Abstract:
The portable hoist system for handicapped people includes a mobile carriage base; a fixed base; an elongated detachable mast extending vertically from and rotatably mounted to either of the bases; a lift arm pivotally mounted to a mast post; and a yoke operatively connected to the distal end of the lift arm. The mast includes a protruding socket adapted to be insertably mounted to a mast post mount on either of the bases, each mast post mount having a different configuration to accommodate the socket.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to lifting devices, and particularly to a portable hoist system for handicapped people to aid in transferring the handicapped individual from place to place, and which is capable of use in both vehicles and domiciles. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Physically impaired or handicapped individuals who may not be able to move on their own power must rely on other individuals and/or mechanical apparatus to assist their movement. A hoist is a typical device employed to facilitate this process. One of the main functions of said hoist is to transfer the handicapped individual from one location to another, e.g. from a bed to a wheelchair. The hoist is usually mobile and includes a rotatable mast, a lifting arm and a yoke from which a sling type rig is attached to carry the individual. While the assistance from the hoist is greatly beneficial, the bulkiness of the device is ill suited for the individual to live as full a life style as possible because the individual is restricted to where the hoist is installed. In other words, the hoist is typically assembled in the home of the user where the utility thereof remains mostly confined within the walls of the domicile. If the user desires to travel abroad, the hoist would have to be disassembled, whole or in part, for ready transport. On the other hand, there is no guarantee that the hotel or residence at the travel destination would have a readily available hoist. The involved hassles act as a deterrent for the whole endeavor, and the individual would be more compelled to stay at home. 
         [0005]    Thus, a portable hoist system for handicapped people solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The portable hoist system for handicapped people includes a mobile carriage base; a fixed base; an elongated detachable mast extending vertically from and rotatably mounted to either of the bases; a lift arm pivotally mounted to a mast post; and a yoke operatively connected to the distal end of the lift arm. The versatility of the portable hoist system for selective mounting on either of the bases allows the user more freedom of movement, especially for travel, so that the handicapped may use the hoist wherever needed. 
         [0007]    These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a portable hoist system for handicapped people according to the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a partially exploded perspective view of the portable hoist system of  FIG. 1 , showing mounting of the detachable mast to the movable base carriage. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a partially exploded perspective view of a portable hoist system for handicapped people according to the present invention, showing mounting of the detachable mast to a fixed base. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the embodiment of the portable hoist system of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 5A  is a side view of the portable hoist system of  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5B  is a partial, enlarged, exploded detail view of the portable hoist system of  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  4 , and  5 A, showing the connection between the mast post and the mobile carriage base. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the portable hoist system of  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  4  through  5 B. 
       
    
    
       [0015]    Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    The present invention relates to a portable hoist system for handicapped persons, which allows them the services thereof anywhere without relying on a facility to provide one. As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the portable hoist system  10  includes a mobile carriage base  20 , a fixed base  30 , and a mast  40  rotatable about a vertical axis having a crane or lift arm  43  pivotally mounted to one end of a mast post  41 . The mast  40  is adapted to be mounted on either the mobile carriage base  20  or the fixed base  30 , the details of which will be further discussed below. 
         [0017]    The mobile carriage base  20  includes a T-shaped pipe with a cross member  21  and an upwardly extending elongated mast post mount  22  defining the shape. Oppositely disposed notched holding jaws  26  are provided on the ends of cross member  21 , and each jaw is adapted to clampingly hold mobility frame members  23  with respective fasteners. Each of the mobility frame members  23  may be a round bar having wheeled casters  24  disposed adjacent opposite ends of the bar. The mobility frame members  23  are arranged in parallel as facilitated by the respective operative connection to the cross member  21 , which provides a sturdy base for movement of the portable hoist system  10 . An elongated handle  25  projects from the mobile carriage base  20  for a user to grasp and maneuver the same. 
         [0018]    The fixed base  30  includes a substantially flat square base mount plate  31  at the lower end which serves as a bracket to fixedly mount the base  30  at a predetermined location via fasteners. This location is usually the interior of a vehicle, but the fixed base  30  may be installed at any operative location where the user does not require mobility of the portable hoist apart from lifting and rotatable transfer of the handicapped individual. A cylindrical mast post mount  33  projects upwardly from the base mount plate  31  and includes a mounting bore  32  for rotatable mounting of mast post  41 . The mounting bore - 32  is fitted with two bearing assemblies, an upper bearing assembly  34  and a lower bearing assembly  35 , the details of which will be further discussed below. 
         [0019]    The mast  40  includes an elongated mast post  41  having a crane or lifting arm  43  pivotally mounted to one end of the mast post  41 . A freely movable yoke  44  is operatively attached to the distal end of the lifting arm  43 . Hooks  43  may be provided on the yoke  44  so that slings or other personal body support devices may be attached thereon. In addition, the mast post  41  may include a support bar  48  with handles  47  at the ends thereof for the user to carry or rotatably manipulate the mast  40 , or as a general support for the handicapped person as he/she readies for transfer. 
         [0020]    To operate the lift arm  43 , a powered lifting assembly is provided between the mast post  41  and the lift arm  43 . As shown in  FIG. 5A , the lifting assembly includes a telescoping cylinder  46  with the ends thereof pivotally connected to respective pivots  49 ,  49  on the mast post  41  and the lift arm  43 . A servomotor  50  controls extension and retraction of the telescoping cylinder  46 . 
         [0021]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 5B , the lower end of the mast post  41  includes a protruding socket  42  with an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the mast post  41 . The interior of the socket  42  includes a hollow cylindrical recess adapted for rotatable connection to the mobile carriage base  20 , while the whole socket is adapted for connection to the fixed base  30 . 
         [0022]    Turning now to the respective base connections, to connect the mast  40  to the mobile carriage base  20 , the upper end of mast post mount  22  is provided with a projecting spindle  26 . As shown in  FIG. 5B , the mast post mount  22  includes a partial annular recess which, in conjunction with the projecting spindle  26 , forms a partial sleeve  27 . The outer diameter of the spindle  26  corresponds to the inner diameter of the hollow cylindrical recess in the socket  42 , and the inner diameter of the sleeve  27  corresponds to the outer diameter of the socket  42 . Thus, when assembled, the spindle  26  fits into the cylindrical recess of socket  42  while the socket  42  concurrently fits into the sleeve  27 , which combined forms a secure rotatable connection between the mast  40  and the mobile carriage base  20  without the use of additional parts, tools or fasteners. 
         [0023]    To connect the mast  40  to the fixed base  30 , the fixed base  30  is provide with an upper bearing assembly  34  at the top and a lower bearing assembly at the bottom of the mounting bore  32 . The inner diameter of the upper bearing assembly  34  corresponds to the outer diameter of the mast post  41 , and the inner diameter of the lower bearing assembly  35  corresponds to the outer diameter of the socket  42 . Thus, when assembled, the mast post  41  and the socket  42  are securely and rotatably supported by the upper and lower bearing assemblies  34 ,  35  respectively without the use of additional parts, tools or fasteners for easy transfer of the handicapped individual. Each of the bearing assemblies may be ball or roller bearings. 
         [0024]    The portable hoist system  10  may be used in two configurations, mobile and fixed. In the first or mobile configuration, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the user may maneuver the hoist  10  via the handle  25  to the desired location, e.g. bed or bathtub. Then the handicapped individual may lower the lift arm  43  via the servomotor  50  to strap into the sling (not shown), lift the lift arm  43 , rotate the mast  40  about the vertical axis until the desired location is reached, and then lowered into the bed or bathtub. 
         [0025]    In the second or fixed configuration, the portable hoist system  10  may function as, e.g., a car lifter. The fixed base  30  may be mounted in the interior of a vehicle or van. The mast  40  may be detached and rotatably installed into the fixed base  30  so that the user may be transferred from his/her current location to a vehicle seat, the lowering, lifting and transferring operations being substantially the same as above with the mobile configuration. 
         [0026]    It is noted that the present invention may encompass a variety of alternatives to the various features thereof. For example, other shapes such as square or rectangular members may be used in place of the round or cylindrical members discussed above or shown in the drawings. The portable hoist system  10  may be made from sturdy lightweight materials so that it can be easily carried by the user while the fixed base  30  may be made from steel or any other robust material able to securely and reliably support the mast  40  therein. 
         [0027]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.