The invention relates to person moving devices for moving persons of limited mobility such as elderly or infirm or disabled persons.
In a hospital or nursing home for example there is regularly a need to move elderly or infirm or disabled persons who are unable to stand up and/or walk themselves, from place to place such as from a bed to a chair or to a lavatory or vice versa. A wheelchair may be used but other forms of patient moving devices designed to facilitate getting the patient onto and from a bed or chair are known in which this can be done more readily than with a wheelchair (which generally requires significant lifting of the patient, by a caregiver or caregivers). Such patient moving devices may also be lower cost than a wheelchair, and can be useful when nursing elderly or infirm or disabled persons in the home for example.
Moving one person by another requires significant strength of the caregiver (mover), and can run a significant risk of for example back injury to the caregiver through lifting often accompanied by bending.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved patient mover that is easier for a carer to operate, or to at least provide the public with a useful choice.
In a first aspect, the present invention broadly consists in a person moving device (patient mover) for moving a person of limited mobility, which comprises: a lower floor engaging frame part, an upper patient carrying part adapted to carry a patient by engaging the patient's torso from the front, mounted to the lower frame part for movement between a patient load-unload position and a patient transport position in which the patient's buttocks are elevated relative to the load-unload position, the upper patient carrying part being mounted to the lower frame part for curvilinear movement about an axis extending across the patient and positioned so that the patient's torso moves substantially by rolling about an axis across the device and the patient and substantially about a centre of mass of the patient, and a handle by which a user can cause the upper patient carrying part to move from the load-unload position to the transport position.
In a first form, the upper patient carrying part is movably mounted to the lower frame part by a 4-bar linkage. Preferably, the handle is operatively connected to the 4-bar linkage, and the 4-bar linkage is configured such that movement of the handle causes the 4-bar linkage to move the upper patient carrying part between the load-unload and transport positions.
Preferably, the 4-bar linkage comprises lower first and second links that are each pivotably connected to the lower frame part at one end, the opposite ends of the lower first and second links being pivotably connected to respective ends of upper first and second links, the opposite ends of the upper first and second links being pivotably connected to the upper patient carrying part. More preferably, the handle extends from a handle mounting component fixed to the lower first link and wherein the handle mounting component is further pivotably connected to the upper second link at a position intermediate of its length.
Preferably, the lower and upper second links are longer than their respective lower and upper first links.
Preferably, the lower first and second links maintain a substantially parallel and spaced-apart relationship throughout the 4-bar linkage movement.
Preferably, the 4-bar linkage moves toward a collapsed state when moving toward the transport position, and an un-collapsed state when moving toward the load-unload position.
In a second form, the upper patient carrying part is movably mounted to the lower frame part by a pivot mechanism and at least one slider mechanism.
Preferably, the pivot mechanism comprises a pivot bar that is pivotably connected at one end to the lower frame part and the handle being mounted at or toward the opposite end of the pivot bar, and spaced-apart upper and lower connecting members each being pivotably connected at one end to the pivot bar and the opposite ends being pivotably connected to the underside of the upper patient carrying part at respective opposite upper and lower regions of the upper patient carrying part.
Preferably, the slider mechanism comprises: an elongate guide component that is mounted to the lower frame part so as to extend at a substantially horizontal or more horizontal than vertical orientation; and a slider member that is pivotably connected at a first end to the underside and in the lower region of the upper patient carrying part and is operatively connected a second end to the guide component for linear slidable movement relative the guide component.
Preferably, the slider member is configured for telescopic movement relative to the guide component. More preferably, the guide component is elongate and substantially hollow for receiving and retaining at least the second end of the slider member for reciprocating slidable movement back and forth within and along the guide component. In one embodiment, the slider member and/or guide component is provided with one or more rollers that are arranged to rollably engage with either the slider member or guide component to assist slidable movement of the slider member relative to the guide component.
In one form, the guide component is fixedly mounted at one end to the lower frame component in a cantilever fashion. In another form, the guide component is pivotably mounted at one end to the lower frame component and the device further comprising a length adjustable support strut extending between the lower frame part and the guide component so as to enable the orientation of the guide component to be adjusted relative to the horizontal.
Preferably, the pivot mechanism and slider mechanism operate to move in planes that are coincident or parallel to the central line of symmetry of the device.
Preferably, the pivot mechanism is centrally mounted on the patient mover and there are two slider mechanisms, each slider mechanism being located on an opposite side of the pivot mechanism to the other.
More preferably, the pivot mechanism and slider mechanism(s) are configured to co-operate to cause a lower region of the upper patient carrying part to linearly translate substantially horizontally while an upper region of the upper patient carrying part simultaneously moves in a curvilinear path in response to movement of the handle between the load-unload and transport positions.
In a third form, the upper patient carrying part is slidably mounted to the lower frame part.
Preferably, upper patient carrying part is slidably mounted to the lower frame part by a slider mechanism that comprises a curved member that extends between an upper end upon which the upper patient carrying part is mounted and a lower end, the curved member being slidably mounted to the lower frame part for curvilinear movement. More preferably, the handle extends from the upper patient carrying part or a location at or toward the upper end of the curved member.
Preferably, the lower frame part comprises a central upright member upon which one or more mounting components are provided for operatively connecting to the curved member to allow for slidable movement.
Preferably, each mounting component has a guide aperture through which the curved member slidably extends. More preferably, each mounting component is provided with one or more bearings in the vicinity of its guide aperture for contacting a surface of the curved member to assist in slidable movement of the curved member through the guide aperture. In one embodiment, the bearings are in the form of rollers that are configured to rollably engage with a surface of the curved member as it extends through the guide aperture of the mounting component.
Preferably, the curved member is provided with one or more stop components are arranged to engage with a part(s) of the lower frame part so as to limit the slidable movement of the curved member relative to the lower frame part such that the corresponding curvilinear movement of the upper patient carrying part is limited to between the load-unload and transport positions.
In a fourth form, the upper patient carrying part is telescopically mounted to the lower frame part.
Preferably, the upper patient carrying part is fixed to an upper frame part that is telescopically mounted to the lower frame part. More preferably, the lower frame part comprises two spaced-apart curved upright elements and the upper frame part comprises two spaced-apart curved elements that are each telescopically mounted to a respective one of the curved upright elements of the lower frame part, the curved elements of the upper frame part being joined together by a cross-part at the opposite ends to the lower frame part, the upper patient carrying part being mounted to the cross part.
Preferably, the curvilinear movement of the upper patient carrying part follows an arc centered about a virtual axis. More preferably, the arc is defined by the movement of a point on the upper patient carrying part that abuts the top of the patient's sternum and the virtual axis is passes through or is parallel with a line across the patient when the patient is in the load-unload position intermediate between two vertical planes coincident with the knee and hip joints of the patient.
Even more preferably, the virtual axis passes through the center ⅓rd of the distance between the two vertical planes coincident with the knee and hip joints of the patient when the patient is in the load-unload position.
Preferably, any vertical movement of the center of mass of the patient when moving from the load-unload position to the transport position, or vice versa, is less than approximately 5% of the height of the patient, or more preferably less than approximately 2% of the height of the patient.
Preferably, any vertical movement of the center of mass of the patient when moving from the load-unload position to the transport position, or vice versa, is not more than approximately 85 mm, and more preferably is not more than approximately 35 mm.
Preferably, the lower frame part comprises a floor for supporting the patient's feet.
Preferably, the lower frame part comprises a lower leg contacting part or parts for supporting each of the patient's lower legs. More preferably, the lower leg contacting part(s) are adjustable in position on the lower frame part.
Preferably, the device further comprises an operable latching mechanism that is operable by a user to lock the upper patient carrying part in one or more positions relative to the lower frame part.
Preferably, the lower frame part comprises one or more ground wheels for transporting the device over the ground.
In one form, the upper patient carrying part is in the form of a cradle. More preferably, the cradle comprises upwardly extending arms on either side of the cradle to assist in locating the patient. In another form, the upper patient carrying part is in the form of a chest pad that is shaped for supporting a patient's torso.
Preferably, the device further comprises one or more patient handles for the patient to grip mounted in the vicinity of the upper patient carrying part.
Preferably, the device further comprises one or more stop mechanisms that are configured to limit the range of movement of the upper patient carrier part relative to the lower frame part to between the load-unload and transport positions.
In a second aspect, the present invention broadly consists in a person moving device (patient mover) for moving a person of limited mobility, which comprises: a lower floor engaging frame part, an upper patient carrying part adapted to carry a patient by engaging the patient's torso from the front, mounted to the lower frame part by a 4-bar linkage for movement between a patient load-unload position and a patient transport position in which the patient's buttocks are elevated relative to the load-unload position, and a handle operatively connected to the 4-bar linkage or upper patient carrying device by which a user can cause the upper patient carrying part to move from the load-unload position to the transport position.
Preferably, the 4-bar linkage is configured such that the upper patient carrying part is mounted to the lower frame part for curvilinear movement about an axis extending across the patient and positioned so that the patient's torso moves substantially by rolling about an axis across the device and the patient and substantially about a centre of mass of the patient.
Preferably, the 4-bar linkage comprises lower first and second links that are each pivotably connected to the lower frame part at one end, the opposite ends of the lower first and second links being pivotably connected to respective ends of upper first and second links, the opposite ends of the upper first and second links being pivotably connected to the upper patient carrying part. More preferably, the handle extends from a handle mounting component fixed to the lower first link and wherein the handle mounting component is further pivotably connected to the upper second link at a position intermediate of its length.
Preferably, the lower and upper second links are longer than their respective lower and upper first links.
Preferably, the lower first and second links maintain a substantially parallel and spaced-apart relationship throughout the 4-bar linkage movement.
Preferably, the 4-bar linkage moves toward a collapsed state when moving toward the transport position, and an un-collapsed state when moving toward the load-unload position.
In a third aspect, the present invention broadly consists in a person moving device (patient mover) for moving a person of limited mobility, which comprises: a lower floor engaging frame part, an upper patient carrying part adapted to carry a patient by engaging the patient's torso from the front, pivotably mounted to the lower frame part for movement between a patient load-unload position and a patient transport position in which the patient's buttocks are elevated relative to the load-unload position, about a pivot axis extending across the patient and positioned so that the patient's torso moves substantially by rolling about an axis across the device and the patient and substantially about a centre of mass of the patient, and a handle by which a user can cause the upper frame part carrying a patient to pivotally move from the load-unload position to the transport position.
Preferably, the upper patient carrying part is fixed to an upper frame part that is pivotably mounted to the lower frame part at the pivot axis.
In one form, the upper frame part is pivotably connected to the lower frame part at a single pivot connection located at or toward a side of the device. In another form, the upper frame part is pivotably connected to the lower frame part by two-spaced apart pivot connections, each located at or toward opposite sides of the device.
Preferably, the pivot axis is located in the central third of the distance between two vertical planes, one passing through a patient's knees and the other through a patient's hips, when the patient is on the device in the load-unload position.
Preferably, any vertical movement of the center of mass of the patient when moving from the load-unload position to the transport position, or vice versa, is less than approximately 5% of the height of the patient, and more preferably is less than approximately 2% of the height of the patient.
Preferably, any vertical movement of the center of mass of the patient when moving from the load-unload position to the transport position, or vice versa, is not more than approximately 85 mm, and more preferably is not more than approximately 35 mm.
Preferably, the lower frame part comprises a floor for supporting the patient's feet.
Preferably, the lower frame part comprises a lower leg contacting part or parts for supporting each of the patient's lower legs. More preferably, the lower leg contacting part(s) are adjustable in position on the lower frame part.
Preferably, the device further comprises an operable latching mechanism that is operable by a user to lock the upper patient carrying part in one or more positions relative to the lower frame part.
Preferably, the lower frame part comprises one or more ground wheels for transporting the device over the ground.
In one form, the upper patient carrying part is in the form of a cradle. Preferably, the cradle comprises upwardly extending arms on either side of the cradle to assist in locating the patient. In another form, the upper patient carrying part is in the form of a chest pad that is shaped for supporting a patient's torso.
Preferably, the device further comprises one or more patient handles for the patient to grip mounted in the vicinity of the upper patient carrying part.
More preferably, the device further comprises one or more stop mechanisms that are to limit the range of movement of the upper patient carrier part relative to the lower frame part to between the load-unload and transport positions.
In a fourth aspect, the present invention broadly consists in a person moving device (patient mover) for moving a person of limited mobility, adapted to carry a patient by engaging the patient's torso and including a lower floor engaging part or parts which is/are curved enabling the moving device to be rolled thereon between a load-unload position and a transport position in which the buttocks of a patient carried by the device are elevated relative to the load-unload position, the device also including a handle by which a user can roll the device carrying a patient from the load-unload position to the transport position.
Preferably, the lower floor engaging part comprises a first section formed with a low or no radius of curvature in a vertical plane and a second section having a decreased radius of curvature or at least cranked away from the first section.
Preferably, the centre of mass of the patient remains at essentially the same height between the load-unload and transport positions.
Preferably, the device further comprising one or more ground wheels which engage the floor at least when the device is in its transport position to enable the device carrying a patient to be moved to transport the patient.
In all aspects, the movement of the patient from the load-unload position to the transport position and from the transport position to the load-unload position may include a component of lifting and lowering respectively of the centre of mass of the patient as well as rolling, but if so the lifting and lowering of the patient is less than 5%, preferably less than 2% of the height of the patient. Preferably the lifting component of movement is not more than 85 mm and more preferably not more than 35 mm in a vertical direction.
By “centre of mass” in relation to the first-third aspects of the invention is meant the centre of mass of the body of a patient or average patient from the patient's head to the patient's knee joints.
By “centre of mass” in relation to the fourth aspect of the invention is meant the centre of mass of the body of a patient or average patient from the patient's head to the patient's feet.
By “patient” is meant a person of height approximately 1.8 m and weight approximately 80 kg. The patient mover may work with persons of other heights and weights but must work with persons of this height and weight.
The term “comprising” as used in this specification and claims means “consisting at least in part of”. When interpreting each statement in this specification and claims that includes the term “comprising”, features other than that or those prefaced by the term may also be present. Related terms such as “comprise” and “comprises” are to be interpreted in the same manner.
The invention is further described with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of example, in which
First Embodiment
The first embodiment patient mover of the invention shown in
The lower floor engaging frame part has an approximate square u-shape as shown and comprises upright elements 2. The upper frame part is indicated at 3 and is pivotally mounted to the top of the uprights 2 of the lower frame part 1 at spaced pivot points 4, for movement of the upper frame part 3 relative to the lower frame part 1 as indicated by arrow C in some figures, between a load-unload position and transport position, as shown in
The upper frame part includes a cradle 6 facing a patient side of the device, which is preferably covered with a resiliently compressible material such as a high density foam material or is otherwise padded, and which is positioned to engage the patient's chest when the patient is carried by the patient mover. In the embodiment shown the cradle 6 includes similarly padded arms 7 on either side which assist in locating the patient.
The lower frame part includes a floor 10 being a panel extending across the tubular lower frame 1 as shown, on which in use the patient places his or her feet.
An arm 11 extends from the upper frame part 3 on a carer side of the device and terminates in a handle 12, which may be raised and lowered in the direction of arrow D in some figures to pivot the upper frame part 3 between the transport and load-unload positions.
A telescopic strut 18 may be provided between the upper frame part 3 and lower frame part 1 to assist in stabilising the upper frame part 3 and to provide limit stops for movement between the load-unload and transport positions particularly when carrying a patient. The device may also include a latch mechanism which is engaged when the upper frame part 3 is returned to the transport position, to lock the upper frame 3 in the transport position until it is unlatched deliberately by the caregiver. For example the latch mechanism may be associated with the telescopic strut and may be released to enable the upper frame part to be moved from the transport position, by a pull 16 mounted below the handle 12 and connected to the latch via a mechanical linkage or cable 17.
The embodiment of patient mover shown is provided with wheels 14 attached to the lower frame part 1 which enable the mover carrying a patient to be wheeled from place to place, for example between a bed or a chair or vice versa. For example, the pair of wheels on the patient side of the device may be fixed and the pair of wheels on the carer side of the device swivelable. Wheels is intended to include small rollers on the underside of the lower frame part. In an alternative embodiment again skids or slides instead of wheels may be provided and in a further alternative embodiment in which the patient mover is intended simply to enable a patient to be raised and lowered without movement from place to place the device may not include wheels or skids or equivalent.
In use the patient mover is moved towards a seated patient, for example a patient sitting on the edge of a bed, in a chair, or on a lavatory, and the handle 11/12 is lifted to the load-unload position.
The pivot axis through the pivot points 4 is positioned so that the patient's torso moves substantially about the centre of mass of the patient. This is illustrated in
Once the patient has been brought to the transport position as described above (and the upper frame part 3 latched in this position where such a latch is provided) by pulling or pushing on the handle 11/12, the caregiver may wheel the patient mover carrying the patient from one place to another, for example from beside a bed to a chair. To place the patient on the chair the caregiver backs the patient mover up to the chair until the patient's buttocks are positioned above the squab of the chair. The caregiver then allows the handle 11/12 to rise (first unlatching the mechanism as necessary) to thereby lower the patient's buttocks onto the chair. The patient then removes his or her hands from handles 15 and shifts his or her feet from the floor 10, allowing the caregiver to then pull the patient mover away, leaving the patient on the chair. The patient may be moved from the chair for example back to a bed or to a lavatory, by reloading, moving, and unloading the patient in the same way. Because the patient mover of the invention operates to substantially roll the patient about his or her centre of mass, it is easier for a caregiver to manage lowering of the patient onto the chair, as well as lifting the patient as referred to above.
Second Embodiment
In this embodiment a lower floor engaging frame part 1 again has an approximate square u-shape as shown and mounts a central upright 3. Referring particularly to those figures which show the patient mover of this embodiment in side elevation, a section 1a of the lower frame part on either side is formed with a low radius of curvature in a vertical plane (or no radius of curvature so that section 1a is flat or substantially flat) and sections 2 on the patient side of the device are formed with a decreased radius of curvature or at least are cranked away from the sections 1a as shown. Rollers 14a (or skids) are provided which protrude slightly below the frame 1 and wheels 14b are provided at or towards the opposite end of each side of the lower frame part 1 to the sections 2. The central upright 3 mounts a padded cradle 6 with arms 7. Bar 10 performs a similar function to the floor 10 in the first embodiment, and lower leg contacting parts 8 are also provided on either side of the frame of the device as shown.
In use the patient mover in the transport position i.e. with both wheel pairs 14a and 14b on the ground, is brought up to a seated patient and the patient is asked to place his or her feet on the bar 10, and the handle 11/12 is raised thus tilting the mover up on to the outer ends of the curved sections 2 into the load position shown in
With refer to
As can be seen from the drawings, when the patient mover is in the load position the sections 2 of the lower frame on either side contact the ground so that the wheels 14a and 14b are lifted from the ground, so that the device is relatively immoveable while a patient is loaded onto or unloaded from the device, and the wheels do not contact the ground again until the caregiver lowers the device carrying the patient to the transport position.
As before, once in the transport position the patient mover carrying the patient may be moved by the operator pulling or pushing the patient mover and patient to another location, at which point the operator may lift the handle 11/12 to move the patient mover and patient from the transport to the load-unload position to deposit the patient on a chair or similar.
Third Embodiment
The upper and lower frame parts are formed of relatively large diameter tube for strength. The upper frame part includes transverse part 3a to which the cradle 6 is mounted. Telescopic stabilising strut 18 which may also provide limit stops for movement between the load-unload and transport positions is provided on the one side only of the device. As before the device may also include a latch mechanism which is engaged when the upper frame part 3 is returned to the transport position, to lock the upper frame 3 in the transport position until it is unlatched deliberately by the caregiver, and again the latch mechanism may be associated with the telescopic strut 18 and may be released to enable the upper frame part to be moved from the transport position, by a pull associated with the handle 12 and connected to the latch via a cable passing within the tubular upper frame part 3; or it may be associated with the braking pedal 16. Otherwise, the third embodiment patient mover is configured and operates in a substantially similar manner to the first embodiment patient mover.
Fourth Embodiment
In an alternative arrangement instead of the upper frame part 3 being telescopically mounted to the lower frame part 2, the two may be connected slidingly for such curvilinear movement between the transport and load-unload positions, for example. An example of a sliding arrangement will be explained with reference to the fifth embodiment below.
Fifth Embodiment
In this embodiment, the lower floor engaging frame part 1 comprises two spaced apart elongate elements 21a,21b. The elongate elements 21a,21b extend between respective first ends located on the patient side of the patient mover and respective second ends located on the carer side of the patient mover. The elongate elements 21a,21b are coupled together by a cross member 22 fixed to and extending between the elements at or towards their second ends on the carer side of the patient mover. In this embodiment, the elongate elements 21a,21b are fixed in a non-parallel orientation with respect to each other. In a preferred form, the elongate elements 21a,21b are orientated such that their second ends are closer together on the carer side of the patient mover compared to their first ends on the patient side, which are spaced further apart. This arrangement provides a wide access space through which the patient mover can engage with a seated patient on the patient side.
As with some of the previous embodiments, a front pair of swivelable wheels 14 are provided on the carer side of the patient mover and which extend from or are mounted to the first ends of the elongate elements 21a,21b of the lower frame part 1. Additionally, a rear pair of wheels 14 are provided on the patient side of the patient mover and which extend from or are mounted to the second ends of the elongate elements 21a,21b. In the preferred form, the rear pair of wheels may be fixed in orientation such that they are non-swivelable. It will be appreciated that either or both of the front and rear pairs of wheels are replaced with rollers, skids or slides in alternative embodiments. Further, lower frame part 1 need not necessarily include wheels or equivalents in embodiments of the patient mover that are intended to enable the patient to be raised and lowered without movement from place to place.
The lower frame part 1 further comprises an upright element 2 that extends substantially vertically up from cross member 22 and which is preferably centrally located between the elongate elements 21a, 21b. A floor or floor panel 10 is provided at or toward the lower end of the upright element 2 in the vicinity of the cross member 22 and is mounted to upright element 2 so as to extend toward the patient side of the patient mover. The floor panel 10 is provided with left and right feet supporting surfaces on either side of the upright element 2 upon which the patient may place their feet. In the preferred form, a padded lower leg contacting panel 8 is provided on the patient side of the patient mover and is mounted to the upright element 2 by coupling elements 23a,23b extending from the upright element between its upper and lower ends and preferably toward its upper end. In this embodiment, the lower leg engaging panel 8 is provided with left and right lower leg support surfaces that are provided on either side of the upright element 2 for contacting and supporting the lower legs of the patient on the device. As with previous embodiments the lower leg contacting panel is preferably padded and is adjustably mounted in position relative to element 2 in the direction of arrow E toward or away from the patient.
In this embodiment, the upper frame part 3 is slidably mounted to the lower frame part 1, so that the upper frame part may move slideably relative to the lower frame part between the transport and load-unload positions. In the preferred form and with reference to
In the preferred form show and with reference to
As shown in
In the preferred embodiment, an operable latching mechanism may be provided on the patent mover for locking the upper frame part 3 relative to the lower frame part 1 in any desired position or positions along the travel path. By way of example, the upper mounting component 27 may be provided with an operable locking bolt 35 that is operable to extend through a complementary aperture or apertures provided through and along the curved member 3 so as to lock it in place in one or more positions. In some embodiments, the latching mechanism may be operable to lock the upper frame part into the transport position until it is unlatched deliberately by the carer.
With reference to
As with the fourth embodiment patient mover, the fifth embodiment patient mover is configured such that the upper frame part is slideably moveable relative to the lower frame part 1 in a curvilinear path. In the preferred form, the curvilinear path is in the form of an arc that is centered about a virtual axis that passes through or is parallel with a line across the patient when the patient in the load-unload position, intermediate between two vertical planes coincident with the knee and hip joints of the patient. In the preferred form, the arc 60 is defined by the path through which the point on the cradle 6 that abuts the top of the patient's sternum travels and preferably the virtual axis 61 of this arc passes through the central ⅓rd of the distance between the two vertical planes of the knee and hip joints of the patient as generally shown in
Sixth Embodiment
In this embodiment, the upper frame part 3 is in the form of a four-bar linkage or mechanism that is coupled to the lower frame part 1 and moveable via operation of handle 12 in the direction of arrow D to cause the patient engaging cradle 6 carried by the upper frame part 3 to move between load-unload and transport position as indicated by arrow C. Referring to
The lower first link 40 is pivotably connected by a pivotable connection at 46 to a mounting component 50 provided on the upright element 2 of the lower frame part 1 and which is arranged to extend toward the carer side of the patient mover. The upright element 2 is substantially shorter than the previous embodiment. The opposite end of the lower first link 40 is pivotably connected at pivot connection 47 to an end of the upper first link 42. The opposite end of the upper first link 42 is pivotably connected at pivot connection 48 to a cradle mounting component 51 fixed or provided on the underside surface of the cradle 6. The lower second link 41 is pivotably connected at pivot connection 49 at the mounting component 50 and is positioned further toward the carer side of the patient mover than the lower first link 40. The opposite end of the lower second link 41 is pivotably connected at pivot connection 52 to an end of the upper second link 43. The opposite end of the upper second link 43 is pivotably connected at pivot connection 53 to the cradle mounting component 51 of the cradle 6. As shown, the upper second link 43 is located above the upper first link.
In this embodiment, the handle 12 is operatively connected to the four-bar linkage so that the linkage can be moved to carry the cradle 6 between load-unload and transport positions. In this embodiment, the handle 12 extends from the lower first link 40. More specifically, the handle 12 is mounted to an end of an arm 11 and the opposite end of the arm is fixed or coupled to a handle mounting component 54 extending from the end of the lower first link 40 at the pivot connection 47 between lower and upper first links 40,42. Additionally, the handle mounting component 54 is pivotably coupled at pivot connection 55 to the upper second link 43. In this embodiment, the pivot connection 55 is located between the pivot connections 52 and 53 on the upper second link 43 and preferably at or toward the pivot connection 52. In this embodiment, a handle or handles 15 for the patient to grip extend laterally from either side of the handle mounting component 54 or may be located at any other suitable position on the device.
As shown in
With reference to
It will be appreciated that other 4-bar linkage configurations or mechanisms may alternatively be used provided they provide the desired path of movement between the cradle and lower frame part of the device.
Seventh Embodiment
In this embodiment, the upright element 2 of the lower frame part 1 is bent toward the carer side of the patient mover at bending line 70 intermediate of its length. With reference to
The pivot mechanism comprises a centrally located pivot bar 71 that extends substantially upward relative to the lower frame part 1. In this embodiment, the pivot bar 71 is bent intermediate of its length toward the patient side of the patient mover. As shown in
The pivot bar 71 is operatively connected to the cradle 6 by upper and lower connecting rods or members 72, 73. The upper and lower connecting members 72,73 are substantially aligned centrally in the same plane as the pivot bar 71 relative to the overall patient mover. In the preferred form, the upper connecting member 72 is bent intermediate of its length and at one end is pivotally connected at pivot connection 74 at or toward the upper end of the pivot bar 71. The opposite end of the upper connecting member 72 is pivotally connected at a pivot connection (not visible) centrally located on the underside of the cradle 6 in the region indicated by arrow 75 in or toward the upper or top region of the cradle 6. The lower connecting member 73 is a straight element in the preferred form and at one end is pivotally connected to the pivot bar 71 at pivot connection 76. The pivot connection 76 is fixed or mounted to the pivot bar 71 somewhere between pivot connections 72 and 74 and in the preferred form in the region of the bent portion 71c of the pivot bar. The opposite end of the lower connecting member 73 is pivotally connected at a pivot connection (not visible) that is centrally located on the underside of the cradle 6 in or toward the bottom or lower region of the cradle as indicated by arrow 77. With this pivot mechanism, the carer may operate the handle 12 to move the cradle 6 between the unload-load and transport positions in cooperation with a slider mechanism(s) that guides the movement as explained further below.
As mentioned above, the upper frame part 3 further comprise a slider mechanism(s) that assist the pivot mechanism to guide the cradle 6 through a curvilinear path between the load-unload and transport positions. In the preferred embodiment, two identical slider mechanisms are provided on each side of the patient mover, although it will be appreciated that the device could operate with a single slider mechanism in alternative embodiments. In the preferred embodiment the slider mechanisms are spaced apart and substantially parallel to each other on either side of the pivot mechanism such that the pivot bar 71 and connecting members 72 and 73 move in the space provided centrally between the slider mechanisms. More particularly, the slider mechanisms components are situated and operate in planes that are substantially parallel to that of the central plane of operation of the pivot mechanism, which is situated along the central line of symmetry of the device.
With reference to
As shown the first end 80a of the guide component is located at or toward the carer side of the patient mover and extends to the second end 80b at or toward the patient side. The slider mechanism further comprises a slider rod or member 85 that is pivotally coupled at one end to the lower or bottom end region of the cradle 6 as indicated by arrow 77 and toward the left side of the cradle. The opposite end of the slider member 85 is operatively connected to the guide component 80 for linear slideable movement relative to the guide component in the direction of arrow G. In this embodiment, the guide component is substantially hollow and of sufficient internal diameter such that the slider member 85 is slideably received and retained for reciprocating movement back and forward in the direction of arrow G within and along the guide component 80 as the patient mover moves between the load-unload and transport positions. In the preferred embodiment, one or more roller wheels are provided underneath the slider member for rollably engaging with a lower internal surface of the guide component 80 to assist the slidable movement or alternatively one or more rollers may be mounted within the guide component upon which the slider member 85 may travel. It will be appreciated that any other slidable configuration between the guide component 80 and slider member 85 may be provided, whether telescoping or otherwise. The right side slider mechanism is a mirrored version to the left side slider mechanism with the same components and configuration.
As mentioned, the pivot mechanism and slider mechanism(s) of the upper frame part 1 cooperate together to move the cradle through a curvilinear path between the load-unload and transport positions when the handle 12 is operated. With reference to
Like the other embodiments, the curvilinear path is an arc 60 that is centered about a virtual axis 161. Preferably, the arc 60 is defined by the path of movement of a point on the cradle 6 that corresponds to where the top of the patient's sternum abuts the cradle and the virtual axis 61 passes through or is parallel with a line across the patient when the patient is seated in the load-unload position, intermediate between two vertical planes coincident with the knee and hip joints of the patient. More preferably, the virtual axis passes through the centre ⅓rd of the distance between the two vertical planes coincident with the knee and hip joints of the patient when seated in load-unload position. By way of example,
Other Aspects of the Embodiments
All embodiments are configured to move the patient in a manner substantially similar to that described with reference to
In all embodiments the movement of the patient from the load-unload position to the transport position and from the transport position to the load-unload position may include a component of lifting and lowering respectively of the centre of mass of the patient as well as rolling, but if so the lifting and lowering of the patient is less than 5%, preferably less than 2% of the height of the patient. Preferably the lifting component of movement is not more than 85 mm and more preferably not more than 35 mm in a vertical direction.
In any embodiment of the patient mover of the invention described above a strap may be provided which can be passed from one side of the patient mover around the patient's back to the other side and secured, to ensure that the patient cannot fall from the patient mover during movement. While this is not necessary to lift the patient and virtually no strength is required from the patient it may be useful for elderly or infirm patients where there is fear of falling or for patients who may have a spasm, or in confusion may try to step off the patient mover during transport.
When a patient is on the patient mover most of the patient's weight is carried through the cradle or patient carrier component 6/7, and through the patient's chest or torso which engages the cradle and under the arms, but in an alternative embodiment a strap may be provided which can be passed by a caregiver from one side of the device beneath the patient's buttocks to be fixed on the opposite side of the device, to assist in carrying some of the patient's weight and reducing pressure under the arms. Once the patient has been moved and placed, on a chair for example, the caregiver may readily pull the strap out from underneath the patient.
The embodiments are shown by way of example only and may be otherwise constructed for example from sheet metal in a monocoque construction for example.
It will be appreciated that various features described with regard to only one embodiment may also apply or could be incorporated in the same or an equivalent structural or functional form into some or all of the other embodiments if desired.
The foregoing describes the invention including preferred forms thereof. Modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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578039 | Jun 2009 | NZ | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/NZ2010/000129 | 6/29/2010 | WO | 00 | 12/29/2011 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2011/002312 | 1/6/2011 | WO | A |
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