Abstract:
A collapsible transfer bench includes a frame moveable between an extended position and a collapsed position, said frame including at least one channel; and a seat adapted to receive and support a person, said seat cooperatively and moveably engaging said channel such that in said extended position said seat moves longitudinally along said channel and in said collapsed position said frame is portable enough for one person to transport said frame from one location to the other. Furthermore said seat being moveable between an extended position and a collapsed position, such that in said collapsed position said frame together with said seat is portable enough to be transportable by one person from one location to another.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates in general to transfer benches and more particularly to a collapsible, portable, transfer bench. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     on ambulatory persons which include paraplegics face numerous problems in carrying out activities of daily living such as dressing, toiletry, showering, getting into and out of vehicles, buildings and bathing. One of the major problems is merely gaining entry into a conventional bathroom and/or car because of the narrow door ways. Once inside, gaining access to a conventional toilets, bathtubs and/or seats within cars may be very difficult. 
     Non ambulatory persons often must be lifted from a wheelchair to a bed where they can be most easily undressed and lifted by an attendant and placed into the wheel chair and transported to the bathroom. The non ambulatory person is then lifted from the wheel chair and often carried through the narrow door way and then placed onto a Comdt seat for toiletry or onto a chair which has been placed in the bathtub or shower stall for a bath or shower. 
     The repeated lifting of the non ambulatory persons causes a lot of physical strain on the attendant and increases the possibility of back strain as well as the danger of accidents such as lifting and falling. 
     In addition, a non ambulatory person must often be lifted from the wheel chair and into the car through the narrow passageway of the door of the car and once again requires great lifting effort from the attendant and the need for additional persons to attend on the non ambulatory person. 
     There are several patents which disclose various chair and track arrangements which facilitate the use of bathroom facilities. For example, Thomas, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,253,203 and 4,359,791 disclose a collapsible bench. Bailey, U.S. Pat. No. 4,150,445 disclose a shower chair assembly. Hancock, U.S. Pat. No. 4,091,479 discloses a shower chair. Davies, U.S. Pat. No. 4,168,549 discloses a seat for use with a bathing device and Myers, U.S. Pat. No. 5,373,591 discloses a shower Comdt chair and transfer track. 
     Although there are a number of devices to assist amputees and invalids into baths in addition to those listed above, often amputees and invalids are unable to move themselves into and out of the bath with ease and require a great amount of assistance and lifting. Although the prior devices have proved to have a number of advantages, there are also a number of disadvantages, for example, they are too heavy, not easily managed and not easily installed and some are very elaborate and expensive in structure. Therefore, there is a need for a collapsible transfer bench which is easily set up but also can easily be collapsed and is portable enough to be able to put into a suitcase and be able to move from one location to the other and used for transfer of non ambulatory persons into and out of bathtubs, Comdt as well as automobiles and beds. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention a collapsible transfer bench comprises 
     (a) a moveable seat; and 
     (b) a frame collapsible between an extended position and a collapsed position, wherein in said extended position said frame supporting said seat and cooperatively adapted for said seat to be moveable along said frame, and in said collapsed position said collapsible transfer bench portable enough for one person to transport said bench from one location to the other. 
     Preferably said seat being collapsible between an extended and a collapsed position. 
     Preferably said frame is collapsible by folding said frame between said extended position and said collapsed position. 
     Preferably said frame further comprises channels foldable between said extended and said collapsed position. 
     Preferably said frame further comprises legs foldable between said extended position and said collapsed position. 
     Preferably said seat is adapted to rollably move along said channels. 
     Preferably said seat includes a back, sides and a bottom, all collapsible between an extended position and a collapsed position. 
     In a presently preferred embodiment the present invention a collapsible transfer bench comprises 
     (a) a frame moveable between an extended position and a collapsed position, said frame including at least one channel; 
     (b) a seat adapted to receive and support a person, said seat cooperatively and moveably engaging said channel such that in said extended position said seat moves longitudinally along said channel and in said collapsed position said frame is portable enough for one person to transport said frame from one location to the other. 
     Preferably said frame further comprises a leg means for supporting said frame and said seat. 
     Preferably said leg means comprises legs moveable between an extended position and a collapsed position, such that in said collapsed position said frame is transportable by one person from one location to another. 
     Preferably said seat being moveable between a seat extended position and a seat collapsed position, such that in said collapsed position said frame together with said seat is portable enough to be transportable by one person from one location to another. 
     Preferably said seat includes a back, sides and a bottom, all collapsible and moveable between an extended position and a collapsed position. 
     Preferably said seat is adapted to rollably engage with and move longitudinally along said channel. 
     Preferably said channel includes a first channel section and a second channel section including a joining means for joining together the sections at distal ends thereof, such that in the extended position the two sections form a continuous longitudinal section and in the collapsed position the two sections fold upon each other for transportation. 
     Preferably said joining means includes a hinge for pivotally connecting first channel section and second channel section. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a side transverse elevational view of the collapsible transfer bench. 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the collapsible transfer bench. 
     FIG. 3 is a side longitudinal elevational view of the collapsible transfer bench. 
     FIG. 4 is a plan perspective view of the collapsible transfer bench. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates schematically how the seat is fit into the channels for positioning onto the collapsible transfer bench. 
     FIG. 6 is a partial cut away plan perspective view showing how the seat fits into the channels and the height adjustability of the legs. 
     FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the seat in the extended position. 
     FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the seat in the collapsed position. 
     FIG. 9 is a planned perspective view of the seat showing how the various components of the seats move in order to collapse into the collapsed position. 
     FIG. 10 is a planned perspective view of the seat in the collapsed position. 
     FIG. 11 is a side transverse elevational view showing the cross-sectional taken through lines  12 — 12  shown in FIG.  12 . 
     FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  12 — 12  of FIG. 11 showing some cross-sectional details of the channel, the wheel and the seat. 
     FIG. 13 is a side longitudinal elevational view showing circle  14  the details of the collapsible channel. 
     FIG. 14 is a plan perspective view of the details showing FIG. 13 as circle  14  indicating how the channels collapse. 
     FIG. 15 is a side longitudinal elevational view of the collapsible transfer bench. 
     FIG. 16 shows schematically how the channels and legs collapse inwardly. 
     FIG. 17 again shows schematically how the channels and legs collapse inwardly. 
     FIG. 18 is a planned perspective view of the collapsible transfer bench shown in the collapsed position without the seat. 
     FIG. 19 is a planned perspective view of the collapsible transfer bench shown collapsed with all components including the seat in situ. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention a collapsible transfer bench shown generally as  10  includes a frame  12 , having channels  14 , legs  16 , end members  18 , as well as a seat  20  which includes bottom  22 , side  24  and back  26 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1,  2  and  3 . Legs  16  include upper leg  30  and lower leg  32  which telescopically extends with respect to upper leg  30  and includes apertures  34  which cooperate with a spring biased locking plunger  36  in order to provide for height adjustment of leg  16 . Upper leg  30  is pivotally mounted to leg bracket  38  which has aperture  40  cooperating with locking pin  42  for locking leg  16  in the extended position. Depressing locking pin  42 , allows leg  16  to pivot between an extended position and a collapsed position shown and described in FIGS. 13 to  19 . 
     Frame  12  includes end members  18 , cross members  28 , first channel section  54 , second channel section  56 , locking element  48  and hinge  46 . Preferably channels  14  are “C” shaped channels made out of extruded aluminum and/or steel and second channel  56  and first channel section  54  are pivotally connected together with hinge  46 , approximately mid way along the entire length of channels  14 . Locking element  48  can be slidably moved across the joint between first channel  54  and second channel  56  for locking and preventing pivoting of first and second channels  54  and  56  with respect to each other. Channels  14  are connected at their longitudinal ends with end members  18  and preferably are welded together and/or joined together by any fastening or joining means known in the art. In addition to end members  18  holding together channels  14 , cross members  28  positioned on either side of the joint between second channel section  56  and first channel section  54 , help maintain dimensional stability and rigidity of channels  14  when they are in a collapsed position. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 13 through 18, frame  12  with legs attached is shown in the extended position in FIGS. 4 and 13 and in a collapsed position in FIG.  18 . First channel section  54  and second channel section  56  pivot about hinge  46  through channel pivoting motion shown as  50  in FIG.  16 . In addition, legs  16  also pivot about leg brackets  38  and  37  thereby collapsing frame  12  to approximately half its length from the extended position to the collapsed position. FIG. 16 and 17 show schematically how frame  12  would be collapsed and the sequence of collapsing frame  12  from the extended position shown in FIG. 15 to the collapsed position shown in  18 . FIG. 18 shows frame  12  in the collapsed position as you can see the frame in the collapsed position is approximately half the longitudinal length it is in the extended position. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 7,  8 ,  9  and  10  which shows seat  20  and the sequence to collapse seat  20  from the extended position shown in FIG. 7 to a collapsed position shown in FIGS. 8 and 10. FIG. 9 shows how seat  20  can be collapsed. Back  26  is slidably attached to sides  24  and can be moved up and down through back sliding motion shown as  74  on FIG.  9 . As well sides  24  are pivotally attached to bottom  22  of seat  20  and can be pivoted through side pivoting motion shown as  72  on FIG.  9 . Seat  20  is shown in the totally collapsed position in FIG. 10 wherein the sides  24  and back  26  of seat  20  are collapsed onto bottom  22  of seat  20 . FIG. 19 shows collapsed frame  12  as well as collapsed seat  20  nested together into one package suitable for placing inside a suitcase or box for transportation. 
     Referring now FIGS. 5,  6 ,  11  and  12  which shows seat  20  of collapsible transfer bench  10  being inserted into channel entries  82  for rollably moving along channels  14  of frame  12 . Seat  20  has attached on the bottom  22 , wheels  80  for rollably moving along the bottom of channels  14 . Seat  20  as shown in FIG. 5 is tilted slightly in order that wheels  80  are inserted through channel entries  82  and onto channels  14 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 11 and 12 particularly, wheel  82  is rotatably mounted on axle  84  which is rigidly mounted to axle housing  86  which is fastened using screws  88  to bottom  22 . In addition, FIG. 12 shows the detail of leg brackets  38 , locking pin  42  and upper leg  30  which pivotally moves within leg bracket  38 . Locking pin  42  is resiliently biased within upper leg  30  and in the extended position locking pin  42  is housed within aperture  40  therefore preventing upper leg  30  from collapsing or pivoting. Bottom  22  of seat  20  can be made of any suitable material having enough strength and rigidity to support the weight of a person and/or disabled person upon collapsible transfer bench  10 . 
     The reader will note that leg bracket  38  on one end includes spacer  39  whereas on the other end leg bracket  37  only includes the housing member for upper leg  30  without spacer  39 . This ensures that legs  16  are able to nest together properly in order to minimize the space requirements for the collapsed legs  16  of collapsed fame  12 . 
     Additionally, at one end the legs are spaced slightly away from the longitudinal end of channels  14 . This is in order to provide a supporting surface  90  which can be used to mount the end of frame  12  onto for example the ledge of a car or onto a bed or onto the edge of a bathtub and/or whirl pool tub. Supporting surface  90  can be used in addition to legs  16  or over and above legs  16  depending upon the height requirements for the positioning of frame  12 . 
     In use frame  12  is set up in the extended position as shown in FIGS. 1 through 4. In the extended position seat  20  rolls along the longitudinal length of channels  14  thereby allowing a person sitting on seat  20  to move from one end of the frame  12  to the other. The heights of leg  16  are adjusted by selecting an aperture  34  which cooperates with a locking plunger  36  which is resiliently biased and attached to upper leg  30 . By depressing locking plunger  36  one can telescopically move lover leg  32  up and down along upper leg  30  until the desired height is reached and locking plunger  36  is then selectively locked into one of the apertures  34  of lower leg  32 . You will see that the height adjustment capability of each leg  16  is independent of the other and therefore, frame  12  can be set up on a uneven surface by adjusting the height of the legs to ensure that the frame is in the horizontal position or on an angle if so desired. If for example, one end of frame  12  must be placed in an area were legs  16  cannot be utilized, then supporting surface  90  can be placed on for example the ledge of the door frame of a car or onto a seat, or onto one end of a mattress in order to move the disabled person from one end of the frame to the other. Normally seat  20  is used in the extended position as shown in FIG. 4 as well as shown in FIGS. 5,  6  and  7 . The seat can be placed into channels  14  facing in either direction by inserting wheels  80  of seat  20  into channel entries  82  in the top of channels  14 . By tilting the seat slightly as shown in FIG. 5, this help facilitate entry of wheels  80  into channel entires  82 . The wheels are supported by bottom flange  81  of channels  14 . 
     One of the benefits of the present collapsible transfer bench  10  is that it can be collapsed to a very small size for portability for use both in home and/or while travelling or for use into and out of cars and/or in hotels or motels. In collapsed position a single person can transport collapsible transfer bench  10 . 
     In order to collapse frame  12  first of all, locking element  48  is slid along channel  14  thereby exposing the joints where first channel section  54  and second channel  56  butt together. First and seconds channels  54  and  56  respectively are joined by hinge  46 . Referring now to FIGS. 16 and 17, leg  16  is pivoted through leg pivoting motion  52  as shown in FIG.  16  and then second channel section  56  is pivoted through channel pivoting motion  50  as shown in FIG. 16 thereby collapsing leg  16  and second channel section  56  as shown in FIG.  16 . Subsequently, the remaining extended legs  16  are pivoted about leg pivoting motion  52  as shown as FIG. 17 completing the collapsing of frame  12 . Frame  12  is shown in the totally collapsed position in FIG.  18 . Frame  12  and legs  16  are nicely nested tother to form a very compact structure for transportation from one location to the other. Brackets  38  which pivotally attach to upper leg  30  additionally have a spacer  39  on first channel section  54 , this in order to ensure that legs  16  nest properly together as shown in FIG.  18 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 7,  8 ,  9  and  10  which shows schematically how seat  20  can be moved from the extended position shown in FIG. 7 shown in the collapsed position shown in FIG.  8 . First of all back  26  is raised in a sliding motion shown as back sliding motion  74 , upwardly from sides  24  of seat  20 . This sliding motion releases one side of back tubing  100  from seat tubing  102 . Back tubing  100  fits telescopically and slidably within seat tubing  102  and as well it enables pivoting of back  26  about pivot axis  104  and through back pivot motion shown as  70 . Subsequently, sides  24  pivoting about hinges  110  are pivoted through side pivoting motion  72  as shown in FIG. 9 so that sides  24  are collapsed such that they rest on bottom  22  of seat  20 . The final result is shown in FIG. 10 wherein seat  20  is shown in the totally collapsed position. In FIG. 19, frame  12  as well as seat  20  are shown together both in the collapsed position, wherein the wheels  82  of seat  20  are housed within channels  14  of frame  12  so that both the seat and the frame  12  do not separate from each other. The entire unit is nested very nicely so that it is easily portable from one location to the other. 
     It should be apparent to persons skilled in the arts that various modifications and adaptation of this structure described above are possible without departure from the spirit of the invention the scope of which defined in the appended Claims.