Abstract:
A manual lifting pelvic harness for lifting or otherwise assisting debilitated patients has a adjustable belt, adjustable straps for encircling the thighs adjacent the buttocks, and fasteners such as tongues and buckles for securing the belt about the patient and securing the straps to the belt. Straps encircle the legs independently or cross over at the patient&#39;s crotch. The belt is wide, padded and slightly stiff. Alternatively, the straps have links at their ends and the links fit over the tongue of the belt before the tongue is inserted into the buckle to fasten the belt.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/012,806, filed Dec. 11, 2007. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention generally relates to devices for lifting people, and more particularly relates to portable hand-operated slings and methods of using the same. 
       GENERAL BACKGROUND  
       [0004]    2. State of the Art 
         [0005]    An increasing population of debilitated people cannot move from bed to chair and back without assistance. There is a rapidly increasing population of the elderly and debilitated who need help in moving. Caregivers may try to pick up patients by the arms, sometimes causing bruises. Another convenient way of helping a person out of a chair is pulling upward on the waistband of pants, but pants are not manufactured for weight bearing and such pressure on the perineum can be painful. 
         [0006]    Individuals requiring assistance range from those with little strength in their legs but active arms, to those who are permanently rigid or flaccid and difficult to move because of those factors. In addition, patients with Alzheimer&#39;s disease may be able to ambulate away from their chairs or beds but become confused and require assistance and lifting to return to beds and chairs. 
         [0007]    Other patients needing assistance are obese or become obese from lack of exercise. A recent study reports the proportion of obese adults in the United States as one third. Often such individuals require the assistance of two caregivers. Two caregivers often are not available in private homes or in small nursing home settings, particularly at night. If large patients fall out of bed at night with a single caregiver, one caregiver may not be able to return the patient to bed. Then the patient must be made “comfortable” until the morning shift arrives with more assistance. 
         [0008]    Lifting patients is also hard on the caregivers. Few caregivers are strong young men. Most are women, and many are not particularly tall or strong. Caregivers cite a variety of injuries, such as to the back, shoulder, wrist and elbow, from striving to move patients under current circumstances. While an obvious solution for these problems would be to install ceiling pulleys to lift patients. most people in charge of the long-term care environment eschew those for a more home-like atmosphere. Further, pulleys only help where they are located. 
         [0009]    Various contraptions have been tried over the years, including various slings and belts. Simple belts have a tendency to slip upward to the patient&#39;s armpits and to make carrying the patient impossible for a short caregiver. Slings under the patient&#39;s buttocks also can slip and let the patient slide down; such action pulls forward the caregiver and stretches the back. 
         [0010]    What is needed is a lifting belt applicable to a patient in the seated position, without need to significantly reposition the patient during placing the belt. Also needed is a method to move the patient up and forward toward the caregiver (for ease of maneuvering) by lifting the patient by applying pressure through the hip and pelvic area on an angle designed to tilt the patient toward the caregiver. Also needed is a harness that is applied in such a way as to enable the belt to remain securely in place during the process of lifting and moving the patient. Clearly, the new device needs to help avoid injury to both the patient and caregiver. 
       INVENTION SUMMARY 
       [0011]    An exemplary embodiment of the manual lifting pelvic harness in accordance with the present invention has a torso-encircling belt having ends releasably joinable one to another; and left and right leg-encircling straps each joined proximally to the belt and each connectable to the belt. The straps cradle the patient by passing along the gluteal fold between the patient&#39;s thighs and buttocks, preventing the belt from sliding up the patient&#39;s torso when the caregiver lifts the belt for the purpose of positioning, guiding or moving the patient. 
         [0012]    An exemplary embodiment in accordance with the present invention has a hand-graspable lifting handle joined to the belt to make it easier for the caregiver to lift the belt and move the patient. The harness may have a plurality of hand-graspable lifting handles joined to the belt, at least one of the lifting handles being located intermediate the lengthwise midpoint of the belt and each end thereof, so that, when the belt is secured about a patient&#39;s waist, at least one handle is located above and slightly to the rear of each of the patient&#39;s hips, so that, when the caregiver stands in front of the patient and lifts the handles, the patient is gently urged or tilted forward toward the caregiver. 
         [0013]    An exemplary embodiment in accordance with the present invention has a buckle attached to a first end of the belt and a tongue attached to an end of the belt opposite the first end, the buckle and the tongue being adapted for mutual selectively releasable engagement. Thus, it is easy to buckle and unbuckle the belt—as if it were a seatbelt. Seatbelt-style tongue-and buckle apparatus are an exemplary fastener for this embodiment. However, other fasteners are also practical and may be preferable. For example, the spring-biased fork-type or bayonet-type of fasteners found on fanny packs and backpacks are also suitable, provided they are heavy-duty and not easily accidentally released. These fasteners have the advantage of being nonmetallic and washable. 
         [0014]    An exemplary embodiment in accordance with the present invention has a tongue and a length adjustment disposed on each of the left and right leg-encircling straps, the length adjustment being releasably securable against tension between the tongue and the strap. A left buckle segment is attached to the belt proximate the left leg encircling strap and distally equipped with a buckle. A right buckle segment is attached to the belt proximate the right leg encircling strap and distally equipped with a buckle. The buckles and the tongues are adapted for mutual selectively releasable engagement. Thus, the caregiver can easily buckle and unbuckle the straps. 
         [0015]    In an exemplary embodiment, the left leg-encircling strap is engageable with the buckle located on the right buckle segment and the right leg-encircling strap is engageable with the buckle located on the left buckle segment. This crossed arrangement cradles the patient differently and, often, more comfortably than the uncrossed arrangement. 
         [0016]    In exemplary embodiment in accordance with the present invention, each of the left and right leg-encircling straps is equipped with a link adapted for engagement with the belt. 
         [0017]    In an exemplary embodiment in accordance with the present invention, the belt has a first end equipped with a tongue and a second end equipped with a buckle, the tongue and the buckle being adapted for mutual selectively releasable engagement so that the belt can easily be fastened about the patient. 
         [0018]    In an exemplary embodiment in accordance with the present invention, the belt has a first end equipped with a tongue and a second end equipped with a buckle, the tongue and the buckle being adapted for mutual selectively releasable engagement. The link of each of the left and right leg-encircling straps is adapted to encircle the tongue of the belt and the tongue of the belt is adapted for the mutual selectively releasable engagement with the buckle while the links are encirclingly disposed on the tongue. 
         [0019]    An exemplary embodiment in accordance with the present invention has a padded patch movably disposed on each of the leg-encircling straps to pad the straps so that they more comfortably engage the patient&#39;s body. 
         [0020]    In an exemplary embodiment in accordance with the present invention, the belt includes a pad and a stiffener. The pad and stiffener help cushion and distribute the load the belt applies to the patient during lifting. The stiffener facilitates inserting the belt behind or under a supine or seated patient. 
         [0021]    A method of harnessing a seated or supine patient in accordance with the present invention has the steps of partially encircling a patient&#39;s torso with a belt; securing the belt about the patient&#39;s waist slightly above the patient&#39;s hips; securing a first end of a left strap to a point on the belt at the patient&#39;s left side, passing a second end of the left strap beneath the patient&#39;s left thigh and forward between the patient&#39;s thighs, and joining the second end of the left strap to the belt proximate the patient&#39;s left side and abdomen; securing a first end of a right strap to a point on the belt at the patient&#39;s left side, passing a second end of the right strap beneath the patient&#39;s right thigh and forward between the patient&#39;s thighs, and joining the second end of the right strap to the belt proximate the patient&#39;s right side and abdomen. This method comfortably and safely lifts the patient. 
         [0022]    An alternative, and often preferred, method of harnessing a seated or supine patient, having the steps of partially encircling a patient&#39;s torso with a belt; securing the belt about the patient&#39;s waist slightly above the patient&#39;s hips; securing a first end of a left strap to a point on the belt at the patient&#39;s left side, passing a second end of the left strap beneath the patient&#39;s left thigh and forward between the patient&#39;s thighs, and joining the second end of the left strap to the belt proximate the patient&#39;s right side and abdomen; securing a first end of a right strap to a point on the belt at the patient&#39;s left side, passing a second end of the right strap beneath the patient&#39;s right thigh and forward between the patient&#39;s thighs, and joining the second end of the right strap to the belt proximate the patient&#39;s left side and abdomen. This alternative method crosses the straps. The inventor found that crossing the straps sometimes improves patient comfort. 
         [0023]    In these methods, the caregiver may add the step of pulling snug the left leg-encircling strap and the right leg-encircling strap. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0024]    For a further understanding of the objects and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which like parts are given like reference numbers and wherein: 
           [0025]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a manual lifting pelvic harness in accordance with the present invention as viewed from the front; 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view thereof, showing the harness fastened about a human torso; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a manual lifting pelvic harness in accordance with the present invention as viewed from the front. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]    The invention will now be described with reference to  FIG. 1 , which illustrates in perspective view a preferred embodiment of the manual lifting pelvic harness in accordance with the present invention, shown generally at  20 , having a belt  30  with lifting handles  32 , a belt tongue  34 , a belt buckle  36  and belt extensions  38  with belt length adjustments  40 ; a left strap  42  with a pad  44 , a left length adjustment  46  and a left tongue  48 ; a left buckle segment  50  with a left buckle  52 ; a right strap  54  with a pad  44 , a right length adjustment  56  and a right tongue  58 ; and a right buckle segment  60  with a right buckle  62 . 
         [0029]    With continued reference to  FIG. 1 , the belt  30  has sufficient length—about 0.8 to 1.2 m (33-49 in.)—to substantially encircle a patient who may be somewhat overweight, at a level above the pelvis and below the waist or, colloquially speaking, just above the hips. The belt  30  may comfortably overlap itself on a slender patient or it may incompletely encircle an obese patient. The belt  30  is formed of a flexible, durable, non-abrasive, stain-resistant material such as polyester or nylon. The belt  30  has a width of approximately 5 cm (2 in.) from edge to edge and is thickened and stiffened by means of a plastic, textile or foam insert sewn within as is commonly observed in knapsack shoulder straps and the like, so that it may be secured snugly about a patient&#39;s waist with minimal risk of discomfort and bruising. The belt  30  itself is open-ended, so that it may be drawn endwise around a patient&#39;s torso and positioned for closure. 
         [0030]    With continued reference to  FIG. 1 , the lifting handles  32  are formed of a durable material such as polyester or nylon and are sewn or riveted permanently onto the belt  30  in a manner enabling a person to firmly grasp one handle with each hand. Alternatively, the lifting handles  32  are formed of hard plastic, metal, wooden dowels, or the like anchored endwise to the belt  30 . The lifting handles  32  are located on the belt  30  so that, when the belt  30  is worn by a patient, the lifting handles  32  are located lateral of the patient&#39;s spine and posterior to the patient&#39;s sides. Alternatively, the lifting handles  32 , which may number more than two, are located at a variety of points along the length of the belt  30 . The belt extensions  38  project endwise from the belt  30  and are preferably formed from a continuous strip of a flexible, durable, stain-resistant material and sewn permanently onto the belt  30 . One belt extension  38  has a belt length adjustment  40  with a belt tongue  34  attached. The belt tongue  34  is formed of metal or some other material having sufficient tensile strength and durability to reliably close a belt  30  which is to be used to lift a person. The other belt extension  38  has a belt length adjustment  40  with a push-button-release-type belt buckle  36  attached, the belt buckle  36  and the belt tongue  34  being adapted for mutual selectively releasable engagement. 
         [0031]    With continued reference to  FIG. 1 , the left strap  42  is formed of a flexible, durable, non-abrasive, stain-resistant material such as polyester or nylon and is sewn or riveted to the belt  30  somewhat below a lifting handle  32 . The left strap  42  passes through the left length adjustment  46  with the left tongue  48  (also formed of metal or other strong, durable material) attached. The left strap  42  has a length of about 0.4 to 0.6 m (about 17-26 in.) and, in any event, a length sufficient to encircle the upper thigh of a patient who may be somewhat overweight. A pad  44  is held onto the left strap  42  by means of elasticized fabric loops  64  and can slide along the left strap  42  and, if desired, off past the left tongue  48 . The pad  44  provides increased comfort and reduces the risk of injury in the gluteal fold area when the patient is being lifted. The left buckle segment  50  has a length of about 0.1 m (about 4 in.) and is formed of a flexible, durable, stain-resistant material such as polyester or nylon. The left buckle segment  50  is sewn or riveted to the belt  30  somewhat forward of a lifting handle  32 , and terminates at the push-button-release-type left buckle  52  which is adapted to releasably retain the left tongue  48 . As can be seen in the figure, the right strap  54  with pad  44 , right length adjustment  56  and right tongue  58 ; and the right buckle segment  60  with right buckle  62 , are formed, arranged and attached in the manner set forth for the left, but on the opposite side of the belt  30 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 2 , a partial perspective view of the manual lifting pelvic harness in accordance with the present invention fastened about a human torso, shows the belt  30  with lifting handles  32 , the belt tongue  34  inserted in the belt buckle  36 , the belt extensions  38  extending across the front of the patient&#39;s abdomen, the belt length adjustments  40  pulled snug; the left strap  42  with pad  44  (drawn in dotted line) positioned on the patient&#39;s gluteal fold, i.e., roughly where the buttock meets the hamstring muscle, the left length adjustment  46  pulled snug, the left tongue  48  inserted in the left buckle  52  attached to the left buckle segment  50 ; the right strap  54  with pad  44  (also drawn in dotted line), the right length adjustment  56  pulled snug, the right tongue  58  inserted in the right buckle  62  attached to the right buckle segment  60 . 
         [0033]    With reference to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the manual lifting pelvic harness is used as follows: First, the belt  30  is wrapped around the patient so that it sits below the patient&#39;s waist and above the superior portions of the patient&#39;s pelvis. The belt  30  is centered over the patient&#39;s lumbar spine. The belt extensions  38  are brought together in front of the patient. The belt tongue  34  is inserted into the belt buckle  36 . The belt length adjustments  40  are adjusted by pulling the belt extensions  38  distal of the belt length adjustments  40  until the belt  30  fits snugly around the patient and thus is less likely to slip when the patient is lifted. 
         [0034]    Next, with continued reference to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the left strap  42  is passed under the patient&#39;s left thigh and the right strap  54  is passed under the patient&#39;s right thigh—in both cases, from the outside, behind the patient&#39;s hamstring muscle, and forward between the patient&#39;s thighs. If necessary, the caregiver lifts the patient&#39;s knee and passes the left strap  42  under the patient&#39;s left thigh. The procedure is repeated to pass the right strap  54  around the patient&#39;s right leg. When the left tongue  48  and the right tongue  58  are positioned between the patient&#39;s thighs, the caregiver pulls them up toward the left buckle  52  and right buckle  62 . The left strap  42  is inserted into the left buckle  52  and the left length adjustment  46  is adjusted by pulling the left strap  42  relative to the left length adjustment  46 . The right tongue  58  is inserted in the right buckle  62  and likewise adjusted. 
         [0035]    In a variation on this procedure, not specifically illustrated in  FIG. 2  but suggested in  FIG. 1 , the caregiver inserts the left strap  42  into the right buckle  62  and inserts the right strap  54  into the left buckle  52 , with the result that the left strap  42  and the right strap  54  cross over one another at the patient&#39;s crotch. In some cases, this crossed-over arrangement cradles the patient more comfortably and reduces the tendency of the left strap  42  and the right strap  54  to bite into the patient&#39;s flesh as the caregiver lifts the patient. Thus, advantages of this preferred embodiment of the present invention include that the left buckle  52  and the right buckle  62  are spaced apart far enough that a meaningful difference is made in whether the left strap  42  and the right strap  54  are crossed or uncrossed (loads are applied differently across the buttocks and crotch area of the patient), and that the caregiver is free to decide in each situation whether to use the left strap  42  and the right strap  54  crossed or uncrossed. It should also be noted that a heavier patient usually has a larger waist, with the result that, when the belt  30  is secured on the patient, the left buckle  52  and the right buckle  62  are spaced apart a greater distance. Thus, in the heavier patient, where loads are greater, the crossed arrangement of the left strap  42  and the right strap  54  advantageously results in a more pronounced redistribution of the load across the patient&#39;s buttocks and crotch area. Another advantage is that the separate left buckle  52  and right buckle  62  are easily identified and manipulated. 
         [0036]    With continued reference to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , to lift the harnessed patient, the caregiver stands with knees bent, facing the patient, and grasps each lifting handle  32  at a position which is slightly posterior to lateral, so that the weight of the patient is greater toward the caregiver. The caregiver then has a capable patient lean forward with the patient&#39;s hands on the caregiver&#39;s shoulders. The caregiver then stands erect with straightened knees while lifting the patient, who can then be moved to another location. 
         [0037]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view an alternative embodiment of the manual lifting pelvic harness in accordance with the present invention, shown generally at  20 , having a belt  30  with lifting handles  32 , a belt tongue  34 , a belt buckle  36  and belt extensions  38  with belt length adjustments  40 ; a left strap  42  with left length adjustment  46  and left link  68 ; and a right strap  54  with right length adjustment  56  and right link  70 . The manual lifting pelvic harness in this alternative embodiment is constructed in the same manner and incorporates the same materials as does the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the left link  68  and the right link  70  being formed of metal or other durable material having high tensile strength for carrying lifting loads. Like the left tongue  48  and the right tongue  58  of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the left link  68  and the right link  70  of this alternative embodiment are attached to the left length adjustment  46  and the right length adjustment  56  and left strap  42  and right strap  54 , respectively, in a manner commonly observed in seatbelts, knapsack straps and the like, such that the length can be reduced by pulling the left strap  42  through the left length adjustment  46 , for example. 
         [0038]    With continued reference to  FIG. 3 , it is seen that the manual lifting pelvic harness in accordance with this alternative embodiment is usable in the same manner as initially described for the embodiment of FIG. I, one difference, however, being that to secure the left strap  42  and the right strap  54  to the belt  30 , the caregiver passes the belt tongue  34  through both the left link  68  and the right link  70  before inserting the belt tongue  34  into the belt buckle  36 . After this step, the left strap  42  and the right strap  54  may be pulled snug as needed. The belt tongue  34  in this embodiment may be elongated to provide clearance for the left link  68  and the right link  70  while still being insertable in the belt buckle  36 . An advantage of this alternative embodiment is the simplicity and cost savings achieved by the omission of the left buckle  52  and the right buckle  62 . 
         [0039]    In the inventor&#39;s experience, moving a disabled patient is a difficult and delicate activity which frequently results in injury to a caregiver. As can be seen from the drawing figures and from the description, each embodiment of the manual lifting pelvic harness in accordance with the present invention makes this activity easier and safer by addressing the unmet need for a safe, practical, portable, affordable, comfortable way of lifting and moving a patient. 
         [0040]    Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose can be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood that the above description has been made in an illustrative fashion, and not a restrictive one. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of various embodiments of the invention includes any other applications in which the above structures and methods are used. Therefore, the scope of various embodiments of the invention should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full range of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. 
         [0041]    It is emphasized that the Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R § 1.72(b) requiring an Abstract that will allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 
         [0042]    In the foregoing Detailed Description, various features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments of the invention require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Description of Preferred Embodiments of the Invention, with each claim standing on its own as a separate preferred embodiment. 
         [0043]    While the specification describes particular embodiments of the present invention, those of ordinary skill can devise variations of the present invention without departing from the inventive concept.