GB2479738A

GB2479738A - Wheelchair stowage device

Info

Publication number: GB2479738A
Application number: GB1006532A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lindsay Dutton; Alistair Dutton
Original assignee: BUCKINGHAMSHIRE HOSPITALS NHS TRUST
Current assignee: BUCKINGHAMSHIRE HOSPITALS NHS TRUST
Priority date: 2010-04-19
Filing date: 2010-04-19
Publication date: 2011-10-26
Also published as: GB201006532D0

Abstract

A wheelchair stowage device 10, suitable for a vehicle, comprising an elongate member formed of a pair of parallel rails 12, 14, which is mounted substantially across the width of the inside of a vehicle and fastening to the internal roof handles (40, 42, figure 2). A hoist for attaching to, and lifting, at least a portion of a wheelchair, comprises a trolley 20 which is moveable along at least a portion of the length of the elongate member, and which is fitted with a pulley 28 over which runs a rope 30, fitted with a hook 32. In use the wheelchair is attached to the rope 30 by the hook 32, is lifted by pulling on the rope 30, and then the trolley 20 is slid along the rails 12, 14 thus moving the wheelchair into the car.

Description

Stowage Mechanism The invention relates to a wheelchair stowage device for a vehicle and a method of using that device.

Many long-term manual wheelchair users develop upper limb pain and this has considerable impact on their daily lives. This is often due to propelling the wheelchair, transferring in and out of it and lifting the wheelchair in and out of a vehicle, such as a car. This puts an intense load upon the muscles and joints of the upper trunk and extremities (Samuelsson K.A.M. et al Spinal Cord (2004), 42, pages 41-46). Consequentially this commonly results in the development of extreme musculoskeletal pain and damage, such as rotator cuff tears, in the wheelchair user which impacts on their personal, social and working life. Further, while the primary injury limits individual independence, any further functional limitation due to secondary complications could cause a marked decrease or even total loss, in remaining functional independence (Siilverkoild J. and Water R.L. Clin. Orthop. (1991) 272, pages 141-145).

The inventor has identified that there is a need for a simple, easy to use and easy to install device to assist in lifting and lowering a fixed frame wheelchair into a vehicle, such as a car and to stow it, for example, onto the passenger seat.

The first aspect of the invention provides a wheelchair stowage device for a vehicle comprising: (i) an elongate member adapted to be mounted substantially across the width of the inside of a vehicle; and (ii) a hoist for attaching to, and lifting, at least a portion of a wheelchair, wherein said hoist is moveable along at least a portion of the length of the elongate member.

That is the hoist is moveable substantially across the width of the vehicle, along the length of the elongate member when in use.

It was noted by the inventors that typically vehicles have internal handles for holding onto or pulling the driver or passenger out of the seat of a vehicle. These handles are typically mounted immediately above, for example, the door access to a seat within the vehicle, either attached directly to or adjacent to the roof of the vehicle on the side of the vehicle.

Accordingly, preferably the elongate member is adapted to be mounted at each end onto handles attached to, or adjacent to, the roof of the vehicle. Handles are typically directly opposite each other on the vehicle so that the elongate member is attached across the width of the vehicle, for example, from the passenger door of the vehicle to the driver's door of the vehicle. The device may be attached, for example, by means of hooks attached to each end of the elongate member, which hook onto each handle.

Alternative fittings, such as rail or rails may be provided on the vehicle instead of handles.

Alternatively, each end of the elongate member may simply be rested upon the handle at each side of the vehicle.

Preferably the device is removable from the vehicle, for example, to allow the device to be lifted off the handles of the vehicle and stowed, prior to driving the vehicle away.

The elongate member may be telescopically adjustable along the length of the member. For example, this may be used to allow the device to be adjusted to fit different vehicles or alternatively, to allow it to be compressed for easy storage. The telescoping elongate member may be biased towards an elongated position, for example, via a spring which pushes the elongate member to an extended position. This may be used to assist in correctly placing the elongate member across the width of the vehicle.

The hoist is typically moveable along at least one rail on the elongate member. For example, the elongate member may comprise a pair of elongate bars or tubes running parallel to each other, which form a pair of rails along which the hoist is moveable. Alternatively, a monorail system utilising a single rail along which the hoist moves, may be provided.

The hoist typically comprises a trolley which is moveable along the elongate member. The trolley may be provided with, for example, one or more wheels which run along the rails.

In an alternative arrangement the elongate member may be in the form of a board comprising a slot. The hoist is mounted above the slot with a rope or cord passing through the slot to the user and the wheelchair. The hoist runs substantially along the length of the elongate member, in use, across the width of the vehicle.

The hoist may be electrically operated.

Preferably the hoist comprises a pulley and a cord or rope passed over the pulley, wherein in use one end of the cord or rope is attached to at least a portion of the wheelchair, such as the frame of the wheelchair, and the other end of the rope or cord is pulled by a user to raise a portion of the wheelchair. This provides a simplified, cheaper device.

The hoist may comprise a releasable ratchet mechanism to allow the user to release the rope or cord once the wheelchair has been pulled up into a raised position.

Typically the elongate member is made of a lightweight material, such as aluminium. Most preferably the elongate member comprises a pair of parallel tubes separated from each other by two or more spreaders which keep the tubes apart. The tubes may each be telescopically collapsible to reduce the length of the elongate member.

The invention also comprises a vehicle comprising mounted thereon a device according to the invention. The vehicle may be a car, minibus or bus.

The hoist may be manually moveable along the elongate member.

A further aspect of the invention provides a method of moving at least a portion of a wheelchair into a vehicle, the vehicle comprising an open door having mounted within the vehicle a device according to the invention, comprising moving the wheelchair adjacent to the door, attaching the hoist to at least a portion of the wheelchair, raising the wheelchair with the hoist and moving the hoist along the elongate member, carrying the wheelchair into the interior of the vehicle. The wheelchair may be lowered, for example, onto a seat. The wheelchair may be the whole wheelchair or alternatively, for example, the frame of the wheelchair which has had one or more wheels removed from it.

The process may be reversed to remove a wheelchair from the vehicle.

The wheelchair stowage device will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the following figures: Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of the stowage device according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of the device mounted in situ in an automobile.

The stowage device 10 comprises an elongate member comprising a pair of rails 12, 14 which are parallel to one another. Typically the rails are made of aluminium tubing. The rails are held apart by a spreader bar 16, 18 at each end.

Mounted on the rails 12, 14 is a trolley, 20. The trolley 20 comprises four wheels which rest upon the rails 12, 14. A bar 24 is attached to the trolley 20 and holds the trolley 20 onto the rails 12, 14. The trolley is moveable along the rails in the direction indicated by arrows 26.

The trolley comprises a pulley 28 with a cord or rope 30, for example made of nylon, passing over the pulley 28. One end of the pulley comprises a hook, 32, which may be attached to the fixed frame of a wheelchair. The other end may be moveable by the user in the direction of the arrow marked "lift". This allows a wheelchair attached to the hook to be lifted towards the trolley 20.

In use, the device 10 is rested on car roof handles at ends 34, 36. Typically the handles are mounted above the doors of a vehicle at opposite sides of the vehicle, so that the device extends substantially across the width of the inside of the vehicle.

In use, a user on the wheelchair positions the wheelchair adjacent to the open door of a vehicle. The user slides across from the wheelchair into the seat of the vehicle. The hook 32 is attached to the wheelchair. The wheelchair may be previously had, for example, a pair of larger wheels removed from the wheelchair and placed into the vehicle by the user. The user pulls in the direction of the arrow, causing the wheelchair to lift. The trolley 20 is moved by the user along the rails 12, 14 so that the wheelchair moves across to an adjacent seat. The wheelchair is then lowered via the rope or cord 30 onto the seat.

The device may then be removed and stowed. In order to assist the stowage of the device the rails may be telescopically collapsible 38 to allow the length of the device to be shortened and allow the easy removal of the device to allow the driver to move off with the vehicle.

To place the wheelchair outside the vehicle the stowage device 10 is reassembled in place in the vehicle, the hook 32 is attached to a wheelchair and the process is reversed to place the wheelchair outside of the vehicle.

Alternative embodiments using, for example, a single rail or hooks to attach the ends 34, 36 onto the handles of a vehicle may also be provided.

Figure 2 shows the device 10, mounted in place on roof handles 40, 42. The driver's door (44) and windscreen (46) are indicated.

Claims

Claims 1. A wheelchair storage device for a vehicle comprising: (i) an elongate member adapted to be mounted substantially across the width of the inside of a vehicle; and (ii) a hoist for attaching to, and lifting, at least a portion of a wheelchair, wherein said hoist is moveable along at least a portion of the length of the elongate member.
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the elongate member is adapted to be mounted at each end onto handles attached to, or adjacent to, the roof of the vehicle.
3. A device according to claims 1 or 2, which is telescopically adjustable along the length of the elongate member.
4. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the hoist is moveable along at least one rail on the elongate member.
5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the elongate member comprises a pair of elongate bars or tubes which form a pair of rails along which the hoist is moveable.
6. A device according to any preceding claim; wherein the hoist comprises a trolley which is moveable along the elongate member.
7. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the hoist comprises a pulley, a releasable ratchet mechanism and a cord or rope passed over the pulley, wherein in use one end of the cord or rope is attached at least a portion of the wheelchair and other of the rope or cord, is pulled by a user to raise the portion of the wheelchair.
8. A device according to any preceding claim which is removable from the vehicle.
9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the device is adapted to rest at each end of the elongate member upon a handle mounted on or adjacent to the roof of the vehicle.
10. A vehicle comprising mounted thereon a device according to any preceding claim.
11. A method of moving at least a portion of a wheelchair into a vehicle, the vehicle comprising an open door and having mounted within the vehicle a device according to claims I to 9, comprising moving the wheelchair adjacent to the door, attaching the hoist to at least a portion of the wheelchair, raising the wheelchair with the hoist, and moving the hoist along the elongate member, carrying the wheelchair into the interior of the vehicle.