Stryker Corporation
Person support apparatus with shear-reducing pivot assembly

Abstract:

A person support apparatus includes a support surface for supporting a person thereon. The support surface includes at least a seat and a backrest coupled together by a pivot assembly. In some embodiments, the pivot assembly includes a backrest slide bar mounted to the backrest and a seat slide bar mounted to the seat. The backrest and seat slide along their respective slide bars when the backrest pivots. A seat link is coupled to the seat and backrest slide bar, and a backrest link is coupled to the backrest and seat slide bar. The slide bars are coupled at their ends to each other. The pivot assembly creates a virtual pivot axis that, as the backrest pivots from an upright position to a reclined position, moves backward and upwardly. Elongate openings may be defined in the slide bars to support the slide bars on the seat and backrest, respectively.