FR2636232A1 - Device for lifting and moving an invalid or a person with reduced mobility - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for lifting and moving an invalid or a person with reduced mobility from a lying or seated position to a lying, seated or standing position, of the type with two arms 1, 1' joined together by a spindle 12 in the manner of scissors and support members 2, 2' mounted on the substantially horizontal end parts 10, 10' of these arms, adapted for gripping the person to be moved under the armpits and at least partially holding his thorax, characterised in that the said support members 2, 2' are pivotally mounted on the said end parts 10, 10'.

Description

DEVICE FOR LIFTING AND MOVING AN IMPAIRED PERSON OR A
REDUCED MOBILITY
The present invention relates to a device for lifting and moving a helpless or mobility impaired person.

 This device makes it possible in particular to lift and move the person from a sitting or lying position to a lying, sitting or standing position.

 Such devices making it possible to improve the living conditions of the disabled are therefore already well known.

 Thus, for example, there is described in US Patent No. 4,159,010, an apparatus for lifting a person, such as a paraplegic. This device has the form of a jacket. This is provided with multiple straps which are connected to at least two attachment points. It is enough to wrap the torso of the person to be moved with this jacket and hang the attachment points on a device capable of lifting and moving the individual. It is understood that such a device is not simple to use. Indeed, if the person really cannot move his limbs, it is relatively difficult to make him put on the jacket. In addition, this device does not allow a person to move from a lying position.

 US-A-3,204,954 also describes a walking assistance device which includes hoops provided with straps which support the individual in the armpits and between the legs. These hoops are secured to a stirrup suspended from a gantry.

 The patent US-A-1,620,298 relates to a device for lifting and moving a person in the lying position.

This one includes support organs articulated in the manner of scissors which make it possible to seize the body of the person at the level of the back and the hips. As can be seen in FIG. 2 of the patent, these members are integral with chains which are suspended from a movable bracket.

 The patent document US-A-4 256 098 also relates to a device for moving a disabled person, but in a standing position. This device comprises two organs which have the shape of an inverted question mark, adapted to grip an individual at the level of the armpits. These organs are suspended from bars which can be moved along rails fixed to a ceiling.

 The three devices which have just been briefly described seem relatively well suited to the use for which they are intended. However, they have a major drawback: that of not being versatile, that is to say that they are not suitable for lifting and / or moving in any position whatsoever.

 Also known from American patent document 3,568,226 is a device for lifting and moving a person, which comprises a pair of arms articulated in the manner of scissors. These arms have a substantially vertical part on which is fixed a support member which allows to grasp the person at the armpits. This member is covered with a foam material such as rubber. The arms also have a horizontal part on which is provided a U-shaped element in which the person positions his forearm. Means are provided at the level of the articulation of the arms for suspending the arms from a bracket, the support of which is fitted with rollers. It is easy to understand that when a person is placed between the arms of the device, these tend to approach each other and come to rest along the torso thereof. This device seems to be very suitable for moving a person in a standing position but it should be noted that the comfort of movement seems particularly limited insofar as the torso of the person is not guided.

Also, it is easily understood that the person's body is subject to uncontrolled movements and possibly a fall.

 Finally, a device of the kind previously described is known from European patent No. 0 094 704. The horizontal parts of the arms of this apparatus support support members. These include profiled parts to grip the person under the armpits as well as parts to grip and support the person to move partially laterally around the thorax. Upon reading this document, it appears that such a device has a major drawback due to the fact that the person's shoulders are blocked forward because of the profiled parts of the support members: this results in inconvenience. level of comfort. In addition, the conformation of the thorax is different from one individual to another. This is why the profiled parts fixed once and for all to the arms cannot properly hold the thorax of any individual. Finally, such a device is ill-suited to grip a person in the lying position. This requires that she can lift the chest (herself or with the help of an assistant) so that she can slide the relatively bulky profiled parts under the armpits. This is not possible when the person to be moved suffers from serious trauma.

 The object of the present invention is to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a device which is robust and of simple design which enables a person to be moved in the best conditions of safety and comfort. This device also makes it possible to best adapt to all lifting and moving conditions: that is to say from sitting or lying positions to the lying, sitting or standing positions.

 This device for lifting and moving a helpless or mobility impaired person is of the type comprising two arms connected together by an axis in the manner of scissors, and support members mounted on the substantially horizontal end portions of these arms, adapted to grasp the person to be moved under the armpits and at least partially maintain the latter's thorax. It is mainly characterized in that said support members are pivotally mounted on said end portions.

According to advantageous but non-limiting characteristics
- Said support members consist of a cylindrical tube fitted on the substantially horizontal end of the arms and of a substantially flat plate integral with said tube, which, in a determined position, is capable of being applied against the thorax of the person to move;
- Means are provided for immobilizing the support members in a determined angular position
- the cylindrical tube and the plate are made of rigid material coated with a flexible material capable of conforming to the shapes of the person
- the end of the arms is fitted with a stop
- The stop is secured to a tube movable in translation inside said arm so that, in the so-called retracted position, said stop is pressed against the support member and, in said out position, the stop is at a certain distance from the suppressed organ, thus revealing the tube, free between them
- Means are provided for immobilizing the tube integral with the stop in a retracted position
- The device is adapted to receive, when said stops are in the extended position, the side members of a stretcher, which extend perpendicular to the main axis of the substantially horizontal parts of said arms, said side members one resting on said tubes and the other in an area beyond the support members, on said substantially horizontal parts
- Said beams are supported on said arms by means of jumpers integral with the beams, which have a base whose shape is complementary to that of the arms
- Said jumpers are fixed to said arms by force fitting or by means of other fixing means;
- Means are provided to keep the spacing of the arms constant.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the detailed description which follows, given with reference to the appended drawings in which
- Figure 1 shows in perspective a device according to the present invention;
- Figure 2 shows in side view one of the arms of the device of the invention equipped with a support member and a stop
- Figure 3 is a view of the elements of Figure 2 cut by the plane III-III;
- Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of means for immobilizing the support members and the tube integral with the stop
FIG. 5 is a view of certain elements of FIG. 4 cut by the transverse plane VV, of FIG. 4.

- Figures 6 and 7 show, very schematically, examples of use of the device of the invention
- Figure 8 partially shows a top view of this device equipped with a stretcher
- Figure 9 is a detail view of the means for positioning the stretcher on the arms of the device.

 Figure 1 shows in perspective a device for lifting and moving a helpless or disabled person, according to the invention. This device mainly comprises two arms 1 and 1 ', made from cylindrical metal tubes.

Any other sufficiently rigid material, such as a plastic material, could also be suitable. These arms have two main zones, namely a substantially horizontal part 10, 10 'and a part slightly inclined relative to the vertical 11, 11'. The upper end of the tube portions 11, 11 'is bent and these are joined, substantially in their central zone by an oblique axis 12. In fact, this connection system is very similar to that of a pair of scissors. The arms 1 and 1 'are suspended from a hoist (not shown), or any other lifting means, by means of a hooking element 13. The element 13 consists of rigid pins 130, 130' which allow the upper end of the arms to be secured to the hoist (or other lifting means). In a manner known per se, the hoist is for example an element of an installation making it possible to move the device along rails suspended from a ceiling . The rigid pins 130, 130 'are bent and their ends are housed inside the ends of the tubes 1, 1'. These pins could be replaced by chains. It is understood that if a person places himself between the arms 1 and 1 ′ and exerts a downward force on the parts 10 and 10 ′, in particular due to his own weight, this causes the arms to move in such a way that those - these tend to join as they approach the torso of the person.

The device therefore performs a "self-tightening" of the person, according to a well-known principle.

 The parts 10 and 10 ′ of the arms are equipped, substantially in their free end region, with support members 2, 2 ′, these comprising a cylindrical tube 20, 20 ′ and a plate 21, 21 ′.

 These support members will be described in more detail, with reference to the following two figures. It is also noted that the end of the arms is provided with stops 14, 14 '. In the example shown, these have the shape of a mushroom head. Finally, the arms support elements 15 and 15 'suspended from straps 16 and 16'. These elements 15, 15 ′, of known type, make it possible to support the thighs of a person whom it is desired to move in a sitting position. This is illustrated in the figure by the person (H) shown in broken lines: this is supported at the armpits and thighs by the support members 2, 2 'and the elements 15 and 15'. The plates 21, 21 'also guide his torso, thus helping him to remain in a stable position.

 Partly shown in Figures 2 and 3 one of the arms 1 of the device of the invention equipped with a support member and a stop. The cylindrical tube 20 is fitted on the part 10. This tube is a sleeve made of metallic material which can rotate freely on the part 10. A metal plate 201 is welded to the tube 20 and extends downward tangentially thereto. This plate is mounted in such a way that, during a period of use of the device, it can come to be positioned against the torso of the displaced person. The cylindrical tube 20 as well as the plate 201 are coated with a lining made of flexible material 202 such as, for example, polyurethane. Such a material has the advantage of faithfully matching the shapes of the person who is supported on the support member without being hindered by the metal structure. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the support is designed in such a way that it is articulated in rotation around the arm 1 (positions shown in broken lines). Of course, the support member is equipped with means for immobilizing it in a determined angular position. Means (which may be the same) are also provided for immobilizing in translation - in the axial direction - the tube 20 on the arm part 10.

 These immobilization means have not been shown in Figures 2 and 3 for better readability. However, a possible embodiment of these means is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.

 FIG. 2 shows that the cylindrical sleeve 20 extends beyond the end 100 of the arm 1. This free sleeve portion receives a movable tube 140 secured to the stop 14. The tube 140 can crisscross inside the sleeve 20 However, means are provided (not shown in FIG. 2, so as not to make it heavier), in order to limit the stroke of the tube 140 and to block the latter in a determined position (in axial translation). A possible embodiment of these means is also shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

 The means for immobilizing the support members 2, 2 ′ in a determined angular position on the arms are referenced 7 in FIGS. 4 and 5. They include a socket 70, internally threaded, which is fixed (for example welded or force-fitted) in a diametral hole made in part 10. The tube 20, on the side opposite to the stop 14, has an end portion which is visible (not lined with flexible material 202). In this portion is formed a circumferential opening, in the form of a lumen 71, which preferably extends over an angle between 1200 and 1800, for example of the order of 1500. The immobilization means 7 comprise a screw 72 to knurled head, engaged in the slot 71 and screwed into the socket 70. The diameter of the screw head is greater than the width of the slot 71.

 As can easily be understood from the observation of FIGS. 4 and 5, when the screw 72 is loosened, the tube 20 - and correspondingly the support member 2 - can be rotated on the arm part 20. The lumen 71 is positioned and dimensioned in such a way that the support member 20 can take various angular positions, and in any case pivot between a position close to the vertical slightly tucked inwards (position of FIG. 6) and a substantially horizontal position, facing outward (position in Figure 7). The part of the plate-shaped support member 21 is not thwarted during its pivoting by the head of the (fixed) screw 72 because it is located in the bare portion of the tube 20.

 The blocking of the support member in the desired angular position is achieved simply by tightening the screw 72, the base 720 of the screw head coming to bear against the surface of the tube 20 (on each side of the lumen) , which ensures the immobilization by friction of this tube.

 It will be noted that the engagement of the screw 72 in the slot 71 also ensures the retention in translation of the tube 20 on the arm part 10.

 In Figure 4 are shown means 8 limiting the translational travel of the stop 14 towards its extended position (shown in phantom) and means 9 for locking the same stop in the retracted position.

 The means 8 comprise a rod 82 disposed axially and fixed to the end of the arm part 10 and penetrating inside the tube 140. The rod 82 is for example force-fitted at one end into a central opening 81 provided in a disc 80 which is welded to the end of the part 10. The other end of the rod 82 carries a disc 83 forming a retainer, fixed for example by means of a pin 84.

 At the inner end of the tube 140 is fixed (for example welded) a disc 85. This has a central opening 86 crossed by the rod 82, but whose diameter is less than that of the disc 83.

 The part 14 of the stop is preferably made of plastic, and is joined to the tubular part 140 by any suitable means, for example a pin 141.

 It is easy to understand, on simple observation of FIG. 4, that the translational travel of the stop 14 towards the outside (arrow v) is limited by the means 8 which have just been described, the disc 85 (integral with the tube 140) abutting against the fixed disc 83.

 The locking means 9 comprise a locking finger 90 slidably mounted in a hollow body 91 and urged by a compression spring 92. The body 91 is integral with the support member 2 and the finger 90 is arranged radially relative to the tube 20 , which it crosses, the spring 92 normally tending to push this finger to make it protrude inside the tube 20. A traction ring 94 makes it possible to retract it. The end of the finger 20 is normally engaged, when the stop 14 is in the retracted position, in a groove 93 formed at the periphery of the tubular part 140, which ensures the translation of the stop.

To release the stop, it suffices to pull the ring 94 (arrow w).

 In an alternative embodiment, additional members could be provided allowing - if necessary - to make the means 9 inoperative. These members could simply consist, for example, of a pin adapted to keep the finger 90 retracted.

 It is important that the stops 14, 14 'can be immobilized in the retracted position because they block the shoulders of the person when the latter is moved, preventing untimely rocking movements of the body; they are therefore subject to relatively large efforts.

 On the other hand, it is not necessary to provide means for blocking the stops in the extended position because, as will be seen below, it is one of the side members of the stretcher placed on the device which then fulfills this function.

 There are shown, with reference to Figures 6 and 7, examples of use of the device of the invention. Thus, with reference to Figure 6, the support members 2 and 2 'have been positioned so that the plates 21 and 21' extend approximately vertically. The device is brought close to a person (H) who is for example in a seated position and arrangements are made for the support members 2 and 2 ′ to be in a sufficiently low position relative to his armpits. The device is first moved horizontally so that the support members are placed under his armpits, then vertically so as to lift the person. This will therefore be moved to a standing position, or to a sitting position if the thighs are positioned in the elements 15 and 15 'previously described. The person is then correctly installed, his armpits resting on the support members, the flexible material of which is deforms upon contact with them. The imbalance movements of the person's body are strongly limited by the plates 21 and 21 'which guide and maintain their torso. In addition, possible tilting movements are limited by the stops 14, 14 '.

 The device of the invention is also suitable for moving a person from a lying position (Figure 7). This is particularly advantageous when the latter cannot make any movement in order to assume a seated position. Thus, the support members are positioned so that the plates 21, 21 'are substantially parallel to the support (S), for example a bed, the floor or a table, on which the person is lying.

 The device is brought close to the latter so that the support members are located on each side of its torso by substantially touching the support (S). The device is then moved until the support members slide below the armpits. It is easily understood that the person does not have (or practically does not) need to straighten during the establishment of the support members. This is particularly advantageous when the latter suffers from serious trauma. The device is then lifted and the plates 21 and 21 'lowered in order to move the person in a seated or standing position.

 The versatile nature of the device of the invention will be better understood on reading the following description, since it also makes it possible to move a person in the supine position. There is shown in Figure 8, very schematically, the substantially horizontal parts 10 and 10 'of the arms 1 and 1'. The stops 14 and 14 ′ were made to slide so that they are in the so-called out position; in this way, the stops are located at a distance (e) from the support members 2 and 2 ', thus revealing the tube 140, free between them. Thus, a space is provided to receive one of the side members 30 of a stretcher 3. Stretcher means any device allowing the transport of a person in the lying position. The tube 140 can no longer slide inside the parts arms 10, 10 ′ because the side members 30 act as a stop; it is locked in the extended position. The second spar 30 'bears directly on the arm parts 10, 10', in a zone 4 situated beyond the members 2, 2 '. We have designated by the reference 31, the fabric support disposed between the side members 30, 30 'and intended to receive the person to be transported.

 FIG. 9 shows means for positioning the stretcher on the arms of the device. These means consist of a part 6 called a jumper. This part, of substantially parallelepiped shape, has two grooves in the form of (U) arranged at 900 relative to one another. The first groove 60 follows the shape of the spar 30 while the second 61 is complementary to the tube 140, on which it is positioned. This part is made of plastic and fixed to the side member 30. The second groove 61 is provided in such a way that the distance (h) which separates the two branches 62 and 63 delimiting this groove is, in the non-use position, slightly less than the tube diameter 140.

 Thus, because of the relative elasticity of the branches 62 and 63, it is possible to position the element 6 by forcibly engaging the latter on the tube 140. In addition, it is provided on the internal faces of these branches, bosses 64 and 65 intended to avoid inadvertent separation of the jumper 6 relative to the tube 140.

 In an alternative embodiment, the plastic material jumper can be replaced by a metallic element, the groove 60 of which is welded to the spar 30. The second groove 61 has a diameter compatible with that of the tube 140. There are then known means for fix the throat to the tube.

 A pair of similar jumpers is naturally provided on the other stretcher spar 30 ', intended to cooperate with the zone 4 of the parts 10, 10'.

 All of these jumpers can advantageously play the role of legs for the stretcher, when the latter is used independently of the device according to the invention.

 The operation of the device is then as follows. The device is brought close to the support on which the person is stretched so that the stretcher is on the side thereof. It is then moved so as to tip it over the stretcher. The latter can then be moved.

 As a safety measure, means may be provided to keep the mutual spacing of the arms of the device constant. It may be an articulated part, for example of the compass type, the ends of which are integral with the arms; this compass is equipped with a locking system to immobilize it in a determined opening position.

Claims (11)

 1. Device for lifting and moving a helpless person or a person with reduced mobility from a lying or sitting position to a lying, sitting or standing position, of the type comprising two arms (1, 1 ′) connected to each other by an axis (12) in the manner of scissors and support members (2, 2 ') mounted on the substantially horizontal end portions (10, 10') of these arms, adapted to grip the person to be moved under the armpits and hold at least partially the thorax thereof, characterized in that said support members (2, 2 ') are pivotally mounted on said end portions (10, 10').  2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said support members (2, 2 ') consist of a cylindrical tube (20) fitted on the substantially horizontal end of the arms and a substantially planar plate (201 ) integral with said tube, which, in a determined position, is capable of being applied against the chest of the person to be moved.  3. Device according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that means are provided for immobilizing the support members in a determined angular position.  4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said tube (20) and said plate (201) are made of rigid material coated with a flexible material (202) which matches the shapes of the person.  5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the lower end of each arm is equipped with a stop (14).  6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the stop is integral with a tube (140) movable in translation inside said arm so that, in the so-called retracted position, said stop is pressed against the member support (2, 2 ') and, in the so-called extended position, the stop is at a distance (e) from the support member, thus revealing the free tube (140) between them.  7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that means are provided for immobilizing the tube (140) integral with the stop (14) in a determined position.  8. Device according to one of claims 6 and 7, characterized in that it is adapted to receive, when said stops (14, 14 ') are in the extended position, the side members (30, 30') of a stretcher (3), which extend perpendicular to the main axis of the substantially horizontal parts (10, 10 ′) of said arms, said beams resting one on the tubes (140) and the other on said parts (10 , 10 '), in a zone (4) located beyond the support members (2, 2').  9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that said beams (30, 30 ') bear on said arms by means of jumpers (6) integral with the beams (30, 30'), these jumpers having a base whose shape is complementary to that of the arms.  10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that said jumpers are fixed to said arms by force fitting or by means of fixing means.  11. Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that means are provided to keep the spacing between the arms constant (1, 1 ').