Front Handle Assembly for Cleanable Stair Transport Articulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional patient transport apparatus handles are difficult to engage and articulate, especially in emergency situations, while ensuring accessibility for cleaning and handling, and often lack features to prevent contaminant ingress.
Innovation Solution
A patient transport apparatus with a front handle assembly featuring a pivot bar and selector mechanism, where the pivot bar is pivotably supported within an extension and locked by a grip shell to prevent contaminant ingress, allowing easy transition between collapsed and extended positions for stair transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional handles are used in patient transport apparatus, then the structure is simple, but the handles are difficult to engage and articulate
Solution Approach 1:
The handle assembly incorporates a pivot bar that can rotate about a pivot axis to transition between extended and collapsed positions, enabling dynamic adjustment of handle length. The selector mechanism with button allows dynamic switching between locked and unlocked states, improving ease of operation while maintaining manageable complexity through controlled movement and positioning.
2Ease of operation
If the handle mechanism allows full articulation movement, then ease of operation improves, but accessibility for cleaning and handling deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The handle assembly is segmented into distinct components: extension, pivot bar, selector, and grip shell. The pivot bar is pivotably supported within the extension, allowing it to move independently. The grip shell is separable from the extension, enabling easy removal for cleaning while maintaining the articulation functionality of the pivot bar and selector mechanism.
3Ease of manufacture
If the extension is open for component accessibility, then cleaning accessibility improves, but contaminant ingress increases
Solution Approach 1:
The grip shell acts as a protective enclosure that can be removed for cleaning but provides contaminant ingress protection when attached. The shell defines a window that allows button access while maintaining a sealed environment for the pivot bar and selector mechanism, preventing contaminants from entering the inner chamber while preserving cleaning accessibility through removable design.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
A patient transport apparatus operable by a user for transporting a patient along stairs, the patient transport apparatus including a support structure, a seat section, a track assembly, and a front handle assembly. The front handle assembling including an extension defining an inner chamber, a pivot bar, a selector with a button, and a grip shell. The grip shell defines a window shaped to receive the button of the selector and to prevent ingress of contaminants into the inner chamber of the extension, the grip shell being operatively coupled to the extension to retain the selector and the pivot bar relative to the extension.