Abstract:
A wheelchair includes a base with horizontal portions and a portion that extends between the horizontal portions to define an open. An occupant support structure is carried by the base and rotates with respect to the base. In addition, the occupant support structure has seat, back and leg portions that are movable between sitting and reclining positions.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/674,094, filed Nov. 11, 2012, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61/558,729, filed Nov. 11, 2011, which are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The instant invention relates to the field of mechanical lifting devices, and in particular to a device, system and method for transferring person from a substantially horizontal position to an at least partially vertical position or vice versa. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Elder care, deinstitutionalized living, and independent living for the handicapped are all thriving industries in the United States and across the world. Unfortunately, as humans age or become infirm, mobility and ambulation becomes increasingly difficult, and the ability to take care of oneself often likewise fades. Nevertheless, a great many elderly persons are capable of taking care of themselves, but may on occasion, require assistance. This is similarly true of many disabled or infirmed persons, or persons in need of physical therapy, and the like. 
         [0004]    For example, many products are provided to assist the elderly, disabled, or infirmed (also referred to collectively herein as “elderly”) in their own private residences, or in independent living, assisted care or nursing home environments. As these terms are used herein, a private home or residential environment is defined to include a person&#39;s private residence; an independent living environment is defined to include a living environment dedicated to elderly persons capable of living, for the most part, on their own; an assisted living environment is defined to include an environment in which the elderly are capable of living at least partially on their own, but may occasionally, or frequently, require assistance; and a nursing care environment is defined to include an environment in which an elderly person is no longer capable of living on his or her own. Further, an assisted living environment might include an in- or out-patient rehab facility, a hospital, or the like. 
         [0005]    The aforementioned assistive products provided to assist in these types of environments may include, by way of non-limiting example, products that can help an elderly person at least partially support his or her weight, and/or that can assist an elderly person in calling for assistance when needed. By way of non-limiting example, such products may include: an emergency bracelet, necklace, or the like capable of dialing 911 on behalf of the elderly person; bathing and/or body cleaning equipment, such as handholds, bath lifts, shower seats, hand-held reaching devices, supports, and foot drying assistance; and assistive measures for use of the toilet, and the like. Assistive products, such as those that assist to transfer or otherwise move the elderly, that are typically more available to those elderly persons requiring greater amounts of assistance may include a crane-type lift, such as for patient lifting and water therapy, a bath lift, a toilet assist, a bedside lift, a mobility device such as a scooter, wheelchair, or the like, or a human care-giver. 
         [0006]    However, none of these products or prior-art embodiments is capable of assisting an elderly person with one of the most frequent occurrences in elder care or self care—namely, assisting an elderly person who has fallen or is otherwise placed on the floor, and is unable to lift his or her own weight to get back off the floor. Although very frequently in such situations the elderly person on the floor is uninjured, nevertheless, a call to 911 is typically placed. This may be for example, because the elderly person is unable to reach a chair to support his or her weight in a private residence; an elderly person in an independent living situation is not to be assisted off the floor by resident personnel; or there is risk of injury to resident personnel in an assisted care or nursing environment, for example. Consequently, the uninjured elderly person on the floor is often subject to arrival of emergency medical personnel, embarrassment, or worse yet, time spent alone on the floor due to a lack of desire or ability to call 911, during such occurrences. Needless to say, such solutions, or the lack of solutions, increase not only the expense and time to solve the elderly person&#39;s placement on the floor, but additionally unnecessarily increase the stress level of the subject elderly person. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that increased stress, in and of itself, can have an adverse effect on the general health of an elderly person. Thus, much appreciation must target minimizing risk to caregivers and/or assistants, whether in an in-home or an institutional environment. 
         [0007]    Therefore, the need exists for a device that operates at floor level, that is accessible to an elderly person and/or a caregiver, and that is capable of transferring and/or lifting a non-critically injured elderly or disabled person off the floor to at least a seated position or vice versa. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention is and includes a device, system and method for assisting an elderly, disabled, or infirm person to rise from a lying or substantially lying position, at or near floor level, to at least a sitting position without lifting assistance from another person. In particularly preferred embodiments, the device may be, at its lowest or substantially most compressed position, low enough to be accessible to a person lying at or near floor level who may have very limited mobility due to age, a disability, or an infirmity. The device may additionally provide a secondary mode, and/or an optional aspect of the device, for moving the person once in the seated position to a standing position using the device. 
         [0009]    By way of non-limiting example, the device, system and method for raising a user from a substantially horizontal, substantially floor level position to at least a seated position may include a substantially stable base having a profile in the range of less than 6 inches above floor level and an upper frame having at least a portion thereof movably mounted atop said base, and having a compressed profile in the range of less than 9 inches above the floor level. The present invention may further include at least one actuator capable of raising, solely responsive to actuation by said actuator, at least the lowermost portion and the backrest portion to positions substantially perpendicular to a length of the base. Further, the upper frame may include a lower most portion capable of accommodating an area of legs of the user, a seat portion capable of at least partially accommodating a bottom of the user, and rotatably associated across at least a portion of a length of the seat portion with an adjacent length of the lowermost portion, and a backrest portion capable of at least partially accommodating a back of the user, and rotatably associated across at least a portion of a length of the backrest portion with an adjacent length of the lowermost portion laterally opposite the lower most portion. 
         [0010]    Thus, the present invention provides a device, system and method that operates at/or about at floor level, that is accessible to an elderly person with or without the aid of a caregiver, and that is capable of lifting/transferring/repositioning a non-critically injured elderly or disabled person off the floor to at least a seated position. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
         [0011]    Understanding of the present invention will be facilitated by consideration of the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts and in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1A  is an exemplary illustration of a mechanically actuatable raising device in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 1B  is an exemplary illustration of a mechanically actuatable raising device in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a mechanically actuatable raising device in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a mechanically actuatable raising device in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a schematic illustration of aspects of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 5A ,  5 B, and  5 C are schematic illustrations of aspects of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIGS. 6A ,  6 B,  6 C and  6 D are schematic illustrations of aspects of the present invention; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method of raising a person from floor level in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0020]    It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the present invention have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present invention, while eliminating, for the purpose of clarity, many other elements found in typical mechanical lifting devices, systems and methods. Those of ordinary skill in the art will thus recognize that other elements and/or steps are desirable and/or required in implementing the present invention. However, because such elements and steps are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present invention, a discussion of such elements and steps is not provided herein. The disclosure herein is directed to all such variations and modifications to such elements and methods known to those skilled in the art. Furthermore, the embodiments identified and illustrated herein are for exemplary purposes only, and are not meant to be exclusive or limited in their description of the present invention. 
         [0021]    The present invention is and includes a device capable of assisting an elderly, disabled, or infirm person (hereinafter “elderly person”) to rise from a lying or substantially lying position, at or near floor level, to at least a sitting position without lifting assistance, or with only minimal assistance, from another person. In particularly preferred embodiments, the device may be, at its lowest or substantially most compressed position, low enough to be accessible to a person lying at or near floor level who may have very limited mobility due to age, a disability, or an infirmity. The device may be self-powered and/or supplied with power sufficient to allow the device to expand, rise or otherwise decompress in order to lift a quantity of weight equivalent to at least an average person were that person to lie on the device. The device may preferably rise to at least the level of a chair, so as to assist the lying person in reaching at least a sitting position. The device may additionally provide a secondary mode, and/or an optional aspect of the device, for moving/assisting/repositioning/transferring the person once in the seated position to a standing position using the device. 
         [0022]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , an exemplary embodiment of the device  10  may include a substantially stable base  12 , a convertible upper frame  14 , and at least one lift mechanism/actuator  16  for actuating the upper frame atop the base. At the low or compressed position ( FIG. 1A  illustrates an early stage decompressed position, and  FIG. 1B  illustrates a later stage decompressed position), the  10  device is preferably flat enough and low enough to allow a disabled person lying at the floor level to roll onto the device. In a preferred embodiment, the device may include a controller  20 , such that when the person rolls onto the device and is faced upward, the person can actuate controller  20  to cause the actuation of at least a portion of the upper frame  14  away from the base  12 , whereby the previously flat upper frame may ultimately be mechanically converted into at least a chair shape so as to assist the person on the device to a seated position. 
         [0023]    As such, the present invention provides a device  10  that operates at or substantially at floor level, and that allows a person placed at floor level who is not critically injured to rise to at least a seating position. The device  10  so provided is user-friendly, at least in that it is reachable to a person on the floor and simple to use by use of controller  20 , and the device preferably provide the necessary weight support and construction of base  12 , upper frame  14 , and actuator  16  to safely lift the person to a seated position. 
         [0024]    Moreover, the device may, in certain embodiments, store flat and minimize the risk of injury to professional staff, emergency medical personnel, or the like. Further, the device of the present invention may lower ambulance and other healthcare costs, and may lower aid service costs, response times, independent living or private resident needs, and the like. Yet further, the present device expands available therapies for the injured, disabled or infirm, at least in that therapies can be performed at floor level, without need of having the therapist lower or lift the injured, disabled or infirm party down to, or up from, the floor level during therapy. The patient is thereby enabled to self-lower to the floor, such as for exercise and the like. As such, the present invent may be for use by the elderly, the permanently disabled, the temporarily disabled, the infirm, the wounded (such as amputees), and the like. 
         [0025]    More particularly, and with respect to the exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the device may include the aforementioned base  12 , the actuator  16  and the actuatable upper frame  14 . More particularly, the upper frame may include, by way of non-limiting example, a series of knuckles, slide bolts, hinge bolts, or hinges, hinges, or the like  26 , and/or one or more scissor hinges, mechanical slides, or the like  28 . For example, upon actuation of upper frame  14 , one or more of the hinge bolts  26  may rotate through a rotational circumferential pursuant to the actuation by actuator  16 , and one or more of the scissor hinges  28  may correspondingly, such as pursuant to actuation of the one or more hinge bolts  26 , slide from a first position to a second position. Thereby, upon actuation by the actuator  16 , the knuckles  26  and slides  28  of the upper frame  14  may operate to slowly, safely and substantially linearly bring the upper frame from a flat or compressed position to generate at least a seated position for a person initially at floor level and lying upon the upper frame. 
         [0026]    The one or more actuators  16  may be any actuator known to those skilled in the art capable of actuating the upper frame, with the weight of the person thereupon, from a substantially flat position to at least a seated position. In an exemplary embodiment, the actuator is comprised of a single actuator/motor, although those skilled in the art will appreciate that multiple actuators may be used. In the illustrated embodiment, the actuator is a motorized extending arm that is extended outwardly from a base unit of the actuator towards a lower portion of the upper frame, or from the left to the right in the provided illustration of  FIGS. 1A and 1B , such that a hinge bolt  26  between the lower most portion  14   a  of the upper frame and the seat portion  14   b  of the upper frame is partially rotated, which rotation, in conjunction with a scissor hinge  28  and hinge bolt  26  at the seat portion  14   b  of the upper frame at a location opposite the lower most portion of the upper frame, causes the lower portion of the seat portion  14   b  to rise from the base  12 , and thus causes that portion of the lower most portion  14   a  of the upper frame closest to the seat portion  14   b  to also rise at an increasing angle from the base  12 . 
         [0027]    In the illustrated embodiment, once the maximum actuation of the hinge bolt in the seat portion  14   b  at the location opposite the lower most portion  14   b  of the upper frame has occurred, the force of the actuator  16  against the lower most portion  14   a  will cause the seat portion  14   b  in its entirety to begin to rise from the base, which, if there is a stop in the hinge bolt rotation provided in the seat portion hinge bolt  26  associated with the scissor hinge  28 , will cause the backrest portion  14   c  of the upper frame to begin to rise as the seat portion  14   b  rises, at least partially due to the force of the continued action of the actuator  16 . Thereby, following substantially complete actuation of the actuator from left to right in the illustration, the upper frame will have reached a position such that the back-rest portion  14   c  of the upper frame is substantially perpendicular to the base  12  of the device, the seat portion  14   b  of the upper frame is at least substantially parallel to the base  12  of the device, and the lower most portion  14   a  of the upper frame is at least substantially perpendicular to the base  12  of the device. 
         [0028]    As such, it is anticipated that, by countermovement of the backrest portion and the lower most portion, the center of gravity and balance-point may remain substantially located at or about the seat portion. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will appreciate, in light of the discussion herein with respect to the upper frame, that hinges, scissor hinges, mechanical slides, or the like, other than those particularly illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , may be mechanically employed in accordance with the disclosure herein without varying from the spirit and scope hereof. Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the actuation by the exemplary single actuator discussed with respect to  FIGS. 1A and 1B  is also merely illustrative, and that any manner of actuation of the upper frame may be performed wherein, preferably, a slight angle is first imparted at approximately the knee location of the person placed on the upper frame, whereafter the seat may be slightly lifted, and whereafter the angle between the shoulders and the midsection of the person on the device may be slowly and substantially linearly decreased, as is the angle formed by the upper and lower leg at the back of the knee of the person on the device. 
         [0029]    Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate, in light of the discussion herein, that, after actuation to a seated position, a portion of the seat frame may further assist the person from the seated position to a standing position, correspondent to further actuation of the one or more actuators. Such assistance of the person from the seated position to the standing position may occur only upon further actuating of the controller  20  by the person initially laying on the device or the person&#39;s attendant, by way of non-limiting example. 
         [0030]    The base  12  in the illustrative diagram of  FIGS. 1A and 1B  may preferably be sufficiently stable so as to support the upper frame  14  and actuator  16  during actuation and with the weight of a person atop the base. As such, while the base  12  may have wheels and/or casters on its underside, such as to allow for the device to be moved in and out from underneath, for example, furniture, or the base  12  may have a track associated with its underside to allow the base to be moved in and out from underneath, for example, furniture, the track or the wheels are preferably mechanically overridden, such as by a locking mechanism, extendable leg portions, suction cups, or the like, (hereinafter “locking mechanism”  40 ), such that the base  12  becomes fully stable immediately upon or soon after activation of the controller  20  instructing actuation of the device  10 . 
         [0031]    The base  12  may be constructed to allow easy portability and/or movement, such as in embodiments comprising a lightweight base formed of a plastic or the like, or the base may be formed of heavier material such as to impart additional structural integrity and/or stability to increase the stationary nature of the device, such as wherein the device is formed of heavier weighted metals. Further, the base  12  may provide a power source location  42  for the power provided to the one or more actuators and or to the one or more tracks that may slide the device  10  from underneath, for example, furniture. For example, the base may provide a location for a battery  42 , along with one or more electrical inputs to allow charging of the battery such as from a wall socket. Likewise, the base may simply provide an electrical input for use with a household plug, for example. 
         [0032]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a variety of optional components may be provided in conjunction with those discussed above. For example, the one or more actuators may cause, as the seat rises of the upper frame, a “cradle” effect, such as whereby wings (not shown) on the left most and right-most portion of the seat portion  14   b  may be angled or otherwise extended upwardly during actuation such that the bottom of a person resting on the seat is cradled to provide additional stability as the upper frame rises. Further, a seat-belt (not shown) may be provided on the seat portion, particularly in non-residential and/or institutional embodiments, to provide further safety measures for device  10 . Yet further, handles (not shown) may be provided, such as on the seat portion  14   b,  in order to further stabilize the person while laying or seated on the upper frame. 
         [0033]    Further, the construction of aspects of the device  10 , and the portions thereof, may vary, and the appearance of the device may vary in accordingly with its construction. For example, padding may or may not be available, particularly in conjunction with the seat portion  14   b  and the back-rest portion  14   c  of the upper frame. Moreover, as mentioned above the upper frame  14  may be lightweight, strong, durable, and capable of a low profile in a compressed state, irrespective of the weight and preferred low profile of the base  12 . 
         [0034]    Additionally, the device, and particularly the control indicated by the aforementioned controller  20 , may be configurable, such wherein the device  10  is controlled so as to raise only to a seated position, or to a standing position, wherein the rate of rise of the upper frame from the base may be varied, or the like. The configurable nature of the present invention may vary in accordingly with the actuation methodology employed, such as in accordance with the use of linear motion, scissor hinges, a worm screw actuator, or the like. 
         [0035]    Thus, as discussed in the illustrative embodiments with respect to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , it may be preferable to minimize the profile and/or usable floor footprint of the device  10 . This may be further accomplished by creating a bendable back-rest, an ultra-thin but sturdy upper frame, or by like methodologies. This may further be accomplished through additional and alternative embodiments of the device, such as embodiments that are not stored under furniture. For example,  FIG. 2  illustrates device  10  that may be wall  110  adjacent and/or wall-mounted, whereby stability may be imparted to the upper frame  14  by an independent base  12 , or wherein the device may be baseless and instead use a wall mount extension base  112 , or other embodiments that provide stability that will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the discussion herein. 
         [0036]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , one or more actuators may be placed within or on the wall-mount, whereby actuation of the one or more actuators  16  may raise the upper frame  14  as discussed herein above with respect to  FIGS. 1A and 1B . In an exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 2 , a single actuator  16  may raise the wall-mount base  112 , wherein the wall-mount base  112  may provide an extended base portion underneath the seat portion  14   b  of the upper frame  14 . Further, as the single actuator  16  acts to lift the seat portion  14   b,  an extended arm  116  behind the back-rest portion  14   c  may have, extending therefrom into mechanical association with the actuator, a chain, slide, or rope portion  118 , wherein the upward actuation of the base extension  112  by the actuator  16  may actuate extended arm  116  along the slide or like wall-mounted guide, the chain  118 , wherein this actuation pulls the back-rest portion  14   c  forward and upward as the seat portion  14   b  of the upper frame is raised. 
         [0037]      FIG. 3  illustrates with greater particularity a die lift  112  system in accordance with exemplary embodiments, such as that of  FIG. 2 . In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 3  (and/or in the wall mount embodiment of  FIG. 2 ), those skilled in the art will appreciate that the illustrated lifting mechanism may be, for example, recessed into a wall or a furniture cabinet in order to obtain the space savings that may be similarly provided by sliding the device of the exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 1A and 1B  under a piece of furniture. In an exemplary lift such as that shown in  FIG. 3 , the sides of the device can be minimized in order to achieve greater floor area space savings, such that the wall adjacent portion of the lift may extend, for example, approximately  16  inches upward along the wall, and the wall mount portion may be, for example, approximately  13 . 5  inches wide such that it may fit in a recess between wall studs in a typical household wall. 
         [0038]    Of course, those skilled in the art will further appreciate that, in alternative embodiments, casters or similar devices, such as in conjunction with mechanical slides, may be placed at the base of, for example, backrest portion  14   c  and lower most portion  14   a,  such as at the point(s) where the assist device meets base  12 . Thereby the frame, for example, may be lifted off the floor, such as by insertion of the casters through slots in base  12  against a floor. Further, the extension of such casters may allow for mobility of the base, even with the device in the seated position atop the base. 
         [0039]    For example, in an additional alternative embodiment of a raised seat atop a base and as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the patient transfer device may be fitted to, or perform as, a specialized wheelchair. As shown, the wheelchair may be designed atop a “C”-type frame  502  having an open front portion  504 . Such a frame may permit entry over or under a bed, bench, or desk  506 , by way of non-limiting example, such as to allow the person within the wheelchair to mount or dismount between the device and an adjoining surface with no, or minimal, assistance, or to approach a chair or other seating device, such as a toilet. 
         [0040]    In operation, and as illustrated in  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  5 C and in the top views of  FIGS. 6A ,  6 B,  6 C and  6 D, the wheelchair may approach a target substantially directly with the open portion of the C-frame most proximate to the target. Thereafter, the device may be activated so as to swivel, rotate, or the like, as needed in order to effectively align the body of the person in the wheelchair at a suitable angle to dismount onto, or be suspended over, the target. In the illustrated example, the device is rotated 90 degrees about the C-frame. 
         [0041]    The wheelchair may then be activated to change position as necessary, such as from sitting to a prone position if the user is to dismount onto a bed, for example. Upon reaching the proper rotation and position with respect to the target, the open portion of the C-frame may enter the target area, such as to suspend a prone person above the target, or to place the seated person over a toilet bowl. Needless to say, a user of the wheelchair may change the elevation of the seat portion  14 , and/or the height of the C-frame, as is necessary to accommodate the height of the target. 
         [0042]    The user may then transfer to the target as needed, such as with no or minimal assistance from a third party. To the extent the user has left the chair and dismounted to the target, the chair may back away from the target but maintain a proximate position to allow for reboarding of the user from the target back onto the wheelchair. Of course, as referenced above, in certain embodiments, such as wherein a toilet is the target, the user may not dismount from the wheelchair. 
         [0043]    By way of more particular example, the wheelchair may approach the toilet, and the chair atop the C-frame may rotate  180  degrees from a position wherein the user is facing the open portion of the C-frame. Thereby, the wheelchair may be positioned such that, upon advancing, at the direction of the user, in the direction of the opening of the C-frame, the seat portion of the chair straddles the toilet seat to permit toileting by the user. Of course, those skilled in the art will appreciate, that, in such an embodiment, the C-frame on which the wheelchair resides will preferably not have cross-members, or the like, that would bar straddling of a toilet. Further, in such embodiments, it may be preferred that the seat portion of the wheelchair be hollowed at its center, such as in an oval shape sufficient to accommodate toileting of the user atop the seat portion of the wheelchair. Moreover, the seat portion may be at least partially constituted of a large diameter “lazy Susan”-type rotator/bearing having a hollow center, or, by way of additional example, may be constituted of a flat seat surface upon a series of ball bearings. In each such embodiment, it is preferred that any opening in the seat portion pass through the underlying device that enables rotation, to thereby enable toileting of the user. 
         [0044]      FIG. 7  is a flow diagram illustrative of an exemplary method of using device  10  in accordance with the present invention. In the illustrated method  400 , at step  402  a floor level lift system is provided. At step  404 , a user instruction is received to actuate the floor level system. At optional step  406 , the actuation instruction may not be executed until confirmation, such as via electrical sensing, that the user is properly on the device. 
         [0045]    The device may be mechanically raised via the actuation at step  408 . The actuation may be completed to place the user in a seated position at step  410 , or responsive to a secondary user input received at step  412 , the actuation may continue to raise the user from the seated position to an at least substantially standing position. Needless to say, upon departing of the person from physical association with the device, the device may be returned, such as by reverse actuation of the actuator, to its original, compressed position at step  414 . 
         [0046]    Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that many modifications and variations of the present invention may be implemented without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modification and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.