Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FALL CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING A MOVEMENT
DURING FALL EVENT
TECHNICAL FIELD:
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a fall control system and a method of
controlling a
movement during a fall event.
BACKGROUND:
[0002] Unintentional falls are a leading cause of non-fatal injuries treated
in hospital
emergency departments. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (USA),
reported that
unintentional falls in the elderly resulted in more non-fatal injuries in 2013
than the top 2 to
top 10 leading causes of injuries in that age category (>- 65 years of age)
combined.
[0003] Fall assist or fall arrest systems have been developed to lessen the
frequency of injuries
arising from unintentional falls, see for example EP 2,522,399, US 7,883,450,
US
2007/0004567, WO 2014/116628 and US 10,864,393. In known fall assist systems,
a person
is attached to a harness that is coupled to a trolley that runs along a
guiding track. During
regular use, the person exerts a pulling force on the trolley, thereby moving
the trolley along
the guiding track. During a fall event, a braking system within the trolley is
activated and the
trolley comes to a complete stop thereby arresting the person from further
movement and
preventing the person from impacting the ground. Braking systems typically
used in fall assist
systems include friction engagement systems, for example as described in
CA2,800,185, and
W02002/074389, or ratchet-like engagement braking systems, for example as
described in EP
2,870,982, US 2012/0031701 or US 2015/0217151.
[0004] Other mobility aiding systems have also been developed. For example,
stairlift systems
transport a person over a flight of stairs. Generally, such systems comprise a
guide rail, an
electrical motorized trolley for moving along the guide rail (with or without
a backup battery),
and a passenger seat or platform attached to the trolley. In use, a passenger
sits on the seat, or
stands on the platform, attaches a seat-belt like device, and is carried from
a first point to a
second point along the guide rail. No movement on the passenger's part, other
than to board
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and alight the seat or platform, is required.
SUMMARY
[0005] The present disclosure relates to a fall control system and a method of
controlling a
movement during a fall event.
[0006] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide an improved fall
control system.
[0007] As described herein there is provided a fall control system that allows
a user to ascend
and descend stairs, or travel along a level surface, on their own accord. The
fall control system
decreases the user's fall distance during a fall event and limits the vertical
drop of the user
towards the ground, and does not completely stop a user from impacting or
contacting the
ground during a fall event.
[0008] In a first set of embodiments, there is provided a fall control system
comprising, an
elongate guide rail extending along an axis comprising one or more than one
raceway, the
elongate guide rail for mounting to a wall, a trolley configured to move along
the one or more
than one raceway of the elongate guide rail, the trolley comprising a trolley
body and a braking
arm, the braking arm moveably coupled to the trolley body, the braking arm
moveable from a
first position to a second position, the braking arm comprising an attachment
end and a braking
end, the attachment end of the braking arm extending outwards from the trolley
body in a
direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal plane of the elongate
guide rail; a tether
attached at a first end of the attachment end of the braking arm, a second end
of the tether for
attaching to a user, and a speed control system for controlling a speed of the
trolley along the
elongate guide rail, the speed control system comprising: one or more than one
speed control
track extending along the axis of the elongate guide rail on an outer surface
of the elongate
guide rail, the one or more than one speed control track comprising a first
surface; and a speed
controller coupled to the trolley, the speed controller comprising a surface
at the braking end
of the braking arm for frictionally interacting with the first surface of the
one or more than one
speed control track, wherein the braking arm is movable from the first
position when the trolley
is in the travelling orientation and the speed controller does not reduce
speed, or temporarily
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stop movement, of the trolley along the elongate guide rail, to the second
position when the
trolley is in a falling orientation, so that the surface of the braking arm
frictionally interacts
with the first surface of the one or more than one speed control track, and
the speed controller
reduces speed, or temporarily stops movement, of the trolley along the
elongate guide rail, the
speed controller for controlling the speed of the trolley along the elongate
guide rail in the
falling orientation, and the first surface of the speed control track is a
sinusoidal wave surface
and the surface of the braking arm is a flat surface or a sinusoidal wave
surface, or the first
surface of the speed control track is a flat surface and the surface of the
braking arm is a
sinusoidal wave surface or a flat surface.
[0009] In some embodiments, the one or more than one speed control track is on
an outer upper
surface of the elongate guide rail, an outer lower surface of the elongate
guide rail, an outer
side surface of the elongate guide rail, or a combination thereof.
[0010] In some embodiments, the braking arm is pivotally coupled to the
trolley body. For
example, the braking arm may comprise a circular shaft extending substantially
parallel to the
elongate guide rail for pivotally displacing the braking arm between the first
position and the
second position, the braking arm biased to the first position, the first
surface of the speed
control track is on the outer lower surface of the elongate guide rail and the
surface of the
trolley is on a lower end of the braking arm and positioned to face the first
surface of the speed
control track, and wherein in the first position, the surface of the trolley
does not frictionally
interact with the first speed control track, and wherein in the second
position, the surface of
the trolley frictionally interacts with the first surface of the speed control
track. Alternatively,
the braking arm may be pivotally coupled to the trolley via a ball and socket
type configuration.
For example, the braking arm may comprise a ball that is coupled to a socket
on the trolley
body allowing for the braking arm to move or pivot in multiple planes relative
to the trolley
and the elongate guide rail, the braking arm biased to the first position.
[0011] In some embodiments, the braking arm is slidably coupled to the trolley
body. For
example, the braking arm is slidable in a plane parallel to the plane of the
elongate guide rail
from the first position to the second position, the braking arm biased to the
first position, the
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first surface of the speed control track is on the outer upper surface of the
elongate guide rail
and the surface of the trolley is on an upper end of the braking arm and
positioned to face the
first surface of the speed control track, and wherein in the first position,
the surface of the
trolley does not frictionally interact with the first speed control track, and
wherein in the second
position, the surface of the trolley frictionally interacts with the first
surface of the speed
control track. Some embodiments may comprise a braking plate moveable in a
compartment
formed by the body of the trolley and a guide plate, the braking plate
slidable in a plane parallel
to the elongate guide rail when the braking arm moves from the first position
to the second
position.
[0012] In some embodiments, a pad may be attached to the trolley and
configured to be
positioned between the user and the wall when the trolley is mounted on the
guide rail and the
guide rail is mounted on the wall, the pad moveable with the trolley along the
elongate guide
rail. The pad may be positioned to cover the trolley, a portion of the guide
rail, or a combination
thereof. The pad may be removably attached to the trolley, the pad is
foldable, the pad
comprises one or more than one pad wheel at a lower edge of the pad, the pad
comprises one
or more than one attachment point to a gait assist device, or a combination
thereof.
[0013] The pad may be a fitness pad, crash pad, inflatable pad, or any other
suitable pad to
prevent or reduce injury to the user should they fall against the wall or
handrail. The pad may
be attached to the trolley so that it rides away from the wall while the
trolley is moving. The
attachment of the pad to the trolley may comprise a hinge and the pad may
comprise one or
more folds or creases so that the pad can readily be folded away when not in
use. The
attachment of the pad to the trolley may be permanent, or the pad may be
removable so that
the pad can be removed for storage purposes or to prevent the pad from tearing
in the event of
significant downward forces. The pad may have a low friction and/or durable
backing to reduce
resistance and reduce wear and tear from repetitive gliding over the wall
and/or handrail. If use
of the handrail is required, the pad may comprise one or more holes or cut-
outs to allow the
user to hold the handrail. The holes or cut-outs may comprise hinged flaps to
avoid or reduce
injury to the user should they fall on the part of the pad with the hole or
cut-out. Alternatively,
the pad may comprise a built-in handrail or ledge at standard height from the
floor, constructed,
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for example, of a dense contoured foam connected to, or part of, the pad that
the user grasps
while walking. Alternatively, the pad and/or handrail may be constructed of an
inflatable
material. The pad may extend to, or higher than, the elongate guide rail to
cover (glide over)
part of the guide rail adjacent to the side end(s) of the trolley, and/or
cover most of the trolley
facing the user (except for an opening for the tether attachment) to protect
the user from directly
striking the trolley or guide rail in the event of a fall towards the wall. A
padded flap may
overhang the trolley's tether attachment site to also reduce the chance of
injury. For added
stability, the pad may also be attached to the elongate guide rail via one or
more smaller "mini
trollies- that passively glide along the same guide rail as the trolley, with
the "mini trollies"
travelling at a distance from one or both ends of the trolley. The pad may
contain one or more
attachment points for connection to a walker or similar gait assist device to
help move the pad
and hence also the trolley in the same direction, position, and speed as the
user holding onto
the walker. A projection arm from the gait assist device may connect to the
pad's attachment
point, and the projection arm may extend from both sides of the walker so that
when the user
changes direction (turns around) the gait assist device being pushed by the
user can easily
reconnect with the moving pad.
[0014] In some embodiments, the speed control system further comprises a
background speed
controller coupled to the trolley and engaged with the elongate guide rail,
the background speed
controller for controlling the speed of the trolley along the elongate guide
rail in a travelling
orientation while the user is walking, ascending stairs, or descending stairs.
The background
speed controller may comprise one or more than one magnet on the trolley and
the elongate
guide rail comprising a conductive portion extending along a portion of the
elongate guide rail.
The conductive portion of the elongate guide rail may extend along a shoulder
of the elongate
guide rail and may be located between a wall mounting portion and the shaft of
the elongate
guide rail, a side of the elongate guide rail adjacent a wall mounting
portion, or a combination
thereof. The conductive portion of the elongate guide rail may be made of a
ferromagnetic
material such as aluminum. In some embodiments, the conductive portion may be
made of a
material selected from a group consisting of aluminum, anodized aluminum,
steel, stainless
steel, a metal alloy, a ceramic coated aluminum, a ceramic coated anodized
aluminum, a
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ceramic coated steel, a ceramic coated stainless steel, a ceramic coated metal
alloy.
[0015] In some embodiments, the first surface of the speed control track and
the surface of the
braking arm of the speed controller are both flat surfaces; or the first
surface of the speed
control track and the surface of the braking arm of the speed controller are
both sinusoidal
wave surfaces. In other embodiments, the first surface of the speed control
track is a sinusoidal
wave surface and the surface of the braking arm of the speed control track is
a flat surface; or
the first surface of the speed control track is a flat surface and the surface
of the braking arm
of the speed control track is a sinusoidal wave surface.
[0016] The first surface of the speed control track, the surface of the
braking arm of the speed
controller, or both the first surface of the speed control track and the
surface of the braking arm
of the speed controller, may be a material selected from a group consisting
of: metal,
sandblasted metal, rubber, sandblasted rubber, polymeric material, and
sandblasted polymeric
material; or, both the first surface of the speed control track and the
surface of the braking arm
of the speed controller comprise a brake pad.
[0017] In some embodiments, the tether comprises two or more attachment points
at the
second end for attaching the trolley to the user. The attachment end of the
trolley may comprise
a hanger for attaching the first end of the tether to the trolley.
[0018] Some embodiments may comprise one or more than one second trolley for
moving
along the elongate guide rail, and a second tether attached to the one or more
than one second
trolley at a first end, a second end of the second tether for attaching to the
user.In some
embodiments, the trolley may comprise one or more than one roller for moving
the trolley
along the one or more than one raceway of the elongate guide rail, the fall
control system
further comprising a background speed controller comprising a gear wheel
coupled to the one
or more than one roller of the trolley, the gear wheel comprising a plurality
of teeth, and the
trolley comprising a moveable arm configured to interact with the teeth of the
gear wheel.
[0019] There is also provided a fall control trolley for moving along a wall-
mounted elongate
guide rail, the elongate guide rail comprising one or more than one raceway
and one or more
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than one speed control track extending along the axis of the elongate guide
rail, the one or
more than one speed control track comprising a first surface; the trolley
comprising a trolley
body and a braking arm, the braking arm attached to the trolley body and
moveable from a first
position to a second position, the braking arm comprising an attachment end
and a braking
end, the attachment end of the braking arm extending outwards from the trolley
body in a
direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal plane of the elongate
guide rail when the
trolley is mounted on the elongate guide rail; a tether attached at a first
end of the attachment
end of the braking arm, a second end of the tether for attaching to a user,
and a speed controller
coupled to the trolley for controlling a speed of the trolley along the
elongate guide rail, the
speed controller comprising a surface of the braking arm for frictionally
interacting with the
first surface of one or more than one speed control track of the elongate
guide rail, wherein the
braking arm is movable from the first position when the trolley is in the
travelling orientation
and the speed controller does not reduce speed, or temporarily stop movement,
of the trolley
along the elongate guide rail, to the second position when the trolley is in a
falling orientation,
so that the surface of the braking arm frictionally interacts with the first
surface of the one or
more than one speed control track, and the speed controller reduces speed, or
temporarily stops
movement, of the trolley along the elongate guide rail, the speed controller
for controlling the
speed of the trolley along the elongate guide rail in the falling orientation,
wherein the surface
of the braking arm is a flat surface or a sinusoidal wave surface.
[0020] The trolley may move along the elongate guide rail using any known rail
and trolley
system. In some embodiments, the guide rail comprises a circular shaft and the
trolley
comprises a corresponding recess for the circular shaft. Rolling elements
positioned between
the shaft and trolley surfaces may be used to assist movement of the trolley
along the guide
rail. Alternative means for providing a smooth, low friction surface, for
example, self
lubricating bearing elements may also be used. In other embodiments, the
elongate guide rail
may comprise one or more than one raceway and the trolley may comprise one or
more than
one rollers for moving along the one or more than one raceway. Means for
providing a smooth,
low friction surface, for example, self lubricating bearing elements may also
be used.
[0021] The fall control trolley as described above may comprise a braking arm
moveable from
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a travelling orientation (first position) to a falling orientation (second
position). In one group
of embodiments, the braking arm may rotate about an elongate axis of the
trolley body from
the travelling orientation to the falling orientation. For example, the
braking arm may comprise
an elongate pin and the trolley body may comprise a recess to receive the pin.
In other
embodiments, the elongate pin may be part of the trolley body and the braking
arm may
comprise the recess to receive the pin. The braking arm may be biased towards
the first position
whereby upon application of a force by the user in a direction generally
opposed to the biasing
force that overcomes the biasing force, the braking arm moves from the
travelling orientation
to the falling orientation to engage the speed controller with the speed
control track.
Alternatively, the braking arm may be positioned above the trolley and biased
towards the
travelling orientation (first position), whereby upon the application of a
force by the user in a
direction generally opposed to the biasing force that overcomes the biasing
force, the braking
arm moves from the travelling orientation to the falling orientation to engage
the speed
controller with the speed control track. For example, the braking arm may be
positioned above
the trolley on a retainer that is compressible upon application of a force by
the user to displace
the braking arm from the first position to the second position, where the
speed controller is
engaged with the speed control track.
[0022] The fall control system described herein may allow the user, following
a fall, to move
(e.g. crawl) along the floor or stairs while still attached to the fall
control system should he or
she he injured and/or too weak to stand fully erect. The trolley of the fall
control system is
typically pulled along by the user (when ascending stairs or moving along a
flat surface), or by
gravity (when descending stairs) and does not require an external power
source. However, an
external power source may be used to move the trolley if desired. For example,
in some
embodiments an external power source may assist the user to move the trolley
along the
elongate guide rail. In some embodiments, an external power source (e.g. a
battery-powered
remote control train) may push or pull the trolley to meet the user (or a
second user) at the
opposite end of the guide rail.
[0023] The guide rail of the fall control system described herein may also be
used as a standard
height hand rail (for example, approximately 30-37 inches from the floor or
stairs), or can be
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installed in addition to a standard hand rail. If installed as a separate
rail, then the guide rail
may be located at some distance above and parallel to the standard hand rail.
In some
embodiments, the trolley may lag behind the user travelling upstairs, and may
lead the user
travelling downstairs, and there would be room for the users hand on the rail
ahead of the
trolley walking upstairs, and behind the trolley walking downstairs (given an
adequate and
proper tether length). In some embodiments described herein, the trolley may
lag behind the
user when descending stairs and there would be room for the users hand on the
rail ahead of
the trolley walking downstairs (given an adequate and proper tether length).
Similarly, on a
level surface the trolley would lag behind the user, allowing room for the
hand in front of the
trolley. In some embodiments, the guide rail of the fall control system may be
installed on a
wall at least above waist height of the user. In some embodiments, the guide
rail of the fall
control system may be installed on a wall at least above shoulder height of
the user.
[0024] The outer surface of the trolley (not including the funnel-like opening
for the tether)
may be padded with high density foam or an inflatable material to decrease the
chance of injury
should the user fall forwards, backwards, or sideways and strike their head or
other part of their
body on the trolley. The trolley may also comprise a pad moveable with the
trolley and
configured to hang between the user and the wall on which the guide rail is
installed.
[0025] The fall control system may be mounted on a wall, or on a wall bracket
mounted on the
wall such that the attachment end of the trolley extends outwards from the
elongate guide rail
in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal plane of the
elongate guide rail, and
substantially perpendicular to the wall.
[0026] In some embodiments, the trolley may comprise one or more than one
roller for moving
along the one or more than one raceway of the elongate guide rail. The one or
more than one
raceway of the elongate guide rail may comprise one or more than one rod, and
the one or more
than one roller may engage with the one or more than one rod. In some
embodiments, the one
or more than one rod may comprise a convex surface and the one or more than
one roller of
the trolley may comprise a corresponding concave surface, or vice versa.
[0027] In a second set of embodiments, there is provided a fall control system
comprising, an
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elongate guide rail comprising one or more than one pair of raceways, a
trolley comprising one
or more than one pair of rollers for moving the trolley along the one or more
than one pair of
raceways of the elongate guide rail, the trolley comprising a trolley body and
a braking arm
moveably coupled to the trolley body, the braking arm moveable from a first
position to a
second position, a tether attached to the trolley at a first end, a second end
of the tether for
attaching to a user, and a speed control system for controlling a speed of the
trolley along the
elongate guide rail, the speed control system comprising: one or more than one
speed control
track extending along the axis of the elongate guide rail, the one or more
than one speed control
track comprising a first surface; and a speed controller coupled to the
trolley, the speed
controller comprising a surface of the trolley for frictionally interacting
with the first surface
of the one or more than one speed control track, wherein the braking arm is
movable from the
first position when the trolley is in the travelling orientation and the speed
controller does not
reduce speed, or temporarily stop movement, of the trolley along the elongate
guide rail, to the
second position when the trolley is in a falling orientation and the speed
controller reduces
speed, or temporarily stops movement, of the trolley along the elongate guide
rail, the speed
controller for controlling the speed of the trolley along the elongate guide
rail in the falling
orientation, and the first surface of the speed control track is a sinusoidal
wave surface and the
surface of the trolley of the speed control track is a flat surface or a
sinusoidal wave surface,
or the first surface of the speed control track is a flat surface and the
surface of the trolley of
the speed control track is a sinusoidal wave surface or a flat surface,
wherein the one or more
than one pair of rollers are attached to each end of a swivel arm that rotates
around a pivot on
the trolley body having a first axis of rotation substantially perpendicular
to the direction of
movement of the trolley and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal
plane of the
elongate guide rail, and wherein each roller in each one or more pair of
rollers is pivotable
about a second axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the direction
of movement of the
trolley and substantially parallel to the longitudinal plane of the elongate
guide rail, wherein
the movement of the swivel arm about the first axis of rotation and movement
of each roller
about the second axis of rotation allow the trolley to move along an elongate
guide rail curving
in any direction.
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[0028] It will be appreciated that features described with respect to the
first set of embodiments
are also applicable and disclosed herein with respect to the second set of
embodiments and
vice versa.
[0029] In some embodiments, the braking arm comprises an attachment end and a
braking end,
the attachment end of the braking arm extending outwards from the trolley body
in a direction
substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal plane of the elongate guide
rail. The fall control
system may be mounted on a wall, or on a wall bracket mounted on the wall such
that the
attachment end of the braking arm extends outwards from the elongate guide
rail in a direction
substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal plane of the elongate guide
rail, and substantially
perpendicular to the wall.
[0030] In some embodiments, the braking arm is pivotally coupled to the
trolley body. The
braking arm may comprise a circular shaft extending substantially parallel to
the elongate guide
rail for pivotally displacing the braking arm between the first position and
the second position,
the braking arm biased to the first position, the first surface of the speed
control track is on a
lower surface of the elongate guide rail and the surface of the trolley is on
a lower end of the
braking arm and positioned to face the first surface of the speed control
track, and wherein in
the first position, the surface of the trolley does not frictionally interact
with the first speed
control track, and wherein in the second position, the surface of the trolley
frictionally interacts
with the first surface of the speed control track. Alternatively, the braking
arm may be pivotally
coupled to the trolley via a ball and socket type configuration. For example,
the braking arm
may comprise a ball that is coupled to a socket on the trolley body allowing
for the braking
arm to move or pivot in multiple planes relative to the trolley and the
elongate guide rail, the
braking arm biased to the first position.
[0031] In some embodiments, the braking arm is slidably coupled to the trolley
body. The
braking arm may be slidable in a plane parallel to the plane of the elongate
guide rail from the
first position to the second position, the braking arm biased to the first
position, the first surface
of the speed control track is on an upper end of the elongate guide rail and
the surface of the
trolley is on an upper end of the braking arm and positioned to face the first
surface of the
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speed control track, and wherein in the first position, the surface of the
trolley does not
frictionally interact with the first speed control track, and wherein in the
second position, the
surface of the trolley frictionally interacts with the first surface of the
speed control track. The
trolley may further comprise a braking plate moveable in a compartment formed
by the body
of the trolley and a guide plate, the braking plate slidable in a plane
parallel to the elongate
guide rail when the braking arm moves from the first position to the second
position.
[0032] In some embodiments, the speed control system further comprises a
background speed
controller coupled to the trolley and engaged with the elongate guide rail,
the background speed
controller for controlling the speed of the trolley along the elongate guide
rail in a travelling
orientation while the user is walking, ascending stairs, or descending stairs.
The background
speed controller may comprise one or more than one magnet on the trolley and
the elongate
guide rail comprising a conductive portion extending along the elongate guide
rail. The
conductive portion of the elongate guide rail may be the shaft of the elongate
guide rail.
Alternatively, the conductive portion of the elongate guide rail may be
located between a wall
mounting portion and the shaft of the elongate guide rail, a side of the
elongate guide rail
adjacent a wall mounting portion, or a combination thereof. Alternatively or
in addition to the
magnets and conductive portion, in embodiments where the trolley comprises one
or more than
one roller for moving the trolley along the elongate guide rail or raceway of
the elongate guide
rail, the background speed controller may comprise a gear wheel coupled to the
one or more
the one roller of the trolley, the gear wheel comprising a plurality of teeth,
and the trolley
comprises a moveable arm configured to interact with the teeth of the gear
wheel.
[0033] The fall control system may comprise a secondary wheel assembly
comprising a
secondary wheel for interacting with a surface of the elongate guide rail, the
secondary wheel
assembly optionally comprising a retainer for biasing the secondary wheel
towards the surface
of the elongate guide rail, optionally wherein the secondary wheel is a
deformable wheel.
[0034] In some embodiments, the trolley further comprises a hanger (at the
attachment end of
the trolley or the braking arm), and the tether is attached to the hanger. In
some embodiments,
the tether may further comprise a belt or harness to be worn by the user. In
some embodiments,
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the fall control system may comprise two or more trol lies. For example the
fall control system
may comprise one or more than one second trolley for moving along the elongate
guide rail,
and a second tether attached to the one or more than one second trolley at a
first end, a second
end of the second tether for attaching to the user. One or more than one of
the second trollies
may comprise a speed controller and/or a background speed controller.
[0035] In some embodiments, the trolley may further comprise one or more
protective
coverings for shielding the user from magnetic fields. The one or more
protective coverings
may comprise a first covering comprising a ferromagnetic material and a second
covering
comprising a non-magnetic material.
[0036] In some embodiments, the fall control system may further comprise a pad
attached to
the trolley and configured to be positioned between the user and a wall when
the trolley is
mounted on the guide rail and the guide rail is mounted on the wall, the pad
moveable with the
trolley along the elongate guide rail. The pad may comprise one or more than
one pad wheel
at a lower edge of the pad. The pad may comprise one or more than one holes to
allow the user
to hold a handrail mounted on the wall, and/or the pad may comprise a handrail
attached to the
pad, or a handrail built-in to the pad. In some embodiments, the pad is
positioned to cover the
trolley, a portion of the guide rail, or a combination thereof. The pad may be
foldable at one or
more fold axis. The pad may be removeably attached to the trolley.
[0037] In some embodiments, the tether comprises two or more attachment points
for attaching
the trolley to the user. In some embodiments, the first end of the tether is
attached to a hanger
on the braking arm. In some embodiments, the first end of the tether comprises
a swivel
connection to allow rotation of the tether with respect to the braking arm,
e.g. a 360-degree
swivel connection.
[0038] There is further provided a fall control trolley for use in the fall
control system
described herein, the fall control trolley for moving along an elongate guide
rail.
[0039] In a third set of embodiments, there is provided a fall control system
comprising: an
elongate guide rail extending along an axis; a trolley configured to move
along the elongate
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guide rail, the trolley moveable from a first position to a second position; a
speed control
system for controlling a speed of the trolley along the elongate guide rail
when the trolley is in
the second position, the trolley moveable from the first position when the
trolley is in a
travelling orientation and the speed control system does not reduce speed, or
temporarily stop
movement, of the trolley along the elongate guide rail, to the second position
when the trolley
is in the falling orientation, and the speed control system reduces speed, or
temporarily stops
movement, of the trolley along the elongate guide rail; a pad attached to the
trolley and
configured to be positioned between the user and a wall when the trolley is
mounted on the
guide rail and the guide rail is mounted on the wall, the pad moveable with
the trolley along
the elongate guide rail.
[0040] It will be appreciated that features described with respect to the
first and second set of
embodiments are also applicable and disclosed herein with respect to the third
set of
embodiments and vice versa.
[0041] There is further provided a method for controlling movement of a
moveable object
during a fall event using any of the fall control systems described herein,
the method
comprising:
(a) coupling the first end of the tether to the trolley of the fall control
system, the trolley
being moveable along the elongate guide rail extending along the axis of the
elongate guide
rail, the trolley comprising the speed controller and optionally comprising
the background
speed controller, the background speed controller active while the trolley is
in the first position,
in the travelling orientation, and the speed controller active when the
trolley is in the second
position, in the falling orientation;
(b) coupling the second end of the tether to the movable object;
(c) exerting a pulling force, through the tether, on the trolley that is
sufficient to move
the trolley along the elongate guide rail while in the travelling orientation,
the background
speed controller controlling the speed of the trolley along the elongate guide
rail to not exceed
a maximum walking speed:
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(d) during the fall event, exerting a falling force, through the tether, on
the trolley that
is sufficient to displace the trolley from the first position to the second
position, the speed
controller for controlling the speed of the trolley along the guide rail in
the falling orientation
to not exceed a maximum fall speed; and
(e) allowing the moveable object to descend towards a ground at a
controlled speed,
wherein the maximum walking speed is greater than the maximum fall speed, and
the
maximum walking speed and the maximum fall speed are greater than zero.
[0042] In some embodiments, the maximum walking speed is greater than the
maximum fall
speed, and the maximum walking speed and the maximum fall speed are greater
than zero.
[0043] Figures 1-12 of US 10,864,393 and Figures 13 and 14 of US 2021/0069052
(both
hereby incorporated by reference) show examples of fall control systems
conceived by the
present inventor. New and improved fall control systems disclosed herein may
incorporate one
or more features of the fall control systems of US 10,864,393 and Figures 13
and 14 of US
2021/0069052 and it will be appreciated that analogous components of the fall
control systems
described in US 10,864,393 and Figures 13 and 14 of US 2021/0069052 may also
be used in
combination with or in substitution with any of the components of the improved
fall control
systems described herein.
[0044] This summary does not necessarily describe the entire scope of all
aspects of the
disclosure. Other aspects, features and advantages will be apparent to those
of ordinary skill
in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0045] In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one or more exemplary
embodiments:
[0046] FIGURE 1 shows a perspective view of a person ascending a curved set of
stairs using
an example of a fall control device as described herein.
[0047] FIGURE 2A shows a cross-sectional side view of a fall control system as
described
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herein in the travelling orientation, the trolley comprising a braking arm 722
rotatable about a
circular shaft 725 as viewed from line A-A in Figure 2B and optionally
background magnet
718 interacting with a surface of guide rail 700 which is conductive
(background speed control
track). FIGURE 2B shows a front end view of the fall control system of Figure
2A. FIGURE
2C shows a cross-sectional side view of the fall control system of Figures 2A
and 2B as viewed
from line C-C in Figure 2B. FIGURE 2D shows a partial back view of a fall
control trolley
with the wheels removed having an alternative background speed control system
comprising a
gear wheel and a swing arm. The remaining components of the trolley body have
been removed
for clarity. FIGURE 2E shows a partial bottom view of the swing arm of Figure
2D (without
gear wheel 741).
[0048] FIGURE 3A shows a cross-sectional side view of another example of a
fall control
system as described herein in the travelling orientation, the trolley
comprising a braking arm
722 as viewed from line A-A in Figure 3B and optionally background magnet 718
interacting
with a surface of guide ra 1 700 which is conductive (background speed control
track). FIGURE
3B shows a front end view of the fall control system of Figure 3A with the
braking arm in the
travelling orientation.
[0049] FIGURE 4A shows a side view of another example of a fall control system
with pad as
described herein whilst in use attached to a user. FIGURE 4B shows a front
view of the fall
control system of Figure 4A, with the pad removed. FIGURE 4C shows a rear view
of the pad
105 of a fall control system similar to the fall control system of Figure 4A,
with wheels 30.
[0050] FIGURE 5A shows a cross-sectional side view of another example of a
fall control
system as described herein in the travelling orientation for use on a curved
guide rail as viewed
from line A-A in Figure 5D. FIGURE 5B shows a front view of the speed control
system of
Figure 5A (speed controller 726, 729, 722, 720 not shown). FIGURE 5C shows a
top enlarged,
partial view of one of the wheel assemblies of Figure 5A. FIGURE 5D shows a
front view of
the fall control system of Figure 5A. FIGURE 5E shows a cross-sectional side
view of a fall
control system similar to the fall control system of Figure 5A, except without
the background
speed controller.
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[0051] FIGURE 6A shows a cross-sectional side view of another example of a
fall control
system as described herein in the travelling orientation for use on a curved
guide rail as viewed
from line A-A in Figure 6B. FIGURE 6B shows a front view of the fall control
system of
Figure 6A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION:
[0052] The present disclosure relates to a fall control system and a method of
controlling a
movement during a fall event.
[0053] Directional terms such as "top," "bottom," "upwards," "downwards,"
"vertically," and
"lateral l y" are used in the following description for the purpose of
providing relative reference
only, and are not intended to suggest any limitations on how any article is to
be positioned
during use, or to be mounted in an assembly or relative to an environment. The
use of the word
"a" or "an" when used herein in conjunction with the term "comprising" may
mean "one," but
it is also consistent with the meaning of "one or more," "at least one" and
"one or more than
one." Any element expressed in the singular form also encompasses its plural
form. Any
element expressed in the plural form also encompasses its singular form. The
term "plurality"
as used herein means more than one, for example, two or more, three or more,
four or more,
and the like.
[0054] As used herein, the terms "comprising," "having," "including" and
"containing," and
grammatical variations thereof, are inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude
additional, un-
recited elements and/or method steps. The term "consisting essentially of'
when used herein
in connection with a composition, use or method, denotes that additional
elements, method
steps or both additional elements and method steps may be present, but that
these additions do
not materially affect the manner in which the recited composition, method or
use functions.
The term "consisting of' when used herein in connection with a composition,
use or method,
excludes the presence of additional elements and/or method steps.
[0055] As described herein there is provided a non-electrical fall control
system that allows a
user to ascend and descend stairs or leve.1 surface on their own accord
(travelling orientation
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of the fall control system). The fall control system general ly comprises an
elongate guide rail
and a trolley that moves along the elongate guide rail. The trolley generally
moves by being
pulled by the user, and no external electrical power source is used to move
the trolley when
attached to the user. However, in some embodiments an external power source
may assist the
user to move the trolley along the elongate guide rail. In some embodiments,
an external power
source (e.g. a battery-powered remote control train) may push or pull the
trolley to meet the
user (or a second user) at the opposite end of the guide rail. The fall
control system decreases
the user's ground impact speed during a fall event (falling orientation of the
fall control
system), limits the vertical drop of the user towards the ground, and does not
completely stop
a user from impacting or contacting the ground during a fall event. The fall
control system
described herein may allow the user, following a fall, to move (e.g. crawl)
along the floor or
stairs while still attached to the fall control system should he or she be
injured and/or too weak
to stand fully erect.
[0056] With reference to Figure 1 there is shown a user ascending a set of
stairs while attached
to a fall control system as described herein. The fall control system may be
used while the
user is moving along a horizontal surface, or while the user is descending or
ascending stairs
of any pitch or steepness. In the example shown in Figure 1, the user is
wearing a belt 50 that
is connected to a trolley 120 by an adjustable length tether 140. While the
user ascends the
stairs in a travelling orientation, trolley 120 moves along guide rail 110 by
being pulled by the
user along the guide rail 110 via tether 140. The trolley is not electric, or
powered by an
external power source when attached to the user.
[0057] In the example shown in Figure 1, the guide rail 110 is separate from
the handrail, and
the user may hold onto a regular hand rail if desired. Alternatively, the
guide rail 110 may also
be used as a standard height hand rail (approximately 25-60 inches, such as 30-
37 inches from
the floor or stairs), or it can be used along with a standard hand rail. If
both a hand rail and a
guide rail are used, then the guide rail 110 is generally placed parallel to
the standard hand rail
80 and at a suitable height, for example above the hand rail. In use, the
trolley 120 will move
along guide rail 110 and lag behind the user travelling upstairs, and may lead
the user travelling
downstairs. However, in some embodiments described herein, the trolley may lag
behind the
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user when descending stairs. As a result, the user may place their hand on the
hand rail ahead
of the trolley walking upstairs, or behind the trolley walking downstairs. The
user may also
use the guide rail 110 as a hand rail on a level surface as the trolley would
lag behind the user,
allowing room for their hand in front of trolley 120.
[0058] The trolley, is typically of a light weight and the outer layer or
surface of the trolley
may be padded, for example, with a high density foam or an inflatable
material. This
arrangement may help to decrease chance of injury should the user fall
forwards, backwards,
or sideways and strike their head or other part of their body on the trolley.
[0059] The trolley comprises a speed control system and optionally comprising
one or more
than one background speed control system, which interact with the guide rail,
a portion of the
guide rail, a speed control track, a background speed control track, or a
combination thereof.
Collectively, the speed control system controls movement of the trolley along
the guide rail.
The trolley can transition from a first position (or travelling orientation)
to a second position
(or falling orientation). At the first position when the trolley in a
travelling orientation, the
trolley may be in a resting position (not moving along the guide rail), or the
trolley may be
moving along the guide rail at speed controlled by the background speed
control system. In
the travelling orientation the trolley moves at a speed that does not greatly
exceed a usual
maximum walking speed of the user. If the user falls, the fall control system
transitions to the
second position (fall orientation) and the one or more than one speed
retarding system is
activated. When the speed retarding system is activated, the movement of the
trolley along the
guide rail is reduced, thereby slowing the speed of user's fall and minimizing
any injury that
would occur as a result of the fall.
[0060] For some applications, e.g., where the guide rail is horizontal, the
background speed
control system may not be required to slow the movement of the trolley in the
travelling
orientation. In such embodiments, the speed control system may simply comprise
the one or
more speed controller for controlling the speed of the trolley in the falling
orientation in the
event of a fall (e.g. see Figure 5E). All of the fall control systems shown in
Figures 1-6 may
comprise or may not comprise the background speed controller.
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[0061] By "travelling orientation" or "first position" it is meant the
relative position of the
trolley, one or more than one trolley component, or a combination thereof with
respect to the
guide rail, a background speed control track (if present), a speed control
track, or combination
thereof. The travelling orientation is achieved when the trolley is in a
resting position (i.e. not
moving along the guide rail) or when the trolley is attached to a user and the
trolley moving
along the guide rail as the user is walking, ascending, or descending stairs.
In the travelling
orientation the background speed control system may be activated.
[0062] By "falling orientation" or "second position" it is meant the relative
position of the
trolley, one or more than one trolley component, or a combination thereof with
respect to the
guide rail, the background speed control track (if present), the speed control
track, or
combination thereof. The falling orientation is achieved when the trolley is
attached to a user
and the user falls thereby imparting a force on the tether, the trolley body,
one or more than
one trolley component, or a combination thereof. In the falling orientation
the speed control
system is activated.
[0063] A "speed control system" as used herein refers to a combination of
elements that
control the speed of the trolley when the trolley is in a falling orientation,
e.g. the combination
of the speed control track and the speed controller and optionally the
background speed control
system, of the fall control system. The speed control system comprises a speed
control track
located along, beside, on the surface of, or within, the guide rail, and a
speed controller located
in the trolley body. The speed controller engages or interacts with the speed
control track when
the trolley is the falling orientation.
[0064] A "background speed control system" as used herein refers to a
combination of
elements that control the speed of the trolley when the trolley is in the
travelling orientation.
The background speed control system may comprise a background speed control
track or
portion, located along, beside, on the surface of, or within, the guide rail,
and one or more than
one background speed controller attached to the trolley body. The background
speed controller
interacts with the background speed control track or portion when the trolley
is the travelling
orientation.
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[0065] A "background speed controller" refers to an element or a combination
of elements that
are a part of the trolley body and that engage directly or indirectly with the
background speed
control track or conductive portion, when the fall control system is in the
travelling orientation.
The background speed controller may include one or more than one magnet, a pre-
tensioned
wheel, a pre tensioned gear wheel, one or more than one onset wheel (i.e. the
axel is on the
center of rotation of the wheel), or a combination thereof.
[0066] A "background speed control track- refers to a track that located
along, beside, on the
surface of, or within, the guide rail. The background speed control track may
comprise a flat
surface, a toothed (gear) surface, a wave-like surface, a conductive surface
or portion, a
conductive body, or a combination thereof. In some examples described herein
the background
speed control track and the speed control track may be the same element.
[0067] A "speed controller" as used herein refers to an element or a
combination of elements
that are a part of the trolley body that engage or interact with the speed
control track. The
speed controller may include one or more than one magnet, a pre-tensioned
wheel, a pre
tensioned gear wheel, one or more than one onset wheel, one or more than one
offset wheel
(i.e. the axel is off the center of rotation of the wheel), a flat surface, a
wave-like (sinusoidal)
surface of the trolley body, or a combination thereof
[0068] A "speed control track" as used herein refers to a track that is
located along, beside, on
the surface of, or within, the guide rail. The speed control track may
comprise a flat surface,
a toothed (gear) surface, a wave-like (sinusoidal) surface, a conductive
surface, a conductive
body, or a combination thereof. In some examples described herein the speed
control track
and the background speed control track may be the same element.
[0069] The trolley may be manufactured of any material suitable in the art,
for example, but
not limited to, a suitable metal, alloy, resilient polymeric material, epoxy
resin, fibreglass
cloth-fibreglass resin composition, carbon -fibre¨fibregl ass resin
composition, fibreglass cloth-
epoxy resin composition, carbon fibre cloth epoxy resin composition, and
manufactured in a
manner that can support a weight capacity of a person that may be attached to
the trolley 120,
for example, a person with a weight of from about 20 (10kg) to about 700
pounds (320kg), or
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any weight therebetween, such as a weight of from about 20 (10kg) to about 400
pounds
(185kg). Preferably, the material with which the trolley 120 is manufactured
is not
ferromagnetic.
[0070] By "first maximum speed" or "maximum walking speed" as used herein,
refers to the
typical speed achieved by the average user (and when attached by tether to the
trolley, the
speed of the trolley), of the fall control system described herein. As would
be evident to one
of skill, the maximum walking speed will vary depending on the age, weight,
and physical
impairments or abilities of the user.
[0071] By "second maximum speed" or "maximum fall speed" as used herein,
refers to the
typical speed of the trolley travelling along the elongate axis when all the
components of the
speed control system are activated by the average user in the event of a fall
when the trolley is
in the second position. As would be evident to one of skill, the maximum fall
speed will vary
depending on certain factors, such as the angle of guide rail relative to a
horizontal plane and
the weight of the user. The maximum fall speed does not refer to the fall
speed of the user
attached to the trolley just before or after the trolley reaches maximum fall
speed. It is expected
that the speed at which the user travels in the event of a fall, just before
or after the trolley
attains maximum fall speed, will initially be greater than the maximum fall
speed of the trolley,
but the speed will be considerably reduced (slowed) by the slower trolley
speed and the
(elastic) properties of the tether attaching the user to the trolley prior to
the user contacting the
steps or level surface.
[0072] The first maximum speed of the movement of the trolley 120 along guide
rail 110, in
the travelling orientation, is less that the expected maximum fall velocity of
the user in the
event of a fall. For example which is not to be considered limiting, the first
maximum speed
may be from about 12 to about 14 inches/second, or any amount therebetween.
However, in
other embodiments the first maximum speed of the movement of the trolley 120
along guide
rail 110 may be adjusted to any desired speed, provided the speed is less that
the expected
maximum fall velocity of the user in the event of a fall. For example which is
not to be
considered limiting, the first maximum speed may be about 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,
11, 12, 13, 14, 15,
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16, 17, 18, 19, 20 inches/second, or from 0.5 to 5 km/hr, or any amount
therebetween, or from
about 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0 km/hr, or any amount
therebetween, in order
to approximate the range in walking speeds of a person. When engaged, the
speed control
system slows movement of the trolley along guide rail to a second maximum
speed for example,
but not limited to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 inches/second, or any amount
therebetween. In the
second position, trolley may or may not to come to a full stop. In the event
it does come to a
full stop, the braking mechanisms described herein should not limit the user
(while still
attached to the trolley) from moving (e.g. crawling) up or down the stairs, or
across a level
surface. Therefore, the first maximum speed of the trolley is greater than the
second maximum
speed of the trolley, and in some cases neither the first maximum speed nor
the second
maximum speed is zero. In some embodiments of the speed control system
described herein,
both the first maximum speed and the second maximum speed are greater than
zero, and the
trolley is never fully arrested, even when the trolley is displaced fully in
the second position.
[0073] An adjustable length tether may be attached to the trolley 120 at a
first end, and affixed
to a person either directly, or via a harness or a transfer belt at a distal
second end. A non-
limiting example of a suitable transfer belt is a SafteySure Transfer Belt
(available from
health suppliers, for example, Healthcare Solutions, MTS Medical Supply, or
SCAN Medical).
[0074] The speed control track and the surface of the trolley body or surface
of the braking
arm may both be flat surfaces, may both be wave-like (sinusoidal) surfaces, or
the speed control
track may be a flat surface and the surface of the trolley body or surface of
the braking arm
may be a wave-like (sinusoidal) surface and vice versa. For example a flat
surface having a
narrow width, equal to or less than the length of the crest or trough of the
wave-like surface,
so that the flat surface is able to sufficiently contact the wave-like
surface. In embodiments
where both the speed control track and the surface of the trolley body are
both wave-like, the
wave form of the second speed control track may be any form permitting a
corresponding
wave-like surface on the body of the trolley, when engaged with the speed
control track, to
move along guide rail so that trolley does not come to an abrupt stop when the
trolley is in the
second (falling) position. If a flat surface of the trolley body and a wave-
like surface of the
speed control track is used or visa versa, then the flat surface is of a size
that engages and
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continuously presses against the wave-like surface and does not glide over the
peaks of the
wave-like surface (i.e. the flat surface is shorter than the length of the
peaks or the troughs).
Friction is the primary mechanism responsible for slowing the trolley when the
surface of the
trolley comes into contact with the second speed control track. As described
herein, the
surfaces of the first speed control track, the second speed control track and
the surface of the
trolley body may be made of the same or different material, and may be a
material such as
metal, sandblasted metal, rubber, sandblasted rubber, polymeric material, and
sandblasted
polymeric material. Alternatively, one or both the surface of the first speed
control track,
second speed control track and the surface of the trolley comprise a brake
pad. Examples of
brake pad materials may include, but are not limited, to non-metallic
materials (e.g. comprising
a combination of various synthetic substances bonded into a composite,
principally in the form
of cellulose, ararnid, polyacrylonitrile (PAN), and/or sintered glass), semi-
metallic materials
(e.g. comprising synthetic materials mixed with flaked metals), and/or ceramic
materials (e.g.
comprising clay and porcelain bonded to copper flakes and filaments) combined
with an
appropriate binding agent, for example, phenol formaldehyde resin, and
optionally a friction
material, such as graphite or zirconium silicate. The friction between the
speed control track
and the surface of the trolley or surface of the braking arm causes slowing of
the trolley, or
causes the trolley to stop temporarily.
[00751 With reference to Figures 2A and 2B there is shown an embodiment of the
speed
control system. The fall control system shown in Figures 2A and 2B comprises a
rectangular
elongate guide rail 700 extending along an axis, with a trolley 740 comprising
two or more
rollers 710 to allow the trolley 740 to move along the guide rail 700, for
example, along guide
rail track 700a. Guide rail track 700a may comprise cylindrical rods or other
analogous
members to help maintain rollers 710 within the guide rail 700. The guide rail
700 further
comprises a speed control track 703a for interacting with a surface 703b of
the braking arm
722 of the trolley when the trolley is in the falling orientation.
[0076] As illustrated in the non-limiting example shown in Figures 2A-C, the
guide rail 700
has inset cylindrical rods (or guide rail track) 700a on which the rollers of
the trolley having
concave travelling surfaces ride. Alternatively, the rollers 710 can have a
convex travelling
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surface for travelling along a guide trail track or rods 700a with a concave
surface, or the rollers
710 can have another shaped travelling surface for riding on an alternative
track, e.g. non-
cylindrically shaped rods. A low friction sliding element 711 (e.g. Teflon )
between the rollers
710 and guide rail 700 may be used to prevent the rollers from becoming
inwardly displaced
or jammed with high axial pressures exerted against the front of the trolley
740. Alternatively,
the upper and lower outer edges 712 of elongate guide rail 700, with or
without a low friction
element 711, may overhang the rollers 710 to prevent the outward displacement
of the rollers
710 from the guide rail 700 in the event of a fall. Alternatively, the two or
more rollers 710 in
Figure 2A can be replaced with a trolley body that rides inside an elongate
guide rail on
multiple smaller rollers, wheels, or ball bearings. The trolley body 740 may
be attached to the
rollers 710 by any connection mechanism known in the art. The trolley body may
be spaced
from the guide rail using a spacer 709, which also connects the trolley body
to the rollers 710.
[0077] The elongate guide rail 700 may be attached to a wall via a connecting
mechanism (e.g.
a screw, bolt, concrete fastener or other fastening mechanism) through
multiple spaced rail
holes 701 (e.g. see Figure 2C). The fall control system may further comprise a
tether 754
attached to the trolley at a first end via hanger 720. The tether 754 may be
securely attached to
the hanger 720, for example, by a ring or carabiner 750. The tether may have
an elastic
component. The other end of the tether is attached to the user, such as to a
transfer belt that
circles the upper pelvis/lower abdomen, or to a full body fall arrest harness.
The tether may be
attached to the user at one or multiple attachment points (for example, as
shown in Figure 4A).
A 360-degree swivel connection 752 may be used for rotation of the tether with
the carabiner.
The guide rail 700 containing the trolley 740 may be above waist height of the
user, such as
above shoulder height as shown in Figure 4A. However, the guide rail 700 may
be placed at
waist height of the user, at a height between waist and shoulder of the user,
or above shoulder
height of the user.
[0078] The trolley body 740 may comprise various components, including, but
not limited to,
the one or more background magnets 718, a cylindrical shaft 725 (attached to
the main body
of the trolley 740 in one or more locations at fixed capped ends 714), a
braking arm 722
incorporating a hanger 720 in an upper portion of the braking arm, a braking
arm contact
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surface 703b in a lower portion of the braking arm, a middle cylindrical
surround 721 through
which the braking arm rotates around the cylindrical shaft 725, and one or
more than one
biasing member 730, for example, compression spring(s), rubber insert(s), or a
biasing member
comprised of a resilient material that biases the braking arm surface 703b of
the trolley away
from the guide rail surface 703a. In the event of a fall, if the user falls
and pulls the trolley
body in the general direction of "A", a downward force pulling on the tether
causes the hanger
720 and braking arm 722 to rotate ("B") around the cylindrical shaft 725.
Thus, the braking
arm 722 pivots about an axis (of the cylindrical shaft 725) parallel to the
axis of the elongate
guide rail 700, causing the braking arm 722 to move in a plane perpendicular
to the elongate
guide rail 700. If the force applied exceeds a threshold force of the biasing
member 730, the
braking arm 722 is moved from a first position (travelling orientation) to a
second position
(falling orientation) compressing the biasing member 730 (e.g. spring) and
causing the braking
arm contact surface 703b to contact the first speed control track 703a of the
lower guide rail.
Alternatively, the braking arm 722 may be coupled to the trolley via a ball
and socket type
configuration whereby the braking arm ball is contained within the trolley's
socket allowing
for the braking arm 722 to move or pivot in multiple planes relative to the
trolley and the
elongate guide rail 700. The braking arm may be biased in an upright or
neutral position,
essentially perpendicular to the trolley, by one or more than one biasing
member(s) 730. If the
force applied exceeds a threshold force of the biasing member(s), the braking
arm is moved
from a first position (travelling orientation) to a second position (falling
orientation)
compressing the biasing member and causing the braking arm contact surface
703b to contact
the first speed control track 703 of the lower guide rail.
[0079] The material selected for 703a and 703b can be the same or different,
and may be a
material such as metal, sandblasted metal, rubber, sandblasted rubber,
polymeric material, and
sandblasted polymeric material. Alternatively, one or both the surface of the
first speed control
track 703a and the surface of the trolley 703b comprise a brake pad. Examples
of brake pad
materials may include, but are not limited, to non-metallic materials (e.g.
comprising a
combination of various synthetic substances bonded into a composite,
principally in the form
of cellulose, aramid, polyacrylonitrile (PAN), and/or sintered glass), semi-
metallic materials
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(e.g. comprising synthetic materials mixed with flaked metals), and/or ceramic
materials (e.g.
comprising clay and porcelain bonded to copper flakes and filaments) combined
with an
appropriate binding agent, for example, phenol formaldehyde resin, and
optionally a friction
material, such as graphite or zirconium silicate. Alternatively, surfaces 703a
or 703b can be
the same material as the rail 700 and braking arm 722. The friction of surface
703a against
surface 703b causes slowing of the trolley 740, or causes the trolley to stop
temporarily.
Surfaces 703a and 703b can be flat surfaces or wave-like surfaces, or a
combination thereof,
as described with reference to other embodiments described herein.
[0080] The trolley body 740 in Figures 2A-2C may comprise a "shield" around
the background
magnets 718 to help redirect the magnetic fields away from the user. For
example, in the
embodiment shown in Figures 2A-2C, a ferromagnetic plate 716 (e.g. steel) is
overlaid by an
insulating material 717 (e.g. plastic). If the body of the trolley 740 housing
the magnets is
ferromagnetic material (e.g. steel), then an insulating (non--magnetic) layer
such as plastic or
aluminum should be added between the metal 716 and the magnet 718.
[0081] As shown in Figures 2B and 2C, a flexible shield 723 (e.g. plastic,
rubber or nylon
bristles) is attached to the outer ends of the lower portion of the braking
arm 722. The flexible
shield 723 helps prevent the user's fingers or other body parts from getting
stuck, pinched, or
jammed between the moving surfaces of the trolley and guide rail in the
travelling or falling
orientation. Figure 2C shows an optional rolling element 719, which may be a
wheel, roller,
ball bearing or equivalent feature that maintains a suitable distance between
the guide rail 700
and the one or more than one background magnets 718 and allows smooth movement
of the
trolley 740 with respect to the guide rail 700.
[0082] As shown in Figure 2C, a wiper 706 may be attached to an end plate 705
of the trolley
740, the end plate 705 secured with a fastener 707 to the trolley body 740,
helps to keep the
guide rail track or rods clear of debris. The wiper can be made of any
suitable material,
including, but not limited to bristles, high density open or closed foam, and
be housed within
a molded plastic casing with spring-load to maintain contact between the wiper
706 and the
surface(s) of rail 700. The wiper may be oil filled, or filled with another
lubricating substance.
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As shown in Figure 2B, one or more than one low friction rings 713 made of a
low friction
material (e.g. Teflon) can be inserted between the fixed capped ends 714 of
the cylindrical
shaft 725, and the middle cylindrical surround 721 and the cylindrical shaft
725 to allow
smooth rotation of the braking arm 722.
[0083] The fall control system may comprise a background speed control system
comprising
a background eddy current brake comprising one or more than one background
magnet 718
interacting with a surface of guide rail 700 which is conductive (background
speed control
track) for controlling a first maximum speed of the trolley so that it is less
that the expected
maximum fall velocity of the user in the event of a fall. The background
magnet 718 may
interact with any suitable surface of the guide rail 700, for example, an
upper surface of guide
rail, as shown in Figure 2A, or a lower surface of the guide rail as shown in
Figure 3A. The
one or more background magnets 718 may he square, rectangular, curved, arc
shaped, or
comprise any suitable shape in order to fit within trolley 740 and interact
with the upper surface
of the guide rail (background speed control track).
[0084] Alternatively, or in addition to, the background speed control system
may comprise
any other mechanism for controlling the speed of the trolley along the guide
rail in the
travelling orientation. An alternative background speed controller is shown in
Figures 2D and
2E. Features of the background speed controller are shown in isolation from a
back side view
of the trolley 740 in Figure 2D, and from a partial bottom view in Figure 2E.
In this example,
the background speed controller comprises a gear wheel 741, a biasing device
742, for example
an extension spring, coil spring, elastic cord and the like, swing arm 743,
and a post plate 744
with post 745. The axle for the wheels or rollers 710 may go through the
center of gear wheel
741, so that the gear wheel 741 may rotate freely about a rotatable attachment
to the trolley
740. The swing arm 743 and post plate 744 both pivot through an attachment
746, for example
a pin that is anchored to a surface of the trolley 740.
[0085] The gear wheel 741 and swing arm 743 may create unidirectional wheel
rotation
resistance in a direction when the user is descending stairs but not when the
user is ascending
stairs. With reference to Figure 2D, when gear wheel 741 (and connected wheel
or roller 710,
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not shown) rotate clockwise (e.g. in this example, when the user is moving
from left to right
and descending stairs), the gear wheel 741 contacts the bottom of the swing
arm 743, pushing
it against the post 745, and contacting the post 745 at its proximal end 745a
relative to the
trolley (Figure 2E). Post 745 is biased towards the swing arm 743 e.g. by a
biasing device 742,
for example, an extension spring that is under tension. In this non-limiting
example, the spring
742 is anchored by an attachment point 748 to the trolley 740 and the opposite
end is attached
to the distal end of the post 745b. Tension on the post 745 by the biasing
device 742 ultimately
results in more resistance, arising from the swing arm 743 pressing against
the gear wheel 741,
causing slowing of the wheel or roller 710 on the guide rail 700. If the
biasing device 742 is
an extension spring, then minimal movement and deflection of the swing arm 743
and spring
742 is desired to increase the lifespan of the extension spring.
Alternatively, other
embodiments could use compression springs, die springs, disc springs, coil
springs or leaf
springs, or elastic cord placed in alternate locations relative to the gear
wheel 741 and post
plate 745. The gear wheel background speed controller may be active when
descending the
stairs, but not when ascending the stairs, so there is no resistance and the
user can more easily
move up the stairs. For example, when the user is ascending stairs, the roller
710 and connected
gear wheel 741 turn counter-clockwise (with reference to Figure 2D; with the
user moving
from right to left), causing the gear wheel 741 to push the bottom end of the
swing arm 743 to
the left, thereby moving the swing arm 743 away from the post 745 on the post
plate 744,
resulting in no appreciable resistance against the gear wheel 741. In this
example, the post
745, held under tension by the extension spring 742, is prevented from pushing
the swing arm
743 out of contact with the gear wheel 741 by a stopper or pin 747. The
background speed
controller can be applied to one or more than one of rollers 710. If the gear
wheel background
speed controller is used on more than one wheel or roller 710, then the teeth
of the gear wheels
for each wheel or roller 710 may be orientated so that they are out of sync
(with respect to the
timing of their contacting their relative swing arms 743) so that the combined
braking
mechanism on two or more rollers results in an overall more uniform resistance
of trolley
movement.
[0086] Different configurations of the gear wheel teeth 741 and bottom of the
swing arm 743
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from that illustrated in Figure 2D are also envisaged and could be used to
enhance the braking
mechanism. For example, as an alternative to the gear wheel and swing arm
background speed
controller shown in Figures 2D and 2E, a bearing or bushing in the roller 710
known in the art
that causes wheel resistance when turning in one direction, but not the
opposite direction may
be used. It is contemplated that the gear wheel 741 may be used alone as a
background brake,
or in addition to another background brake, e.g. an eddy brake.
[00871 Figures 3A and 3B show an alternate fall control system similar to the
fall control
system shown in Figures 2A-2C, except that the background magnets 71 8
interact with the
conductive surface at the bottom of the guide rail 700, and the braking arm
722 with braking
arm surface 703b interacts with the opposing speed control track at the top of
the guide rail
703a.
[00881 The trolley body 740 may be attached to the rollers 710 via any
suitable connection
mechanism e.g. an axel and may comprise a spacer 709. The trolley 740
comprises different
parts, including, but not limited to, one or more background magnets 718, a
braking arm 722
and braking arm plate 726, and one or more than one biasing member 730, for
example
compression spring(s), rubber insert(s), or a biasing member comprised of a
resilient material,
that biases the braking arm surface 703b away from the upper guide rail speed
control surface
703a.
[00891 in the embodiment shown in Figures 3A and 3B, the braking arm plate 726
is located
within a guiding bracket 729 sandwiched by rolling elements 727. The rolling
elements 727
can be wheels, rollers, ball bearings, or other types of rolling elements
known in the art. The
rollers can be made of steel, rubber, or nylon, for example. The rolling
elements 727 within
the two guiding brackets 729 may be attached to the trolley body 740 by one or
more axles or
by other means to allow the braking arm plate 726 to ride smoothly within the
channel defined
by guiding bracket 729, in the event of a fall. Thus, the braking arm plate
726 is slidable in a
plane parallel to the elongate guide rail 700. The braking arm plate 726 may
comprise a
stoppered end 726a, for example, a flared end, extending pins or other similar
device that
ensures the braking arm plate 726 is sandwiched between die rolling elements
727 and cannot
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he pulled up and out of the trolley.
[0090] In the event of a fall where the trolley moves from a travelling to a
falling orientation,
a downward force pulling on the tether "A" causes the braking arm 722 to move
down. If the
force applied exceeds a threshold force of the biasing member (for example,
compression
spring(s)) 730, the braking arm 722 is moved from its biased first position
(travelling
orientation) to a second position (falling orientation) where the biasing
member 730 is
compressed causing the braking plate 726 to move downwards within the guiding
bracket 729
by means of the rolling elements 727, causing the surface of the braking arm
703h to contact
the adjacent surface 703a of the upper guide rail (the speed control track).
The material
selected for 703a and 703b can be the same or different, and may be a material
selected from
a group consisting of: metal, sandblasted metal, rubber, sandblasted rubber,
polymeric
material, and sandblasted polymeric material; or, both the second surface of
the speed control
track and the surface of the trolley of the speed controller comprise a brake
pad. Examples of
brake pad materials may include, but are not limited, to non-metallic
materials (e.g. comprising
a combination of various synthetic substances bonded into a composite,
principally in the form
of cellulose, aramid, polyacrylonitrile (PAN), and/or sintered glass), semi-
metallic materials
(e.g. comprising synthetic materials mixed with flaked metals), and/or ceramic
materials (e.g.
comprising clay and porcelain bonded to copper flakes and filaments) combined
with an
appropriate binding agent, for example, phenol formaldehyde resin, and
optionally a friction
material, such as graphite or zirconium silicate. Alternatively, surfaces 703a
or 703b may be
the same material as the rail 700 and braking arm 722. The friction of 703a
against 703b causes
slowing of the trolley, or causes the trolley to stop temporarily. Surfaces
703a and 703b can
be flat surfaces or wave-like surfaces.
[0091] It has been found that the embodiment shown in Figures 3A and 3B has
minimal axial
and radial forces, and minimal moments of force on the trolley body 740, the
trolley wheels
710, and the guide rail track 700a in a falling orientation, since more forces
are transmitted
through the braking arm 722 to the top of the guide rail. The top of the guide
rail may be firmly
attached at to the wall at multiple points.
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[0092] The bottom edge of the braking arm plate 726a may be enlarged as
illustrated in Figure
3A to prevent the braking arm from being pulled up and out of the trolley by
an upward
(vertical) force. As the speed control surface 703a is on the top of the rail
in the embodiment
in Figure 3, it is important that the top of the rail be free of debris, which
could hinder the
braking mechanism from working properly. For example, a sweeper 724 (similar
to the wipers
706 shown in Figure 2A) may be used at the top surface ends of the braking arm
722 to clear
away debris from the top of the guide rail 700. The sweeper 724 may be
composed of stiff
nylon bristles, rubber, felt, or another suitable flexible material that would
sweep away debris
to prevent debris from getting stuck between surfaces 703a and 703b. The
flexible sweeper
724 may compress in the falling orientation, allowing the braking arm surface
703b to contact
the guide rail braking surface 703a.
[0093] Figure 3B also illustrates the option for a warning device 733, for
example a hell,
buzzer or other alarm-like device on the trolley 740 (or in another convenient
location on the
trolley) that would alert family or medical personnel that the user had fallen
and may require
assistance. As described above, when the braking arm 722 moves down vertically
in the falling
orientation, a metal striker 732 strikes or activates the warning device 733
resulting in an alarm,
for example an alert call, a buzzing or a ringing noise. For example, a
battery-powered buzzer
may be used, or a battery-powered electronic chip that is Wi-Fi enabled to
alert family
members inside or outside the home that the user had fallen. If a bell 733 is
used, the striker
732 may have a flexible base to allow for optimal contact of surfaces 703a and
703b and
prevent damage to the bell.
[0094] Similarly to the embodiment shown in Figure 2, a "shield" is attached
to the trolley
740, surrounding the magnets 718 to help redirect the magnetic fields away
from the user. The
shield comprises a ferromagnetic plate 716 (i.e. steel) overlaid by an
insulating material 717
(e.g. plastic). If the body of the trolley 740 housing the magnets 718 is made
of a ferromagnetic
material, then an insulating (non-magnetic) layer such as plastic or aluminum
may be added
between the metal 716 and the magnet 718.
[0095] Features of other embodiments may also be incorporated into the fall
control device as
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shown in Figure 3. For example, the flexible shield 723 shown in Figure 15B
and 15C may be
attached to the outer surfaces of the braking arm plate 726 and guiding
brackets 729. The
flexible shield helps prevent the user's fingers or other body parts from
getting stuck, pinched,
or jammed between the moving surfaces of the braking arm plate 726 and the
trolley body 740
or guiding brackets 729 in the travelling or falling orientation. In some
embodiments, the fall
control systems shown in Figures 2A-2C and 3A-3B may not comprise rollers or
wheels 710
and may comprise alternative means for allowing movement of the trolley 740
along the guide
rail 700. For example, the guide rail 700 and trolley 740 may comprise a plain
bearing. In
embodiments comprising a plain bearing, to reduce friction and improve
movement of the
trolley along the guide rail, a smooth, low friction surface, for example,
self-lubricating bearing
elements such as PBC Linear (Pacific Bearing Company) SIMPLICITY Linear Plain
Bearings may be used. In some embodiments, the fall control system may
comprise a
curvilinear guide rail such as a Rolion() Curviline rail.
[0096] As described herein, the embodiments shown in Figures 2-3 may comprise
a single
speed controller, i.e. without a background speed control system. For example,
if the fall
control system is used in a location where the guide rail of the Fall control
system is positioned
horizontally with respect to the floor, then fall control system may only
require the (primary)
speed controller that is activated during a fall event by the user, and the
background speed
control system may be omitted. As described in more detail below, Figure 18E
provides an
example of a fall control system that only comprises a speed control system
(and no
background speed control system).
[0097] Figure 4A illustrates a user with a walker using a fall control device
on a level surface.
The trolley 102 (or trolley 220, 320, 620, 740 or 880) moves along elongate
guide rail 110.
The guide rail 110 may be at or above the user's shoulder height and may be
placed higher on
the wall, near the ceiling if desired. In use, the user may wear a harness
with a tether attached
to the trolley at a hanger, roller, pulley, or spring/roller, or spring/pulley
combination as
described herein. Figure 4A shows the tether (140) having two points of
attachment to the
user, but the option for one point, or more than two points, of attachment
also exists. Two or
more separate tethers may be attached to the hanger on the trolley, or as
illustrated in Figures
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4A and 4B, the tether may be a cord 140 (e.g. a nylon band (belt), an elastic
or non-elastic
cord) that can go around a roller or pulley 103 that is attached to the
trolley 102. A thin
flexible padded flap (not shown) may overlay the hanger, or pulley, to prevent
injuries to the
user. The tether or cord 140 may be adjusted (e.g. pulled tight) using a
buckle or other
attachment known in the art for a customized length, depending on the user's
height and
posture. The pulley (or roller) 103 may be on a swivel, to allow the user to
change directions
once they reach the end of the guide rail 110 without the tether or cord(s)
140 becoming tangled
or twisted. An option exists to insert a biasing member 129, for example a
spring, rubber insert
or other resilient insert (capable of accepting loads expected from a falling
human) between
the trolley 102 and the pulley (or roller) 103 that provides an elastic
component to the
attachment, so that in the event of a fall, there is a less abrupt stop for
the user.
[0098] In the embodiment shown in Figure 4A, a pad 105 is placed between the
user and the
wall. The pad 105 may be similar to a fitness mat or crash mat to help prevent
injuries in the
event that the user fell against the wall or handrail 115. In some embodiments
of the fall
control system, the entire wall below the guide rail may be padded and/or any
wall handrail
115 may be replaced (Figure 4A) with a foam or inflatable handrail. However,
the use of the
moving lightweight foam pad 105 is a less expensive option and may be more
aesthetically
pleasing. Alternatively, the pad 105 may be inflatable. The pad 105 may be
attached to upper
bracket 104 and lower bracket 109 that are attached to the trolley 102 that
moves with the user.
The upper bracket 104 may be attached to the bottom of the trolley (closer to
the front of the
trolley body so the pad rides away from the wall), using any attachment means
107, for
example, via a bolt (Figure 4B) or some other fastening device known in the
art. In order to
ensure that the pad is distanced from the wall, elongate attachment means 107
may be used.
The upper bracket 104 can be rigid or semi-rigid and may be attached to a
lower bracket 109
via a flexible attachment 108, for example, a hinge. The pad 105 which may
comprise a rigid
or semi-rigid upper backing (for lateral stability) can be permanently
attached to lower pad
bracket 109; or alternatively the pad 105 may be a removable pad, whereby an
upper back
portion 105a of the pad 105 is removably attached to portion 109a of the lower
pad bracket
109. The removable attachment may be for example but not limited to, a hook
and loop fastener
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(e.g. Velcro), magnets, button fasteners, turn button fasteners, push button
fasteners, press
snap fasteners, spring-loaded clips, or a similar attachment known in the art.
If the pad 105 is
removably attached to lower bracket 109, this would permit the pad 105 to
break-away from
the lower pad bracket 109 thereby avoiding tearing of the pad 105 in the event
of high or
significant downward forces, or prevent damage from vandalism from someone
trying to hang
on, or pull down on the pad 105. Preferably, the pad 105 would not rest
against the wall, but
it would be positioned away from the surface of the wall so that it would
glide easily and
smoothly over handrail 115 and other wall objects that may be present on the
wall. The pad
may contain one or more than one attachment points 112 (see Fig. 4C) for
connection to a
walker or similar gait assist device to help move the pad and hence also the
trolley in the same
direction, position, and speed as the user holding onto the walker or gait
assist device. The
pad's attachment point to the gait assist device may be temporary, for example
but not limited
to snap on, clip on, a magnet, or a hook and loop fastener (e.g., Velcro())
for easy connection.
A projection arm 112a (see Fig. 4A) from the walker oriented toward the pad
may be comprised
of a solid or semi-flexible material that connects to the pad's attachment
point, and the
projection arm may extend from both sides of the walker so that when the user
changes
direction (turns around) the walker (being pushed by the user) can easily
reconnect with the
moving pad. The term "gait assist device" refers to any device or apparatus
for aiding the user
to move e.g. walk. Examples of devices include a cane, crutch or walker.
[0099] The pad 105 may have a low friction, durable backing such as nylon,
ripstop nylon,
other ripstop material, abrasion resistant fabric or material (for example
comprising KevlarTm
or carbon weave, e.g. from ArmortexTm), to permit repetitive gliding over the
handrail 115.
The pad 105 may have one or more creases or folds (for example, horizontal
fold 106a and/or
vertical fold 106b), so that the pad 105 may bend during use, and when the
user or therapist is
finished with the fall control device, the pad 105 may be easily folded.
Additionally, the lower
section of the pad 105 may fold against the upper portion of the pad 105 so
that with the lower
half of the pad 105 tucked up behind the upper half, this would allow
individuals to use the
handrail 115 when the fall control device was not in use. The fall control
device comprising
pad 105 could also be used on stairs, and if desired, a hole or cut-out at or
near the center of
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the pad 105 could allow the user to hold the handrail 115 while ascending and
descending the
stairs. It is contemplated that pad 105 may be used in combination with any of
the fall control
systems described herein.
[00100] Alternatively, the pad may comprise a built-in
handrail or ledge at a standard
height from the floor, constructed, for example, of a dense contoured foam
connected to, or
part of, the pad that the user grasps while walking. Alternatively, the pad
105 and/or handrail
may be constructed of an inflatable material. Alternatively, the bracket 104
may be placed on
the top surface of the trolley. This would allow the pad to extend to, or
higher than, the elongate
guide rail to cover (glide over) part of the guide rail adjacent to the side
end(s) of the trolley,
and/or cover most of the trolley facing the user (except for an opening for
the tether attachment)
to protect the user from directly striking the trolley or guide rail in the
event of a fall towards
the wall. A small padded flap can overhang the trolley's tether attachment
site to also reduce
the chance of injury. For added stability, the pad may also be attached to the
elongate guide
rail via one or more smaller "mini trollies" that passively glide along the
same guide rail as the
trolley, with the "mini trollies" travelling at a distance from one or both
ends of the trolley.
[00101] As illustrated in Figure 4B, to prevent damage to the
end of the trolley,
especially on falls on stairs, a resilient bumper 111, for example a rubber
bumper, a
compressible spring, or similar cushioning material can cushion the impact
between the end of
the trolley 102 and the end of the guide rail 110. Alternatively, the
resilient bumper can be
attached to the trolley ends, which may be advantageous to prevent trolley
damage if more
than one trolley is used on the same elongate guide rail.
[00102] Built into the resilient bumper 111 there may be a
warning device 113. The
warning device 113 may be detachable and may comprise a spring-loaded pin or
tab that is
biased away from the warning device 113, and passes through an opening in the
resilient
bumper 111. When the user reaches the end of the rail 110, the trolley 102
hits the spring-
loaded pin or tab, which activates a warning device, for example a bell or a
small battery
powered buzzer or similar device, that alerts the user that they have reached
the end of the
guide rail 110 and need to stop and/or turn around. Alternatively, an earlier
warning device 40
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(Figure 4B) can be placed just below, or above, the guide rail 110 on the wall
at a distance
away from the end of the guide rail to allow earlier warning for the user to
stop and/ or turn
around. For example, the early warning device 40 may be positioned near to the
end of the
guide rail, for example, approximately 12 or more inches from the end of the
guide rail 110.
In some embodiments, the early warning device 40 may comprise a bell or
buzzer, attached to
the wall above or below the guide rail 110. The early warning device 40 may
comprise a
rotating lever arm 40a attached by a spring-loaded hinge-like mechanism to a
spring-loaded
piston (rod) 40b. The spring loaded piston rod enters a chamber 40c containing
a bell, a buzzer,
or warning device at the end of the piston. As described below, the early
warning device 40
would only sound with the trolley 102 going in one direction, but the early
warning device 40
could be flipped upside down in the installation process, with the rotating
lever arm 40a
mounted in the opposite direction to allow the early warning device 40 to be
used at the
opposite end of, or above, the guide rail 110. In the example shown in Figure
17B, the trolley
102 is moving from the right to the left and would hit the rotating lever arm
40a, moving it to
the left against the outer edge of 40c until the trolley 102 passed. The
pressure of 40a against
the outside edge of 40c creates a lever effect, pulling the rod 40b out of the
chamber 40c. When
the trolley 102 has passed, rotating lever arm 40a springs back to an upright
vertical position,
the piston or rod 40b moves quickly into the chamber 40c, striking a bell or
buzzer. When the
trolley 102 returns, traveling from left to right in Figure 17B, the lever arm
40a moves to the
right, but does not pull out the piston 40b, and therefore does not activate
the early warning
device 40.
[00103] Conceivably the fall control device can be used in a
hospital or other facility
settings where it may be unsupervised at times. To decrease the risk of
vandalism or injures
to those not authorized or trained in its use, a toggle clamp 10 (Figure 4B)
(also known in the
art as an "action clamp") may be used to prevent movement of the trolley 102
on the guide rail
110. The toggle clamp 10 is attached to one end of the trolley 102 for example
by a bolt. By
moving the toggle clamp 10, a hard or semi-flexible tip (e.g. rubber or
plastic) presses down
firmly on the guide rail 110, preventing movement of the trolley 102. An
option exists to lock
down the toggle clamp 10 with a key, or a pin with a unique shaped end, that
when inserted,
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unlocks the toggle clamp 10, allowing the trolley 102 to move freely along the
guide rail 110.
[00104] In other embodiments similar to Figures 4A and 4B, the
pad 105 may extend
nearly to, or completely to the floor and may comprise one or more than one
pad wheel 30
(Figure 4C) that allows the pad 105 to ride smoothly across the floor. The one
or more than
one pad wheel 30 may be on one or more carriage 30a attached at the or near
the lower edge
of the pad 105. For example, as shown in Figure 4C (backside view of the pad),
the pad 105
comprises two carriages 30a each having two pad wheels 30 attached at or near
the lower edge
of the pad 105. In some embodiments, the carriage 30a and pad wheels 30 may be
on the rear
side of the pad 105 as illustrated in Figure 4C (i.e. the side furthest from
the user) to prevent
the user from tripping or getting caught on the wheels 30. The pad 105 may
comprise magnets
119 that may interact with the carriage 30a and pad wheels 30 when the pad 105
is folded to
more securely hold the bottom half of the pad 105 when it is not in use. One
or more than one
rigid, semi-rigid, or flexible, vertical, horizontal, or angled deflectors 117
may be attached at
the rear and/or side of the pad 105 to allow the pad 105 to deflect more
easily off walls, railings,
handrails, or other objects on the wall and to prevent the pad 105 from
getting stuck. The pad
105 may comprise holes 20 to allow a user to hold onto the handrail, for
example, but not
limited to, in a bathroom environment. The holes 20 may also comprise a padded
flap 20a
attached to the pad's front 105 above the holes 20. For example, in the event
of a fall, if the
user's hand were to come off the hand rail 115, the padded flap 20a would fall
down, covering
the hole 20, preventing the user from striking a body part on the hand rail
115.
[00105] Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a trolley design that
allows the trolley 880 to travel on
a curved rail in any direction. It is anticipated that the embodiments
illustrated in Figures 5
and 6 would have the capability to navigate substantially tighter curves
(corners) that the
previous embodiments described herein, an advantage in environments such as
bathrooms, and
U and L shaped staircases. The curved guide rail may comprise a system such as
Rollon
Curviline. The Rollon Curviline system uses curvilinear rails (constant or
variable radius)
with a trolley having radial ball bearing rollers. However, other curved guide
rail systems may
also be used.
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[00106] Figures 5A, 5B and 6A illustrate a rail system based
on a curved track system,
for example, but not limited to, the Rolion Curviline system that allows for
movement of the
trolley 880 along a constant or variable radius curved guide rail 800, as well
as a straight guide
rail. The trolley 880 may comprise at least two pairs of wheels (e.g. four
wheels) 810 riding in
raceways (concave depressions) 804 on the guide rail 800. However, additional
numbers of
wheels may be used, for example, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more wheels,
depending on the size of
the wheels and the size of the trolley. The guide rail 800 may be attached to
the wall 801 via a
screw or bolt 802 or another fastening device. Each pair of wheels 810 may be
attached to a
swivel arm 818, with each swivel arm 818 rotatable about an axis 820, for
example using pivot
bolt, or other similar connection between the swivel arms 818 and the top
plate 821. The swivel
arms 818 are able to pivot, allowing the wheels 810 to follow, in addition to
a straight rail, a
constant or variable radius curved guide rail 800. Figure 18B illustrates how
the wheels 810
would function on a curved track with the swivel arms 818 moving to allow the
wheels 810 to
follow the curve. Two flexible sweepers 724 at each end of the swivel arms 818
may be present
to clear the raceways 804 and the top of the guide rail 800 of any debris to
allow for smooth
movement of the wheels 810 and ensure a firm braking motion in the event of a
fall (described
below). Small holes (not shown) may be drilled in the bottom of the raceways
804, exiting at
the bottom of the guide rail 800 to allow drainage of water, so that the fall
control system could
be used on the walls in a bathroom, including the shower.
[00107] However, the above described curved rail system only
allows the trolley to
move in one plane; for example, it would not allow the trolley 880 to follow
the walls on an L
or U-shaped staircase with a landing in between the flights of stairs. To
overcome this problem,
the fall control device shown in Figures 5 and 6 may comprise an additional
wheel attachment
assembly (see Figure 5C) that allow the wheels 810 to independently (and
passively) turn right
or left (in the direction of the arrows in Figure 5C). This allows the trolley
880 to navigate
curves right, left, as well as up or down. As shown in Figure 18C, wheel 810
may be attached
to a mounting block 813, for example, a rectangular, square, circular, rod, or
other shaped
block via an axle 812 (as illustrated in Figure SA). The mounting block 813
pivots via one or
more short axles 814 or other pivotable connection in a channel set into the
ends of the swivel
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arm 818. These short axles 814 may be biased, for example, spring loaded to
return the wheels
810 more quickly to a neutral position when the trolley 880 is traveling on a
straight part of
the guide rail 800. Nylon bushings or other durable, low friction material
known in the art may
be used between the surfaces of the block 813 and the swivel arm 818, to allow
for highly
repetitive, low-friction pivoting movements for longer life. Limits may be set
on how far the
wheels 810 can turn right or left by adjusting the size of the block 813 in
the channel setting.
The wheel assembly 813, 814, 812, 810 shown in Figure 5C that allows the
wheels 810 to turn
right or left may also be used in other embodiments described herein, for
example in Figures
2 and 3 to allow the trolley with wheels 710 to negotiate a curved guide rail
700.
[00108] For the fall control device illustrated in Figures 5
and 6, it is expected that, in
the event of a fall, the forces acting on the tether 754 and/or hanger 720
will be down and away
from the wall. However, with all wheels 810 turning passively right or left,
it is possible that
if the user and therefore the trolley 880 is traveling relatively fast and
entering a tight corner,
that the wheels 810 may partially or fully ride up on the raceways 804,
causing the leading side
edge of the trolley 880 to possibly strike the guide rail's front surface. To
avoid this, guiding
wheels 831 (shown in Figure 5B) may be attached to the opposing edges of the
top-plate 821
of the trolley 880. The guiding wheels 831 may not be in constant contact with
the guide rail
800, but would keep the side edges of the trolley 880 a minimum distance away
from the guide
rail's front surface at all times to prevent the trolley 880 from collapsing
against the guide rail
800 during times of high radial forces that push the trolley 880 towards the
guide rail 800 and
wall.
[00109] In Figures 5A, 5B and 6A a background speed controller
(e.g. an eddy current
braking mechanism or gear wheel mechanism as previously described) is always
active.
Magnets 718 are attached to the underside of each swivel arm 818, with the
magnetic fields
shielded by one or more ferromagnetic and non-ferromagnetic coverings, for
example three
shields 715, 716, 717 as shown in Figures 5A and 6A, and as previously
described with
reference to Figures 2A and 3A. The magnets 718 face the guide rail surface
803 (Figures 5A,
5B and 6A) that is composed of a conductive, but non-ferromagnetic material
(e.g. aluminum).
Alternatively, as illustrated in Figure 5E, the fall control system may not
comprise a
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background speed controller. For example, if the fall control system is used
in a location where
the guide rail of the fall control system is positioned horizontally with
respect to the floor, and
the guide rail is not positioned at an angle with respect to the floor, for
example located beside
a set of stairs, then fall control system may only require the (primary) speed
controller that is
activated during a fall event by the user, and the background speed control
system may be
omitted.
[00110] Figures 5A and 5D illustrate a hanger 720, braking arm
plate 722, and
rollers/balls 727 as previously described for Figures 3A and 3B. However, in
contrast to
Figures 3A and 3B, the one or more than one biasing member 730, for example a
spring, rubber
member or other resilient member, is located below the lower edge of the
braking arm plate
726a. The biasing member 730 biases the braking plate 726 away from the bottom
ledge of
the guiding bracket 729. In a falling orientation, the braking plate 726 is
pulled down, engaging
the speed control track 703a with the braking arm surface 703b, thereby
activating the braking
mechanism. Also in contrast to Figures 3A and 3B, the speed control track 703a
and
corresponding opposing braking arm surface 703b both slope down toward the
wall. This
prevents the trolley from being pulled away from the guide rail 800 during a
strong braking
action, if a user vigorously pulls down on the braking arm 722. Figure 5D also
illustrates thin
flexible shields 728 that protect the user from getting fingers, other body
parts, or clothing
caught between the braking arm plate 726 and the guiding brackets 729. The
features shown
in Figures 5A-5D may also be used in the embodiments illustrated in Figures 3A
and 3B.
[00111] Figure 6A has a speed controller comprising a similar
braking mechanism to
the embodiments illustrated in Figures 2A and 2B. The differences in the
braking arm
mechanism are: a) as illustrated in Figure 6B, the bottom of the braking arm
722, when viewed
from the front, is narrower than the lower portion of the braking arm as shown
in Figure 2B
(this permits the lower portion of the braking arm 722, when viewed from the
front, to sit
between swivel arms 818), but the option exists for braking arm 722 to be
wider e.g. if it
extended below the lower edge of the trolley while still permitting the
surface of the braking
arm 703b to engage the surface of the elongate guide rail 703a; and b)
surfaces 703a and 703b
slope upward toward the wall to allow for better grip of the braking surfaces.
Top plate 821
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may comprise an opening to permit the passage of braking arm 722, of
alternatively top plate
821 may be dimensioned such that it does not overlap or interfere with the
passage of braking
arm 722. Guiding wheels 831 as shown in Figure 5B may also be present in the
embodiment
shown in Figure 6. The additional or alternative features shown in Figures 5A
and 5B may also
be used in the embodiments illustrated in Figures 2A and 2B and vice versa.
[00112] For several of the embodiments described herein, it is
anticipated that the guide
rail 800 will be usually installed on flat, non-curved walls. However, if
curved rail is installed
to navigate inside or outside corners (for example an inside corner within a
stairwell, or an
outside corner between a hall and a room), then a portion of the rail may be
mounted at a
greater distance away from the wall as the curved rail passes around the
corner, since the radius
of the curve of the rail may be greater than the curve of the corner. In this
case, one or more
brackets bridging the distance between the guide rail and the wall may he
needed to provide
adequate support for the guide rail 800 and trolley 880 system. When
navigating tight turns
where the guide rail 800 is in a convex configuration relative to the trolley
880, the center of
the trolley may slightly move toward the guide rail 800 and wall, and in some
cases may cause
the end of the braking arm 722 to partially overshoot the guide rail 800, and
potentially strike
the wall. It is anticipated that in applications where the guide rail 800 is
in a convex orientation
relative to the trolley 880, that the guide rail 800 will be positioned away
from the wall by
brackets, which would allow the braking arm 722 to partially overshoot the
guide rail 800
without hitting the wall.
[00113] The guide rail 110 may be provided in sections, e.g.
in 1, 2, 4, or 8 foot, or other
lengths, and may be directly attached to the wall, or metal brackets can first
be installed on the
wall to which the guide rails are attached. An advantage to first installing
the metal brackets
is that for walls with unevenly spaced wall studs, screws or other fastening
devices can be
placed at almost any point in the bracket that attaches to the wall. The metal
brackets may
have guiding slots at both ends to ensure good alignment of the brackets end-
to-end. Pre-
drilled holes in the metal bracket may match the hole spacing in the guide
rails for easy and
perfect alignment using bolts or other fastening devices. This bracket system
may be used for
the installation of all the guide rail embodiments discussed herein.
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[00114] For the embodiments described herein, the tether
attachment end of the braking
arm or trolley is offset from, and extends outward from, the elongate guide
rail at a distance
perpendicular to the plane (or longitudinal axis) of the elongate guide rail
(i.e. it is not directly
above or below the elongate guide rail), meaning that the forces (e.g.
torsional force) applied
by the user as well as gravitational forces must be considered. For all
embodiments,
particularly in applications where the device is used on stairs,
multidirectional forces on the
hanger 146, 720 would be anticipated. Without wishing to be bound by theory,
increasing the
ratio of the bearing length (the length between the axels of the outermost
wheels; distance X
shown in Figure 2B) to the lever length (distance Y- shown in Figures 2A and
3A) reduces the
risk of the trolley binding (sticking) on the guide rail. Since the braking
arm 722 extends
outwards from the plane of the plain bearing/wheel assembly, during use while
the user is
walking, ascending or descending stairs and the trolley is moving along the
guide rail, the user
exerts forces on the braking arm 722 in two directions, down, as well as
outward, from the
wall. As a result, the "lever length" is a combination of both the length, Y
(distance from the
rollers 710 to the hanger 720 at right angles to the rail; Figures 2A and 3A),
and length, Y' (Y
prime; the distance between the axel of roller 710 and the hanger 720 in the
same plane as the
guide rail, resulting in length Y" (Y double prime), the compound moment arm
distance. For
embodiments where a plain bearing (or other linear motion system) between the
trolley and
guide rail is used, binding may be avoided by approximating (e.g. not
exceeding) a 2:1 ratio
(of the moment arm distance, Y" : bearing length, X). The 2:1 ratio is also
known as the
"Binding Ratio" (see URL: pages.pbclinear.com/rs/909-BFY-775/images/White-
Paper-
Demystifying-the-2-1-Ratio-and-Stick-Slip-Phenomenon.pdf). The "binding ratio"
may be
defined as the maximum ratio of moment arm distance (Y") to bearing length (X)
which will
not bind (prevent motion) of the linear bearing or wheels, when a torque is
applied to braking
arm 722. For example, in a plain bearing system, the composite length of the
braking arm 722
from point of attachment at the trolley at 725 to the end of the hanger 720
where the trolley is
attached to the user (distance Y"; Y double prime) should not exceed twice the
width of the
bearing length where the trolley contacts the guide rail at each end (distance
X). The ratio may
be higher for linear systems with ball bearing or wheel systems, depending on
the coefficient
of friction.
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[00115] In an analogous manner, binding may also be considered
for the ratio of the
moment arm distance, Y" (Y double prime), of the braking plate 726 and guide
brackets 729
(Figures 3A and 5A) to the bearing length (X). As shown in Figures 3A and 3B
(not to scale),
the bearing length is wide relative to the moment arm distance Y", thus
reducing bearing
friction resulting from torque applied to the trolley body during a fall
event.
[00116] A second potential site of binding that is avoided in
the designs discussed herein
is within the braking mechanism itself. For example, in Figures 2A-2B and 6A-
6B, the width
of the cylindrical shaft 725 (analogous to "X" in a plain bearing system) is
maximized, and the
horizontal distance between the outer edge of hanger 720 to the braking shaft
725 (analogous
to "Y") is minimized to prevent binding of the braking shaft 725 when rotating
inside the
middle cylindrical surround 721. Another example is Figures 3A-3B and 5A-5D,
where the
width of the braking arm plate 726 (analogous to ")C) is maximized, and the
horizontal
distance between the outer edge of the hanger 720 to the braking arm plate 726
(analogous to
"Y") is minimized to prevent binding of the plate 726 within the guiding
bracket 729. This
second potential binding site may play a role in wall mounted fall control
systems wherein in
the event of a fall, multidirectional forces acting on the braking arm have
the potential to cause
binding. In contrast, the second potential binding site is relatively
unimportant in overhead
fall control systems known in the art, where the braking mechanism consists of
a lever being
pulled straight down, with little or no forces pulling it to one side or the
other.
[00117] To further reduce the chance of the braking plate 726
binding against the guide
brackets 729, nylon or other low friction material can be placed on a surface
of the trolley body
728 adjacent the ends of the braking plate on the inner guide bracket 729 to
provide a smooth
gliding surface between the braking plate 726 and the guide brackets 729. In
some
embodiments, rolling elements 727 are not present and a smooth, low friction
surface on the
inside of the guide bracket 729 is instead provided. Since it is anticipated
that falls would be
infrequent, there would be minimal wear on the rolling elements and low-
friction surfaces.
[00118] It is contemplated that any part of any aspect or
embodiment discussed in this
specification can he implemented or combined with any part of any other aspect
or
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embodiment discussed in this specification. While particular embodiments have
been
described in the foregoing, it is to be understood that other embodiments are
possible and are
intended to be included herein. It will be clear to any person skilled in the
art that modification
of and adjustment to the foregoing embodiments, not shown, is possible.
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