Beds – With means for relocating an invalid – Hoistline attachable load supporting frame and sling or...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-07
2001-02-13
Melius, Terry Lee (Department: 3628)
Beds
With means for relocating an invalid
Hoistline attachable load supporting frame and sling or...
C005S08110C, C005S083100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06185761
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to apparatus for raising a person, particularly from a lying position.
At present there are severe difficulties in dealing with people who fall either in public areas or in private areas, in particular people who are prone to fall such as the elderly and disabled. Raising people from the ground when in a partly or greatly incapacitated state simply by human force is strenuous and can be damaging to the person doing the lifting, especially when this is a frequent task.
Devices are known for raising people, which primarily involve hoists and slings. As well as being uncomfortable and degrading to the fallen person, they are not commonly available due to their bulk and cost. Their lack of availability can also cause problems such as pressure sores which can arise within half an hour if a person is lying awkwardly on a hard surface.
The present invention seeks to provide an improved raising system for raising a person from a lying position.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for raising a person lying on the ground as specified in claim
1
.
In its simplest form, the apparatus can be a moulded plastics member of very simple form and therefore relatively cheap. The shape and structure of the apparatus is such that a person lying on the ground can be simply moved from a side-lying position to a back-lying position and then raised naturally to, for example, a sitting position. No straps or hoists are required in the preferred embodiment, thereby substantially reducing any degrading feeling.
Preferably, the apparatus includes a curved outer surface between the back rest and seat portion, enabling the apparatus to be tilted from the first position to the second position. Thus, the person can be simply raised from the back-lying position into a sitting position. In the preferred embodiment, the back rest is extended also to provide a support for the person's head and, in the preferred embodiment, to provide means by which a helper can raise the back rest to the upright position. It will be apparent that the centre of gravity of the person is not moved substantially and that a significant lever action is provided to reduce the lifting force required, thereby considerably reducing the effort need to be exerted by the helper.
Preferably, side supports are provided both on the back rest and seat positions. The side supports can ensure that the person can easily be tilted from a side-lying position to a back-lying position. Side supports on the seat portion of the apparatus allow the person's legs to be raised on tilting of the back rest to the first position.
Side supports are preferably provided on both sides of the back rest and/or seat portion, thereby enabling the apparatus to be used for a person lying on his/her left side or right side, without having to rotate the person to one or other of his/her left or right sides, as would be necessary with apparatus having side supports only on one side thereof.
In an embodiment, there is provided lifting means for lifting the back rest from the first position to the upright position. The lifting means could provide the entire lifting force required for raising the person or could provide an assisting force for reducing the lifting force required to be exerted by a helper.
When lifting means are provided, the back rest and seat portion are preferably in the form of a unitary member, the apparatus including a base pivotally coupled to the unitary member, a lifting means being disposed to act between the unitary member and the base.
The lifting means may be hydraulic, mechanical, electrical or of any other suitable form. The lifting means can include one or more fluid pressure struts or an inflatable bag.
There is preferably provided control means for controlling the amount of lift produced by the lifting means.
Means for locking the unitary member in the second position may be provided. The advantage of this is that the lifting means and/or helper need not exert any further lifting force on actuation of the locking means. The unitary member is preferably lockable into a plurality of upright positions, in dependence upon need and wishes of the user.
In a preferred embodiment, the seat portion is raised above ground level when the back rest is in the second position. This is preferably at a similar height to a wheelchair, such that the person can be slid directly onto a wheelchair or other chair without any further lifting of the person.
Preferably, at least one of the side supports is removable, thereby enabling the person to be slid sideways from the apparatus to a wheelchair or other chair.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for moving a person as specified in claim
10
.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1975689 (1934-10-01), Hall
patent: 2362721 (1944-11-01), Reynolds
patent: 3883176 (1975-05-01), Morton
patent: 4564240 (1986-01-01), Thieme
patent: 4852945 (1989-08-01), Rowles et al.
patent: 4977630 (1990-12-01), Oswalt et al.
Chapman Christopher
Sandbach David Lee
Cane & Able Limited
Conley Fredrick
Kwok Edward C.
Melius Terry Lee
Skjerven Morrill & MacPherson LLP
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