AU2007200728A1 - Raising and lowering device - Google Patents

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 MURRAY VALLEY CENTRE FOR THE INTELLECTUALLY HANDICAPPED INC COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: Raising and Lowering Device The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us:- 2 SField of the Invention SThis invention relates to apparatus for raising and lowering the position of a person and more particularly relates to apparatus for raising and lowering the position of a disabled person in an environment such as a swimming pool.

Background of the Invention 00 In order to move people, and more particularly people with a disability, from one position to another position at a swimming pool for example. Such swimming pool centres use slings and other mechanical left devices in order to place the disabled N person in the water and remove the disabled person from the water when he or she has finished swimming including exercises. The slings and mechanical lift devices are Ni generally operated by staff at the aquatic centre and present occupational health and safety problems for such staff if, for instance, assisting the disabled person into the sling or lift results in an injury or other health problem for the staff. Furthermore, the slings can slip which presents a potentially dangerous situation for the disabled person who is being transported in such a sling. Lifts can be dangerous in the sense that they can tip or overbalance leading to hazardous situations for the disabled person in the lift.

Aside from the above problems there is personal indignity suffered by the disabled person as they are supported in the lift or sling and carried across and above the water in the pool with possibly some of the other pool visitors looking on.

The present invention seeks to overcome one or more of the above disadvantages by providing apparatus for moving a person, such as a disabled person, from one position to another position in a particular environment. More particularly, that environment is a swimming pool and the apparatus is used to lower and raise the disabled person into and out of the water in the swimming pool. This is provided in a safe and simple manner by the side of the pool.

Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed in Australia before the priority date of each claim of this application.

m:\specifications\500000\505000\5O5243cmpreo.doc N Summary of the Invention SAccording to an aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for moving a person between a first position and a second position comprising: a platform that provides support to the person; drive means mounted in a frame for moving the platform between the first and 00 ,i second positions to allow the person entry to and exit from an environment or object; a pivot assembly connected to the frame for moving the platform through a i predefined arc between which the platform is stowed at a first angle and the platform is placed ready to be moved from the first position to the second position at a second C 10 angle.

Preferably the first position is where the person enters and exits the apparatus and the second position is where the person enters and exits to and from the environment or object.

The drive means may lower and raise the platform between the first position and the second position. The drive means preferably comprises a motor and gearbox that combine with a spindle means to drive a pair of rams upwardly and downwardly, the rams are connected to the platform to raise and lower the platform.

The pivot assembly preferably includes an upstanding column and a pivot arm extending substantially transversely from the column and connected to the frame in which the drive means is housed. The pivot assembly is preferably securely mounted to a surface through a base portion. The pivot assembly may further include a handle that is used to manually rotate the pivot assembly and platform through the predefined arc. The pivot assembly may have a locking rod that is locked into a first slot in the base portion to keep the pivot assembly fixed at the first angle and locked into a second slot in the base portion to keep the pivot assembly fixed at the second angle. The pivot assembly may have affixed thereto a control panel having buttons to control the drive means to lower, raise and stop the platform.

The apparatus may further include a seat for the person mounted against the frame to enable the person to sit whilst the apparatus is in operation. The environment is preferably a swimming pool and the apparatus enables a disabled person access to and from the swimming pool. The frame, spindles and drive means may be tilted in order to move the platform further into the swimming pool, away from the pool edge, as the platform is lowered to the second position.

m:\specifications\500000\505000\505243cmpreo.doc (N Preferably at the first position the platform is substantially level with and Sadjacent to the pool edge. The apparatus may further include a flap hingedly attached to the platform to cover any gap that the person has to traverse when entering or leaving the platform. One or more rails for safety and a gate for access to and from the environment in the second position may also be included.

00 Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred embodiment of the invention will hereinafter be described by way of example only, with reference to the drawings wherein: Fig 1 is a perspective view of apparatus for lowering and raising a person, the apparatus positioned idle by the side of a swimming pool ready for use; I Fig 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus of Fig 1 shown in a position above the water line of the swimming pool ready to be lowered into the water of the swimming pool; Fig 2A is a perspective frontal view of the apparatus of Fig 1 shown in a lowered position in the swimming pool; Fig 3 is a perspective view from above and behind of the apparatus of Fig 1, with a section of the apparatus exposed to show the internal components; Fig 4 is a perspective view from ground level of the apparatus of Fig 1; Fig 5 is a side view of the apparatus of Fig 1 that is partly exposed to show internal components; Fig 6 is a side view cross-sectional view, along the line H-H in Fig 5, of a pivot assembly of the apparatus; Fig 7 is a perspective view of a platform frame; and Figs 8A and 8B are respective top and bottom views of the platform including the platform frame of Fig 7.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment With reference to Figs 1 and 2 there is shown apparatus 10 for moving a person between a first position and a second position. More particularly the apparatus lowers and raises a disabled person within an environment, such as a swimming pool.

The apparatus 10 is permanently erected adjacent a side 12 of a swimming pool 14. In Figure 1 it is shown in an idle position ready for use.

The apparatus 10 includes drive means (see Fig 3) protected in a housing 16 that is mounted to a pivot assembly 18 through a pivot arm 20. The apparatus 10 also includes a platform assembly 22 located in an unused position above the level with the base of frame 16 and furthermore includes a seat 24 mounted to a front face of the frame 16 and a handrail assembly 26 for safety.

m:\specifications\500000\505000\5O5243cmpreo.doc c1 The apparatus 10 is electrically powered wherein the drive means, and more Sspecifically a drive motor, is provided by 24 volts DC. The motor 44 is connected by cable that extends through the pivot arm 20, the upright column 21 of the pivot assembly 18 and is installed in the ground 23 underneath the base portion 25 of the pivot assembly 18. The cable extends to a convenient location to a bank of separate 00 batteries that are charged by AC mains power.

-Protruding through from the top of the pivot assembly 10 is a control panel 28 mounted on a tube 45 that includes an emergency/stop button 30, a key hole 32 and up Nand down control buttons 34 and 36 respectively. There is also a knob 38 that controls a locking rod 39 to enable movement of the pivot assembly 18 from a locked position r, when it is not in use, at a first angle, to another locked position, at a second angle, when the assembly 10 is in use as shown in Fig 2.

An operator will turn on an isolation key, for example located in the change room where the batteries may also be located. A warning light on an outside wall adjacent the change room will indicate that the apparatus is activated. The operator will then insert a key into the key hole 32 in order activate the pivot assembly 18 and provide power to the apparatus 10. The locking rod 39 is then lifted by pulling knob 38 upwardly so that it is clear of a first slot 41 located in the base portion 25 and then rotated, using handle 40, 900 to the position shown in Fig 2 so that the apparatus is over the water of the swimming pool. The locking rod 39 will drop into a further slot to lock the apparatus 10 in the position shown in Fig 2. The down button 36 is then depressed by the operator on the control panel 28 until the apparatus has the platform 22 level with the swimming pool edge 12. In this first position, the flap 27, which is hingedly affixed to the platform 22 will be level as well. Normally when the apparatus is not in use the flap 27 is turned upwardly and backwardly as shown in Fig 1 and can hinge downwardly as shown in Fig 2 to enable easier exiting from the platform 22, particularly for wheelchairs.

When the platform 22 and flap 27 are level with the pool edge 12 in this first position the stop/emergency button 30 is depressed. A locking pin that locks the flap 27 is removed so that the flap 27 can be lowered onto the pool edge apron or made level with it. The operator will then assist the disabled person onto the platform 22 and then onto the seat 24. Typically a wheelchair is used and this will be pushed up onto the flap 27 and then onto the platform 22. Once the person is on the seat 24 the wheelchair (or other devices used by the person) can be removed clear of the apparatus m:\specifications\500000\505000\5O5243cmpreo.doc The flap 27 is then raised and its locking pin inserted so that it is in the position shown in Fig 1. The down button 36 on the control panel 28 is depressed and held until the person is buoyant in the water or until a limit switch (not shown) prevents further lowering of the platform. At this second position, a safety gate 42 is opened by the operator and the person is assisted into the pool.

00 Fig 2A shows the platform at the second position with the safety gate 42 open to enable the person access to the pool.

In order to assist the disabled person out of the pool the reverse procedure N occurs. The safety gate 42 is opened and the disabled person floats towards the seat 24 to be seated thereon. The gate 42 is then closed on the platform and the up button 34 is CI depressed in order to raise the platform from the second position until it is level with the edge of the pool 12 at the first position. The locking pin for the platform flap 27 is then removed so that it is lowered onto the pool edge apron or made level with the edge. The disabled person is then assisted from the platform 22 either using their walking aids or wheelchair if necessary. Prior to this the wheelchair is moved from the pool edge onto the platform 22 and the disabled person seated in the wheelchair before exiting from the platform 22. Once the disabled person is clear of the apparatus 10 the platform flap 27 is raised and the locking pin is inserted to keep it in an upright position. The up button 34 is then depressed until a limit switch shuts off the apparatus When the apparatus is no longer needed the locking rod 39 in the pivot assembly 18 is lifted through knob 38 out of its second slot and rotated anti-clockwise approximately 900 until the locking rod 39 drops into its original first slot 41 to keep it in the position as shown in Fig 1. The operator then turns off the key that was depressed into key hole 32 and then the isolation key, typically in the change room, is turned off.

With references to Figs 3, 4 and 5, the back panel on the frame 16 is shown partially transparent in order to see internal components more clearly. The drive means that enables the lowering and raising of the platform 22 includes a motor 44 which in turn drives a drive shaft 46 through gear box 48. The drive shaft 46 and gear box 48 are coupled through couplers 52 and 54 to respective pairs of screw jacks or spindles that together, drive rams 53 and 55 either upwardly or downwardly in order to move the platform 22. The top of each spindle or screw jack 50 is secured to a top brace 54 of the frame 16 through respective nuts 56 and 57. The drive means is affixed to a screw mount frame 58 which in turn is connected to platform 22 through a pair of upright portions 60 and 62. The pivot arm 20 is connected to the frame 16 through a m:\specifications\500000\505000\5O5243cmpreo.doc r, pair of braces 64 and 66 (not shown). The frame 16 is tilted, at approximately Sdegrees from normal, together with the motor 44, gearbox 48 and spindles 50. This is to enable the platform 22 to move away from the pool edge 12 and further into the pool 14 when moving from the first position to the second position.

S Thus when the down button 36 is depressed the motor 44 drives the gear box 48 00 and the drive shaft 46 which in turn meshes with the respective spindles 50 to force

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through couplers 52, 54 the rams 53 and 55 and the screw mount frame 58 in a 0downward direction and thereby forcing the platform 22 to move downwardly. The reverse process occurs when the up button 34 is depressed.

Shown in Fig 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the pivot assembly 18. The N pivot assembly 18 has a central upright column 43 through which electrical cabling passes that extends from the ground up through the tubular mount 45 to the control panel 28. A slot in pivot arm 20 allows further cabling to provide connections to the motor 44.

The locking rod 39 is shown fitted into slot 41 to prevent movement of the pivot assembly 18. In order to rotate the pivot assembly 18 it is a matter of the operator lifting a knob 38 to clear the locking rod 39 of the slot 41 to then rotate the assembly 18 to the further slot (not shown) to lock it into a second position such that the apparatus extends above the water in the pool.

With reference to Fig 7 there is shown a platform support frame 70 formed from a series of rungs 72 connected to a base member 74. A transverse bar 76 provides extra strength for the support frame 70. A pair of brackets 77 and 78 provide connections to the base of the frame 16 through a pair of pivot pins.

Shown in Fig 8A is a top isometric view of a perforated grate 80 that forms a top part of the platform 22 which is supported underneath by the platform frame Shown in Fig 8B is an underneath isometric view showing the support frame together with the perforated grate 80 of the platform 22.

The seat 24 is constructed into two parts, a seat portion 29 and a back portion 31. The seat portion 29 is supported on a pair of seat brackets 33 which in turn are linked to a pair of uprights 35 to which the back portion 31 is connected. Each of the uprights 35 are connected to the front face of frame 16.

Although the invention has been described in an embodiment in relation to use in an aquatic centre swimming pool, the apparatus can be used in other environments.

Examples would include raising and lowering a patient to and from a bed or moving a person between two levels in a building.

m:\specifications\500000\505000\5O5243cmpreo.doc 8 0 0 SIt will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

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Claims (10)

1. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first position is where the person enters and exits the apparatus and the second position is where the person enters and exits to and from the environment or object.
2. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the drives means lowers and raises the platform between the first position and the second position.
3. 4. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the drive means comprises a motor and gearbox that combine with a spindle means to drive a pair of rams upwardly and downwardly, the rams are connected to the platform to raise and lower the platform.
4. 5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the pivot assembly includes an upstanding column and a pivot arm extending substantially transversely from the column and connected to the frame in which the drive means is housed.
5. 6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the pivot assembly is securely mounted to a surface through a base portion.
6. 7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the pivot assembly further includes a handle that is used to manually rotate the pivot assembly and platform through the predefined arc.
7. 8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the pivot assembly has a locking rod that is locked into a first slot in the base portion to keep the pivot assembly fixed at the first angle and locked into a second slot in the base portion to keep the pivot assembly fixed at the second angle. m:\specifications\500000\505000\5O5243cmpreo.doc c1 9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the pivot assembly has affixed Sthereto a control panel having buttons to control the drive means to lower, raise and stop the platform. The apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising a seat for the person mounted against the frame to enable the person to sit whilst the apparatus is in 00 I operation.
8. 11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the environment is a swimming N' pool and the apparatus enables a disabled person access to and from the swimming O pool. (I 10 12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the frame, spindles and drive means are tilted in order to move the platform further into the swimming pool, away from the pool edge, as the platform is lowered to the second position.
9. 13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein at the first position the platform is substantially level with and adjacent to the pool edge.
10. 14. The apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising a flap hingedly attached to the platform to cover any gap that the person has to traverse when entering or leaving the platform. The apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising one or more rails for safety and a gate for access to and from the environment in the second position. Dated this nineteenth day of February 2007 Murray Valley Centre for the Intellectually Handicapped Inc Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: F B RICE CO m:\specifications\500000\505000\5O5243cmpreo.doc