GB2432566A

GB2432566A - Personal lifting device

Info

Publication number: GB2432566A
Application number: GB0523963A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Raymond Dinham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-11-25
Filing date: 2005-11-25
Publication date: 2007-05-30
Also published as: GB0523963D0

Abstract

A lifting device for raising and lowering objects from approximately floor levels where the objects can be accessed by a seated user. The device comprises a movable platform 3 for supporting said objects, a guide mechanism 1 for guiding the platform 3 whilst it is being raised and lowered, a manually operated winding mechanism 10 for raising and lowering the platform 3 and a locking device or clutch mechanism (14, fig. 11) for locking the platform 3 against downward movement. The winding mechanism 10 includes a handle 4 which when pulled disengages clutch mechanism (14, fig. 11) thus allowing movement of the platform 3.

Description

--2432566 Lifting Devices This invention concerns lifting devices, for

example for lifting objects from floor level to levels where the objects can be accessed by seated users, for example users with limited upper torso mobility or users with lower limb stiffness or incapacity.

Many people have difficulty in reaching objects placed on the floor, for example pet food dishes.

According to the present invention there is provided a lifting device for raising and lowering objects from approximately floor level to levels where the objects can be accessed by a seated user, the device comprising a movable platform for supporting said objects, guide means for guiding the platform whilst it is raised and lowered, manually operated actuator means for raising and lowering the platform, and locking means for locking the platform against downward movement of the platform when the actuator means is not actuated.

The guide means preferably guides the platform for substantially vertical movement.

The platform is preferably connected to the actuator means by a flexible linkage, for example in the form of a cable or cord.

The actuator means preferably includes a rotatable drum on to which the flexible linkage can be wound or unwound when the platform is to be raised or lowered.

The actuator means preferably includes a crank handle for rotating the drum.

The locking means is preferably in the form of a clutch mechanism which is operable by the actuator means.

The clutch mechanism can include a projection on the actuator means for engaging an aperture in the guide means or it can include a projection on the guide means for engaging an aperture in the actuator means.

The actuator means and the guide means are preferably urged into locking engagement by spring means.

The clutch mechanism is preferably operable by pulling on a crank for raising and lowering the platform.

An embodiment of lifting device in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device in its lowered position; Fig. 2 corresponds to Fig. 1. with a cover of the device removed; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the device in its raised position; Fig. 4 corresponds to Fig. 3 with a cover of the device removed; Fig. 5 is a view to an enlarged scale of an upper portion of the device as shown in Fig. 2 with parts removed; Fig. 6 corresponds to Fig. 5 with further parts removed; Fig. 7 corresponds to Fig. 5 with the device in its raised position; Fig. 8 is a view to an enlarged scale of a lower portion of the device as shown in Fig. 2 with parts removed; Fig. 9 is a plan view of the device; Fig. 10 is a vertical section through the device; and Fig. 11 is a view to an enlarged scale of an upper region of the view as shown in Fig. 10.

The device shown in the drawings consists of a channel member 1, a slideable carriage 2 with a platform 3 hingedly attached thereto, an actuator handle 4 for raising and lowering the carriage 2, and a suspension cable 5 which raises and lowers the carriage 2 when the handle 4 is rotated.

A cover 6, which has been removed in Figs. 2 and 4, conceals the cable 5 but allows the carriage 2 to move up and down the channel member 1. This is achieved by the cover 6 being attached to the channel member 1 in upper 7 and lower 8 regions of the channel member 1, thereby leaving a slot 9 within which the carriage 2 can slide up and down the channel member 1.

A winder mechanism 10 for the device consists of the handle 4 which is connected to a crank 11 which is in turn connected to a drum 12 which is pivotal on a shaft 13 attached to the channel member 1. The cable 5 is attached to the drum 12, and rotation of the drum 12 on the shaft 13 using the handle 4 serves to raise and lower the platform 3 by winding the cable 5 onto or from the drum 12.

The drum 12 is provided with a spring loaded clutch mechanism 14 consisting of a spring 15 in a recess 16 in the drum 12 which urges the drum 12 away from the cover 6, and it also urges a pin 17 on the rear of the drum 4 towards a plurality of holes 18 in the channel member 1. When the pin 17 coincides with one of the holes 18 in the channel member 1, the pin 17 enters the hole 18, thereby preventing the drum 12 from rotating.

The clutch mechanism 14 is disengaged by pulling the handle 4 away from the cover 6, the pin 17 being pulled out of the hole 18 with which it was previously engaged. The handle 4 can then be rotated to raise or lower the platform 3, and when the platform 3 has reached its desired position relative to the floor, the handle 4 is allowed to move towards the cover 6. The weight of the platform 3 and any objects thereon will then act on the cable 5 which in turn will rotate the drum 12 until the pin 17 engages one of the holes 18, thereby locking the platform 3 in the resulting position.

The cable 5 can be wound onto the drum 12 in either sense, and so when the cable 5 has been unwound by rotating the handle 4 in one sense, and platform 3 has been lowered to its lowest position, continued rotation of the handle 4 in the same sense results in the platform 3 being raised instead of lowered. This enables a user to select whether to use clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation of the handle 4 to raise rather than lower the platform 3.

The platform 3 is pivotal relative to the carriage 2 on a shaft 19 mounted on the carriage 2. A further shaft 20 on the carriage 2 limits rotational movement of the platform 3 from the vertical to the horizontal.

The illustrated device is shown with spacers 21 for spacing the device from a wall (not shown) to which it is attached by screws 22.

Claims

Cia im 1. A lifting device for raising and lowering objects from

approximately floor level to levels where the objects can be accessed by a seated user, the device comprising a movable platform for supporting said objects, guide means for guiding the platform whilst it is raised and lowered, manually operated actuator means for raising and lowering the platform, and locking means for locking the platform against downward movement of the platform when the actuator means is not actuated.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the guide means guides the platform for substantially vertical movement.

3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the platform is connected to the actuator means by a flexible linkage.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the actuator means includes a rotatable drum on to which the flexible linkage is wound or unwound when the platform is raised or lowered.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein actuator means includes a crank handle for rotating the drum.

6. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the locking means comprises a clutch mechanism operable by the actuator means.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the clutch mechanism comprises a projection on the actuator means for engaging an aperture in the guide means.

8. A device according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein clutch mechanism comprises a projection on the guide means for engaging an aperture in the actuator means.

9. A device according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the actuator means and the guide means are urged into locking engagement by spring means.

10. A device according to any of claims 6 to 9, wherein the clutch mechanism is operable by pulling on a crank for raising and lowering the platform.

11. A lifting device for raising and lowering objects from approximately floor level to levels where the objects can be accessed by a seated user, the device being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.