US 12,239,581 B2
Patient transport apparatus
Ashton Margarete Moseley, Johannesburg (ZA); and Dominic White, Johannesburg (ZA)
Assigned to University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg (ZA)
Appl. No. 18/017,283
Filed by University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg (ZA)
PCT Filed Jul. 21, 2021, PCT No. PCT/IB2021/056589
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 20, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/018657, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 27, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 2020/04481 (ZA), filed on Jul. 21, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0293364 A1, Sep. 21, 2023
Int. Cl. A61G 1/017 (2006.01); A61G 1/013 (2006.01); A61G 1/04 (2006.01); A61G 5/06 (2006.01)
CPC A61G 1/017 (2013.01) [A61G 1/04 (2013.01); A61G 5/061 (2013.01); A61G 5/066 (2013.01); A61G 1/013 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A patient transport apparatus comprising:
a patient support assembly, having a main portion, and a first and second portion extending from opposite sides of the main portion, which first and second portions are independently adjustable relative to the main portion; and
at least a first and second wheel arrangement which are adjustable relative to the patient support assembly,
wherein the patient transport apparatus is configurable in at least a first configuration, a second configuration and a third configuration, by adjustment of at least some of the first portion, the second portion, the first wheel arrangement and the second wheel arrangement, and wherein the patient transport apparatus is configured: i) as a stretcher when configured in the first configuration; ii) as a chair when configured in the second configuration; and iii) as a stair chair when configured in the third configuration,
wherein the patient transport apparatus further comprises:
at least a first stair engagement device which is operatively configured in a position to engage a stair when the patient transport apparatus is configured in the third configuration, the first stair engagement device being fitted to a stair engagement subframe, which in turn, is fitted to the second wheel arrangement which includes a second wheel subframe, wherein the stair engagement subframe is pivotably fixed to a bottom portion of the second wheel subframe, and wherein the stair engagement subframe is pivotably displaceable between a folded configuration and an operative configuration; and
a brace extending between the second wheel subframe and the stair engagement subframe when the stair engagement subframe is configured in the operative configuration, for supporting the stair engagement subframe in the operative configuration, wherein a part of the brace is received within a slot formed on the stair engagement subframe, and wherein the brace biases the stair engagement subframe towards the operative configuration.