Patent CA-2639061-A1 (CA)
Inventor: AL-HARAZI SHIRAZ
IPC: A61G7/14
Filed: 2008-09-08
Abstract: Brief assistive devices industry background summar Many hospital patients and senior citizens lack mobility freedom. There are many various assistive devices which aid in the movement and transport of these physically challenged individuals. To name a few assistive devices, there are wheelchairs, walkers, scooters and walking sticks. At some point during transport movement, they require transfers from these assistive devices to a bed, bathtub, sofas, automobiles, public pools etc.  Continuously lifting patients have caused many back injuries at homes and hospitals and because of this, all hospitals have initiated a zero lift policies for the practicing nurses. Manufacturers have come far by developing and selling various lifting devices which are rolled to the bed, car etc and a small actuator lifts the patients up or down. Other ways are use of ceiling lifts to avoid slippery floors or frictional surfaces such as carpets etc, in which a motorized lifting device is attached with a strap to a ceiling track. The track itself is made out of an extruded metal.  Inside the tract rolls a 6 wheeled carriage. The carriage also acts like a lifting pivot and provides a single directional movement function to transfer patients to the desired locations, but limited only to where the tracks are laid track.     In my invention the freedom to position and transfer patients, anywhere is greatly enhanced. This raises the mobility as well as the standard of living for a maturing population which is a growing trend. The market demographics for this product are very strong as the baby boomers are retiring.      Expanding on the existing Problem The main purpose of the problem was overcome some disadvantages and difficulties associated with the track lift systems. The track system provided motion in the direction where the tracks are permanently installed. The lifting positions were limited to where the tracks were installed.  More tracks were necessary if they were needed to reach certain areas like a bath tub, toilet etc.  and if the track crossed one another then they had to have a mechanical turntable installed at the cross-over junction to allow a change in direction. More over, the track looks ugly with protruding rail in the ceiling.      Objectives The challenge was to make the track available in an area of a room and avoiding the rotational directional change. They also had to have an appealing decorative and a pleasing look. It also had to accommodate existing motor lifts which are available in the market. The design had to be strong to carry patient weights and offer smooth quite movements.     The solution The invention is based on the principle of a free standing trapped carriage sliding freely and safely in an x-y motion, inside the grove of this embodiment. The main embodiment consists of decorative trap bolts assembled to ceiling tile, and a free moving carriage which holds the patient load.     Horizontal movement The carriage would be able to move in any x-y horizontal position under the ceiling tile guided by the embodiment's central structural trap bolts. The gravitational fall is prevented by having the carriage diameter sized larger than the bottom base of the trap bolts.     Vertical movement Would remain the same as available in the market and this invention will accommodate existing available equipment in the market, however the lifts have to be affixed to the invented embodiment's sliding carriage.     Original The type of this embodiment is non existent and obviously, having the ability to he at any horizontal x-y position has practical advantages over existing single track products. This mass produced durable product is very simple, unique and would require minimal service maintenance.  The appropriate preferred practice would be in use in at hospitals, elderly institutions like nursing homes and long term retirement homes as well as homes of our beloved elderly seniors.  The carriage features extends to hold IV bags movable to any where in the room, replace curtain tracks in the hospital where the privacy area could be enlarged or reduced at will because the curtain would follow the carriage wherever it was directed. It would also be associated with other products like a lift, curtain rings, slings etc.     Competition This product would put competition on notice and make some of their products redundant if not obsolete. This is an opportunity with an international scope with a Canadian based design innovation.     Accommodation The embodiment allows incorporating ceiling fixtures such as lamps, smoke alarms via suitable brackets and will have outlets in the ceiling tiles to allow wire runs.     Manufacturing The use of injection mold technology would bring the price level to affordability. The product is profitable, simple and easy to produce. The intent is to use environmental friendly recyclable materials.     Technology The embodiment could be injection molded from readily available high strength advanced polymers. Sliding surfaces could be made out of low friction materials to lower the push force.  The material would have a high wear and tear chemistry element.     Operations The parts can be assembled at site without any special tools. The installation would require close adjoining of tiles on all x-y and also z axis to allow free carriage movement.  The Installers would be certified to tackle safe load distribution and mounting considerations.  Because this product is modular, it can be easily dismantled, transported and accommodated to a new home without damage to existing ceiling.     Spin-off and enhancements Due to the embodiment's ability to be positioned anywhere in the ceiling, spin-off to other industries for lift operations or ceiling use, looks very promising. This technology could be extended to other lifting requirements in industries such as factories, meat plants, public transportation, malls etc. This embodiment offers other hanging products that can he attached to this embodiment.     Limitations Just like the existing tracks, the embodiment would be designed to hold practical patient dynamic weights and exceeding these tested limits would prove risky and hazardous. As in the ceiling lift industry, the various ceilings should also be sufficiently structurally strong for the embodiment to be firmly installed and affixed for safe operation. Additional structural reinforcement could be required in rare cases.     Concerns The tile mounting holes are designed to accommodate concrete ceilings and to various American and European joist sizes. There are objects in the ceiling such as lamps, fans, sprinklers, etc that could interfere if they are not be incorporated within the embodiment. The necessity of this embodiment outweighs the objections to reroute ceiling fixtures and services.  Others may object placing any thing on the ceiling.     Disclosures This patent has not been disclosed to any body except trusted family members and a patent attorney.