US2813277A

US2813277A - Invalid hoist

Info

Publication number: US2813277A
Application number: US600265A
Authority: US
Inventors: Zillt Guenther Otto
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1956-07-26
Filing date: 1956-07-26
Publication date: 1957-11-19
Anticipated expiration: 1974-11-19

Description

Nov. 19, 1957 G. o. ZILLT 2,813,277

INVALID HOIST Filed July 26, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 2

INVENTOR Guenfher 0. Zi/lf Nov. 19, 1957 G. o. ZILLT 2,813,277

INVALID HOIST Filed July 26, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 4' 30 54 I IQR Guen Mar .0. Z/l/l ATTORNEY nited States ice INVALID HOIST Guenther Qtto Zillt, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Application July 26, 1956, Serial No. 600,265

3 Claims. (Cl. 4-185) This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in hoists, and more specifically to an improved invalid hoist.

One of the principal disadvantages of existing invalid hoists is that generally there is not provided mechanical means which can be manually driven for elevating the invalid when being moved into a bath tub. It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide an invalid hoist which includes a water motor for operating the same, the water motor being provided with suitable fittings for connecting the motor to a water faucet for receiving water under pressure and a fitting for returning the used water to the bath tub whereby the water may be saved for use when taking the bath.

Another object of this invention is to provide an invalid hoist which includes a carriage to carry the invalid, the carriage being demountably attached to a support arm of the hoist and having hangers movable to an out-ofthe-way position whereby the invalid, when once seated in the bath tub, may have freedom of movement, and all parts of the invalids body are readily accessible for washing purposes.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved invalid hoist which includes a screw member for elevating a support arm which carries a carriage for the invalid, the screw member having threadedly engaging the support arm, the support arm being restrained against rotation whereby when the screw member is rotated, the support arm will be moved up or down depending upon the direction of rotation.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved invalid hoist which includes a base having wheel supports permitting the base to be moved as is deemed necessary, there being rotatably mounted in the base a screw member which is attached to a support arm for moving the support arm up or down during rotation of the screw member, the screw member being driven by a water motor from a faucet of the bath tub adjacent the invalid hoist.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the invalid hoist and shows the relationship thereof with respect to a bath tub, the bath tub being shown in section and there being shown mounted on the carriage of the invalid hoist an invalid prior being lowered into the bath tub, the invalid being shown in phantom lines;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the invalid hoist of Figure 1 and shows the general details of the support arm for the carriage and the means for effecting the elevation of the support arm;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of Figure l and shows the specific details of a screw member for elevating the support arm and the means for driving the screw member;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 44 of Figure 1 and shows the specific details of the water motor for operating the screw member;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the carriage for the invalid with parts broken away and shown in section in order to clearly illustrate the details thereof; and

Figure 6 is a plan view of the seat of the carriage with the hangers thereof being shown in section.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated the invalid hoist which is the subject of this invention, the invalid hoist being referred to in general by the reference numeral 10. The invalid hoist 10 includes a base which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 12.

The base 12, as is best illustrated in Figure 3, includes a tubular vertical portion 14 which terminates in an enlarged lower portion 16, the lower portion 16 being connected to the vertical portion 14 by an annnular connecting flange 18. The lower end of the lower portion 16 is closed by a removable plate 20 which is threadedly engaged therein.

Extending upwardly through the housing 12 is a screw member 22 which has a supporting flange 24 at the lower end thereof. The supporting flange 24 rests upon balls 26 which in turn are supported on the plate 20. Additional balls 28 are disposed between the flange 18 and the upper surface of the flange 24.

The housing 12 is supported for movement by a plurality of radiating arms 30 which carry at their lower ends supporting casters 32. Thus the housing 12 may be moved as is deemed necessary in the positioning of an invalid.

In order that the screw member 22 may be selectiveiy rotated, there is provided a water motor which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 34. The water motor 34 includes a housing 36 which is secured to the upper end of the tubular portion 14. Secured to the intermediate part of the screw member 22 and disposed within the housing 36 is a hub 38, the hub 38 being connected to the screw member 22 by means of fasteners 40. Extending outwardly from the hub 38, as is best illustrated in Figure 4, is a plurality of vanes 42.

In order to control the direction of rotation of the screw member 22, there is carried by the housing 36 a pair of

opposed nozzles

44, 46. Connected to the

nozzles

44 and 46 are supply lines 48 and 5t), respectively, which are connected by a Y-fitting 52 to a main supply line 54.

As is best illustrated in Figure 1, the main supply line 54 is provided at the end thereof remote from the Y-fitting 52 with a fitting 56 for attachment to a water faucet 58. Secured to the bottom of the housing 36 for receiving water therefrom is a drain line 60. Also, the nozzle 44 is provided with a control valve 62 and the nozzle 46 is provided with a control valve 64.

When the main supply line 54 is connected to the faucet 58 and the water is turned on, water will be supplied to the Y-fitting 52. Assuming the valve 64 to he opened and the valve to be closed, water will pass into the housing 36 through the nozzle 46 and impinge upon the vanes 42 thus driving the water motor 34 and the screw member 22 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 4. When the valve 64 is closed and the valve 62 is opened, the water motor 34 will be driven in a counterclockwise direction.

Secured to the tubular portion 14 intermediate the ends thereof is a horizontal plate 66 which is braced by. a gusset 68. Extending upwardly from the horizontal plate 66 is a guide 70. The guide 70 is disposed in spaced parallel relation with respect to the screw member 22.

The upper part of the screw member 22 disposed above the housing 36 is provided with threads 74. Tl'lreadedly engaged on the threaded portion 74 is a nut portion 76 of a horizontal disposed support arm 73. The support arm 78 has an end portion 80 extending from the nut portion 7 6 which is engaged on the guide 7b to prevent rotation of the nut member 76. Accordingly, when the screw 22 is rotated, the support arm 78 will be moved up or down depending upon the direction of the rotation of the screw member 22.

Referring now to Figures 1, 2 and in particular, it will be seen that the end of the support arm 7% remote from the screw member 22 is provided with a reduced portion 82 on which there is rockably mounted a depend ing support member 84, the support member-34 being retained in place by a pin 86. The support member 84 extends down through a support bar 88 which is mounted thereon for rotation, the support bar 88 being retained in place on the support member 34 by means of a nut 9d.

Pivotally connected to opposite ends of the support bar 83 are

hooks

92 and 94, the

hooks

92 and 94 being connected to the support bar 88 by

horizontal pivot pins

96 and 98, respectively.

Removably carried by the support bar 83 is a carriage which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 100. The carriage 100 includes an open seat 102 whose outline is best illustrated in Figure 6. The seat 102 is generally triangular in outline and being narrowest at the forward end thereof. The rear portion of the seat 102 is supported by a transverse bar 104.

The forward end of the seat 102 is provided with a fitting 1% which carries a hanger 168, the hanger 108 being generally rectangular in vertical outline, as is best illustrated in Figure 1, and being pivotaily connected to the fitting 106. The upper end of the hanger 108 is engaged over the hook 92 and releasably supported thereby.

The rear part of the seat 1'92 is provided with a pair of projections 110 in which there is pivotally iournaled lower ends 112 of a hanger 114. The hanger 114has the upper end thereof engaged with the book 94. It is to be noted that the construction of the seat 102 is such that when a person, such as an invalid 116, is positioned thereon and is seated in a bath tub, such as a bath tub 113, all parts of the invalids body are accessible to whereby they may be readily washed.

The operation of the present invention, the invalid 116 is seated upon the seat 102 when the seat 102 is out of alignment with the bath tub 118, and if desired, is disposed remote therefrom. The base 12 is then moved toward. the bath tube 118 and when it is in the position. illustrated in Figure 1. The support arm 78 is then elevated until the carriage 100 clears the bath tub 118. The invalid 116 is then swung into overlying relation with respect to the bath tub 118 and the carriage 11H) is then aligned with the bath tub 1155. The support arm 78 is then lowered to lower the invalid down into the bath tub. After the support arm 78 has been suificiently lowered, the hooks 92 and M may be disengaged from the

hangers

108 and 114. The hangers 1G8 and 114 may then be swung to out-of-the-way positions.

It is pointed out that the drain line 60 is engaged over the edge of the bath tub 118 so that the water used in operating the water motor 44 is returned into the bath tub 113 and is usable for the purpose of giving the invalid a bath. Thus the water used in driving the water motor 34 for the purpose of placing the invalid 116 into the bath tub 118 may be saved.

When it is desired to remove the invalid 116 from the bath tub 118, the process described above is repeated'in reverse. After the invalid 116 has been raised sufficiently to clear the bath tub 118,-hemay then be swung to'the desired position away'frorn the bath tiib'113. If desired,

4 the entire invalid hoist 10 may be moved into the invalids bedroom and he may be swung directly back into bed.

Secured to the guide 70 intermediate its ends projecting away from the screw member 22 is a plate 120. The plate 120 is secured relative to the guide member 70 by gusset 122. Extending upwardly from the plate 120 is an upright member 124- which carries a horizontal pivot pin 126. Pivotally connected to the upright member 124 by the pivot pin 126 is a reduced portion 128 of a bifurcated member 130. The bifurcated member 130 is provided with a pair of friction-resistant arms 132 which normally engage the underside of the nut portion 76. Connected to the reduced portion 128 is a tension spring 134, the end of which being connected to the plate 120. The tension spring 134 retains the friction-reducing elements 132 in constant engagement with the underside of the nut portion 76 and results in an upward pressure on the nut portion 76.

In the normal operation of the invalid hoist 1th, the weight of the invalid 116 on the support arm 78 has a tendency to cause binding of the nut portion "/6 with the thread 74. By exerting an upward pressure on the underside of the nut portion '76, in the manner best illustrated in Figure l, the binding of the nut portion 76 is prevented.

From the foregoing description of the present invention, it will be readily apparent that there has been devised a simple hoist which may be utilized for the purpose of hoisting invalids in and out of bath tubs and which at the same time may be used for moving the invalid from the bath tub area to the invalids normal living area. Also, by using a water motor which will take advantage of the existing water supply normally found in a bath tub, there has been devised a .hoist which for all purposes is selfcontained.

The foregoing is considered to be illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A hoist for lifting an invalid into and out of a bath tub, said hoist comprising a base, a screw member rotatably journaled in said base and extending upwardly therefrom, a guide member extending upwardly from said base adjacent said screw'member, a support arm, said support arm including a nut portion threaded on said screw member, an end of said support arm being slidably engaged with said guide to prevent rotation of said support arm during rotation of the screw member, a water motor connected to said screw member for rotating said screw member, said water motor including means for connecting said water motor to a faucet and means for delivering used water to a bath tube, and a carriage removably carried by said support arm on the end of said support arm opposite that engaged with said guide.

2. A hoist for lifting an invalid into and out of a bath tub, said hoist comprising a base, a screw member rotatably journale'd in said base and extending upwardly therefrom, a guide member extending upwardly from said base adjacent said screw member, a support arm, said support arm including a nut portion threaded on said screw member, an end of said support arm being slidably engaged with said guide to prevent rotation of said support arm during rotation of the screw member, a water motor connected to said screw member for rotating said screw member, said water motor including means for connecting said water motor to a faucet and means for delivering used water to a bath tub, and a carriage removably carried bysaid support arm on the end of said support arm opposite that engaged with said guide, wheel means mountingisaid base for movement.

3. A hoist for lifting an invalid into and out of a bath tub, said hoist comprising a base, a screw member rotatably journaled in said base and extending upwardly therefrom, a guide member extending upwardly from said base adjacent said screw member, a support arm, said support arm including a nut portion threaded on said screw member, an end of said support arm being slidably engaged with said guide to prevent rotation of said support arm, a water motor connected to said screw member for rotating said screw member, said water motor includ- 10 ing means for connecting said water motor to a faucet and for deliver ng used water to a bath tub, and a carriage carried by said support arm, pressure equalizing means carried by said guide and resiliently engaging the underside of said not portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,087,286 Hicks July 20, 1937 2,112,760 Brown Mar. 29, 1938 2,582,586 Dorr Jan. 15, 1952