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US5161812A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Travel-lift chair

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1991-08-06
•
Granted: 1992-11-10
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Expires: 2011-08-06
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Abstract

Abstract The invention is an improved wheel chair in which the seat may be raised or lowered by a hand powered hydraulic ram mechanical means to levels that match the surface of the chair or bed to which the patient is being transferred. A commode function is also provided. The chair comprises a base having swivel casters and fixed wheels, an upper unit having a seat and backrest and a hydraulic pump, and a seat raising mechanism consisting of four pairs of interconnected levers connected by two cross bars in such a way that when the bars are pushed apart by a hydraulic ram, the separating motion is amplified to give the desired range of chair seat travel height.

Inventors

  • 👤 John L. DeWeese

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 06:58
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61G; A61G5/00; A61G5/10; A61G5/1056; A61G5/1059

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 240 words
A wheel chair for assistance in movement, transport, and care of personal functions of a handicapped person comprising: (1) lower frame means having; front swivel caster wheels, rear fixed wheels, and four upwardly extending tubes, (2) an upper unit comprising: a seat and backrest frame, a seat and backrest affixed to said frame, a commode, slideably mounted under said seat, pump means affixed to said frame, and four downwardly extending tubes affixed to said frame and slideably engageable with said upwardly extending tubes, (3) seat raising means connecting said lower frame means and said upper unit, said seat raising means having ; four pairs of interconnected levers pivotally connected to said lower frame means and said upper unit, cross bars affixed to and separating two pairs of said interconnected levers, a hydraulic ram affixed between said cross bars for exerting pressure in opposing directions and for amplifying the separating motion of said interconnected levers and raising said seat in a vertical direction, a stabilizing mechanism comprising two telescoping tubes connected to said cross bars, parallel to said hydraulic ram and having a link bar connected to said frame means for providing load equalization, a pin releasably secured to one of the telescoping tubes for locking said upper unit in a raised position relative to said lower frame means and (4) tube means connecting said pump means and said hydraulic ram for supplying operating pressure to raise or lower said seat.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 240 words
A wheel chair for assistance in movement, transport, and care of personal functions of a handicapped person comprising: (1) lower frame means having; front swivel caster wheels, rear fixed wheels, and four upwardly extending tubes, (2) an upper unit comprising: a seat and backrest frame, a seat and backrest affixed to said frame, a commode, slideably mounted under said seat, pump means affixed to said frame, and four downwardly extending tubes affixed to said frame and slideably engageable with said upwardly extending tubes, (3) seat raising means connecting said lower frame means and said upper unit, said seat raising means having ; four pairs of interconnected levers pivotally connected to said lower frame means and said upper unit, cross bars affixed to and separating two pairs of said interconnected levers, a hydraulic ram affixed between said cross bars for exerting pressure in opposing directions and for amplifying the separating motion of said interconnected levers and raising said seat in a vertical direction, a stabilizing mechanism comprising two telescoping tubes connected to said cross bars, parallel to said hydraulic ram and having a link bar connected to said frame means for providing load equalization, a pin releasably secured to one of the telescoping tubes for locking said upper unit in a raised position relative to said lower frame means and (4) tube means connecting said pump means and said hydraulic ram for supplying operating pressure to raise or lower said seat.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 31 words
A wheel chair in accordance with claim 1 wherein said wheel means comprises a pair of swivel casters and a pair of fixed wheels each having a manually operated hand brake.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 21 words
A wheel chair in accordance with claim 1 wherein said upper unit comprises, fold-up chair arms, and push handles and grips.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 15 words
A wheel chair in accordance with claim 1 wherein said lower frame comprises foot-leverage extensions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 264 words
A wheel chair for assistance in movement, transport, and care of personal functions of a handicapped person comprising: lower frame means having a pair of swivel casters and a pair of fixed wheels each having a manually operated hand brake, four upwardly extending tubes, and foot lever extensions, an upper unit having; a seat and backrest frame, a padded seat and back rest affixed to said frame, a commode, slideably mounted under said seat, pump means affixed to said frame, four downwardly extending tubes affixed to said frame and slideably engageable with said upwardly extending tubes, fold-up chair arms, and push handles and grips, seat raising means connecting said lower frame means and said upper unit, said seat raising means having; four pairs of interconnected levers pivotally connected to said lower frame means and said upper unit, cross bars affixed to and separating two pairs of said interconnected levers, a hydraulic ram affixed between said cross bars for exerting pressure in opposing directions and for amplifying the separating motion of said cross bars and extending said interconnected levers and raising said seat in a vertical direction, a stabilizing mechanism comprising two telescoping tues connected to said cross bars, parallel to said hydraulic ram and having a link bar connected to said frame means for providing load equalization, a pin releasably secured to one of the telescoping tubes for locking said upper unit in a raised position relative to said lower frame means and flexible hydraulic tubing connecting said pump means and said hydraulic ram for supplying operating pressure to raise or lower said seat.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 264 words
A wheel chair for assistance in movement, transport, and care of personal functions of a handicapped person comprising: lower frame means having a pair of swivel casters and a pair of fixed wheels each having a manually operated hand brake, four upwardly extending tubes, and foot lever extensions, an upper unit having; a seat and backrest frame, a padded seat and back rest affixed to said frame, a commode, slideably mounted under said seat, pump means affixed to said frame, four downwardly extending tubes affixed to said frame and slideably engageable with said upwardly extending tubes, fold-up chair arms, and push handles and grips, seat raising means connecting said lower frame means and said upper unit, said seat raising means having; four pairs of interconnected levers pivotally connected to said lower frame means and said upper unit, cross bars affixed to and separating two pairs of said interconnected levers, a hydraulic ram affixed between said cross bars for exerting pressure in opposing directions and for amplifying the separating motion of said cross bars and extending said interconnected levers and raising said seat in a vertical direction, a stabilizing mechanism comprising two telescoping tues connected to said cross bars, parallel to said hydraulic ram and having a link bar connected to said frame means for providing load equalization, a pin releasably secured to one of the telescoping tubes for locking said upper unit in a raised position relative to said lower frame means and flexible hydraulic tubing connecting said pump means and said hydraulic ram for supplying operating pressure to raise or lower said seat.

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1995-11-10 1996-05-11 1996-11-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-11-10 2000-05-11 2000-11-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-11-10 2004-05-11 2004-11-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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