Lift and transport device

Abstract

This invention relates generally to a lifting and transport device capable of lifting and transporting a disabled person. More particularly, this invention relates to a lifting and transport device which is moveable on casters and which has a vertically extendable hydraulically powered lifting mast having support bars affixed thereto from which a sling depends. To increase the mobility of the device, the mast is revolvable relative to the casters through a limited arc.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A number of patient lift-transfer devices have been developed for utilization primarily in the hospital and institution, however there is a great need for a compact, maneuverable, inexpensive device.

Many persons have a physical disability to their legs that renders their legs unable to provide locomotion for their body. These persons often use wheelchairs as their primary means of transfer, which is well adapted to support and move an invalid in a seated position but has no provision for mechanically assisting a person out of or into the wheelchair. Presently, movement from or to a wheelchair is accomplished by the manual assistance of an attendant. If the disabled person is heavy, the maneuvering of the disabled person is awkward, or if the attendant is physically weak, such movement of a disabled person may be difficult or impossible. In addition, there exists a risk that the disabled person will injure himself during the moving process should the attendant slip. The attendant may also become injured by the physical strain of lifting the disabled person.

A few devices exist to aid an attendant in the lifting and moving process but they are generally too bulky to be utilized in the home, also they lack the maneuverability and articulation necessary to adequately transfer a patient from a bed to a wheelchair, automobile or the like.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a lifting and transport device that will lift and transport a disabled human.

It is another object of this invention to provide a lifting and transport device that is safe for both the disabled person and an attendant who operates the device.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a lifting and transport device that is highly maneuverable.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a lifting and transport device that is capable of placing a disabled person into commonly needed locations such as into a bed, car, chair, wheelchair, or onto a commode.

Yet an additional object of the invention is to provide a lifting and transport device that is capable of moving a disabled person from commonly needed locations such as out of a bed, car, chair, wheelchair, or a commode.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a patient lifting and transporting device which is extremely effective in operation, rugged in construction, and simple and economical to manufacture.

These objects and other features and advantages become more readily apparent upon reference to the following description when taken in conjunction with the appended drawings.

In the drawings, as hereinafter described, a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, however various modifications can be made thereto without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the lift and transport device of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial side elevational view of the base and plate;

FIG. 2A is a bottom plan view of the plate;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the device;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the lines 5 -- 5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional enlarged partial view of the lower portion of the mast; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the lines 7 -- 7 in FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, the lift and transport device of this invention is generally depicted at 10 in FIG. 1. The device consists generally of a base 11 supported on ground engaging casters 12, a plate 13 pivotally mounted on the base, a vertically extendable mast 14 secured to the base, a support assembly 16 affixed to the mast and a seat element 17 secured to the assembly for supporting a patient (not shown) in a sitting position.

Turning now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the base 11 consists of a horizontal rectangular planar section 18 and two spaced apart coplanar horizontal legs 19 and 21 affixed thereto and extending therefrom. The legs 19 and 21 extend rearwardly from the rear edge 22 of the rectangular section 18, and the space between the legs is provided to allow the lifting and transport device 10 to partially encircle the base of a commode (not shown) or the like. Four spaced apart casters 12, are affixed to the underside 24 of the base 11 on its periphery with two of the casters being affixed to the extremities of the legs 19 and 21 respectively. The remaining two casters are affixed to the corners 26 and 27 of the rectangular section 18 distal of the legs 19 and 21. Each caster 12 is of a standard construction and consists of a bracket 28 having a small wheel 29 rotatably journalled thereon. The casters rollerably support the base 18 relative to the floor (not shown).

The horizontally disposed plate 13 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is rotatably mounted on the upper surface 31 of the section 18. The plate 13 is of a generally square planar configuration having a circular groove 32 (FIG. 2A) formed in the underside 33 thereof, which serves as a ball bearing race. Mounted below the plate is a turntable 34 having a plurality of ball bearings 36 mounted therein which project upwardly and seat in the race. An opening 37 is formed in the center of the base and plate and a belt 38 is disposed therethrough and about which the plate rotates.

An arcuate indent 39 is formed in the underside of the plate proximate the forward edge 41 thereof. The indent subscribes an arc of approximately 75.degree. and at each end and in the center a hole 42, 43 and 44 is drilled. Secured at one end 46 to the bottom of the base by a lag screw 47 is a pedal arm 48, the free end 49 of the pedal arm projects forwardly of the base 11. Proximate the free end 49 a first hole 51 is drilled through the pedal arm. A second lag screw 52 is disposed in the hole 51 with the shank thereof threaded into the base. A spring 53 is disposed on the screw 52 between the screw head and the pedal arm thus biasing the pedal arm against the base. Spaced from the first hole in the pedal arm is a second hole 54, and in alignment therewith is a hole 56 formed through the base. The holes 54 and 56 are also in alignment with the arcuate indent 39 and the holes 42 - 44 in the plate 13. A pen 58 is secured to the arm and projects upwardly through the holes 54 and 56 into the hole 44, wherein upon depressing the pedal 57 secured to the pedal arm against the bias of the spring 53 the pin 58 is moved outwardly of the hole 44, however the bolt 52 is set to prevent the shank end of the pin from leaving the indent. Operation of the pedal 57 permits the plate to be moved through an arc of 75.degree. only and the indent ends act as a stop to prevent further rotation, furthermore three positions, holes 42 - 44, are provided to allow locking of the plate relative to the base. The degree of rotation is limited to prevent tipping of the device even when a heavy load is carried.

The mast 14 (FIGS. 1 and 5) has a square prismatic configuration and includes inner post 61 secured at its lower end 62 to the plate, and an outer post 63 telescopically mounted on the inner post. Connected to the inner post is a pump block 64 having two check valves 66 and 67, an unloading valve 68, and a pump piston 69, all fluidly connected. For the purpose of clarity, the operation of the block should be disclosed before a detailed description of its configuration is provided. The pump block is adapted to pump hydraulic fluid (not shown) from a reservoir 71 into a hydraulic cylinder 72 by manual reciprocation of a pump lever 73 by the operator's foot. As the hydraulic fluid is pumped into the cylinder 72, a piston 74 disposed therein is pushed upward to effectuate lifting of the outer post 63. To lower the outer post, the unloading valve 68 is manually operated allowing the hydraulic fluid to pass from the hydraulic cylinder 72 into the reservoir 71, thereby retracting the piston 74.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the pump block 64 has a cylindrical tube 75 vertically disposed therein and coaxial thereto. The upper end 76 of the tube 75 is in fluid communication with the hydraulic cylinder 72. The lower end 77 of the tube 75 intersects and is in fluid communication with the pump chamber 71. Midway between the upper end 76 and the lower end 77 of the tube 75 is disposed the spring biased ball check valve 66, adapted to allow only an upward passage of the hydraulic fluid. The pump chamber is a horizontally disposed cylindrical cavity opening at the forward wall of the pump block 64.

The pump piston 69 is slidingly and sealingly disposed within the pump chamber 71, and is biased toward the forward wall of the pump block 64 by a spring 78. Manual reciprocation of the pump piston 71 is provided by the pump lever 73 wherein fluid in the pump chamber 71 is pressurized and expelled upward through the tube 75 into the cylinder 72. When the operator releases the force on the pump lever 73, the biasing means 78 forces the pump piston outward. The hydraulic fluid enters the pump chamber 71 through an inlet tube 79 which extends vertically from the top of the pump block 64 to the pump chamber 71. At the approximate vertical midpoint of the inlet tube is disposed the second spring biased ball check valve 67 which is adapted to permit only downward flow of the hydraulic fluid.

To effectuate a retraction of the piston 74, an unloading valve is disposed horizontally within the pump block 64, parallel with and above the pump piston 73. The unloading valve 68 is fluidly connected to the top side of the cylinder 72 and the tube 75 above the check valve 66. To effectuate manual operation of the unloading valve 68, an unloading lever 81 is connected thereto.

The lifting piston 74 is sealingly and slidably received within the hydraulic cylinder 72 and extends vertically upward a distance equivalent to the length of the outer post with the uppermost end thereof secured to the top wall of the outer post.

As hydraulic fluid is pumped from the reservoir into the hydraulic cylinder 72 the lifting piston 74 is forced upward causing the outer post to slide upward on the inner post. Near the top of the outer post are affixed two spaced apart ears 82 and 83 extending in the same direction as the levers 73 and 81. Each of the ears support the support bar assembly 16.

The support bar assembly 16 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4) consists of a support bar 84, two spaced apart flanges 86 and 87 and a handle 88. The support bar 84 is generally U-shaped, tubular member disposed horizontally such that the ends 88 and 89 of the support bar are directed in the opposite direction from the levers 73 and 81. The U-shaped support bar consists of the two parallel end sections 88 and 89 and a middle section 91 disposed perpendicularly thereto. The support bar 84 is disposed substantially perpendicular to the mast 14 and adjacent to the outside of the outer post 63. The two spaced apart flanges extend inclinedly upward from the middle section of the support bar 16 parallel to the end sections thereof terminating in the rod shaped handle 88. The handle is parallel to the middle section 91 of the support bar 16. The handle 88, the ears 82 and 83, and with the middle section 91 of the support bar encircles the assembly on the outside post of the mast 14.

A sling 92 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4) is an enlongated rectangular section of strong fabric having loops 93 and 94 at each end thereof for sliding engagement with the end sections 88 and 89. The sling 92 is dimensioned to provide a comfortable lifting engagement with the buttocks section of a disabled person.

In operation, the sling 92 is placed under the buttocks portion of the disabled person, then the loops 93 and 94 are slid over the end sections 88 and 89. By reciprocating the pump lever 73, the operator may then cause the mast 14 to extend, thereby lifting the disabled person. Preferrably the disabled person is seated in the sling facing the mast 14 to allow the disabled person to steady himself by resting his arms on the support bar 16. The operator may effectuate a traversing or rotating motion of the disabled person by appropriate operation of the pedal 49. By applying moderate force to the release lever 68, the mast 14 will descend until the disabled person is supported by a chair or other destination. At this time the sling may be removed from the ends of the support arm 16 and removed from under the buttocks portion of the disabled person.

Although a hydraulic system has been described for the device it is not intended to so limit the structure as a screw, manually or electrically operated, will perform the task of raising or lowering the outer post and support assembly.

Claims

I claim:

1. A lift and transport device comprising:

ground engaging wheels;

a horizontally disposed base supported on said wheels;

a horizontally disposed plate rotatably mounted on said base;

a vertically extendable mast secured to said plate;

a support assembly secured to said mast and projecting outwardly therefrom;

a support element secured to said assembly for supporting a patient;

power means operatively connected to said mast for vertically extending said mast; and

a rotation limit device interconnected between said plate and said base to limit the degree of rotation of said plate to provide that said support assembly and element is always substantially disposed over said plate.

2. A lift and transport device as defined in claim 1, wherein said rotation limit device comprises an arcuate indent formed in said plate and facing said base, a base hole formed in said base which is in alignment with said indent as said plate is rotated relative to said base; a pin disposed in said base hole and projecting into said indent thus permitting said plate to rotate through an arc equal to the length of said indent.

3. A lift and transport device as defined in claim 2 and including a control means operatively interconnected to said pin to move said pin vertically, said plate having at least one hole formed therein in communication with said indent, and said pin secured on one end to said control means with the other end thereof disposed in said at least one hole thus preventing said plate from being rotated, said control means movable to a position wherein said pin other end is moved out of said at least one hole.

4. A lift and transport device as defined in claim 3 wherein said base comprises a rectangular planar section and a pair of spaced coplanar legs affixed to and extending outwardly therefrom, wherein the space between said legs is provided to permit said legs to straddle the base of a commode.

5. A lift and transport device as defined in claim 3 wherein said support assembly comprises a generally U shaped support bar having a middle section and two substantially parallel end sections and a collar secured to said mast and to said middle section, wherein said support element is interconnected between said legs.

6. A lift and transport device as defined in claim 4 wherein said mast comprises an inner post secured on one end to said plate with the other end thereof projecting vertically therefrom, and an outer post telescopically mounted on said inner post, wherein said support assembly is secured to said outer post and said power means is operable to cause said outer post to stroke out on said inner post and to stroke back on said inner post.

7. A lift and transport device as defined in claim 6 wherein said base comprises a rectangular planar section and a pair of spaced coplanar legs affixed to and extending outwardly therefrom, wherein the space between said legs is provided to permit said legs to straddle the base of a commode.

8. A lift and transport device as defined in claim 7 wherein said support assembly comprises a generally U shaped support bar having a middle section and two substantially parallel end sections and a collar secured to said mast and to said middle section, wherein said support element is interconnected between said legs.

9. A lift and transport device as defined in claim 8 wherein said indent subscribes an arc of 75.degree..