Device for transporting a physically impaired person

A device for transporting a physically impaired person includes a support frame member having electric motors secured thereto for operating rear drive wheels; a stabilizing plate for maintaining the position of the support frame member when lifting a physically impaired person, the stabilizing plate being positioned via an electric motor operating a linear actuator; and opposite lifting arms rotationally extended from the support frame member via electric motors operating linear actuators, the lifting arms ultimately placing a physically impaired person upon or removing the impaired person from an inclinable seat member secured to the support frame member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to electrically powered devices for transporting a physically impaired person and, more particularly, to an electrically powered device that lifts a person proximate to the device, then disposes the person on the device, whereupon, the person is transported to a preselected location where the person is lifted from the device and disposed on a distal support structure.

2. Background of the Prior Art

Electrically powered transport devices such as wheelchairs are commonly used in and around medical facilities to transport physically impaired persons inside and outside the facility. Generally, an operator directs or “steers” the transport device from behind via “handle bars,” or by a hand operated power switch that controls drive motors that impart rotary motion to a corresponding wheel to move the transport device in a selected direction.

The problem with prior art transport devices is that they do not “assist” the operator when the operator places the physically impaired person upon or removes the person from the transport device. More specifically, the operator must bend at the waist and lift the physically impaired person when placing the person upon or removing the person from the device. Severe back strain can and does occur to transport device operators, resulting in the operators suffering severe back pain for long periods of time, or in extreme cases, experiencing permanent back injury.

A need exists for an electrically powered transport device that lifts a physically impaired person, places the person upon the device, transports the person to a selected location, then lifts the person from the device and positions the person upon a support structure proximate to the device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a principle object of the present invention to provide a device for transporting a physically impaired person. A feature of the device is that it is electrically powered and driven by a single stick switch “joy stick”; the joy stick being disposed upon a top portion of a control panel which is disposed upon a back portion of a support frame member of the device. Another feature of the device is a platform member secured to a bottom rear portion of the support frame member. An advantage of the device is that one operator can drive the device while standing on the platform member, thereby transporting the operator upon a rear portion of the device to promote faster and safer movement of the device through the hallways of a medical facility.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device that lifts a physically impaired person from a distal position, then places the person upon a seat member of the device. A feature of the device is a pair of opposite lifting arms that rotational extend from a support frame member of the device to a position proximate to the physically impaired person. An advantage of the device is that the lifting arms lift the physically impaired person and places the person upon the seat member via push buttons manually operated by a person adjacent to the device. Another advantage of the device is that the lifting arms lift and remove the physically impaired person from a seat member of the device, then places the person upon a support frame or chair distal to the device. Yet another advantage of the device is that the person operating the push buttons does not have to lift the physically impaired person upon or from the device, thereby avoiding strain upon the back of the operator.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device that maintains its position relative to a physically impaired person. A feature of the device is a stabilizing plate disposed adjacent to the lifting arms. An advantage of the device is that the stabilizing plate prevents the device from moving while the physically impaired person is placed upon or removed from the seat member of the device, thereby preventing further injury to the person. Another advantage of the device is that the person operating the lifting arms via the push buttons need focus only upon movement of the lifting arms when lifting the physically impaired person, thereby allowing the operator to be unconcerned as to movement of the support frame member or the wheels supporting the support frame member.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a device that elevates a physically impaired person's posterior while disposed upon the seat member. A feature of the device is a pair of pivoting arms that elevate a rear portion of the seat member, while maintaining the elevation of a front portion of the seat member. An advantage of the device is that the seat member while in an inclined position, enables a physically impaired person capable of standing without operator assistance to lower their posterior upon or elevate their posterior from the inclined seat member, thereby avoiding back strain to the operator and reducing the time required for the operator to “load,” transport and “unload” the physically impaired person upon and from the device.

Briefly, the invention provides a device for transporting a physically impaired person comprising drive means for promoting manually controlled movement of a support frame member of said device; means for stabilizing said support frame member when lifting a physically impaired person upon or removing a physically impaired person from a seat member disposed upon said support frame member; and means for lifting a physically impaired person distally disposed to said seat member, said lifting means ultimately disposing the physically impaired person upon said seat member, said lifting means being capable of removing the physically impaired person from said seat member, whereby an operator of said device is capable of elevating a physically impaired person from a seated position and disposing the person upon said seat member of said device, transporting the physically impaired person to a selected location, elevating the physically impaired person from said seat member, and disposing the person in a seated position upon a distal support structure.

The invention further provides a system for lifting and moving a person comprising means for controlling motors for moving a chair structure; means for lifting a person from a distal location and disposing the person upon said chair structure; means for lifting the person from said chair structure and disposing the person upon a distal support frame; and means for positioning a seat member disposed upon said chair structure.

The invention also provides a method for transporting a person, said method comprising the steps of lifting a person distal to a movable support structure via at least one lifting arm rotationally secured to said movable support structure; disposing the person on a seat member secured to said movable support structure; driving said movable support structure to a selected location; lifting the person from said movable support structure; and disposing the person upon a selected support frame distal to said movable support structure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now toFIGS. 1-9, a device for transporting a physically impaired person in accordance with the present invention is denoted by numeral10. The device10includes a support frame member11having opposite pivoting front wheels or castors13, and opposite, solid rubber rear drive wheels12operated by chains14that engage and receive rotary motion from drive sprockets15that are secured to and rotated by battery (not depicted) powered twenty-four volt, one horsepower D.C. motors16. The motors16are manually controlled via a movable stick or hand switch18disposed upon a top portion20of a control panel22and at a rear portion24of the support frame member11. The stick18includes positions that direct the device10forward, reverse, right and left via relays (not depicted) in the control panel22; the relays being wired to the stick18and motors16to control rotation of the motors16via wiring schemes well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The pivoting stick18is manually adjusted by a person standing on a platform member26which allows the person operating the device10to ride upon the device10while transporting a physically impaired person. Alternatively, the stick18may be disposed upon a front portion of the support frame member11, whereby the physically impaired person is allowed to operate the device10. A metal plate27covers the bottom of the support frame member11to provide a base for the attachment of predetermined metal support channels, including channels4that support and align the motors16with the rear drive wheels12. The metal plate27includes a front aperture29and two rear apertures31to allow corresponding components to extend through the metal plate27.

Referring toFIGS. 10-23, the support frame member11is configured and dimensioned to promote the transporting of one physically impaired person by the device10through typical doorways and hallways of hospitals, nursing homes and similar health facilities. Further, the overall size of the device10allows at least two devices10to pass each other in a hallway of a medical facility. The support frame member11is fabricated from metal channels or tubes33that are welded together to ultimately form a “chair” configuration at a front portion35, a storage area (for batteries under cover78and oxygen tanks72) at a mid-portion39, and the control panel22at the rear portion24. The metal channels33are typically one inch square with one-eighth thick walls. For increased strength and stability, vertical and horizontal stabilizing channels45are included in the support frame member11at predetermined locations.

Referring toFIGS. 1-9, and16-19, the device10further includes a solid metal, relatively heavy, stabilizing plate28having a metal rod or pipe25secured thereto via a lower end welded perpendicularly to a base edge portion23of the stabilizing plate28. The pipe25includes an upper end with an aperture that removably receives a pin21that ultimately secures the pipe25to an extendible portion30of a 250 pound linear actuator32with a four inch stroke, which is forcibly extended and retracted by the rotation of a twelve volt D.C. motor34, thereby allowing the linear actuator32to forcibly urge the stabilizing plate28against a floor40and stabilize the device10when lifting a physically impaired person from or disposing the person upon the device10. The motor34is controlled by three push button switches7(labeled “extend-off-retract”) and cooperating relays (not depicted) disposed in the control panel22. The switches7and relays are wired to the motor34to control the rotational direction of the motor34; the control wiring scheme being well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

The pipe25has a longitudinal dimension that facilitates the disposing of the plate28upon a ground or floor surface40when the linear actuator32extends the extendible portion30a predetermined distance via push buttons7. The pipe25has a wall thickness sufficient to support the stabilizing plate28via the base edge portion23without deforming or otherwise “bending” while the linear actuator32is in a retracted position elevated above a ground or floor surface40. The stabilizing plate28is configured in a substantially trapezoidal form with a predetermined surface area and thickness to provide a sufficient floor engagement mass that maintains the position of the device10while placing a person upon the device10. The trapezoidal form reduces the likelihood of engagement between the plate28and walls, doorways or similar structures as the device10turns. The stabilizing plate28further includes guide bolts19welded or otherwise secured to the base edge portion23such that the pipe25is disposed substantially equidistant between the guide bolts19. The guide bolts19ultimately insert through cooperating apertures17in the metal plate27to promote extension or retraction of the stabilizing plate28via the linear actuator32. The apertures17are dimensioned to snugly receive the guide bolts19, thereby minimizing horizontal movement of the guide bolts19and the relatively heavy stabilizing plate28while extending or retracting the stabilizing plate28, which correspondingly prevents the stabilizing plate28from damaging the linear actuator32during operation. The linear actuator32is manufactured by Dayton Electric Manufacturing Company (“Dayton”), located at 5959 W. Howard St., Niles, Ill. 60714.

The linear actuator32is mechanically secured to a front horizontal bar or channel36which is reinforced via front corner posts37and front support frame channels38, thereby enabling the front horizontal bar36to maintain the position of the linear actuator32and the stabilizing plate28, irrespective of the force generated by the motor34when extending or retracting the extendible portion30to forcibly urge the stabilizing plate28to engage a floor40, or to elevate the plate28to allow the device10to move. The stabilizing plate28maintains a selected position for the device10upon a floor40or substantially planar surface while a physically impaired person is set upon the device10or removed from the device10. Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a stabilizing plate28welded to the end portion of the pipe25, adapting the plate28for sliding beneath the support frame member11for improved mobility of the device10, is readily accomplished by detachably securing the end portion of the pipe25to the plate28via nut and bolts or similar means well known to those or ordinary skill. The plate28would ultimately be detached from the pipe25, then slid and supported under the support frame member11via angle iron or similar support channels.

Referring toFIGS. 1-5,10-16, and25-28, the device10further includes opposite first and second lifting arms42and44disposed (when in a retracted position) in cooperating first and second side portions46and48of the support frame member11. The first and second lifting arms42and44are encased in the cooperatively dimensioned side portions46and48via padded and hinged, top arm rests41; and padded and hinged side covers43. When the lifting arms42and44are to be extended from the first and second side portions46and48, the top arm rests41and side covers43are pivoted to reveal the lifting arms42and44within. The first and second lifting arms42and44are rotationally extended via bushing assemblies53supplied by Berry Bearing Co. in Rockdale, Ill., 60436. The bushing assemblies53are secured to first and second front portions50and52of respective first and second lifting arms42and44; the first and second front portions50and52being cooperatively secured, via means well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, to top front portions of the support frame member11. The first and second lifting arms42and44include outer ends54that are ultimately disposed proximate to a physically impaired person, thereby enabling a harness60removably secured to a lifting bar56, which is removably secured to the outer ends54, to receive and transport the physically impaired person. The rotary motion imparted upon the first and second lifting arms42and44is produced by first and second six hundred pound Dayton linear actuators47and49with twelve inch strokes, which are lineally extended and retracted by corresponding twenty-four volt D.C. motors51. The rotational direction of the arm motors51are controlled by three push button switches9(labeled “extend-off-retract”) and relays (not depicted) in the control panel22. The switches9and relays are wired to the motors51via wiring schemes well known to those or ordinary skill in the art.

The lifting bar56is removably secured to the first and second outer ends54of the lifting arms42and44via detachable couplers57. The lifting bar56includes a swivel58that is secured to a mid-portion of the lifting bar56, the swivel58receives a lifting harness60which ultimately receives a physically impaired person. The harness60is disposed to enable the physically impaired person to be “inserted” into the harness60and lifted by the first and second lifting arms42and44. The swivel58promotes the pivoting of the person in the lifting harness60from a position facing the device10, to a position where the person's back is to the device10. The first and second lifting arms42and44are then rotationally retracted via the linear actuators47and49until the person's posterior is lowered upon a seat member62disposed upon the support frame member11. The physically impaired person is then transported by the device10to a selected location, whereupon, the first and second lifting arms42and44are again extended, thereby removing the person from the seat member62and disposing the person upon a distal chair or other support member so that the lifting harness60may be removed from the person.

Referring toFIGS. 4,25and33, the harness60includes arm straps140that are adjustably secured via a clasp146disposed upon a front portion of the harness60. The arm straps140are snugly disposed beneath the arms of a physically impaired person. The harness also includes shoulder straps144that are adjustably secured via a clasp148disposed upon a front portion of the harness60. The shoulder straps144allow the impaired person to snugly disposed the straps144vertically across their chest. The arm and shoulder straps140and144are slidably secured together by metal rings142that are detachably secured to an angled rod143that includes an apex portion145which is secured to the swivel58. The arm and shoulder straps140and144, together with the metal rings and angled rod142and143, cooperate to safely elevate the physically impaired person upon or from the seat member62, via the swivel58, without supporting the posterior of the person, thereby avoiding straps disposed about the persons legs and rear end, and simplifying the lifting procedure for the person when set upon or removed from the seat member62.

Referring toFIGS. 1-7, and20-24, the device10further includes cooperating bars64that are forcibly pivoted via a six hundred pound Dayton linear actuator66with a twelve inch stroke, which is lineally extended and retracted by the rotation of a twenty-four volt D.C. motor67. The rotational direction of the motor67is controlled via three push button switches5(labeled “incline-stop-level”) and relays (not depicted) disposed in the control panel22. The control wiring scheme for the switches5, relays and motor67is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The pivoting bars64forcibly elevate a rear portion68of the seat member62to ultimately position the seat member62to receive the posterior of a physically impaired person, or to promote separation of a physically impaired person from the seat member62. The physically impaired person is assisted by a device10operator to stand from or sit upon the seat member62, while the device10operator stands in a substantially vertical position to reduce back strain and/or back injury to the operator. Inclining the seat member62such that the rear portion68is elevated higher than a front portion70, not only reduces the risk of back strain to an operator, but also reduces the risk of injury to the physically impaired person when being assisted upon or from the seat member62.

Referring toFIGS. 21-24,31and32, the pivoting bars64are detachably secured to a respective bracket65via a pin69that inserts through one of a plurality of apertures63in each of the brackets65. The position of the bracket65and the plurality of apertures63allows the inclination of the seat member62to be adjusted to facilitate the receipt or removal of the physically impaired person upon or from the seat member62, irrespective of the height or weight of the physically impaired person. The linear actuator66and motor67are pivotally secured to the support frame member11via a removable pivot pin130inserted through a metal extension132of the linear actuator66and a “U” clamp134welded to a support channel131of the rear portion24of the support frame member11(seeFIG. 31). The pivot pin130and linear actuator66pivotally cooperate to promote the vertical elevation (up to four inches) of a linkage joint71rotationally joined to an end portion73of the linear actuator66, the linkage joint71being elevated as the end portion73is forcibly extended by the linear actuator66. The elevating linkage joint71and extending end portion73cooperate to forcibly urge an end portion136of the pivoting bar64joined to the seat member62in a direction opposite to the linear actuator66, thereby promoting the elevation of the rear portion68of the seat member62, resulting in an inclined seat member62that facilitates placement or removal of the physically impaired person upon or from the seat member62.

Referring toFIG. 1, to aid the physically impaired person during transport upon the device10, a pair of oxygen canisters72and a telescoping pole74for supporting horns, back-up alarms, strobe lights, complimentary oxygen equipment and/or plasma (not depicted) for a person being transported upon the device10are disposed behind the seat member62. The positions of the canisters and pole72and74are maintained by a metal plate76secured to the support frame member11. A hinged battery cover78is disposed adjacent to the plate76to cover two 12 volt D.C. auto batteries (not depicted) which provide power to the D.C. motors and the control systems operating the D.C. motors. The control panel22is disposed adjacent to the D.C. auto batteries and includes electrical components that comprise the control systems required to facilitate the operation of the D.C. motors.

Referring toFIGS. 2-5,10-16,29and30, the first and second lifting arms42and44are fabricated from short and long metal rods80and81, and from metal flat bars82that are arranged to configure lifting arms42and44with sufficient length and mass to elevate a physically impaired person within a predetermined distance of the device, irrespective of the weight of the physically impaired person. A myriad of configurations may be utilized to construct the lifting arms42and44, however, the preferred configuration includes a centrally disposed flat bar82longitudinally extending from the first and second front portions50and52to the outer ends54such that a planar surface83with a lateral dimension greater than the lateral dimension of an adjacent edge surface87, is disposed facing a respective arm rest41. Multiple relatively short metal rods80are perpendicularly welded to the edge surface87of the flat bars82, and relatively long metal rods81are welded to the short metal rods80, the outer ends54and the first and second front portions of the lifting arms42and44such that the long metal rods81are arcuately disposed relative to the edge surface87of the flat bar82, thereby strengthening and stabilizing the flat bars82to promote the safe lifting of the physically impaired person.

The first and second lifting arms42and44are rotationally extended and retracted via shaft and actuator sprockets84and89cooperating with connecting chain85. The sprockets84and89, and chain84are rotated a quantity corresponding to the lineal travel (up to twelve inches) of a connecting bracket94, which is coupled to end portions100of the first and second linear actuators47and49. The shaft sprocket84is integrally joined to a shaft86that is rotationally supported by bushings53(the same type of bushings used with the support arms42and44). The shaft86forcibly rotates end sprockets88that engage and drive corresponding end chains90that rotate upper sprockets92, which rotate front portions50and52of respective lifting arms42and44. The rotation of the front portions50and52dispose the outer ends54of the lifting arms42and44at selected positions proximate to a physically impaired person. The outer ends54removably receive the lifting bar56which removably receives the lifting harness60to promote the lifting of the physically impaired person.

The sprockets84and89, and chain85are depicted as centrally disposed between the first and second side portions46and48of the support frame member11. The central positioning of the sprocket84and chain85is preferred when the position of the seat member62is fixed and the linear actuator and motor66and67are removed, thereby deleting the feature of elevating the posterior of a physically impaired person via the seat member62. However, when the seat member62incline feature is included, the sprocket84and chain85position must be moved closer to either of the side portions46and48, thereby avoiding the seat member62incline components. Further, the shaft, end and upper sprockets84,88and92are depicted with substantially equal diameters, however, increased rotational force may be required by the lifting arms42and44when lifting relatively heavy people. The rotational force to the lifting arms42and44may be increased by adjusting the diameters of the sprockets84,88and92such that the diameter of the shaft sprocket84or the end sprockets88are relatively smaller than the diameter of the upper sprockets92which forcibly rotate the lifting arms42and44. Thus, the rotational force imparted to the lifting arms42and44is increased, but the rotational speed of the lifting arms42and44is correspondingly decreased. Should the diameter of the shaft sprocket84be increased, then the diameter of the actuator sprocket89must be correspondingly increased to maintain the connecting chain85substantially parallel with the linear actuators47and49to promote the total transfer of lineal force from the actuators47and49to the chain85via the connecting sprocket94. An alternative to increasing the diameters of sprockets, is to increase the number of linear actuators to a number that satisfies the lineal force required to ultimately rotate the lifting arms42and44, irrespective of the weight and/or height of the physically impaired person being transported. The increased number of linear actuators would be mounted to the support frame member11by modifying support brackets91, clamps93and the connecting bracket94to cooperate with the chain85, sprocket89and multiple actuators to lineally transfer force from the actuators to the chain85.

The connecting bracket94includes upper and lower apertures96and98that snugly receive end portions100of the first and second linear actuators47and49. The end portions100are removably secured to the connecting bracket94via locking pins102that insert through aligned apertures in the end portion100of the first actuator47and side walls104forming the upper aperture96in the connecting bracket94; and via locking pins102that insert through aligned apertures in the end portion100of the second actuator49and side walls106forming the lower aperture98in the connecting bracket94. The connecting bracket94further includes a pivoting bolt108that inserts through two cooperating extensions110integrally joined to a bottom wall112of the connecting bracket94. A lower chain plate114is integrally joined to an end114of the pivoting bolt108. An upper chain plate116is ultimately bolted to the lower chain plate114after disposing the arm rotation chain85in aligned recesses118in each of the plates114and116. Bolts120are inserted through the aligned plates114and116on each side of the chain85, then tightened to a degree that binds the plates114and116to the chain85, irrespective of the combined force generated by the first and second linear actuators47and49when rotating the lifting arms42and44while supporting a physically impaired person.

The locking pins102and pivoting bolt108are “loosely” inserted through respective receiving apertures to allow the position of the connecting bracket94to pivot or adjust relative to the end portions100when operating the first and second linear actuators47and49via the drive motors51. Generally, the operating parameters of the drive motors51will vary slightly, resulting in different travel speeds for the end portions100of the first and second linear actuators47and49. Varying the speeds of the end portions100when tightly joined to the connecting bracket94, results in the first and second linear actuators47and49opposing or “fighting” each others lineal movement, thereby reducing the force imparted on the chain85. Allowing the position of the connecting bracket94to adjust relative to the end portions100(up to one and one-half inches in the preferred embodiment) when the end portions100travel at different speeds, promotes cooperation between the first and second linear actuators47and49, thereby increasing the force imparted on the chain85to a value consistent with the added load specifications of the first and second linear actuators47and49.

Referring toFIGS. 25-28, and33, in operation, the device10is moved or “driven” to a physically impaired person via an operator standing on the platform member26and directing the stick18in a forward direction. After positioning the device relatively close to the physically impaired person, the operator stabilizes the position of the device10by lowering the stabilizing plate28via “extend” switch7until the plate28forcibly engaging the floor40, whereupon, the operator presses the “stop” switch7to stop the lowering of the plate28. If the physically impaired person is not capable of standing, the operator then opens the hinged arm rests41to expose the first and second lifting arms42and44. The operator then extends the arms42and44via “extend” switch9until the arms42and44are disposed adjacent to the physically impaired person seated upon a chair or similar support structure and facing the device10, whereupon, the operator presses the “stop” switch9. The physically impaired person is then secured in a lifting harness60via straps140and144that are cooperatively tightened about the person via respective clasps146and148. A lifting bar56is secured to outer ends54of the first and second lifting arms42and44via couplers57. The lifting bar56includes a swivel58that removably receives an angled rod143secured to the lifting harness60via rings142. The operator then presses the “retract” switch9and the physically impaired person is elevated from the chair, rotated such that the person's back is toward the device10, then lowered until their posterior end is disposed upon the seat member62, whereupon, the “stop” switch is depressed. The stabilizing plate28is then retracted or raised. The operator then drives the device10and the seated person to a preselected destination, whereupon, the stabilizing plate28is again lowered and the first and second lifting arms42and44extended to a position that disposes the physically impaired person adjacent to a chair or bed. The lifting harness60is then rotated by the operator until the person is facing the device10. The arms42and44are then lowered by the operator until the person's posterior engages a support structure. The lifting harness60is removed from the person by the operator by disconnecting the clasps146and148. The operator may, but is not required to remove the harness60from the swivel58. Irrespective of the harness60being attached to the swivel58, the arms42and44are retracted a “safe” distance, and the device10is driven to a new location.

If the physically impaired person is capable of standing, the arms42and44are not extended, but the seat member62is adjusted. After disposing and stabilizing the device10adjacent to the person, the operator presses the “incline” switch5until a rear portion68of the seat member62is elevated to a position that inclines the seat member62at an angle that allows the physically impaired person to lower himself upon the seat member62by bending his legs. The operator then presses the “stop” button5and the person places their posterior upon the included seat member62. The operator then presses the “level” button5which lowers the seat member62to a horizontal position. The operator then elevates the stabilizing plate28and drives the physically impaired person to a selected destination, whereupon, the device10is stabilized and the seat member62inclined to assist the physically impaired person to stand and step away from the device10. The operator then drives the device10to a new location.

The foregoing description is for purposes of illustration only and is not intended to limit the scope of protection accorded this invention. The scope of protection is to be measured by the following claims, which should be interpreted as broadly as the inventive contribution permits.