Apparatus for coupling wheelchairs to ventilator carts
First Claim
1. A portable cart for releasable attachment to a wheelchair, the wheelchair having frame components, said cart comprising:
- a base adapted to receive equipment for a person seated in the wheelchair;
a tubular frame adjacent to at least a portion of said base and presenting a pair of forwardly facing open ends, each of said open ends operable to receive a wheelchair frame component therein; and
a pair of elongated pins operable to releasably secure said cart to said wheelchair frame components when said frame components are received in said open ends and permitting up and down relative movement between the cart and the wheelchair in order to afford an articulated connection between said cart and the wheelchair to pass over uneven surfaces without breaking the connection therebetween.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wheelchair cart configured for rollable transportation while carrying medical gas or other equipment is provided having a linkage assembly operable for linking the cart with a wheelchair while allowing the wheelchair/cart assembly to pass over uneven surfaces. The cart allows a single person to connect the cart to a wheelchair and transport the two simultaneously. The cart is configured such that equipment that should be transported with the patient and is often physically connected to the patient (e.g. ventilators, IV'"'"'s, and monitors) is stored and transported on the cart. Risks associated with disconnecting the patient from vital medical equipment are minimized by eliminating the typical separate transportation of an equipment cart and a wheelchair by more than one person, which may result in a stretching or breaking of the attachment lines between the patient and the equipment.
188 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A portable cart for releasable attachment to a wheelchair, the wheelchair having frame components, said cart comprising:
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a base adapted to receive equipment for a person seated in the wheelchair;
a tubular frame adjacent to at least a portion of said base and presenting a pair of forwardly facing open ends, each of said open ends operable to receive a wheelchair frame component therein; and
a pair of elongated pins operable to releasably secure said cart to said wheelchair frame components when said frame components are received in said open ends and permitting up and down relative movement between the cart and the wheelchair in order to afford an articulated connection between said cart and the wheelchair to pass over uneven surfaces without breaking the connection therebetween.
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2. A portable cart for releasable attachment to a wheelchair, the wheelchair having frame components, said cart comprising:
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a base having a holder adapted to receive equipment for a person seated in the wheelchair;
a tubular frame adjacent at least a portion of said base and presenting forward facing open ends, each of said open ends operable to receive a wheelchair frame component therein;
a pair of elongated pins operable to releasably secure said cart to said wheelchair frame components when said frame components are received in said open ends and permitting up and down relative movement between the cart and the wheelchair in order to afford an articulated connection between said cart and the wheelchair to pass over uneven surfaces without breaking the connection therebetween; and
at least one elongated pivotal connector arm coupled with said base and including a coupler at the end thereof remote from said base in order to releasably couple with a frame component of the wheelchair. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5)
a plate secured to and radially displaceable with said attachment pin; and
,a fastener releasably secured to said plate and operable for limiting radial displacement of said plate and said attachment pin.
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5. The cart of claim 3, said coupler including an adjustable clamp.
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6. A portable cart for releasable attachment to a wheelchair, the wheelchair having frame components, said cart comprising:
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a base having a holder adapted to receive equipment for a person in the wheelchair;
at least one elongated pivotal connector arm coupled with said base and including a clamp at the end thereof remote from said base in order to releasably clamp with a frame component of the wheelchair, said connector arm having a pair of pivotally interconnected arm segments, one of said arm segments including a hinge member pivotally coupling the one arm segment to said base, said pivotally interconnected arm segments permitting relative pivoting between the arm segments and up and down relative movement between the cart and the wheelchair in order to afford an articulated connection between the cart and the wheelchair allowing the cart and wheelchair to pass over uneven surfaces without breaking the connection therebetween;
said hinge member including an attachment pin operatively attaching said one connector arm to said base;
a plate secured to and radially displaceable with said attachment pin; and
a fastener releasably secured to said plate and operable for limiting radial displacement of said plate and said attachment pin.
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Specification