Multi function patient transport

• US 8,459,660 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2010
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Livingston Innovations LLC
• Original Assignee: Livingston Innovations LLC
• Inventors: Livingston, Troy W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shriver, II, J. Allen
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUDA, CONAN D
• Application Number:
  US12/928,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20120139197A1
• Time in Patent Office: 920 Days
• Field of Search: 180/8.2, 180/8.7, 280/5.2, 280/5.22
• US Class Current: 280/5.22
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 1/0293 stretcher supports with wheels, e.g. used for stretchers without wheels stretcher supports without wheels A61G1/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/061 for climbing stairs
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/066 with endless belts

Abstract

A transport that is manually powered for transporting an injured or disabled person from one location to another. The chair is particularly useful for transporting an injured or disabled person (who is of a heavy weight) up or down a flight of stairs. The chair lift is manually driven by reciprocating hand levers operated by an attendant. A ratchet and pawl mechanism in combination with a brake system, which is continuously set/locked, allows movement of the chair only when the chair is being propelled up a flight of stairs and when an attendant purposefully actuates a hand lever to release the brakes and allow movement of the transporter.

Claims

1. A patient transporter comprising:

a) a foldable frame including an upper rail and having a first configuration as a chair having a seat for a patient for enabling a minimum of two attendants to convey a patient up and down flights in a seated position and a second configuration as a support for an elongated medical backboard for enabling a minimum of two attendants to convey a patient in a prone position up and down a flight of stairs;

b) said backboard including a foot support mounted at the lower end of said backboard to prevent the patient from sliding down the backboard when said backboard and patient are at an angle and are being moved up and down the stairs when said frame is in said second configuration;

c) extensible arms coupling said upper rail to said frame and which telescope outwardly to accommodate the length of the backboard when said frame is in said second configuration;

d) means for strapping said backboard to said frame with a front edge of said seat supporting one end of said backboard when said frame is in said second configuration;

e) bracket assemblies mounted on said frame;

f) loop drive tracks mounted on said bracket assemblies;

g) drive wheels and associated wheel hubs for driving said tracks;

h) manually powered drive trains including removable lever handles that are reciprocated up as active power strokes and down as a passive or recovery strokes, to drive said power trains and said drive wheels up the stairs;

i) a first braking system including brake drums and associated brake bands mounted to engage said wheel hubs;

j) springs for maintaining said brake bands in locked contact with said brake drums and said wheel hubs to thereby stop rotation of said drive wheels unless manually released by an attendant;

k) said manually powered drive trains by-passing said first braking system;

l) a second, and one way, braking system for braking said power train, said second braking system including respective ratchet and pawl assemblies and being selectively engaged to said first brake system for by-passing said first braking system and enabling said wheels and hubs to rotate in a single direction when said lever handles are powering said wheels up the stairs and also for providing a braking action to said wheels during said passive or recovery strokes of said lever handles, with said second braking system controlling down-the-stairs movement of said transporter; and

m) control levers mounted on an upper rail of said frame, to enable the attendant at the upper end of said backboard to manually release said springs and therefore control said first braking system.

2. A transporter as in claim 1 wherein

a) said extensible arms further comprise a brace that is pivotable between a lowered position and a raised position for providing additional support for a top end of said backboard.

3. A transporter as in claim 1 wherein when said frame is in said second configuration

a) said backboard is consistently in a supported position wherein an attendant can provide instant care to the patient'"'"'s head and face.