GB2320486A

GB2320486A - Invalid lifting sling

Info

Publication number: GB2320486A
Application number: GB9626524A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Matthew J Smith
Original assignee: MEDIPOST Ltd
Current assignee: MEDIPOST Ltd
Priority date: 1996-12-20
Filing date: 1996-12-20
Publication date: 1998-06-24
Also published as: GB9626524D0

Abstract

A sling for lifting invalids has a flexible main body with upper 14 and lower 15 support portions having an upper 16 and lower edge 18 respectively. The upper portion in use supports the back of a user, the lower portion supports the legs and/or seat of the user. Attachment loops 22, 24 are attached adjacent to the upper and lower edges by which the sling is attachable to a suitable lifting apparatus. At least one attachment loop 22 comprises a strap whose ends are connected along a length (10, Figure 1) to the main body of the sling in such a way that the ends extend along the body of the sling in diverging directions. The tension in the sling is thereby distributed more evenly across the body of the sling making it more comfortable for the user. Preferably the sling also includes, a padded upper edge 17 which may also be detachable (51, Figure 5), a detachable stiffened (53, Figure 4) head support (50, Figure 4) and bridging webs across the attachment loops 25 that allow the sling to be attached to the lifting apparatus at different positions.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO SLINGS The present invention relates to slings of the kind used to lift and move bedridden or incapacitated persons particularly in a hospital environment.

Slings of the kind defined above generally comprise a main body of flexible padded fabric. The main body has a portion that supports the back of the user and a portion that supports the legs and/or seat of the user. The sling is attached to lifting apparatus by means of strap loops that are sewn to the fabric at corners of the main body. The ends of each loop overlie each other and are sewn together along a length of the strap to the main body of the sling (see inset to figure 1).

When the sling is loaded, the fabric is under tension along directions in line with the sewn lengths of the straps. By virtue of the positions of the strap loops the tension lines in the fabric pass along upper or lower edges of the sling and often cause them to be uncomfortable for the user as there is a tendency for the edges to cut into the legs, neck or under the arms of the user.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the aforesaid disadvantage.

According to the present invention there is provided a sling comprising a flexible main body having a back support portion with an upper edge that in use Supports an upper part of the body of a user and with a lower edge for leg and/or seat support, and loops adjacent the upper and lower edges by which the sling is attachable to lifting apparatus, wherein at least one loop comprises a strap having ends that are each connected along a length to the main body at adjacent spaced locations, the lengths extending in divergent directions.

By having the ends of the attachment loop connected in divergent directions tension in the sling from the loop is distributed in different directions thereby making the sling more comfortable for the user.

A secondary loop may be provided through which the attachment loop may be threaded.

The attachment loops are preferably connected below the upper edge of the sling thereby reducing the level of tension in the upper edge. In use the loops are below the patient's armpits and therefore the tension under the armpits is significantly reduced.

Conveniently a restraining web is provided through which the attachment loop may be threaded so that tension in the loop is partially dispersed through the restraining web.

Preferably the lengths of loop are sewn to the main body of the sling.

In a preferred ,embodiment the upper edge is provided with a padded ridge which may be detachable from the remainder of the sling. The secondary loops referred to above may conveniently be connected at the ends of the padded ridge.

Alternatively the sling may have a detachable head support which may have an interior stiffening portion.

The attachment loops may conveniently have bridging webs that permit the attachment loops to be secured to the lifting apparatus at different heights.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a rear view of a first embodiment of the present invention, the inset showing a strap connection configuration of the prior art; Figure 2 is a rear view of a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a rear view of a third embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 is a view of part the present invention showing a detachable head support; Figure 5 is a view of part of the present invention showing a detachable neck roll; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of a sling according to the present invention in use.

Referring now to the drawings, figure 1 shows a sling designed specifically for a leg amputee. It comprises front and rear fabric panels 1,2 stitched together at their edges and filled with padded material. The sling has approximately straight upper and lower edges 3,4 and side edges 5 that are arcuately cut-away so as to leave side extending flaps 6 at each corner.

The sling has an upper portion 7a that supports the back of a user and a lower portion 7b on which the user sits and which has à cut-out commode aperture 8.

At each corner flap 6 there is attached a loop 9 formed from strapping or webbing by which the sling may be attached to lifting equipment (not shown). The two ends 10 of each loop 9 are sewn to the fabric 1,2 along a short length at spaced adjacent locations, the lengths being secured so that they are divergent.

In the embodiment shown the loops 9 are threaded through a small retaining web 11 that is sewn at each of its ends 12 to the fabric 1,2. If desired the loops 9 may be withdrawn from the retaining webs 11 so that their full lengths may be used.

The sling has a central handle 13 of webbed material sewn to the rear panel 2 of fabric.

In use the patient is seated over the commode aperture 8 and the upper edge 3 is flexed around the patient's back and under the arms.

Figure 2 shows a sling designed for general use comprising an upper back support portion 14 and a lower seat portion 15. An upper edge 16 of the back support portion 14 has a padded ridge 17 comprising a roll of cushioning material (e.g. foam) sewn into the fabric and a lower edge 18 of the seat portion 15 is arcuately cut-away to form spaced depending flaps 19 at each side. The sling is relatively wide so that the cut-away portion provides for an enlarged commode area 20. At each end of the padded ridge 17 there are sewn small tensioning loops 21 of webbing and below the each of these there is a large attachment loop 22 by which the sling may be attached to lifting apparatus (not shown). The attachment loops 22 are of the same design as their equivalents described in relation to figure 1 and will not be described any further. The attachment loops 22 may be threaded through the tensioning loops 21 if required so as to increase tension along the padded ridge 17 when the sling is in use.

The sling is provided with a plurality of handles 23 to enable the sling to be moved both before and after the patient is in position in the sling.

Sewn to the ends of each of the depending flaps 19 is an elongate loop 24 of strapping. Within the elongate loop 24 there are sewn a plurality of spaced webs 25 bridging the interior of the loop 24 (see inset to figure 2). The webs 25 provide alternative positions from which the elongate loop 24 may be hung from the lifting equipment. This loop design therefore allows the sling to be adjusted in height.

In use, the patient is seated on the lower seat portion 15 of the sling with the depending flaps 19 passing under the patient's legs. Depending on the size of the sling and the patient the padded ridge 17 passes around the upper back and under the arms of the patient or around his/her neck and then the sling is attached to the lifting apparatus by means of the elongate loops 24 on the leg flaps 19 and attachment loops 22 (which may optionally be threaded through the tensioning loops 21) adjacent the padded ridge 17.

Figure 3 shows a toileting sling that comprises a narrow back support portion 30 and depending spaced leg supports 31. The upper edge 32 of the back support portion 30 has a padded ridge 33 of cushioning material (e.g. foam) sewn into the sling fabric. Adjacent each end of the cushion padded ridge 33 there is secured an attachment loop 34 of the kind described in relation to figure 1. In this embodiment the attachment loops 34 are shown in figure 3 as threaded through retaining webs 35 as in the design of figure 1.

At the end of each of the leg supports 31 there is attached an elongate loop 36 of the kind described in relation to figure 2. The rear of the back support portion 30 has a central handle 37 and the front has a waist belt 38 (shown partially hidden) comprising two strips of fabric 39,40 that may be secured to one another by means of a releasable fastener such as VELCRO ( Registered Trade Mark) or the like.

In use the back support portion 30 is formed around the back of the patient with the padded ridge 33 passing under his/her arms, the waist belt 38 secured, the leg supports 31 passed under the patient's legs and the elongate and attachment loops 36, 34 connected to the lifting apparatus (not shown).

Figures 4 and 5 show that the upper edge of the back portion of any of the embodiments described may have a detachable head support 50 (figure 4) or neck support roll 51 (figure 5). The pieces are detachable by means of a zip 52.

The head support 50 is fitted with an interior pocket 53 (as represented by the dotted line in figure 4) that is designed to receive a stiffening material so that the head support is maintained in an upright position in use.

Figure 6 shows the sling of figure 2 in use. The padded ridge 17 passes around the back of the neck of the patient and the attachment loops 22 are secured to a hook 55 (more than one may be provided) of the lifting apparatus. The leg flaps 19 pass under the patient's legs and the ends are secured to the lifting apparatus by means of the elongate straps 24. In other embodiments the padded ridge 17 may pass around the upper back and under the arms of the patient.

The divergent ends of the attachment loops of each embodiment act to distribute the tension in the fabric evenly across the shoulders and back of the patient, making the sling more comfortable for the patient. In all the embodiments the loops are sewn below the upper edge of the back portion so that the tension along this edge is significantly reduced. This is of particular importance if no padding is provided at the upper edge of the back portion.

In the embodiment of figure 2, if the attachment loops 22 are threaded through the tension loops 21 this has the effect of increasing the tension along the padded ridge thereby making the sling less uncomfortable in other regions where there is less padding.

In the embodiments of figures 1 and 3 if the attachment loops are threaded through the retaining webs some of the tension in the attachment loops is dispersed through the retaining webs thereby making the sling more comfortable.

It will be appreciated that numerous modifications to the above described design may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the attachment loops may have additional webs to provide height adjustment in the same way as the elongate loops.

Claims

1. A sling comprising a flexible main body having a back support portion with an upper edge that in use supports an upper part of the body of a user and with a lower edge for leg and/or seat support, and attachment loops adjacent the upper and lower edges by which the sling is attachable to lifting apparatus, wherein at least one attachment loop comprises a strap having ends that are each connected along a length to the main body at adjacent spaced locations, the lengths extending in divergent directions.

2. A sling according to claim 1, wherein there is provided a secondary loop through which the attachment loop may be threaded.

3. A sling according to claim I or 2, wherein the attachment loops are connected below the upper edge of the sling.

4. A sling according to claim 1, wherein there is provided a restraining web through which the attachment loop may be threaded.

5. A sling according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the lengths of loop are sewn to the main body of the sling.

6. A sling according to any preceding claim, wherein the upper edge is provided with a padded ridge.

7. A sling according to claim 6, wherein the padded ridge is detachable from the remainder of the sling.

8 A sling according to claim 7 or 8 when dependent from claim 2, wherein the secondary loops are at the ends of the padded ridge.

9. A sling according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein there is provided a detachable head support.

10. A sling according to claim 8, wherein the head support has an interior stiffening portion.

11. A sling according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the attachment loops have bridging webs that permit the attachment loops to be secured to the lifting apparatus at different positions.

12. A sling substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figures 1, 2 and 6, 3, 4 or 5 of the accompanying drawings.