GB2585862A

GB2585862A - An adjustable client retention strap for use with a client moving equipment

Info

Publication number: GB2585862A
Application number: GB1910263.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ponting Ivor; Dale Gerry
Original assignee: Proto Magic Innovations Ltd
Current assignee: Proto Magic Innovations Ltd
Priority date: 2019-07-18
Filing date: 2019-07-18
Publication date: 2021-01-27
Also published as: GB201910263D0

Abstract

An adjustable client retention strap 12, at least one end of the strap being removable and attachable to a suitable part of the client moving equipment. The strap is optionally fitted with a locking device, which may self lock and which may or may not be directly attached to the client moving equipment. Optionally the locking device may be manually locked. Optionally the free end of the strap may be locked. In a further embodiment the locking device can be released by applying pressure or by another means.

Description

An adjustable client retention strap for use with a client moving equipment Equipment for moving a client shod 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 use 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 and with a client standing (11) in place and secured by a client retention strap(12).

Fig #3 shows a three dimensional view of the equipment with a client in position just above the seated position (13) 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.

Fig #5 shows a side view of a client retention strap locking device in the strap locked condition.

Fig #6 shows a section through a client retention strap locking device in the strap locked condition.

Fig #7 shows a side view of the client retention strap locking device in the unlocked condition Fig #8 shows a section view of the client retention strap locking device in the unlocked condition.

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 (3). The mast is removable from the base by releasing a mast retention knob (31) and lifting the mast (3) from the base. The base assembly (9) comprises at least one ground engaging member (6) at the rear, and 2 wheels (7) in the front. The two front wheels (7) have a braking system that is operated by a brake foot pedal (5).

The mast assembly comprises a mast (3) with knee pads (4) and a handle assembly (2) attached. The handle assembly has an upper handle (10), a central handle (16) and a lower handle (23). 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 (2) provides hand holds (10), (16) and (23) for the client and for the carer. Also attached to the handle are two client strap retention devices (1).

A client retention strap (12) is provided to help steady and control the position of the client and is shown in Fig #2 and Fig #3. The client retention strap (12) and its associated parts are attached to the handle at two strap retention spigots (1) and passes around the client's lower body. The client retention strap (12) is threaded through a client retention locking device (15), the client retention locking device (15) also has an attachment strap (17) threaded through it, and the attachment strap (17) has a hole formed in it that retains it on the handles (2) by latching it on to the strap retention spigot (1).

Figures #5 and # 6 show the client retention strap (12) with the client retention locking device (15) in contact with the straps causing the client retention strap (12) to be locked at a locking edge (24) that is attached to a retaining member (20), the lock is achieved by the relative positions of the locking edge (24) to the guide bar (21) with respect to the client retention strap (12). The strap can be tightened by pulling the free end (22) of the strap (12).

Figures #7 and #8 show the client retention strap (12) with the client retention locking device (15) pulled at its lower end away from the straps causing the client retention strap (12) to be released from a locking edge (24) that is attached to a retaining member (20), the release is achieved by changing the relative positions of the locking edge (24) to the guide bar (21) with respect to the client retention strap (12).

The straps (17) are attached to the client retention locking device (15) by a raised bar (19) that is attached to the client retention locking device (15) and the straps are guided by a guide bar a (18).

A typical use of the client retention strap (12) starts with the client in a seated position as shown in Fig #3, with the client retention strap locking devices (15) assembly attached to the spigots (1) and with the client retention strap (12) placed around the clients lower body, the carer will then pull on one or both of the free strap ends (22) as the client is moved to the standing position as shown in Fig #2. At all times during the transition of the client from sitting to standing the client retention strap (12) will lock and prevent the client from moving backwards if the straps are not moved from their natural position. To lower the client down to the sitting position the carer places a finger or thumb under the lower part of the client retention strap locking device (15) and pulls it in a direction away from the client retention strap (12) to release the client retention strap (12) and allow the client to move back to the sitting position, the client movement can be controlled by the carer applying pressure to the free end (22) of the client retention strap (12), as another safeguard at any time the carer can release the pressure on the bottom of the client retention strap locking device (15) causing it to lock and retain the client from moving backwards.

When the client is being raised or lowered and the client retention strap (12) is only operated from one side then the client retention strap must slide behind the client in order to keep it in tension on both sides of the client. An improvement can be made to the invention by adding a flat member or a closed tube behind the client and passing the client retention strap (12) through the tube or over the member, the tube or member being surfaced with suitable material to allow the strap to slide easily through or over it especially when under tension.

A further improvement to the invention involves adding a retention means to the tube or flat member to enable it to be retained on the clients body regardless of the position of the client retention strap (12), these features are not shown in the figures.

In a further embodiment of the invention at least one client retention strap locking device is permanently attached to the client moving equipment.

In another embodiment of the invention at least one client retention strap locking device is permanently attached to the client moving equipment and means are provided for removing the strap from the locking device.

Further embodiments of the invention involve modifying the client strap locking device such that it is locked or released by a manual or remotely operated action Accordingly, the present invention comprises

Claims

Claims 1. A client retention strap that can be passed around a client when the client is close to a client moving equipment, at least one end of the client retention strap and any parts attached to the strap being removable and attachable to a suitable part of the client moving equipment and the section of strap that restrains the client having means to have its length adjusted at at least one end to allow for the clients body to be restrained in different body postures.
2. A claim as claimed in claim 1 where at least one client retention strap locking device is fitted to the client retention strap and the client retention strap locking device is not attached directly to the client moving equipment.
3. A claim as claimed in claim 1 where at least one client retention strap locking device is fitted to the client retention strap and also to the client moving equipment.
4. A claim as claimed in claims 1 to 3 where the client retention strap locking device is arranged to self lock in order to prevent the section restraining the clients movement from lengthening.
5. A claim as claimed in claims 1 to 3 where the client retention strap locking device is arranged to be manually locked in order to prevent the section restraining the clients movement from lengthening.
6. A claim as claimed in claims 1 to 5 where the free end of the client restraining strap that can have a tensioning force applied to it in order to shorten the section of restraining strap that restricts the clients movement is free to be tensioned and cause a shortening of the section of strap that restricts the clients movement.
7. A claim as claimed in claims 1 to 5 where the free end of the client restraining strap that can have a tensioning force applied to it in order to shorten the section of restraining strap that restricts the clients movement, can be locked such that an unlocking action must be preformed before it can be tensioned to cause a shortening of the section of strap that restricts the clients movement.
8. A claim as claimed in claims 1 to 7 where the client retention strap locking device can be released by a carers finger or other body part by applying pressure to the client retention strap locking device in order to lengthen the section of strap restraining the client.
9. A claim as claimed in claims 1 to 7 where the client retention strap locking device can be released by operation of other means in order to lengthen the section of strap restraining the client.