Patent Publication Number: US-9895281-B1

Title: Mobility chair for staircase

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to patient mobility apparatus, more specifically but not by way of limitation, a mobility chair for a patient that has conditions such as but not limited to weight bearing restrictions wherein the mobility chair is configured to assist the patient traverse up and down a staircase. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Many patients either post surgical or for a particular condition will have weight bearing restrictions placed on them by their health care practitioner. Weight bearing restriction orders can range from the patient not be allowed to place any weight on a limb or be limited as to how much weight and time can be placed on a limb. Patients with these conditions will often undergo physical therapy for an extended period of time. Much of the physical therapy could occur in the patient&#39;s home. Various challenges occur when managing a patient who has weight bearing restrictions on a limb once the patient is at home. Typically a patient&#39;s home is not configured with various structural elements that may assist in traversing around the interior of the home. Further, a patient&#39;s home may have structural elements that present challenges traversing therein such as but not limited to stairs. 
     Stairs present a unique challenge for patients that have weight bearing restriction orders. These patients may use a variety of devices that assist in movement such as but not limited to crutches or scooters. The aforementioned devices are not capable of effectively helping a patient traverse up or down a staircase. Most homes are not equipped with elevators or stair lifts as these can be quite expensive to install. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a mobility assistance device that is configured to assist a user having a weight bearing restriction to traverse up and down a staircase. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the object of the present invention to provide a mobility chair that is configured to assist a user traverse up and down a staircase wherein the mobility chair includes an adjustable frame. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a mobility chair that is operable to assist a patient having a weight bearing restriction traverse a staircase wherein the adjustable frame includes a pair of rear adjustable leg members. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a mobility chair that is configured to assist a user traverse up and down a staircase wherein the adjustable frame further includes a pair of front adjustable leg members. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a mobility chair that is operable to assist a patient having a weight bearing restriction traverse a staircase wherein the adjustable frame includes lower horizontal support members on opposing sides of the frame. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide a mobility chair that is configured to assist a user traverse up and down a staircase wherein the adjustable frame includes upper horizontal support members. 
     Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a mobility chair that is operable to assist a patient having a weight bearing restriction traverse a staircase that further includes a seat member assembly. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a mobility chair that is configured to assist a user traverse up and down a staircase wherein the seat member assembly is slidably coupled to the lower horizontal support members. 
     An alternate object of the present invention is to provide a mobility chair that is operable to assist a patient having a weight bearing restriction traverse a staircase wherein the seat member assembly includes a pair of biasing members operable to aid in controlling of the position of the seat member intermediate a first position and a second position. 
     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the present invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being a part of the present invention, limited only by the scope of the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description and appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 2  is a detailed view of the elements of the adjustable frame of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 3  is a detailed side view of the present invention in use. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings submitted herewith, wherein various elements depicted therein are not necessarily drawn to scale and wherein through the views and figures like elements are referenced with identical reference numerals, there is illustrated a mobility chair  100  constructed according to the principles of the present invention. 
     An embodiment of the present invention is discussed herein with reference to the figures submitted herewith. Those skilled in the art will understand that the detailed description herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes and that it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that alternative embodiments are plausible. By way of example but not by way of limitation, those having skill in the art in light of the present teachings of the present invention will recognize a plurality of alternate and suitable approaches dependent upon the needs of the particular application to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyond that of the particular implementation choices in the embodiment described herein. Various modifications and embodiments are within the scope of the present invention. 
     It is to be further understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular methodology, materials, uses and applications described herein, as these may vary. Furthermore, it is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It must be noted that as used herein and in the claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “an element” is a reference to one or more elements and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, the word “or” should be understood as having the definition of a logical “or” rather than that of a logical “exclusive or” unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
     References to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “exemplary embodiments”, and the like may indicate that the embodiment(s) of the invention so described may include a particular feature, structure or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure or characteristic. 
     Referring in particular to  FIG. 1  the mobility chair  100  includes frame  10 . The frame  10  is manufactured from a lightweight rigid material such as but not limited to aluminum tubing. The frame  10  is assembled utilizing a combination of suitable techniques that provide adjustment thereof that will be further discussed herein. It is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the frame  10  could be manufactured in alternate sizes but in its preferred embodiment the frame  10  is manufactured having a depth that provides optimal engagement of the rear leg members  20  and front leg members  30  with adjacent treads of exemplary stairs  99 . The frame  10  includes opening  2  providing a patient access thereto. 
     The frame  10  includes a first front leg member  31  and a second front leg member  32  that are located on opposing sides of the frame  10 . The first front leg member  31  includes ends  33 , 34  and the second front leg member  32  also is similarly constructed having ends  35 ,  36 . Integrally formed with the first front leg member  31  proximate end  33  is first handle member  40 . First handle member  40  extends upward and rearward with respect to the frame  10  and is formed with the first front leg member  31  utilizing suitable durable techniques. It is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the first handle member  40  could be releasably secured to the first front leg member  31  utilizing various conventional fasteners and fastening techniques. A second handle member  42  is present and is constructed similarly to the first handle member  40 . The second handle member  42  is integrally formed with the second front leg member  32  proximate end  35 . As with the first handle member  40 , it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the second handle member  42  could be releasably secured to end  35 . The first handle member  40  and second handle member  42  extend rearward and are positioned so as to be superposed the upper horizontal support members  50 ,  51  extending approximately to the midpoint thereof. A void  45  is present intermediate the first handle member  40 , second handle member  42  and the upper horizontal support members  50 , 51  so as to facilitate the ability for a user to surroundably grasp grips  56 , 57 . The positioning of the grips  56 ,  57  proximate the midpoint of the upper horizontal support members  50  provides the necessary balance during use of the mobility chair  100  so as to inhibit the tipping thereof. 
     The first front leg member  31  and second front leg member  32  include a plurality of apertures  39  longitudinally disposed thereon. The apertures  39  are configured to receive fasteners (not illustrated herein) so as to operably position the first front leg member extension  37  and second front leg member extension  38 . The first front leg member extension  37  and second front leg member extension  38  are configured to provide height alteration of the frame  10  so as to accommodate users of alternate heights and to adjust the mobility chair  100  for alternate riser heights of different staircases. The first front leg member extension  37  and second front leg member extension  38  are slidably coupled with the first front leg member  31  and second front leg member  32  respectively so as to provide a plurality of different height adjustments. 
     The frame  10  includes a first rear leg member  21  and a second rear leg member  22 . The first rear leg member  21  and a second rear leg member  22  are opposite the first front leg member  31  and second front leg member  32  on the frame  10 . First rear leg member  21  and a second rear leg member  22  include ends  11 , 12  and end  13 , 14  respectively. The length of the first rear leg member  21  and a second rear leg member  22  are less than that of the first front leg member  31  and second front leg member  32  so as to provide parallel engagement of the mobility chair  100  with the exemplary stairs  99 . The first rear leg member  21  and the second rear leg member  22  further include a plurality of apertures  17  similar to apertures  39 . Slidably coupled to first rear leg member  21  and the second rear leg member  22  are rear extensions  7 , 8 . Similarly to the first front leg member extension  37  and second front leg member extension  38  the extensions  7 , 8  provide height adjustability of the frame  10  in particular the rear portion thereof so as to accommodate users of alternate heights, stairs of alternate configurations and maintain a parallel orientation of the frame  10  with the exemplary stairs  99 . It is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the extensions  7 , 8  could be provided in various lengths. 
     Intermediate the rear leg members  20  and front leg members  30  are the upper horizontal support members  50 ,  51  and the lower horizontal support members  60 , 61 . The upper horizontal support members  50 ,  51  and the lower horizontal support members  60 , 61  are operably coupled to the rear leg members  20  and front leg members  30  and perpendicular thereto. As illustrated herein in  FIG. 2 , the upper horizontal support members  50 ,  51  and the lower horizontal support members  60 , 61  could be provided in alternate lengths. The alternate lengths of the upper horizontal support members  50 ,  51  and the lower horizontal support members  60 , 61  allow for the mobility chair  100  to have the depth thereof altered in order to more effectively engage exemplary stairs that have varying tread depths. As is known in the art, stairs  99  can have alternate tread depths either as a result of building code or design preference. It is important within the scope of the present invention that the rear leg members  20  and front leg members  30  are positioned such that each can be positioned proximate the midpoint of the tread on adjacent stair steps. While alternate lengths of the upper horizontal support members  50 ,  51  and the lower horizontal support members  60 , 61  are provided herein, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the upper horizontal support members  50 ,  51  and the lower horizontal support members  60 , 61  could be configured to be adjustable in length so as to deliver the desired objective stated herein. 
     A seat member assembly  80  is slidably coupled to the lower horizontal support members  60 , 61 . The seat member assembly  80  further includes a first support bar  81  and a second support bar  82 . First support bar  81  and second support bar  82  are slidably coupled to the lower horizontal support members  60 , 61  utilizing couplings  85 . Couplings  85  surroundably mounted the lower horizontal support members  60 , 61  are configured to slidably traverse thereon. Superposed the first support bar  81  and a second support bar  82  is seat  90 . Seat  90  is manufactured from a suitable durable material and is manufactured having a size operable to accommodate a user superposed thereon. It should be recognized by those skilled in the art that the seat  90  could be formed in numerous alternate shapes and sizes. Seat  90  is secured to first support bar  81  and a second support bar  82  utilizing suitable durable techniques. 
     The seat member assembly  80  has operably coupled thereto a first biasing member  110  and a second biasing member  120 . The seat member assembly  80  is slidably coupled to the lower horizontal support members  60 , 61  so as to facilitate optimal positioning of the patient as the patient utilizes the mobility chair  100  to traverse stairs  99 . It is important for a patient having a weight bearing restriction on one leg to ensure that their positioning of their leg that is to be used for leverage is ideal so as to avoid injury and successfully traverse the stairs  99 . The first biasing member  110  and a second biasing member  120  provide a first position wherein no force is applied to the first biasing member  110  and a second biasing member  120  and the seat member assembly  80  is slightly forward of the center of frame  10 . Ensuing a patient engaging the seat member assembly  80  and having begun traversal of the stairs  99 , if needed to properly position a foot the first biasing member  110  and a second biasing member  120  allow the slidable movement of the seat member assembly  80 . The first biasing member  110  and a second biasing member  120  are manufactured from a resilient material such as but not limited to rubber. As the seat member assembly  80  is transitioned to its second position, the first biasing member  110  and a second biasing member  120  stretch and allow the seat member assembly  80  to be traverse towards the rear leg members  20 . In its second position the seat member assembly  80  allows a user to properly position their foot on the stairs  99  ensuring proper engagement therewith so as to avoid potential injuries or an accidental fall. Subsequent the user transitioning to a standing position and moving the mobility chair  100  to the adjacent stair step, the first biasing member  110  and a second biasing member  120  retract so as to place the seat member assembly  80  in a slightly forward position thereby providing an improved position for a user to sit thereon. While the first biasing member  110  and a second biasing member  120  are illustrated and discussed herein as being manufactured from a resilient material such as but not limited to rubber, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the first biasing member  110  and a second biasing member  120  could be constructed from alternate materials and accomplish the desired objective as described herein. It is further contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the mobility chair  100  could have only one biasing member or more than two biasing members to accomplish the desired objective as stated herein. 
     A back support member  130  is operably coupled to the rear leg members  20  utilizing suitable durable techniques. The back support member  130  is manufactured from suitable materials such as but not limited to aluminum tubing. The back support member  130  extends rearward away from the frame  10 . The rearward orientation of the back support member  130  provides additional functionality in the event the mobility chair  100  is tilted rearward excessively during use. In the event of an excessive rearward tilt of the mobility chair  100 , the back support member  130  functions to engage a stair so as to prevent the mobility chair  100  from sliding down the staircase. The back support member  130  is operable to ensure a patient&#39;s position does not extend past the rear leg members  20  during use of the mobility chair  100 . A pad  135  is surroundably mounted to the back support member  130  so as to provide impact force reduction to a user of the mobility chair  100 . The pad  135  is manufactured from a suitable material such as but not limited to gel or foam rubber. 
     In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other suitable embodiments may be utilized and that logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. The description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The preceding detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.