attached to said pin roller, whereby said pin roller is caused to traverse said square tubing and said arm rest pin traverses said longitudinal slot in each of said lengths of square tubing, respectively, responsive to adjustment of said backrest with respect to said arm rest; and

(h) latch means carried by said frame and adapted to removably engage said receiver mechanism for locating the curvature of the commode in said curved recess and securing said chair bed in said close proximity to the commode.

22. The chair bed of claim 21 wherein said backrest adjusting means further comprises a pair of air cylinders, each having a piston end pivotally carried by said frame and a housing end carried by said backrest, for supporting said backrest at a selected angle with respect to said seat.

23. The chair bed of claim 22 wherein said main wheels are removed from said frame and further comprising a pair of rear wheels rotatably and pivotally carried by said frame in spaced relationship with respect to said main wheels and said front wheels for enhancing the directional control of said chair bed.