Patent Publication Number: US-2002010529-A1

Title: Transportation aid

Description:
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/262135, which was filed on Mar. 03, 1999 with the Title “Improved Transportation Aid”. 
    
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The field of the invention is transportation of persons having movement disabilities.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] Many people experience temporary or permanent disabilities rendering them unable to move or even to sit without assistance. A variety of transportation aides such as sleds, wheel chairs and mobile beds have been designed over the centuries to help people overcome or alleviate such immobility. Many transportation aides employ wheels of one sort or another, and examples of transportation aides using wheels can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,512,588, 5,395,129, and 4,082,348 for wheel chairs, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,048,133, 4,631,761, 5,153,958 and 4,839,933 for mobile beds.  
       [0003] Many transportation aid designs, such as wheel chair described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,512,588 are geared towards functionality of the wheels. Although such designs may perform well in their designated function, many of them allow people or objects to contact rotating parts of one or more of the wheels, and thereby pose a potential safety hazard. For example, material such as clothing or medical supplies accidentally left on the ground can be caught up in a wheel, possibly destroying the material or immobilizing the wheel. Moreover, accidental contact of a person with an unprotected rotating part in a wheel may result in serious injury to the person. In many known designs, serious injury to a person&#39;s fingers is particularly likely.  
       [0004] Therefore, there is still a need for transportation aides having improved safety. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
     [0005]FIG. 1 is a side view of a transportation aid embodying the claimed invention.  
     [0006]FIG. 2 is a top view of the transportation aid of FIG. 1.  
     [0007]FIG. 3A is first perspective view of another exemplary transportation aid.  
     [0008]FIG. 3B is second perspective view of the transportation aid of FIG. 3A. 
    
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
     [0009] In accordance with the present invention, an improved transportation aid supports a person off of the ground, while allowing the person to propel himself from one location to another. Safety is improved over previous transportation aides by at least partially shielding the wheel assembly.  
     [0010] In preferred embodiments the shielding is provided by an inverted cup-shaped apparatus having a lower portion that extends circumferentially around the wheel, and below the height of the wheel&#39;s axle.  
     [0011] Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS  
     [0012] Referring to FIG. 1, a transportation aid  10  generally comprises four wheel assemblies  50  couplet to a to a body support assembly  60  using a leg  56 . Each wheel assembly  50  generally comprises a shield  52  and a wheel  54 . Body support assembly  60  generally comprises headrest  30 , and leg rests  40  coupled to bed rest  20 . Each of the leg rests  40  includes body straps  26 . Bed rest  20  includes thigh straps  28 .  
     [0013] The term “transportation aid” is used herein in a very broad sense to mean any device that is adapted to provide mobility to a person, while supporting substantially the entire weight of the person. Among other things, this definition includes cots and other gurneys, mobile beds, and wheel chairs.  
     [0014] The shield  52  of wheel assembly  50  may have any reasonable combination of size, shape or material so long as it substantially blocks access to the wheel  54 , but still allows the wheel  54  to contact the ground. The phrase “substantially blocks access to the wheel” is a shorthand way of saying that a person&#39;s fingers, body parts or other objects are substantially hindered from accidentally contacting the wheel.  
     [0015] Blocking access to a wheel can be accomplished in a number of ways, including forming the shield as a continuous surface that acts as an immediate physical barrier. Another example of blocking access to a wheel is a shield with a discontinuous surface, with openings of a size limited to the size of less than the diameter of a finger. In still another alternative embodiment, the shield can be placed at a distance from the wheel that is greater than the length of a finger. Therefore, any object that is not located within the shield must travel around the shield and the lower edge of the shield in order to contact the wheel.  
     [0016] In a preferred embodiment, shield  52  is spherical, about 9 inches in diameter, and has its lower portion less than half an inch above the ground. Shield  52  can be constructed from any suitable material, preferably a non-perforated PVC (polyvinylchloride) material, or equivalent. Preferred shield  52  is advantageously coupled by a Velcro™ fastener to the leg  56 .  
     [0017] In alternative embodiments, the shield may have a different physical configuration from that shown in FIG. 1, for example, cylindrical, box-shaped or bell-shaped. In other embodiments the surface of shield may be continuous or discontinuous. For example, a discontinuous surface may be formed from a mesh, or otherwise incorporate perforations in a shield that, because of size or some other factor, still hinders access to the wheel. In contrast, a continuous surface is a non-perforated surface, which may be smooth, shaped in waves, have indentations or extensions.  
     [0018] The shield may be made from various materials other than, or in addition to, PVC, including natural and synthetic polymers, metals or other man-made materials or any combination thereof. For example shield may be made from rubber, acrylic, aluminum, fiberglass or graphite. The shield may advantageously include a surface coating. Such coatings may be used for esthetic or functional purposes. Examples of esthetic coatings are paint or prints. Functional coatings may include materials that resist chemical disinfectants, or may make the shield especially resistant towards mechanical stress or impact.  
     [0019] While shield  52  is preferably coupled to leg  56  using a Velcro™ fastener, the manner of coupling may vary among embodiments. Thus, some embodiments may utilize screws as fasteners, or may utilize, tightening rings, belts or any other suitable couplers.  
     [0020] Wheel  54  of wheel assembly  50  may be any sort of wheel so long as it is capable of supporting its share of the load provided by body support assembly  60 . In preferred embodiments, wheel  54  comprises a simple solid disk or spherical elements rotatably coupled to an axle. In other embodiments, wheel  54  may have one or more complex wheels rotatably coupled to an axle, wherein the wheels comprise rim, spokes, tubes or tires.  
     [0021] Similarly, although wheel  54  is preferably constructed of an aluminum disk with a rubber tire, alternative wheels may be made from any suitable material or materials, including metals, natural or synthetic polymers, other man-made material or mixtures thereof.  
     [0022] Wheel  54  is preferably about two inches in diameter. However, alternative wheels may have any appropriate size as long as it can mechanically cooperate with shield  52 .  
     [0023] Leg  56  may take any form so long as it allows wheel  54  to be coupled to body support assembly  60 . Generally, leg  56  is contemplated a structure, which connects wheel assembly  50  to body support assembly  60 . More than one wheel may be coupled to leg  56 . In a preferred embodiment, leg  56  is a long hollow aluminum cylinder (1″ diameter, 15″ length) and is coupled to the body support assembly, the shield and one wheel.  
     [0024] In alternative embodiments, the leg(s) may have various shapes including bars, double T-bars, columns or rods that may or may not be hollow or perforated. In other alternative embodiments, the leg may be made from other materials than shown in the preferred embodiment including natural or synthetic polymers, metal or other man-made materials. Examples for such materials are wood, PVC, stainless steel or fiberglass.  
     [0025] In further embodiments, the leg(s) may have additional functional support elements including shock absorbers, additional stabilizers or height adjusters. Examples for shock absorbers are, among others, simple rubber cushions, spring mechanisms or gas filled shocks. Examples for additional stabilizers include cross bars connecting leg  56  to the body support assembly, or crossbars connecting leg  56  to another leg. Height adjusters are, for example, screws holding the body support assembly in a fixed distance relative to wheel  54 , or hydraulic, pneumatic or electric mechanisms that can hold body support assembly  60  in a variable distance from wheel  54 .  
     [0026] Bed rest  20  of body support assembly  60  preferably comprises a base support portion  22 , and a mattress portion  24  having an upper supporting surface  26 . Bed rest  20  may be variably positioned within the range of 4″ to 32″ from the ground with respect to the upper supporting surface  26 . The term “variably positioned” refers to any kind of manipulation on body support assembly  60 , wheel assembly  50  or leg  56  that changes the vertical distance between the upper supporting surface  26  and the point where wheel  54  contacts the ground. The change in vertical distance may be incremental or continuous. The upper supporting surface of mattress  26  as used herein refers to the topmost portion of mattress  24 .  
     [0027] Base support  22  preferably comprises an aluminum platform. However, in alternative embodiments it may also be made from various other materials including metals, wood, natural and synthetic polymers, man-made materials and combinations thereof. Examples for other materials are stainless steel, polystyrene, or fiberglass.  
     [0028] In an alternative embodiment, a base support may be constructed in various shapes or forms including a plate that may or may not be perforated, bed frame-like structures or spring boxes. Other shapes or forms include additional elements to enhance functionality or comfort. For example, hinge mechanisms in base support  22  allowing portions of base support  22  to be raised or lowered. Further examples include electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic devices that can operate the support. Still further examples include forms that are molded to individualy fit a person&#39;s body.  
     [0029] Mattress  24  preferably has a foam filling and a vinyl cover and mattress  24  has an upper supporting surface  26 . The term upper supporting surface refers to the topmost portion of mattress  24 .  
     [0030] In alternative embodiments, mattress  24  may be made in many ways including various filling and cover portions. The filling portion may be made of compressible materials including air, polymers, latex, springs, fabrics, or any combination thereof or may be made of incompressible elements such as hard plastic, wood, water or other fluids. In other embodiments, the filling portion may have additional elements, including heating or cooling elements to achieve a constant or adjustable temperature. The cover portion of mattress  24  can be made of materials other than vinyl, including natural or synthetic polymers, textiles, and woven fabrics.  
     [0031] In yet another embodiment, the surface of mattress  24  may be designed to provide comfort to a person or can be geared towards hygienic requirements. For example surfaces enhancing comfort include woven fabrics, wool or other textiles. Examples for hygienic surfaces are disinfectable or waterproof materials including PVC or polyester.  
     [0032] Headrest  30  has a head receiving portion  32  and is preferably a vinyl covered foam pillow coupled to the bed rest by a pair of cylinders. In alternative embodiments, the headrest may have shapes other than a pillow. Examples therefore are U-shaped headrests that stabilize a particular position of a head or a ring-shaped headrest.  
     [0033] In further alternative embodiments, headrest comprises a cover portion and a cushion portion. The cover portion can be made from a variety of materials including fabrics, leather, natural or synthetic polymers. The cushion portion can be made from latex or Styrofoam.  
     [0034] In yet another alternative embodiment, headrest  30  can have various means of attachment to bed rest  20 . For example, the headrest can be an integral part of bed rest  20 , or detachable using guide rails, rods, screws or lock-type mechanical connectors. In other alternative embodiments, the headrest can be mounted underneath bed rest  20  and hidden away when not in use.  
     [0035] In a preferred embodiment, leg rests  40  have a U-shaped profile, are made from hard plastic and are detachably coupled to bed rest  20 . In alternative embodiments, the leg rests may be made from any other material and may have various other forms. For example, appropriate leg rests may be made from wood or metal and may be flat. In further alternative embodiments, the leg rests may be pivotably coupled to the bed rest.  
     [0036] Preferred body straps  26  and preferred thigh straps  28  are nylon straps with Velcro™ fasteners. In an alternative embodiment, the body- and thigh straps can be made from alternative material or have an alternative form or shape. Alternative materials include, but are not limited to natural and synthetic polymers, fabrics, leather or textile material, but also metal. Form or shape of the body straps  26  and the thigh straps  28  include different forms of attachment to the bed rest, various forms of closing mechanisms and optional additional elements. Examples for different forms of attachment include push-buttons, Velcro™ fasteners, glue, tacks etc. Examples for different closing mechanisms include buckles, Velcro™ fasteners, hooks or a simple knot. Additional elements can be cushions, locks or pockets for nametags.  
     [0037] In still further preferred aspects of the inventive subject matter, the body support assembly of contemplated the transportation aids is configured to support a torso of an immobilized patient without supporting at least one of an arm and a leg of the patient. The term “torso” as used herein generally refers to the body of a human substantially excluding (i.e., excluding at least 70% with respect to their longest dimension) the head, neck, arms and legs. As further used herein, the term “immobilized patient” refers to a person that cannot move from a first location to a second location without assistance of another person or device (e.g., cast, walker, wheel chair, etc.). For example, a child in a body cast is considered an immobilized patient under the scope of this definition. Thus, this definition particularly excludes a healthy individual (e.g., an auto mechanic).  
     [0038] Contemplated transportation aids further comprise a wheel assembly having a wheel supported at an axle such that at least a lower portion of a shield extends below the axle, and still further comprise a leg that couples the wheel assembly to the body support assembly, wherein the leg has a length that allows the patient to propel himself from one location to another using the at least one of an arm and a leg while the body support assembly supports the patient.  
     [0039] An exemplary further preferred transportation aid is depicted in FIGS. 3A and 3B. Here, the transportation aid  100  generally comprises four wheel assemblies  150  coupled to a to a body support assembly  160  using a leg  156  (not shown). The body support assembly  160  comprises a base support portion  122  and a mattress  124 . Each wheel assembly  150  generally comprises a shield  152  and a wheel  154  coupled to an axle  155 . Body support assembly  160  further comprises a detachable headrest  130 , and detachable leg rests  140 . Bed rest  120  includes thigh straps  128 , and the mattress includes a body strap  129 . The immobilized patient  170  lies with its torso supported by the body support assembly  160  on its stomach (or alternatively back or side), and propels him or herself using one or both hands or feet, or both.  
     [0040] Thus, specific embodiments and applications of transportation aides with safety wheels have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. For example, the transportation aid may be designed to preferably support a person in a way other than lying on the stomach or a motor drive the transportation aid. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.