Disabled person transfer device

Claim 1

A device for transferring a person from a wheelchair to a vehicle having a door comprising: a removable seat associated with the wheelchair; an actuator adapted to be attached to the vehicle door; and means for releasably engaging the seat with the actuator; the actuator being movable relative to the door to move the seat into or out of the vehicle, the actuator comprising: a pair of vertically-extending spaced tracks adapted to be mounted on the vehicle door; a pair of vertically movable members slidingly engaging the vertically extending tracks and vertically movable therealong; a pair of transversely movable members disposed parallel to each vertically movable member and vertically movable therewith; an arm interconnecting each transversely movable member and an associated vertically movable member, each arm being hinged at opposed ends to the vertically movable member and the transversely movable member, respectively; a horizontal track extending between and fixedly attached to the transversely movable members; a horizontally movable member slidingly engaging and movable along the horizontal track; and means for moving the horizontally movable member in a horizontal, vertical and transverse direction relative to the vehicle door.

Claim 2

A device for transferring a person from a wheelchair to a vehicle having a door comprising: a removable seat associated with the wheelchair; an actuator adapted to be attached to the vehicle door; and means for releasably engaging the seat with the actuator; the actuator being movable relative to the door to move the seat into or out of the vehicle, the actuator comprising: a pair of vertically-extending spaced tracks adapted to be mounted on the vehicle door; a pair of vertically movable members slidingly engaging the vertically extending tracks and vertically movable therealong; a pair of transversely movable members disposed parallel to each vertically movable member and vertically movable therewith; an arm interconnecting each transversely movable member and an associated vertically movable member, each arm being hinged at opposed ends to the vertically movable member and the transversely movable member, respectively; a horizontal track extending between and fixedly attached to the transversely movable members; a horizontally movable member slidingly engaging and movable along the horizontal track; and means for moving the horizontally movable member in a horizontal, vertical and transverse direction relative to the vehicle door.

Claim 4

A device for transferring a person from a wheelchair to a vehicle having a door comprising: a removable seat associated with the wheelchair, the removable seat comprising: (a) a back and seat member formed from tubing including a horizontal top piece curving downward at outer corners thereof to form a pair of upright side members, the side members curving forward at a lower end thereof to form a pair of seat side members; (b) a pair of arm rests spaced above and parallel to the seat side members including a rear end attached to the upright side members, a forward end of the arm rests curving downward and forward forming upper support portions; (c) a pair of spaced apart members telescopingly engageable with the upper support portions; (d) a foot rest extending between a lower end of the spaced apart telescoping members and fixedly attached thereto; (e) a plurality of spaced apart apertures formed along a lower end of the upper support portions; (f) an aperture formed in an upper end of the spaced telescoping members positioned to selectively align with one of the plurality of spaced apart apertures; (g) a pair of pins engaging the selectively aligned apertures to adjustably engage the telescoping members; (h) a pair of transverse seat members extending between a forward end of the seat side member and between the intersection of the upright side members and the seat side members; (i) a planar seat supported by the seat side members and transverse members; and (j) a reinforcing bar extending along an arm rest and fixedly attached thereto, the bar extending longitudinally along the arm rest then transversely across a back of the seat to form a transverse bar affixed to the upright side members; an actuator attached to the door of the vehicle; and means for releasably engaging the seat with the actuator; the actuator being movable relative to the door to move the seat into or out of the vehicle.

Claim 5

A device for transferring a person from a wheelchair to a vehicle having a door comprising: a removable seat associated with the wheelchair, the removable seat comprising: (a) a back and seat member formed from tubing including a horizontal top piece curving downward at outer corners thereof to form a pair of upright side members, the side members curving forward at a lower end thereof to form a pair of seat side members; (b) a pair of arm rests spaced above and parallel to the seat side members including a rear end attached to the upright side members, a forward end of the arm rests curving downward and forward forming upper support portions; (c) a pair of spaced apart members telescopingly engageable with the upper support portions; (d) a foot rest extending between a lower end of the spaced apart telescoping members and fixedly attached thereto; (e) a plurality of spaced apart apertures formed along a lower end of the upper support portions; (f) an aperture formed in an upper end of the spaced telescoping members positioned to selectively align with one of the plurality of spaced apart apertures; (g) a pair of pins engaging the selectively aligned apertures to adjustably engage the telescoping members; (h) a pair of transverse seat members extending between a forward end of the seat side member and between the intersection of the upright side members and the seat side members; (i) a planar seat supported by the seat side members and transverse members; and (j) a reinforcing bar extending along an arm rest and fixedly attached thereto, the bar extending longitudinally along the arm rest then transversely across a back of the seat to form a transverse bar affixed to the upright side members; an actuator attached to the door of the vehicle; and means for releasably engaging the seat with the actuator; the actuator being movable relative to the door to move the seat into or out of the vehicle.

Claim 6

A device for transferring a person from a wheelchair to a vehicle having a door comprising: a removable seat associated with the wheelchair; an actuator attached to the door of the vehicle; and means for releasably engaging the seat with the actuator; the actuator being movable relative to the door to move the seat into or out of the vehicle, the actuator comprising: (a) a pair of vertically extending, spaced apart tracks affixed to the vehicle door, each track including a bottom wall adjacent the door, a pair of opposed walls integral with and extending vertically from the bottom wall and a pair of opposed outward extending flanges integral with the opposed walls, an upper wall extending between the flanges, a longitudinal opening formed along the upper wall with gear teeth formed along a longitudinal edge thereof defining a rack; (b) a plurality of pads engageable with the outward extending flanges; (c) a pair of vertically movable members associated with each track and including an outer wall spaced from and parallel to the bottom wall, a pair of opposed arcuate side walls integral with the outer wall and curving toward the track and inward to encircle the pads, the vertically movable member being movable along the pads; (d) a pair of transversely movable members disposed parallel to each vertically movable member and vertically movable therewith; (e) an arm interconnecting each transversely movable member and an associated vertically movable member, the arm hinged to the vertically movable member at an upper end and hinged to the transversely movable member at a lower end; (f) a horizontal track extending between and fixedly attached to the transversely movable members, the horizontal track including a horizontal bottom wall supported by the transversely movable members, a pair of upright walls integral with the horizontal bottom wall, a pair of opposed horizontal flanges integral with the upright walls, and an outside wall extending between the flanges with a horizontal opening formed therealong and including gear teeth formed along an edge thereof to define a horizontal rack; (g) a plurality of horizontal pads engageable with the opposed horizontal flanges of the horizontal track; (h) a horizontally movable member slidingly movable along the horizontal track and including a horizontal wall spaced from and parallel to the horizontal bottom wall, a pair of opposed arcuate horizontal end walls integral with the horizontal wall and curving toward the horizontal bottom wall and inward to embrace the horizontal pads, the horizontally movable member being movable along the horizontal pads; and (i) means for moving the horizontally movable member in a horizontal, vertical, and transverse direction relative to the door.

Claim 7

A device for transferring a person from a wheelchair to a vehicle having a door comprising: a removable seat associated with the wheelchair; an actuator attached to the door of the vehicle; and means for releasably engaging the seat with the actuator; the actuator being movable relative to the door to move the seat into or out of the vehicle, the actuator comprising: (a) a pair of vertically extending, spaced apart tracks affixed to the vehicle door, each track including a bottom wall adjacent the door, a pair of opposed walls integral with and extending vertically from the bottom wall and a pair of opposed outward extending flanges integral with the opposed walls, an upper wall extending between the flanges, a longitudinal opening formed along the upper wall with gear teeth formed along a longitudinal edge thereof defining a rack; (b) a plurality of pads engageable with the outward extending flanges; (c) a pair of vertically movable members associated with each track and including an outer wall spaced from and parallel to the bottom wall, a pair of opposed arcuate side walls integral with the outer wall and curving toward the track and inward to encircle the pads, the vertically movable member being movable along the pads; (d) a pair of transversely movable members disposed parallel to each vertically movable member and vertically movable therewith; (e) an arm interconnecting each transversely movable member and an associated vertically movable member, the arm hinged to the vertically movable member at an upper end and hinged to the transversely movable member at a lower end; (f) a horizontal track extending between and fixedly attached to the transversely movable members, the horizontal track including a horizontal bottom wall supported by the transversely movable members, a pair of upright walls integral with the horizontal bottom wall, a pair of opposed horizontal flanges integral with the upright walls, and an outside wall extending between the flanges with a horizontal opening formed therealong and including gear teeth formed along an edge thereof to define a horizontal rack; (g) a plurality of horizontal pads engageable with the opposed horizontal flanges of the horizontal track; (h) a horizontally movable member slidingly movable along the horizontal track and including a horizontal wall spaced from and parallel to the horizontal bottom wall, a pair of opposed arcuate horizontal end walls integral with the horizontal wall and curving toward the horizontal bottom wall and inward to embrace the horizontal pads, the horizontally movable member being movable along the horizontal pads; and (i) means for moving the horizontally movable member in a horizontal, vertical, and transverse direction relative to the door.