Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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INVALID TRANSFER DEV ICE
The present invention relates generally to invalid lift
and transfer devices for lifting sitting patients, depositing the
patients on wheelchairs, beds, chairs, toilets and the like and
for transporting patients short distances.
Devices intended to accomplish these general purposes
have been proposed in the past. Such devices are disclosed for
example in U.S. Patents 503,105; 2,339,007; 2,418,606; 2,470,524;
2~989853; 2,595,651, 2,729,272, 2,747,652; 2,854,673, 2,915,112;
2,962,730; 3,654,643; 3,790,974; 3,914,808 and 4,195,375. However
these devices 1ack one or more of the features necessary to
satisfy the rather stringent requirements which must be met to
meet the needs of the manufacturer and of the user.
Usually, some sort of jack mechanism is utilized for the
purpose of raising or lowering a patien~ lifting Frame which is
supported on a main frame in turn supported on casters or similar
means to permit its movement from place to place.
In most of the prior devices, frames are open at the
back so that a wheelchair, for example, may enter partially within
the framework. The jacking mechanism and associated frame parts
are relegated to the front of the device and inso~ar as is known
they invariably block the front so that the leg and foot supports
of a wheelchair can not project forwardly past the framework and
hence the device is unduly long or cumbersome or there is
insufficient Floor space to accommodate the patient entirely
within the Framework.
With the foregoing considerations in mind it is a
primary purpose and object of the present invention to provide a
patient lift and transfer device which permits free and unimpeded
movement of the device to a position essentially encompassing a
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wheelchair or other chair or a bed or a toilet to permlt
transfer of a patient to and from the device while minimiz.lny
or eliminating altogether any substantial movement by the
patient.
The invention provides an invalid lift and transfer
device comprising, a rigid chassis frame formed of a pair of
parallel horizontal bars lying in a plane providing a space
therebetween, a pair of ~ubular posts rigidly connected to and
extending vertically upward from corresponding ends of said
horizontal bars, and a flrst cross bar rigidly connected to and
extending between upper end portions of said vertical tubular
posts, said first cross bar providing the sole connection
between said vertical tubular posts there being no connection
between said horizontal bars in the plane of said horizontal
bars, said space between said horizontal bars thereby being
unobs~ructed ~o permit the feet and legs of a patient to
: project forwardly of said corresponding ends of said bars, a
rigid invalid lifting frame movably supported on said chassis
frame comprising a pair of parallel horizontal arms providing a
space therebetween, a second cross bar rigidly connected to and
extending between corresponding ends of said horizontal arms,
and a pair of vertical posts extending downwardly from opposite
end portions of said second cross bar, the v~rtical posts of
said invalid liftinct frame telescopically engaging in the
vertical tubular posts of said chassis irame, jack means
engaging between said frames for raising and lowerin~ said
invalid lifting frame with respect to the chassis frame, and a
sling supported from the arms of the invalid lifting frame,
said ~ack means compris:Lng a body member and an extensible
plunger member, a column extending downwardly from said first
cross bar substantial:Ly centrally thereof, a platform on the
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lower end of said column, one of said jack members being
supported on said platform and the other of said ~ack members
engaging said second cross bar intermediate the ends thereof.
The device is preferably of minimum physical size, is
characterized by lightweight, stability and provides patient
security during all phases of lift and transfer. The device is
relatively inexpensive to manufac~ure and to maintain and is
durable and has an extenfled service life.
Additional advanta~es will become apparent as the
description proceeds in connection with the accompanying
drawings in which:
Figure 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of
the invention;
Figure 2 is a side elevation o~ the device shown in
Figure 1; and
Figure 3 is a fragmentary isometric view of a
modification of a portion of the device of Figures 1 and 2.
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Referring now to the drawings, and particularly the
embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the invalid
lift and transFer device comprises a chassis frame 4 Formed of a
pair of spaced parallel horizontal arms 6 and 8 supported on
casters 10. Rigid with and extending upwardly from corresponding
ends of the horizontal arms are vertical hollow tubular posts 12
and 14 held in spaced apart parallel relation by a cross bar 18
welded or otherwise suitably rigidly secured to the upper ends of
the posts 12 and 14.-
A patient lifting frame 20 is supported on chassis frame4 for vertical movement and consists of a pair o-f spaced parallel
horizontal arms 22, 24 rigidly connected at corresponding ends by
cross bar 26. Rigid with and depending from opposite end portions
of cross bar 26 are vertical posts 28 and 30 slidably engaging in
the vertical hollow tubular posts 12 and 14 of the chassis frame.
Preferably Teflon~ bearings 16 are prov,ided to facilitate free
vertical movement of the posts 28 and 30. Suspended between the
arms 22 and 24 o.f frame 20 is a sling 32, which may have a hole
for toilet use, the suspending straps 3~ for which are lengthwise
adjustable by means of buckles 36 so that the sling may be le~eled
or vertically adjustable as desired,
Projecting downwardly from the mid point of the cross
bar 18 is a column 38 which carries a platform 40 at its lower
end, the bottom and edges of which are protected by a rubber pad
42. Preferably the parts are so dimensioned that the undersurface
of the pad 42 is disposed at least iO inches above the floor or
other supporting surface for a purpose to appear. A hydraulic
jack 44 is supported on the platform 40 and has a plunger 46 which
at its upper end freely makes contact with lift tab 47 which welds
to the cross bar 26. For convenience a jack handle 48 is
removably supported on a platform 40.
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A retainer bar 50 carrying a backrest 52 is provided
with bent ends 54 which extend into the rear ends of the hollow
tubular bars 22 and 24 and is adjustably and releasably held in
place by pins 56.
In a typical case the frame members 12 and 14 are spaced
apart approximately 36 inches and in its lowered position the
cross member 26 is approximately the same distance above ground
level to provide an unobstructed area at the front of the unit to
accommodate the patient's feet and legs and the front portion of
the wheelchair. The horizontal arms 22 and 24 which support the
patient~carrying sling 32 are typically some 19 inches apart and
24 inches long, The bottom support members 6 and 8 are somewhat
longer so that the overall dimension, front to rear, of the device
is approximately 27 inches. The device can be made of any
suitable materials, typically 1" or 1~" steel tubing.
In operation, the retainer bar 50 is removed and the
sling 32, if not already under the patient is removed from the
Frame 20 and centered under the patient who is seated on a bed,
wheelchair or other support. The patient is approached from the
front and the device is moved back until the free ends oF the
horizontal bars 22 and 24 are approximately flush with the
patient's back. Any necessary adjustments in the height of the
frame can be made by operation of the jack.
The sling is then installed and the straps are pulled
taut -through buckles 36 making the sling approximately level. The
retainer bar 50 is then installed and the jack 46 is actuated to
raise the patient free of the bed or chair on which he is seated.
The patient is then moved to a new seat or bed and the jack 46 is
operated so as to lower the patient onto the new seat or bed thus
relieving the tension on the straps 34 which can be disengaged.
If desired, the patient may remain seated on the sling, and may be
readily moved.
The presently preferred embodiment of the invention
fragmentarily illustrated in Fig. 3 is the same as the previously
described embodiment except for the retainer assembly at the rear
of the upper frame. In this form of the invention the rear
retainer comprises a pair of symmetrically opposite independently
movable support assemblies each comprising a foam rubber pad 58
backed by a sheet of plywood or metal 60 carried by an arm 62
mounted in the arms 22 or 24 by tubular members 64. The tubular
members 64 are freely rotatable in the arms 22 and 24 but may be
held in the adjusted horizontal position by shear pins 65.
When a patient is positioned in or removed from the
device the retainer structures are rotated 180 to positions where
they do not interfere with the movement of the patient. After a
patient is seated within the device, th~e retainer structure
members can be rotated back to their horizontal position as shown
in Fig. 3 to provide a secure and comfortable backrest.
Both embodiments are characterized by rearwardly facing
open space~s 66 between the frame arms 6 and 8 sufficient to
accommodate a wheelchair 68 with a patient seated thereon, and
forwardly facing open spaces 72 at the front suff~icient to allow
the leg and foot supports 74 of the wheelchair, wi-th the patient's
leg and feet thereon, to project therethrough forwardly of the
frames as shown in Fig. 2.
The invention may be embodied in other specific forms
without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics
thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered
in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of
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the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than
by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within
the meaning and range of equivalencY of the claims are therefore
intended to be embraced therein.
What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters
Patent is:
