Patent Publication Number: US-5524303-A

Title: Person lifter/rotator

Description:
RELATED U.S. APPLICATION DATA 
     This is a continuation of patent application Ser. No. 08/105,348 filed on Aug. 10, 1993 now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND-FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to equipment used in homes, nursing homes, retirement homes, hospitals, and other private and public places for moving elderly and disabled persons on and off beds, wheelchairs, furniture, and other devices. The device of this invention is specifically designed for assisting a person to rise from a sitting position to a generally standing position, rotating him or her to a different direction, and resitting on a different device or piece of furniture. It can be operated by the user without assistance from a caregiver in many cases. 
     BACKGROUND-DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
     Many borderline ambulant disabled persons are generally able to care for themselves. However, transferring from one device to another often becomes the function that makes them dependent on a caregiver. Presently the lift and tilt chair is useful in helping a person assume a standing position, but it is only useful in its stationary location and it lacks the capability of rotating its user. Wheelchairs incorporating features of the lift chair such as those shown in Fortner, U.S. Pat. No. 4,948,156 and Mankowski, U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,008 allow the user the privilege of standing wherever the wheelchair can travel. Unfortunately, they do not assist the user in turning around and sitting on another device. 
     James, U.S. Pat. No. 4,918,771 and 4,703,523 shows transfer devices that must be operated by a caregiver. Petrini&#39;s device, U.S. Pat. No. 3,940,808 also requires a caregiver for its operation. 
     Hefty, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,999,862 and Hart et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,569,094 show devices that are too high and bulky to be practical in most environments. 
     OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
     Accordingly, objects and advantages of the present invention are: 
     (a) to provide a device to assist a person in standing from a sitting position, rotating to a different direction, and then resitting; 
     (b) to provide a device that can be operated by the user in many cases; 
     (c) to provide a device that can be furnished as either a stationary model or a mobile model; 
     (d) to provide in a mobile model a device that is low enough to traverse under a dining table or office desk; 
     (e) to provide a device that can be electric, hydraulic, or pneumatically powered; 
     (f) to provide a device that can be attached to or incorporated into the fabrication of a wheelchair, lawn mower, tractor, or other traveling machine or device; 
     (g) to provide a device that is light in weight; 
     Further objects and advantages are to provide a device that can be economically manufactured and distributed. Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings. 
    
    
     DRAWING FIGURES 
     In the drawings, closely related figures have the same number but different alphabetic suffixes. 
     FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a stationary Person Lifter/Rotator positioned for a user sitting in a wheelchair to grip the handles of this invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an elevation view similar to that of FIG. 1 showing the person standing on the standing platform of the device and rotated 180 degrees. 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view of the device of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 4 is an elevation view of a Person Lifter/Rotator having wheels for mobility and a handle for pulling. 
     FIG. 5 is a plan view of the device of FIG. 4. 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of a Person Lifter/Rotator having a pulling device within the vertical support column. 
     FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of the device of FIG. 6. 
     FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of a Person Lifter/Rotator attached to or incorporated into the fabrication of a wheelchair. 
     FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of the device of FIG. 8. 
     FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of a Person Lifter/Rotator incorporated in the fabrication of a three or four wheel mobility device. 
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS 
     1-10 Figs. 
     11-18 embodiments 
     20 bed 
     30-32 wheelchair and user 
     40-49 base 
     50-56 rotating standing platform 
     60-69 vertical support column 
     70-78 body engaging parts 
     80-89 pulling system 
     90-99 parallel linkage lifting arm system 
     100-104 device attached to a wheelchair 
     110 compressed air supply tank 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A preferred embodiment 11 of the present invention is illustrated in its most basic configuration in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. Base 40 which is placed on the floor must be stable enough to prevent overturning while a user is preforming the standing process. For a permanent installation it can be rigidly affixed to the floor. Powered rotating standing platform 50 rotates about vertical axle 41 and on bearings 42 of base 40. Retainer 52 holds together base 40 and standing platform 50. Vertical support column 60 is fixed to standing platform 50, however, it may be mounted off center thereby providing a user more unobstructed standing room and it may be detachable for ease of transporting if desired by withdrawing connector 66. The height of the vertical support column may be adjustable by placing inner support column part 62 inside vertical support column 60 and holding it in position by inserting retainer 64 through a desired hole 63 in inner support column 62. Handle bar 70 with hand grips 72 attaches to inner support column 62. Electric, pneumatic, or hydraulic control switch 74 actuates drive motor/brake 80 which power rotates standing platform 50. 
     During use a wheelchair 30 user 32 will place his or her feet on the powered rotating standing platform 50 and will pull up to a standing position 32A. Standing user 32A or a caregiver (not shown) activates switch 74 so that the device (except for base parts 40) rotates to a new direction. Bed 20 represents the device user 32A is now positioned to sit on. 
     FIG. 3 shows parts previously described plus holes 43 in base 40 for securing the device to a firm surface. Anti-skid surface 54 is useful in preventing a user&#39;s feet from slipping during the transfer process. 
     FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show embodiment 12 with base 40A mounted on wheels 44 which may be powered. For transporting a heavy person it may be desirable to provide powered drive wheels 44 which would be battery powered. Caster assembly 45 and offset tow handle 46 allow for easy moving of the device to different locations. 
     FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 show embodiment 14 having powered features for assisting a user in standing. Powered rotating standing platform 50A has fittings 67 and 67&#39; to pivotally connect vertical support column 60A and tilt drive 68. In some cases it will be advantageous to tilt vertical support column 60A toward the user before lifting and rotating. Chest support 76 is attached to column part 66 and knee support 78 has been added to vertical support column 60A. Rodless pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder 80 is mounted within vertical support column 60A. Pulling cable 82 connects to a piston in rodless cylinder 80, travels over sheave 84, and connects to hook 86. Hook 86 attaches to a belt or sling that will be fitted around the waist or chest of the user. Upon activation of switch 88 compressed gas or a liquid from hose 87 supplies the force to move rodless cylinder 80 causing the user to be pulled forward and upward. The chest support 76 and knee support 78 steady the user during the standing and rotating process. 
     FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 show in embodiment 16 that the lifter/rotator of the present invention can be incorporated in the original construction of a wheelchair (not specifically shown) or can be attached to an existing wheelchair 100. Base 40B attaches to wheelchair 100 with stud 47 inserted in hub 102 (the hub in which the original front wheel casters resided) and fitting 48 to an aft point on the frame. New caster hub assembly 44B receives wheelchair 100 original wheel and caster assembly 106. Vertical actuator 47 raises and lowers wheel and castor assembly 106 for leveling the device, on unlevel surfaces, for a safer lifting and rotating process. Horizontal slide 49 traveling in base 40B is connected to caster hub assembly 44B providing for forward and aft movement of wheel and caster assembly 106. This will, for instance, allow one front wheel of the wheelchair to be over a curb and on the roadway while the other wheel remains on the sidewalk. Part 104 may be added as a kick plate. Vertical support column 60B mounted off-center on powered rotating standing platform 50B is capped with a parallel linkage lifting arm system 90 pivot assembly 69. Within vertical support column 60B is an optional vertical slide lift system which raises and lowers utility platform 85. A slot in one side of vertical support column 60B allows connecting the utility platform 85 to vertical slide 89. Additional lift and pull hooks 86 and 86&#39; are provided. One end of near side parallel linkage lifting arms 94 and 94&#39; (identical far side arms are not shown) connect to pivoting axles 95 and 95&#39; and the other end connects to similar axles in the padded body rest 92. The padded body rest 92 illustrated wraps around a user&#39;s chest and under his or her arms so as to distribute the lifting forces over a user&#39;s torso and limbs as much as possible. Other body engaging configurations such as a slide platform 91 suspended 93 from a shortened parallel linkage lifting arm system 94 and 94&#39; for a legless person could be used as well. The user would slide from the device he or she is presently sitting onto the platform 91, rotate to the new direction desired, raise or lower the platform 91 colevel with the device to be seated on and sliding onto the new device for an easy transfer. Hook 97 can be used to attach a sling if desired. Handle and control console 98 provides a gripping surface and control functions for both powered rotating and lifting. Actuator 96 pivots arms 94 and 94&#39; between a horizontal and a vertical position thereby lifting a user forward and upward. Storage tank 110 supplies compressed gas to the various rotating and lifting systems. The actuators could be electrically driven if desired, and storage tank 110 would be replaced with a battery. 
     FIG. 10 illustrates in embodiment 18 the device incorporated in a mobility vehicle 100A similar to those used by the elderly for making short trips around their neighborhood. 51 represents the bearing plane on which standing platform 50C rotates. Foot rest 56 is adjustably inclined with actuator 60C. 99 represents an adjustable work surface that will maintain its preset incline regardless of the position of lifting arms 94 and 94&#39;. It would be simple to install the device in many types of equipment, for instance tractors, lawn mowers, boats, lift trucks, etc. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the reader will see that the present invention describes a system for assisting a disabled person in standing, turning to a different direction, and sitting on another device or piece of furniture. Furthermore, the device has additional advantages in that 
     it can be furnished as either a stationary or mobile unit; 
     it provides for a selection of lifting configurations, from simple gripping handles to elaborate body engaging rests and slings. A user could start with a simple system and as his or her condition deteriorates upgrade to another system by just changing the lifting assembly. The base and rotating part of the device would not require changing; 
     in a pneumatic configuration it allows a user to &#34;bounce up&#34; as he or she did before becoming completely unable to stand. By adjusting the air pressure just enough to complete the standing process the user is still able to use his or her muscles; 
     it provides for a variety of controls, such as finger, toe, voice, sip and puff, etc. This feature enables many users to make a transfer unassisted by a caregiver. 
     Preferred embodiments and variants have been suggested for this invention. Other modifications may be made, as by adding, combining, deleting, or subdividing components, parts, or steps, while retaining advantages and benefits of the present invention--which is defined in the following claims. 
     Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.