US2375907A

US2375907A - Invalid transfer device

Info

Publication number: US2375907A
Application number: US467070A
Authority: US
Inventors: Melvin M Farmer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1942-11-26
Filing date: 1942-11-26
Publication date: 1945-05-15
Anticipated expiration: 1962-05-15

Description

' May l5, 1945. M. M. FARMER 2,375,907

INVALID TRANSFER DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 26, 1942 May l5, 1945. M. M. FARMER 2,375,907

' INVALID TRANSFER DEVICE Filed Nov. ze, 1942 s sheets-sheet 3 Patented May l5, 1945 UNITED STA-TES ATENT OFFICE INVALID TRANSFER DEVICE Melvin M. Farmer, Blue Island, Ill.

Application November 26, 1942, Serial No. 467,070

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in invalid transfer devices and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed outl in the appended claims.

One of the objects of the presentinvention is to provide a device whereby a nurse or other sickroom attendant may readily transfer an invalid from a bed to a chair or the like and return the invalid to the bed when so desired. l

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind, which while normally mobile so that it may be moved about as necessary, may be quickly rendered immobile when such a condition is so desired.

Again, it is an object of the invention to prolll vide a device of this kind which may be used by an invalid when seated thereon, to assist himself in rising to a standing position.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a device which is usable in and about sickrooms of a hospital, sanitarium or in the home for many different purposes.

Also, it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind which may be used to carry a stretcher case when the same is necessary.

The above mentioned objects of the invention, as well as others, together with the advantages thereof will more fully appear as the specication proceeds.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an invalid transfer device embodying the preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a tranfsverse vertical sectional view through a part of the device, as taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and on a somewhat enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a seat-like support or member embodied in the device.

Fig. 4 is a view in front elevation of the device.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the device as taken on the line 5-5 of Fig.4.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional View through the device as taken on the line --S of Fig. 1 and with the seat member of Fig. 3, removed from the device.

Fig. 7 is a vertical detail sectional View through a part of the mechanism of the device for quickly changing the same from a mobile to an immobile condition and -back to a mobile condition, said figure showing said parts of the mechanism in that position providing the mobile condition when said parts are in the position providing the immobile condition for the device.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View on a somewhat enlarged scale, through a hydraulic jack or pump mechanism embodied in the device, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 9-9 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 10 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the jack mechanism of Fig. 9 as taken on the line llll0 thereof.

Fig. 11 is another longitudinal vertcal sectional view through the hydraulic jack mechanism of Fig. 9 as taken on the line lI-II of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale through the seat of the device as shown in Fig. 3 as taken on the line |2-l2 thereof and on a scale enlarged over said Fig. 3.

In general the device embodies therein a relatively heavy horizontally disposed base having a front end platform and a pair of laterally spaced, rearwardly extending legs. A Iwheel is journalled in the rear end of each leg and at the front of the platform is a third wheel that is journalled in the bottom end of a vertically extending stem that bears in a guide tube. The three Wheels mentioned provide mobility for the device whereby it may Ibe moved about when necessary. At each side of the platform is a foot which lwhen the front end of the device is lowered, as will later appear, engages the floor and renders the device immobile, as is desired when the device is positioned in operative relation with respect to a bed or the like upon which an invalid mayA be disposed.

Rising from the front end of the platform is a pair of laterally spaced upright standards, each having a guide rail on its inner face. These rails are opertaively engaged by a carriage in such a manner that the carriage is capable of a guided movement upwardly and downwardly upon said rails. In the present instance an hydraulic jack mechanism, thatis manually operable, is disposed on the platform and is operatively connected to the carriage so as to impart movement thereto upwardly and permit movement downwardly upon said rails to dispose and then to hold the carriage at the desired elevation.

The carriage, which extends rearwardly from the standards so as to overhang a part of the platform of the base, includes laterally spaced horizontal arms, each carrying a rearwardly extending horizontal rail, said rails overhanging the legs of the base. These rails are adapted to detachably receive the laterally `spaced parts of an invalid supporting seat-like member.

The arms of the carriage are adapted to supportingly receive arm rests which are so disposed as to be used by an invalid engaged or seated upon the seat member when it is supported on the rails before mentioned. The arm rests are so formed at the rear ends as to -receive certain straps which may be used as a back rest by the invalid seated on the seat member when it is so supported on the rails as previously mentioned.

The arm rests mentioned are removable from the carriage so that they will not be in the way of either leg of the invalid, should eitherleg be so injured as to require horizontal support on the associated arm of the carriage.

Rising from the carriage just to the rear of the standards and between parts of the arm rests is a vertically adjustable and removable mast, the upper end of which is bent to provide a rearwardly extending arm. Straps depend from the rear end of said arm and into such a position as to be conveniently grasped by the invalid when engaged upon the seat member and whereby the invalid may assist himself' in rising from a sitting to a standing position.

The central bottom portion of the carriage has attached thereto a foot rest which is so disposed thaty the seated invalid. may engage his feet thereon.

When the patient is seated in the device, the device is rendered mobile and may be rolled about with ease by a nurse or attendant to any place desired.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, |5 indicates the horizontally disposed base of the device ywhich includes a front end portion or platform l5` and laterally spaced legs ll--Il extending rearwardly therefrom. At the central frontend part of the platform is a downwardly opening` housing I3 for a wheel I9, as will later appear. Journalled in the rear end of each leg is a wheel 2. At each side of the platform |6- isv a foot |.6a. The front wheel I9 is journalled in the bifurcated lower end 2| of an uprightstem 22 disposed in a tube 23. The bottom end of this tube carries a radial flange 24 for engagement with the underside of the top wall of. the housing |8 and fixed to said tube is a collar 25. that engages upon the. top end. of a boss 2G rising from said top wall of the housing.

The upper end of said tube extends into a collar 21 having laterally spaced ears 28 at its topend. The collar 21 and associatedtop end part of thetube 23 have longitudinal slots 29 in opposite sides thereof `and the ends of a cross pin Si? in the top end ofthe stem 22 extend into said slots. Thus the stern 22 is capablgof a limited vertical movement with respect to said collar and tube but may turn therewith.

`A lever 3| has one end disposed between the earsr 28| of the collar and is pivotally connected thereto as at 32'. Said; endv of the lever has a roller 33 (see- Figs, 'l and 8) journalled therein and so disposed with respect to the pivotal connection 32 that when'y said lever is in the position shown in Fig. '7, wherein it is stopped by they engagement of a finger 3|a with said collar, said roller engages the. top end ofV the stem 22 to one sid-g of its axis. ThisA holds the stem- 22 depressed relatively tothe, collar 21 so that.` the` front end of the base is held at that elevation wherein' the feet IBa clear the` surface upon which the wheels I9V and 20 are engaged. Thus,

the device as a whole may be moved about upon its three wheels. In this condition the device is mobile. By swinging the lever 3| laterally in in either direction, the stem 22 is turned so that the wheel I9 enables a steering of the device as a whole. When the lever 3| is swung into the position shown in Fig. 8 wherein the roller 33 is disposed to the other side of the axis of the stem 22, this permits of a relative longitudinal movement between the stem andtube so that the front end of the platform is lowered into that position wherein the feet |6a engage the surface upon which the wheels are engaged so as to prevent movement of the device from one place to another. Thus the device is rendered immobilel and the change from the mobile to the immobile condition of the device is controlled merely by swinging the lever 3| upwardly or downwardly about'its axis 32. l

Rising from the front end portion of the platform` I6 is a pair of laterally spaced upright standards 34-34 each provided along its rear margin and upon the inner surface thereof with a vertically disposed guide' rail 35. Projecting for wardly from'about the mid portion of said standards is a yoke 33 which includes a sleeve 3l, that surrounds a part of the tube 23 to there give it support.

A carriage 38 (see Fig. 1) is mounted on the standards 34 for a guided movement upwardly and downwardly on the rails 35-35. This carriage includes a body portion 38 which is disposed to the rear of the standards and said body portion carries forwardly extending flange-like parts 40, onek disposed near each rail 35. Each ilange-like part has upper and lower rollers 4| and 42 journalled therein and said rollers have rolling engagement with the front and rear faces of the associated rail 35.Y At each side of the body portion 39 is a rearwardly extending arm 43 to which is fixed a rearwardly extending horizontally disposed rail 4'4 and these rails overhang or are disposed above the legs ofthe base.

At the central part of the body 39 is a vertically disposed split sleevel 45 in which a mast 46 is disposed andwhich will be again referred to. This split sleeve includes spaced ears 41 with which a; hand bolt 48 (see Fig. 6) is associated and whereby the ears 41 may be drawn toward each other and cause thev sleeveto clamp the mast in the desired position. By loosening the hand bolt 48, the sleeve releases itsv clamping action on the mast so that it may be turned in eitherl direction or adjusted upwardly or downward-'ly and even removed therefrom when not desired. f f

The laterally spaced rails 44 removably receive a seat member 5U preferably made of wood and comprising top and bottomlayers .5I-52 and a filler 53: (see Fig. l2). A The lateral margin of the topvv layers.V extendsv beyond the side edgesof the filler so as to provide grooves 54 (see Figs; 1 and 2) to engage theA rails 44--44'. Thus the seat member. may be removed from. the rails by sliding it off the: free rear ends thereof and maybe applied to said rails by sliding it on said rails from said free endsA thereof. In the central longitudinal partof the seaty member is an opening, 55 having thegeneral contour of the opening in a toilet seat and this' opening tapers upwardly from the bottom of the seat. When the member 5|!A is tobe: used as a. seatand not for toilet purposes, the opening 55 therein may be closed by a cover 56V which may be removedl from and applied to the seat from below. This cover ing or lengthening the strap, the back rest effect' has an edge contour fitting the opening 55 and it is provided toward the front end with a pair of finger holes 56a (see Fig. 3) whereby it may be more conveniently handled.

So that the cover may be locked in place in the seat opening 55 simply by the act of applying said cover to the seat from below, I provide at the front end of the seat opening a sleeved recess l adapted to receive the projecting end of a pin 58 xed in the front end of the cover. This pin is of a diameter smaller than the recess so that it may be easily inserted into said recess from below. In the rear end of the seat member is located a spring pressed plunger 53 which includes a stem l@ that carries a knob 6! normally engaged with the rear end of the seat. The plunger has a tapered catch 62 (see Fig. 12) at its front end adapted to snap into a recess 63 in the rear end of the cover. As the cover 56 is also made of the same layered wood construction as the seat, it is provided at its rear end with a metal striker plate 64. p

To insert the cover in place it is first disposed under the seat and the pin 5S at the front end of the cover is then inserted into the sleeved recess 51. Due to the differences in diameters between th pin and recess, a fulcrum point is formed, about which the rear end of the cover may be swung upwardly. In this movement of said end of the cover, the striker plate 64 engages the catch 62 of the plunger and pushes it out of the way so that the cover can nt into the opening. At this time the recess b3 lines up with the plunger and the catch 62 thereof immediately snaps into the recess. Due to the taper of the opening 55 and the edge of the cover, when the cover is being placed in said opening, it is guided into place therein and when so in place cannot rock out of position due to the holding action of the pin 58 and plunger 5S. To remove the cover from the opening, the knob 6I is pulled outwardly. This releases the plunger catch from the recess so that the rear end of the cover drops downwardly, after which it may be withdrawn as is obvious.

Associated with the seat is a pair of arm rests 65--65 so disposed as to be convenient for use by the occupant of the seat. Each arm rest is carried by the rear end of a horizontal suDDort 66, the front end of which has a plurality of substantially vertical front and rear legs 6'1-68 respectively. The bottom end of said legs frictionally fit in recesses 69 and l0 (see Fig. 6) provided therefor in the body of the carriage substantially in line with the rails d4 so that the supports 36 overhang said rails. By reason of the frictional t of the legs E'l-SB in the recesses 69 and 1D, the arm rstvsupports 5E may be removed merely by lifting them upwardly. To rel place them, said legs are merely reinserted in said recesses.

The rear ends of the arm rests normally overhang the lateral margin of the seat 5U and' is there provided each with a pivoted clevis 1i. One end of a looped strap 'l2 is passed through one of said devices and carries a snap hook 'i3 which hook then reengaged with its clevis. By shortentherefor may be adjusted to suit the occupant.

The top end of the mast is bent to form a horizontal arm 'l5 that normally extendsrearwardly to overhang the seat member. On the underside of its free end is provided a loop 'IB from which depends a plurality of straps that extend into a position to be conveniently grasped by the occupant of the seat.

The rear part of the central body portion 39 of the carriage has an upper end of a depending bracket arm 'Il fixed thereto and the bottom end of said arm carries a step 18. This step is so positioned that the occupant of the seat may rest his feet thereon. In this respect it is pointed out that by moving the seat 50 forwardly or rearwardly on the rails 44, the occupant may be moved into that position making the foot rest most convenient for use. At this time should the occupant desire to rise to a standing position, he may assist himself by means of the straps 11. In case the occupant has a leg injury requiring that the leg be held in a horizontal position, one or the other of the arm rest supports 66 may be removed, so that the injured leg may rest on the proper arm 43.

The carriage 38 and the parts carried thereby may be raised or lowered to that elevation necessary in removing a patient from a bed and placing him on a chair or toilet. Preferably to raise and lower the carriage, hydraulic means are employed and such means are as follows:

is a hydraulic cylinder which is pivotally mounted at its bottom end upon a `cross pin 8i journalled in a pair of upright ears 82 rising from the platform I6 between the standards 311-34.

A piston or plunger 83 slides in the upper end of the cylinder and at the top end of said piston is a cross shaft 84, upon the ends of which sprockets 85--85 are journalled. A sprocket chain 85 is trained about each sprocket and one end of each chain is xed to the associatedend of the pin 8l while the other end of each chain is connected to a cross pin 81 (see Fig. 5) carried by the front central portion of the carriage. When hydraulic fluid under pressure `entersntlie bottom end of the cylinder 85, thepiston 83 is projected upwardly and this movement of the piston, through the sprocket wheels 85 and chains 8G will raise the carriage upwardly of the standards. When the hydraulic fluid is permitted to escape from the bottom end of the cylinder, the carriage will descend.

For providing the hydraulic uid under pressure and for controlling the passage thereto t0 and from the cylinder 80, a hydraulic jack or pump Si) is disposed on the platform I6 forwardly of the cylinder.

This jack or pump embodies a cylinder block 9i (see Figs. 9-10 and 11) having a longitudinal bore 92 therein whichis closed at its ends. A duplex plunger or piston 93 slides in said bore and it is reciprocated back and forth by a lever 94. Said lever is formed with a spherical enlargement toward its bottom end journalled for a rocking movement on a pin 95 fixed in the block The bottom end of said lever below said enlargement carries a head 95 that engages in a recess in the central part of the plunger as best shown in Fig. 9. The upper end of the lever projects through and above the yoke 35 where it is provided with a handle 91. By rocking the lever 9 4 back and forth laterally of the platform, the

plunger 93 is reciprocated back and forth inv the bore 92 of the block 9|.

The block isl further provided with longitudinally extending; upper andy lower passageways IIIII and IOI, respectively, as shownin Fig. l1. The upper one constitutes the high pressure passageway and the lower one constitutes the low pressure passageway'.v One end of the high pressure passageway is connected by a tubing i102. (see 6.) with the bottom end of the cylinder 80 and whereby hydraulic fluid may pass from the. jack or pump to the cylinder. The lower pressure passageway I'0I is connected byv a depending tube t0f3 with a. hydraulic fiud reservoir I located under' the platform. I6,. as bestY appears in. Fig. 5.

In the block 0I is a. pair of vertical passages I05Iv051 which connect the high and low pressure passageways. In each passage I0.5- provided an upper valve seat. I;D& with which a `spring pressed ball valve IM is normally engaged. In the bottom end of each passage III5` is a plug IM formed to provide a lower valve seat IlilI upon which a spring pressed ball valve I I0 is normally engaged. A port I'I I leads from each end of the bore 92 into an associated passage I06= ata point between the ball valves |01 and I'I0 therein. In the movement of the operating lever 94, the plunger is reciprocated to produce a suction at one end of the bore 92 and a pressure at the other end of the bore. Under the suction, hydraulic fluid' is drawn from the reservoir I0`4 up through the tube |03 into the low pressure passageway I0I1 and up through the passage |05 t0 lift the ball valves I I0 and I0'I from their seats after which the fluid enters the suction side of the bore 92'. As to the high pressure side of the jack, the uid in ad'- vance of the plunger first closes the associated ball valves- |01 and I I0 against return of the Huid to the low pressure passageway IOI so that the uid on said high pressure side passes'outthrough the tube |02 into the bottom end of the cylinder 80.

In the back and forth rocking movement of the lever 84, it is apparent thatA the piston 83 is caused to ascend in the cylinder 80 and when rocking movement of the lever is discontinued", the care riage 38 will remain in that. position into which it has been elevated. To lower the carriage again, high pressure fluid from thek cylinder is bypassed back through the jack into the reservoir and the means therefor is as follows.:

In Fig. 10 a by-pass port I'I2 is, shown as connecting the passages I00 and IOI respectively; A valve stem II3` controls the passage of uid through the port and its inner end is normally engaged on a seat I I4 forming a part of this port.

'1"he` outer end of said stem has a threaded engagement in a packing compression sleeve II5 and its extremity carries a normally horizontal arm I I6 (see Fig. 4) the free end of which extends toward the adjacent4 standard 34'. This end' of said arm is connected to the bottom end. of an upright link IIT and. the upper end of this link isl connected to. the mid. portion of a, lever II.8 that is pivoted atv IIS to said adjacent standard. This lever, as, best shown in Fig.. 4,. isL disposed to overhang the path of travel of the roller 4I associated with said standard.

After. the carriage has been elevated. to the desired position and it is desired then to lower the same, the operator lifts upwardly on the outer end of the lever I I8. This rocks.- the arm IIB. and causesV the stem II;5 to turn in; its sleeve. This will cause the inner end ofA said stem to leave its seat I I4 so that fluid may ow from the high pressure passageway |00. through said port II2 into the low pressure passageway lIlI and through the tube I03 back into the reservoir I 0l. When the carriage reaches thefdesired lowered position, the lever I I8 is swung downwardly and this through the link H1 and arm IIS will cause the val-ve stem IIS to again engage tis seat II4 and thus: close oii the port H2.

Itis to be noticed from Fig. 4 that the handle H8 stands in the plane of the path of travel of one oi the rollers 4I. In the upward movement oi the carriage 39 in the actuation. of the pump or tack $0-, as said carriage reaches the top of its movement said roller will engage said lever III and swing it upwardly about its pin IIB and this will cause the valve stern H5 to move away from itsI seat and again open the portA II2 whereby hydraulic fluid again is by-passed back to the reservoir. This provides` a safety feature for the device so that even if the operator in a moment of thoughtlessness actuates the lever 9| beyond that: amount providing the lastl predetermined high elevated position for the carriage, the carria-ge stops in its movement. Therefore, no parts oi the device can be. broken or damaged by an over-operation of said lever..

The operation 0f the device is substantially as follows: Assume a patient to be lying on his back in a hospital bedand that it is desired to move the patient say to a toilet or to a wheel or other' chair. The attendant turns' the patient on. his side and the seat member. 50 is then placed on the bed adjacent one side thereof with the grooves 54. facingA in such direction that they may be engaged by thev rails M when the device as a whole isi moved' into position with respect to the side of the bed. Before moving the: device as a whole into position, the patient is turned back so that his sitl bones are disposed on. the seat member 50. at which timev the. patient can be 'swung around andV up into a sitting position so that the legs hang downwardly over said side of the bed. After releasing the snap hook T31 from its clevs, the device is moved toward said. sideof the bed with the rails M strad'dling the patients legs, it being assumed that said rails are disposed in the horizontal plane of and line up with the groovesl 54 in the seat on the bed'. The device is then movedy further inward toward the bed, so that the rails 44 enter the seat' grooves 5l for the support of the seat and this will bring the foot rest I8 within convenient reach of the patients feet.

The snap hook 'lf3y is then passed behind the patients back and reattached to its* arm rest clevifs so that the strap 12' now acts as a beck rest and at this time the patient may engage or lean his forearms on the arm rests; If desired the patient may hold ontothe depending assist straps 1T. After the patient has thus been positioned, the lever 94" is rocked laterally back and forth and this causes the plunger 83l to elevate the carriage into a position freeing or clearing the seat from supporting engagement with the bed. The device as a. whole, with the patient seated. thereon, may be moved on its. wheels to a chai-r, toilet or thelike.y If the patient is to. use

the toilet, the seat is positioned above the toilet seat and thecover 56`is removed from below the seat. member 50 as before. mentioned.` The carriage is. then lowered until. the seat member 50 rests on the, topof the toilet. seat..

If the patient is to.- be placed 'ma wheel or other chair, the carriage is` lowered until. the seat member 50 engages uponA the seat of the chair, whereupon the transfer device may be backed away from the chair leaving the seat member in position thereon- It is contemplated that a number of seat members will be provided for each device.

The device may also be 'used to move a stretcher borne patient from one place to another, by supporting the stretcher upon the rails 44-44 or even upon the seat member 50 when the latter is engaged with or upon said rails.

When it is desired to render the device immobile, it is only necessary to actuate the lever 3! in the proper direction and this will lower the front end of the base so that the feet Ia will engage the surface of the oor upon which the device is being used.

While in describing my invention I have referred in detail to the form arrangement and construction of the parts involved, the same is to be considered only in the illustrative sense so that I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be specifically set forth in the appended claims. i

I claim as my invention:

l. A device of the kind described and embodying therein a base. upright means mounted on the base, a carriage having a vertical guided movement upon and including laterally spaced elongated parts projecting in a generally horizontal direction from said upright means, means for imparting a vertical movement to said carriage upon said upright means, and a seat member arranged between and having portions at its sides for removable engagement with said elongated projecting parts of the carriage in such a manner that the seat member mayv be moved` longitudinally of said parts into different positions toward and away from said upright means.

2. A device of the kind described and embodying therein a base, upright means mounted on the base, a carriage having a vertical guided movement upon and including parts projecting in a generally horizontal direction from said upright means, means for imparting a vertical movement to said carriage upon said upright means, a seat member adapted to be removably engaged by the projecting parts of said carriage in such a manner that the seat member may be moved in a predetermined plane toward and away from said upright means, and means providing a foot rest below said seat member and supported by the carriage betweensaid seat member and said upright means.

3. A device of the kind described and embodying therein a base, upright means mounted on the base, a carriage having a vertical guided movement upon and including laterally spaced rrails projecting in a generally horizontal direction from said upright means, means for imparting a vertical movement to said carriage upon said upright means, a seat member, laterally spaced parts on said seat member adapted for sliding engagement with said rails and whereby said seat member may be moved thereon toward and away from said upright means, and means associated with each rail and including an upright portion detachably engaged with said carriage and a horizontal portion disposed above the associated rail and providing laterally spaced arm rests for the occupant of the seat member when the latter is engaged with said projecting parts of the carriage.

4. A device of the kind described and embodying therein a base, upright means mounted on the base, a carriage having a vertical guided movement upon and including parts projecting in a generally horizontal direction from said upvright means, means for imparting a vertical movement to said carriage upon said upright means, a seat member adapted to be removably engaged by the projecting parts of said carriage in such a manner that the seat member may be moved in a predetermined plane toward and awaj7 from said upright means, means on the carriage providing laterally spaced arm rests for the occupant of the seat member whenthe latter is engaged with said projecting part of the carriage, and means carried by said arm rests and adapted to provide a back rest for the occupant of said seat member.

5. A device of the kind described and embodying therein a base, upright means mounted on the base, a carriage having a vertical guided movement upon and including parts projecting in a generally horizontal direction from said upright means, means for imparting a vertical movement to said carriage upon said upright means, a seat member adapted to be removably engaged by the projecting parts of said carriage in such a manner that the seat member may be moved in a predetermined plane toward and away from said upright means, means rising from said carriage and having an upper end portion overhanging said seat member when the latter is operatively engaged on said projecting parts of the carriage, and means depending from said upper end portion of said last mentioned means into a position adapted to be grasped by the occupant of the seat member for assistance in rising from the seat to a standing position.

6. A device of the kind described and embodying therein a base, upright means mounted on one part of the base, a carriage mounted for a vertical guided movement on said upright means, laterally spaced members nXed at one end-to said carriage and extending in a generally horizontal direction therefrom and overhanging" another part of said base, a seat member, means at the sides of the seat member for sliding guided -engagement with said laterally spaced members and cooperating therewith to provide leg space between said seat member and said carriage for the occupant of the seat member when facing said upright means andmeans forimparting a vertical movement to said carriage upon said upright means.

7. A device of the kind described and embodying therein a substantially horizontal base, upright means mounted on the base, a carriage having a vertical guided movement upon said upright means and including laterally spaced, substantially horizontal rails arranged to overhang a part of said base, means for imparting a vertical movement to said carriage upon said upright means, a seat member having grooves in its sides complemental to said rails whereby said seat member may be removably engaged with said rails for support thereby and when. so engaged may be moved on said railsv toward and away from saidvupright means. y

8. A device of the kind described and embodying therein a substantially horizontal base, upright means mounted on the base,y a carriage having a vertical guided movement upon said upright means and including laterally spaced horizontal rails arranged to overhang a part of said base, means for imparting a vertical movement to said vcarriage upon said upright v means, a seat member, interenga-geable parts on said seat member and said rails respectively whereby said seat member may be removably engaged with said rails for .support thereby and when so engaged may .be moved thereon toward.

and away from said upright means, and means providing a foot rest below said seat member .and

supported by said carriage between said seat member and said upright means.

9. A device of the kind described and embodying therein a substantially horizontal base, upright means mounted on the base, a carriage having a vertical guided movement upon and projecting from a part of said upright means to overhang a part of said base, means for imparting a vertical movement to said carriage upon said upright means, a seat member, interengageable parts on said seat member and on that part of the carriage that overhangs said part of the base and whereby said seat member may be removably engaged with said carriage for support thereby and when so engaged may be moved thereon toward and away from said upright means, and members detachably connected at one end only to the carriage and providing laterally spaced arm rests for the occupant of the seat member when the latter is operatively engaged with and supported by the carriage, the other end of said members being formed to have a backrest detachably connected thereto.

10. A device of the kind described and embodying therein a base, upright means mounted on the base, a carriage including parts having a vertical guided movement upon and projecting from a part of said upright means in a generally horizontal direction, means for imparting a vertical movement to said carriage upon said upright means, a seat member, interengageable parts on said seat member and on that part of the carriage that projects in a generally horizontal direction and whereby said seat member may be removably engaged with said carriage for support thereby and when so engaged may be moved thereon toward and away from said upright means, laterally spaced members one at each side of the carriage and disposed above said projectingparts of the carriage, means providing a detachable connection between one end of said laterally spaced members and associated carriage parts and whereby said members may be applied to and removed from said carriage parts, the outer ends of the said laterally spaced members providing arm rests.l

l1. A device of the kind described and ernbodying therein a base, upright means mounted on the base, a carriage and including parts having a vertical guided movement upon and projecting from a part of said upright means in a generally horizontal direction, means for imparting a vertical movement to said carriage upon said upright means, a seat member, interengageable parts on'said seat member and on that part of the carriage that projects in said generally horizontal direction and whereby said seat member may be removably engaged with said carriage for support thereby and when so engaged maybe moved thereon toward and away from said upright means, laterally spaced members one at each side of the carriage and disposed above said projecting parts of said carriage, means providing a detachable connection between one end of said laterally spaced members and associated carriage parts and whereby said members may be applied to and removed from said carriage parts, the outer ends of said later'ally spaced members providing arm rests, and means connected to one of said laterally spaced members and adapted to be detachably con nected to the other one thereof and providing a back rest'for the occupant of the seat member.

12. A device of the kind described and embodying therein a base, wheels at one end of said base, a wheel disposed at the other end of the base, and whereby said base is mobile upon a floor surface, upright means mounted on the base, a carriage having a vertical guided movement upon and including parts projecting in a generally horizontal direction, means for imparting a vertical movement to said carriage upon said upright means, a seat member detachably connected with said parts of said carriage, an upright stem journalled in said other end of the base and carrying at its bottom` end said last mentioned Wheel, means in which said stem is disposed and means carried by said last mentioned means and adapted for operation to raise or lower said stem, said stem when raised in said means permitting fixed parts of said base to engage said floor surface so that the base is rendered substantially immobile.

13. A device of the kind described and embodying therein a base, upright means mounted on the base, a, carriage having vertically guided movement upon said upright means, laterally spaced rearwardly extending rails carried by .said

carriage and projecting in a substantially horizontal direction, and a seat member having means for detachable sliding guided engagement with said rails and whereby said seat may be removed from and applied to said rails from the free end thereof.

14. A device of the kind described and embodying therein a base, upright means mounted on the base, a carriage having vertically guided movement upon said upright means, laterally spaced rearwardly extending rails carried by said carriage and projecting in a substantially horizontal direction, and a seat member having grooves in its side edges for engagement with said rails and whereby the seat member may be removed from and applied to said rails from the free end thereof.

15. A device of the kind described and embodying therein a base, upright means mounted on the base, a carriage having a vertical guided movement on said upright means, means projecting in a generally horizontal direction from the carriage for supporting a seat, members each including a plurality of substantially upright portions having detachable engagement with parts of said carriage and each further including a substantially horizontal portion, the horizontal portions of said members forming laterally spaced arm rests for the occupant of the seat. MELVIN M. FARMER.