Motorized lifting and transfer chair

A motorized lifting and transfer chair comprising:

• a base having a front portion and an opposing rear portion, wherein the rear portion having a pair of foot rests;
• a plurality of wheels mounted to the base configured to be selectively locked;
• a pair of vertical pivot posts positioned toward the rear portion of the base and extending upward therefrom;
• a seating platform comprising two portions respectively pivotably coupled to the pair of vertical pivot posts, the two portions being configured to swing open and closed about the vertical pivot posts and defining a central aperture between opposing inner edges of the two portions;
• armrests disposed on opposite sides of the seating platform;
• a motorized device that raises and lowers the seating platform;
• an upper crossbeam extending between the pair of pivot posts, the upper crossbeam positioned approximately at the same height as the armrests and configured to move vertically in unison with the armrests and the seating platform;
• a push bar positioned above the upper crossbeam at the rear portion of the base for pushing and maneuvering the chair by an operator while face to face with a patient seated in the chair;
• and
• a latch configured to secure the two portions of the seating platform closed;
• wherein the chair is configured to be pushed using the push bar to allow the chair to be rolled forward over a toilet or bed while the patient remains seated.

A method of using a motorized lifting and transfer chair comprising a base having a front portion and an opposing rear portion, a pair of vertical pivot posts positioned toward the rear portion of the base and extending upward therefrom, a seating platform having two separate portions pivotably coupled to the pair of vertical pivot posts and configured to swing open and closed about the vertical pivot posts, armrests disposed on opposite sides of the seating platform, and a motorized device positioned between the pair of pivot posts and configured to move vertically to raise and lower the seating platform, the method comprising:

• swinging open the seating platform to separate the two portions of the seating platform to load a patient;
• loading the patient on to the seating platform;
• swinging closed the two portions of the seating platform after the patient is loaded thereon in a sitting position;
• raising the seating platform along with the patient using the motorized device;
• pushing the chair forward using a push bar positioned above an upper crossbeam at the rear portion of the base;
• rolling the motorized lifting and transfer chair to a desired location by an operator while face to face with the patient seated in the chair;
• and
• lowering the seating platform along with the patient to a desired height;
• wherein the chair is configured to be rolled forward over a toilet or bed while the patient remains seated.