GB2584865A

GB2584865A - A client moving equipment incorporating an anti tipping restraint

Info

Publication number: GB2584865A
Application number: GB1908712.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ponting Ivor; Dale Gerry
Original assignee: Proto Magic Innovations Ltd
Current assignee: Proto Magic Innovations Ltd
Priority date: 2019-06-18
Filing date: 2019-06-18
Publication date: 2020-12-23
Anticipated expiration: 2039-06-18
Also published as: GB2584865B; GB201908712D0

Abstract

A wheeled device may be used to transport patients or invalids. The device has base 9 on which a person may stand, a post 3 and a handle 2 which the person may hold. Pads 4 are provided to support the leg or knees of the person. The device has a plurality of ground engaging members 6, 7 and 8. A generally central wheel 7 is located proximate to the standing area of the device. A pair of wheels 6 which may be castors are located at the front end of the device and a further pair of members which may be wheels, balls or skids 8 are located at the opposing end of the device. When in use, wheels 6 and 7 contact the contact and member 8 is not in contact with the ground. When a patient is loaded to or leaves the device it pivots about members 7 causing members 8 to touch the ground preventing the device from toppling over, Figure 3. As the patient adopts the correct standing position the centre of gravity moves forward towards members 6 raising members 8 off the ground,

Description

A client moving equipment incorporating a anti tipping restraint Equipment for moving a client short distances is well known. Such equipment commonly provides a frame or handle for carer manoeuvring and client stability, 4 or 6 wheels, castors or other ground engaging members and in some cases knee pads. The present invention seeks to make improvements to the types of equipment that are currently well known.

In order that the invention may be understood, reference will be made to the attached figures where:-Fig #1 shows a three dimensional view of the equipment looking generally from the side and from the clients end, denoted the front.

Fig #2 shows a side view of the equipment with a client standing in place and secured by a client retention strap.

Fig #3 shows a view of the equipment with a client in position just above the seated position and with a client retention strap in place.

Fig #4 shows a three dimensional view of the equipment looking generally from the side and from the carers end denoted the rear.

Items in the figures are numbered from 1 to 14 and from 31 to 37 Now, referring to the figures we will explain the construction and operation of the equipment in some detail.

The equipment consists of a base (9) and a mast assembly (3). The mast is removable from the base by releasing a mast retention knob (31) and lifting the mast assembly from the base. The base assembly (9) comprises at least one ground engaging member (6) at the rear, 2 wheels (7) in the centre and at least one front anti tipping restraint (8) at the front. The two central wheels (7) have a breaking system that is operated by a brake foot pedal (5). Provision is made for easy carrying of the base assembly by means of a hand hold (10).

The mast assembly comprises a mast (3) with a knee pads (4) and a handle assembly (2) attached. The knee pads (4) are rotatable and the pitch between them can be adjusted.

The two knee pads (4) are mounted on a shaft (34) and held in place by friction retention clamps (35). The knee pads (4) are prevented from being removed from the shaft (34) by end stops (36). The knee pad mounting shaft (34) is attached to a retention member (37). The retention member (37) is slideable up and down the mast (3) and is retained in position by a pin engaging a hole in the mast (32), the pin being releasable by retracting a knob (14).

The mast handle provides hand holds (2) for the client and for the carer. Also attached to the handle are two client strap retention devices (1).

The geometry of the base is arranged such that when the client is "loaded" on the equipment and in standing position (11) ready for transportation to another location, the client's centre of gravity is located between the rear floor engaging member (6) and the front wheels (7) see Fig #2. In this position the front anti tipping restraint (8) is clear of the ground. This allows the equipment to move freely on the rear floor engaging member (6) and two front wheels (7). When a client is in the process of being "loaded" (13) on to the equipment his centre of gravity is between the front wheels (7) and the front anti tipping restraint (8) see Fig #3. In this position the entire equipment will rock slightly forward allowing the front anti tipping restraint (8) to engage with the ground and slightly raising the rear floor engaging member (9) from the ground. The part of the front anti tipping restraint (8) that is allowed to touch the ground during "loading" is a fixed, curved shaped member that could brush the ground during movement of the equipment over an undulating floor.

In another embodiment of the invention the curved shaped members are replaced by a wheel, ball, caster or other suitable floor engaging member.

The geometry system described allows for the rear floor engaging member (6) and the front wheels (7) to be large compared to the height of the anti-tipping restraint (8) which can be low to the ground. In order to obtain good functionality, it is necessary for the anti-tipping restraint (8) to be low to the ground to allow it to pass under chairs for "loading" the client on to the equipment.

In another embodiment of this geometry at least one fixed anti tipping restraint (8) is replaced by a system that allows the forward projecting element to be retracted to allow little or no forward projection. This embodiment of the invention provides a shorter equipment that is more manoeuvrable once the client is "loaded". This embodiment of the invention is not shown in the figures.

In a further embodiment of the invention at least one anti tipping restraint (8) is arranged to be removable, not shown in the figures.

In a still further embodiment of the invention at least one floor engaging wheel or castor is replaced with an alternative suitable floor engaging member.

A client retention strap (12) is provided to help steady and control the position of the client and is shown in Fig #3 and Fig #4. The client retention strap (12) is retained by two retention devices (1) and passes around the client's lower body.

The two front wheels (7) are the only part of the equipment that can be guaranteed to be in contact with the ground at all times. The braking system is therefore applied to these two wheels and is operated by a single brake foot pedal (5). When the brake foot pedal (5) is pushed down a mechanism causes the two front wheels (7) to be braked.

The knee pads (4) are arranged to be rotatable against friction in order that they can be retained in any rotatable position, thus allowing a knee pad (33) to be rotated such that it faces substantially upwards and can be used to take the weight of, for example a leg that has a plaster covering.

Accordingly, the present invention comprises a client moving equipment comprising a base (9) with two front wheels (7), at least one floor engaging rear member (6) and at least one front anti tipping restraint (8) which is arranged to clear a flat surfaced ground, the three or more ground engaging members are arranged such that when a client is correctly positioned on the base (8) for transportation the combination is stable and easily manoeuvrable with the anti tipping restraint clear of the ground (Fig #2); when the client is "loaded" on to the equipment it will tip towards the client causing the rear floor engaging member (6) to leave the ground and the front anti tipping restraint (8) to engage the ground (Fig #3) preventing the equipment from tipping and the client from falling backwards.

Claims

Claims A client moving equipment comprising a base (9) with two front wheels (7), at least one floor engaging rear member (6) and at least one front anti tipping restraint (8) which is arranged to clear a flat surfaced ground when there is no client present on the equipment, the three or more ground engaging members are arranged such that when a client is correctly positioned on the base (8) for transportation the combination is stable and easily manoeuvrable with the anti tipping restraint clear of the ground (Fig #2); when the client is "loaded" on to the equipment it will tip towards the client causing the rear floor engaging member (6) to leave the ground and the front anti tipping restraint (8) to engage the ground (Fig #3) preventing the equipment from tipping and the client from falling backwards.
2. A claim as claimed in claim 1 where the front anti tipping restraint (8) is formed from shaped material that is fixed to the base and not movable or rotatable.
3. A claim as claimed in claim 1 where the front anti tipping restraint (8) takes the form of a castor.
4. A claim as claimed in claim 1 where the front anti tipping restraint (8) takes the form of a rotatable ball.
5. A claim as claimed in claim 1 where the front anti tipping restraint (8) takes the form of a member that can rotate or move in one or more planar direction.
6. A claim as claimed in claims 1-5 where at least one front anti tipping restraint (8) is retractable with respect to the base (9).
7. A claim as claimed in claims 1-5 where at least one front anti tipping restraint (8) is removable.
8 A claim as claimed in claims 1-7 where the ground engaging wheels are replaced by at least one ground engaging rotatable device.
9 A claim as claimed in claims 1-8 where the floor engaging rear member (6) is a castor.A claim as claimed in claims 1-8 where the floor engaging rear member (6) is a suitable member other than a castor.