GB2275604A

GB2275604A - Personal hoist support

Info

Publication number: GB2275604A
Application number: GB9304207A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Raymond John Holden
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-03-02
Filing date: 1993-03-02
Publication date: 1994-09-07
Anticipated expiration: 2013-03-02
Also published as: GB9304207D0; GB2275604B

Abstract

A hoist for lifting a user between a bed and a chair, in which the hoist mechanism (2) is supported within the framework (1) of a canopy (5) for a four-poster bed (4). Alternatively the support may be part of a canopy over a chair. <IMAGE>

Description

DESCRIPTION HOIST The present invention relates to a hoist, and in particular, but not exclusively, to hoists which enable a disabled or elderly person to be transferred between a bed and a chair, such as a wheelchair.

Hoists for transferring a disabled person between a bed and a chair are known, which have a track fixed to the ceiling along which the hoist can be moved to enable the transfer between the bed and the chair.

This has the drawback that because the track is fixed to the ceiling the bed cannot be moved to a different location in the room or to another room without resiting the track.

A hoist is known which overcomes this problem by using a portable "A" frame to support the hoist.

However, such frames take up a lot of space, are not pleasant to look at and provide a constant reminder to the user of their disability.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hoist which overcomes or alleviates the problems associated with the known hoists.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a hoist for lifting a person between at least two different positions, comprising a hoisting mechanism and a canopy, wherein the hoisting mechanism is supported by the canopy.

This has the advantage that the hoist is not attached to the ceiling and can be moved to a different location simply by moving the canopy supporting the hoisting mechanism. Furthermore, because the hoisting mechanism is supported by the canopy, it is less visible and therefore more aesthetically pleasing for the user.

Preferably, the hoisting mechanism has a hoist strap which is attachable to the person and can be raised or lowered by the hoisting mechanism between the at least two positions. This has the advantage that the user can be supported by the hoisting mechanism and can be raised between a lying and a standing or sitting position, i.e., the user can be moved vertically.

Preferably, the hoisting mechanism is moveable between at least two positions. This has the advantage that the user can also be moved in a horizontal plane.

In a preferred embodiment the canopy is a canopy of a bed and one of the at least two positions is a position on the bed and a second of the at least two positions is next to the bed. This has the advantage that the user can be lifted out of bed into a chair and back again.

In a further preferred embodiment, the canopy is the canopy of a four-poster bed. This has the advantage of a truly aesthetic environment. Curtains of the four-poster bed can be drawn around the user to provide a snug environment for sleeping. If the curtains are mosquito nets these can be used to prevent entry of insects to the bed environment.

Also, medical equipment such as drips can be supported by the four-poster bed, not only providing a support for the equipment, but also making it less conspicuous to the user.

By way of example only, specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig.1 is a perspective view of a hoist in position over a bed, constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; Fig.2 is an enlarged view of the hoist of Fig.1; and Fig.3 is a perspective view of the hoist constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the hoist comprises a four-poster framework 1, a hoisting mechanism 2 supported by the framework 1 and a hoist strap 3 extending from the hoisting mechanism 2. The free end of the hoist strap 3 is provided with a harness (not illustrated) which is placed around the user of the hoist for the purpose of transferring the user between a bed 4 and a chair (not illustrated).

The four-poster framework 1 comprises a canopy 5 which is held upright by four corner posts 6,7,8.9.

The canopy 5 supported by the posts 6,7,8,9 is placed over a bed 4 with a respective corner post 6,7,8,9 at each corner of the bed. The canopy 5 is a substantially rectangular frame comprising four elongate, coplanar frame members 10,11,12,13. The inner faces of the frame members 10,11 forming the longitudinal sides of the canopy 5 each have a longitudinal slot 14.

The hoisting mechanism 2 comprises a generally Ushaped frame member 15 and a hoist trolley 16 supported within the 'U' of the frame member 15. A pair of spaced supporting brackets 17 extend from the upper surface of the U-shaped frame member in the region of the bend of the 'U'. Each bracket 17 carries a roller 18 which engages in the longitudinal slot 14 of the frame member 10 of the canopy 5.

Likewise the upper surface of the free ends of the 'U' of the frame member 15 carry a corresponding respective bracket 17, each having a roller 18 which engages in the longitudinal slot 14 of the frame member 11 of the canopy 5. The hoist mechanism 2 is thus suspended from the canopy 5 and the frame members 10,11 of the canopy 5 form a track for the hoist frame member 15.

A continuous rope or chain (not illustrated) is entrained within the longitudinal slot 14 of the frame-member 11 and the respective posts 8,9. The rope or chain loops around each of the rollers 18 within the slot 14. An access point to the rope is provided through the post 8 (not illustrated). A handle or grip (not illustrated) is attached to the rope and extends through the access point. In order to move the longitudinal position of the hoisting mechanism 2 with respect to the bed the user operates the handle or grip and the rollers 18 of the frame member 15 are moved along in the track formed by the frame members 10,11 of the canopy 5. Alternatively, a motor can be provided for moving the hoisting mechanism 2 along the track, which is operable by a switching mechanism located near the user.Instead of the rope or chain pneumatic means can be provided to move the hoisting mechanism 2 along the track.

The inner sides of the arms off the 'U' of the frame-member 15 each have a longitudinal slot 19 running along its length. The longitudinal slots 19 form a running track 19 for the hoist trolley 16. The hoist trolley 16 is substantially rectangular and is provided with two pairs of rollers 20, one pair of rollers extending from one edge of the trolley 16 and the other pair extending from the opposite edge of the trolley 16. The rollers 20 engage in their respective longitudinal slots 19 of the frame member 15 forming the track 19, as illustrated in Fig.2. The rollers 20 and the track 19 together form a rack and pinion arrangement.

The trolley 16 carries a traverse motor 21, a hoist motor unit 22, a pulley limit switch 23, a controller 24 and a battery 25. The hoist strap 3 extends from the hoist motor unit 22 to the user in the bed. The limit switch 23 is a safety device which limits the movement of the hoist strap 3, such that the user is not raised too high by the hoist and also the movement of the trolley along the track 19, such that the trolley 16 does not extend too far beyond the end of the track and disengage from its mounting within the frame member 15. The traverse motor 21 drives the rollers 20 along the track 19 and hence the trolley 16. The controller 24 controls the operation of the traverse motor 21 and the hoist motor unit 22.

The battery 25 provides the necessary power to move the hoist strap 3 and the trolley 16. A power unit connected, for instance, to mains, can be provided under the bed or can be hidden within the canopy 5, which power unit charges the battery. The user has a switching unit (not illustrated) which is connected to the controller 24 by a line (not illustrated) for the purpose of operating the hoist.

The user operates the hoist as follows: The user lying in the bed operates the switching unit in order to call the hoist. As required, the hoist strap 3 can be moved down towards the user by operating the hoist motor unit 22; this lets down the strap 3. The harness is then placed around the user.

By switching the hoist motor unit into reverse, the hoist lifts the user from the bed. In order to move the user from the bed to a chair, the traverse motor 21 is switched on via the switching unit. The trolley 16 then moves along the track 19, so that the hoist strap carrying the user is moved to the side of the bed. The trolley continues until it protrudes beyond the track 19 and hence hangs over the side of the bed.

The user then operates the hoist motor unit 22 so as to once again lower the hoist strap 3 and lower himself/herself into a chair. The harness is then removed from the user. The user can move between the chair and bed simply by reversing the operation.

In Fig.3 a plan view of a second embodiment of the hoisting mechanism is illustrated. Unlike the previous embodiment, the hoisting mechanism of the second embodiment does not require tracks 14 in the frame members 10,11 of the canopy 5. The hoisting mechanism of the second embodiment comprises a hoist trolley 26, a beam 27 along which the trolley 26 is moveable, and a pivot 28. The hoisting mechanism is secured to and supported by the canopy 5 at its pivot point 28 by, for example, bolting the hoisting mechanism to the canopy 5 with the pivot pin 29; the hoisting mechanism is, as before, thereby supported above the bed.

A swing motor 30 moves the beam 27 and consequently the hoist trolley 26 about the pivot 28 in the direction of the double-headed arrow A over the bed. The trolley 26 has a traverse motor 31, a hoist motor 32, a limit switch 33, a controller 34 and a battery 35. The trolley 26 has a through bore 36 through which the beam 27 extends. The beam 27 has a pair of co-planar longitudinal slots forming a running track 38 for the trolley 26. The traverse motor 31 drives the trolley 26 along the beam 27 in the track 38. For this purpose the traverse motor 31 drives rollers 39 which extend from the surface bore 36 of the trolley 26 and engage in the track 38. The track 38 and rollers 39 form a rack-and-pinion mechanism.

The hoist strap 3 is connected at one end to the hoist motor 32 and extends below the trolley 26 to the bed below. As before, the free end of the hoist strap 3 has a harness for attaching the strap to the user.

The limit switch 33 limits the extent of movement of the hoist strap 3 and is a safety switch ensuring the hoist strap does not raise the user too high. The controller 34 controls the operation of the traverse motor 31 and hoist motor 32. For this purpose a switching unit, not illustrated, is located by the user. The switching unit can be connected to the trolley 26 by leads, not illustrated, or can be a remote-control style unit for sending instructions to the controller. The battery 35 provides the necessary power to move the hoist strap 3 and the trolley 26. A power unit connected, for instance, to mains, can be provided under the bed or can be hidden within the canopy 5 which power unit is connected to the battery for the purpose of charging the battery.

The user operates the hoist as follows: The user lying in the bed operates the switching unit in order to call the hoist. As required, the swing motor 30 and the traverse motor 31 can be operated to locate the trolley 26 over the user and then the hoist strap 3 is lowered towards the user by operating the hoist motor unit 32. The harness is then placed around the user. The hoist motor unit 32 is then switched to reverse and the hoist lifts the user from the bed. In order to move the user from the bed to a chair, the swing motor 30 is switched on via the switching unit. The beam 27 is rotated over the edge of the bed. The traverse motor is then operated by the switching unit to move the trolley 26 along the beam 27 away from the pivot 28. The user supported beneath the trolley 26 by the hoist strap 3 is lifted over the edge of the bed.The traverse motor 31 is stopped via the switching unit once the user is suspended over a chair. By once again operating the switching unit, the hoist strap 3 is lowered and the user is lowered into the chair where the harness can be removed. The user can move between the chair and the bed simply by reversing the operation.

The framework can be weighted for balance and have braked wheels (not illustrated) for facilitating its movement to a different location.

The framework can be provided with curtains 40 and pelmet 41 as illustrated in Fig.1. The curtains 40 can be drawn around the bed to enclose the user.

The curtains 40 can be made from mosquito nets to prevent the entry of insects into the bed area.

In order that the pelmet 41 does not interfere with the protrusion of the trolley 16 beyond the bed underneath the frame member 11 the pelmet is cut away in the region 42, as illustrated in Fig.1.

Alternatively, a flap is hinged to the framework 11 in the region 42 such that it hangs beneath the framework 11 next to the pelmet 41. As the trolley 16 moves out beyond the end of the frame member 15, the protruding end of the trolley 16 strikes and raises the flap.

The pelmet 41 is raised by the flap and the trolley 16 can extend beyond the bed unhindered by the pelmet.

When the trolley 16 is returned, the flap and the pelmet 41 return to their rest positions.

A pull-up trapeze or monkey pole can be hung from the canopy 5 to provide a means by which the user can raise himself/herself from the bed. Alternatively, the trapeze can be connected to the frame-member 15 and can be used as a means to propel the frame-member 15 along the track 14.

Drips or other such medical equipment can be hung from the framework.

The present invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiments. For example, the invention has been described with reference to a framework for a four-poster bed. However, the framework could have an integral bed. Also, the framework has been described in situ over a bed, but could equally well be located over a chair. The number of posts for the framework need not be restricted to four, but any number of posts can be used provided that they adequately support the canopy and hence the hoist. The hoist trolley 16,26 has been illustrated with two pairs of rollers 19,39. However, any number of rollers can be employed.

Claims

1. A hoist for lifting a person between at least two positions, comprising a hoisting mechanism and a canopy, wherein the hoisting mechanism is supported by the canopy.

2. A hoist as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hoisting mechanism has a hoist strap which is attachable to the person and can be raised or lowered by the hoisting mechanism between the at least two positions.

3. A hoist as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the hoisting mechanism is moveable between the at least two positions.

4. A hoist as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the canopy comprises a track along which the hoisting mechanism is moveable between the at least two positions.

5. A hoist as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the hoisting mechanism comprises a hoist trolley from which the or a hoist strap for supporting the person is suspended, and a hoist track wherein the hoist trolley is moveable along the hoist track between the at least two positions.

6. A hoist as claimed in claim 5, in which the hoisting mechanism is pivotable with respect to the canopy.

7. A hoist as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the canopy is the canopy of a bed and one of the at least two positions is a position on the bed, and a second of the at least two positions is a position next to the bed.

8. A hoist as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the canopy is the canopy of a four-poster bed.

9. A hoist for lifting a person between at least two positions, constructed and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.