GB2545166A

GB2545166A - Wheelchair lifting apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2545166A
Application number: GB1520844.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mcgilligan Martin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-11-26
Filing date: 2015-11-26
Publication date: 2017-06-14
Also published as: GB201520844D0

Abstract

Disclosed is a wheelchair lifting apparatus 2 for lifting a wheelchair 4. The lifting apparatus is locatable between two back pushing wheels 8 of a wheelchair, and comprises a wheeled chassis 20, one or more seating frame support pieces 22, an extendible lifting mechanism 24 located between the wheeled chassis and the one or more seating frame support pieces, and one or more releasable wheelchair locking attachments 26. The extendible lifting mechanism is movable between contracted and extended positions. The releasable wheelchair locking attachments may comprise one or more clasps, clamps and/or handles, to allow the wheelchair lifting apparatus to move with the wheelchair. The wheeled chassis may comprise at least two wheels, castors or rollers, which may be lockable. Alternatively, the wheeled chassis may comprise a rectangular frame with at least four caster wheels 28 at/near each corner of the frame. The extendible lifting mechanism may comprise one or more extendible arms to raise or lower the seating frame support pieces. The extendible lifting apparatus may further comprise a scissor mechanism with an actuator and one or more elongate arms. The lifting mechanism may comprise a motor and rechargeable battery.

Description

WHEELCHAIR LIFTING APPARATUS

The present invention relates to a wheelchair lifting apparatus for lifting a non-motorised wheelchair to allow the wheelchair user to reach higher locations.

Wheelchair users, by their very nature, are generally unable to reach heights accessible to standing or otherwise able-bodied people. In particular, reaching shelves or cupboards, etc. which are located at a height generally designed for access by standing persons, such as in a kitchen. Handheld mechanical arms or extension devices are known, but do not guarantee being able to connect with, grip and appropriately lift or transport an item in such a cupboard to the level of the wheelchair user.

Moreover, many such shelves and cupboards etc. have not been geographically positioned or located to suit wheelchair users, such that the wheelchair user is commonly required to awkwardly try and position themselves around other objects, such as low level cupboards to get as near as possible to a higher shelf or cupboard.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a wheelchair lifting apparatus able to provide the wheelchair user with easier access to such shelves and cupboards, but which is also easily manoeuvrable by the wheelchair user.

Thus, according to one aspect of the present invention, a wheelchair lifting apparatus for lifting a wheelchair having a seating frame, back pushing wheels and smaller front steering wheels, the wheelchair lifting apparatus locatable between the back pushing wheels, and comprising: - a wheeled chassis; - one or more seating frame support pieces; - an extendible lifting mechanism between the wheeled chassis and the one or more seating frame support pieces between a contracted position and an extended position; and - one or more releasable wheelchair locking attachments.

In this way, the wheelchair user can be lifted by the wheelchair lifting apparatus located under the wheelchair seating frame to allow access to higher locations, with the wheelchair lifting apparatus also being attachable to the wheelchair to allow a combined better freedom of use, position and movement.

The general non-motorised wheelchair design comprises a seating frame comprising a seat, a seat back, and typically one or more footrests, generally arranged on a supporting frame, with two back pushing wheels on a first axle passing under the seat, and usable by the user to achieve motion, and two smaller independent front steering wheels generally located at or near the feet rests.

Generally, there is space under the seat of the wheelchair and between the two back pushing wheels which is not used, except possibly for motors to create motorised wheelchairs. This space will vary from chair to chair, and the lifting apparatus can be adapted to suit the space and give maximum stability. For example, a children’s chair will have a more compact version of the lifting apparatus.

The wheelchair lifting apparatus comprises a wheel chassis in order to be moveable in its own right, as well as to support the weight of the apparatus when attached to a wheelchair. The wheeled nature of the chassis may be provided by one or more, generally at least two, wheels, castors, rollers, etc. preferably in a stable arrangement on or around the wheel chassis. These can be lockable. An automated braking mechanism could also be included.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the wheel chassis comprises a rectangular frame having at least four castor wheels, one at or near each corner of the rectangular frame.

The wheelchair lifting apparatus also comprises one or more seating frame support pieces. Such support piece or pieces may comprise one or more bars, frames or frame pieces, able to engage with the seating frame of the wheel chair, and able to fully support the seating frame (and therefore user) during lifting of the wheelchair when the back pushing wheels and front steering wheels of the wheelchair no longer engage with the ground surface, such as a floor.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the seating frame support pieces form a rectangular frame, optionally having one or more intermediate cross members, able to engage at least four different parts of the seating frame beyond the normal or expected location of a user on the seating frame.

The wheelchair lifting apparatus of the present invention also comprises an extendable lifting mechanism between the wheeled chassis and the one or more seating frame support pieces. The extendable lifting mechanism may comprise any shape, form or design, generally including one or more motors to provide power to achieve extension and retraction of the lifting mechanism, and one or more extendable arms or devices, such as actuators, able to provide movement of the one or more seating frame support pieces away from and towards the wheeled chassis.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the extendable lifting mechanism comprises a scissor mechanism, having an actuator with a first end secured to a first part of the wheeled chassis and a second end secured to a first part of the seating frame support pieces, and one or more elongate arms having one end attachable to a second and opposite part of the wheeled chassis and another end attachable to a second and opposite part of the one or more seating frame support pieces, and wherein the actuator and elongate arms are journalled on a common transverse axle located between the wheeled chassis and the one or more lifting frame support pieces, which axle provides coordinated movement of the actuator and elongate arms in use.

The wheelchair lifting apparatus of the present invention also comprises one or more releasable wheelchair locking attachments. Each locking attachment is intended to allow releasable but locking engagement by the wheelchair user, preferably alone, of the wheelchair lifting apparatus with the wheelchair, so that the wheelchair user. The locking attachment(s) allow the wheelchair lifting apparatus to be moved in coordination with moving of the wheelchair, and thereby allow the wheelchair user to locate or relocate the wheelchair lifting apparatus as part of wheelchair positioning. In this way, the wheelchair lifting apparatus is moveable with the wheelchair, such that the wheelchair user does not need to separately move, transport or otherwise relocate the wheelchair lifting apparatus to and from a storage location, and to and from a use location, and when the chair lifting apparatus is not required.

More generally, the wheelchair lifting apparatus can be stored in a suitable storage location, and retrieved by the wheelchair user when desired to be used, and then returned to the storage position. The effort required to move the wheelchair lifting apparatus to the position of intended use is therefore an inherent part of movement of the wheelchair by the user, rather than requiring any separate lifting, effort or other movement of the wheelchair lifting apparatus by the wheelchair user, (along with movement of the wheelchair itself).

The releasable wheelchair attachment may comprise one or more clasps, clamps, handles, etc., able to engage with one or more parts of the wheelchair so as to assist its coordinated movement with movement of the wheelchair.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the wheelchair apparatus is locatable between the back pushing wheels and underneath the seating frame, and is attachable at one or more locations around the wheelchair accessible to the wheelchair user using more or more of the releasable wheelchair locking attachments. One example of a suitable location is a bar or part of the frame at or near a rear facing part of the seating frame, which is accessible by the wheelchair user for engaging and releasing the wheelchair attachment.

Operation of the extendible lifting mechanism between a contracted position, suitable for attachment to and movement of the wheelchair lifting apparatus with the wheelchair, and an extended position, wherein the wheelchair is lifted to a position where at least some if not all of the back pushing wheels and smaller front steering wheels are separate from the floor, may be provided by any suitable power means. This may include one or more hand workable mechanisms by the user, but preferably includes one or more motors, generally electric motors, able to provide power to the extendable lifting mechanism. Motors suitably small enough to work with a wheelchair lifting apparatus are known in the art and may be charged by one or more rechargeable batteries in a manner known in the art.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the combination of wheelchair lifting apparatus as herein defined, and a wheelchair having a seating frame, back pushing wheels and smaller front steering wheels.

Optionally, the wheelchair is releasable from the wheel chair lifting apparatus as described above.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings on which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a wheelchair lifting apparatus and wheelchair according to one embodiment of the present invention in a contracted position;

Figure 2 is a front view of a wheelchair and an associated wheelchair lifting apparatus in an extended position;

Figure 3 is a rear view of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a rear view of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a side schematic view of the wheelchair lifting apparatus of the present invention in a contracted position, with a schematic wheelchair; and Figure 6 and 7 are opposite side views to Figure 5 of a wheelchair lifting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention in contracted and expanded positions respectively, with a schematic view of an attached wheelchair.

Referring to the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 show a wheelchair 4 on a support surface 5 such as a floor, having a seating frame 6, back pushing wheels 8 and two smaller front steering wheels 10. The wheelchair 4 is shown in relatively schematic form, and also includes a back rest 12 and a back wheel axle 14. Other parts of the wheelchair 4 are generally not shown in the figures.

Figures 1 and 2 also show a wheelchair lifting apparatus 2 comprises a wheeled chassis 20, a series of seating frame support pieces 22, an extendible lifting mechanism 24 between the wheeled chassis 20 and the seating frame support pieces 22, and part of a releasable wheelchair locking attachment 26.

The wheeled chassis 20 comprises a rectangular frame, generally a steel frame, formed from at least two side pieces and front and back pieces, having castor wheels 28 located at or near each corner of the wheel chassis 20 so as to provide ease of movement of the wheel lifting apparatus. The extendible lifting mechanism 24 comprises a central actuator 30 having one end connected to a first end or side of the wheel chassis 20, and another end connected to an opposite or second end or side of the seating frame support pieces 22. The actuator comprises a ram and piston arrangement, which is operable by a motor 32, generally an electric motor operable by one or more rechargeable batteries (not shown).

The other part of the extendible lifting mechanism comprises two elongate arms 34 (shown in Figure 2) having one end connected to the second end or side of the wheel chassis 20, and one end connected to an opposite of first end or side of the seating frame support pieces 22. Between the actuator 30 and the elongate arms 34 there is a common transverse axle 36 on which each of the actuator 30 and elongate arms 34 are journalled to achieve coordinated scissor movement thereinbetween.

In use, the wheelchair user is able to locate the wheelchair lifting apparatus 2 in the space between the back pushing wheels 8 and underneath the seating frame 6. The wheelchair lifting apparatus 2 is attachable to the wheelchair in a manner as show hereinafter, using the wheelchair locking attachment 26.

Once the user has located the wheelchair 4 in a suitable position, and ensured that there is secure attachment between the wheelchair lifting apparatus 2 and the wheelchair 4 through the use of one or more clasps, the wheelchair user can then operate the motor 32, for example by a key fob or ‘app’, or by direct control, such as a cable control, to activate the actuator 30 and extend the piston arm from its cylinder, such that the seating frame support pieces 22 are lifted or otherwise extended away from the wheel chassis 20, which is on a suitable support surface such as a floor. In this way, the wheelchair 4 and the user are lifted by the wheelchair lifting apparatus 2 as shown in Figure 2, to an extended or lifted position, depending upon operation of a motor 32 and actuator 30. The wheelchair user is still safely located in the wheelchair 4, but with the elevated position shown in Figure 2, the user is now able to reach a shelf or cupboard or the like located at a height generally unreachable by the wheelchair user when the wheelchair 4 is on the support surface 5. This gives the wheelchair user independence, to reach heights normally inaccessible to the wheelchair user without the assistance of another person, or from a mechanical instrument only usable from the wheelchair floor position.

Figures 3 and 4 show rear views of Figures 1 and 2 respectively. In particular, Figure 3 shown the releasable wheelchair attachment 26 attached to a suitable bar 40 located on the back of the backrest 12 of the wheelchair 4. Figure 4 shows the wheelchair 4 in an extended or elevated position in relation to Figure 3, as discussed above.

Figure 5 is a side schematic view of the wheelchair lifting apparatus 2 in more detail, and with some cross-sectional portions, to further illustrate the relationship and positioning of the example of the wheelchair lifting apparatus 2 and the wheelchair 4 shown. In particular, Figure 5 shows the wheeled chassis 20 in the form of a steel frame having castors 28, the seating frame support pieces 26 directly located under a wheelchair seat bar 42, which bar 42 also supports part of the wheelchair frame 6 and the axle 14 for the back wheels 8.

Figure 5 also shows the actuator 30 having a first end secured to a first part of the wheel chassis 20, being a forward part of the wheeled chassis in relation to the wheelchair 4, and a second end secured to a first part of the seating frame support pieces 26, generally being at a back position relative to the wheelchair 4. Figure 5 also shows the elongate arms 34 having one end attachable to a second end opposite part of the wheel chassis 20 compared to the actuator 30, and another end attachable to a second end opposite part of the seating frame support pieces 26. Figure 5 also particularly shows the common transverse axle 36 through which each of the elongate arms 34 and the actuator 30 are journalled, so as to provide coordinated movement of the actuated and elongated arms in use in the form of a scissor mechanism.

Figure 5 also shows the releasable wheelchair locking attachment 26 comprising an arm 44 extending from a rearward portion of the seating frame support pieces 22 to a releasable locking mechanism 46, generally comprising at least a U-shaped open bar 46 engaged with the bar 40 of the wheelchair, and a moveable clasp 50 able to engage over the bar 40 once the U-shaped bar 48 is engaged with the bar 40, in a manner shown in Figure 7. The engagement of the releasable clasp 50 with the U-shaped bar 48 secures and locks the wheelchair lifting apparatus 2 with the wheelchair 4, so that movement of the wheelchair 4 by the user in the normal or expected way, achieves coordinated movement of the wheelchair lifting apparatus 2 without further or different action by the wheelchair user.

Figure 6 shows an opposite view of the schematic wheelchair 4 shown in Figure 5, and the wheelchair lifting apparatus 2, without cross-sectional views, and with the wheelchair lifting apparatus 2 in a contracted position such that it is locatable under the seat of the wheelchair 4 whilst still allowing normal operation and movement of the wheelchair floor on the surface 5 but with the wheelchair lifting apparatus 2 supporting its own weight through the castors 28 also engaging the support surface 5.

Figure 7 shows the wheelchair 4 and wheelchair lifting apparatus 2 of Figure 6 in an extended or elevated position such that the back pushing wheels 8 and smaller front steering wheels 10 of the wheelchair 4 are now separate from the support surface 5 (not shown) to achieve an elevated position for the wheelchair user in the wheelchair 4 to reach and access heights otherwise unachievable.

The stability of the wheelchair lifting apparatus 2 in Figure 7 is achieved by the area of the lifting apparatus base, plus the fact that the user is lifted vertical, such that the user’s weight remains directly over the base.

The present invention allows the wheelchair user access to heights such as higher shelves or cupboards, otherwise not achievable, using a wheelchair lifting apparatus which is moveable and manoeuvrable with the wheelchair, without separate effort required. Thus in use, the wheelchair user can attach and lock the wheelchair lifting apparatus 2 to the wheelchair 4 from a suitable storage location, move the wheelchair 4 to the desired location, and then operate the wheelchair lifting apparatus to move from its contracted to its extended positions as shown in Figures 6 and 7, to allow the wheelchair user to access the height and reach, grip, lift etc. items from a height directly using their hands, rather than requiring an intermediate handheld extension devices or the like.

Claims

1. A wheelchair lifting apparatus for lifting a wheelchair having a seating frame, back pushing wheels and smaller front steering wheels, the wheelchair lifting apparatus locatable between the back pushing wheels, and comprising: - a wheeled chassis; - one or more seating frame support pieces; - an extendible lifting mechanism between the wheeled chassis and the one or more seating frame support pieces between a contracted position and an extended position; and - one or more releasable wheelchair locking attachments.

2. A wheelchair lifting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 for lifting a wheelchair further comprises a seating frame comprising a seat, a seat back, one or more footrests on a supporting frame, two back pushing wheels on a first axle passing under the seat, and two smaller independent front steering wheels located at or near the feet rests.

3. A wheelchair lifting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 for lifting a wheelchair having a space under the seat of the wheelchair and between the two back pushing wheels.

4. A wheelchair lifting apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the wheelchair lifting apparatus comprises a moveable wheel chassis having at least two wheels, castors, rollers.

5. A wheelchair lifting apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the wheels, castors or rollers of the chassis are lockable.

6. A wheelchair lifting apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 4 -6 wherein the wheel chassis comprises a rectangular frame having at least four castor wheels, one at or near each corner of the rectangular frame.

7. A wheelchair lifting apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the one or more seating frame support pieces form a rectangular frame, having one or more intermediate cross members.

8. A wheelchair lifting apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims able to engage at least four different parts of the wheelchair seating frame.

9. A wheelchair lifting apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the extendable lifting mechanism comprises one or more extendable arms able to provide movement of the one or more seating frame support pieces away from and towards the wheeled chassis.

10. A wheelchair lifting apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the extendable lifting mechanism comprises a scissor mechanism, having an actuator with a first end secured to a first part of the wheeled chassis and a second end secured to a first part of the seating frame support pieces, and one or more elongate arms having one end attachable to a second and opposite part of the wheeled chassis and another end attachable to a second and opposite part of the one or more seating frame support pieces.

11. A wheelchair lifting apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the actuator and elongate arms are journalled on a common transverse axle located between the wheeled chassis and the one or more lifting frame support pieces, which axle provides coordinated movement of the actuator and elongate arms in use.

12. A wheelchair lifting apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the one or more releasable wheelchair locking attachments comprise one or more clasps, clamps, and/or handles, able to engage with one or more parts of the wheelchair to coordinate its movement with movement of the wheelchair.

13. A wheelchair lifting apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the wheelchair lifting apparatus is locatable between the back pushing wheels and underneath the wheelchair seating frame, and is attachable to the wheelchair at one or more locations around the wheelchair accessible to the wheelchair user using more or more of the releasable wheelchair locking attachments.

14. A wheelchair lifting apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the wheelchair apparatus is attachable to the wheelchair at a bar or part of the frame at or near a rear facing part of the seating frame, which is accessible by the wheelchair user for engaging and releasing the wheelchair attachment.

15. A wheelchair lifting apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims operable between a contracted position, suitable for attachment to and movement of the wheelchair lifting apparatus with the wheelchair, and an extended position, wherein the wheelchair is lifted to a position where at least some or all of the back pushing wheels and smaller front steering wheels are separate from the floor.

16. A wheelchair lifting apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising one or more motors able to provide power to the extendable lifting mechanism.

17. A wheelchair lifting apparatus as claimed in claim 16 further comprising one or more rechargeable batteries to power the one or more motors.

18. A wheelchair lifting apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and a wheelchair having a seating frame, back pushing wheels and smaller front steering wheels.