Patent Publication Number: US-2022233369-A1

Title: Safety assistive belt for patient transfer

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/157,987, filed on Jan. 25, 2021, and claims priority thereto, which claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional application with Ser. No. 62/967,012, filed on Jan. 28, 2020, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The inventive concept relates generally to a safety assistive belt for use with disabled or senior patients. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Currently, there are a number of solutions for transferring people or patients who may need assistance when moving from a first location to another location. One of these solutions attempts to utilize gait belts, but this solution fails to meet the needs of the market because gait belts are not retractable or wearable for immediate assistance when transferring patients from one plane to another. Another solution attempts to utilize a personal lifting device, but this solution is similarly unable to meet the needs of the market because personal lifting devices are expensive and restricted to certain types of patients and require additional space. Still another solution seeks to employ human assistance, but this solution also fails to meet market needs because there may be no one to help. Therefore, there currently exists a need in the market for an apparatus that helps transfer patients from one location to another in a safe manner. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The inventive concept relates generally to a retractable safety assistive belt. It would be advantageous to have an apparatus for the assisted transference of patients that is retractable, is compact, and can be worn at all times. The disclosed inventive concept, also known as a “Ty Safety Belt,” is accessible and clips onto a garment waistline or a beltline, the inventive concept readily available for use. 
     Still further, the inventive concept is designed for the transference of a patient and is lockable for the transference and releasable upon completion of transferring the patient. 
     The inventive concept advantageously fills the aforementioned deficiencies by providing a retractable safety assistive belt, which provides a way for caretakers to efficiently help move patients. 
     In one example embodiment, the inventive concept is a retractable belt assembly that includes a strap or band member that wraps around a patient. The strap or band member is attached at one end to a latch member and at the other end to a retractor assembly with the latch member being coupled to a buckle mechanism. The strap or band member rolls or is retracted into the retractor. In one embodiment, the retractor retracts the strap or band member via at least one coiled spring. In another embodiment, the retractor may operate via at least one electric motor. In another embodiment, the retractor may operate manually and can be pulled out to the desired waist length. 
     The strap or band member portion of the retractable belt assembly restrains the movement of the body part. The strap or band member eases the sought movement of the body. As one example, the strap or band member, by providing a handhold to a caregiver, allows the caregiver to guide the patient safely from a bed to a chair while preventing that person from falling. The inventive concept described herein fulfills the need for a patient assistance belt. 
     Among other things, it is an advantage of the inventive concept to provide a safety assistive belt that does not suffer from any of the problems or deficiencies associated with prior solutions. 
     In another embodiment, the strap or band member is made from synthetic materials such as nylon. 
     In one embodiment of the inventive concept, the strap or band member portion of the assembly has markings that allow for measurement, and the marking measurement is there to provide measurements for adaptive equipment needs, such as wheelchairs, walkers etc. 
     In one embodiment, the apparatus has a belt clip to be clipped on the waist or garment for the immediate assistive use when needed. In another embodiment, the apparatus has at least one quick-release button or lever. In yet another embodiment, the apparatus has at least one releasable hook. 
     It is still further an advantage of the inventive concept to have washable components. In one embodiment, the strap or band member is at least partly detachable from the retractor to facilitate replacement or such functions as maintenance and cleaning. 
     Still further, the inventive concept has a storage case with at least one clip disposed thereon to allow affixing the storage case to a garment or belt for easy accessibility and immediate use. 
     The present disclosure relates to an added embodiment of the assembly for supporting the safe transfer of a person from one location to another. A housing assembly defines and substantially contains the buckle mechanism. A retractable strap or band member is adapted to be at least partially disposed inside the housing assembly at a proximal end of the strap or band member, the proximal end of the strap or band member disposed through a distal slot portion of the housing assembly. The proximal end of the strap or band member is operatively coupled to the retractor assembly disposed within the housing assembly, Matching measurement indicators displayed on at least one or more of the inner surface and the outer surface of the strap or band member are adapted to adjust the strap or band member for the girth of the person when the strap or band member is at least partly extended. The latch member is coupled to the distal end of the strap or band member. The buckle member of the buckle mechanism is disposed within the housing assembly and is designed to secure the latch member to the buckle mechanism, the buckle member adapted to release the latch member from the buckle mechanism when the depressible spring and button member disposed on the housing assembly is depressed, the latch member, when in a resting state, secured by a spring-loaded bolt member through an eyelet of the latch member, the latch member designed to be inserted in a proximal slot portion of the housing assembly. 
     In this added embodiment, the retractor assembly further has a retractor and locking mechanism having a retract bracket, a retract gear, a retract shaft, a locking plate, the at least one coiled spring member, and a spacer member, the locking mechanism designed to allow the strap or band member to lock at any one of a plurality of circumferences. A locking switch mechanism is designed to maintain and release the selected circumference of the strap or band member. 
     In this added embodiment of the assembly for supporting the safe transfer of a person from one location to another, the retractor member is substantially a cylinder. The measurement indicators include both metric and English units. The strap or band member is substantially made from nylon. The buckle mechanism, the latch member, and buckle member incorporate 6061 Aluminum. The latch member is substantially covered by a polymer coating. A clip member is affixed to a back surface of the housing assembly defining the buckle mechanism. Alternatively, at least one belt loop member may be affixed to the back surface of the housing assembly defining the buckle mechanism. The clip member is at least partly covered by a polymer coating. A cover member may be pivotally coupled to the housing assembly designed, when in a closed state, to prevent depressing the button member. 
     In this added embodiment, one or more removable clip or loop members may be disposed on the strap or band member designed to provide coupling points for at least one or more of a leg support strap or band member and a shoulder harness strap or band member. Each may be disposed together or apart within a separate housing assembly designed to be in an open or closed state, having at least one clip member disposed on a back side of the separate housing assembly designed to be removably coupled to a belt or garment member, the separate housing assembly further designed to carry a separate strap or band member designed to circumscribe a waist. Supplementary connector straps or bands may be included. 
     In this added embodiment, a supplementary housing assembly may be designed to be removably coupled to a belt or garment member by at least one clip member disposed on a back side of the supplementary housing assembly. This embodiment is designed to carry a separate strap or band member designed to circumscribe a waist and may be used together or apart from the housing assembly defining the buckling mechanism. 
     Another added embodiment is a method for supporting the safe transfer of a person from one location to another. The method includes pulling from the housing assembly defining the buckle mechanism the retractable strap or band member designed to be at least partially disposed inside the housing assembly at the proximal end of the strap or band member, the proximal end of the strap or band member disposed through the distal slot portion of the housing assembly. The method further includes drawing the strap or band member around the person to the length of at least one or more of substantially the person&#39;s waist and matching measurement indicators displayed on at least one or more of the inner surface and the outer surface of the strap or band member, the strap or band member designed to be adjusted to the girth of the person when the strap or band member is at least partly extended. 
     In this added embodiment, the method includes coupling the latch member coupled to the distal end of the strap or band member to the buckle member of the buckle mechanism disposed within the housing assembly to secure the latch member to the buckle mechanism, the buckle member designed to release the latch member from the buckle mechanism when the depressible spring and button member disposed on the housing assembly is depressed, releasing the latch member from the spring-loaded bolt member, the latch member designed to be inserted in the proximal slot portion of the housing assembly facing the latch member. The method further includes engaging the retractor assembly further having the retractor and locking mechanism having the retract bracket, the retract gear, the retract shaft, the locking plate, the at least one coiled spring member, and the spacer member, the locking mechanism locking the strap or band member at one of the plurality of potential circumferences. The method further includes engaging the locking mechanism to maintain the selected circumference of the strap or band member. The method may further include a cover member that is rendered into an open state to expose the button member and is rendered into a closed state after engaging the locking switch. The method may further include a step wherein the housing assembly is first secured by the clip member to one or more of the belt or garment member. 
     In this added embodiment, the method includes the retracting and locking mechanism having the retractor assembly, a retract gear, a retract shaft, a locking plate, the at least one coiled spring member, and a spacer, each substantially constructed out of metal to accommodate the strength requirements, such as 6061 Aluminum, to provide strength, hardness, and non-corrosive properties at an affordable cost. This embodiment is comparable to a standard seatbelt assembly. Substantially, the strap or band member can be pulled out with infinite variability due to the constant retract force being applied. This operation will allow the strap or band member to be placed around patients of most sizes. Once the strap or band member is fitted around the patient, the mechanical locking switch (comparable to a tape measure locking switch) can be moved into a position that will cause the locking plate to come into contact with the retract gear causing the strap or band member to become fixed. Once the strap or band member is fixed, a person can aid in the moving another person from plane to plane. The strap or band member may also be termed a belt. 
     The inventive concept now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are intended to be read in conjunction with both this summary, the detailed description, and any preferred and/or particular embodiments specifically discussed or otherwise disclosed. This inventive concept may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of illustration only and so that this disclosure will be thorough, complete, and will fully convey the full scope of the inventive concept to those skilled in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a front view of a first embodiment of a retractable belt assembly according to the teachings herein. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a back view of the retractable belt assembly. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a partially right side view of the retractor belt assembly. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a partially left side view of the retractor belt assembly. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a top view of the retractable belt assembly. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a bottom view of the retractable belt assembly. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of the retractable belt assembly. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates retractor and locking mechanism elements of the retractable belt assembly. 
         FIGS. 9A and 9B  illustrate a perspective view of an open and shut button cover, respectively, of the retractable belt assembly. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates an exploded view of a housing assembly and the interior of the retractor and locking mechanism elements of the improved retractable belt assembly. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates added retractor and locking mechanism elements of the improved retractable belt assembly. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a front view of an improved embodiment of a retractable belt assembly according to the teachings herein. 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a back view of the improved retractable belt assembly. 
         FIG. 14  illustrates a partially right side view of the improved retractor belt assembly. 
         FIG. 15  illustrates a partially left side view of the improved retractor belt assembly. 
         FIG. 16  illustrates a top view of the improved retractable belt assembly. 
         FIG. 17  illustrates a bottom view of the improved retractable belt assembly. 
         FIG. 18  illustrates a perspective view of the improved retractable belt assembly. 
         FIG. 19  illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of the improved retractable belt assembly. 
         FIG. 20  illustrates leg and shoulder strap or band member options of the retractable belt assembly. 
         FIG. 21  illustrates the front view of the supplementary storage case. 
         FIG. 22  illustrates the back view of the supplementary storage case. 
         FIG. 23  illustrates the left side view of the supplementary storage case. 
         FIG. 24  illustrates the right-side view of the supplementary storage case8 
         FIG. 25  illustrates the top view of the supplementary storage case. 
         FIG. 26  illustrates the bottom view of the supplementary storage case. 
         FIG. 27  illustrates a perspective view of the supplementary storage case with the holder clip. 
         FIG. 28  illustrates an interior perspective view of a retracting and locking mechanism for the assistive belt. 
         FIG. 29A-29B  illustrates a flowchart of a method of using the retractable belt assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Following are more detailed descriptions of various related concepts related to, and embodiments of, methods and apparatus according to the present disclosure. It should be appreciated that various aspects of the subject matter introduced above and discussed in greater detail below may be implemented in any of numerous ways, as the subject matter is not limited to any particular manner of implementation. Examples of specific implementations and applications are provided primarily for illustrative purposes. 
     The various embodiments of the inventive concept include a retractable safety assistive belt and related accessories. 
     Referring to the figures,  FIGS. 1-8  illustrate views of one embodiment of the retractable belt assembly device that includes a strap or band member  110  that is attached at one end by a latch member  120  and a retractor assembly  140 . The latch member  120  is insertable into a buckle mechanism  130  whereupon it is secured by a spring-loaded bolt member  155  through the eyelet  125  of the latch member  120 . A front-facing button member  150  when pressed depresses an at least one spring  157  extending the spring-loaded bolt member  155  and allows the release of the latch member  120  from the buckle mechanism  130 . The strap or band member  110  rolls into the retractor assembly  140  onto a retractor cylinder member  170  via at least one coiled retractor spring  172  and is arrested by a claw  180  and a set of gears  182 . The claw  180  has a locking switch mechanism  184 . The strap or band member  110  optionally includes measurement marks  160 . 
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  illustrate one embodiment of a cover member  196  which may be pivotally coupled to the housing assembly  104  designed, when in a closed state, to prevent depressing the button member  150 . The cover member  196  may be pivotally coupled to the housing assembly  100  or, with reference to  FIG. 10 , other embodiments of the housing assembly such as  300 , where it can best cover the button member  150  or other embodiments of the button member such as, with reference to  FIGS. 12-19, 350 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates another embodiment of an assembly  300  for supporting the safe transfer of a person from one location to another. A housing assembly  305  defines part of the buckle mechanism  330 . A retractable strap or band member  310  is designed to be at least partially disposed inside the housing assembly  305  at a proximal end of the strap or band member  311  (not shown but similar to band  110  of assembly  100 ), the proximal end of the strap or band member  311  disposed through a distal slot portion of the housing assembly  305 . The proximal end of the strap or band member  311  is operatively coupled to retractor assembly  340  (not shown but similar to assembly  140  described above) disposed within the housing assembly  305 . Matching measurement indicators  360  (not shown but similar to indicators  160  of assembly  140 ) displayed on at least one or more of the inner surface and the outer surface of the strap or band member  308 ,  302  (similar to the at least one or more of the inner surface and the outer surface of the strap or band member  108 ,  102 ) and are designed to adjust the strap or band member  310  for the girth of the person when the strap or band member is at least partly extended. A latch member  320  is coupled to a distal end of the strap or band member  311  (similar to the latch member  120  coupled to the distal end of the strap or band member  111 ). The buckle member  331  (not shown) (similar to the buckle member  131 ) of the buckle mechanism  330  is disposed within the housing assembly  30   o  designed to secure the latch member  320  to the buckle mechanism  330 , the buckle member  331  designed to release the latch member  320  from the buckle mechanism  330  when a depressible at least one spring  357  similar to the at least one depressible spring  157  and the button member  350  (not shown) disposed on the housing assembly  305  is depressed, the latch member, when in a resting state, secured by a spring-loaded bolt member  355  through an eyelet  325  of the latch member  320 , the latch member  320  designed to be inserted in a proximal slot portion of the housing assembly  301 . 
     This embodiment further utilizes a retractor assembly  340 , similar to the one disclosed in  FIGS. 1-8 , further having a retractor and locking mechanism  390  having a retract bracket  391 , a retract gear  392 , a retract shaft  393 , a locking plate  394 , the at least one coiled spring member  372 , and a spacer member  395 , the locking mechanism  390  designed to allow the strap or band member  310  to lock at any one of a plurality of circumferences. A locking switch mechanism  384  is designed to maintain and release the selected circumference of the strap or band member  310 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 10 , which is a second and improved embodiment of the safety assistive transport assembly  300  for supporting the safe transfer of a person from one location to another, the retractor member  370  is substantially a cylinder. The measurement indicators  360  include both metric and English units. The strap or band member  310  is substantially made from nylon. The buckle mechanism  330 , the latch member  320 , and buckle member  331  incorporate 6061 Aluminum. The latch member  320  is substantially covered by a polymer coating. A clip member  361  (not shown) is affixed to a back surface of the housing assembly  300  defining the buckle mechanism  330 . Alternatively, at least one belt loop member  362  may be affixed to the back surface of the housing assembly  309  defining the buckle mechanism  330 . The clip member  361  may be at least partly covered by a polymer coating. With reference to  FIG. 9A , embodiment  300  can also include a cover member  196  that may be pivotally coupled to the front face of the housing assembly  104  designed, when in a closed state, to prevent depressing the front-facing button member  150 . 
       FIG. 11  illustrates that the second improved embodiment may include a retractable mechanism  503 , at least one locking arm  504 , a lock member  505 , a strap cover  506 , at least one first screw  507 , at least one second screw  508 , and at least one locking arms base  509 . 
     The embodiment of the inventive concept illustrated in  FIGS. 10-18A and 18B  includes the improved retracting and locking mechanism  390  having the retractor assembly  340 , a retract gear  392 , a retract shaft  393 , a locking plate  394 , the at least one coiled spring member  372 , and a spacer  395 . The elements illustrated in  FIG. 10-18  are substantially constructed out of metal to accommodate the strength requirements, such as 6061 Aluminum, to provide strength, hardness, and non-corrosive properties at an affordable cost. This embodiment is comparable to a standard seatbelt assembly. Substantially, the strap or band member  310  can be pulled out with infinite variability due to the constant retract force being applied. This operation will allow the strap or band member  310  to be placed around a patient of most sizes. Once the strap or band member  310  is fitted around the patient, the mechanical locking switch  384  (comparable in operation to a tape measure locking switch and designed to operably conform to associated mechanisms of the retractor assembly  340 ) can be moved into a position that will cause the locking plate  394  to come into contact with the retract gear  392  causing the strap or band member  310  to become fixed. Once the strap or band member  310  is fixed, a person can aid in the moving the inventive concept from plane to plane. 
     Referring to the figures,  FIGS. 12-19  further illustrate the second and improved embodiment of the retractable belt assembly device that includes a strap or band member  310  that is attached at one end by a latch member  320  and a retractor assembly  340 . The latch member  320  is insertable into a buckle mechanism  330  whereupon it is secured by a spring-loaded bolt member  355  through the eyelet  325  of the latch member  320 . The button member  350  when pressed depresses an at least one spring  357  extending the spring-loaded bolt member  355  and allows the release of the latch member  320  from the buckle mechanism  330 . The strap or band member  310  rolls into the retractor assembly  340 . The strap or band member  310  optionally includes measurement marks  360 . 
       FIG. 20  illustrates that one or more removable clip or loop members  165  may be disposed on the strap or band member  110  designed to provide coupling points  166  for at least one or more of a leg support strap or band member  115  and a shoulder harness strap or band member  116 . Each may be disposed together or apart within a separate housing assembly  117  designed to be in an open or closed state, having at least one clip member  161  disposed on a back side of the separate housing assembly  118  designed to be removably coupled to a belt or garment member, the separate housing assembly  117  further designed to carry a separate strap or band member designed to circumscribe a waist. Supplementary connector straps or bands  112  may be included. 
       FIG. 21-28  illustrates an example embodiment that has a supplementary housing assembly  200 . The supplementary housing assembly  200  is designed to contain a separate strap or band member adapted to circumscribe a waist contained in an interior portion of the supplementary housing assembly  205 . At least one clip member  161  may be disposed on a back side of the supplementary housing assembly  209 . The supplementary housing assembly  200  and separate strap or band member may be used together or apart from the housing assembly  100  defining the buckling mechanism  130 . 
       FIGS. 29A-29B  illustrates a method for supporting the safe transfer of a person from one location to another. The method includes  410  pulling from the housing assembly  300  defining the buckle mechanism  330  the retractable strap or band member  310  designed to be at least partially disposed inside the housing assembly  300  at the proximal end of the strap or band member  311 , the proximal end of the strap or band member  311  disposed through the distal slot portion of the housing assembly  309 . The method further includes  420  drawing the strap or band member  310  around the person to the length of at least one or more of substantially the person&#39;s waist and matching measurement indicators  360  displayed on at least one or more of the inner surface  302  and the outer surface  308  of the strap or band member  310 , the strap or band member  310  designed to be adjusted to the girth of the person when the strap or band member  310  is at least partly extended. 
       FIG. 29A-29B  further illustrates that the method includes  430  coupling the latch member  320  coupled to the distal end of the strap or band member  319  to the buckle member  331  of the buckle mechanism  330  disposed within the housing assembly  300  to secure the latch member  320  to the buckle mechanism  330 , the buckle member  331  designed to release the latch member  320  from the buckle mechanism  330  when the depressible spring and button member  350  disposed on the housing assembly  304  is depressed, releasing the latch member  320  from the spring-loaded bolt member  355 , the latch member  320  designed to be inserted in the proximal slot portion of the housing assembly  301  facing the latch member  320 . The method further includes  440  engaging the retractor assembly  340  further having the retractor and locking mechanism  390  having the retract bracket  391 , the retract gear  392 , the retract shaft  393 , the locking plate  394 , the at least one coiled spring member  372 , and the spacer member  395 , the locking mechanism  390  locking the strap or band member  310  at one of the plurality of potential circumferences. The method further includes  450  engaging the locking mechanism to maintain the selected circumference of the strap or band member  310 . The method may further include  460  the cover member  396  that is rendered into an open state to expose the button member  350  and is rendered into the closed state after engaging the locking switch  384 . The method may first include  400  wherein the housing assembly  300  is first secured by the clip member  361  to one or more of the belt or garment member. 
     The following patents are incorporated by reference in their entireties: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,132,229, 6,076,527, and 5,626,398. 
     While the inventive concept has been described above in terms of specific embodiments, it is to be understood that the inventive concept is not limited to these disclosed embodiments. Upon reading the teachings of this disclosure, many modifications and other embodiments of the inventive concept will come to mind of those skilled in the art to which this inventive concept pertains, and which are intended to be and are covered by both this disclosure and the appended claims. It is indeed intended that the scope of the inventive concept should be determined by proper interpretation and construction of the appended claims and their legal equivalents, as understood by those of skill in the art relying upon the disclosure in this specification and the attached drawings.