Abstract:
The present invention relates to the field of foldable and stair wheelchairs for transporting patients provided with technical features which are able to assist in closing it and braking it, patient immobilization and cleaning of the belts. The foldable, stair wheelchair for transporting patients having a manual and/or pedal braking device and automatic closure device includes at least one pedal device for automatically closing the chair, including in turn at least one command lever that extends under a seat, having the ends hinged to the front struts of the chair in hinge points, and at least one elastic return element. Also included is a manual or pedal braking device for simultaneously braking the back wheels, including at least a tubular handle located between the back struts of the chair, at least a rod and means to impart braking on the back wheels, interposed between the handle and the back wheels themselves, joined to the rod.

Description:
[0001]    The present invention finds application in the field of foldable, stair wheelchairs for transporting patients equipped with technical features which are able to assist in closure and braking. 
         [0002]    As known, closure of said foldable chairs is manually carried out through a number of uncomfortable and troublesome operations. In fact, it is first of all necessary to manually lift the chair seat and simultaneously press it bringing into contact either the back side with the front side, in some types of chairs, or the two outer sides carrying the arm rests, in other types of chairs. 
         [0003]    As regards to braking of the above mentioned chairs, known technologies use wheels, pivoting and/or stationary type, having conventional “pedal” braking systems, which are able to brake only one wheel at a time, also in this case, involving awkward operations, thus reducing assistance to the patient. 
       DISCLOSURE AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the above shortcomings making available a chair equipped with both manual and pedal device for simultaneously braking the back wheels, and thereby the chair, and with an automatic closure device for the chair itself, with relative foot-rests and arm-rests. 
         [0005]    The advantage of said chair consists evidently in a comfort of usage of the same with reference both to the closure operations which are simply performed by a pedal, and the simultaneous braking of the back wheels which occurs by simply lowering a handle or by acting on an additional pedal, which, in the illustrated example is a rod. 
         [0006]    Said purposes and advantages are all achieved by the foldable wheelchair for transporting patients with manual and/or pedal braking device and automatic closure device, subject of the present invention, which is characterized by what is claimed in the claims enclosed below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0007]    This and other characteristics will be more apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment illustrated, merely by way of simplifying and not limiting example, in the drawings of the figures. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1 : shows a perspective view of the chair according to the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIGS. 2 and 3 : shows a perspective view of the braking steps of the chair; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4 : illustrates a detail of the braking device of the chair; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5 : represents the device of  FIG. 4  in another configuration; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6 : shows a perspective view of a detail of the closure system of the chair according to the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7 : shows a perspective view of a further detail of the chair closing system; 
           [0014]      FIGS. 8 and 9 : show two enlarged partial perspective views of a detail of the chair in two different positions according to the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 10 : shows in an elevation view, from left to right, closing steps of the chair; 
           [0016]      FIG. 11 : shows an enlarged partial view of a detail of the chair; 
           [0017]      FIG. 12 : shows the leg-rest device in three operative stages; 
           [0018]      FIG. 13 : shows an enlarged detail of the device of  FIG. 12 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 14 : shows in an exploded view a rolling device of a belt for immobilizing a patient on the chair according to the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 15 : shows a perspective view of the device of  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 16 : shows the chair back struts with two belt rolling devices applied thereto, for immobilizing a patient on the chair according to the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 17 : shows in detail a belt rolling device applied to one the two back struts for immobilizing a patient&#39;s legs. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    Particularly referring to the figures, a foldable, stair wheelchair for transporting a patient of the type provided with front  5 ,  5 ′ and back struts  6 ,  6 ′ wheeled on suitable front,  7   a,    7   a ′, and back wheels  7   b,    7   b ′, a seat  10   a,  a back  27  and guiding grips  28 ,  28 ′, is indicate as a whole by 1. 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , said chair comprises arm-rests  8  and  8 ′ hinged in hinged points  9 ,  9 ′ supported by back struts  6 ,  6 ′. Each arm-rest  8 ,  8 ′, hence, can rotate upwards by a 90° angle about hinged point  9 ,  9 ′ thereof, thus defining a completely lowered first position with arm-rests  8 ,  8 ′ parallel to seat  10   a  of chair  1 , wherein arm-rests  8 ,  8 ′ can support the patient arms, and a completely lifted second position, wherein arm-rests  8 ,  8 ′ are closed substantially parallel to the back of chair  1 . 
         [0025]    Seat  10   a  of chair  1 , comprised of a plane, is supported by two rods  10 ,  10 ′ keyed on a bar  20 , interposed between them and hinged on back struts  6 ,  6 ′ in two hinge points  21  and  21 ′, and which is able to rotate about its own longitudinal axis. 
         [0026]    In an open configuration, said seat  10   a  is parallel to arm-rests  8 ,  8 ′ and to rods  10  and  10 ′, hinged on one side to back struts  6 ,  6 ′ in hinge points  11  and  11 ′; said seat  10   a,  arm-rests  8 , 8 ′ and rods  10 ,  10 ′ being substantially orthogonal to backs struts  6 ,  6 ′. 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , front struts  5 ,  5 ′ engage with two bars  12 ,  12 ′, respectively, situated below rods  10 ,  10 ′. In particular, lower end of each strut  5 ,  5 ′ carries a pawl  22 ,  22 ′ which engages and can slide within a track  30 ,  30 ′ located on the inner side of bar  12 ,  12 ′ which it is coupled to. 
         [0028]    Further, each of said bars  12  and  12 ′ is fixed to back struts  6 ,  6 ′ by means of a U-shaped plate  34 ,  34 ′, which embraces strut  6 ,  6 ′ itself on three sides. Said bars  12  and  12 ′, being hinged on said plates  34 ,  34 ′, and being able to vertically rotate by 90°, can be positioned between a first operative work position, wherein bars  12 ,  12 ′ are horizontal, and a non-operative position, wherein bar  12  and  12 ′ are vertically positioned. Said positioning is well illustrated in  FIG. 10 , where, on the left side, the operative position with horizontal bars  12 ,  12 ′ is shown, and, on the left side, the non-operative position, corresponding to chair  1  closed, with bars  12 ,  12 ′ in a vertical position is illustrated. 
         [0029]    Finally, it can be seen, that said bars  12  and  12 ′ each end with a handle suitable to move chair  1  with a patient seated thereon, for example, along a staircase, along which moving the chair  1  by means of wheels  7   a,    7   a ′,  7   b,    7   b ′ is not possible. 
         [0030]    A foot-rest of known type, hinged at the ends to struts  5 ,  5 ′ at pawls  22 ,  22 ′ has been denoted with  31 . 
         [0031]    Chair  1  according to the present invention is provided with a manual and/or pedal braking device  3 , for simultaneously braking back wheels  7   b,    7   b′.    
         [0032]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , said device  3  comprises in general a handle  4 , having, for example, a tubular form, positioned behind the back  27  of chair  1 , substantially at the height of guiding grips  28 ,  28 ′, located between back struts  6 ,  6 ′ and hinged thereto, and a rod  43 , located above back wheels  7   b,    7   b ′, acting as a pedal. 
         [0033]    Handle  4  is substantially U-shaped and ends in two segments  4   a,    4   a ′ disposed parallel to the central zone  4   b  thereof. In said handle, hence, two different axes can be recognized: a gripping axis  50 , passing through central zone  4   b,  and an axis  60 , passing by segments  4   a ,  4   a ′ and parallel to gripping axis  50 , about which, under action of a force, central zone  4   b  rotates and, thus, handle  4  itself. 
         [0034]    Between said handle  4  and back wheels  7   b,    7   b ′, means for imparting braking to back wheels  7   b,    7   b ′ themselves are interposed. 
         [0035]    In particular, in the illustrated simplifying and non-limiting example, said means consist of a cam  14 ,  14 ′ placed on the end of each segment  4   a,    4   a ′ of handle  4  which engages a wing  15   b,    15   b ′ of a follower  15 ,  15 ′ made up of a pawl  15   a,    15   a ′ and the above mentioned wing  15   b,    15   b′.    
         [0036]    For clarity, the manual braking device  3 , as well as the chair  1  itself, having a symmetrical geometry with respect to a vertical plane A passing in the middle between back struts  6 ,  6 ′ and parallel therewith, in the following, reference will be made to means that impart braking to back wheels  7   b,    7   b ′ of only a portion of braking device  3 . 
         [0037]    Pawl  15   a  is fixed, through a nut  17 , on the upper end of a threaded rod  16  disposed within back strut  6 . 
         [0038]    Said threaded rod  16  ends on the lower side with a substantially box-like element  18  disposed above wheel  7   b,  made up of two portions, respectively upper  18   a  and lower portion  18   b,  within which a spring  19  is located. 
         [0039]    Operatively, as shown in  FIG. 5 , an operator willing to stop chair  1 , acts on handle  4  rotating central zone  4   b  downwards, about axis  60  passing through segments  4   a,    4   a ′. Subsequently, cams  14 ,  14 ′ rotate so that wings  15   b,    15   b ′ of followers  15 ,  15 ′ travel along their idle arcs. 
         [0040]    Threaded rods  16 ,  16 ′, by being integral with said followers  15 ,  15 ′ during their sliding along said idle arcs of cams  14 ,  14 ′, descend inside back struts  6 ,  6 ′ acting on the lower portions of box-like elements  18 ,  18 ′ which, as a result, simultaneously stop the two back wheels  7   b,    7   b ′, braking chair  1 . 
         [0041]    Springs  19 ,  19 ′ located within box-like elements  18 ,  18 ′ are needed when releasing chair  1  disengaging back wheels  7   b,    7   b ′ is desired. For a better explanation, by rotating central zone  4   b  upwards about axis  60 , cams  14 ,  14 ′ rotate so that wings  15   b,    15   b ′ of followers  15 ,  15 ′ travel their lifts. As a result, rods  16 ,  16 ′ are lifted along with lower portions  18   b,    18   b ′ of box-like elements  18 ,  18 ′, assisted by spring  19 ,  19 ′ thrust ( FIG. 4 ). 
         [0042]    Alternatively, an operator can simultaneously brake back wheels  7   b,    7   b ′ acting on rod  43 , being integral by the ends with lower  18   a  and upper portion  18   b  of box-like elements  18 ,  18 ′. 
         [0043]    Chair  1  according to the present invention, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  6 , and  7 , comprises a command lever  24 , substantially U-shaped, hinged at the ends in two hinge points  11 ,  11 ′. In particular, said command lever  24 , which extends below seat  10   a  of chair  1 , approximately by ⅔ of its own length, starting from said hinge points  11 ,  11 ′, carries on each side a pin  29 ,  29 ′ which engages track  30 ,  30 ′ made in each bar  12 ,  12 ′ ( FIG. 8 ). Said solution, in conclusion, makes command lever  24  hinged in four points  11 ,  11 ′,  29 ,  29 ′. 
         [0044]    As well noticeable in  FIG. 8 , foot-rest  1  has, on at least one of the two ends, a small wheel  33 , which, together with a cam  32  fixed to lever  24 , forms a device, which will be discussed in greater detail later, suitable for automatically closing foot-rest  31  itself during closure of chair  1  itself. 
         [0045]    Below hinge points  11 ,  11 ′, a small bar  23  is arranged between back struts  5 ,  5 ′ and parallel to bar  20 . Seat  10   a  is attached to said bar  23 . 
         [0046]    An elastic member, applied to at least one of the two bars  10  and/or  10 ′, and arranged to operate device  2 , is indicate at  25 . Such operation will also be described in greater detail in the following. 
         [0047]    Specifically, in the illustrated example, said elastic member  25  is a spring, keyed on bar  20  and coupled to rod  10 ′ through a slot  26  applied on rod  10 ′ itself. 
         [0048]    Finally, to make chair  1  more easily portable by an operator, in the closed, non-operative position, at least a grip ( 35 ) fixable to at least one of the two back struts  6 ,  6 ′ is provided. By means of said grip  35 , the operator is able to carry chair  1  grasping and holding orthogonally with respect to his/her arm. 
         [0049]    Operatively, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the operator applies directly, with one foot, a force F on command lever  24 . Said force F causes command lever  24 , in addition to rotate about hinge points  11 ,  11 ′, to transmit a component of force F to seat  10   a  supporting rods  10  and  10 ′. A rotation of said rods  10  and  10 ′ about hinge points  21 ,  21 ′ is triggered, and, as a result, of back struts  5 ,  5 ′ hinged thereto in hinge points  11 ,  11 ′, such rotation is further assisted by pulling action exerted by spring  25  on rod  10 ′ itself. 
         [0050]    As spring  25  returns rods  10 ′, said rods  10  and  10 ′ rotate about hinge points  21   e    21 ′, and command lever  24 , now released, also rotates about hinge pints  11 ,  11 ′. Obviously, in doing so, pins  29  and  29 ′ slide inside tracks  30  and  30 ′, respectively. 
         [0051]    The above mentioned rotation causes also front struts  5 ,  5 ′ to rotate about hinge points  11 ,  11 ′ causing rotation of bars  12 ,  12 ′ the struts are connected to by means of pawls  22   e    22 ′ which translate within the above mentioned tracks  30  and  30 ′ respectively. 
         [0052]    Lifting of seat  10   a  forces arm-rests  8 ,  8 ′ to rotate upwards about hinge points  9 ,  9 ′. 
         [0053]    Finally, when struts  5 ,  5 ′, in virtue of rotation, are approximately parallel to command lever  24 , wheel  33  of foot-rest  31  engages cam  32  of command lever  24 . Wheel  33 , then, rolling on said cam  32  profile, causes foot-rest  31  to automatically close. 
         [0054]    Once rotation of seat  10   a,  front strut  5 ,  5 ′, bars  12 ,  12 ′, arm-rests  8 ,  8 ′ and foot-rest  31  has ended, chair  1  is in a folded closure position, illustrated in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0055]    As shown in  FIG. 12 , said foldable, stair wheelchair  1  for transporting patients can provide at least a telescopic leg-rest  36 , formed by a plurality of tubes, extensible and adjustable by means of two threaded ring-nuts  42   a,    42   b,  disposed below seat  10   a  of chair  1  and hinged approximately in bar  20  median point. 
         [0056]    Said leg-rest  36 , once desired travel has been reached, is held in position by a rod  39 , hinged at the end of a pin  40 , passing through leg-rest  36  itself and disposed orthogonally to the same, about which it can rotate parallel to leg-rest  36  axis. In particular, said rod  39  maintains its position resting with its lower end on foot-rest  31 . 
         [0057]    At the free end, said leg-rest  36  has a joint  37 , to which is integral a support  38  orthogonally located with respect to the leg rest  36  and the joint  37  itself. 
         [0058]    Said joint  37 , and thus support  38 , being capable of rotating of 180° such that support  38  follows a semi circumference contained in quadrants I and II of a reference Cartesian plain. 
         [0059]    Then, according to whether a right leg or a left leg is to be supported, support  38  is rotated to one side or the other, as well shown in  FIG. 13 . 
         [0060]    Further, in joint  37 , a split  41  is formed within which a pin (not shown in the figure), fixed to foot-rest  1 , acting as rotation retainer is inserted. 
         [0061]    Finally, chair  1  can be equipped with one or more belt winding devices  44 , of known type, needed if immobilizing the patient on the same is desired. 
         [0062]    As shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , a winding device comprises a C-shaped box-like structure  45  having a pin  46  inside one of the two ends and a through hole  47  at the opposite end. 
         [0063]    A belt  48 , wound on itself to form a cylindrical body  48   a,  is located between the two ends of box-like structure  45 , so that pin  46  is inserted therein. 
         [0064]    In through hole  47 , a spring  49  and a catch  51  are inserted inside cylindrical body  48   a.    
         [0065]    As shown in the figures, on belt  48  free end there is located a hooking means  52 , which can be male or female of a spring catch of known type. 
         [0066]    In practice, spring  49  maintains belt  48  wound on itself and functions as return element for the belt  48  itself, when this is to be rewound from stretched. 
         [0067]      FIG. 16  shows back struts  6 ,  6 ′ of chair  1  with two winding devices  44 ,  44 ′ which are necessary if immobilizing the upper body of a patient seated on chair  1  is desired. 
         [0068]    Also, in order to be able to retain the above mentioned patient lower limbs, at least a winding device  44  is provided applied to at least one of the two back struts  5 ,  5 ′ of chair  1 . 
         [0069]    In the description, reference has always been made to a foldable wheelchair  1 , but reference can also be made to a foldable stair-chair, however falling within the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims below.