Patent Publication Number: US-11039965-B2

Title: Handles for a patient conveyance apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application relates and claims priority to Australian Patent Application No. 2018903841, filed Oct. 11, 2018, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to patient conveyance apparatus such as stretchers and transport chairs. 
     BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
     In hospitals and other medical facilities it is frequently necessary to move patients around the facility. In many situations, it is difficult to move the patient even to a conveyance apparatus, such as from a bed to a wheelchair. In such situations, it is desirable to have a patient conveyance apparatus such as a stretcher or a transport chair in which the patient can be readily moved around the facility and in which they can stay for other purposes, such as for a medical examination or procedure. 
     It is further desirable to have such a wheeled patient conveyance apparatus which is readily adjustable for a patient, for instance between an upright or seated position and a reclined position. 
     It is also desirable for the wheeled patient conveyance apparatus to have handles which can be used to guide and to propel the patient conveyance. It is preferred that these handles are located behind the patient, as is typical in a wheelchair. This presents a problem, in that such handles are typically mounted to a backrest. If the backrest can be reclined, the handles would then be unusable. Locating and positioning handles which allow for the adjustment of the apparatus between an upright and a reclined position is difficult. 
     The provision of handles on a patient conveyance apparatus raises further difficulties. When the handles are mounted to the backrest, any pushing and pulling forces applied to the handles are transmitted via the backrest to the patient, potentially causing discomfort. Handles must be able to be easily used by medical staff of different heights and builds, meaning that they should preferably be adjustable. Handles must be readily available for use, but also should not prevent an impediment to a medical practitioner conducting an examination or procedure. 
     The present invention has been created in light of these problems and desiderata. Further advantages will be apparent from the following description. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a patient conveyance apparatus having a frame, the patient conveyance apparatus having an elongate direction and a transverse direction;
     the frame supporting a patient carrying portion, the patient carrying portion including a backrest which is moveable between a generally upright raised position and a relatively reclined lowered position;   the frame including a first arm mounting from which a first arm extends and a second arm mounting from which a second arm extends, each of the first arm and the second arm having an outer handle;   each of the first arm and the second arm being movable relative to the frame about a first axis and about a second axis, the first axis being oriented in the transverse direction, the second axis being generally perpendicular to the first axis,   each of the first arm and the second arm being moveable between a stowed position in which the arm is located beneath the backrest and an operative position in which the arm extends to the rear of the backrest, each of the first arm and the second arm being moveable between its stowed position and its operative position when the backrest is in either its raised position or its lowered position.   

     It is preferred that each arm mounting includes a locking mechanism arranged to move between a locked configuration whereby the arm is fixed in a desired operative position and an unlocked configuration whereby the arm is free to move. 
     It is also preferred that movement of each arm is restricted by friction within the respective arm mounting. 
     It is preferred that each arm is located outside the backrest when in its operative position, whereby the backrest can be moved between its upright position and its lowered position while the arms are in their operative position. 
     Each arm mounting preferably includes a housing which defines a substantially cylindrical bearing having an axis oriented in the transverse direction, and an internal arm support arranged to rotate within the housing. 
     The housing may include a first internal projection, with the internal arm support having a catch arranged to engage with the internal projection when the arm is in its operative position. In a preferred embodiment, the catch includes a release arm which extends, in use, outside the housing. 
     The housing may include a second internal projection, with the internal arm support having an arcuate slot arranged to locate about the second internal projection, the second internal projection arranged to limit rotation of the internal arm support relative to the housing. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the arcuate slot extends through about 45°. 
     The internal arm support may include an outer projection to which an arm is mounted. The outer projection is preferably located on an internal shaft, arranged to rotate relative to the internal arm support about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the housing. 
     The patient conveyance apparatus may be a transport chair. Alternatively, the patient conveyance may be a stretcher. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       It will be convenient to further describe the invention with reference to preferred embodiments of the present invention. Other embodiments are possible, and consequently the particularity of the following discussion is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the preceding description of the invention. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective of a patient transport chair in accordance with the present invention, having two arms, each in a first operative position; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective of the patient transport chair of  FIG. 1 , with the two arms each in a second operative position; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective of the patient transport chair of  FIG. 1 , showing one arm in a stowed position and one arm in a first operative position; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective of the patient transport chair of  FIG. 1 , showing one arm in a stowed position and one arm in a second operative position; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective of the patient transport chair of  FIG. 1 , showing both arms in a stowed position; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective of an arm mounting from within the patient transport chair of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross section through an end of the arm mounting of  FIG. 6 ; and 
         FIG. 8  is a cross section through a side of the arm mounting of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the Figures, there is shown a patient transport chair  10  having a wheeled undercarriage  12 , a supporting frame  14 , and a patient carrying portion having a seat  16 , a leg rest  18  and a backrest  20 . 
     In this embodiment, the supporting frame  14  is connected to the wheeled undercarriage  12  by a supporting column  22 . In another embodiment (not shown), the supporting frame  14  is connected to the wheeled undercarriage by two supporting columns. 
     The supporting frame  14  has a first side rail  24  and a second side rail  26 . The side rails  24 ,  26  extend in an elongate direction from a forward position at a front end of the seat  16  to a rear position beneath the backrest  20 . 
     The supporting frame  14  has a first arm mounting  30  mounted to the rear of the first side rail  24 , and a second arm mounting  32  mounted to the rear of the second side rail  26 . 
     A first arm  34  extends from the first arm mounting  30 , and a second arm  36  extends from the second arm mounting  32 . 
     Each of the first and second arms  34 ,  36  has three portions: an inner portion  38  which extends from the respective arm mounting  30 ,  32 ; an extension portion  40  which extends away from the inner portion  38  at a 90° angle, and a handle  42  which extends away from an outer end of the extension portion  40  at a 90° angle. The handle  42  is perpendicular to the inner portion  38 . 
     The first arm mounting  30  will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 6 to 8 . It will be appreciated that the first arm mounting  30  is essentially identical to the second arm mounting  32 . 
     The first arm mounting  30  has an outer housing  50 . The outer housing  50  has a connection portion  52  which is arranged to mount to the first side rail  24 , and a main portion  54  which defines a substantially cylindrical bearing  56  covered at both axial ends by caps  58 . The main portion  54  is arranged such that the bearing  56  has an axis oriented in a transverse direction relative to the first arm  34 ; that is, oriented towards the second arm mounting  32 . 
     A generally cylindrical body portion  60  is located within the outer housing  50 , arranged to rotate within the cylindrical bearing  56 . The body portion  60  constitutes an internal arm support for the first arm  34 . 
     The body portion  60  includes a diametrically aligned bore  62  arranged to support a rotating shaft  64 . The rotating shaft  64  extends through a side wall of the outer housing  50  to form an outer projection  66 . The arrangement is such that the inner portion  38  of the first arm  34  can be fixed to, and be aligned with, the outer projection  66 . The rotating shaft  64  fits snugly within the bore  62 , with friction restricting but not preventing rotation of the shaft  64 . 
     The rotating shaft  64  includes an axially aligned cavity  68  extending inwardly from the outer protection  66 , the axially aligned cavity being arranged to allow electrical control wiring  70  to pass internally of the housing  50 . 
     The outer housing  50  has a first internal projection  72  extending between the caps  58 . The first internal projection  72  is located near the side wall of the outer housing  50 , remote from the connection portion  52 . The first internal projection  72  is cylindrical, with its axis parallel to the axis of the bearing  56 . It is located at about 45° above a midline of the bearing  56 . 
     The body portion  60  includes a catch  74 . The catch  74  is generally parallel to the bore  62 , and is located on a side of the bore  62  away from the connection portion  52 . The catch  74  has an internal end having a hook  76  and an external end being a release arm  78  which extends through the side wall of the outer housing  50 . 
     The arrangement is such that the body portion  60  is able to rotate through about 45° within the bearing  56  from a lowered position shown in  FIGS. 6 to 8 , with the outer projection  66  pointing downwards, to a raised position. In the raised position the hook  76  engages with and locks around the first internal projection  72  so as to maintain the body portion  60  in the raised position. The catch  74  has a central pivot  80 , such that rotation of the release arm  78  about the pivot  80  causes the hook  76  to disengage the first internal projection  72 , permitting rotation of the body portion  60  back to the lowered position. 
     The outer housing  50  has a second internal projection  82  extending between the caps  58 . The second internal projection  82  is located about two thirds of the way from the central axis of the bearing  56  to the side wall of the outer housing  50 , approximately opposite the first internal projection  72 . The second internal projection  82  is cylindrical, with its axis parallel to the axis of the bearing  56 . 
     The body portion  60  includes an arcuate slot  84  which extends through about 45°, and is arranged to locate about the second internal projection  82 . The arrangement is such that when the body portion  60  is in the lowered position the second internal projection  82  abuts one end of the acuate slot  84 , and when the body portion  60  is in the raised position the second internal projection  82  abuts the other end of the arcuate slot  84 . 
     Operation of the patient transport chair  10  will now be described. 
       FIG. 1  shows the patient transport chair  10  in a position whereby the first arm  34  and the second arm  36  are both in a first operative position, with the inner portions  38  and extension portions  40  of each arm being perpendicular to the transverse direction, and each forming an angle of about 45° relative to the elongate direction. The handles  42  are directed in the transverse direction, and are parallel to each other. 
     In this position the body portions  60  of the arm mountings  30 ,  32  are each locked in their raised positions, with the rotating shafts  64  rotated within their bores  62  so as to orient the extension portions  40  in the desired position. 
     It will be appreciated that in this position the handles  42  are located well to the rear of the patient transport chair  10 . In particular, the backrest  20  can be moved between an upright position and a reclined position, even to a fully reclined position, without interference from the arms  34 ,  36 . Any force applied to the handles  42 , for instance by an orderly, is transferred through the arm mountings  30 ,  32  to the side rails  24 ,  26  and thence to the frame  14 , column  22  and wheeled undercarriage  12 . No part of this force passes through the patient carrying portion. 
       FIG. 2  shows the patient transport chair  10  in a position whereby the first arm  34  and the second arm  36  are both in a second operative position, with the first arm  34  and the second arm  36  having been rotated about their first axis into positions whereby the extension portions  40  are generally parallel to the respective side rails  24 ,  26 . It will be appreciated that movement to this second operative position requires release of the catches  74 , and rotation of the body portions  60  to their lowered positions. 
     As in the position of  FIG. 1 , when the patient transport chair  10  is in the position of  FIG. 2 , the backrest  20  can be moved between an upright position and a reclined position, even to a fully reclined position, without interference from the arms  34 ,  36 . Additionally, any force applied to the handles  42  is transferred to the wheeled undercarriage  12  without passing through the patient carrying portion. 
       FIG. 3  shows the patient transport chair  10  in a position whereby the first arm  34  has been returned to its first operative position, and the second arm  36  has been moved into a stowed position. The stowed position is achieved by rotation of the inner portion  38  of the second arm  36  about its axis (that is, rotation of the shaft  64  within the bore  62 ) until the extension portion  40  locates generally in the transverse direction. In this position, the second arm  36  locates directly beneath the backrest  20 , notably in a position lower than even a fully reclined backrest  20 . 
       FIG. 4  shows the patient transport chair  10  in a position whereby the first arm  34  is in its second operative position and the second arm  36  is in its stowed position. 
       FIG. 5  shows the patient transport chair  10  with both arms  34 ,  36  in stowed positions. 
     It will be apparent that no matter what the position of the backrest  20  each arm  34 ,  36  can be independently moved between its first and second operative positions and its stowed position without affecting a patient. Similarly, it will be apparent that no matter what the position of the arms  34 ,  36 , the backrest  20  can be raised and lowered as desired without interference. 
     Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.