EP2323611A1

EP2323611A1 - Aid at walking tables

Info

Publication number: EP2323611A1
Application number: EP09811770A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Marie Nyström
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-09-05
Filing date: 2009-09-04
Publication date: 2011-05-25
Also published as: SE532879C2; WO2010027313A1; SE0801911L

Abstract

An aid in the form of a harness for use in health care and geriatric care in connection with walking tables in the form of a structure (1) on wheels (2) with vertically adjustable armrests (3, 4). The harness consists of a band-shaped element (7) with a first (8) and a second (9) end, first attachment means (10, 11) arranged at each end, in the middle section of the band-shaped element mutually spaced second attachment means (15, 16) as well as on the walking table in connection to the armrests arranged attachments (17, 18) for said attachment means (10, 11; 15, 16), whereby the part (13') of the band-shaped element (7) that lies between said second attachment means (15, 16) is arranged to, when the harness has been put on, lie against the small of the back of a user and whereby the parts (12', 14' ) of the band-shaped element that lie between a first and a second attachment respectively are arranged to, when the harness has been put on, each form a loop which surrounds one of the leg of the user.

Description

AID AT WALKING TABLES

The field of the invention

The present invention relates to an aid to be used within healthcare and geriatric care, and more precisely to be used together with walking tables.

Prior art

Walking tables are used by people that for different reasons need support to be able to walk on their own. Walking tables are used in hospitals and other institutions, and in rehabili- tation. Many demented patients want to walk, without having the capacity, they fall and suffer from fractures easily. It is both painful, expensive and can also lead to a premature death.

A walking table consists of a structure on wheels with verti- cally adjustable arm rests whereupon there normally are handles. With the arms resting on the arm rests, many patients are able to get around despite handicaps of various kind.

Today it is usual that anxious patients are fastened by a crotch belt in an armchair during the days and are released only at walking exercises and to go to the toilet and at nights. At walking exercises one or two members of the staff must hold the patient upright with a waist belt when the patient is to walk with a walking table. Additionally, one member of the staff must walk behind with a wheelchair ready, in case the patient runs out of energy to walk.

There are today, as far as the applicant knows, no solutions to this problem which comply with the demands on versatile usefulness, facilitation for staff and comfort for patients. The American patent US, A, 4, 621, 804 describes a therapeutic which a patient is to be able to walk, and which comprises a crotch cloth to be placed between the patients legs and on which the patient can sit down. This is a complicated solution with special equipment and it is an impediment when walking. Similar solutions are shown in US, A, 5,476,432, where the structure is vertically adjustable between waist and arm pit and between waist and foot, and in US, A, 4 , 621, 804, with vertically adjustable structure and with a detachable crotch support.

US 2005183759, which is regarded as the closest prior art, relates to a walking chair with adherent harness intended to be attached to a user. The harness has a waist belt, a sitting girdle attached to said belt through straps as well as two thigh girdles. This harness is adjusted and attached to a user, which then by means of straps connected to the sitting girdle by clutches, is suspended into the chair. The use of this harness requires a lot of effort and time and experienced staff. Thus, there is a need for a harness, which is easy to use and can easily be taken on and off, and when it comes to cognitive healthy users, not requires experienced staff to be put on and taken off.

Invention

The object of the present invention is thus to accomplish an aid that can be used with existing walking tables, which pre- vents the user from falling and does not require constant watching from staff. Yet another object of the invention is to accomplish an aid that cognitive healthy individuals can use without help from the staff.

These and other objects are achieved with the aid according to the present invention such as it is defined in claim 1. According to one aspect of the invention the band-shaped element is arranged adjustable in length to fit different body forms .

According to a another aspect of the invention said first and second attachment means (10, 11; 15, 16) consist of essentially ring-shaped elements through which the band-shaped element is arranged to extend.

According to a further aspect of the invention, said attachments comprise safety hooks arranged on the underside of the armrests of the walking table, or the equivalent, on which said attachment means respectively are designed to be applied.

According to a further aspect of the invention, displaceable paddings are arranged on the band.

According to a further aspect of the invention, three paddings are arranged on the band, whereby one padding (12), arranged in the middle section of the band, is intended to lie against the small of the back of a user, and the paddings arranged on each side thereof are intended to surround the inside of each leg of the user, whereby said second attachment means is re- tained on the band in gaps between said paddings.

According to a further aspect of the invention, adjustable band tightening means are arranged at the ends of the band- shaped element, by means of which the length of the band can be adjusted.

According to a further aspect of the invention, said safety hooks is of the type that are locked by means of a screw bushing that is screwed over the latch of the safety hook when the attachment means has been applied to the safety hook. The harness according to the invention fits most walking tables, it is comfortable and easy to use. In that it can be designed "lockable" it is more difficult to disengage for disorientated individuals, while cognitive healthy people can at- tach and detach it by themselves without help. Further it is easy to use for staff and relatives.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will be described more in detail below, with reference to embodiments of the invention shown in the draw- ings, on which

Fig. 1 shows a walking table, of a conventional type, with the aid according to the present invention suspended in its both ends,

Fig. 2 shows the aid according to the invention while it is being put on,

Fig. 3 shows the aid according to the invention when it has been put on,

Fig. 4 shows a position when a user is "sitting" in the harness,

Fig. 5 shows the suspension of the attachment means in a safety clutch, and

Fig. 6 shows a first attachment means with an adjustable band buckle .

Detailed description of the invention

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the embodiments of the invention shown in the appended drawing figures. In Fig. 1 is shown a walking table of conventional type, which is not a part of the invention, but on which the invention is intended to be applied.

The walking table consists of a structure 1 with wheels 2 and armrests 3, 4 being vertically adjustable on the structure as well as handles 5, 6 arranged on the arm rests.

The aid according to the invention consists of a band-shaped element 7 constituting a harness in use position, which will be evident from the subsequent description. To facilitate the description of the invention, the expression "harness" will also be used to indicate the aid according to the invention in the subsequent description.

The harness thus consists of a band-shaped element 7 with two ends 8, 9. In each end there is a first attachment means 10, 11, for example, as in the shown embodiment, in the shape of rings. In connection to the attachment means are arranged longitudinal adjustment means in the shape of band buckles, of a conventional type, which is shown in detail in fig. 6.

On the band-shaped element are arranged pads 12, 13, 14, which in the shown example are three. In the middle section 13' of the band element 7 are two second attachment means 15, 16, arranged spaced from each other. In the embodiment shown, the attachment means consist of rings, with a flat part and a curved part, which rings are secured in the gaps between the pairs of pads, respectively.

The pad is preferably a washable cushion, which is arranged on the side of the band-shaped element which is facing the user, and which is able to slide on the band, which extends through the attachment means on the backside of the pad. These attach- ment means can be permanent so that the padding is slipped onto the band-shaped element; when the harness is assembled, or alternatively, they can be detachable through a hook-and-loop fastening or buttons.

In Fig. 2, the harness is shown when it is being put on, whereby in a first step, the first attachment means 10, 11 are suspended m safety hooks 17, 18, which in the shown embodiment are arranged lockable by means of a screw bushing 19 on the latch of the safety hook. In a second step the user, alternatively a member of the staff, grabs the second attachment means 15, 16 and places the band-shaped element between the legs, pulls it up to the small of the back, whereby, if the length of the band-shaped element is correctly adjusted, the middle section of the band-shaped element ends up at the small of the back when the second attachment means are placed on above-mentioned safety hooks 17, 18 on which the first attachment means 15, 16 already are suspended.

The safety hooks 17, 18 are attached to the structure in connection with the armrests. This can be performed in any suitable manner. By leading an endless band over a structure ele- ment under the armrest, a stable attachment is achieved by means of an upper shank of the safety hook is taken through the two loops formed thereby. Further advantages are that no arrangements need to be done on the walking table, and the harness as a whole can be transported between different walk- ing tables. Such a suspension also makes it possible to use the harness on most types of walking tables.

In Fig. 3 the harness is shown suspended on the walking table with the user securely fastened. The user can walk unimpeded, while the risk of falling due to lack of energy or dizziness is completely eliminated. In Fig. 4 the position is shown when the user is bending down with the legs bent, and m this posi- tion the user can rest during a walk. It is in principle also possible for the user in this position to unfasten the band tightening means and thereby lower down on a chair or wheelchair .

In Fig. 5 the safety hook 18 is shown in an open position during the insertion or removal of the second attachment means 16.

Finally, in Fig. 6 is shown a first attachment means 15 according to a suitable embodiment. It comprises a ring 20 that with a band 21 is firmly fastened in a band tightening means 22. It is thus very easy to adjust the length of the band- shaped element. Preferably, similar first attachment means are arranged at both ends of the band-shaped element.

The invention is of course not limited to the above described embodiments. Thus is the embodiment of the band-shaped element not limited to be a homogeneous, on which paddings are slid- ingly arranged. The band-shaped element may consist of for example three separate parts 12', 13', 14', where a middle section 13' consist of a back support, which can be adjustable in length, and connected with the ends of two band-shaped elements 12' , 14' , whose other ends have first attachment means such as described above. Thereby the connection between the separate band elements can be fitted with a swivel joint, or a ring corresponding to the second attachment means.

However, the embodiment with a continuous band-shaped element has many advantages, when manufacturing as well as handling. Furthermore, it is economical to manufacture, and the simple design also means that it is easy to clean and lacks places where bacteria can gather. Although it would be sufficient with a length adjustment only at an end of the band-shaped element, it is advantageous to be able to adjust the harness on both sides.

If the harness primarily is to be used by cognitive impaired individuals it is not necessary to design the safety hook lockable, instead a simple safety hook with a resilient latch can be used. This facilitates for the staff when the user is not able to engage or disengage to the walking table.

It is also possible to design the band-shaped element as a wadded band. In that case, the second attachment means can be permanently or removable attached at a predetermined place on the band-shaped element. It is also plausible to arrange alternative attachment places for the second attachment means, as well as designing the middle section 15' of the band longi- tudinally adjustable.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention the second attachment means can be arranged to be fastened in separate attachments on the walking table, while the first attachment means of the band-shaped element can stay in its sockets when the harness is not being used.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the second attachment means can be arranged to be attached at the ends of the band-shaped element in a suitable way, for example in the first attachment means by means of a safety hook or the equivalent. That would have the advantage that the harness can be placed on the user in a first step, whereby the user with the harness on and correctly adjusted can be fastened to the walking table. This can be very advantageous when the user is big and heavy and not being able assist. The harness fits most walking tables and is thus not limited to the use in connection with the above described walking table.

Further variants and alternative embodiments realized by a person skilled in the art in the light of the above mentioned description are also included in the invention such as it is defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. An aid in the form of a harness to be used in healthcare and geriatric care, together with walking tables in the form of a structure (1) on wheels (2) with vertically adjustable armrests (3, 4), characterized in that the harness comprises a band-shaped element (7) with a first (8) and a second (9) end, first attachment means (10, 11) arranged at the respective end, second attachment means (15, 16) mutually spaced in a middle section (13') of the band-shaped element, and attach- ments (17, 18) for said attachment means (10, 11; 15, 16) on the walking table in connection with the arm rests, whereby the said middle part (13') of the band-shaped element (7) that lies between said second attachment means (15, 16) is arranged to, when the harness is put on, lie against the small of the back of a user and whereby parts (12', 14') of the band-shaped element (7) that lie between a first and a second attachment means, respectively, are arranged to, when the harness has been put on, each form a loop which surrounds one of the legs of the user.

2. The aid according to claim 1, characterized in that the band-shaped element (7) is arranged adjustable in length to fit different body forms.

3. The aid according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said first and second attachment means (10, 11; 15, 16) con- sist of essentially ring-shaped elements through which the band-shaped element (7) is arranged to extend.

4. The aid according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said attachments consist of safety hooks (17, 18) arranged on the underside of the armrests of the walking table, or the equivalent, on which said attachment means (10, 11; 15, 16) respectively are designed to be applied.

5. The aid according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that displaceable paddings (12, 13, 14) are arranged on the band (7) .

6. The aid according to any of the preceding claims, charac- terized in that three paddings (12, 13, 14) are arranged on the band (7), whereby one padding (12), arranged in the middle section (13') of the band, is intended to lie against the small of the back of a user, and the paddings (12, 14) arranged on each side thereof are intended to surround the in- side of each leg of the user, whereby said second attachment means (15, 16) is retained on the band (7) in gaps between said paddings (12, 13; 13,14) .

7. The aid according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at the ends (8, 9) of the band-shaped element (7) are arranged adjustable band tightening means (22) by means of which the length of the band can be adjusted.

8. Aid according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said safety hooks (17, 18) is of the type that are locked by means of a screw bushing (19) that is screwed over the latch of the safety hook when the attachment means (10, 11; 15, 16) has been applied to the safety hook.