Patent Application
20110056019
The invention relates to a hoist provided with a clamping device for moving persons.
For many care workers, lifting less able-bodied person is a daily often recurring basic operation. In order to limit the physical stress for the care workers, manual lifting has been reduced in particular the last ten years, and is replaced with the use of so-called hoists, with which care-needing persons can be moved relatively efficiently from a seated position to a standing position and vice versa.
EP-A-0 782 430 describes an example of a hoist known from the state of the art. During use of the hoist described in this publication, first, a lifting belt forming part of the hoist is passed behind the back and under the armpits of a person to be moved, whereupon the person can be moved. The hoist is provided with an articulate arm comprising a lever which is hingedly connected, by a first end, to a frame and is hingedly connected, by a second end, to an auxiliary arm. The free ends of the auxiliary arm are provided with points of attachment for a lifting belt. The specification describes that the path the points of attachment travel is controlled by a control unit in which different control programs can be stored for realizing different paths. An important drawback of the known hoist is that the person still has a relatively large freedom of movement after the lifting belt is provided, so that during moving, the person is secured to a limited extent only. This may lead to unsafe situations which limits the usability of the known hoist considerably. The path the person travels is not well defined in that the lifting belt offers great freedom of movement. Furthermore, it is frightening for the user to be “suspended” in such a movable lifting belt. In addition, as a rule, persons suffering from, for instance, hemiplegia or hemiparesis will engage the hoisting belt in an askew condition so that the persons to be moved are usually loaded and moved in an unnatural and often incorrect manner.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,596,298 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,044 show hoists with armpit supports. Each armpit support is connected to the upward directed end of a telescopic lifting column which is movable upward and downward relative to a base. Furthermore, each telescopic arm is pivotal with respect to the base. A drawback of the known apparatus is that a considerable part of the lifting force is exerted on the armpits, which is painful.
DE-U-202 17 673 describes a hoist for patients, provided with two padded armpit supports which engage the ribcage of the patient with a particular clamping force, while avoiding too strong a clamping force and wherein the patient is also prevented from gliding from the clamping device. The clamping direction is movable obliquely upward and downward along a fixedly disposed guide path. Therefore, with the apparatus known from this publication, only a single lifting movement is possible.
What is envisaged is a hoist with which the above-described drawbacks are reduced or solved.
To that end, a hoist for moving persons is provided, which is provided with:
Such a hoist gives the person it can bring from a seated to a standing position and vice versa a more secure feeling and a more natural sensation than the hoists known heretofore. This means a sensation that corresponds best to the sensation that occurs when the respective person is brought from a seated to a standing position by a care worker.
The clamping elements that engage both sides of the chest have the function of the hands of a care worker. Contrary to armpit supports, the bearing force is specifically transmitted through clamping. The fact that the lifting column is pivotally connected to the base structure and that the clamping device itself is movable upward and downward along the longitudinal axis of the lifting column provides the possibility for the clamping device to travel a natural path. A natural path is understood to mean a path the trunk of a person preferably travels during standing up.
In one embodiment, the hoist comprises a control which is configured for controlling the first actuator and the second actuator for moving a clamped person along a natural path from a seated position to a standing position and vice versa.
With such an embodiment, the control and the first and the second actuator can be configured for providing the natural path in the form of a smooth path.
Here, from the seated position to the standing position, the smooth path can comprise a first path part which, viewed from the patient, is directed forward and obliquely upward or, alternatively, forward and substantially horizontally, and the smooth path can comprise a second path part contiguous to the first path part which is directed substantially vertically, while the transition between the first path part and the second path part is smooth.
Such a configuration of the path resembles the natural raising movement of a healthy person when standing up independently the most. As the clamping elements directly engage the user, the user too will be brought accurately and securely, as if being helped by a care worker, from the seated to the standing position.
In one embodiment, the control can be provided with a memory in which a number of preprogrammed paths are stored.
Depending on the condition of the patient, a more passive or more active path can be selected. In general, the active path will be directed more obliquely upward, while a passive path will first be directed substantially horizontally forward and only then upwards.
Through the use of the clamping elements which, through the driving means, actively exert a force on the person, the overall freedom of movement for the person is minimized, so that the person can be moved in a relatively reliable and safe manner with the aid of the hoist comprising the clamping device. Here, actively exerting a force on the clamping elements prevents the clamping elements from detaching the person to be moved, which is additionally beneficial to the safety. The improved active securing of the person to be moved will furthermore be to the advantage of the usability of the hoist. As a rule, the clamping elements can be removed from the person only after the force exerted by the driving means on the clamping elements is overcome, whereby deactivation of the driving means takes place. As a rule, deactivating the driving means will be realized by a care worker. As, through the use of the clamping means, the clamping device will in fact grasp the person to be moved in a location-selective manner, a large part of the body of the person to be moved will remain accessible to care workers, which facilitates the physical care of the person both with regard to the care worker and the person needing care. Furthermore, it can thus be guaranteed that the person to be moved is correctly loaded and is moved even when this person would suffer from hemiplegia or hemiparesis. As a rule, the clamping elements will be designed for engaging the person to be moved at parts of the body such as, for instance, the trunk under the armpits, where the care worker would also engage the person for moving the person, so that the person will experience a large degree of familiarity when being clamped.
During movement, the clamping elements will engage the person continuously, irrespective of the fact whether the person contributes to the realization of the moving. As a rule, a set of cooperating clamping elements comprises two, three or four clamping elements which are designed for engaging the same specific body part of the person, such as, for instance, the trunk, the arms, the legs, etc. It is also conceivable, and in certain situations even especially advantageous, when the clamping device comprises several sets of cooperating clamping elements, where a first set of clamping elements may be designed for engaging the legs of the person and a second set of clamping elements may be designed for engaging the chest of the person. In a preferred embodiment, the mutual orientation between two sets of clamping elements is adjustable, so that a person can be moved relatively simply, safely and efficiently between two conditions, in particular a lying condition and a seated condition. It is, for that matter, conceivable to market the clamping device as separate device. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the clamping device is first provided on a person, after which the clamping device will be connected to a (remaining part of a) hoist.
In one embodiment, the driving means of the clamping device comprise at least one first driving element for moving the at least one clamping element against the person to be moved, and the driving means comprise at least one second driving element for exerting a force directed towards the person to be moved on the clamping element positioned against the person to be moved for active clamping of the person. By effecting the clamping of the person in the clamping device in a phased manner, by first having the clamping elements clamp the person under a (limited) bias under the influence of the at least one first driving element and by then realizing the actual clamping by having the clamping elements engage the person under a relatively great bias, the clamping elements can first be correctly positioned against the person to be moved in a relatively user friendly manner, whereupon this person can then be effectively clamped. With the actual clamping of the person, the total clamping force will, as a rule, be determined by the at least one second driving element. When several pivotal clamping elements are used, it is advantageous when each pivotal clamping element is connected to its own first driving element, so that the clamping elements can be provided on the person independently of each other. As a rule, the at least one second driving element will be designed for simultaneously exerting a force on all pivotal clamping elements, so that the clamping elements will engage the person with a substantially constant force, even when the form and/or dimensioning of the body part of the person on which the clamping element engage changes during movement of the person. Here, the person can be clamped in a substantially symmetrical manner as well as in an asymmetrical manner, while this all will generally depend on the build of the person to be moved. As driving elements, for instance, pneumatic and/or hydraulic springs can be used. However, it is also conceivable that the driving means comprise electromechanical and/or electromagnetic elements for having the clamping means exert a force on the person to be moved. It is advantageous when the first driving element and the second driving element are designed to be brought in an active condition independently of each other, where a force directed towards the person is exerted on the at least one pivotal clamping element. Separately activating the first driving element or second driving element, respectively, has as an advantage that the phased clamping of the person as described hereinabove can be realized efficiently. Use of several driving elements has as an advantage that a permanently exerted force on a person can be guaranteed, even when one of the driving elements were to inadvertently deactivate or be deactivated.
Preferably, the clamping device comprises locking means for locking and unlocking the driving means. Use of the locking means has as an advantage that two stable conditions can be realized: a non-operative condition, in which the clamping elements are not positioned such that a person can be clamped and an operative condition, in which the clamping elements are positioned such that a person can be clamped. By selectively locking or unlocking the at least one pivotal clamping element with the locking means, one of the above-mentioned conditions of the clamping device can be achieved. Here, it is advantageous when the driving means are designed for exerting, with the driving means in the unlocked condition, a force on the at least one pivotal clamping element. When the locking means dysfunction, the clamping elements will be forced towards the operative (clamping) condition which is important to the safety of the person. In addition, as a result, unintentionally removing the clamping means can be avoided as much as possible which is also of importance from the viewpoint of safety. As a rule, only after overcoming the force exerted by the driving means the at least one pivotal clamping element can be brought to the non-operative condition, after which the person can be uncoupled from the clamping device according to the invention. In a special preferred embodiment, the locking means are designed for separate locking and unlocking of the first driving element and the second driving element, which is beneficial to the phased clamping of a person to be moved as described hereinabove.
In one embodiment, the first driving element can comprise for each clamping element, a third telescopic actuator associated with the respective clamping element, which actuator is connected, by a first end, to the bearing frame and, by the other end, to the clamping element, the third actuator having a collapsed and an extended position between which the intermediate positions are located, the third actuator being provided with locking means for locking the third actuator in an intermediate position. A relatively inexpensive, robust design can be realized when the third actuators are designed as gas springs as utilized also with, for instance, office chair frames. These office chair gas springs too are provided with locking means for locking the telescopic gas spring in an intermediate position. In one embodiment, the second driving element can be provided with:
a shaft, rotatably connected to the bearing frame and having a first eccentric lobe and at least one second eccentric lobe associated with the at least one clamping element, the first end of the third actuator associated to the clamping element being connected, via the second lobe, to the bearing frame;
a fourth telescopic actuator which is connected by a first end to the first eccentric lobe and is connected by a second end to the bearing frame;
while, with the fourth actuator in a first condition, the shaft has a rotational position such that with each third actuator in a locked condition, the greater force directed towards the person to be moved is exerted on the clamping element, while, with the fourth actuator in a second condition, the shaft has a rotational position such, with each third actuator in a locked condition, that the force substantially corresponds with the force exerted by the at least one third actuator on the clamping element, should this third actuator be in the unlocked condition.
In a preferred embodiment, the at least one set of cooperating clamping elements comprises at least two clamping elements pivotally connected to the bearing frame, the driving means being designed for pivoting the pivotal clamping elements in the direction of the person while clamping the person, while the pivots of the pivotal clamping elements extend substantially parallel to the straight longitudinal axis of the lifting column.
By pivotably connecting the cooperating clamping elements to the bearing frame, as a rule, the accessibility of the clamping device for the person can simply be enhanced. Furthermore, in this manner, it can be realized that several, and preferably all, clamping elements exert a (direct) active force on the person which will further increase the safety of the clamping device. As the clamping elements are pivotal independently of each other, it is also enabled to clamp the person to be moved with the clamping apparatus in an eccentric manner, which can be desirable with particular persons.
Preferably, the at least one clamping element, and more preferably each clamping element, comprises an arm and a pad connected to the arm, the pad being designed for engaging the person to be moved. Preferably, the pad is provided with a design tailored to the body of the person, so that a tight fit of the pad on the person can be realized. As a rule, a part of the pad facing the person will thereto be at least of partly concave design. Here, it can be advantageous to design the part of the pad facing the person asymmetrically in order to adjust this design as much as possible to the actual form of the body of the person. It is also conceivable that at least a part of the pad facing the person is of substantially flexible design in order to further optimize the fit of the pad to the body, which is beneficial both to the safety of the clamping device and to the comfort of the person. In a special preferred embodiment, the pad is provided with at least one inflatable or inflated compartment, which is further beneficial to a tight and comfortable fit of the pad to the body.
In a preferred embodiment, the orientation of the pad relative to the arm is adjustable. It is furthermore preferred that the pad is connected to the arm so as to be freely rotatable, so that the clamping elements can remain substantially engaged on the person when the arms of the clamping device are moved relative to the person, which enhances the comfort of the person and the safety of the clamping device. However, it is also conceivable here that the free rotation of the pads is limited in order to prevent the pad from being provided in a non-optimal condition on the person to be moved, for instance upside down. It is advantageous when the pad is detachably connected to the arm, for replacing the pad in a relatively simple manner with, for instance, another pad or lifting belt, which is beneficial to the flexibility of the usability of the hoist.
The invention also provides a hoist comprising:
To the present day, when lifting patients in a passive manner, use is made of hoist belt assemblies. With such hoist belt constructions, it is not possible to bring the patient during lifting from a seated to a lying position. By now providing two sets of clamping elements whose mutual position, at least in a clamped condition, can be adjusted, a patient can for instance be clamped in a seated position, then be brought to a lying position and then be laid on a bed with the aid of the hoist. With such a hoist, the mutual position of the sets will, in general, also be adjustable when the camping elements of the sets are not in the clamping position. The fact is that the hoist should be able to take up a patient both from a seated position and from a lying position. With the hoist with several sets of clamping elements which are mutually movable, it is possible that still one further set of clamping elements is present for engaging other parts of the body, for instance the lower legs and/or the pelvis. In this context, the term hoist is understood to mean an apparatus whose frame can be wheeled over the floor. The hoist can also be a ceiling lift, with the frame movable along a rail on the ceiling. A stationary bearing frame is a possibility too.
The invention also provides a method for moving persons, comprising:
During clamping, the force exerted on the at least one pivotal clamping element is transmitted by the clamping element on the person to be clamped. When the at least one set of clamping elements also comprises a stationary (not pivotal) clamping element, the force exerted on the person by the pivotal clamping element will be transmitted to the stationary clamping element. The at least one actively clamping pivotal clamping element and the at least one reactively clamping stationary clamping element result in a reliable clamping of the person. Preferably, the set of clamping elements comprises only pivotal clamping elements so that all clamping elements actively exert a force on the person to be moved, which is beneficial to the reliability of the clamping and the comfort for the person during clamping. In a preferred embodiment, the driving means have the clamping elements engage the person under a (limited) bias when the clamping element engages a person to be moved, so that the clamping elements can be arranged efficiently on the person and be held in the correctly arranged orientation condition under the influence of the imposed bias.
In a preferred embodiment, during engaging, at least one first driving element of the driving means is unlocked for having the clamping means engage the person under a bias. Preferably, during the successive/subsequent clamping, the at least one first driving element is locked and the at least one second driving element of the driving means is unlocked for having the driving means exert a force directed towards the person on the at least one pivotal clamping element, while clamping the person. As a rule, from a point of view of safety, it is particularly advantageous, through unlocking of the first driving element and/or the second engaging elements, to have a (direct) force exerted on the pivotal clamping elements and hence on the person, as the risk of unintentionally uncoupling the clamping element with respect to the person is thus minimized as much as possible.
The invention will be further elucidated on the basis of non-limitative exemplary embodiments represented in the following Figures.
a shows a side view to a person in a seated condition and a hoist in a collapsed condition;
b shows a side view to the person according to
a-4c show perspective views to an exemplary embodiment of a clamping device in different conditions; and
a and 5b show schematic side views to an alternative exemplary embodiment of a clamping device in different conditions.
a shows a side view of a person 4 seated on a chair 3 and a hoist 5 in collapsed condition. The chair 3 can be formed by a separate (wheel)chair, but can also be integrally connected to a base structure 6 of the hoist 5. The hoist 5 also comprises a lifting column 7 rotatably connected to the base structure 6 about an axis of rotation C. The lifting column 7 comprises a first column segment 7a which is pivotally connected to the base structure 6 about the axis of rotation C. The lifting column 7 also comprises a second column segment 7b which cooperates telescopically with the first column segment 7a. In the collapsed condition shown, a substantial part of the second column segment 7b is enclosed by the first column segment 7a. The hoist further comprises a clamping device with two clamping elements 8 which is connected to the second column segment 7b. An exemplary embodiment of the clamping device is clarified in the following with reference to
As described hereinabove, the lifting column 7 is designed as a telescopic arm with two column segments 7a, 7b which are slideable into and from each other, with the clamping device connected to the upper column segment. In an alternative embodiment, it is also possible that the lifting column is not of telescopic design but as a guide path, so that the clamping device, more particularly a bearing frame thereof is movable upward and downward along the lifting column via the guide path. An advantage of the telescopic design of the lifting column 7 is that, in each position of the lifting column, the patient has an unobstructed view in forward direction and that the operating handles of the clamping device are freely accessible to the care worker.
a-4c show perspective views to a clamping device 41 according to the invention in different conditions. The clamping device 41 comprises a bearing frame 42, and two clamping elements 43a 43b, pivotally connected to the bearing frame 42. Each clamping element 43a, 43b comprises an arm 44a, 44b, and a pad 45a, 45b connected in a freely rotatable manner to the arm 44a, 44b. The pads 45a, 45b are designed for engaging a body of a care-needing person. The clamping device 41 also comprises two (gas)draw springs 46a, 46b, while each draw spring 46a, 46b is connected, on the one side, to an arm 44a, 44b associated therewith and is connected on the other side to a second eccentric lobe of an axially rotatable drive shaft 47 forming part of the bearing frame 42. The draw springs 46a, 46b are designed for moving the clamping elements 43a, 43b towards the person so that the pads 45a, 45b can be placed in an appropriate manner against the person to be moved. The draw springs 46a, 46b are independently of each other manually unlockable by means of two first operating handles 48a, 48b. In order to realize a firm clamping of the person, the clamping device 41 further comprises a (gas)draw spring 49 which is connected, on one side, with a stationary part 50 of the bearing frame 42 and connected, on the other side, to a first eccentric lobe of the axially rotatable drive shaft 47 of the bearing frame 42. The clamping device 41 further comprises a second operating handle 51 connected to the drive shaft 47, which second operating handle 51 can be locked by means of two locking elements 52a, 52b with respect to the stationary part 50 of the bearing frame 42. The locking elements 52a, 52b are mutually connected by means of a third operating handle 53.
The operation of the clamping device 41 can be described as follows. In the condition shown in
a and 5b show schematic side views to an alternative embodiment of the clamping device 22 in different conditions. The clamping device 22 comprises a bearing frame 23 built up from several mutually pivotally connected bearing segments 23a-23d. The clamping device 22 further comprises two pairs of clamping elements 24, 25 while each pair of clamping elements 24, 25 is freely rotatably connected to a respective bearing segment 23a, 23b. By realizing a solid clamping of a person 26 as described in detail in the above, a clamped person can be moved in a relatively reliable manner, for instance between a lying condition (
It will be clear that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments represented here, but that within the framework of the accompanying claims, numerous variants are possible. For instance, the base structure of the hoist can also be attached to the ceiling or to a wall. In order to make the base structure moveable on the ceiling, the base structure may be wheeled along a rails provided against or in the ceiling.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001474 | Apr 2008 | NL | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/NL2009/050200 | 4/14/2009 | WO | 00 | 11/24/2010 |
