Combined ambulance cart and rolling chair

1,056,380. Invalid beds. B. WEIL. Oct. 12, 1965 [Oct. 12, 1964], No. 43265/65. Heading A4J. An articulated framework 91, 31, 34, which is convertible from seat form to rectilinear bed form, is pivtally carried on bearers 23, which are pivotally supported by a wheeled, foldable underframe, held in the erected condition, by diagonal struts 27 having over centre hinges 52. In the bed form, wheels 36 and nylon skids 140 support the device on the floor of an ambulance or other flat surface. On withdrawal from the ambulance, legs 25, 26 hinge downwardly about their pivots 24 and 49 (Fig. 11, not shown) until the parts 50, 51 of struts 27 become aligned (Fig. 10, not shown) to stabilize the erected underframe. The device may thereafter be wheeled, either as a hospital trolley or as a wheel chair and converted from one to the other without removing the occupant therefrom. The conversion is effected by turning handle 104, about its pivots 105, to lift studs 115 out of either notches 120 or 119 and transfer them along slots 116 to the others while the frame 91 is tilted in the appropriate direction about pivots 24. On completion of the conversion to bed form, hooks 111 engage pins 112 to support the weight of the occupant exerted in the area of pivots 90. Parallelogram motion transmission linkages raise frame 34 about pivots 35 and align foot-rest 80 and leg-rest 83 with bearers 23. The seat bottom 31 is simultaneously lifted to the level of bearers 23. Intermediate positions of adjustment can be provided by arranging further notches in slots 116. Back rest 32 is pivotally attached to frame 91 so that it may be inclined thereto by adjusting the effective length of stay 133. Handle 29 operates lever 58 to break struts 27 and initiate re-folding of legs 25, 26. Guards 70 may be swung downwardly, when not required.