TRANSFER AID

AIDE POUR LE TRANSFERT

English Abstract

A transfer aid assists a disabled person in moving from a first seating
structure such as a bed to a second seating structure such as a wheelchair.
The
transfer aid includes a main arm having a straight portion for alignment with
an edge
of the bed and a curved portion extending towards the wheelchair for
supporting the
person's upper torso. The main arm is generally horizontal. A supporting arm
extends from the main arm away from the bed to a pedestal whereon the
supporting
arm is mounted. The supporting arm is adjustable in length for varying the
offset of
the main arm in relation to the pedestal. The main arm is covered with a layer
of foam
and a suede cover for cushioning against the person's upper torso. The
transfer aid
is used in combination with a transfer board extending from the edge of the
bed to a
front end of the wheelchair for supporting the lower torso of the person.

Claims

-5-
CLAIMS
1. A transfer aid for a disabled person requiring assistance in moving from
a first seating structure to a second seating structure, the transfer aid
comprising:
a main arm having a straight portion for alignment with an edge of the
first seating structure and a curved portion extending towards the second
seating
structure for supporting the person's torso, the main arm being generally
horizontal;
a supporting arm extending from the main arm away from the first
seating structure;
and mounting means for securably mounting the supporting arm to a
floor or wall.
2. The transfer aid of claim 1 wherein the mounting means comprises a
pedestal whereon the supporting arm is mounted for securing the transfer aid
to the
floor.
3. The transfer aid of claim 1 or 2 wherein the supporting arm is adjustable
in length for varying offset of the main arm in relation to the mounting
means.
4. The transfer aid of claim 1,2 or 3 wherein the main arm is covered with a
resilient material and a durable cover for cushioning against the person's
torso.
5. A method for a disabled person moving from a first seating structure to a
second seating structure:
providing a main arm having a straight portion for alignment with an
edge of the first seating structure and a curved portion extending towards the
second
seating structure, the main arm being generally horizontal;
providing a transfer board;
placing the transfer board to extend from the first seating structure to the
second seating structure;
supporting an upper torso of the person on the main arm by resting the


-6-
person's chin, forehead or chest on the main arm;
supporting a lower torso of the person on the transfer board; and
sliding the lower torso of the person along the transfer board from the
first seating structure to the second seating structure.

Description

CA 02254479 1998-11-19
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to devices for aiding disabled persons and more
particularly to devices for aiding a person transferring from one seated
position to
another.
BACKGROUND
Moving from one seat to another is a common and simple task for most
people. However for some disabled persons, particularly those with balance
problems, paralysis or a weak trunk, the task of moving from a bed to a
wheelchair for
instance becomes much more difficult and some form of assistance is required.
Often
another person assists in this task, but this creates an unwanted dependency
on
others. A simple device that would assist disabled individuals in moving from
their
bed to a wheelchair would be very useful.
SUMMARY
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a
transfer aid for a disabled person requiring assistance in moving from a first
seating
structure to a second seating structure, the transfer aid comprising:
a main arm having a straight portion for alignment with an edge of the
first seating structure and a curved portion extending towards the second
seating
structure for supporting the person's torso, the main arm being generally
horizontal;
a supporting arm extending from the main arm away from the first
seating structure;
and mounting means for securably mounting the supporting arm to a
floor or wall.
The transfer aid is primarily for use with a bed and a wheelchair as the
first and second seating structures. However, the aid is suitable for use near
any

CA 02254479 1998-11-19
-2-
seating structure that is commonly in use by a person experiencing balance
problems
or a weak trunk, particularly a seating structure with removable arm rests.
In the preferred embodiment the mounting means comprises a pedestal
whereon the supporting arm is mounted for securing the transfer aid to the
floor and
the supporting arm is adjustable in length for varying offset of the main arm
in relation
to the mounting means.
It is preferred that the main arm is covered with a resilient material and a
durable cover for cushioning against the person's torso.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method
for a disabled person moving from a first seating structure to a second
seating
structure:
providing a main arm having a straight portion for alignment with an
edge of the first seating structure and a curved portion extending towards the
second
seating structure, the main arm being generally horizontal;
providing a transfer board;
placing the transfer board to extend from the first seating structure to the
second seating structure;
supporting an upper torso of the person on the main arm by resting the
person's chin, forehead or chest on the main arm;
supporting a lower torso of the person on the transfer board; and
sliding the lower torso of the person along the transfer board from the
first seating structure to the second seating structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention:
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the transfer aid mounted on the floor;

CA 02254479 1998-11-19
-3-
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the transfer aid mounted on the floor;
Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the supporting arm;
Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the main arm; and
Figure 5 is a top plan view of the transfer aid mounted on the floor near
a bed with a transfer board extending from the bed to a wheelchair.
pETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a transfer
aid 8 for assisting disabled people in moving from a first seating structure
to a second
seating structure. The transfer aid 8 includes a main arm 10 having a straight
portion
12 for alignment with an edge of the first seating structure and a curved
portion 14
extending towards the second seating structure. The main arm 10 is generally
horizontal. A supporting arm 16 extends from the main arm 10 and includes a
first set
of apertures 18.
A pedestal 20 supports the transfer aid and has an extension 22 for
receiving the supporting arm 16. The extension 22 has a second set of
apertures 24
for alignment with the first set of apertures 18 when the supporting arm 16 is
slid into
the extension 22. Two locking pins 26 are inserted through the co-operating
apertures 18 and 24 for securing the supporting arm 16 in place. Adjustment of
the
offset of the main arm 10 in relation to the pedestal 20 is accomplished by
repositioning the locking pins 26.
The pedestal 20 is securely mounted in a sleeve 28 having a base 30.
Fixed to the base 30 of the sleeve 28 is a plate 32 for receiving fasteners 34
to secure
the transfer aid 8 to the floor 36. Two securing pins 38 are inserted through
the
sleeve 28 and the pedestal 20 for securing the pedestal in place.
The main arm 10 is cushioned with the use of a resilient foam 40. A
suede cover 42 covers the foam 40 on the main arm 10 to secure the foam in
place

CA 02254479 1998-11-19
-4-
and make the transfer aid durable.
In Figure 5 the transfer aid 8 is positioned as it would be used in
combination with a bed 44 and a wheelchair 46. The transfer aid 8 is mounted
to the
floor 36 near the bed 44 and oriented such that the straight portion 12 is
aligned an
edge 48 of the bed. The curved portion 14 extends towards the wheelchair 46
which
is also positioned near the bed 44.
When using the transfer aid 8, a person first places a transfer board 50
extending from the edge 48 of the bed to a front end 52 of the wheelchair 46.
From a
seated position on the bed 44 the person leans forward and supports their
upper torso
on the main arm 10 of the transfer aid 8. The lower torso is supported by the
transfer
board 50 as the person slides along the board from the bed 44 to the
wheelchair 46.
This task can be accomplished with a variety of seating structures.
Alternatively, the person may support their upper torso by resting their
chin or forehead on the main arm. The person may then use their arms to slide
along
the board from the bed to the wheelchair.
While one embodiment of the present invention has been described in
the foregoing, it is to be understood that other embodiments are possible
within the
scope of the invention. The invention is to be considered limited solely by
the scope
of the appended claims.

Representative Drawing