Ambulatory care chair

US6565112B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Hill-Rom Services, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Thomas W. Hanson · Englewood, US
• John Vogel · Northfield, US
• Steven V. McCaig · Batesville, US
• Jack C. Newkirk · Bradford, US
• Donald E. Smith · Greensburg, US
• Jonathan D. Turner · Quakertown, US
• Terence M. Duncan · Kentwood, US
• Gary S. Siegle · Cincinnati, US
• Gregory J. Figel · Mason, US
• Jeffrey A. Heyser · Lancaster, US
• William M. Blyshak · Milan, US
• Michael P. Bish · Hebron, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 26, 2001
• Grant date: May 20, 2003
• Expiry date: Sep 26, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S297/04
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A chair for transporting a patient includes a base frame, a plurality of casters mounted to the base frame, a seat, and a push bar mounted to a back section of the seat for use when transporting the patient. A wheel is coupled to the base frame for movement between a downward brake-steer position, facilitating steering the chair during transport of the patient, and an upward neutral position. A brake mechanism brakes the casters when the brake mechanism is in a braking position and permits rotation of the casters when the brake mechanism is in a releasing position. A brake-steer shaft is coupled to the brake mechanism. Movement of the shaft moves the brake mechanism between the braking position and the releasing position. The brake-steer shaft is pivotably coupled to the base frame. The brake-steer shaft is coupled to the wheel so that rotation of the brake-steer shaft moves the wheel between the brake-steer position and the neutral position. A neutral pedal is coupled to the brake-steer shaft so that movement of the neutral pedal to a neutral position automatically rotates the brake-steer shaft to move the wheel to the neutral position.