The present disclosure relates to apparatus that assist those with limited mobility and related methods.
The infirm, the elderly, the handicapped may have limited mobility, and may need assistance in standing and walking. Such individuals may wish to be independent, as least as much as their particular conditions may allow. Independence including the ability to feed oneself, bathe, utilize a toilet, wash ones own clothes, and so forth may be important for quality of life and may enhance longevity as well as the individual's dignity. The individual's ability to care for oneself may reduce burden on other caregivers such as family members.
While various apparatus have been developed to assist those with limited mobility, there remains a need for improved apparatus as well as related methods that may allow for self-care by a person with limited mobility.
These and other needs and disadvantages of the related art may be overcome by the apparatus, systems, and methods disclosed herein. Additional improvements and advantages may be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art upon study of the present disclosure.
A user assistance apparatus and system is disclosed herein. In various aspects, the apparatus and system may include a base, and a platform rotatably positionable about the base. A chair may be disposed upon the platform, and, in various aspects, the chair may be configured as a lift assist chair, recliner chair, or other chair. Handrails may be attached to the platform such that the handrails rotate with the platform. The handrails extend forth from the platform to define an entry, and the handrails are configured to assist a user as the user passes between the entry and the chair, in various aspects. Fixtures are disposed in a generally curved arrangement to cooperate with the entry as the platform is rotatably positioned about the base, in various aspects.
Methods of use of the systems and apparatus are disclosed herein. In various aspects, the methods may include the steps of rotating a platform with a chair positioned thereupon, the platform being rotatably mounted upon a base, traversing by a user between the chair and a perimeter, the user grasping parallel handrails mounted upon the platform and extending generally between the chair and the perimeter, positioning the user between a standing position and a sitting position using the chair with the chair being configured as a lift chair, orienting an entry defined by the handrails with a fixture selected from a plurality of fixtures disposed in a generally semicircular arrangement about the perimeter, and accessing the fixture by the user with the entry so oriented, the user passing between the handrails from the chair to the entry.
This summary is presented to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the apparatus and methods disclosed herein as a prelude to the detailed description that follows below. Accordingly, this summary is not intended to identify key elements of the apparatus and methods disclosed herein or to delineate the scope thereof.
The Figures are exemplary only, and the implementations illustrated therein are selected to facilitate explanation. The number, position, relationship and dimensions of the elements shown in the Figures to form the various implementations described herein, as well as dimensions and dimensional proportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength, flow and similar requirements are explained herein or are understandable to a person of ordinary skill in the art upon study of this disclosure. Where used in the various Figures, the same numerals designate the same or similar elements. Furthermore, when the terms “top,” “bottom,” “right,” “left,” “forward,” “rear,” “first,” “second,” “inside,” “outside,” and similar terms are used, the terms should be understood in reference to the orientation of the implementations shown in the drawings and are utilized to facilitate description thereof.
Apparatus including systems for the assistance of a user having limited mobility are disclosed herein. In various aspects, the apparatus includes a platform rotatably secured to a base. Handrails are attached to the platform, and a chair with front oriented toward the handrails is positioned upon the platform. The handrails extend forth from the platform and are adapted to assist a user as the user passes between the entry formed by handrails and the chair. The chair, the pathway formed between the handrails, and the entry to the pathway between the handrails may be oriented by rotation of the platform about the base. Various fixtures may be disposed about a periphery defined by the entry as the platform is rotated about the base. The fixtures may be organized in a generally curved arrangement to align with the entry as the platform is rotatably positioned about the base, and the user may rotate the platform to orient the entry with a particular fixture that the user desires to access.
The fixtures, in various aspects, may include a bed, equipment for cooking such as a cook top, microwave oven, and refrigerator, equipment for cleaning such a sink, clothes washer, and clothes dryer, equipment for communication such as a television, radio, computer, and telephone, and equipment for personal hygiene such as a toilet and a bathing facility. With the user seated upon the chair, the user may access the fixture by rotating the platform such that the entry is oriented with the fixture that the user desires to access. In various aspects, the chair may be configured as a lift assist chair that may assist the user in rising from a sitting position into a standing position. The user may then pass between the chair and the fixture through the pathway assisted by the handrails to access the desired fixture, and may do so by walking. In various aspects, the handrails may be outwardly extensible with respect to the platform, so that the user may adjust the length of the handrail to access various fixtures, as necessary. In various aspects, a trolley rail may pass overhead generally parallel to the handrails, and the user may be secured to the trolley rail by a harness movably connected thereto such that the user is supported, at least in part, by the trolley rail via the harness connected thereto. Related methods of use of the apparatus for the assistance of a user having limited mobility are also disclosed herein.
Wheel 160 is rotatably secured to mount 165 via axle 164, and mount 165, in turn, is secured to platform 30. Wheel 160 is engaged with base 40 such that rotation of wheel 160 causes rotation of platform 30 about base 40, although wheel 160 may be engaged with floor 410 in other implementations. Wheel 160 includes rail 162 that can be gripped by the user to allow the user to rotate wheel 160 in order to rotate platform 30 including chair 20.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
With brake mechanisms 70, 80 in engaged conditions 74, 84, respectively, platform 30 is fixed so that platform 30 cannot rotate about base 40. Handles 71, 81 of brake mechanism 70, 80, respectively, are positioned generally to allow the user passage between chair 20 on platform 30 and pathway 107 between handrails 50, 60. Accordingly, handles 71, 81 function as safety devices that prevent the user from passing between chair 20 and pathway 107 when platform 30 may rotate, while allowing the user to pass between chair 20 and pathway 107 when platform 30 is held fixed by brake mechanisms 70, 80. This may prevent injury to the user caused by the inadvertent rotation of platform 30.
Handrail 50 doubles back upon itself generally proximate end 51 to form U-shaped section 55 which defines a U-shape generally in the horizontal plane, and handrail 60 doubles back upon itself generally proximate end 61 to form U-shaped section 65 which defines a U-shape generally in the horizontal plane. U-shaped sections 55, 65 may provide additional portions of handrails 50, 60, respectively, generally proximate entry 110 for the user to grip when entering or exiting entry 110 of pathway 107. The curved portions of U-shaped sections 55, 65 may guide the user through entry 110. U-shaped sections 55, 65 are presented to the user and ends 51, 61 of rails 50, 60 are turned away from the user as the user enters or exits entry 110, which may prevent trauma to the user as could be caused by the user bumping against squared edges, corners, ends, and so forth. Instead, rounded surfaces of U-shaped sections 55, 65 are presented to the user that the user may bump against, in this implementation. Sections 55, 65 could have other rounded, blunt, knobbed, or similar shapes to protect the user, in various other implementations.
Base 40 may be positioned proximate curved counter 180 such that handrails 50, 60 extend forth to engage curved counter 180 to provide access between curved counter 180 and chair 20 via pathway 107. Counter 180 may be generally curved to conform to an arc through which entry 110 formed by handrails 50, 60 passes as platform 30 is rotated about base 40. Fixtures 182, 183, 184, 185 including utilities may be located in a curved arrangement about counter 180. Fixtures 182, 183, 184, 185 may include, for example, a sink, refrigerator, microwave oven, cook top, oven, dishwasher, laundry facilities, or other appliances and utilities that may allow for the user's self-care. Various numbers and types of fixtures may be provided about counter 180 according to the needs and desires of the user. Additional fixtures that, for example, rest upon floor 410, are suspended from a ceiling, attached to walls, or placed about other tables, may be disposed generally in a curved arrangement about base 40, in various implementations.
The user may access a fixture selected from fixtures 182, 183, 184, 185 by rotating chair 20 in combination with platform 30 such that entry 110 aligns with the selected fixture. The user may then traverse pathway 107 generally between chair 20 and the selected fixture in order to access the selected fixture. Fixture 187, which may include a bed as well as bathing facilities, washing facilities, or toilet facilities, is positioned within the ambit of handrails 50, 60 and entry 110, as platform 30 is rotated about base 40. The user may rotate chair 20 on platform 30 about base 40 to align entry 110 with fixture 187. With entry 110 aligned with fixture 187, the user may pass from fixture 187 to chair 20 via pathway 107. The length of pathway 107 and the position of entry 110 may be adjusted by extension of handrail sections 59, 69 that may be extended forth from handrail sections 54, 64 of handrails 50, 60, respectively. Handrail sections 59, 69 may be extended forth from handrail sections 54, 64 or withdrawn into handrail sections 54, 64, respectively, as required, to adjust the length of handrails 50, 60 in order to allow the user access to various portions of counter 180 including fixtures 182, 183, 184, 185, to access fixture 187, or to access other fixtures disposed about base 40 with assistance from handrails 50, 60.
Table 150, as illustrated, is secured about platform 30, to provide the user with a surface for eating and so forth as the user is seated in chair 20. Table 150 may rotate in front of the user to provide a tabular surface in front of the user. Table 150 may also rotate over a user positioned on a bed located adjacent chair 20 for eating, writing, and the like. Table 150 may be adjustable vertically to allow the user to position table 150 at a desirable height. Table 140 is also provided about platform 30, and one or more electrical outlets (not shown) are provided about platform 30 so that various electrically powered devices, such as cooking devices, radios, televisions, and computers, may be utilized by the user. Both tables 140, 150 rotate with platform 30 and chair 20 placed thereupon.
Electrical pathways 201 that pass to chair 20, table 140, or table 150 to provide electrical power thereto may be configured so as not to become twisted or entangled as platform 30 is rotated about base 40. For example, as illustrated in
In some implementations, a brace (not shown) may extend from table 140 to end 53 of handrail 50 to support table 140. A small table (not shown) may be pivotally secured to the brace such that the user may pivot said small table into such position as the user may find desirable. Said small table may tilt in some implementations.
Portions of handrail section 52 proximate end 53 of handrail 50 are secured to platform 30 for example, by welding, various mechanical connections such as bolts, brackets, or combinations thereof, in various implementations. Handrail section 56 is aligned vertically, as shown, and connects handrail section 52, which is generally aligned horizontally with base 40, to handrail section 54, which is also generally aligned horizontally. Handrail sections 54, 59 including U-shaped section 55 are elevated with respect to surface 31 of platform 30 at a height where handrail sections 54, 59 may be grasped by the user. Handrail section 59 may be extended from handrail section 54 to provide additional length of handrail 50 for the user to grasp. Handrail 60 may be formed in manner similar to that of handrail 50 as illustrated in
The user may stand in pathway 107 and push against either handrail 50 or handrail 60 to rotate the platform 30. An adjustable brake (not shown), in some implementations, may cooperate with wheel 160 to allow the user to adjust the rotational resistance of wheel 160. In other implementations (not shown), the adjustable brake may be formed as an adjustable spring-loaded brake lining pressing from platform 30 against base 40 to control the resistance of the rotation of platform 30 about base 40.
The user may exercise by rotating the platform with the rotational resistance of the platform 30 adjusted by adjustment of the adjustable brake as the user desires. The user may adjust the adjustable brake to adjust the rotational resistance of wheel 160 or the pressure of the spring-loaded brake lining against the base 40 to the desired amount such that platform 30 rotates about base 40 with resistance as chosen by the user. The user may rotate platform 30 by pushing upon handrail 50, 60, 210, 220 to reposition platform 30 along with handrails 50, 60, 210, 220 attached thereto, and may set the adjustable brake to provide essentially no rotational resistance when so rotating platform 30. The user may set the adjustable brake to provide a chosen amount of rotational resistance, and the user may then exercise by pushing upon handrail 50, 60, 210, 220 to rotate platform 30 about base 40 while working against the chosen resistance of the adjustable brake.
Brake mechanism 70, as illustrated in
Handrail sections 210, 220, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
With reference to
Additional trolley rails, such as trolley rail 360, may be provided in various implementations, and the additional trolley rails may be located overhead about platform 330 and base 340. Trolley rail 360 may be secured, for example, to the ceiling to support the user via harness therefrom and to allow the user to traverse along trolley rail 360 under the support of the harness moveably attached to trolley rail 360. In some implementations, the user may rotate platform 330 such that end 354 of trolley rail 350 aligns with end 362 of trolley rail 360. With trolley rail 350 so aligned with trolley rail 360, the harness may be traversed between trolley rail 350 and trolley rail 360. Trolley rail 360 may then lead to various locations about a residence including other facility. Accordingly, the user may pass along trolley rail 350 and along trolley rail 360 while being supported by the harness, the harness being able to pass along trolley rail 350, along trolley rail 360, and between trolley rail 350 and trolley rail 360. The user may access various locations by engaging trolley rail 350 with a trolley rail, such as trolley rail 360, that leads to the location the user desires to access.
In operation, the user may be seated in a chair, such as chair 20, positioned on a platform, such as platform 30, 330 of a user assistance apparatus, such as user assistance apparatus 10, 300. The chair may be configured as a lift assist chair 21, and the chair may be in seated chair position 22 with the user seated therein. While seated in the chair, the user may access various devices positioned about a table, such as table 140, 150, secured about the platform, and the table may rotate with the platform. The user may use a grab-stick or other such reaching device (not shown) to access the table, or to access a fixture, such as fixtures 182, 183, 184, 185, 187, while seated in the chair.
With brake mechanism(s), such as brake mechanisms 70, 80, in a released condition, such as released condition 72, 82, the user may rotate the chair by rotation of the platform about a base, such as base 40. The user may rotate the platform about the base by rotating a wheel, such as wheel 160, coupled to the platform. The user may rotate the wheel by hand using a wheel rail, such as wheel rail 162. The wheel 160 may be positioned on either side of chair 20, in various implementations. Some implementations may include wheels, such as wheel 160, on platform 30 on both sides of chair 20. Alternatively, an electric motor (not shown) could be provided to rotate platform 30 about base 40.
The user may rotate the platform until the platform is oriented such that an entry, such as entry 110, to a pathway, such as pathway 107, is oriented toward a fixture, such as fixture 182, 183, 184, 185, 187, that the user wishes to access. The fixtures, such as fixture 182, 183, 184, 185, 187, may be positioned in a generally curved configuration, for example, to coincide generally with orientations of the entry as the platform is rotated about the base. With the platform so oriented, the user may place the brake mechanism(s) in an engaged position, such as engaged position 74, 84, to lock the platform in the orientation with the selected fixture. The user may place handrail sections, such as handrail sections 210, 220 into a position, such as positions 213, 223 to allow access to the pathway. The user may then place the chair from seated chair position 22 into lifted chair position 24, which may assist the user in rising from the sitting position in the chair into the standing position. The user may position the chair from a chair position, such as lifted chair position 24, into a chair position, such as seated chair position 22, which may assist the user in sitting from a standing position. The user in the standing position may then traverse between the chair and the fixture that the user wishes to access. The user in the standing position may pass between the chair and the entry and may use handrails, such as handrails 50, 60, for assistance while passing along the pathway between the chair and the entry. The user may use the handrails for assistance in standing, walking, or both standing and walking. The user may use the handrails for assistance while interacting with the fixture. The user may enter or exit the user assistance apparatus generally through the entry. The user may extend or contract the length of the handrails by extending or contracting handrails sections, such as handrail sections 59, 69, from other handrail sections, such as handrail sections 54, 64, and may do so as required to access a fixture.
While standing in the pathway, the user may place the brake mechanisms in the released condition, and then the user may push upon the handrail to rotate the platform about the base in order to position the platform. The user may adjust a resistance of an adjustable brake mechanically cooperating with the platform such that the resistance of the adjustable brake is generally negligible when thus positioning the platform. Alternately, the user may exercise by increasing the resistance of the adjustable brake to a desired resistance and then push upon the handrail to rotate the platform about the base.
At step 510 the user operates a brake mechanism from the released condition to the engaged condition to secure the platform in orientation with the selected fixture.
At step 515, the user is positioned from the seated position into the standing position using the lift assist chair.
At step 520, the user passes from the chair along the pathway to access the selected fixture. Method 500 terminates at step 521.
In various implementations, methods of use of the user assistance apparatus may, for example, include the steps of rotating a platform with a chair positioned thereupon, the platform being rotatably mounted upon a base, orienting an entry defined by the handrails with a fixture selected from a plurality of fixtures disposed in a generally semicircular arrangement about the perimeter, operating a brake mechanism between a released condition and an engaged condition, the brake mechanism mechanically cooperating with the platform such that the platform is freely rotatable about the base when the brake mechanism is in the released condition and the platform is fixed with respect to the base when the brake mechanism is in the engaged condition, positioning the user between a standing position and a sitting position using the chair, the chair being configured as a lift chair, traversing by a user between the chair and a perimeter, the user grasping parallel handrails mounted upon the platform and extending generally between the chair and the perimeter, and accessing the fixture by the user with the entry so oriented, the user passing between the handrails from the chair to the entry.
The foregoing discussion along with the Figures discloses and describes various exemplary implementations. These implementations are not meant to limit the scope of coverage, but, instead, to assist in understanding the context of the language used in this specification and in the claims. Upon study of this disclosure and the exemplary implementations herein, one of ordinary skill in the art may readily recognize that various changes, modifications and variations can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventions as defined in the following claims.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2757388 | Chisholm | Aug 1956 | A |
3151910 | Larson | Oct 1964 | A |
3911509 | Fleckenstein | Oct 1975 | A |
4056886 | Doelling | Nov 1977 | A |
4243147 | Twitchell et al. | Jan 1981 | A |
4279043 | Saunders | Jul 1981 | A |
4352218 | Lundberg | Oct 1982 | A |
4415202 | Pew | Nov 1983 | A |
4639955 | Carminati et al. | Feb 1987 | A |
4809804 | Houston et al. | Mar 1989 | A |
4941799 | Gordon et al. | Jul 1990 | A |
4971392 | Young | Nov 1990 | A |
4999862 | Hefty | Mar 1991 | A |
5031912 | Vaughn et al. | Jul 1991 | A |
5046782 | Lundeen | Sep 1991 | A |
5054137 | Christensen | Oct 1991 | A |
5158188 | Nordberg | Oct 1992 | A |
5183133 | Roy et al. | Feb 1993 | A |
5333333 | Mah | Aug 1994 | A |
5418988 | Iura | May 1995 | A |
5524303 | Palmer et al. | Jun 1996 | A |
5690385 | Feldman et al. | Nov 1997 | A |
5735002 | Kistner | Apr 1998 | A |
5816655 | Hoegh | Oct 1998 | A |
5895093 | Casey et al. | Apr 1999 | A |
6119287 | Phillips | Sep 2000 | A |
6179076 | Fernie et al. | Jan 2001 | B1 |
6253497 | Gekler et al. | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6568646 | Wess et al. | May 2003 | B2 |
6679510 | Perena | Jan 2004 | B2 |
7040248 | Whitfield | May 2006 | B1 |
7165276 | Hahn et al. | Jan 2007 | B2 |
7191477 | Hahn et al. | Mar 2007 | B2 |
7237491 | Faucher et al. | Jul 2007 | B2 |
7303049 | Greenlee | Dec 2007 | B1 |
7617635 | Jacobs et al. | Nov 2009 | B2 |
7892156 | Marcantonio | Feb 2011 | B2 |
7938756 | Rodetsky et al. | May 2011 | B2 |
8302221 | Camp, Jr. | Nov 2012 | B1 |
8920292 | Myers et al. | Dec 2014 | B1 |
20060264306 | Tischler et al. | Nov 2006 | A1 |
20090257855 | Iannelli | Oct 2009 | A1 |
20090273163 | Sorenson | Nov 2009 | A1 |
20100187395 | Callahan | Jul 2010 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
2738646 | Nov 2005 | CN |
201360767 | Dec 2009 | CN |