Transport chair arranged for storage in passenger aircraft carry-on luggage

Abstract

A transport chair of this disclosure includes a frame having a pair of fixed sides and hinged sides, the frame moveable between stowed and deployed states. The frame includes wheel receiving means and armrest and push handle assemblies receiving means with quick connect-disconnect clamps or pins. A bar, which is connectable to, and detachable from, each hinge extends between the pair of hinged sides. When connected to the hinged sides, the bar locks the frame in the deployed state and prevents the frame from moving to the stowed state. The chair may be quickly assembled and then dissembled for storage without the need for tools. When dissembled, the transport chair fits within an within an envelope 9 inches deep×14 inches wide×22 inches long.

Claims

1. A transport chair comprising: a frame moveable between a stowed state and a deployed state and including: a first fixed side and a second fixed side, each fixed side arranged opposite one another and defining a first dimension of the frame, the first dimension being a same size when the frame is in the stowed state and the deployed state; a first hinged side and a second hinged side, each hinged side arranged opposite one another, pivotally mounted to a corresponding one of the fixed sides, and defining a second dimension of the frame, the second dimension being a different size when the frame is in the stowed state than when it is in the deployed state; wheel receiving means located at a lowest end of the frame; and armrest and push handle assemblies receiving means located at a highest end of the frame; the first and second hinge sides of the frame each including: a pair of cross-members; and a hinge located between the pair of cross-members, each hinge arranged such that its corresponding cross-members fold inwardly relative to the frame; the cross-members of the first hinged side being inverted relative to the cross members of the second hinged side and arranged such that when the frame is in the stowed state, a portion of the first hinged side overlaps a corresponding portion of the second hinged side; the transport chair further including: a bar extending between the first and second hinged sides and connectable to, and detachable from, each hinge; the bar having a first end at a first elevation and a second end at a second elevation different than that of the first elevation; wherein, the bar when connected to the first and second hinged sides locks the frame in the deployed state and prevents the frame from moving to the stowed state.

2. The transport chair of claim 1, wherein, the hinges and the first and second ends of the bar include connecting means corresponding to one another; the connecting means at the first end of the bar being arranged orthogonal to those at the second end, the connecting means of each hinge having a same orientation as that of an opposing first or second end of the bar.

3. The transport chair of claim 2, wherein, the connecting means include a pin and a pin receiver.

4. The transport chair of claim 1, further comprising, each cross-member being a truss-shaped member.

5. The transport chair of claim 4, wherein, each cross-member includes at least one diagonally oriented support within its perimeter.

6. The transport chair of claim 4, further comprising, each cross member including at least one horizontally oriented support within its perimeter.

7. The transport chair of claim 1, further comprising, each cross member being L-shaped.

8. The transport chair of claim 7, wherein, a shorter leg of the L-shape being vertical, a longer leg of the L-shape being oblique relative to horizontal.

9. The transport chair of claim 1, further comprising: each fixed side including an upper rail and a lower rail; wherein a third dimension of the frame being defined at least partly by a spacing between the upper and lower rails, the spacing remaining a same size when the frame is the stowed state and the deployed state.

10. The transport chair of claim 9, wherein, a total height of the first and second hinged sides is less than the spacing between corresponding ones of the upper and lower rails.

11. The transport chair of claim 1, wherein, the first dimension is a front-to-back depth of the frame and the second dimension is a side-to-side width of the frame.

12. The transport chair of claim 1, further comprising: an armrest assembly including a horizontal member having a slot with an open bottom located toward one end of the horizontal member; and a push handle assembly including a vertical member having a T-shaped connector sized for insertion to the slot; wherein the armrest assembly is moveable between a connected state, in which the T-shaped connector resides within the slot, and an unconnected state, in which the T-shaped connector does not reside within the slot.

13. The transport chair of claim 12, further comprising: a seat back panel connectable to the vertical member of the push handle assembly.

14. The transport chair of claim 12, further comprising: the vertical member of the push handle assembly including a push handle.

15. The transport chair of claim 1, further comprising, the armrest and push handle assemblies receiving means includes a quick release clamp.

16. The transport chair of claim 1, further comprising, a pair of front wheels, the wheel receiving means for the front wheels includes a quick release clamp.

17. The transport chair of claim 1, further comprising, a pair of rear wheels, the wheel receiving means for the rear wheels includes a spring-loaded pin.

18. The transport chair of claim 1, wherein, when in the stowed state, the frame fits within an envelope 9 inches deep×14 inches wide×22 inches long.

19. The transport chair of claim 1, wherein, when in a stowed state, the transport chair fits within an envelope 9 inches deep×14 inches wide×22 inches long.

20. The transport chair of claim 19, wherein, a total weight of the transport chair is no greater than 15 pounds.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of an assembled chair according to the present disclosure, the opposite side being a mirror image thereof, a locking bar connecting the hinged sides of the frame and preventing their collapse;

(2) FIG. 2a is view of the frame taken along section line 2-2 of FIG. 1, the seat and back panels, arms, and wheels being removed to reveal the frame structure;

(3) FIG. 2b is a view of the frame of FIG. 2a with the locking bar being removed.

(4) FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the frame as it transitions from its unfolded (fully deployed) to folded (collapsed, fully stowed) state.

(5) FIG. 4 is another top plan view of the frame as it continues its transition between the unfolded and folded states.

(6) FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the frame in its folded state.

(7) FIG. 6 is a view taken along section line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

(8) FIG. 7 is view of the frame taken along section line 7-7 of FIG. 1.

(9) FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the front, swiveling, wheels of FIG. 1.

(10) FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the wheel receiving means for the front wheels.

(11) FIG. 10 is a side elevation rear, fixed, wheels of FIG. 1.

(12) FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the wheel receiving for the rear wheels.

(13) FIG. 12 is a cross-section view of the wheel receiving means of FIG. 9.

(14) FIG. 13 is a view taken along section line 13-13 of FIG. 12.

(15) FIG. 14 is a cross-section view of the wheel receiving means of FIG. 11.

(16) FIG. 15 is a view taken along section line 15-15 of FIG. 14.

(17) FIG. 16 is an enlarged view of section 16 of FIG. 1.

(18) FIG. 17 is an exploded assembly view of FIG. 16.

(19) FIG. 18 is a view taken along section line 18-18 of FIG. 17.

(20) FIG. 19 is a view taken along section line 19-19 of FIG. 17.

(21) FIG. 20 is a view taken along section line 20-20 of FIG. 17.

(22) FIG. 21 is a front elevation view of the locking bar of FIG. 1.

(23) FIG. 22 is a view taken along section line 22-22 of FIG. 21.

(24) FIG. 23 is a view taken along section line 23-23 of FIG. 21.

(25) FIG. 24 is a top plan view of the locking bar of FIG. 21.

(26) FIG. 25 is a bottom plan view of the locking bar of FIG. 21.

ELEMENTS AND NUMBERING USED IN THE DRAWINGS AND DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(27) 10 Transport chair 20 Frame 21 Lowest end 23 Seat panel 25 Fixed side 27 Vertical support member 29 Horizontal rail 35 Hinged side 37 Uppermost end 39 Lowermost end 41 Highest end 43 Hinge 45 Connecting means 47 Pin 50 Cross-member 51 Support 53 First end 55 Second end 57 Portion 61 Shorter leg 63 Longer leg 67 Spaces 69 Perimeter 70 Bar 71 First end 73 Second end 75 Connecting means 77 Pin receiver 79 Step 80 Armrest assembly 81 Horizontal member 83 Forwardmost end 85 Rearmost end 87 Slot 89 Open bottom 91 Vertical support member 93 Uppermost end 95 Lowermost end 97 T-shaped connector 100 Push handle assembly 101 Vertical support member 103 Uppermost (highest) end 105 Lowermost (lowest) end 107 Push handle 110 Wheel receiving means 111 Spring-loaded pin 120 Armrest and push handle assemblies receiving means 121 Quick release clamp 130 Wheel assembly 131 Front wheels 133 Rear wheels D1 First dimension (depth) D2 Second dimension (width) D3 Third dimension (height) H Overall height of frame

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(28) Referring first to FIGS. 1-7, embodiments of a transport chair 10 of this disclosure include a frame 20 that is moveable between a stowed state and a deployed state, the armrest assembly 80, push handle assembly 100, and wheel assembly 130 connectable to, and detachable from the frame. Wheel receiving means 110 are located at a lowest end 21 of the frame 20 and armrest and push handle assemblies receiving means 120 are located at a highest end 41 of the frame 20. The wheel receiving means 110 may include a quick release clamp 121 to temporarily secure the front (swivel) wheels 131 and a spring-loaded pin 111 to temporarily secure the rear (fixed) wheels 133 to the frame 20. See e.g. FIGS. 8 to 15. In embodiments, the rear wheels 133 may be larger wheels than those of the front wheels 131 and, if so, the rear wheel receiving means 110 would be located higher than those of the front wheels 131 and mounted transverse to the frame 20.

(29) During assembly and disassembly of the chair 10, front and rear wheels 131, 133 and the armrest and push handle assemblies 80, 100 are inserted into their corresponding receiving means 110, 120. The armrest assembly 80 is connectable to, and detachable from, the push handle assembly 100. A seat back panel (not shown) may be attached to the push handle assembly 100. The seat back panel may be the same or similar to that disclosed in US 2018/0168898 A1. A seat panel 23 may be attached to the frame 20.

(30) The frame 20 includes a pair of fixed sides 25 (first and second fixed sides) arranged opposite one another. A vertical support member 27 is located at each end 53, 55 of the fixed side 25 and a pair of spaced-apart, horizontal rails 29 extends between the vertical support members 27. The ends 21, 41 of the vertical support member 27 may extend past a corresponding one of the rails 29, making the height of the vertical support member 27 the overall height of the frame 20. The lowest end 21 of the vertical support member 27 serves as, or accommodates, the wheel receiving means 110 for the wheels 131, 133 and the highest end 41 serves as, or accommodates, the armrest and push handle assemblies receiving means 120. The uppermost rail 29 supports the seat panel. spaced from one another and connected to the supports 27.

(31) The fixed sides 25 define a first dimension “D1” of the frame 20. This first dimension D1 may be a front-to-back depth of the frame 10, assuming the fixed sides 25 are arranged as the left and right sides of the transport chair 10. Because this first dimension D1 is defined by the fixed sides 25, it remains a same size whether the frame 20 is in the stowed state or the deployed state. Another dimension “D3” of the frame 10 is defined at least partly by a spacing “S” between the pair of rails 29, the spacing remaining a same size when the frame 20 is the stowed state and the deployed state. This dimension D3 may be the overall height of the frame 20.

(32) In addition to the fixed sides 25, the frame 20 includes a pair of hinged sides 35 (first hinged side and second hinged side) arranged opposite one another and pivotally mounted at their upper and lower ends 37, 39 to a corresponding rail 29 of the fixed sides 25. The hinged sides 35 define a second dimension “D2” of the frame 20. This second dimension D2 may be a side-to-side width of the frame 20, assuming the hinged sides 35 are arranged as the front and back sides of the frame 20. Because this second dimension D2 is defined by the hinged sides 35, it is a different size when the frame 20 is in the stowed state than when it is in the deployed state, D2 being less in size when stowed than when deployed. When in the stowed state, each hinged side 35 fits within the spacing S between a corresponding rails 29. In other words, a total or overall height “H” of the hinged sides 35 is less than the spacing S.

(33) In embodiments, the hinged sides 35 each include a pair of cross-members 50 and a hinge 43 located between the pair of cross-members 50. Each hinge 43 is arranged such that its corresponding cross-members 50 fold inwardly relative to the frame 20. Because the cross-members 50 of one hinged side 35 are inverted relative to the cross-members 50 of the other hinged side 35, when the frame 20 is in the stowed state, a portion 57 of the cross-members 50, and therefore the hinged sides 35, overlap one another.

(34) To prevent the hinged sides 35 from folding or collapsing during use, a bar 70 extends between the hinged sides 35 when the frame 20 is in its deployed state. In embodiments, the bar 70 is connectable to, and detachable from, each hinge 43. Because the cross-members 50 of each hinge side 35 are inverted relative to the other, the bar 70 has a first end 71 at a first elevation and a second end 73 at a second elevation different than that of the first elevation, there being a step, jog, or rise 79 between the two ends 71, 73. See e.g. FIGS. 21-25. In embodiments, the bar 70 may be L-shaped in cross-section.

(35) The hinges 43 and the first and second ends 71, 73 of the bar 70 include connecting means 45, 75 corresponding to one another. The connecting means 75 at the first end 71 of the bar 70 is arranged orthogonal to those at the second end 73 and the corresponding connecting means 45 of the hinge 43 has a same orientation as that of an opposing first or second end 71, 73 of the bar 70. In embodiments, the connecting means 45, 75 may be a pin 47 and a pin receiver 77. The bar 70 is sized to prevent the connecting means 45, 75 from disconnecting during use of the chair 10, and the hinge 43 prevents outward movement of the cross-members 50.

(36) Each cross-member 50 may be a truss-shaped member, having supports 51 arranged at predetermined angles to another and forming spaces or voids 67 between the supports 51 (which also helps to reduce the weight of the frame 20). The truss-shape may include at least one diagonally oriented support 51 within a perimeter 69 of the cross-member 50 and may also include at least one horizontally or vertically oriented support 51 within its perimeter 69. In embodiments, the cross member 50 may be generally L-shaped, with a shorter leg 61 of the L-shape being generally vertical, the longer leg 63 of the L-shape being arranged at an oblique angle relative to horizontal.

(37) The transport chair 10 may include an armrest assembly 80 including a horizontal member 81 and a vertical support member 91, 101 at or toward each forwardmost and rearward-most end 83, 85 of the horizontal member 81. See e.g., FIGS. 16-20. In embodiments, the horizontal member 81, which may be padded, has a slot 87 with an open bottom 89 located toward the rearward-most end 85. The slot 87 is sized to receive a T-shaped connector 97 located toward a lowermost end 95 of a vertical support member 91. The vertical member 101 forms part of a push handle assembly 100 that includes push handles 107 toward its uppermost end 103. This vertical support member 101, as well as vertical member 91 of the armrest assembly 80, are sized for insertion at their lowest ends 95, 105 into the armrest and push handle assemblies receiving means 120 of the frame 20. A quick release clamp 121 may be used to temporarily secure the members 91, 101 to the frame 20. The armrest assembly 80 is moveable between a connected state to the push handle assembly 100, in which the T-shaped connector 97 resides within the slot 87, and an unconnected state, in which the T-shaped connector 97 does not reside within the slot 87.

(38) While embodiments of a transport chair of this disclosure have been described in detail, those of ordinary skill can devise variations of the chair without departing from the scope of the following claims, the recited elements of which being entitled to their full range of equivalents.