Patent Application
20170367914
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
This invention relates generally to the field of wheel chair accessories and more specifically to a wheel chair lifting device.
Disabled or injured persons sometimes to not have proper use of their legs and therefore need the assistance of a wheel chair. Occasionally, the injured or disabled person needs to be lifted to a higher elevation for example when needing to be transferred to a medical exam table, or to be transferred into a vehicle. Prior to the present invention, moving patients from a wheelchair at a first elevation to a bed or gurney at second or higher elevation required the healthcare staff to physically lift the patient from the wheelchair to the bed or gurney. This moving process requires much physical exertion and can put both the staff member and the patient at risk for injury. There remains a need to provide an apparatus to raise the wheelchair to the same elevation or a slightly higher elevation to facilitate the transfer of the patient to or from the bed or gurney, exam table, X ray table, or even a chair.
Various wheel chair lifts have been developed, such as the one patented by Ingamar Svenson in his patent U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,979 that is mounted within a van type vehicle and extends out of the vehicle and down to the ground, for the wheel chair to roll onto and be lifted into the van. However, the Svensson invention is rather heavy and requires a significant support structure that is mounted within the van. There are times when it would be very helpful to have the use of a wheel chair lifter that is relatively light weight and portable so that is can be conveyed to any location where a wheel chair can be easily rolled onto a lift and the lift can raise to the desired height to transport a person from the wheel chair to another location such as an exam table or vehicle. Additionally, it would be helpful if the lifting device included a foot standing platform so that the user can be helped to stand on the raised platform when being transferred to another location.
The primary object of the invention is to provide a wheel chair lifting device that can lift the chair and its occupant from ground level to approximately fourteen inches above the ground.
Another object of the invention is to provide a wheel chair lifting device that is portable and light weight enough to be carried by one person.
Another object of the invention is to provide a wheel chair lifting device that is battery operated.
A further object of the invention is to provide a wheel chair lifting device that allows the occupant of the chair to stand up while in the lifted position.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a wheel chair lifting device that locks the chair in place during lifting.
Still yet another object of the invention is to provide a wheel chair lifting device that allows the chair to be rolled onto the low profile lifting platform without the need for a ramp.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a wheel chair lifting device comprising: a stationary platform, a movable lift assembly, four motorized scissors jacks, a foot stand platform, a battery power supply, a wireless lift controller and receiver, said four scissors jacks each placed on one corner of said stationary platform, said movable lift assembly attached at each corner to said for scissors jacks, said movable assembly capable of being lifted and lowered by said four scissors jacks, said scissors jacks being powered by said battery power supply, and said motors of said lift jacks being activated by a wireless hand held controller.
The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.
Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.
Referring now to
The present invention can be used to assist someone getting from a wheel chair to a bed, exam table, X ray table, or vehicle. It can also be used to examine a patient's feet and provide foot care while the patient remains in the wheel chair. It could also be used to assist getting into a car or SUV where the patient can be raised or stand up on the lift plate so they do not have to use an unsteady step stool which they could fall off of. It can also be used by a patient who needs to sit at a higher position like when applying makeup, shaving or cooking in a kitchen. The invention can also be used by paraplegics who have use of their arms but cannot lift themselves into bed because of the higher elevation of the bed.
While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
