US3381973A

US3381973A - Combination invalid's chair and cot

Info

Publication number: US3381973A
Application number: US575143A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lottie M Carr
Original assignee: Lottie M. Carr
Current assignee: LOTTIE M CARR
Priority date: 1966-08-25
Filing date: 1966-08-25
Publication date: 1968-05-07
Anticipated expiration: 1985-05-07

Description

y 7, 1968 L. M. CARR 3,381,973

COMBINATION INVALIDS CHAIR AND COT Filed Aug. 25, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. LOTT/E M. CARR BY 253M ATTORNEY.

y 7, 1968 1.. M. CARR 3,381,973

COMBINATION INVALIDS CHAIR AND COT Filed Aug. 25, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w W 3 INVENTOR.

LOTT/E M. CARI? ATmRA/Ey,

United States Patent 3,381,973 COMBINATION INVALIDS CHAIR AND COT Lottie M. Carr, 1280 NE. 159th St., North Miami Beach, Fla. 33162 Filed Aug. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 575,143 9 Claims. (Cl. 280-30) This invention relates to wheel chairs for the handicapped, and is directed particularly to an improved combination invalids chair and cot.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a combination invalids chair and cot of such construction as will permit maximum use of a handicapped persons abilities in tending to his own needs and comfort.

A more particular object is to provide a combination invalids chair and cot that can be converted by the user from a chair to a cot with minimum effort while sitting in the chair, so that he may change from sitting to reclining position without assistance.

Another object is to provide a combination invalids chair and cot that includes a removable chair propelling device that can be either foot pedal or hand pedal operated, selectively, depending upon the preference or capabilities of the user.

Yet another object is to provide a combination invalids chair and cot of the above nature the cushioned seat of which is provided with a central opening normally closed with a removable plug member, which plug member can readily be removed by the user for use of a bed pan placed on a shelf under the seat.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination invalids wheel chair and cot of the character described which will be inexpensive to manufacture, easy to manipulate, and dependable and long-wearing in use.

Other objects features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combination invalids chair and cot embodying the invention shown assembled as a wheel chair;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows but shown with the side arm mechanisms extended for use of the device as a cot; and

FIG. 3 is a partial back view of the chair illustrating the connecting mechanism of the removable heat rest.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, in FIGS. 1 and 2 designates, generally, a combination invalids chair and cot embodying the invention the same being comprised of a chair framework having a pair of spaced, parallel front upright tubular members 11, 12, and a pair of spaced, parallel rear upright tubular members 13, 14, aflixed in mutually-spaced parallel relation by front and rear transverse members and 16, respectively, and side transverse members 17 and 18. The chair framework also comprises a second pair of side transverse members 19, 20 secured between the front upright tubular members 11, 12 and the rear upright tubular members 13, 14 in spaced parallel relation above the side transverse members 17 and 18, respectively. The lower ends of the front and rear upright tubular members or

legs

11, 12, 13 and 14 are equipped with ball castor members 21 for free rolling motion of the chair along fiat surfaces by means of a hand or foot operated propelling mechanism hereinafter described. A circular bumper hoop 22 encompasses the lower end of the chair framework, being secured at the lower ends of the front and rear upright tubular members or

legs

11, 12 and 13, 14 respectively. The bumper hoop 22 is preferably covered with a sleeve of rubber,

3,381,973 Patented May 7, 1968 resilient synthetic plastic or the like to minimize the possibility of marring or otherwise damaging furniture by accidental collision.

The rear upright tubular members 113, 14 extend into upwardly and slightly rearwardly directed back extension portions 23, 24 which carry affixed therebetween a cushioned lower back rest 25 and an upper cushioned back rest 26. A rectangular seat panel 27 is affixed between the second pair of side transverse members 19, 20, being affixed thereto as by welding. Extending upwardly from the side edges of the seat support panel 27 between the front and rear upright tubular members of the framework are a pair of opposed, short side wall members 28, 29 respectively. The seat support panel 27 is provided with an ovoid opening 30, surrounding which, and affixed to an upper marginal portion of said seat support panel, is a ring of resilient material 31. A rectangular cushion 32 is fitted upon the seat support panel 27, said cushion being of approximately the same height as that of the side wall members 28, 29 and being formed with an ovoid opening of such size and shape as to fit down over the outer periphery of the ring member 31. Removably fittted within the cushion opening 33 and the opening 30 in the seat support panel 47 is a cushion plug member 34. The cushion plug member 34 comprises a resilient supper portion 35 fixed against the underside of which is a rigid base panel 36, a marginal peripheral portion of which seats against the upper surface of the ring member 31, and having an outwardly-extending reduced size portion 37 complemental in shape to that of the ovoid opening 30 in the seat support panel 27 so as to be received therein. The cushion plug member 34 is provided with an upwardly and outwardly-extending flexible pull tab 38 by means of which said cushion plug member can readily be removed and replaced.

A rectangular metal shelf 39 is disposed in spaced parallel relation below the seat support 27 being supported upon and between the side transverse members 17, 18 of the chair framework. The shelf 39 is preferably provided with rectangular side

wing extension members

40, 41 hinged thereto as by hinges 42, 43 respectively and securable in outwardly-extending position, as illustrated by the broken line representation thereof in FIG. 2, by means of toggle action folding bracket arms 44, 45 respectively.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the front upright tubular members or legs 11, 12 have telescopingly received therein front upright member extensions 46, 47. Detent mechanism (not illustrated) is preferably provided for releasably securing the extension members 46, 47 in their upwardly-extended positions.

Finger grip lugs

48, 49 fixed to the front upright member extensions 46, 47 near the upper ends thereof and extending forwardly facilitate manual extension and collapsing of said upright member extensions. In their extended positions as illustrated in FIG. 1, the extension members 46, 47 serve as support means for the front of side chair arms indicated, generally, at 50 and 51 in FIG. 1. The side chair arms 50, 51 are identical, and are of hinged panel construction so as to unfold straight out at each side of the chair seat to convert into a cot, as illustrated in FIG. 2 and as hereinbelow more particularly described. Each chair side arm comprises an inside rectangular panel 52 hinged along its lower edge as by hinge 52a to the upper edges, respectively, of the front to the back seat side wall members 28, 29. The upper edge of the inside rectangular panel 52 is hinged along its length to the side edge of a narrow upper panel 54 as by hinge 53. The opposite edge of the upper panel 54 is hinged along its length to one side edge of an outside rectangular panel 56, as by hinge 55, said outside rectangular panel being of approximately the same size as the inside 3 rectangle panel 52. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the front edge portion of the narrow upper panels 54 each have a circular loop 5'8 fixed against the underside thereof for hooking engagement over upper end portions of the front upright member extensions 46, 47, respectively, when said upright members are in fully extended position, thereby to secure the front end of the chair side arms 51 in place when the device is being used as a chair. As a means for securing the back end of the chair side arms 50, 51 in place, the upper panels 54- thereof have alfixed at their rear ends hook eyes 74a adapted to be engaged by hooks 74 secured to chains 70 aflixed at one end to the back extension portions 23, 24, respectively, of the rear upright tubular members 13, 14 at positions therealong between the upper and

lower back rests

25, 26, respectively. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the device is converted to a cot simply by collapsing the front upright member extensions 46, 47, unhooking the chains 70, and unfolding the side arms 50, 51 outwardly to each side. The outer ends of the outside rectangular panels 56 are supported by telescoping legs 59 affixed near the outer ends of tubular cross bars 60 disposed along the underside of the outer marginal end portion of said rectangular panels and rotatably journalled thereat as by arcuate clamps 61. The telescoping legs 59 each comprise interfitting upper and

lower sections

62, 63, respectively, releasably held in extended position, as illustrated in FIG. 2, as by detent mechanism 65. Folding brackets 67 hinged between the underside of each outside rectangular panel 56 and the associated leg section 62, brace the telescoping legs 59 when in their cot-supporting position. It will be understood that when the device is used as a chair, the telescop ing legs 59 will be collapsed and folded inwardly against the underside or inside of the outside rectangular panels 56 whereat they will be concealed within the chair side arms 50, 51 when the device is used as a wheel chair. AS illustrated in FIG. 2, the outer ends of the chains 70 are linked to eyes 72 provided at the rear ends of the narrow upper panels 54 to brace the outwardly-extending panel structure. The upper surface of the

side panels

52, 54, and 56 are padded, as indicated at 73. When desired or necessary, the upright member extensions 46, 47 can be left up to act as a barrier during use of the device as a cot.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, removable headrest 75 is provided for optional use when the device is employed as a wheel chair. The back of the headrest 75 has secured thereto a centrally-located, downwardly-extending post 76 removably receivable within an opening provided by a bracket 77 atfixed against the back of the upper back rest 26.

A removable hand or foot operated propelling device 78 is provided for optional use when the device is converted to a wheel chair. As a means of attaching the propelling device '78, a transverse bar 79 is secured between the front upright tubular members or legs 11, 12, near the lower ends thereof. Centrally secured to the transverse bar 79 is an attachment bar 80 having a forwardlyextending portion 81, the outer end of which extends into an upwardly and slightly rearwardly extending portion 82. The upper end of the upwardly and rearwardly extending portion 82 has aflixed thereto a short, forwardlyextending end piece 83 the underside of which, near its front end, has afiixed thereto a downwardly-extending stud pin 84. A rectangular footboard 85 is seated upon the transverse bar 79 and the forwardly-extending portion 81 of the attachment bar 80, being removably secured thereto in any convenient manner.

The hand or foot propelling device 78 comprises a tubular housing member 86 having a tubular lug 87 secured against the outer wall thereof near the lower end as by welding, within which the stud pin 84 is removably received. The tubular housing member 86 has interiorly affixed thereto and extending outwardly of the lower end thereof a pair of diametrically-spaced

tubular members

88, 89 terminating in coaxially-aligned bearing members 90. The bearing members 90 journal a crank 91 carrying,

between the bearing members 9% a drive wheel 92 and a sprocket 93. The outer ends of the crank 91 have journalled thereon foot pedals 94 (only one shown in FIG. 1).

The upper end of the tubular housing member 86 is equipped with a hand crank 95 extending through bearing members 96 diametrically oppositely aifixed in side wall portions of said housing member. The interior shaft portion of the hand crank 95 carries a sprocket 97 linked with the foot pedal sprocket 93 by a chain 98 so that said sprockets turn in unison. The hand crank 95 preferably comprises hand crank members 99 at each side which are preferaby removably attached for removal when only foot propulsion is required.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a tray 1% is removably fitted at the upper end of the tubular housing member 86 said tray having secured to its underside a short plug member 101 receivable in a socket 102 provided in said housing member.

As an auxiliary feature of my invention for use when needed, there is provided a vertically-extending kneeboard 103 removably secured at a position directly to the rear of the propelling device housing member 86 by means of a short, downwardly-extending shaft 104 receivable in an opening 105 at the upper end of the attachment bar 80. The knee-board 103 provides a swingable barrier centrally disposed at the front of the seat cushion 32 to keep deformed legs separated whenever necessary or desirable for the patients wellbeing or comfort.

In use of the propelling device, it will be noted that steering is effected simply by pushing harder on one side or the other of the foot or hand-operated crank mecha nisms, which ever one is being used, to turn the propelling device 78 to one side or the other with respect to its attachment bar 80. If self-propulsion is not required, the propelling device 78 can readily be removed by lifting the chair with respect thereto so that the stud pin 84 at the upper end of the attachment bar 80 is disengaged from the tubular lug 87 of the propelling device housing member 86.

The chair shelf 39 serves as a means for supporting a chamber under the ovoid opening 30 whereby the patient confined to the chair can tend to his own toilet needs simply by removing the seat cushion plug member 34.

While I have illustrated and described herein only one form in which my invention can conveniently be embodied in practice, it is to be understood that this form is presented by way of example only, and not in a limiting sense. The invention, in brief, comprises all the embodiments and modifications coming within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A combination invalids chair and cot comprising a seat structure having a pair of front corner legs and a pair of rear corner legs, a back rest structure extending upwardly from and supported by said rear corner legs, a chair side arm member at each side of said seat structure and extending from front to back between a front corner leg and a rear corner leg, said chair side arm members each comprising a plurality of hinged panels, each of said hinged panels comprising an inside rectangular panel pivotally attached to said seat, a comparatively narrow panel, and an outside rectangular panel of substantially the same size as said inside rectangular panel, said panels being selectively movable between a first position wherein said inside and outside panels extend downwardly from said narrow panel forming an armrest and a second position wherein said hinged panels extend outwardly from and on the same horizontal plane as said seat, and means for supporting said hinged panels in each of said positions.

2. A combination invalids chair and cot as defined in claim 1 including roller means at the lower ends of said front and rear corner legs, and propelling means removably attached to said seat structure for actuation by a person sitting upon said seat structure.

3. A combination invalids chair and cot as defined in claim 2 wherein said propelling means comprises a drive wheel operative to engage the floor along which the chair is to move, and pedal-actuated crank means for turning said drive wheel.

4. A combination invalids chair and cot as defined in claim 3 including a hand-actuated crank means journalled in spaced relation above said pedal-actuated crank means and mechanically linked with said drive wheel for cooperative turning therewith.

5. A combination invalids chair and cot as defined in claim 2 wherein said seat structure comprises a cushioned seat panel, a central opening in said seat panel, a cushioned plug member removably received in said seat panel opening, and a shelf in spaced relation below said seat panel and supported by said seat structure.

6. A combination invalids chair and cot as defined in claim 5 including a knee-board removably supported in vertical disposition centrally in front of said cushioned seat panel and extending generally in the front to back direction of said seat panel for maintaining separation of the legs of a person sitting in the chair.

7. A combination invalids chair and cot as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for supporting said hinged upper panel engageable with one each of said front cover legs.

8. A combination invalids chair and cot as defined in claim 7 wherein said front corner legs are tubular in form and comprise tubular extension members telescopingly received therein and movable between extended and collapsed positions, said hook means being engageable with the upper ends of said extension members when in their extended position.

9. A combination invalids chair and cot as defined in claim 7 wherein said means for supporting said hinged panels in said second positions comprises chains extending between said back structure and the rear ends of said narrow panels, and telescoping legs afiixed to the outer ends of said outer panels at the underside thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,790,485 4/ 1957 Franklin .......1 -1 297-116 2,869,614 1/1959 Wamsley 155--30 3,206,249 9/ 1965 Gateley 297- FOREIGN PATENTS 529,233 5/1957 Belgium.

RICHARD J. JOHNSON, Primary Examiner.

J. SIEGEL, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A COMBINATION INVALID''S CHAIR AND COT COMPRISING A SEAT STRUCTURE HAVING A PAIR OF FRONT CORNER LEGS AND A PAIR OF REAR CORNER LEGS, A BACK REST STRUCTURE EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM AND SUPPORTED BY SAID REAR CORNER LEGS, A CHAIR SIDE ARM MEMBER AT EACH SIDE OF SAID SEAT STRUCTURE AND EXTENDING FROM FRONT TO BACK BETWEEN A FRONT CORNER LEG AND A REAR CORNER LEG, SAID CHAIR SIDE ARM MEMBERS EACH COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF HINGED PANELS, EACH OF SAID HINGED PANELS COMPRISING AN INSIDE RECTANGULAR PANEL PIVOTALLY ATTACHED TO SAID SEAT, A COMPARATIVELY NARROW PANEL, AND AN OUTSIDE RECTANGULAR PANEL OF SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME SIZE AS SAID INSIDE RECTANGULAR PANEL, SAID PANELS BEING SELECTIVELY MOVABLE BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION WHEREIN SAID INSIDE AND OUTSIDE PANELS EXTEND DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID NARROW PANEL FORMING AN ARMREST AND A SECOND POSITION WHEREIN SAID HINGED PANELS EXTEND OUTWARDLY FROM AND ON THE SAME HORIZONTAL PLANE AS SAID SEAT, AND MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID HINGED PANELS IN EACH OF SAID POSITIONS.