US3469269A

US3469269A - Hospital and ambulance patient handling equipment

Info

Publication number: US3469269A
Application number: US673820A
Authority: US
Inventors: Roy L Brown
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1967-10-09
Filing date: 1967-10-09
Publication date: 1969-09-30
Anticipated expiration: 1986-09-30

Description

P 0, 969 R. L. BROWN 3,469,269

HOSPITAL AND AMBULANCE PATIENT HANDLING EQUIPMENT I Filed Oct. 9. 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Roy L, Brown Sept. 30, 1969 R. L. BROWN 3,469,269v

I HOSPITAL AND AMBULANCE PATIENT HANDLING EQUIPMENT Filed Oct. 9, 1967 s Sheets-Sheet 2 We 29 BY 06 M I ATTOR EYS Sept. 30, 1969 R. L. BROWN 3,469,269

HOSPITAL AND AMBULANCE PATIENT HANDLING EQUIPMENT Filed Oct. 9. 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 17 my. 10 ATTOR 5Y5 United States Patent O r 3,469,269 t HOSPITAL AND AMBULANCE PATIENT HANDLING EQUIPMENT Roy L. Brown, 323 W. 2nd St., Sedalia, M0. 65301 Filed Oct. 9, 1967, Ser. No. 673,820

' Int. ,Cl. A61g 7/10 j US. Cl. -86 I p 10 Claims BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to patient lifting.and handling equipment. In normal hospital use, it is used in conjunction with a lifting dolly for raising portions of a prone hospital patients body and, additionally, for lifting and transporting, in a seated position, bed patients in a hospital, nursing home or other places where such a lift may be desirable. A compact portable carrying bar is included for use of ambulance calls, and where a standard lifting dolly is not available or cannot be used. Examples of the latter include transporting a patient up and down stairs and in narrow hallways where space is limited.

In the past, principally web type harnesses and slings have been used in combination with the conventional lifting dolly to raise and support patients or to move them in an upright position. These, in general, were diificult to strap onto the patient, often got in the way .of other support equipment, and additionally, quickly became soiled and unsanitary. Frequent washing and sterilizing deteriorated the web material to the extent that their service life was limited. Web material which had been weakened through repeated sterilization was extremely dangerous and could not be trusted to support the body weight of a human being. Prior attempts at creating metal support means have all been either extremely complex or otherwise impractical to the extent that they were unable to gain wide acceptance. Although this invention is extremely simple, both in its construction and operation, it is also exceptionally safe and reliable while still being comfortable I SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 7 This invention includes a grasping and carrying device having two substantially J-shaped arcuate members pivotally depending from a horizontal crossbar. The arcuate portions form a cradle for lifting, supporting and carrying a human being, particularly an injured or otherwise weak 3,469,269 Patented Sept. 30, 1969 and incapacitated person such as hospital or nursing home patients or accident victims. Also included is a carrying bar to which the cradle can be attached for manual carrying. I

An object of the instant invention is to provide a device for raising a limited zone of a prone bed patient from a hospital bed, such as the chest, the abdomen, or the hips, for such purposes as access to a portion of the body for cleaning, changing bed clothes, clothing or underclothing the patient, use of bed pans,'access to injured zones, and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple grasping and engaging device to be used with a prone, bedridden hospital patient which permits the use of a .bed pan while the hips of the patient are in an elevated position, yet which avoids soiling of the lifting device.

'Another object of the invention is to provide a lifting device for use with a prone hospital bed patient which may be engaged at any portion of'the patients torso, chest, waist, hips, without requiring moving or lifting of any part of the patient, or the inserting of any device, sling, or the like underneath the patient before the patient is lifted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a strong, simple, durable, dependable, easily cleanable, absolutely safe, adjustable means for both lifting portions of the body of a prone hospital bed patient and lifting and moving a patient in a sitting position with respect to hospital chairs, beds, and wheel chairs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a comfortable, dependable, adjustable, safe, transportable, extremely simple means for receiving a patient in a sitting position from a wheel chair or a sitting position on a bed,

clasping the patient alongside and immediately underneath the upper thighs and around the upper part of the torso, while barring egress of the patients body from the forward part of the device, thereby to comfortably, dependably, easily and safely permit the lifting, handling, moving and depositing of the patient from one wheel chair to another, bed to bed, bed to wheel chair, etc., without requiring any cooperation or effort on the part of the patient or muscular strength or coordination from same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type described which may be used by a single nurse or hospital attendant Without requiring a team of skilled individuals to handle the patient for the moving task previously delineated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which is utilizable :with any one of several readily available standard commercial patient lifting dollies or lifting devices, readily attachable thereto and removable therefrom.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device which includes an easily removable and attachable portable carrying means for use primarily on ambulance calls.

Another object of this invention is to provide a carrying means to which the grasping and engaging device can be easily attached and removed and which is particularly well suited for transporting the patient up and down stairs and in areas where space and maneuverability is limited.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lifting device of the character described and for the uses previously delineated, which device, when attached to any one of several readily available commercial patient lifting devices or dollies is utilizable with respect to, under and around a standard orthopedic framework over a bed whereby not to interfere with, require modification of or changing of any sortof sling, cast suspension, tensioning means or the like which is attached to or connected with the patient.

Another object of the invention is to provide such means for lifting prone and seated patients which mini- .rnize strain and stress on the patient and the nurse or attendant working therewith.

Another object of the invention is to minimize the apparatus required to move, lift, transfer and the like a hospital patient whereby all parts of the apparatus will be readily accessible to view and manipulation for the optimum handling of the patient with his optimum safety always maximized.

Other and further objects of the invention, together with the features of novelty appurtenant thereto, -will appear in the course of the following description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith, the embodiments of the invention are shown and, in the various views, like reference numerals are employed to indicate like parts.

FIG. 1 is a side three-quarter perspective view of a hospital bed having an orthopedic patient lying thereon, the subject patient lifting device shown engaged with the hospital bed patient in such manner as might be employed to use a bed pan, the said device attached to a conventional patient lifting dolly.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the subject patient lifting device attached to a conventional patient lifing dolly or lift, same carrying a hospital patient in seated position showing the patient about to be installed in or just lifted from a conventional wheel chair.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the patient lifting device of FIGS. 1 and 2, with the patient engaging strap removed.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the right hand side of the device in FIG. 3 showing the means for locking the limiting chain in a fixed extension between the two clam shell halves of the patient lifting device.

FIG. 5 is a three-quarter perspective view of the patient lifting device taken from the same side as the view of FIG. 4 showing the limiting chain engaging means unlatched and also showing the patient receiving strap coupled therewith.

FIG. 6 is a view taken along the line 66 of FIG. 4 in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a novel carrying bar especially adapted for use with the instant improvement.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the carrying bar showing the grasping and engaging device in use therewith including a patient.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of one horizontal member of the carrying bar showing means for assembling and disassembling the bar for compact portability.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the carrying bar taken along the line 1010 of FIG. 9 in the direction of the arrows showing details of the locking means for assembling the bar.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the engaging and supporting device being used in conjunction with a conventional type of hospital lifting dolly. Such dollies include a support frame with tubular U-frame constuction base 10, vertical post 11, cantilever boom 12, and eye loop 13 from which the subject engaging device to be described may be supported. The angle of the cantilever boom, and thereby the height of the engaging device from the ground, is adjustable by means of conventional hydraulic piston means 14 or similar device which enables a load suspended from the boom 12 to be lifted smoothly with a minimum of shock or jerking motion. The entire apparatus is supported by four dollies 15 which permit the device to be freely rolled about.

The improved lifting device, per se, is shown in detail in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. A pair of

arms

16 and 17 pivotally depend from a horizontal crossbar 18. The arms are substantially J-shaped in end view with the arcuate portions 16a and 17a thereof each inwardly directed to form the mating halves of a clam shell. The lateral walls 16b and 17b of the arms are substantially straight as are the

end portions

160 and 170. The radius of curvature of the arcuate portion 16a and 17a varies somewhat but forms a smooth approximately contour that comfortably and securely engages the patients body to give him a safe, secure feeling while being raised, supported or moved about. The confronting faces of the

arms

16d and 17d are substantially fiat with the edges outwardly rolled 16c and 17a to form a shallow channel of exceptional strength and rigidity. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the width of the channel thus formed is approximately seven inches throughout the arcuate portion and gradually narrows to approximately four and one-fourth inches at the pivotal support. The distance between the pivot and the arcuate portion is approximately eleven inches. The channel is generally approximately one-half inch deep with a gradual decrease in depth near the facing ends 161 and 17f of the arms. A downwardly directed curved lip at the ends 16 and 17) of the arms combines with the decreasing channel depth to provide a wedge-like contour that has no body contacting sharp edges and which easily slips under the patients bed for engagement.

The upper support crossbar 18 is of tubular construction having an outside diameter of approximately seveneights inch in this embodiment, and a wall thickness of approximately nine sixty-fourths inch. The length of the bar is approximately sixteen and one-half inches from centerline to centerline of the pivotal axis of the

support arms

16, 17, which provides the degree of separation between the depending arms such that in the patient engaging position, as shown in the broken line representation of FIG. 3, the arms depend substantially vertically. In this position, there is sufiicient clearance between confronting lateral sides to firmly but comfortably engage the patients torso particularly in the pelvic region as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 8. As can be seen in FIG. 3, in the convergent position, the ends of the

arms

16 and 17 are separated slightly such as to permit the patients use of a bed pan while his posterior is being supported in an elevated position without risk of soiling the supporting

arms

16 and 17. The arms are also separated sufiiciently to prevent pinching the patient while being engaged, but are close enough together to prevent any danger of the patients thigh or torso slipping through. Thus, even if the patients body were to twist at an angle such that the lateral rather than dorsal portion of his torso or thigh region were directly over the separation between the engaging arms, there is still inadequate clearance for the engaged portion of his body to slip through the grasp of the arms.

Another significant dimension of the

arms

16 and 17 relate to their over-all height. It is important that the supporting rod 18 engage the patient in the chest region when he is supported in the upright position. Thus, he is prohibited from falling forward but his head and neck extends above the device to provide plenty of head room such as shown in FIG. 2. In the embodiment shown, the approximate vertical distance between the lower end 16f and 171 of the arms and the top perimeter of the support bar 18 when the arms are in the patient engaging position is nineteen and one-half inches.

Rigid loops 19 are attached, one on each

lateral flange portion

16e and 17e of the

arms

16 and 17, near the pivotal end. A sling or belt 20 can be passed through corresponding loops 19 on adjacent sides of the lifting and engaging arms and passed under the patients arms near the armpits and on around his back thereby firmly fastening him in the upright position in the invention such as shown in FIGS. 2 and 8. By placing the web or belt 20 supports well up on the rib cage of the patient, the natural body 1011 and arch of the aged or unconscious is permitted, thus making the carry far more comfortable.

The pivotal support for the arms is a sleeve 21 and axle 22 arrangement extending across the upper edge of the channel. Each sleeve 21 is individually rigidly attached at its longitudinal center transverse to an end of the cross bar 18. The axles 22 in turn are fixedly attached to ears 23 vertically extending from the edge of the channel walls 162, 17e on the uppermost end of each arm. The arms are free to pivot about this pivotal arrangement in a converging and diverging manner.

In the embodiment shown, the dimensions of the pivotal arrangement include a three-eights inch diameter axle 22 turning inside a sleeve 21 having a nine-sixteenths inch outside diameter and a three thirty-seconds inch wall thickness. Since the axles are welded or otherwise fixedly attached to the mounting ears 23 and the sleeves are fixedly attached to the support bar 18, the entire approximately four and one-fourth inch length of the sleeve serves as a bearing surface for the pivotal motion of the axles. A lifetime bearing surface is thereby insured since the bearing load is well distributed which minimizes wear on both the sleeve and the axle.

A hook type fastening means 24 is loosely passed through a tubular hub 25 interiorly mounted in the crossbar 18 at its longitudinal center. The shank of the hook, which in the embodiment shown is of seven-sixteenths inch diameter stainless steel, loosely passes through the hub 25 and is then perpendicularly attached to the center of a circular load bearing disc 26. The crossbar 18 can thus be freely rotated about the shaft to change the orientation of the engaging

arms

16 and 17 with respect to the lifting dolly or other lifting and supporting means.

A link chain 27 is attached to the interior wall 16d of one of the arms 16 at a point approximately midway up the side and equidistant in from either lateral edge. The other end of the chain passes through a keyhole shaped slot 28 in the opposing arm 17, and located directly opposite the connecting point. The point of attachment and the keyhole slot are positioned upward from the lower end of the engaging arms at a height sufficient to accept the thickness of a human body cradled in the arms thereunder. A short rod 29 is attached approximately at its midpoint to the loose end of the chain thus providing a grasping means for pulling the chain taut and also providing means for limiting divergent motion of the arms.

A locking bar 30 is pivotally mounted on a double headed pin 31 extending through the engaging arm 17 and positioned just above the keyhole slot 28. The bar 30 is urged flat against the exterior face 17g of the engaging arm 17 by a compression spring 32 circumferentially engaging the pin 31 and expansively communicating between the outer head of the rivet pin 31a and the outer face 300 of the locking bar.

One end 30b of the locking bar is bifurcated by a centrally located rectangular slot 300. Thus, when a link of chain 27a is dropped edgewise into the slot portion 28b of the keyhole, the locking bar 30 is pivoted into position such that the slot in the bar and the slot in the engaging arm 17 combine to completely envelop the chain link, thereby securely locking it in place. A small grasping knob 33 projects from the face of the locking bar 30 which is grasped to urge the bar outwardly against the compression spring .in order to permit the bar to be rotated into place over the chain link 270. When the knob is released, the spring again urges the bar 30 against the face of the engaging arm 17g and the spring loading provides additional security that the locking bar will not unintentionally become disengaged.

With the obvious exception of the belt 20, the preferred embodiment of this invention is stainless steel. A prototype wherein the arms were fabricated from 14 gauge stainless has been tested with a 350 pound load with no observable deflection of the arms. Although other materials and dimensions than those cited above are entirely possible, the stainless steel embodiment ofiers advantages in addition to its excellent strength and rigidity. Certainly stainless steel has outstanding durability and also is exceptionally easy to keep clean. It can be steam sterilized in an autoclave and immediately returned to service after a short cool down time. There is no need to wait for the unit to dry such as would be necessary for a web type sling. The psychological effect of improving the patients sense of security in knowing he is supported by a material with the obvious strength and rigidity of stainless steel is not easy to evaluate but is most certainly an additional advantage. Although stainless steel is relatively heavy as compared to some of the structural plastic materials, the prototype unit mentioned weighs only approximately 8.5 pounds.

A carrying bar illustrated in FIGS. 7 through 10 is included as an auxiliary part of the invention. The individual tubular sections of the bar are best shown in FIG. 8 where it can be seen that there are four

horizontal sections

34, 35 and one vertical section 36. These sections are detachably joined together as shown in FIG. 9 by inserting the

short telescoping extensions

34a and 35a protruding from one end of each horizontal section into the female end of the adjoining section. A locking pin 37, as shown in detail in FIG. 10, is included in each telescoping extension to prevent the assembly from unintentionally pulling apart. The pin is contained within a tubular housing 38 that extends diametrically across the

telescoping section

34a and 35a. A spring 39, within the housing, urges the pin 37 against one end wall 38a, the latter having an aperture 38b therethrough through which an extension 37a of the pin projects. A shoulder 37b on the pin abuts against the interior face of the annular wall 38a surrounding the aperture 38b, thereby restraining the major portion of the pin 37 within the housing 38.

The interior horizontal bar sections 35 have relatively small circular apertures 41 near the end opposite the telescoping extensions 35a which register with the locking pins 37 when the bar is assembled. A portion of the pin 37 protruding from the

telescoping section

34a and 35a snaps into the aperture 41 in the horizontal bar sections 35 to secure the asembly in the joined condition.

The single vertical section 36 provides head room for the patient when carried upright as seen in FIG. 8. Relatively short

horizontal extensions

36a and 36b are rigidly attached to the end of this vertical section in a square C arrangement. Gusset plates 42 communicate between the main section 360 and the

extensions

36a and 36b for added strength.

Circular registering apertures

43 and 44 similar to those included in the exterior horizontal sections are also included in the horizontal extensions. These are located in position to accept the locking pins 37 for securing the assembly. A hook 24 receiving fastening loop 45 is fixedly attached to the lower extension 36a on the bottom perimeter near the outer end. The ends of all sections not attached to an adjoining section are capped to prevent dirt or other foreign matter from gaining access to the interior of the bar.

Grasping handles 46 are included on each end horizontal section 34 and perpendicularly projecting from each side near the outer end of the bar. These handles can be grasped by the carrier for better lateral stability of the carrying bar during carry.

Although the exact dimensions of the bar are not controlling, in the embodiment shown, individual sections were fabricated from approximately one and one-half inch outside diameter by one and three-eighths inch inside diameter rigid metal tubes joined together to form a bar approximately seventy inches long. The vertical distance between the centerline of the upper and lower horizontal sections is approximately sixteen inches which provides ample head room for the patient. Steel tubing or some other high tensile alloy is the preferred material of construction. The weight of a prototype fabricated from steel was eight and one-half pounds which is light enough to make the bar readily portable.

In the employment of the engaging and lifting device with a conventional hospital lifting dolly, the

arms

16 and 17 are first positioned over the portion of the patients anatomy to be raised by rolling the lifting dolly in place. The

arms

16 and 17 are separated sufficiently to clear the patients body and are then lowered around the patient. When in the lowered position, they are carefully urged together until they pass under and around the patients torso in the area to be lifted. The locking chain 27 is pulled tight through the circular portion 28a of the keyhole and dropped into the slot section 28b, as shown in FIG. 5. The locking bar 28 is retracted against the spring 31 and rotated until the slot 30a in the bar 30 registers with the slot of the keyhole. It is there released to securely lock the chain in place. Thus the patients body is firmly but comfortably engaged, and as he is lifted, there is no danger of the

arms

16 and 17 accidentally separating and consequently releasing the patients body. The engaging and lifting device can be slowly and smoothly raised by means of the hydraulic cylinder 14 until the portion of the patients body being raised is at the elevation desired. Throughout the entire operation, the patient feels a minimum of discomfort and is handled far more smoothly and safely than is possible by manual techniques. Furthermore, the attendant has expended a minimum of effort, and even a small, frail nurse can handle the most portly patient.

The operation just described is illustrated in FIG. 1. The lifting dolly has been rolled in place with the U- frame base 10 positioned under a conventional hospital bed 47 and the cantilever boom 12 located directly over the portion of the patients anatomy being lifted. The engaging and lifting device is cradled around the patient and the lower portion of the patients torso is elevated such as might be necessary for changing his dressing or inserting a bed pan. As is manifest in this illustration, there would be a minimum amount of interference with any traction devices or similar paraphernalia on or around the patient.

In FIG. 2, the patient is being handled in the upright position and being either lifted or deposited into a wheel chair 48. In a typical operation for handling a sitting or upright patient such as transporting the patient between bed 47 and wheel chair 48, the lifting dolly would be rolled into place with the boom 12 centered over the thigh portion of the patient. The

arms

16 and 17 would then be dropped around the patient in the divergent condition and there be urged together with the ends passing under the patients thighs. The chain 27 would then be pulled tight and locked in place as described previously. The belt would then be passed around the patient under the armpits and fastened so that the patient is securely restrained in the carrying apparatus. The belt loops 19 are provided on both sides of the engaging arms so that regardless of which direction the patient is facing with respect to the lifting dolly, the engaging arms can be oriented prior to engagement such that the pull bar 29 on the chain is always adjacent to the hydraulic lifting means 14 on the dolly. Thus, the patient can be engaged, strapped in place, and lifted all from the same side of the bed. After being securely strapped in place, the patient is lifted with the hydraulic lifting means 14 on the dolly, rolled to the wheel chair 48, and there deposited. Numerous similar operations are possible including one of particular value to nursing home patients. It is often extremely difficult to get the old and invalid in and out of bathtubs, but with this invention it becomes a routine matter. The water, of course, has no adverse effect on the stainless steel construction of the carrying apparatus and the engaging

arms

16 and 17 can either be left in place while the patient is being bathed or be removed to be reinserted later when the patient is ready to be transported back to his wheel chair or bed. The arms do not have to be drip dried as would be required for cloth slings, but can be quickly dried off and ready for reuse.

The auxiliary carrying bar can be used whenever the conventional lifting dolly is not available. It is especially useful for ambulance calls since it can be easily transported in the disassembled condition. The bar can be strapped or fastened to the engaging

arms

16 and 17 and carried to the scene of an accident or where there is a non-ambulatory patient. Assembly is accomplished'as described previously by simply inserting the telescoping extensions 34a of the two end sections 34 into the female end of the two inner sections 35 and then inserting the telescoping extensions 35a of the inner section 35 into

horizontal extensions

36a and 36b of the vertical section 36 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The individual sections are locked together by the locking pin 37 entering the registering apertures. The pin can later be manually depressed and the bar disassembled for storage or transportation.

The use of the lifting and engaging device with the portable carrying bar is very similar to use with the conventional hospital lifting dolly.

The engaging and lifting arms are locked in place around the patient as described previously, and the fastening hook 24 is attached to loop 45 of the carrying bar. The patient can then be manually lifted in the sitting position. In a level carrying situation, normally one attendant would support the upper horizontal portion of the bar on his shoulder while the other attendant would support the other end by grasping the carrying handles 40. The C-shape of the vertical section 36 and the position of the fastening loop 45 on the outer end of the lower extension 36a enables tilting the bar for going up and down stairs without contacting the patients head. For this operation both attendants would likely support the bar on their shoulders. The patient remains in the upright position irrespective of the angle of the carrying bar which contributes greatly to his comfort and sense of well being. The ability to tilt the bar without unbalancing the patient and the swivel arrangement of the fastening hook 24 all add to the versatility of the bar making it extremely useful in close quarters such as in narrow hallways or in and out of residential basements.

As an added feature of the carrying bar, a belt 48 or other sling type device can be attached to the bar as shown in FIG. 8 for supporting either or both legs. The support belt would be required where there are hip or leg injuries that would be aggravated by permitting the patients leg to swing free.

It is apparent that by utilizing the belt 20 on the carrying

arms

16 and 17, unconscious victims can be strapped into the device and safely transported in the upright position. This feature is extremely beneficial for ambulance use where the condition of the victim is likely to vary considerably. Additionally, with corpses when the victim has been in a sitting position and rigor mortis has set in, it is difficult to handle him with a conventional stretcher. With the use of this invention, the victim can be strapped in the sitting position and carried much as if handling an unconscious patient.

In normal emergency procedure it is expected that the subject invention would be used in combination with a conventional ambulance stretcher-cot combination that can be rolled in and out of the ambulances and is well suited for handling most patients over level ground and where there is room for maneuvering. The patient handling equipment with the portable carrying bar described herein would be used in close quarters such as steep and narrow stairways, or crowded halls, and the patient would then be transferred to the portable cot.

It is apparent that this invention is one with exceptional novelty and utility. It is simple enough that it can be handled by the least experienced attendant and still provides the maximum of safety and comfort for the patient. Hospitals and ambulance services find it increasingly difficult to obtain experienced personnel, and any means for simplifying and reducing the work load of the personnel available will improve the servicev that these agencies are able to provide and also make it easier to retain well qualifiedpeople. Certainly, one of the most diflicult duties that nurses or nurses aides have is the job of raising and moving patients that often substantially outweigh the nurses themselves. It is often an impossible task for a single nurse to handle such a patient alone. The invention described herein along with the conventional hospital lifting dolly is sized and constructed to make it simple for nurses to handle patients of almost any size. To carry small children of approximately ten or under in the upright position might require a device of reduced dimensions from those described herein, but usually these children can be easily carried without the aid of such a device.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth, together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Human body engaging and supporting means comprising,

a pair of arms adapted for lateral engagement with portions of a human body between the knees and armpits thereof, said arms substantially J-shaped in end view,

a normally horizontal bar spacing the upper ends of the arms one from the other,

said horizontal bar of such length, that in normal engagement of the human body, the legs of the J are inward of the bar outer ends.

means at each end of the bar for pivotally suspending said arms therefrom at the top ends thereof with the lower ends of the arms inwardly directed toward one another,

means intermediate the upper and lower ends of the arms and connectable therebetween at a variable length for fixing said arms with respect to inward and outward pivotal movement with respect to one another when clasped around a human body,

said means connectable to each arm at a point closely above the upper engaging level of said arm with a human body whereby to provide a strong and secure engagement with the body to be engaged and supported,

the lower inward ends of said arms, when said bar is horizontal and the upper ends of the arms are vertical, spaced apart sufliciently for toilet purposes but insufficiently far apart for passage of a human body therebetween.

and means on said bar for suspending the device from lifting means.

2. Means as in claim 1 including additional means adjacent the upper ends of the arms for receiving additional human body engaging and supporting means,

said latter means including loops connected to at least one pair of end edges of said arms adjacent the upper ends thereof and a belt slidably and adjustably engaging said loops.

3. A device as in claim 1 wherein the means intermediate the upper and lower ends of the arms and connecetd therebetween for fixing the said arms with respect to outward pivotable movement of one another when clasped around a human body comprise a chain fixed to one of said arms,

extending between the opposed inner faces of said arms and passing through an opening in the other said arm a and means for releasably engaging "said chain in said 'openmg. 1 4. A device as in claim 1 wherein the pivotalmounting means include hollow sleeves mounted on the ends of said bar at right angles thereto and shafts mounted at the upper ends of said arms in said sleeves.

5. A device as in claim 1 wherein said arms comprise flat tongues of metal arcuately formed at the lower end thereof and extending substantially horizontally at the free ends thereof when the upper arm portions are substantially vertical, the end and side edges of said tongues outwardly flanged.

6, Human body engaging and supporting means compIlSlllg,

means intermediate the upper and lower ends of the arms and connected therebetween for fixing the said arms with respect to outward pivotal movement with respect to one another when clasped around a human body,

and a carrying bar to be used in combination with said human body engaging and supporting means comprising,

individual tubular sections which can be easily and firmly joined together for use and separated for portability,

said sections forming a bar with a center located vertical portion which firmly and rigidly joins two horizontal portions,

said horizontal portions extending from opposite ends and in opposite directions from the vertical portion,

and a means for attaching the human body engaging and supporting means near the middle of said bar on the bottom of the lower horizontal portion thereof. 7. A carrying bar as in claim 6 wherein a spring loaded locking plunger arrangement is used for removably locking individual sections together.

8. A carrying bar as in claim 6 used in combination with a strap to support the legs, individually and together, of the patient being carried.

9. A carrying bar as in claim 6 wherein said vertical center portion has upper and lower horizontal projections extending in the same direction from but attached to opposite ends of said portion, said projections to join said horizontal portions of said carrying bar, and said lower projection having means on the outer end and the under side thereof for attaching said device of claim 1.

10. A device as in claim 1 including means for pivotally suspending said normally horizontal bar for 360 free rotation thereof comprising a hook type fastener passing through a tubular hub interiorly mounted in the said bar perpendicularly attached to the center of a circular load bearing disc on the under side of said bar.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,957,286 5/1934 Olson 297-45 (Other references on following page) UNITED 11 12 STATES PATENTS 3,234,568 2/1966 Fischer 589 Ramsey 586 Flandrick 586 X CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Pnmary Exammer Butler et a1. 589 X U.S. Cl. X.R. Bowers et a1. 586 5 589 Fischer 586