Abstract:
An apparatus is provided for lifting and transferring a physically incapacitated person into and out of a vehicle, bed, bathtub, and the like. The apparatus comprises a mounting bracket, a vehicle mounting adaptor, a universal mounting adaptor, which are configured to removably couple to the hinges of a vehicle, a bathroom wall, or a bed frame, a lifting member removably and pivotally coupled to the mounting bracket, configured to pivot vertically and horizontally, pivotally and removably coupled at a proximal end to an extension arm and configured to lift, move and support a disabled person by means of a sling receiving member which is removably and pivotally disposed at a distal end of the lifting member, a jack actuating the lifting member, and a controller whereby the jack is controlled. The provided mounting adaptors expand and facilitate the broad use of the apparatus.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/328735, filed Apr. 28, 2010, which is herein incorporated in its entirety by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a universal lift for assisting a disabled person in moving from one place to another. More particularly, the invention relates to a lift for placing a disabled person in a vehicle having a universal mounting system configured for mounting the lift on the front and rear door hinges of a variety of makes and models of vehicles. The universal lift of the present invention may also be used to place a disabled person in a bed, bathtub and other seated positions. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    There are many people in every society, who are the victims of accidents, or as a consequence of contracting a disease, lose their mobility. For these people, and the people around them, getting out of their home and to a destination is a major task. A disabled person may use a wheelchair to get around at home, but to travel uses a vehicle. One obstacle lies in the means of moving disabled individuals from one place to another and this may be a grueling or a costly task. 
         [0004]    Various devices have therefore been designed and patented for transferring physically incapacitated individuals between vehicles and wheelchairs. Certain prior art lifting apparatuses may not be readily disassembled, or are too bulky and cannot be stored in any vehicle, thus creating a need for availability of the specific vehicle. In addition, they have limited maneuvering abilities. Some prior art devices also suffer from certain drawbacks and deficiencies. For example, the door checks will not allow for most vehicle doors to open wide enough to use some lifters because they do not have enough flexibility to compensate for the lack of space between a fully opened door and the seat. In employing other prior art devices, a vehicle must be customized, which is costly, and many of these devices are incapable of being installed on all vehicles. 
         [0005]    What is needed, therefore, is a means to eliminate the disadvantages of the existing methods of hoisting and transferring physically incapacitated individuals between a wheelchair and a vehicle. The use of a universally installable apparatus that may easily be mounted on a variety of makes and models of vehicle, while requiring minimal effort from a lay person for assisting and performing the task safely and comfortably, is highly desirable. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Hence, this invention not only provides a practical solution to eliminate the explained problem, but it is compact and may be stored under the wheelchair. In addition, the same apparatus may fulfill other hoisting and lifting needs at home or in the office. 
         [0007]    One embodiment of the present invention provides a portable, lightweight apparatus which can be packaged in a 50 cm×33 cm×12.5 cm case and be stored under a wheelchair, is designed to mount easily and quickly on a variety of vehicles using the vehicle door hinges and rocker panel as the mounting base. After finishing a task, the apparatus may be disengaged, removed from the vehicle, and repacked as easily as it was mounted with nothing attached to the vehicle. 
         [0008]    As a result, the disabled person does not need to have an expensive, specially customized vehicle. Indeed, these people do not even need to own a vehicle and may use a taxi. The disabled individual may own a vehicle of their choice, including a sports car or a small, compact car. 
         [0009]    According to another embodiment, the lifting member of the lifting apparatus is universal. It may be mounted on all vehicle mounting members as the mounting members are adaptable to install on different makes and models of vehicles for day to day use. As a result, the need for a specific vehicle or driver will be eliminated. In addition, the lifting member may be installed for home or office use. 
         [0010]    There is a need to point out that in some vehicle models, the unique position of the door-checks or the extraordinary sizes of the hinges may require a specific mounting bracket. Therefore, anyone assisting a disabled person using their own vehicle may need to have a specific mounting bracket, which weighs less than  5  lbs. A taxi may then have its own mounting bracket for use with disabled customers. 
         [0011]    Even though every year governments across the globe spend millions of dollars toward making the transportation system more “disabled friendly”, the cost of transportation for this group of people are still substantially high. Some of this cost could be eliminated if governments would agree on regulating the size of vehicle door hinges to be universal within in a range. Then, one mounting bracket may fit on all makes and models. 
         [0012]    In another embodiment, the assistance of only one person is needed to use the present invention. This assistant could be almost anyone, for example, a mother who wants to take her family member out of the home for a ride around town, a teenager that wishes to take a family member to any destination, such as going to a doctor, or even taking friends to a party. The result gives the disabled individual a better quality of life. 
         [0013]    In another embodiment, several pairs of universal mounting adaptors equipped with a 12V DC power supply may be installed around the house, e.g. the bathroom, near the bed, etc., so that the same apparatus may be used to lift the person in other situations. 
         [0014]    In another embodiment, the action of lifting is done by a 12V DC jack. The jack will get its power from a cigarette lighter of a vehicle or a 12 volt direct current power supply. The action of this jack is controlled via an electrical control unit. 
         [0015]    In one embodiment, the lifter may hold an umbrella when transporting of the disabled individual is taking place on a rainy day. 
         [0016]    The features and advantages described herein are not all-inclusive and, in particular, many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the drawings, specification, and claims. Moreover, it should be noted that the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and not to limit the scope of the inventive subject matter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND PHOTOS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1A  is a block diagram illustrating the top view of a mounting member configured in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 1B  is a block diagram illustrating the top view of an adjustable hook configured in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 1C  is a block diagram illustrating the side view of a mounting member configured in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2A  is a block diagram illustrating the front view of a mounting bracket receiver member of a vehicle mounting adapter configured in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2B  is a block diagram illustrating the side view of a vehicle mounting adapter section configured in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2C  is a block diagram illustrating the top view of a mounting bracket receiver member of a vehicle mounting adapter configured in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3A  is a block diagram illustrating the side view of the inner shell of the lower arm to show the arrangements of the mechanical level switch actuators in accordance with one embodiment of this invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 3B  is a block diagram illustrating the top view of a sling receiving member in accordance with one embodiment of this invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 3C  is a block diagram illustrating a maximum down limit switch assembly. 
           [0026]      FIG. 3D  is a block diagram illustrating a maximum up limit switch assembly. 
           [0027]      FIG. 3G  is a block diagram illustrating a side view of a lifting member configured in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating an expanded side view of a jack. 
           [0029]    Photo  1  is a photograph of a vehicle hinge of a BMW automobile. 
           [0030]    Photo  2  is a photograph of a vehicle hinge of a Toyota Camry. 
           [0031]    Photo  3  is a photograph of a mounting bracket disposed on a vehicle hinge as in Photo  1 . 
           [0032]    Photo  4  is an installation of one embodiment of the present invention in a vehicle as in Photo  1 . 
           [0033]    Photo  5  is a photograph of a vehicle mounting adapter mounted on a vehicle hinge as in Photo  2 . 
           [0034]    Photo  6  is a photograph of a vehicle mounting adapter/mounting bracket/lifting section. 
           [0035]    Photo  7  is a photograph of an vehicle mounting adapter/mounting bracket/lifting section/extension arm disposed on a vehicle hinge as in Photo  2 . 
           [0036]    Photos  8 - 10  are installations of one embodiment of the present invention in a vehicle as in Photo  2  shown on various doors of a Toyota Camry. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0037]    One embodiment of the present invention provides a durable structure comprised of a mounting bracket, a lifting member, and two mounting adapters, they are all configured to be detachable without tools. 
         [0038]    A side view of a vehicle mounting bracket configured with one embodiment of this invention is illustrated in  FIG. 1C . It attaches to a vehicle via the door hinges, either directly (if the bases for the door hinges are regular bend, such as most BMW hinges shown in Photo  1 ), or first install the vehicle mounting adaptor illustrated in  FIG. 2B  (if the bases for the door hinges are made of a kind of formed plates, such as Toyota door hinges shown in Photo  2 ), then the mounting bracket would be mounted on the vehicle mounting adapter. 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 1C , a mounting bracket has a special shape to clear a vehicle door check. It comprises a frame  26 , an adjustable hook  18 , and a configured weight distributing structure  32 . On one side of the frame  26 , are permanently attached axis  10  and  30  for receiving the bores  98 ,  140  of  FIG. 3G . On the opposite side, at the base, is a stationary hook  28  of  FIGS. 1A ,  1 C. Since various vehicles of different makes and models have different distances between their door hinges, a configured adjustable hook  18  of  FIGS. 1B ,  1 C is employed to compensate for the differences. This adjustable hook  18  is T-shaped  34  of  FIG. 1B  at one end, hence, for adjusting purposes, can slide up and down in a configured T-slot  16  of  FIGS. 1A ,  1 C. The grooves,  20  and  50  are covered with a resilient rubber or other material to prevent scratches to the hinges. Two holes  14  and  24  are provided to accept and lock an umbrella shaft in the position. To remove the umbrella, the release button  12  is pressed.  FIG. 1A  shows the holes  14  and  24  do not have the same centerline, in order to prevent the rotation of the umbrella as the result of a possible wind force. The frame  26  and the adjustable hook  18  are made of drop forged alloy steel or die cast-high strength aluminum alloy such as 7075. The axis  10 ,  30  are made of a rust proof high strength alloy steel. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 1C  again, said configured weight distributing structure  32 , comprises a collar  48 , a swivel  44 , a bar knob  42  a clevis  40 , an eye bracket  38 , an Acme spindle  35 , which has a soft touch knob  34  at one end, and a swivel pad  36  at the other end to ensure seating on uneven surfaces of a rocker panel. The bottom of the swivel pad  36  is covered with a rubber  37  or other resilient material for marring, damage, and scratch prevention. The collar  48  has a clamping knob  46 , and can move up and down on the lower portion of the frame  26 . The collar  48 , the locking swivel  44 , the clevis  40 , and the Acme spindle  35  are to compensate for the differences of the distance between the lower door hinge and the top of a rocker panel of one vehicle with respect to another, and are made of drop forged alloy steel or die cast-high strength aluminum alloy, such as 7075. This bracket weighs about 5 lb. 
         [0041]    A side view of an vehicle mounting adapter is shown in  FIG. 2B . It comprises a clamp  56  and a mounting bracket receiving member  54  which are made of drop forged alloy steel or die cast-high strength aluminum alloy, such as 7075, and weighs only a few ounces. The front view of the mounting bracket receiving member is illustrated in  FIG. 2A . The clamp  56  has an Acme spindle which swivels into the mounting bracket receiving member  54  at a point  52  of  FIG. 2A . At the other end of the Acme spindle is a bar knob  62 . The clamp and the mounting bracket receiving member have two steps  58  and  60  respectively. The distance between the steps  58  and  60  is provided to clear the head of the hinge pin. 
         [0042]      FIG. 2C  is the top view of the mounting bracket receiving member  54  and illustrates a hollow space  64  and a hook receiving bracket  66 . A pair of mounting bracket receiving member  54  may be installed on any wall as needed, e.g. next to a toilet bowl, a bathtub, or a bed. 
         [0043]      FIG. 3G  illustrates the side view of a lifting member of the apparatus. It comprises a lifting section  127 , an extension arm  72 , and a sling receiving member  70 , in accordance with one embodiment of this invention. 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIG. 3G , the lifting section  127  comprises a frame  136 , an extension arm receiving bracket  118 , an upper arm  101 , a lower arm  131 , and a jack  128 . 
         [0045]    The frame  136  of  FIG. 3G  has two bores at the distal side  98  and  140  to facilitate the installation and pivoting action on mounting bracket  FIG. 1C , in accordance with one embodiment, and at the opposite side has three devises  100 ,  134 , and  138 . 
         [0046]    The extension arm receiving bracket  118  of  FIG. 3G  has a bore  116  for hosting the shaft  76  of the extension arm, in accordance with one embodiment, and/or two devises,  110 ,  122  and two level switch assemblies,  112 ,  114  in accordance with another embodiment of this invention. 
         [0047]    The upper arm  101  of  FIG. 3G  comprises an outer shell  102  and an inner shell  108  where one slides into the other to facilitate the extension of the arm up on demand. Its length varies by aligning the only hole provided in the outer shell  102  with either one the holes provided in the inner shell  108  (such as the hole  106 ), then inserting a quick release pin  104  in the aligned holes. The outer shell  102  is hinged to the clevis  100  of the frame  136  and the inner shell  108  is hinged to the clevis  110  of bracket  118 . 
         [0048]    The lower arm  132  is also telescopic, just as the upper arm  101 . It must be kept in mind, however, that the length of these two arms must always be equal and the quick release pin  125  is used to lock the shells in the position. The outer shell  102  hinged to the clevis  134  of the frame  136  and the inner shell  108  is hinged to the clevis  122  of bracket  118 . The outer shell  132 , at the nearest point to the quick release pin  125 , has a clevis  126  to pivotally receive the jack  128 . The other end of the jack  128  is hinged to the clevis  138  of the frame  136 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 3A  shows the side view of the inner shell  88  of  FIG. 3G , at the end in which it couples with the clevis  122  of  FIG. 3G . It has two teeth  84  and  86  to trigger their corresponding limits switches  79  of  FIG. 3D and 83  of  FIG. 3C  respectively when either limit is reached. This inner shell  88  has three holes  124  of  FIGS. 3A ,  3 G for the purpose of adjusting the length. The shells are made of steel or other high strength profiles of different shapes. 
         [0050]      FIG. 3G  shows a set up of the limit switch assemblies  112  and  114 , although they can be made of other shapes and positioning. The maximum down limit switch and the maximum up limit switch assemblies are shown in  FIGS. 3C and 3D  respectively. 
         [0051]    Referring to  FIG. 3C , a maximum down limit switch assembly  114  consists of a mounting adjusting bracket  82 , a limit switch  83 , a mounting hole  81 , and a mounting adjusting hole  80 . 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIG. 3D , a maximum up limit switch assembly  112  consists of a mounting adjusting bracket  78 , a limit switch  79 , a mounting hole  76 , and a mounting adjusting hole  77 . 
         [0053]    The extension arm  72  at one end has a shaft  76  with a proper length and diameter. At a place above the shaft  76  is a handle  73  to ease the transporting operation. At the other end of the extension arm  72  is a bore  74  with bushings, which hosts a sling receiving member  70 . 
         [0054]    The sling receiving member  70  comprises a crescent shape sling receiving element  69  (also a top view is shown in  FIG. 3B ) secured to shaft  71  at its center using bolt  68  and a lock washer  68 A. The sling receiving member  70  may be mounted on the extension arm  72  from the top as shown in  FIG. 3G  as well as installed from the bottom using the same bore  74  of  FIG. 3G , then a soft touch knob with stud  75  is used to secure it from the top. This feature provides additional vertical displacement of a subject. Referring to  FIG. 3B , holes  90 - 96  accept sling hooks. 
         [0055]    The lifting section  127  of  FIG. 3G  weighs about 15 lbs. The frame  136 , the bracket  118 , the extension arm  72 , and the sling receiving members are made of drop forged alloy steel or die cast-high strength aluminum alloy, such as 7075. The shells are made of high strength aluminum alloy, such as 7075 profiles. All the shafts and clevis pins are made of high strength and rust resistant alloy steel. 
         [0056]    The jack  128  of  FIG. 3G  runs on 12V DC power via a cigarette lighter receptacle of a vehicle or a 12V DC power supply at a home or office. It comprises a motor  146  of  FIG. 4 , a reducer gear box, which its exploded-side view is shown in  FIG. 4 , an electrical control unit  142  of  FIG. 4  with the ability to reverse the direction of the rotation to provide jacking mechanism. These parts may be found in an electrical car jack that may be purchased from the market, with the exception of some parts of the lifting mechanism and the maximum up or the maximum down limit switches. 
         [0057]    An electrical car jack typically facilitates lift due to the pulling action of an Acme nut toward the gear box on its Acme spindle. Also in the electrical car jack, the spindle is exposed and is always greasy, but for the purpose of this lifting apparatus, a pushing action of an Acme spindle and a clean (grease free) environment is required. The limit switches of the jack also needed to be adapted and positioned in a proper place as illustrated and explained earlier. 
         [0058]    The parts used in the lifting apparatus from the electrical car jack shown in  FIG. 4  are as follows: the control unit  142  and its connecting wires  141 ,  144 , the motor  146  and its gear  150 , the gearbox casing  148 , bearings  174 ,  172 ,  154 , the reducer gear  152 , the gear cover  156 , the cover bolts  158 - 170 , the thrust bearing  184 , the key  180 , the bearing  192 , the internal retaining ring  194 , and the spindle gear  196 . The replaced or added parts are the shaft  186 , the key way  188 , the external retaining ring groove  182 , the Acme spindle  190 , the external retaining ring  198 , the Acme round nut  166 , the hollow aluminum tube  164 , and the cap  162  with an eye  163 . When the jack is in its extended position, the spindle is covered by the Teflon® tube  130  of  FIG. 3G . 
         [0059]    When all the parts, members and sections are assembled and attached to a vehicle or any other location, the combination of durability, lifting and pivoting ability provides a great three dimensional maneuvering power to this machine enabling a disabled person to be transferred between any two places. 
         [0060]    For further clarification, if needed, Photos  1  through  10  depict the sections, members, and parts and their functions in the apparatus described therein. 
         [0061]    The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. Each and every page of this submission, and all contents thereon, however characterized, identified, or numbered, is considered a substantive part of this application for all purposes, irrespective of form or placement within the application. This specification is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of this disclosure. For example, the control unit may be wireless or voice activated; cross sections of upper, lower, and/or extension arms may be square, rectangular, circle, oval, etc.; the frame may be made of steel profile or other rugged material, etc.; and level switches may be replaced with magnetic or other sensing units. 
         [0062]    Each of the various embodiments described above may be combined with other described embodiments in order to provide multiple features. Furthermore, while the foregoing describes a number of separate embodiments of the apparatus and method of the present invention, what has been described herein is merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. Accordingly, this description is meant to be taken only by way of example, and not to otherwise limit the scope of this invention.