Abstract:
Lift apparatus by which invalids are translated into various positions through the use of a radio-controlled mechanism operable by the invalid from the lift transport platform. Linear actuators responsive to the radio control network operate to position a rotatable vertical member upon which there is mounted a cantilevered member which is also responsive to a linear actuator. The linear actuators have extendable rams which permit the cantilevered member which supports the invalid transport platform to be positioned in any of myriad locations.

Description:
PRIOR ART 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,133,437 to Gates, 4,075,719 to Sullivan, 3,940,808 to Bartholomew, 3,877,421 to Brown, 3,694,829 to Bakker and 2,725,093 to Saelene all represent various chair lift devices or patient lift devices for moving invalids from one location to another. Many of these require an assistant to be present to operate the unit and fail to offer any means by which the patient may himself operate the device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an apparatus for transporting invalids within a confined area. There are available numerous devices for effecting movement of patients who are otherwise classified as invalids. Most of the prior art devices permit the patient to be raised or lowered and also permit the patient to be swiveled about a vertical support member. As disclosed in U.S. Pat. 2,725,093 to Saelene the apparatus, while being able to move a patient vertically as well as circumferentially, it is necessary that an operator always be present when the apparatus is in use. Other efforts to provide a patient lifting apparatus are very complex as is illustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 3,694,829 to Bakker. The area of travel into which the lift apparatus may place the patient is limited. In many prior art devices it is not possible to permit the patient to be lowered below floor level as in the case of placing a patient in a whirlpool or bathtub that is below floor level. Exemplary of such a device would be U.S. Pat. No. 3,877,421 to Brown. 
     With today&#39;s high cost of labor, it becomes increasingly important that certain patients who are not totally incapacitated be able to operate the lift devices on their own volition. This eliminates the need for an attendant to be constantly present when the apparatus is being used. As can be seen from a review of the above-referenced patents, the particular mechanical structure used to cause the lift platforms or chairs to be moved is somewhat limited in its realm of travel; many permit the lift to be merely raised or lowered and do not provide for circular motion. Reference may be had to U.S. Pat. No. 3,940,808 to Bartholomew for such a device which also does not permit the patient to be lowered below floor level. 
     A similar device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,075,719 to Sullivan which, once again, requires an operator for assistance during use of the apparatus and does not permit articulated movement or placement of the patient carrying platform nor does it permit the patient to be lowered below floor level. More recent patents are devoted to mechanisms for moving wheelchair patients into and out of motorized vehicles such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,133,437 to Gates. 
     Many of the prior art devices use pinion and gear drives to effect movement of the patient lift apparatus. Others use pneumatic controls. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a patient lift apparatus of the same general type as set forth in the patents cited hereinabove; however, the present invention offers an apparatus which has increased flexability and permits the patient to operate the apparatus to articulate exact placement of the patient into myriad locations, including locations below floor level. 
     In the present invention, linear actuators are controlled via radio remote control apparatus to cause a vertical member to be rotated about its longitudinal axis which causes a cantilevered member mounted thereon to translate radially about the longitudinal axis. A patient lift apparatus is mounted to and suspended from the end of the cantilevered member. The cantilevered member is raised and lowered by a second linear actuator which is mounted on and rotates with the vertically rotatable member. 
     The patient is permitted to use the device via a remote radio control unit located adjacent the lift platform. In this manner, the patient may access the unit to cause it to rotate or to raise or lower the platform without an operator being present. Should a power failure result, the linear actuators maintain the lift apparatus in the position it last occupied prior to any power failure. Pneumatics are not used. Instead, the linear actuators have extendable rams which are caused to extend or retract in response to electric motors. 
     The unit has manual override controls which permit an operator to effect control of the apparatus directly instead of through radio control. The unit may be operated via AC or DC voltage depending on the particular location and the needs of the user. 
     The therapeutic needs of various types of invalids, necessitates that the unit be capable of placing a patient below floor level as when the patient is submerged in a whirlpool. It is also important that the patient be permitted to use the device without the presence of an operator and without the fear of electrical shock. 
     The present invention provides an apparatus which may translate the patient below floor level and permit the patient to use the apparatus without fear of electrical shock since he has the ability to control the entire operation of the apparatus via a remote radio control handset operated only on low voltage DC batteries. 
     The apparatus according to the present invention will remain in its location should a power failure occur. There are no exposed rotating gears in which the patient or the patient&#39;s clothing may become entangled. 
     A principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved lift apparatus which permits the patient to use the apparatus on its own volition to translate himself radially about the vertical support member and to also lower himself below floor level as well as elevate himself substantially above floor level. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide an apparatus which may be operated through the use of linear actuators having extendable rams to rotate or lift the various members of the lift apparatus to cause the patient to be put into the desired location. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide such an apparatus which is relatively simple mechanically while at the same time being reliable and safe in operation. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide mechanical control means which do not permit the lift apparatus to fall or collapse when power to the unit is lost. 
     Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment thereof which is shown in the accompanying drawings in which: 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the electrical control circuitry for effecting movement of the present apparatus. 
     FIG. 3 is a partially cut away elevational view of a typical handset for use by the patient in controlling the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the connection between the ram of one the linear actuators and the rotatable vertical member of the present invention taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 1. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In the figures of the drawings, a lift apparatus is broadly indicated by the arrow at numeral 10 in FIG. 1. The lift apparatus permits an invalid to be selectively lifted from one location into yet a different location. The present invention enables the invalid to operate the apparatus while occupying the transport platform 12. 
     A rotatable vertical support member 14 is pivotially mounted on the floor or a platform. The base of the rotatable vertical support member 14 may be mounted in a bearing 16 to thus permit the vertical member 14 to freely rotate. Also, the vertical member may be rigidly supported between a platform 17 and a ceiling or other support 18 at its top. Likewise, the junction between the vertical support member 14 and its top mounting means 18 may be in the nature of a bearing. 
     Rotational movement of the vertical support member 14 is effected through a linear actuator 20. The linear actuator is of the type presently available from Saginaw Steering Gear Division, Actuate Products Crew, Saginaw, Michigan. The linear actuator has a solenoid brake 22 for positive positioning of the extendable ram 24. Extendable ram 24 is always locked in its present position except when the electrical motor of linear actuator motor 20 is in an operating mode. The solenoid brake virtually eliminates coasting. Thus, point to point travel along the stroke can be accurately obtained between limit switches 84 and 88. 
     Connector 26 is located at the outward end of extendable ram 24. In the preferred embodiment, connector 26 is connected in a rotatable and mating relationship with tie rod member 28 (See FIG. 4) to thus impart rotational movement to the rotatable vertical support member 14. Linear actuator 20 may be energized to cause rotatable vertical support member 14 to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise within its range of movement. 
     A cantilevered member 30 is rotatably connected to the periphery of rotatable support member 14 so that said cantilevered member 30 may be raised and lowered. A second linear actuator 32 is likewise rotatably mounted on the periphery of rotatable vertical support member 14. The extendable ram 34 of said said linear actuator 32 has its outmost end rotatably connected with tie rod joint 36. The tie rod joint 36 is an intrical part of the cantilevered member 30. Linear actuator 32 is the same as linear actuator 20 and likewise includes a solenoid brake 38. As the linear actuator is energized the extendable ram 34 thereof extends or retracts at the election of the operator. Extension of the extendable ram 34 raises the cantilevered member 30. Conversely, retraction of the extendable ram 34 effects lowering of the cantilevered member 30. At the outer end of the cantilevered member 30 there is rotatably connected a transport apparatus 40. The transport apparatus 40 includes a longitudinal member 41 which has at the lower end thereof either a chair or similar device 12 for holding an invalid. 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, the radio control handset 42 comprises basic state-of-the-art components. A transmitter 44 transmits one of four (4) different frequencies which are received by receiver 46 (FIG. 2). 
     Toggle switches 48 and 50 are three (3) positional switches. When the switch is in its neutral position, no signal is generated. When the switch is placed in either of its other two (2) positions, a signal is generated. Switch 48 causes a frequency to be produced which raises the cantilevered member 30 when in its upper position and produces a signal which causes the cantilevered member 30 to be lowered when it is in its lower position. 
     Similar signals are produced in response to movement left or right of switch 50. Movement of switch 50 to the left causes the vertical support member 14 to be rotated counterclockwise while movement to the right causes vertical support member 14 to rotate clockwise. 
     The signals generated by transmitter 14 are transmitted via antenna 52 and received by antenna 54 (FIG. 2). 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, there is disclosed the circuitry for responding to the transmitted signals and effecting control of the linear actuators 20 and 32. The signals are received via antenna 54 by receiver 46. Receiver 46 provides at its outputs 56, 58, 60 and 62 voltages responsive to and indicative of the location of switches 48 and 50. 
     Servomotors 64 and 66 respond to the outputs from receiver 46 to either rotate clockwise or counterclockwise. The servomotors are standard servomotors. Wiper arm 68 on servomotor 64 mates with microswitches 70 and 72. Clockwise movement of wiper arm 68 causes microswitch 70 to close which completes an electrical circuit from alternating current source 74 through limit switch 76 to motor 32. This circuit will cause the cantilevered member 30 to raise. 
     Counterclockwise movement of wiper arm 68 causes microswitch 72 to close which completes an electrical circuit from alternating current source 74 through limit switch 78 to motor 32 which causes the motor to rotate in a direction opposite to when switch 70 is closed. This circuit causes the cantilevered member 30 to lower. 
     Motors 22 and 32 are linear actuators with extendable rams (See FIG. 1). As the motors are energized to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise, the rams 24 and 34 are extended or retracted to effect raising or lowering of the cantilevered member 30 and rotation of vertical support member 14. 
     Similar circuits are provided to motor 20 which causes vertical support member 14 to rotate. As wiper arm 80 rotates clockwise, microswitch 82 closes which causes alternating current to supplied via limit switch 84 to motor 20 to effect clockwise movement of vertical support member 14. When wiper arm 80 rotates counterclockwise, microswitch 86 is closed which provides alternating current via limit microswitch 88 to motor 20 to effect counterclockwise movement of vertical support member 14. 
     The limit switches 76, 78, 84 and 88 are physically located on the lift apparatus to prevent the over-rotation of vertical support member 14 or over-raising or over-lowering of the cantilevered member 30. 
     The limit switches 76, 78, 84 and 88 are positionally disclosed in FIG. 1. Limit switches 76 and 78 control or limit the upward and downward movement of cantilevered member 30. Limit switch 76 is positioned above the cantilevered member 30. As the cantilevered member 30 moves upward, the switch is impacted by the upper surface of the cantilevered member to thus cause the switch to open which breaks the circuit to the linear actuator 38 to prevent further upward movement of the cantilevered member 30 which, of course, prevents further extension of extendable ram 34. Conversely, limit switch 78 is positioned beneath cantilevered member 30. As the cantilevered member is lowered, its lower surface will impact limit switch 78 which breaks the circuit or opens the circuit to the motor of linear actuator 38 to thus prevent further retraction of extendable ram and thereby further lowering of the cantilevered member 30. 
     Similar limit switches 84 and 88 are disposed at the base of vertical support member 14. A wand 98 is affixed to the periphery of vertical support member 14. As vertical support member 14 rotates clockwise or counterclockwise the wand will impact limit switch 84 and limit switch 88, respectively. As the wand impacts the limit switch 88, it causes the circuit to be opened to linear actuator 20 to prevent further counterclockwise rotational movement of vertical member 14. As wand 98 rotates in a clockwise direction the wand will ultimately contact limit switch 84 to cause it to open and thus break the circuit to linear actuator 20 to prevent further clockwise rotational movement of vertical support member 14. 
     The present invention also has a manual override control for use in lieu of the radio control unit. The manual override panel 89 has four (4) normally open switches 90, 92, 94 and 96. Closing of switch 90 is the same as closing microswitch 70 which causes cantilevered member 30 to raise. Closing of switch 92 is the same as closing microswitch 72 and causes cantilevered member 30 to lower. Closing of switch 94 is the same as closing microswitch 82 and causes vertical support member 14 to rotate clockwise. Closing of switch 96 is the same as closing microswitch 86 and causes vertical support member 14 to rotate counterclockwise. 
     Brakes 22 and 38 of linear actuators 20 and 32 are engaged to brake or secure inaction of the extendable rams when no power is supplied thereto. When power is supplied to the brakes, they release the extendable rams to permit movement. Thus, the brake circuits are connected in parallel with the circuits to the motors. 
     Referring now to FIG. 4, extendable ram 24 is shown partly cut-away. At its outer end and &#34;L&#34; shaped tie rod 26 is rotatably connected to flange or tie rod 28. Flange 28 is permanently secured to the periphery of vertical support member 14. As the extendable ram 24 extends or retracts, it exerts a force on flange 28 which imparts rotational movement to vertical support member 14. 
     The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size, shape and materials as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.