GB2177063A

GB2177063A - Invalid hoists

Info

Publication number: GB2177063A
Application number: GB08614032A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Richard James
Original assignee: James Industries Ltd
Current assignee: James Industries Ltd
Priority date: 1985-06-25
Filing date: 1986-06-10
Publication date: 1987-01-14
Also published as: GB2177063B; GB8614032D0; DE3617914A1; NL8601554A; DE3617914C2; GB8516022D0

Abstract

An invalid hoist comprises a mobile chassis 32 with a footplate 35 on which the feet of a patient are placed during transport whilst supported by the hoist. A foot retaining member 30 extends laterally of the chassis 32 between pivotally mounted sidearms 31, and is movable from a retracted position below foot level, (as shown), to a raised operative position in which it extends behind the heels of the patient. The member 30 is urged to the retracted position by gravity and is movable by hand to the operative position by means of an elastic cord 36 connected to one of the side arms 31. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Invalid hoists The invention relates to invalid hoists and in particular to hoists which have a mobile chassis and footrests or a footplate for the feet of a patient supported by the hoist.

In our co-pending Patent Application No 84 13661 (Publication GB 2 140 773 A) we have disclosed hoists of this character operative to raise a patient from a sitting to a substantially standing position, in which the feet of the so-raised patient are positioned on footrests or a footplate. The raised patient can be transported in the supported raised position, for example to and from a toilet.

There is a risk of the patient, particularly if mentally disturbed, removing one foot from the corresponding footrest or footplate and having it trapped therebeneath whilst being transported.

This is particularly so when the footrests or footplates are at a low level to allow access below the footrests of a wheelchair from which the seated patient is to be raised.

The object of the invention is to provide an arrangement which substantially overcomes the foregoing risk.

According to the invention an invalid hoist comprises a mobile chassis and footrests or a footplate on which the feet of a patient are placed whilst being transported supported by the hoist, and foot retaining means adapted to extend behind the heels of the patient during such transport.

The foot retaining means may comprise a strap or like member which can be fitted in position after the feet of the patient have been correctly positioned. However, it preferably comprises a rigid member which is permanently attached to and extends laterally of the hoist chassis, and which is movable from a retracted position below foot level to a raised operative position prior to transport of the patient. It may comprise a retaining member which extends across the chassis between side arms which are pivotally mounted for movement between said retracted and operative positions.

The side arms may be retained in either of said positions by an over-centre spring and one of the side arms may be extended to provide a foot-oper ated lever. The retaining member may be provided by the central limb of a length of metal rod or strip bent to a U-shaped configuration, with the side limbs thereof providing said pivotally mounted side arms.

Alternatively, hand operation of the retaining member may be employed in which case it is con veniently urged to the retracted position by gravity.

Hand operation may be by way of a cord or the like connected to one of said side arms, and an elastic cord may be employed which holds the re taining member in the operative position resiliently under tension in the elastic cord.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings which il lustrate, by way of example, two preferred embod iments of the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a hoist embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a rear perspective detail view of a larger scale; Figures 3 and 4 are perspective detail views illustrating foot retaining means of a second embodiment, respectively showing retracted and operative positions thereof; and Figures 5 and 6 are perspective detail views illustrating braking means of the second embodiment, respectively showing inoperative and operative conditions thereof.

The hoist illustrated in Figure 1 is basically of a general form disclosed in the aforesaid Publication GB 2 140 773 A and has a mobile chassis 1 supporting a lifting column 2 from which a pivotal lifting arm 3 projects. An operating mechanism 4 mounted at the top of the column 2 has an operating lever 5, a single stroke of which from an upwardly-directed vertical position to a downwardlydirected vertical position moves the lifting arm 3 through its full operative lifting angle.A padded sling 6 attached to the arm 3 is in use passed around the back of a seated patient beneath the arms thereof after which sling attachment cords 7 are pulled tight, whereupon movement of the arm 3 through said operative angle raises the seated patient to a substantially standing position with the feet of the patient resting on the footplate 8 of the chassis 1 and the knees of the patient resting against a padded abutment 9.

The footplate 8 extends laterally across the full width of the chassis below the column 2, and it is positioned close to the ground so that it will pass underneath the footrests of a wheelchair in which the patient is initially seated. The chassis 1 has side arms 10 and 11 terminating at front castors 12, and these arms are pivotal to an increased width condition (which is illustrated) so as to fit around all normal wheelchairs. Levers 13 control movement of the arms 10 and 11 between the increased width positions and an inboard position (shown in broken lines) which provides a narrower chassis for patient transfer purposes.

In accordance with the invention foot retaining means are provided to retain the feet of the suspended patient on the footplate 8 during transport.

These means comprise a U-shaped length of metal rod 14 with a central limb 15 having a protective resilient sleeve and side limbs 16 and 17 pivotally mounted on the chassis at 18 and 19. The sleeved limb 15 provides a foot retaining member movabie between a retracted position shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, when it is positioned below the foot supporting surface of the footplate 8, and an operative raised position shown in broken lines in Figure 2 positioned behind the heels of the patient. The retracted and operative positions are defined, respectively, by engagement of the side limbs 16 and 17 with the footplate 8 and by engagement of the side limb 16 with a stop 21. The retaining member 15 is retained in either of said positions by an over-centre spring 22 which is connected to the arm 16 at 23 and anchored to the chassis at 24.

The side limb 16 is extended rearwardly as a foot-operated lever 25 with an inturned end 26 which can be engaged by the foot of an attendant to depress the lever 25, thus raising the member 15 to the operative retaining position, or to raise the lever 25 to move the member 15 to the lower retracted position.

Apart from the modifications illustrated in Figures 3 to 6 the hoist of the second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment which has been described. These modifications relate to the foot retaining means illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, and the provision of floor-engaging braking means illustrated in Figures 5 and 6.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, a foot retaining member again comprises a length of rigid metal rod 30 which is fixed between side arms such as 31 pivotally mounted on the chassis 32 at 33. Only one side of the arrangement is illustrated, and again the side arm 31 engages a stop 34 to define the raised operative position of the foot retaining member 30 illustrated in Figure 4. The member 30 is urged to the resting or lower retracted position, below the foot suppprting surface of the footrest 35, illustrated in Figure 3.

In this case the foot retaining means are hand operated by means of an elastic cord 36 which at the lower end is attached to the side arm 31 at 37, and which terminates in a handgrip knob 38. The cord 36 passes through a stirrup loop 39 welded to the chassis 32 and, at an intermediate position along its length, carries a clamped-on ferrule 40.

The loop 39 is of keyhold shape, having a wider section through which the ferrule 40 can pass and a reduced width section, adjacent the chassis mounting, through which the ferrule 40 cannot pass. The knob 38 is considerably larger than the ferrule 40 and cannot pass through the loop 39.

With the knob 38 resting on the loop 39 (see Figure 3) the cord 36 is lightly tensioned to hold the foot retaining member in the lower retracted position against gravity. When the cord is tensioned by pulling on the knob 38 to pull the ferrule 40 through the loop 39 the foot retaining member is raised to the operative position, and the side arm 31 held firmly but resiliently against the stop 34.

The ferrule 40 can now be moved rearwardly so that it rests on the reduced width section of the loop 39 so that it is self retaining to maintain the tension in the cord 36 (see Figure 4) and hold the foot retaining member 30 in the operative position.

The arrangement has the advantage that if a disabled patient places a foot on the raised member 30 it yields against the tension in the cord 36, but automatically returns to the operative position when the foot pressure is removed.

The braking means shown in Figures 5 and 6 are an alternative to the use of braked castors, and these figures show the opposite side of the chassis 32 to that illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. At each side a strip 50 of an elastic material having suitable frictional properties is fixed below the chassis 32 and it is anchored at each end, as by screws or rivets 51, so that it normally extends clear of the ground. When braking is required a jockey wheel 52 mounted between pivotal support arms 53 is engaged with each strip 50 to extend it to the braking position shown in Figure 6 in which it engages the ground to brake the chassis 32. At one side the corresponding jockey wheel 52 is operated by a foot pedal 54 through a toggle linkage, which goes over centre to lock the wheel 52 in the braking position. An operating rod 55 links the support arms 53 on said one side to the corresponding support arms at the other side of the chassis 32, and the braking is released by flipping up the pedal 54 by means of the foot. This "breaks" the toggle and the strips 50 return to their normal position, illustrated in Figure 5, under the natural resilience of the material used. The material is conveniently polyurethane, and its resilience provides a return spring force for the brake mechanism.

Claims

1. An invalid hoist comprising a mobile chassis with footrests or a footplate on which the feet of a patient are placed during transport whilst supported by the hoist, and foot retaining means adapted to extend behind the heels of the patient during such transport.

2. An invalid hoist according to claim 1, wherein the foot retaining means comprise a strap or like member adapted to be fitted in position extending across the chassis after the feet of the patient have been positioned on the footrests or footplate.

3. An invalid hoist according to claim 1, wherein the foot retaining means comprise a rigid member which is permanently attached to and extends laterally of said chassis, and which is movable from a retracted position below foot level to a raised operative position after the feet of the patient have been positioned on the footrests or footplate.

4. An invalid hoist according to claim 3, wherein said rigid member extends across the chassis between supporting side arms which are pivotally mounted on the chassis for movement between said retracted and operative positions.

5. An invalid hoist according to claim 4, wherein the retaining member is retained in either of said positions by an over-centre spring associated with one of the supporting side arms.

6. An invalid hoist according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the retaining member is provided by the central limb of a length of metal rod or strip bent to a U-shaped configuration, with the side limbs thereof providing said pivotally mounted side arms.

7. An invalid hoist according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein one of the side arms is extended to provide a foot-operated lever.

8. An invalid hoist according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein hand operation of the retaining member is employed and the retaining member is urged to the retracted position by gravity:

9. An invalid hoist according to claim 4 and claim 8, wherein hand operation is by way of a cord or the like connected to one of said side arms.

10. An invalid hoist according to claim 9, wherein said cord is an elastic cord operative to hold the retaining member in the operative position resiliently under tension in the elastic cord.

11. An invalid hoist according to claim 4 or claim 10, wherein the elastic cord is attached to one of said side arms and extends through an aperture with an increased width portion and a reduced width portion, the cord having a projection which can pass through the increased width portion to raise the foot retaining member and tension the cord but which can be restrained by the reduced width portion to hold the cord in the tensioned condition.

12. An invalid hoist according to claim 11, wherein said aperture is provided by a wire loop attached to the chassis.

13. An invalid hoist with foot retaining means constructed and arranged substantially as herein particularly described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, or Figures 3 to 6, of the accompanying drawings.