EP3672899A1

EP3672899A1 - Wheelchair lift for spiral staircase

Info

Publication number: EP3672899A1
Application number: EP17731263.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Wolfgang Fritsch
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-06-02
Filing date: 2017-06-02
Publication date: 2020-07-01
Also published as: WO2018220414A1

Abstract

A lift for wheelchairs is proposed, that can easily be appended to spiral staircases if primed. The lift system comprises a permanent-magnetic guide system.

Description

Wheelchair Lift for Spiral Staircase

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention pertains to stairlifts and more particularly to spiral or corkscrew stairs with a central pole, and more exactly to a lift for wheelchairs running on it.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are quite a number of stairlifts known for senior citizens and people with a physical handicap. However, sofar almost all these require the user to sit on the stair- lift seat.

For chairbound people it is quite a challenge to change seats from a wheelchair into the seat of the stairlift and possibly ask someone to carry up the wheelchair for changing onto it again.

This makes users of wheelchairs needy to apply for installing a standard elevator, which may be an architectural challenge and might hardly be feasible in many cases.

Moreover, installation of stairlifts are expensive anyway. This could be changed for stairlifts in case the installation was anticipated with the draft of the house or particularly the design of one staircase.

TASK OF THE INVENTION

The task of the here disclosed invention therefore is to find a solution for a design of a staircase that provides an easy installation of a staircase lift in case of need and a suitable lifting system.

SOLUTION

The solution was found particularly for spiral staircase, wherein the center pole is used to drag and guide a wheelchair on an extendable platform or simply hooked on.

INVENTIVE STEP

The particular inventive step in it is the application of magnetic force to transmit the lifting energy and to use a small distance to the stairs and a bumper to provide a safety holding means in case of failure. BASIC EMBODIMENTS

There might be two basic embodiments for this concept:

Guiderails on or embedded spirally within the central pole, having one or more carriages running on it, that support a L-shaped platform for the wheelchair or a hook system for directly plugging it on. Those carriages may be moved with wire ropes, which implies quite a few units of it to guide the cable around the pole.

In a preferred embodiment therefore the lifting force is transmitted by a magnetic system, comprising a circular or semi-circular magnetic plate, moved on the inside of the tubular central pole and a corresponding magnetic or soft iron segmental arch gliding on the outside of the tube, moving the carriage

The central pole-tube then needs to be of non-magnetic material, may be of aluminium or glass- or carbon fiber compound with resins.

CLOSER DESCRIPTIONS ALONG TO THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 demonstrates the construction of a stairlift for wheelchairs, wherein the wheelchair (1) is hooked on a carriage (2), that is guided by spiral rails (3) on, or integrated within the central pole (4) of a spiral stair (5).

Instead of hooking the wheelchair (1) directly to the carriage (2), there may also be a L-shaped platform (6) attached to the carriage, whereon the user can drive the wheelchair himself and secure it with a remote control on his chair (not shown).

It is thereby understood, that the carriage (2) with the wheelchair (1) on the spiral rails (3) is following the stairs when lifted. So, in case of emergency the user might step on the stairs, or, in case of failure of the lifting system, the platform might fall a bit on its bumper (7), but rest on the next possible stair.

For providing the lifting force a howling cable may also run on these rails (3), however the preferred embodiment comprises the magnetic lifting system as demonstrated of drawing Fig. 2:

It shows, how a semi-circular or circular magnetic plate (8) with transversal magnetisation (9) corresponds to a contrarily magnetized or soft-iron bracket (10) on the carriage (2) which would raise or lower the sliding carriage by magnetic force - provided that the central pole is a relatively thin tube (11) of non-magnetic material, as is reenforced carbon fiber or aluminium.

The driving force therefore might be transmitted by cables running inside the central pole, preferably looped around a drive pulley on top, as common for small lifts.

However, this can also be managed using a steep spiral drive or telescopic hydraulic cylinders in the center of the pole.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A lift for wheelchairs (1) on a spiral staircase (5), wherein the lifting and guiding elements are integrated into a tubular central pole (4) of the stairs (5).

2. A lift for wheelchairs on a spiral staircase as to claim 1 and 2, comprising guide- rails (3), spirally encompassing the central pole (4).

3. A lift for wheelchairs on a spiral staircase as to claim 2, wherein a carriage runs on the guiderails, sliding on the outside of the central pole, whereon the wheelchair is hooked.

4. A lift for wheelchairs on a spiral staircase as to claim 2, wherein a carriage runs on the guiderails, and holds a L-shaped platform, whereon the user can guide his wheelchair and secure it with a remotely controlled lock.

5. A lift for wheelchairs on a spiral staircase as to claim 1 , comprising a semi- or full- circular magnetc poleplate, whereas the outside carriage comprises a counter-orientated magnet or piece or soft iron as counterpole.

6. A lift for wheelchairs on a spiral staircase as to claim 5, wherein the counter- magnet is shaped like a segmented arch, or comprises a cutout in shape of the outer profile of the tubular center pole.

7. A lift for wheelchairs on a spiral staircase as to claim 6, wherein the magnet inside of the tubular central pole is mechanically moved by cable pull, spiral drive or hydrau÷ lically activated telescopic cylinders.

8. A lift for wheelchairs on a spiral staircase as to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein wheelchairs are simply hooked on a carriage.

9. A lift for wheelchairs on a spiral staircase as to claim 9, wherein a bumper on the platform provides additional security in case of failing of the holding or driving means.