EP0645996A1

EP0645996A1 - Lavatory assistance device

Info

Publication number: EP0645996A1
Application number: EP93913129A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Claude Messin
Original assignee: Messin Brevets
Current assignee: Messin Brevets
Priority date: 1992-06-16
Filing date: 1993-06-15
Publication date: 1995-04-05
Also published as: FR2692141A1; WO1993025173A1; CA2138131A1; US5630236A

Abstract

Lavatory assistance device for supporting and assisting persons having difficulty in sitting or standing. A stationary frame (5) is maintained in place by two jackscrews (29) pressing on the ceiling. Two moving connecting rods (25, 26) actuated by a cylinder (2), shift a cradle (20) supporting the user under the armpits. The user controls the lowering, stopping or raising manoeuvre by operating a control having handles (9) which are placed in front of the cradle. The force necessary for these manoeuvres is provided by pressure of water from the main supply acting on the cylinder piston (2) before falling again into the cistern for normal use. The hydraulic connection is made by fitting a special joint (17) in place of the existing tap. The arm-cradle assembly can be folded and blocked in a high position, for normal access to the lavatory. The device can be used in hospitals, homes for the elderly or the sick, rehabilitation centres, or it can be rented out.

Description

DESCRIPTION "TOILET ASSISTANT"

The invention relates to an assistance device for people having difficulties to sit up and get up, in particular for the use of toilets.

We know in particular from US-A-4031576 such a device comprising a frame, a cradle intended to support the disabled person during the movement between the standing position and the seated position, a mechanism connecting the cradle to the frame in a mobile manner between a "standing person" position and a "seated person" position, and a motor means for actuating the mechanism. The cradle includes a backrest, a seat, and armrests. The armrests are shown as supporting the forearm of the disabled person when the latter is seated and the arm itself when the person is standing.

The transition between these two modes of support is not explained, but it is necessarily delicate.

In fact, it seems that in the known device the essential support element is the seat. However, a seat is an ineffective way to support a person sitting or getting up. In the "standing" position, the seat occupies a vertical position which makes it useless.

When the seat progressively moves to the horizontal position, or during the reverse movement to the vertical position, it passes through dangerous oblique positions because the seat may then play the role of a slide.

This is probably why this known device is supplemented by armrests. This is to allow the person to support himself by the arms during the dangerous phase of the movement. This solution is complex, uncomfortable and dangerous.

Armrests provide support that cannot be unstable because it is transmitted to the body through the arms of the user, which constitute an articulated system. This support becomes even more unstable when it has to change during movement as has been said above with regard to the known device.

The object of the invention is to provide an assistance device which is simple while providing the disabled person with support whose stability and ergonomics are significantly improved.

According to the invention, the device allowing disabled people to settle effortlessly on a seat, in particular sanitary, passing from the standing position to the sitting position, and then to get up, comprising a frame, a cradle intended to support the disabled person during the movement between the standing position and the seated position, a mechanism connecting the cradle to the frame movably between a "standing person" position and a "seated person" position, and a motor means for actuating the mechanism , is characterized in that the cradle can be engaged under the armpits of the disabled person.

The underarm support is particularly stable and effective.

The armpits constitute a kind of natural attachment which is integral with the trunk of the user. Thus, the support effort is communicated to the person without the latter having to produce a corresponding muscular effort.

On the contrary, the device according to US-A-4031576 implies that the person stiffens his arms enough so that the support force is transmitted to the trunk.

Consequently, the device according to the invention has increased stability, and clearly improved comfort in use.

The seat is no longer necessary because the support under the armpits maintain optimal efficiency throughout the movement. The device according to the invention is therefore simpler and more economical.

Advantageously, at least on one side the cradle engages under the corresponding armpit of the disabled person with an arm terminated by a means for controlling the motor means, so that this control means is accessible to the person's hand. supported by the cradle. Preferably, there are two arms each terminated by a handle provided with a trigger. On one side, the trigger controls the rise of the cradle, while on the other side, the other trigger controls the descent.

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description below, relating to nonlimiting examples.

In the accompanying drawings:

- Figures 1 and 2 are views of the device according to the invention, in position "standing person" and respectively "seated person"; - Figure 3 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the cradle and the rods which support it;

- Figure 4 is a hydraulic diagram of connection to the flush tank; and - Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 but relating to a second embodiment of the cradle. In the example shown in Figures 1 to 3, the device comprises a frame essentially consisting of two columns 5 located on either side of the bowl 16 of the sanitary. Each column 5 is blocked between the floor 31 and the ceiling 32 of the room by means of a screw jack 29 whose adjustable part constitutes the upper end of the column. The columns 5 movably support a cradle 20 by means of a deformable parallelogram mechanism 14. The cradle 20 comprises a backrest 33 which is connected to the mechanism 34 and to which arms 34 are articulated by hinges 36 with a substantially vertical axis. Thanks to the deformable parallelogram mechanism which allows the cradle 20 to move parallel to itself relative to the columns 5, the arms 34 of the cradle 20 are permanently located in a substantially horizontal plane.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the arms 34 is intended to engage under one of the armpits of the user 1 when the back of the user 1 is pressed against the backrest 33. The arms 34 have padding 37 for the armpits. Each arm 34 is terminated by a handle 9 directed downwards, to which the user 1 can hold on. This also allows the user to rotate the arms 34 around the hinges 36 to more or less bring the arms 34 to one another depending on its size. The mechanism 14 comprises, on each side, two superimposed connecting rods 25 and 26, articulated to the corresponding column 5 along axes 21 and 22 respectively, and to the back 33 along axes 23 and 24 respectively. In the situation represented in FIG. 1 , the device is in a "standing person" position, in which the connecting rods 25 and 26 are substantially horizontal while the backrest 33 is perpendicular to the front edge of the bowl 16. Thanks to the mechanism 14, the cradle 20 can pass in the "seated person" position shown in FIG. 2, in which the connecting rods 25 and 26 are in a substantially vertical position while the backrest 33 is plumb with the rear edge of the bowl 16 and at a lower height than in the "standing person" position.

Thus, the trajectory 19 of the cradle 20 (FIG. 1), is oriented obliquely downwards and backwards, in relation to the user, in a manner which broadly corresponds to the movement of his shoulders when he stands up and sits.

For the motorization of the mechanism 24, the two connecting rods 25 are extended beyond the axis 21 to be connected to each other by a cross member 27 to which the end of the rod 28 of a jack 2 is articulated The body 7 of the cylinder 2 is articulated to the columns 5 along an axis 12. A distribution valve 3 makes it possible to selectively connect an exchange orifice 6 of the cylinder 7 with the pressure of the water distribution network or, on the contrary, by an outlet 41, with an exhaust duct 8 opening directly into the tank 15 of the flush. For this, we replace the stop valve at the entrance to the flush with a special connector 17 (Figure 4) further comprising a nozzle 38 leading to an inlet 39 of the valve 3. In addition, the tanks toilet flush traditionally have two opposite holes to allow their connection to the network 4 by the left side or the right side depending on the installation case. The unused port is normally closed with a plug. The invention exploits the presence of this second orifice 42 to connect the exhaust duct 8 to it. It is possible, if desired, to modify the setting of the float normally provided in the water tank in order to shift the limit level downwards to- beyond which the supply to the tank from the network 4 is interrupted. Thus, the content of the jack can be added to it without causing overflow by the tank overflow.

The dispensing valve 3 is of the type with three positions, one of rest, shown in FIG. 4, in which the exchange orifice 6 of the jack 7 is isolated, which immobilizes the cradle 20. From the position rest, the movable drawer 47 can be moved down in Figure 4 to connect the exchange orifice 6 with the inlet 39. In this case, the pressure chamber of the jack 7 is filled under the pressure of the water distribution network 4. This causes the cradle 20 to rise towards the "person" position standing". The drawer 47 can also be moved to the top of FIG. 4, in which case the exchange orifice 6 is connected to the exhaust duct 8 and the cradle 20, in particular when it is subjected to the weight of the user 1 which he supports, descends to the "seated person" position. This corresponds to a discharge of the liquid into the reservoir 15 through the conduit 8. Preferably, the conduit 8 comprises a point or distributed pressure drop 46 limiting the rate of descent. The valve 3 allows the adjustment of the flow rate depending on whether the slide 47 is more or less moved from the rest position.

A control cable 10 (FIG. 1) controls the valve spool 3. The cable 10 extends through one of the connecting rods 26 of the mechanism 14 and one of the arms 34 of the cradle 20 to reach one of the handles 9, produced in the form of a rotating control handle. From a rest position, the handle 9 can be turned in one direction to control the descent of the cradle 20 and in the other direction to control its rise. Depending on whether the user is right-handed, left-handed, or even disabled with one or the other arm, the handle 9 can be associated case by case with the left arm or the right arm of the cradle 20.

As shown in FIG. 3, the articulation between the rod 28 of the jack and the cross-member 27 can consist of a buttonhole 43 fixed to the end of the rod 28. This makes it possible to fold the mechanism 14 and the cradle 20 towards the high in a position of non-use symbolized in FIG. 1 by the position in phantom of the connecting rod 25. The crosspiece 27 then takes in the buttonhole 43 the position 27a of FIG. 3. A lock of the hard point type can be provided , for example between the crosspiece 27 and the lower end of the buttonhole 43, to retain the cradle removably in the high position of non-use. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the two handles 9 are fixed and each is associated with a trigger 44a or 44b which, depending on whether it is pressed more or less, selectively controls the more or less significant opening of a valve respective 53a or 53b located in the end of the corresponding arm 34. The valve 53a controls the connection between the tap 38 and the exchange orifice 6 of the jack 7, while the valve 53b controls the selective connection between the exhaust duct 8 and the exchange orifice 6 of the jack 7. In this embodiment, the conduits for supplying and respectively discharging water to and from the jack 7 pass through the arms 34 of the cradle 20. The valve 3 of FIGS. 1 and 4 is eliminated. Furthermore, this embodiment is identical to that of FIGS. 1 to 4.

To control the climb, the user actuates the trigger 44a and leaves the trigger 44b to rest. To control the descent, he actuates the trigger 44b and leaves the trigger 44a to rest. This device is particularly intended for hospitals, hospices, rehabilitation clinics in motor skills, retirement homes. Its ease of assembly (absence of sealing and significant modification of the plumbing) allows its temporary installation in a private home. The device is therefore also suitable for renting equipment for the disabled.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples described and shown. One could for example mount the sliding cradle on a slide, preferably oriented obliquely downwards and backwards.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Device allowing disabled people to settle effortlessly on a seat (11), in particular sanitary (16), passing from the standing position to the sitting position, and to then get up, comprising a frame ( 5), a cradle (20) intended to support the disabled person (1) during the movement between the standing position and the seated position, a mechanism (14) connecting the cradle (20) to the frame (5) in a movable manner between a "standing person" position and a "seated person" position, and a motor means (2) for actuating the mechanism, characterized in that the cradle (20) can be engaged under the armpits of the disabled person.

2. Device according to claim 1 intended to be associated with a seat (16) of sanitary facilities, characterized in that the drive means comprises a jack (2) connected via at least one control valve

(3, 53a, 53b) and a connection (17) to the water pipe (4) supplying the tank (15) of the sanitary facilities, and using as pressure energy the pressure of the water distribution network.

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the water used by the jack (2) is, after use, discharged through a pipe (8) opening into the tank (15) of the sanitary facilities independently of the distribution network (4 ).

4. Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the connector (17) is mounted to replace the existing flush valve.

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the mechanism (14) comprises two connecting rods (25, 26) articulated to the frame (5) and the cradle

(20) so that the cradle (20) moves while remaining substantially parallel to itself.

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that on one side at least the cradle engages under the corresponding armpit of the disabled person by an arm (20) terminated by a control means (9) of the motor means (2), so that this control means is accessible to the hand of the supported person by the cradle.

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the cradle (20) engages under the armpits of the disabled person by two arms each carrying, at its free end, a command from one of the respective directions of movement of the cradle (20) between the "seated person" and "standing person" positions.

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the cradle (20) engages under the armpits of the disabled person by two arms (34) each terminated by a handle (9).

9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that one of the handles (9) is a rotary handle for controlling the motor means (2).

10. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that each handle (9) is associated with a trigger (44a, 44b) for controlling one of the directions of movement of the cradle (20) between the "seated person" positions and "standing person".

11. Device according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the two arms (34) of the cradle

(20) can be opened more or less relative to each other to adapt to the body size of the disabled person.

12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the frame (5) is placed on either side of the seat and is held by a means (29) of support blocking against the ceiling.

13. Device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the trajectory of the cradle (20) between the positions "seated person" and "standing person" is inclined downward and backward relative to the user.