# US 10,869,791 B2 · Patient transport apparatus with adjustable handles > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,869,791 B2 - Document ID: US10869791B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/458,974 - Filed: 2019-07-01 - Published: 2019-10-24 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-30 - Assignees: Stryker Corporation - Applicants: Stryker Corporation - Inventors: Nathan Matheny; Michael T. Brubaker; Christopher C. Gentile; Ross T. Lucas - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10869791B2 ## CPC - A61G 1/048: Handles - A61G 1/02: with wheels - A61G 5/10: Parts, details or accessories - A61G 7/05: Parts, details or accessories of beds (devices for prevention against falling out A47C21/08, A47D7/00 {; mattresses A47C27/00}) - A61G: TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS (appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00); OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES (embalming corpses A01N1/00) ## Abstract A patient transport apparatus comprises a support structure. The support structure comprises a base, a frame, and a patient support surface to support a patient. One or more handle assemblies are coupled to the frame to maneuver the patient transport apparatus. The handle assemblies comprise one or more handles to be manipulated by a user. The handles are capable of being adjusted to facilitate maneuvering of the patient transport apparatus, such as pushing/pulling the patient transport apparatus along a floor surface, lifting the patient transport apparatus over obstacles, loading the patient transport apparatus into an emergency vehicle, and/or unloading the patient transport apparatus from the emergency vehicle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A patient transport apparatus for transporting a patient, the patient transport apparatus comprising: a support structure comprising a base, a frame, and a patient support deck comprising a plurality of sections defining a patient support surface to support the patient, said plurality of sections including a back section capable of articulating relative to said frame; wheels coupled to said base to facilitate movement of said support structure; a handle assembly coupled to said frame and comprising a handle to be manipulated by a user and a handle extension, said handle assembly configured to translate relative to said frame from a stowed position to an extended position, wherein said handle is adjacent to said frame in said stowed position and said handle is spaced from said frame by said handle extension in said extended position, and wherein said handle extension is configured to articulate relative to said frame to adjust a height of said handle relative to said frame; and a locking device coupled to said frame to lock said handle assembly to said frame in said stowed position, wherein said locking device comprises a lock housing spaced from said handle in said extended position, said lock housing configured to receive said handle when said handle assembly moves from said extended position to said stowed position to enable said locking device to lock said handle assembly to said frame in said stowed position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The patient transport apparatus of claim 1, wherein said locking device comprises a first locking element coupled to said handle and a second locking element coupled to said frame, said first and second locking elements configured to engage each other to lock said handle assembly in said stowed position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The patient transport apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a release device coupled to one of said handle and said frame, said release device configured to cooperate with said locking device to release said first locking element from said second locking element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The patient transport apparatus of claim 3, wherein said release device comprises a manual actuator configured to be operated by the user to release said first locking element from said second locking element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The patient transport apparatus of claim 2, wherein one of said first and second locking elements comprises a latch and the other of said first and second locking elements comprises a catch for engaging the latch to lock said handle assembly in said stowed position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The patient transport apparatus of claim 2, wherein one of said first and second locking elements comprises a hook for engaging the other of said first and second locking elements to lock said handle assembly in said stowed position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The patient transport apparatus of claim 2, wherein said handle extension is further defined as a first handle extension, and wherein said handle assembly comprises a second handle extension spaced from and parallel to said first handle extension, said handle and said first and second handle extensions coupled together to move in unison relative to said frame. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The patient transport apparatus of claim 7, wherein said first and second locking elements are disposed between said first and second handle extensions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The patient transport apparatus of claim 1, wherein said frame comprises a rail and said handle extension is configured to slide in translation relative to said rail from said stowed position to said extended position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The patient transport apparatus of claim 9, wherein said rail comprises a translation axis along which said handle extension slides from said stowed position to said extended position, wherein said handle extension comprises an extension axis configured to be parallel to said translation axis in said stowed position and configured to be transverse to said translation axis when said handle extension is articulated relative to said frame. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The patient transport apparatus of claim 10, wherein said handle assembly comprises a slide member pivotally connected to said handle extension to form a joint, said slide member configured to slide along said translation axis within said rail from said stowed position to said extended position, said joint being arranged to be disposed within said rail in said stowed position and to extend outside of said rail in said extended position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The patient transport apparatus of claim 1, wherein said frame comprises a head end and a foot end and said handle assembly is arranged nearer said foot end than said head end. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The patient transport apparatus of claim 12, comprising a pair of loading wheels coupled to said frame to assist with loading of the patient transport apparatus into a vehicle, wherein said pair of loading wheels are arranged nearer said head end than said foot end.