Railways – Portable elevated
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-30
2003-06-10
Morano, S. Joseph (Department: 3617)
Railways
Portable elevated
C104S093000, C104S118000, C248S354100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06575100
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to support structures. The present invention in particular relates to support structure components which may be used together; these components may, however, also be used alone in the sense that they may be used independently of the other components of the present invention. A support structure comprising a component of the present invention may for example be used in the context of providing a support for a person. The present invention also, for example, relates to an overhead support structure or frame comprising one or more of the components of the present invention. Such an overhead support structure or frame may for example be used in the context of providing a person handling system for lifting and transferring a person from one location to another. The present invention in particular for example relates to a telescopic track as well as a telescopic mast assembly which may for example be exploited in the context of a person (e.g. patient) handling system.
Support structures are known for lifting and transferring loads as well as people; please see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,809,591, 5,694,654, 5,337,908 and 3,000,329; please also see for example International patent application number PCT/CA98/00935 which relates to a winch for such a person handling system and which was published under International Publication number. WO 99/17704 (the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference).
In the following particular attention will be made to the use of the components and a frame in the context of supporting a person and in particular to person lifting and transferring systems by way of example only; the components and frame may of course be used for the purpose of transferring other types of loads and providing other types of support.
There is a continuing need for structures for supporting a person and in particular for a rail or track support structure or frame which can be used to raise, displace and lower a (e.g. incapacitated) person e.g. displace a person between a bed or chair and a bath area etc.; such support structures may be needed in many environments such as in private homes, hospitals, rehabilitation centres, group homes for the aged, etc.
Known mast or pole structures used with overhead rails or tracks for forming support structures or frames may have their longitudinal lengths adjusted by relying on pairs of lock holes and lock pins (see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,000,329 and 2,630,076). These adjustment mechanisms are also relatively cumbersome to use. See also U.S. Pat. No. 2,630,076.
Other known overhead track mechanisms or systems are either directly bolted or otherwise fixed to the ceiling of a room or are maintained in place by mast or support rod assemblies which are relatively complex structures to set in place. These structures are intended to be more or less permanent fixtures i.e. the structures are usually not intended to be knocked down once set in place.
Known mast structures for use alone or for support frames are also deficient in that if the longitudinal pressure (i.e. between the floor and ceiling) is too low, the post or mast may not provide sufficient support and may collapse when being used resulting in injury to a person using such structure.
It is, however, for example, known to provide a support post having an upper end for abutment against a ceiling (or other object) and a lower end for abutment against to a floor (or other object); see U.S. Pat. No, 5,056,753. In this known mast structure, the length of the post or mast may be adjustable such that it may be longitudinally extended, thereby causing the upper and lower ends to abut firmly against the ceiling and floor, respectively, and to accommodate different room heights. However the type of mast structure shown cannot be easily set up or broken down in relatively quick order; this would be especially so in relation to a rail or track support structure or frame which comprises an overhead track or rail component.
It would be advantageous to have a track (or rail) component and/or a mast assembly which may be relatively easily built up and knocked down and which components can be readily length adjusted to accommodate the area of use. It in particular would be advantageous to have a track or rail the length of which may be adjusted during installation of a track or rail support system. It would also be advantageous to have a rail or track support system which could be easily transferred from one location to another location as the need arises. It would further be advantageous to have a rail or track support structure which has a rail or track supported by masts or post which provide the necessary lateral support during use by an individual.
STATEMENT OF INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect the present invention provides a telescopic track, said track comprising an inner section and an outer section, said outer section having an exterior side and an interior side, said inner section being disposed on the interior side of said outer section so as to be telescopically displaceable in and out of said outer section said outer and inner sections defining a travel channel for a trolley means comprising a trolley connector projection, said outer section having a longitudinally extending first opening through which may extend said trolley connector projection, the first opening of the outer section being defined by opposed inwardly extending slot projections extending into the interior side of the outer section, each of the slot projections terminating in a respective first interior support surface, said inner section having a longitudinally extending second opening through which may extend said trolley connector projection, the inner section having interior surface portions bordering the second opening on opposite sides thereof defining respective second interior support surfaces, the slot projections being adapted (or configured) to register within the second opening such that the first and second interior support surfaces are in an essentially common plane and define a travel support surface for the trolley component.
In accordance with the present invention a telescopic track may comprise a plurality of the inner sections coupled together by a plurality of the outer sections. In accordance with the present invention a telescopic track may comprise two of the inner sections coupled together by an outer section. In accordance with the present invention a travel channel may be a tubular travel channel, i.e. have a tunnel like aspect. Alternatively a travel channel may have a U-shaped cross section, i.e. be open from above. A telescopic track, may for example be used as part of a person support system comprising an overhead track; a telescopic track may be supported by a system of masts of known type or for example a system of masts as described herein. Alternatively, instead of using one or more masts, a track may be supported in any other suitable fashion; e.g. a track having a pair of opposed longitudinal slots as described herein may be supported by T-shaped hangers extending downwardly from a ceiling, the head of the T thereof being engaged in the travel channel with the root thereof extending out of the longitudinal slot to the ceiling to which it is attached.
In accordance with another aspect the present invention provides a telescopic mast assembly, said telescopic mast assembly having a longitudinal axis and comprising an outer section having an interior side and an exterior side,
an inner section, said inner section being disposed on the interior side of said outer section so as to be telescopically displaceable in and out of said outer section along said longitudinal axis, and
a releasable snap lock component comprising bias means, a lock projection, a plurality of longitudinally spaced first lock openings defined by one of said inner and outer sections and a second lock opening defined by the other section,
said outer section, said inner section, said bias means, said lock projection and said second opening being configured such
Corriveau Michel
Faucher Martin
Moliner Michael
BHM Medical Inc.
Brouillette Robert
Kosie Ronald S.
Morano S. Joseph
Olson Lars A.
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