Abstract:
Support method and apparatus for providing a secure and stable method for a user/patient to transfer a body part, such as a foot, into and out of a bed independently, and thus enhance in-bed mobility. The support for the body part is by a rest member having an associated expandable member. The rest member is a platform configured to the body part being supported, and the expandable member is a bellows adhered to the platform and expandable by a compressor. In the method a body part is positioned on the rest member, which is expanded with the body part thereon.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to support and, more particularly, to support apparatus for assisting a user in transferring a body part into and out of bed, as well as facilitating in-bed mobility. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     A transfer into and out of bed, as well as maneuvering in bed, may be difficult for many persons, such as those who are elderly or disabled. 
     Typical beds provide little or no added support to assist persons in gaining balance while transferring into or out of a bed, or helping adjust in-bed posture. Particularly at risk of falling or having difficulty, are acute or chronic term patients, particularly in a home environment, where assistance is required for maneuvering into and about a bed. Such patients generally require a secure and stable method to transfer into and out of a bed independently. A wheelchair user, for example, may find it particularly difficult to transfer into and out of bed without assistance. 
     While various home care and hospital beds have been available, these beds are generally expensive. A patient may require only temporary support and not require a special bed so that it would be advantageous if existing arrangements can be modified. 
     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide apparatus which achieves a secure and stable method for transfer of body parts. A related object is to achieve a secure and stable method for transfer into and out of bed independently, and improve in-bed mobility. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide support which can be easily placed into and out of service, as well as be quickly used in association with, for example, a bed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accomplishing the foregoing and related objects, the invention provides for supporting a body part by an expandable rest or support member with the body part thereon. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the invention the body part support can be associated with an auxiliary surface, such as that provided by a bed or chair. The body part can be a foot, arm or any other part that needs to be elevated. 
     The rest or support member desirably is a platform that is configured to the body part that is being supported, for example having a surface depression conforming to the part being elevated, and is elevated by a compressor-operated bellows or related device, such as a scissors mechanism, adhered to the platform. The expansion can take place by inflating the expandable member having a safety guard therefor. 
     In a method of the invention for supporting a body part; the steps include (a) positioning the body part on a rest surface; (b) elevating the rest surface with the body part supported thereon and (c) transferring the body part from the rest surface. 
     A further step is to move the rest member rearwardly as it is being elevated by expansion. 
     The method further includes expanding the rest surface in association with a recliner and the positioning step includes positioning a foot, arm or other body part on the rest surface. The method also includes the step of expanding the rest member by a compressor. 
     In a method of the in for fabricating a support for a body part the steps include (a) roving a platform configured to the body part; and (b) attaching an expandable member to the platform. 
     The method of fabrication further includes the step attaching a bellows to the platform to serve as the expandable member, and inflating the bellows through a valve for attaching a compressor. 
     The method also including the steps of providing for inflating the bellows; providing a valve by which the expandable member can be inflated; and providing for attaching a compressor to the valve. 
     A system of the invention for assisting persons into adopting a reclined position from a sitting position, comprises providing a receiving surface upon which a person is to recline; and transferring the person to the receiving surface by elevating a lower limb of the person to a level permitting the transfer of the person to the receiving surface with the lower limb in a reclined position. 
     The receiving surface can be a bed which includes a mattress and the transferring mechanism can be positioned on a platform and further include a support for the lower limb; provision for elevating the support with respect to the platform to permit the transfer of the lower limb to the surface. 
     The support can be depressible to the vicinity of the platform after the lower limb has been transferred, and the elevating mechanism can be switch-actuatable, selected from the class of manually and automatically powered devices. 
     A method of the invention for assisting persons into adopting a reclined position on an elevated surface includes the steps of (a) positioning a person&#39;s lower limb on a member for elevating the lower limb; (b) elevating the lower limb; and (c) transferring the lower limb to the elevated surface from the elevating mechanism for the lower limb adjoining the elevated surface. 
     In one aspect of the method a person is wheeled to the mechanism for elevating the lower limb and the foot portion of the lower limb is positioned on the elevating mechanism. 
     The lower limb is elevated to substantially the level of the elevated surface to which transfer is to take place, such that the person can adopt a reclined position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which disclose preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrative and not limiting of the invention: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention having a rest member for a body part and an associated expandable member, in position at the side of an associated support surface taking the form of a bed; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the invention after bellows expansion of the expandable member to bring the rest member to the level of the associated support surface; 
         FIG. 3  is a further view of the foot lift device of  FIG. 2  showing an illustrative expanded bellows; 
         FIG. 4A  illustrates the use of the invention by a wheel chair patient who has positioned the chair above the foot lift of the invention preparatory to elevating the foot near a bed: 
         FIG. 4B  shows the patient of  FIG. 4A  positioned on a bed after body movement from the wheel chair to the bed, making use, if necessary, of a bed rail; 
         FIG. 4C  is an alternative view showing the position of the patient upon the bed in  FIG. 4B ; 
         FIG. 4D  shows the foot lift after operation to elevate the legs of the patient to the level of the bed; 
         FIG. 4E  shows the patient with both legs transferred from the foot lift to the bed, followed by collapse of the foot lift to its original equilibrium position; 
         FIG. 5A  is a side view of a further foot lift of the invention in its original equilibrium position with the lift member retracted against its supporting platform; 
         FIG. 5B  is a side view of the further foot lift in its half elevation position with the lift member retracted against the supporting platform; and 
         FIG. 5C  is a side view of the further foot lift in its full elevation position with the lift member retracted against the supporting platform. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like elements,  FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of a lift  10  of the present invention; easily used in conjunction with a typical bed B. 
     The lift  10  is formed by a base  11  upon which is mounted an expandable bellows  12  that acts upon a rest surface  13 . A protective shield S can be associated with the lift  10  to prevent a foot, or other body part, from being caught between the bed B and the lift  10  during operation. 
     The rearward portion of the lift  10  has a cover  14  that extends from a rear edge  11 - e  of the base  11  to the rear edge  13 - e  of the foot rest  13  mer ly to serve as an enclosure for an underlying expandable bellows  12 . 
     In order to provide for expansion of the bellows  12 , the lift  10  has an attached electrical cord  15  that is connected to a pump  16 . The cord  15  is plugged into any convenient electrical outlet and can include an operating switch (not shown). 
     Although the embodiment of  FIG. 1  is provided with a line cord  15  for connection to an outlet, it will be appreciated that a rechargeable battery installation may be used instead in order to avoid the presence of cords which could pose a hazard to infirm patients. 
     When the lift  10  is energized, the result is as indicated in  FIG. 2  where the rest surface  13  has been elevated by being moved upwardly and rearwardly so that the cover  14  is moved from its relatively horizontal position in  FIG. 1  to an inclined elevation as shown in FIG.  3 . 
     Details of the bellows  12  are shown in  FIG. 3  where the cover  14  has been elevated to show the bellows expanded by operation of the pump  16  with the rest  13  elevated by by connection to pivoted support rods  17 , of which only the rods  17 - 1  through  17 - 3  are visible in FIG.  3 . 
     The bellows  12  is formed with corrugations  12 -C so that when the pressure is released, the bellows collapses with thee-corrugations in contact with one another in standard fashion. 
     It will be appreciated that although the expandable member of  FIGS. 1-3  is a bellows, other mechanisms may also be employed, including for example, a scissors device in which a lead screw is rotated to bring pivoted arms together to raise an upper plate with respect to a lower plate and thus provide a motion which is equivalent to that of the bellows in  FIGS. 1-3 . 
     In any case, whether the expandable member is a bellows or a scissors device, it may be actuated either manually or automatically and, in the case of a bellows, a quick release may be included so that the apparatus  10  may be returned quickly to its original state as shown in  FIG. 1 , after the desired elevation of the foot or other body part has taken place. 
     In an illustrative employment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 4A through 4E  foot lift service is provided for a person P in a wheelchair  40 . The chair  40  is moved over the apparatus  10 , which is at the side of the bed B, and the occupant of the chair is moved or is positioned in relation to the bed B with a foot or feet on the rest  13 . 
     After the wheelchair  40  is suitably positioned, the body of the person P moves, or is moved, to the bed B as indicated in  FIG. 4B , making use, if necessary, of a bed handle H, as illustrated in FIG.  4 C. 
     In the next step illustrated in  FIG. 4D , the pump  16  of the bellows (not visible in  FIG. 4A  or  4 C) under the cover  14  is then operated to elevate the rest  13  to the level of the bed B so that the the foot or feet of the occupant P occupant of the chair  40  can easily move from the rest  13  to the bed B. 
     After both legs and feet of the patient P have been transferred from the foot lift  23  to the bed B as shown in  FIG. 4E , the foot lift  13  is collapsed to its original equilibrium position, and the apparatus  10  can be moved away an conveniently towed. 
     Further structural details for the foot lift  10  are shown in  FIGS. 5A through 5C . 
       FIG. 5A  is a side view of the foot lift of the invention in its original equilibrium position with the lift member  13  retracted against its supporting platform  11 . 
     In the side view of  FIG. 5B , the foot lift is in-its half elevation position with the bellows  12  partially expanded. 
     In  FIG. 5C  the foot lift is in its full elevation position with the bellows  12  fully expanded away from the supporting platform  11 . 
     In  FIGS. 5A through 5C  the tubular member  17 - 1 ′ through  17 - 4 ′ have pivots farther away from the rest  13 , as compared with  FIGS. 1 through 3 . 
     The base  11  is typically made from a lightweight, rigid material such as plastic, fiberglass, wood or metal. Preferably, the base  11  is constructed of a plastic such as high density polyethylene or polyvinylchloride, or a composite wood material, such as standard plywood, which has the advantage of light weight, strength and low cost. 
     Alternatively, the base plate  11  can be from a metal, such as stainless steel or aluminum, for strength and durability. The plate  11  typically is shaped to accommodate the elevating mechanism  13 . 
     In general, the plate  11  may be any shape that supports members for hinging the rest member  13 . Furthermore, the plate  11  should be relatively long and thin. In addition to the tubular members  17  and  17 ′, the plate  11  provides additional stability for the apparatus  10 . 
     The tubular members  17  and  17 ′ typically are from a rigid, durable material such as a hard plastic or metal, preferably from steel pipe or aluminum pipe for reduced weight. The tubular members  17  and  17 ′ have a central aperture, or bore, with a tubular axis. The internal diameter or bore, is wide enough to provide support and narrow enough to be inconspicuous. Typically, the diameters are about ⅛ to ¼ inch. 
     The tubular members  17  and  17 ′ can be secured to support braces prior to being attached to the plate  11 . The members  17  may be secured to support braces in any manner known to those skilled in the art, including being screw-fit, snap-fit, or welded to support braces. 
     Support braces typically includes holes which align with mating holes to allow bolts, pins, clips, or any other suitable means (not shown) for attachment. In this manner, the braces, including the tubular members, may be removably attached. Alternatively, any braces and the tubular members may be fixed (for example, welded). Another approach involves braces and tubular members that are independently and removably attached to plate member  11 . 
     While the illustration of the invention in  FIGS. 4A through 4E  are for a wheelchair patient that has maneuvered the chair into position over the foot lift of the invention by having the wheels of the chair straddle the rear portion of the foot lift, to permit the legs of the patient to be positioned upon the rest member preparatory to elevating the foot of the patient near a bed, the invention can be used in any environment where the assisted elevation of a body part is desired. 
     Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustration, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the accompanying claims.