Patent Application
20200346897
The present invention relates to a lift device. More particularly, the invention pertains to a personal stair lift to transport an individual up and down a stairway utilizing a chair support on a dual rail mounted rack.
The following description is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the present invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. Any publications cited in this description are incorporated by reference herein. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.
Currently, most stair lift devices are limited to a certain weight transport due to a lift device attaching to only one side of the staircase. Additionally, current lift devices are specifically designed to support standard weight capacities for the average male or female.
Additionally, current stair lift devices are not capable of pivoting on spiral staircases to allow straight line transport without stopping during operation. Furthermore, while current stair lift devices may provide transport up and down stairways, current stair lift devices do not allow a pivot without stopping on the staircase while supporting greater weight capacities of handicapped or immobile individuals.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a stair lift device that allows for safe transport of handicapped or immobile individuals of greater weight capacities up and down stairways.
The present invention relates to a personal stair lift to move or transport an individual of higher than average weight capacity safely up and down a stairway on a chair assembly support on a dual rail assembly by a chassis assembly powered by a lift mechanism. The device comprises a stairlift device comprising a hinged carriage assembly, a dual parallel rail assembly, a chassis/roller assembly with a plurality of guide wheel rollers on both sides, an electrical drive lift mechanism with a cable and pulley mechanism supported by a winch and anchor system, and a docking assembly. The stair lift device is comprised of a platform or carriage with side guard bars and a gate at the forward end of the movable platform/carriage and another gate at the rear. In an embodiment of the invention, the device is a lift device for heavy weight capacities. In another embodiment of the present invention, the carriage rides on two parallel rails, located at each side of the staircase at the bottom. In certain embodiments, the two rails are made of tubular steel and are connected to the stairs by metal, vertical brackets bolted at intervals to the rails. Alternatively, the two rails are made of other metal alloys and connected to the stairs by metal alloys, or metal support brackets bolted at intervals to the rails.
An embodiment of the invention provides brackets with lower sleeves or pulleys to minimize friction from the drive cable. A further embodiment of the invention comprises a platform or carriage that is connected to the round dual rails by guide wheel rollers riding on top of each rail.
In one embodiment, the stair lift device comprises a platform/carriage hinged in the middle, a parallel dual rail assembly having an upper and lower surface fixedly attached to each side of the staircase affixed with metal support brackets coupled with guide wheel rollers that are placed in intervals along the rails equipped with pulley sleeves and rollers, a chassis/roller with a plurality of guide wheel rollers held in rolling engagement with the upper and lower surfaces of the round rails, a drive or lift mechanism supported by winch and anchor system, and a docking assembly ramp. In one exemplary embodiment, the hinged carriage assembly has side guard bars and a front and rear end gate. The top of the lift device has a safety bar, and the bottom of the lift device contains a safety bar.
In yet another embodiment, the platform/carriage is moved up and down the dual rail system by at least one braided steel cable running from a 12-volt electric winch with rechargeable battery located at the top of the staircase. In one embodiment, the stair lift device further consists of at least one braided steel cable that runs down the outside of the staircase, passing over guide wheel rollers integrated with the metal support brackets. In a further embodiment, at least one braided steel cable passes over pulled mounted to the front end of the carriage to the opposite side of the staircase anchored at the top of the staircase opposite the winch.
In still another embodiment, the plurality of metal support brackets is bolted at intervals to the rails incorporating lower sleeves or pulleys to minimize friction from the drive cable.
In one embodiment, the stair lift device is connected to round rails by concave guide wheels riding on the top of each rail.
In yet another embodiment, there is a ramp at the bottom of the staircase to access the carriage for moving up or down the stairs through the middle-docked carriage.
In still another embodiment, the carriage is equipped with a folding ramp in place of the carriage's lower door or gate.
In still yet another embodiment, the carriage allows access for transport for people in wheelchairs, with walkers, or standing.
Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments, along with the accompanying figures in which like numerals represent like components.
A stair lift device with a dual parallel rail assembly for a user is designed and manufactured to transport individuals of higher weight capacities safely up and down stairways.
Furthermore, as used herein, and unless the context dictates otherwise, the term “user” is intended to include any human needing transport up and down a stairway. The term “assembly” and “configuration” are used interchangeably in the description herein. The terms “stair lift device”, and “lift device” are used interchangeably in the description herein.
As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “into” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
As used herein, the term “about” in conjunction with a numeral refers to a range of that numeral starting from 10% below the absolute of the numeral to 10% above the absolute of the numeral, inclusive.
An exemplary configuration is schematically depicted in
In one embodiment, the carriage is stationed on a pivot platform carriage 20 hinged in the middle (see
In another exemplary embodiment, dual pipe tracks 50 are connected to a plurality of metal support brackets 80 on both sides of the staircase 120 of the dual track rail system 40 spaced in intervals 130 with a plurality of guide wheels 70 to allow at least one steel braided cable 30 to pass over a plurality of cable guide wheels 70 and plurality of metal support brackets 80 to pull the pivot platform carriage 20 up and down the staircase (see
In an exemplary embodiment, device 100 comprises safety gates and safety switches at both the top and bottom of the staircase to prevent the entry of children and pets during operation (not shown). In another embodiment, device 100 comprises a small ramp at the bottom of the staircase to access a pivot platform carriage 20 for moving up or down the stairs through the middle of the docked carriage (not shown). In yet another embodiment, a pivot platform carriage 20 is equipped with a folding ramp in place of the carriage's lower door or gate to allow for a walker or other device other than a wheelchair to be transported on the lift device (not shown). A skilled person in the art will readily be able to appreciate the need for these alternative safety feature embodiments.
In one embodiment, a pivot platform carriage 20 includes a folding seat for passengers (not shown) configured to move up and down dual pipe tracks 50 by at least one steel braided cable 30 on both sides of the staircase 120 running from a power supply 90, located at the top of the staircase 120. In another embodiment, a pivot platform carriage 20 includes a folding seat for passengers (not shown) configured to move up and down dual pipe tracks 50 by at least one steel braided cable 30 on both sides of the staircase 120 running from a power supply 90, located at the bottom of the staircase 120. In one embodiment, power supply 90 comprises a battery, wired circuit, or 12-volt electric winch with rechargeable battery. In an embodiment, other conventional power supply 90 devices may be used, including a power supply which is integrated with a house-wide power source such as an alternating current source.
Thus, specific embodiments of a stair lift device and methods to employ such device have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced.
