US3668723A

US3668723A - Patient riser

Info

Publication number: US3668723A
Application number: US106487A
Authority: US
Inventors: Francis H Bratton
Original assignee: APRAND Inc
Current assignee: APRAND Inc
Priority date: 1971-05-24
Filing date: 1971-01-14
Publication date: 1972-06-13
Anticipated expiration: 1989-06-13
Also published as: CH540643A

Abstract

Support means for use in combination with a generally horizontally disposed seating surface for supporting persons while in a sitting position, such as a chair, bed, hospital bed, chaise lounge or the like. The support means comprises a pair of generally vertically disposed, preferably adjustable posts, adapted to extend from the floor to the support surface, these posts each having a lateral side wall secured thereto and extending rearwardly therefrom and adapted to flank a person sitting on the support surface. The lateral side walls are each provided with a base rail portion which is adapted to engage the support surface, along with a riser rail coupled to the top of the lateral side wall and adapted to be engaged by a person sitting on said support surface for assistance in rising. The post support means connected rigidly together below the lateral side walls to hold them rigid in the absence of a rigid rear wall, or a rigid rear wall means is coupled across the rear of the lateral side walls, and is adapted to be disposed in back of a person resting on the support surface. Preferably, the rigid rear wall means is provided with a base rail portion for engaging the support surface.

Description

United States Patent Bratton 1 June 13, 1972 Francis H. Bratton, Avon, Conn.

Primary Examiner- Bobby R.'Gay Assistant ExaminerAndrew M. Calvert Attorney-Orrin M. Haugen [57] ABSTRACT Support means for use in combination with a generally horizontally disposed seating surface for supporting persons while in a sitting position, such as a chair, bed, hospital bed, chaise lounge or the like. The support means comprises a pair of generally vertically disposed, preferably adjustable posts,

- adapted to extend from the floor to the support surface, these posts each having a lateral side wall secured thereto and extending rearwardly therefrom and adapted to flank a person sitting on the support surface. The lateral side walls are each provided with a base rail portion which is adapted to engage the support surface, along with a riser rail coupled to the top of the lateral side wall and adapted to be engaged by a person sitting on said support surface for assistance in rising. The post support means connected rigidly together below the lateral side walls to hold them rigid in the absence of a rigid rear wall, or a rigid rear wall means is coupled across the rear of the lateral side walls, and is adapted to be disposed in back of a person resting on the support surface. Preferably, the rigid rear wall means is provided with a base rail portion for engaging the support surface.

9 Clains, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUH 13 I972 3.668 723 INVENTOR.

Fr'ancisH Bmtton PATIENT RISER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to apparatus for assisting individuals in rising from a seated position on a normal seating surface such as a chair, bed, hospital bed, chaise lounge, or the like. The apparatus is particularly adapted for use with aged or infirm persons who may require lateral support to assist themselves in arising from a seated position. The device includes a pair of support posts along with a pair of lateral side walls, the side walls being supported on the seating surface, and having riser rails coupled to the top of each .of the lateral side walls. While in a seated position, a person such asa patient or the like, may grip or grasp the riser rails and thereby use his arms to enable him to rise from a seated position. The apparatus is particularly desirable for use by persons who are generally ambulatory, but who would otherwise require personal assistance in rising from a seated position.

In the past, various riser devices, or patient assist devices have been proposed which enable a patient to arise upon grasping or pulling" from the seated position. These devices, while generally satisfactory, suffer from certain disadvantages in requiring a rather steady sense of balance for the individual using the structure. The present apparatus permits persons to arise from aseated position by utilizing the force available in his arms for pushing himself from the seated position to an erect position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved riser device for use by aged or infirm persons, for assisting the individual in arising from a seated position.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an improved riser device wherein the user utilizesa pushing force in his arms to assist himself in rising from a seated position.

.It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an improved riser device which is collapsible, and which is capable of being readily cleaned.

Other and further objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a study of the following specification, appended claims, and accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a patient riser device fabricated in accordance with the present invention, and showing the device in position on an elevated bed surface;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and illustrating a patient using the structure in such a way that his arms assist him in pushing himself to a standing position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, partially exploded, and showing the foot support or step surface in partially collapsed or folded disposition;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the structureshown in FIG. I, and illustrating the manner in which the back wall may be detached and folded away from the remainingcomponents of the structure;

FIG. 5 is a detail elevation view, partially broken away, and illustrating the details of the latch and hinge means utilized for securing the back wall to the pair of lateral side walls, FIG. 5 being taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a partial isometric view of the lower portion of the structure, and illustrating a pair of support steps which may be utilized by the user to descend from an elevated support surface such as a hospital bed or the like.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, particularly as is illustrated in' FIGS. 1-6,

the patient riser structure generally designated 10 is shown in operative disposition on the seating support surface of bed 11. It will be appreciated that the use of the term seating surface" is in a general sense, since such surfaces are generally available on chairs, beds, hospital beds, chaise lounges and the like. Because of the nature of the device, however, it will most frequently be utilized in combination with a normal bed, or a hospital bed.

The patient riser structure generally designated 10 includes a pair of generally vertically disposed

support posts

12 and 13, these posts being arranged to'extend from the surface of the floor such as at 14, to the upper surface'of the bed lIJA pair of lateral side walls 16 and 17 are coupled to the

support posts

12 and 13, these lateral side walls extending rearwardly from the posts 12 and I3 and being adapted to flank a person sitting on the surface of the bed 11. The walls 16 and I7 ere each provided with a base rail portion such as the

base rail portions

18 and 19 respectively, these base rail portions being adapted to engage the seating surface, such as the top of bed 11. This provides for stability in the structure, particularly during the time that a patient would be urging himself upwardly from a sitting position. The lateral side wallsl6 and 17 are also provided with a pair of riser rails, such as the

riser rails

20 and 21, these riser rails being adapted to be engaged by a person sitting on the support surface. With'attention being directed to FIG. 2, it will be observed that the patient shown in FIG. 2 is utilizing the top surface of the riser rails for forcing himself upwardly from a seated position.

A rigid rear wall extends between the side walls and is shown at 23, this wall being adapted to be disposed in back of a person sitting on the support surface. Preferably, the back wall has a base rail portion such as the base rail portion 24 which is adapted to engage the support surface and provide for additional stability during use. 1 i

In order to provide for collapsing the structure when desired, the lateral side walls may be coupled to the support posts by any suitable means, such as by the telescoping coupling arrangements shown generally at'30 and 31. F urthermore, the rear wall may be attached to one of the side walls, such as the side wall 16 by means of the pivotal hinge arrangement such as is shown at 32, along with the locking hasp structure shown at 33. Thus, by releasing the hasp 33, and collapsing the rear wall 23 against the lateral side wall 16, the

. components can be easily stowed away when not required for constant use.

It is observed that the structure shown in FIGS. l-6 includes a support step 35, the support step 35 being pivotally secured across the

posts

12 and 13 by means of suitable pivots as at 36 and 37. Also, if required, a support rod may be provided as at 38, along with a stabilizing rod 39. Posts 40 and 4i are utilized to provide stability for the step 35 by engaging the floor surface and thereby rigidly supporting the surface of step 35.

While the step structure has been illustrated herein, it will be fully appreciated that in a substantial number of instances, the use of a step will not be required, and that such a structure willnormally only be required where the seating surface is disposed at an unusually high elevation.

While the arrangement including the rigid rear wall 23 may be used, it has also been found that its presence is not required when rigid connection means such as is provided in the

lateral connection bars

42, 43 and 44 between the vertical posts in present. This arrangement is illustrated in detail in FIG. 6 of the drawing.

Similarly, when a rigid arrangement of the rear wall 23 is 1 provided, the lateral connection bars 42, 43and 44 are not needed and the

vertical support posts

12 and 13, as illustrated in FIG. 6, may be used.

Also, FIG. 6 illustrates a pair of steps 45-45 which may be used to allow the patient to rise with'both feet supported and then to step to floor level while being supported by the patient riser.

A further feature of the concept of the present invention is the use of support posts which are arranged to be adjustable in length. While in actual operation, it is generally preferred that the posts be somewhat shorter than the distance between the floor and the support, so as to provide for maximum stability when the user is applying the greatest amount of force on the riser rails. The telescoping feature will, of course, provide for the use of the structure in combination with seating surfaces at a variety of elevations from the floor.

The structure of the present invention permits the use by the patient or other user while in extremely close proximity. It is not necessary for the individual to seek or obtain assistance from others in having objects rolled up to the edge of the bed, or otherwise moved into range, since this unit is moved and set into place at a single point or location. The mattress of a bed,

or the support seat of a chair will provide for substantial support of the unit and will enhance the stabilityof the structure while in actual use.

It will be appreciated that the apparatus of the present invention may be fabricated from a variety of materials of construction, such as, for example, round or square section tubing, wood, or the like. Because of the quality of wood as a gripping material, such a material of construction would normally be preferred for the riser rails, while the remaining portions of the structure could be fabricated from the most convenient and economical materials of construction. Also, the lateral side walls may be made of solid construction, such as a foam-rigid skin laminate, a solid piece of wood, two formed polypropylene sections heat sealed at the edges, and the like. If desired, the side rail may be made adjustable in height to accommodate personal preference or capability of the patient, and the distance between sides could also be made adjustable. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the means for coupling the rear wall to the lateral side walls is illustrative only, and a variety of other schemes may be utilized for giving the stable support which is required in this type of structure, including, for example, external clamping arrangements and the like.

I claim:

1. Support means for use in combination with a generally horizontally disposed seating surface for supporting persons while. in a sitting position and comprising:

'a. a pair of generally vertically disposed support posts adapted to extend from the floor to the support surface;

b. a pair of generally horizontally disposed lateral side walls telescopically secured to said support posts and extending rearwardly therefrom, said side walls being adapted to flank a person sitting on said support surface and having a base rail portion adapted to engage said support surface;

c. a pair of riser rails coupled to the top of said lateral side walls and adapted to be engaged by a person sitting on said support surface; and

d. a rigid connection means extending between and coupled to said vertically disposed support posts and adapted to provide stability to the lateral side walls.

2. The support means as defined in claim 1 being particularly characterized in that said vertically disposed support posts are arranged to be adjustable in axial length.

3. The support means as defined in claim 1 being particularly'characterized in that step means for supporting the user are provided at a point elevated from the base of said support v posts.

while in a sitting position and comprising:

a. a pair of generally vertically disposed support posts adapted to extend from the fioor to the support surface;

b. a pair of generally horizontally disposed lateral side walls telescopically secured to said support posts and extending rearwardly therefrom, said side walls being adapted to flank a person sitting on said support surface and having a base railfportion adapted to engage said support surface; c. a pair 0 riser rails coupled to the top of said lateral side walls and adapted to be engaged by a person sitting on said support surface; and

d. a rigid rear wall means extending between and being coupled to said side walls and adapted to be disposed in back of a person sitting on said support surface.

6. The support means as defined in claim 5 being particularly characterized in that said rear wall has a base rail portion adapted to engage said support surface.

7. The support means as defined in claim 6 being particularly characterized in that said step means is pivotally coupled to said support posts at a point adjacent the rear of said step means.

8. The support means as defined in claim 5 being particularly characterized in that a rigid coupling means is extended between and is coupled to said vertically disposed support posts and adapted to provide stability to the lateral side walls.

9. The support means as defined in claim 5 being particularly characterized in that individual step means are provided for both feet of the user by rigid attachment to the generally vertically disposed support posts, the step means being provided with a support means to engage the floor surface at areas in front of the support posts.

Claims

1. Support means for use in combination with a generally horizontally disposed seating surface for supporting persOns while in a sitting position and comprising: a. a pair of generally vertically disposed support posts adapted to extend from the floor to the support surface; b. a pair of generally horizontally disposed lateral side walls telescopically secured to said support posts and extending rearwardly therefrom, said side walls being adapted to flank a person sitting on said support surface and having a base rail portion adapted to engage said support surface; c. a pair of riser rails coupled to the top of said lateral side walls and adapted to be engaged by a person sitting on said support surface; and d. a rigid connection means extending between and coupled to said vertically disposed support posts and adapted to provide stability to the lateral side walls.

3. The support means as defined in claim 1 being particularly characterized in that step means for supporting the user are provided at a point elevated from the base of said support posts.

4. The support means as defined in claim 2 being particularly characterized in that said support posts have an axial length which is less than the distance between the floor and the seating surface.

5. Support means for use in combination with a generally horizontally disposed seating surface for supporting persons while in a sitting position and comprising: a. a pair of generally vertically disposed support posts adapted to extend from the floor to the support surface; b. a pair of generally horizontally disposed lateral side walls telescopically secured to said support posts and extending rearwardly therefrom, said side walls being adapted to flank a person sitting on said support surface and having a base rail portion adapted to engage said support surface; c. a pair of riser rails coupled to the top of said lateral side walls and adapted to be engaged by a person sitting on said support surface; and d. a rigid rear wall means extending between and being coupled to said side walls and adapted to be disposed in back of a person sitting on said support surface.