Patent Publication Number: US-2022211559-A1

Title: Patient Transport Apparatus With Movable End Handle System

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The subject patent application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/944,764, filed on Jul. 31, 2020, which claims priority to and all the benefits of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/882,089 filed on Aug. 2, 2019, the disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Patient transport apparatuses, such as hospital beds, stretchers, cots, tables, wheelchairs, and chairs facilitate care and transportation of patients. Conventional patient transport apparatuses comprise a base, lift device, and a litter comprising a patient support surface upon which the patient is supported. The litter may be removable from the base to facilitate loading a patient onto the litter closer to the ground surface. Once the patient is loaded onto the litter near the ground surface, the litter is raised and disposed on the base to then transport the patient. 
     Traditionally, a patient transport apparatus includes pushing and/or lifting handles located at a foot end of the patient transport apparatus to enable caregivers to more easily move the patient transport apparatus. However, these pushing and/or lifting handles obstruct the foot end of the patient transport apparatus, which may cause difficulty when removing the litter from the base and/or when placing the litter onto the base. 
     Therefore, a patient transport apparatus that addresses one or more of the aforementioned challenges is desired. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Advantages of the present disclosure will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a patient transport apparatus including a movable end handle system in a closed configuration. 
         FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the patient transport apparatus of  FIG. 1  with the end handle system in an open configuration. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a portion of a patient transport apparatus including an end handle system in a closed configuration. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the patient transport apparatus of  FIG. 3  with the end handle system in an open configuration. 
         FIG. 5A and 5B  are perspective views of a patient transport apparatus including different versions of a movable end handle system. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the patient transport apparatus shown in  FIG. 5A . 
         FIGS. 7A-7F  are a sequence of images illustrating movement of the end handle system of  FIGS. 5A and 6  from the closed configuration to a stowed configuration. 
         FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of a latch mechanism that may be used with the end handle system shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , with the latch mechanism in a locked position. 
         FIG. 8B  is a perspective view of the latch mechanism in an unlocked position. 
         FIG. 9  is a partial perspective view of another end handle system. 
         FIG. 10A  is a perspective view of a portion of the end handle system shown in  FIG. 9  in the closed configuration. 
         FIG. 10B  is a perspective view of a portion of the end handle system shown in  FIG. 9  in the open configuration. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a handle that may be used with the end handle system shown in  FIG. 9  in the closed configuration. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the handle that may be used with the end handle system shown in  FIG. 9  in the open configuration. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , a patient transport apparatus  10  is shown for supporting a patient in a health care setting according to embodiments of the present disclosure. As will be appreciated from the subsequent description below, while the illustrated embodiments of the patient transport apparatus  10  described herein are configured as cots for transporting patients, the patient transport apparatus  10  may comprise a hospital bed, a stretcher, a table, a wheelchair, a chair, or a similar apparatus utilized in the care of a patient. 
     The patient transport apparatus  10  comprises a patient litter  12  and a litter support apparatus  14  for supporting the litter  12  above a ground surface. The litter  12  and the litter support apparatus  14  each have a head end  16  and a foot end  18  corresponding to designated placement of the patient&#39;s head and feet on the patient transport apparatus  10 . The litter  12  is configured to be removably supported by the litter support apparatus  14  and may be separated from the litter support apparatus  14  to facilitate loading the patient onto the litter  12 . For example, in operation, the litter  12  is removed from the litter support apparatus  14  by one or more caregivers and maybe placed on the ground surface next to a patient. The patient is then placed onto the litter  12 . The litter  12  with the patient supported thereon are then loaded onto the litter support apparatus  14 . The caregiver(s) may then load the litter support apparatus  14  with the patient into an ambulance. 
     As is described in greater detail below, the litter support apparatus  14  is configured to removably receive and support the litter  12  in certain situations. Put differently, in the illustrated embodiments, the litter  12  is configured for releasable attachment to the litter support apparatus  14 . As will be appreciated from the subsequent description below, the litter  12  may be considered to be a patient support apparatus both when it is attached to the litter support apparatus  14  and when it has been removed from the litter support apparatus  14 . 
     The litter  12  may comprise a patient support deck  20  that includes several sections, some of which are capable of being articulated relative to others, such as a fowler section  22 , a seat section  24 , a foot section  26 , or any combination thereof. The fowler section  22  and the foot section  26  may pivot relative to the seat section  24 , or may articulate relative to the seat section  24  in any manner. For instance, the fowler section  22  and/or the foot section  26  may both pivot and translate relative to the seat section  24  in some configurations. The seat section  24  and/or foot section  26  may also support legs of the patient. The sections may extend in various lengths and may have various configurations. Deck panels  28  are disposed on each of the sections collectively forming or otherwise defining a patient support surface. The deck panels  28  may comprise rigid panels with or without padding or any other suitable materials for supporting the patient. A mattress (or sections thereof) may be disposed on or be integral with the litter  12 . In such circumstances, the mattress comprises or otherwise defines a secondary patient support surface upon which the patient is supported. 
     In some embodiments, the litter  12  is configured to serve as a mobile chair to transport patients up and down stairs. Mobile chairs are used to evacuate patients from buildings where patient accessibility is limited, such as buildings having more than one floor. 
     In some embodiments, the litter  12  may include one or more support frames  30  that are coupled to the seat section  24  and/or foot section  26 . The litter  12  may further include one or more wheels  32  rotatably coupled to the support frame  30  which are configured to be disposed in contact with the ground surface. In the illustrated embodiments, the wheels  32  are freely rotatable. In alternative embodiments, the wheels  32  may be powered drive wheels. The support frame  30  may also comprise tracks, such as powered drive tracks. One example of a litter  12  is shown in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018/0028383, hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     The litter support apparatus  14  comprises a base frame  34  and a litter support frame  36 . The litter support frame  36  is spaced above the base frame  34 . A lift device  38  may be coupled to the base frame  34  and the litter support frame  36  to raise and lower the litter support frame  36  to minimum and maximum heights of the patient transport apparatus  10 , and intermediate positions therebetween, when the litter  12  is supported by the litter support apparatus  14 . The lift device  38  includes one or more lift arms  40  coupling the litter support frame  36  to the base frame  34 . The lift device  38  includes one or more lift actuators  42  that are coupled to at least one of the base frame  34  and the litter support frame  36  to raise and lower the litter support frame  36  and litter  12  relative to the ground surface and the base frame  34 . The lift device  38  may be configured to operate in the same manner or a similar manner as the lift mechanisms shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,398,571, 9,486,373, 9,510,981, and/or U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018/0028383, hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     Wheels  44  are coupled to the base frame  34  to facilitate transport over ground surfaces. The wheels  44  are arranged in each of four quadrants of the litter support apparatus  14  adjacent to corners of the base frame  34 . In the illustrated embodiments, the wheels  44  are caster wheels, which are able to rotate and swivel relative to the base frame  34  during transport. Each of the wheels  44  forms part of a caster assembly  46 . Each caster assembly  46  is mounted to the base frame  34 . It should be understood that various configurations of the caster assemblies  46  are contemplated. In addition, in some configurations, the wheels  44  are not caster wheels and may be non-steerable, steerable, non-powered, powered, or combinations thereof. Additional wheels  44  are also contemplated. For example, the patient transport apparatus  10  may comprise four non-powered, non-steerable wheels, along with one or more powered wheels. In some cases, the patient transport apparatus  10  may not include any wheels. In other configurations, one or more auxiliary wheels (powered or non-powered), which are movable between stowed positions and deployed positions, may be coupled to the base frame  34 . A fifth wheel may also be arranged substantially in a center of the base. Other configurations are contemplated. 
     The litter support frame  36  is coupled to the base frame  34  and configured to support the litter  12  above the base frame  34 . The litter  12  is removably coupled to the litter support frame  36 . The litter support frame  36  includes a pair of litter supports  48 ,  50  that extend parallel to a longitudinal axis  52  between the foot end  18  and the head end  16  of the patient transport apparatus  10 . The pair of litter supports  48 ,  50  include a first litter support  48  that is spaced a distance from a second litter support  50  to define a loading gap  54  between the first litter support  48  and the second litter support  50 . The loading gap  54  is sized and shaped for receiving the litter  12  through the loading gap  54  to facilitate the litter  12  being loaded onto the litter support frame  36  by a caregiver. The litter support frame  36  may also include loading wheels  56  extending from the pair of litter supports  48 ,  50  proximate the head end  16  to facilitate loading and unloading of the patient transport apparatus  10  into/from a vehicle. For example, the loading wheels  56  may be positioned and configured to facilitate loading and unloading the patient transport apparatus  10  into/from an ambulance. 
     The litter support apparatus  14  also includes a handle system  58  positioned at the foot end  18  of the patient transport apparatus  10  to facilitate enabling a caregiver to move the patient transport apparatus  10  along the ground surface. The handle system  58  is coupled to the pair of litter supports  48 ,  50  at the foot end  18  of the patient transport apparatus  10 . The handle system  58  includes a first support member  60  that is coupled to the first litter support  48 , a second support member  62  that is coupled to the second litter support  50 , and a movable handle assembly  64  that extends between the first and second support members  60 ,  62  and across the loading gap  54 . The handle assembly  64  is positionable between a closed position/configuration  66  (shown in  FIGS. 1, 3, 5, 6, 7A, and 10A ) and an open position/configuration  68  (shown in  FIGS. 2, 4, 7C and 10B ). The handle assembly  64  is configured to extend across the loading gap  54  defined between the pair of litter supports  48 ,  50  in the closed configuration  66 , and to be positioned away from the loading gap  54  in the open configuration  68 . With the handle assembly  64  in the closed configuration  66 , a caregiver may use the handle assembly  64  to facilitate pushing and/or pulling the patient transport apparatus  10  along the ground surface to transport the patient. With the handle assembly  64  in the open configuration  68  (see e.g.,  FIG. 2 ), the caregiver may more easily access the litter  12  through the loading gap  54  to remove the litter  12  from the litter support apparatus  14 , or to more easily load the litter  12  onto the litter support apparatus  14  by moving the litter  12  through the loading gap  54  and onto the litter support apparatus  14 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in some embodiments, the handle assembly  64  includes an upper crossbar  70  that extends between the first support member  60  and the second support member  62 . The upper crossbar  70  is pivotably coupled to the first support member  60  at one end and is configured to rotate about a first pivot axis  72  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) that is orientated substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis  52 . A pivot joint is provided between the upper crossbar  70  and the first support member  60  to facilitate this movement. In this manner, the upper crossbar  70  may be moved to the closed configuration  66  in which the upper crossbar  70  extends between the first support member  60  and the second support member  62  and across the loading gap  54 , and may be moved to the open configuration  68  in which the upper crossbar  70  extends substantially upright, such as substantially parallel to a vertical axis  74 . The upper crossbar  70  may be moved to any position that opens the loading gap  54 . In some versions, the pivot joint between the upper crossbar  70  and the first support member  60  prohibits the upper crossbar  70  from falling under the force of gravity, e.g., the pivot joint provides suitable friction, position holding features, or the like to hold the upper crossbar  70  at the position in which the upper crossbar  70  was placed by the user. In other versions, the upper crossbar  70  is freely pivotable and falls under the force of gravity. 
     The second support member  62  may also include a first locking member  76  that is configured to engage a free end of the upper crossbar  70  in the closed configuration  66  to facilitate retaining the upper crossbar  70  in the closed configuration  66 . The first locking member  76  may comprise a first retainer bracket  77  that is generally C-shaped to define an opening to receive the upper crossbar  70 , which may have a generally circular cross-section and be sized to fit into the opening. The retainer bracket  77  may be disposed on the second support member  62  such that the upper crossbar  70  can be vertically lifted without slipping from the opening, e.g., an upper portion of the first retainer bracket  77  may depend downward slightly to retain the upper crossbar  70  in the opening during lifting. Other forms of locking members are also contemplated, e.g., detent locks, latch/catch arrangements, and the like. 
     The handle assembly  64  may also include a lower crossbar  78  that extends between the first support member  60  and the second support member  62 . The lower crossbar  78  is spaced a vertical distance from the upper crossbar  70 . The upper crossbar  70  and the lower crossbar  78  are each movable between the closed configuration  66  and the open configuration  68 . The lower crossbar  78  is pivotably coupled to the second support member  62  at one end and is configured to rotate about a second pivot axis  80  that is orientated substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis  52 . A pivot joint is provided between the lower crossbar  78  and the second support member  62  to facilitate this movement. In the closed configuration  66 , the lower crossbar  78  extends between the first support member  60  and the second support member  62  across the loading gap  54 . In the open configuration  68 , the lower crossbar  78  is rotated to an upright position, such as substantially parallel to the vertical axis  74 , or to any other position that opens the loading gap  54 . In some versions, the pivot joint between the lower crossbar  78  and the second support member  62  prohibits the lower crossbar  78  from falling under the force of gravity, e.g., the pivot joint provides suitable friction, position holding features, or the like to hold the lower crossbar  78  at the position in which the lower crossbar  78  was placed by the user. In other versions, the lower crossbar  78  is freely pivotable and falls under the force of gravity. 
     The first support member  60  may include a second locking member  82  that is configured to engage a free end of the lower crossbar  78  with the lower crossbar  78  in the closed configuration  66  to facilitate retaining the lower crossbar  78  in the closed configuration  66 . The second locking member  82  may also comprise a second retainer bracket  83  that is generally C-shaped to define an opening to receive the lower crossbar  78 , which may have a generally circular cross-section and be sized to fit into the opening. The second retainer bracket  83  may be disposed on the first support member  60  such that the lower crossbar  78  can be vertically lifted without slipping from the opening, e.g., the second retainer bracket  83  is orientated so that the opening is directed vertically downward to retain the lower crossbar  78  in the opening during lifting. Other forms of locking members are also contemplated, e.g., detent locks, latch/catch arrangements, and the like. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , in some embodiments, the handle assembly  64  may include a pair of collapsible cage assemblies  84 ,  86 , that are movable between the open configuration  68  and the closed configuration  66 . For example, the handle assembly  64  may include a first collapsible cage assembly  84  that is coupled to the first support member  60  and a second collapsible cage assembly  86  that is coupled to the second support member  62 . The first collapsible cage assembly  84  may also be pivotably coupled to the first support member  60  and configured to rotate about a first vertical pivot axis  88  (shown in  FIG. 4 ). The second collapsible cage assembly  86  may also be pivotably coupled to the second support member  62  and configured to rotate about a second vertical pivot axis  90 . The first collapsible cage assembly  84  and the second collapsible cage assembly  86  each include a plurality of links  92  that are pivotably coupled together. The plurality of links  92  are configured (e.g., in a 4-bar linkage arrangement) to pivot with respect to one another to form a substantially rectangular shape  94  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) and a substantially planar shape  96  (shown in  FIG. 4 ). 
     In the closed configuration  66 , the first collapsible cage assembly  84  and the second collapsible cage assembly  86  each form the substantially rectangular shape  94  such that each collapsible cage assembly  84 ,  86  extends across a portion of the loading gap  54 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 3 , in the closed configuration  66 , the first collapsible cage assembly  84  contacts the second collapsible cage assembly  86  such that the handle assembly  64  extends across the loading gap  54 . A locking mechanism may be used to couple the first collapsible cage assembly  84  to the second collapsible cage assembly  86  in the closed configuration  66  to facilitate retaining the collapsible cage assemblies  84 ,  86  in the closed configuration  66 . Any suitable locking mechanism may be employed, including a lock collar, a clamp, fasteners, or the like. 
     In the open configuration  68 , the first collapsible cage assembly  84  and the second collapsible cage assembly  86  each form the substantially planar shape  96  such that the first collapsible cage assembly  84  is spaced apart from the second collapsible cage assembly  86  to defined the loading gap  54  between the first collapsible cage assembly  84  and the second collapsible cage assembly  86 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5-7F , in some embodiments, the handle assembly  64  comprises a wagon handle assembly  98  that extends between the first support member  60  and the second support member  62 . The wagon handle assembly  98  is pivotably coupled to the first support member  60  and is movable between the closed configuration  66  in which the wagon handle assembly  98  extends across the loading gap  54 , and the open configuration  68  in which the wagon handle assembly  98  is moved to a stowed position/configuration  100  (shown in  FIG. 7F ) adjacent to a side of the patient transport apparatus  10 . 
     The wagon handle assembly  98  includes a pivot support  102  that is pivotally coupled to the first support member  60 . The pivot support  102  is configured to facilitate rotation of the wagon handle assembly  98  about a first vertical pivot axis  104  and a second pivot axis  106  that is perpendicularly oriented relative to the first vertical axis  104  to enable the wagon handle assembly  98  to pivot away from the foot end  18  of the patient transport apparatus  10  and move to the stowed configuration  100  along the side of the litter support apparatus  14 . The pivot support  102  may comprise a U-joint, spherical joint, gimbaled connection, or the like to enable the wagon handle assembly  98  to move in two or more degrees of freedom. In some embodiments, the pivot support  102  includes a first pivot block  103   a  with first pivot pin  103   b  that enables the pivot support  102  to pivot about the first vertical pivot axis  104  relative to the first support member  60 . The pivot support  102  may further comprise a second pivot block  105   a  with second pivot pin  105   b  that enables the pivot support  102  to pivot about the second pivot axis  106 . The second pivot block  105   a  is pivotally coupled to a front panel  61  of the first support member  60  via the second pivot pin  105   b  as shown in  FIG. 5A . The first pivot block  103   a  is pivotally coupled to the second pivot block  105   a  via the first pivot pin  103   b.  As shown in  FIG. 5A , the second pivot pin  105   b  may be orientated such that the second pivot axis  106  is parallel to the longitudinal axis  52 . As shown in  FIG. 5B , in another version, the second pivot pin  105   b  may be orientated such that the second pivot axis  106  is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  52 . 
     The wagon handle assembly  98  also includes a latch mechanism  108  that is configured to releasably couple the wagon handle assembly  98  to the second support member  62  with the wagon handle assembly  98  in the closed configuration  66 . The latch mechanism  108  may comprise any suitable latch/catch arrangement in which the latch on the wagon handle assembly  98  engages a catch on the second support member  62 , or vice versa. In some embodiments, the latch mechanism  108  may include a toggle latch assembly  109  (shown in  FIGS. 9A and 9B ). The toggle latch assembly  109  includes a first latch member  111  that is releasably coupled to a second latch member  113  to position the toggle latch assembly  109  in a locked position (shown in  FIG. 8A ) to maintain the wagon handle assembly  98  in the closed configuration  66  and an unlocked position (shown in  FIG. 8B ) to enable the wagon handle assembly  98  to be moved to the open configuration  68 . The first latch member  111  is coupled to the wagon handle assembly  98  and the second latch member  113  is coupled to the second support member  62 . 
     In some embodiments, the wagon handle assembly  98  includes an upper support bar  110 , a lower support bar  112 , and a secondary handle assembly  114  that extends vertically between the upper support bar  110  and the lower support bar  112 . The upper support bar  110  extends between the first support member  60  and the second support member  62  in the closed configuration  66 . The upper support bar  110  is fixed at one end to the first pivot block  103   a  and is fixed at the other end to a latch block  115  that supports the first latch member  111 . The upper support bar  110  extends between a first end  116  and an opposite second end  118  (see  FIG. 6 ). The first end  116  of the upper support bar  110  is coupled to the pivot support  102 . The lower support bar  112  is vertically spaced from the upper support bar  110 . 
     The secondary handle assembly  114  includes a pair of handle support members  120  that extend between the upper support bar  112  and the lower support bar  112 , and a cross member  122  that extends between the pair of handle support members  120  and is orientated perpendicular to the pair of handle support members  120 . The secondary handle assembly  114  is rotatably coupled to the upper support bar  110  and is configured to rotate about the upper support bar  110  (see  FIG. 7B ). In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 5B , the secondary handle assembly  114  may be releasably coupled to the lower support bar  112  (e.g., via hooks at the end of the handle support members  120 ) such that the secondary handle assembly  114  may rotate away from the lower support bar  112  as a caregiver rotates the secondary handle assembly  114  about the upper support bar  110 . Accordingly, the secondary handle assembly  114  acts as a secondary handle for maneuvering the patient transport apparatus  10 , such as a secondary wagon-type handle. 
       FIGS. 7A-7F  illustrate movement of one version of the wagon handle assembly  98  from the closed configuration  66  (shown in  FIG. 7A ) to the open and stowed configurations  68 ,  100  (shown in  FIG. 7C and 7F ). Notably, the version shown in  FIGS. 7A-7F  is the same as that shown in  FIGS. 5A and 6 , but slightly different from that shown in  FIG. 5B . In the version of  FIG. 5B , both the upper support bar  110  and the lower support bar  112  are connected in a fixed manner to the first pivot block  103   a  and the latch block  115  so that both can be moved to the open and stowed configurations upon operating the latch mechanism  108  to release the wagon handle assembly  98  from the second support member  62  and then by pivoting about axes  104 ,  106 . In some versions, the wagon handle assembly  98  only pivots about axis  104  to move between the open and closed configurations. The version shown in  FIGS. 5A, 6, and 7A-7F  has the lower support bar  112  being releasably connected at its ends to opposing brackets  123 ,  125  (see  FIG. 7B ) via locking/securing mechanisms  127  to thereby require additional action to move to the open and stowed configurations. This also allows the secondary handle assembly  114  to rotate about the upper support bar  110 . The locking/securing mechanisms  127  may be collars, clamps, hose clamps, fasteners, fittings, latches, catches, tape, hook and loop couplings, or any other suitable device for locking or securing the lower support bar  112  to the brackets  123 ,  125 . In this version, the brackets  123 ,  125  are shown in the form of tubing that is fixed to the support members  60 ,  62  respectively, but may comprise any suitable form of brackets. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7A-7F , initially, the caregiver releases the lower support bar  112  from the brackets  123 ,  125  via the locking/securing mechanisms  127  and then grasps the lower support bar  112  and pivots the wagon handle assembly  98  outwardly from the litter support frame  36  and about the upper support bar  110 , as shown in  FIG. 7B  (this action may also be performed to use the wagon handle assembly  98  for maneuvering the patient transport apparatus  10 ). The caregiver then operates the latch mechanism  108  to release the wagon handle assembly  98  from the second support member  62 . The caregiver may then rotate the wagon handle assembly  98  away from the foot end  18  of the litter support frame  36  about the second pivot axis  106  using the pivot support  102 , as shown in the sequence from  FIGS. 7B to 7C  (part of the bracket  123  has been broken away in  FIG. 7C  to better show the pivot blocks  103   a,    105   a  and the pivot pins  103   b,    105   b ). The user then is able to position the wagon handle assembly  98  into the stowed configuration  100  along the side of the litter support frame  36 , as shown in  FIGS. 7D-7F , by rotating the wagon handle assembly  98  about the first pivot axis  104 . This process may be performed in reverse to move the wagon handle assembly  98  from the stowed configuration  100  to the closed configuration  66 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9-12 , in some embodiments, the handle assembly  64  may include a pair of upper handles  124 ,  126  that are coupled to the support members  60 ,  62 . For example, the handle assembly  64  includes a first upper handle  124  that is rotatably coupled to the first support member  60 , and a second upper handle  126  that is rotatably coupled to the second support member  62 . The first upper handle  124  extends outwardly from the first support member  60  parallel to the longitudinal axis  52  and is configured to rotate about a first rotational axis  128  (see  FIG. 10B ) that is orientated parallel to the longitudinal axis  52 . The second upper handle  126  extends outwardly from the second support member  62  parallel to the longitudinal axis  52  and is configured to rotate about a second rotational axis  130  that is orientated parallel to the longitudinal axis  52 . In the closed configuration  66 , shown in  FIG. 10A , the first upper handle  124  and the second upper handle  126  are orientated substantially horizontally and extend inwardly towards each other from the support members  60 ,  62 . In the open configuration  68 , shown in  FIG. 10B , the first upper handle  124  and the second upper handle  126  are orientated substantially vertically such that the loading gap  54  is defined between the first and second upper handles  124 ,  126 . The first upper handle  124  and the second upper handle  126  may be moved to any position suitable to open the loading gap  54 . In some embodiments, the first and second upper handles  124 ,  126  may be configured as telescoping handles that are extendable/retractable with respect the longitudinal axis  52 . 
     The first and second upper handles  124 ,  126  may be locked to the support members  60 ,  62  in the open and/or closed configurations in any suitable manner. For example, locking pins  129  may be employed in which throughholes  131  are located in the support members  60 ,  62  (which are hollow in the version shown) to receive the locking pins  129  (see  FIG. 9 ) and the first and second upper handles  124 ,  126  have corresponding throughholes  133 ,  135  (See  FIGS. 9 and 10B ) that align with the throughholes  131  in the open and closed configurations, respectively, to receive the locking pins  129  to lock the first and second upper handles  124 ,  126  in the open and closed configurations. 
     In some embodiments, the handle assembly  64  may also include a first lower handle  132  and a second lower handle  134  that are each positioned vertically below the upper handles  124 ,  126 . In some versions, such as that shown, the first lower handle  132  and the second lower handle  134  are static handles fixed to the litter support frame  36  for lifting or otherwise maneuvering the patient transport apparatus  10 . In some versions, the first lower handle  132  is the same shape and configuration as the first upper handle  124  and is rotatably coupled to the first support member  60  and the second lower handle  134  is the same shape and configuration as the second upper handle  126  and is rotatably coupled to the second support member  62  such that the first and second lower handles  132 ,  134  are movable between the closed configuration  66  and the open configuration  68 . 
     It will be further appreciated that the terms “include,” “includes,” and “including” have the same meaning as the terms “comprise,” “comprises,” and “comprising.” Moreover, it will be appreciated that terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” and the like are used herein to differentiate certain structural features and components for the non-limiting, illustrative purposes of clarity and consistency. 
     Several configurations have been discussed in the foregoing description. However, the configurations discussed herein are not intended to be exhaustive or limit the invention to any particular form. The terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings and the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.