Beds – With means for relocating an invalid – Rotatable platform type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-13
2001-08-21
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)
Beds
With means for relocating an invalid
Rotatable platform type
C005S08110T
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276006
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to slings for lifting people, and more particularly relates to portable hand-operated slings and methods of using the same.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the past years, persons with disabilities have often struggled considerably when they travel, especially via commercial air transport airlines. Typically, a passenger with a disability is moved from their own wheelchair to an “aisle chair”, which is a specially designed wheelchair to be used in the narrow aisles of an airliner. The passenger is then wheeled to the appropriate row of seats in the aircraft. At this point, the flight attendants, or others on the aircraft, will typically assist in moving the passenger to the assigned seat. This is typically accomplished by having one or more persons grab a leg or legs of the passenger while another lifts under the arms. While this approach has been successfully used countless times to move passengers, it does have several drawbacks.
First of all, the process usually requires physical touching of the passenger's thighs, knees and underarms. To the passenger, this can be an unpleasant and intrusive procedure. Similarly, it often creates anxiety in the flight attendants, who normally are reluctant to physically touch the thighs and underarms of their passengers. These techniques are especially problematic when the passenger has very weak muscles in the thighs, upper arm and shoulder area, as is often the case with polio survivors.
This process is repeated each time the passenger is moved to and from the assigned seat, such as when loading and unloading the aircraft, as well as when the passenger needs to use the restroom on the aircraft.
Consequently, there exists a need for improved systems and methods of moving a passenger with a disability to and from a seated position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a hand-operated portable sling system.
It is a feature of the present invention to include a thin light-weight sling in combination with a plurality of handles and/or buckles.
It is an advantage of the present invention to eliminate the need for physically touching the thighs and underarms of the passenger.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an in-flight system for moving a passenger about the cabin, without the need for a full aisle wheelchair.
It is a feature of the present invention to use a handled sling to move the passenger to the on-board restroom.
It is another advantage of the present invention to dramatically reduce the weight of on-board equipment for moving passengers about the cabin.
The present invention is an apparatus and method for transporting a passenger from a first seated position in an aircraft to a second seated position in the aircraft, which is designed to satisfy the aforementioned needs, produce the previously stated objects, include the above-listed features, and achieve the already articulated advantages.
Accordingly, the present invention is a portable hand-operated sling and method of use of the same for lifting a passenger from one seated position to another in an aircraft.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1035642 (1912-08-01), Rosse
patent: 4553633 (1985-11-01), Armstrong et al.
patent: 4580372 (1986-04-01), Osborn
patent: 4723327 (1988-02-01), Smith
patent: 4981307 (1991-01-01), Walsh
patent: 5297834 (1994-03-01), Vanarnem
patent: 5388551 (1995-02-01), Martusciello
patent: 5579546 (1996-12-01), Griskauskas
patent: 6122778 (2000-09-01), Cohen
patent: 6154899 (2000-12-01), Brooke et al.
Best Christian M.
Jordan Charles T.
Simmons Perrine Albright & Ellwood PLC
LandOfFree
Sling for transporting a person into a chair and method of... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Sling for transporting a person into a chair and method of..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Sling for transporting a person into a chair and method of... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2493125