ES3001685T3 - Equipment for transferring persons - Google Patents

Abstract

Equipment (1) configured for the transfer of a person by a carrier, said equipment comprising an upper garment (2), such as a blouse, jacket or the like, and an exoskeleton sheet (3), coupled to the upper garment; fixed to said at least one fabric of the upper garment, comprising a lumbar support (30), two straps (31) and a back support (32), as well as handles (34, 35), fixed to the exoskeleton sheet, which protrude externally from said upper garment, at least in an unfolded position of the handles, the handles being arranged on the front part of said upper garment, the handles being configured to be grasped by a person during its transfer. (Automatic translation with Google Translate, without legal value)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Equipment for the transfer of people

The present disclosure relates to equipment configured for the transfer of a person by a user, comprising an upper body garment, such as a blouse, jacket or similar, as well as a flexible exoskeleton sheet, for example textile, internal to the garment.

Technical sector

This disclosure relates to the field of equipment used for the transportation of persons, particularly those with disabilities, or elderly, dependent, or injured persons.

In hospital settings and/or residential centers for dependent elderly people, caregivers frequently have to transfer people (e.g., from bed to chair, from chair to toilet), and also bedridden people, for example, so they can perform everyday activities such as going to the toilet, dressing, or other tasks.

Very often, these transfers are performed manually by caregivers, several times a day, which can lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), particularly in the lumbar region and upper extremities, as a result of their daily repetition. The risk of developing pathologies increases significantly among healthcare personnel when these transfers are performed with poor posture on the part of the caregiver.

State of the art

In the state of the art, mechanized handling equipment is known, such as gondolas mounted on carts, for example rolling along the floor, or suspended from a ceiling rail, which facilitate the transfer of dependent persons within the center.

External equipment such as transfer sheets, mobility belts, and pivoting support stands are also available to assist caregivers in the manual transfer of dependent patients.

The inventors observed that patient handling using mechanized solutions requires more processing time for caregivers than manual transfers. Healthcare personnel use these mechanized solutions less frequently than recommended. Furthermore, they are expensive.

This disclosure aims to improve the situation.

However, it is known from the state of the art, in particular from document JP 2005034260A or document JP 2005034260A, an equipment configured for the transfer of a person by a user, and comprising a jacket, as well as a flexible exoskeleton sheet, internal to the jacket, the exoskeleton sheet comprising a lumbar support configured to transfer at least a first portion of a load exerted on the exoskeleton to a lumbar region of the user.

-- two shoulder straps configured to transfer at least a second portion of the load to the shoulders,

-- a dorsal support connected to the lumbar support at a lower portion of the dorsal support, and connected to the two shoulder straps at an upper portion of the dorsal support; providing continuity of support to transfer a third portion of said load to a dorsal area of the user between the lumbar area and the shoulders.

Handles are attached to the exoskeleton sheet, internal to the garment, the wings protruding towards the outside of said garment for the upper part of the body, at least in an unfolded position of the handles, the handles being configured to be grasped by a person during transport.

This exoskeleton sheet is configured such that the load resulting from the person gripping the handles is transferred from the handles and distributed over the entire exoskeleton sheet, which performs a holding function.

Object of the invention

A device configured for the transfer of a person by a user is proposed, said device comprising:

- an upper body garment, such as a blouse, jacket or the like, comprising at least one textile configured to cover the upper part of the user's body, comprising at least the shoulders and the back, including the user's lumbar region and the ventral part

- a flexible exoskeleton sheet, internal to the upper body garment; integral with said upper body garment, comprising:

-- a lumbar support configured to transfer at least a first portion of a load exerted on the exoskeleton to a lumbar region of the user

-- two shoulder straps configured to transfer at least a second portion of the load to the shoulders, -- a dorsal support connected to the lumbar support at a lower portion of the dorsal support, and connected to the two shoulder straps at an upper portion of the dorsal support; providing continuity of support to transfer a third portion of said load to a dorsal area of the user between the lumbar area and the shoulders,

— handles, fixed to the exoskeleton sheet, internal to the garment, the handles projecting towards the outside of said upper body garment, at least in a deployed position of the handles, the handles arranged on the front part of said upper body garment, the handles configured to be gripped by a person during its transfer.

The flexible exoskeleton sheet, and in particular the lumbar support, is configured to limit the user's involvement in lumbar flexion. Lumbar flexion is a risk factor for occupational low back pain during manual patient handling.

Such an exoskeleton sheet is advantageously configured such that the load resulting from the person grasping the handles is transferred from the handles and effectively distributed over the entire exoskeleton sheet performing a support function (e.g., the back of the shoulders, the back of the trunk, including the dorsal and lumbar segments). This load is distributed over the shoulders, the lumbar region, and even the dorsal region of the user of said equipment, between the lumbar region and the shoulders, respectively, by means of the shoulder straps, the lumbar support, and the dorsal support of the exoskeleton.

It is also worth noting that said at least one textile of the garment may comprise at least a first outer textile, and wherein the lumbar support, the straps, on the one hand, and the dorsal support joined to the lumbar support in a lower portion of the dorsal support and joined to the two straps in an upper portion of the dorsal support, on the other hand, are located under the outer textile, hidden by the upper body garment, at least when the upper body garment is worn (see closed), said handles protruding towards the outside of the garment through handle openings in said at least one first textile.

According to this disclosure:

- all or some of the handles are retractable handles, configured to move from the deployed position to a retracted position,

- in the retracted position of the retractable handle, the handle is retracted under the handle opening,

- the handle opening may comprise a removable closure means, such as a zipper closure, configured to ensure closure of the handle opening in the retracted position of said retractable handle.

The features described in the following paragraphs can be implemented optionally. They can be implemented independently or in combination with each other:

- the handles may comprise two upper handles fixed, respectively, to the two straps of the exoskeleton sheet and/or the handles may comprise two lower handles fixed to the lumbar support of the exoskeleton sheet, in particular, to a first belt section and to a second belt section, respectively;

- all or some of the handles may be equipped with an elastic element which forces said handle from the retracted position towards or even to the deployed position, after opening of the handle opening by said removable closing means.

- the straps can be adjustable, or even deactivated in their fastening restriction, each strap comprising an adjustment system comprising a first strap strap and a second strap strap, as well as an adjustment buckle between the first strap and the second strap strap.

- the lumbar support can be adjustable/deactivatable in its fastening restriction, comprising a first belt section and a second belt section, as well as a removable fixing system between the first belt section and the second belt section, such as a hook/loop fixing system configured to ensure the fixing of the first belt section to the second belt section in different adjustment positions of the two sections with respect to each other.

- the textile may comprise, in addition to said at least one first outer textile, at least one second inner textile forming a lining, and in which the straps, the lumbar support and the dorsal support are received inside the lining, in whole or in part, arranged between the first outer textile and the second inner textile.

- the upper body garment is configured to be opened or closed by a closure, such as a button closure or a zipper closure, upon separation of two separable portions of the upper body garment, right and left, forming the bib and the front panel of the garment, and covering, respectively, the chest and waist of the wearer,

and wherein the first belt section and the second belt section are received, respectively, in two internal pockets, between the first textile and the second textile, the two pockets belonging, respectively, to the two separable portions of the upper body garment, the two pockets presenting, respectively, two belt openings, through which the first belt section and the second belt section pass, respectively, allowing the operator to removably fix a projecting portion of the first belt section to a projecting portion of the second belt section.

Description of the figures

Other features, details and advantages will become apparent from the detailed description that follows, and from the analysis of the attached drawings, in which:

Fig. 1a

[Fig. 1a] is a view of the three stages illustrating the manual transfer of a bedridden person by a caregiver, from a position in which the person is bedridden to a position in which the person is sitting on the edge of the bed, according to a practice known in the state of the art

Fig. 1b

[Fig. 1b] is a consecutive view to the view in Figure 1 where the transferred person is sitting on the edge of the bed, illustrating two consecutive stages showing how the caregiver grabs the person to help him/her get up, according to a recommended practice known in the state of the art.

Fig. 2

[Fig. 2] is a view of a mechanized transfer assistance system according to the known state of the art.

Fig. 3

[Fig. 3] is a schematic view of an equipment according to the present disclosure comprising an upper body garment, in this case a blouse seen from the front, comprising in particular a collar, short sleeves, a bib covering the chest and a front panel covering the waist, as well as an exoskeleton sheet whose shoulder straps and lumbar support are illustrated, respectively, by a dotted line, two upper handles, right and left, respectively integral with the two shoulder straps on their front face, two lower handles, right and left, respectively integral with the lumbar support on their face, and more in particular respectively integral with a first belt section and a second belt section.

Fig. 4A

[Fig. 4A] is a schematic view of the equipment according to Figure 3 (the handles are not shown), which schematically illustrates, on the one hand, shoulder straps adjustable in length/deactivatable in their fastening restriction, each comprising a first strap connected to the dorsal support at an upper point above the shoulder, a second strap connected to the dorsal support at an intermediate point, located just below the shoulder, as well as a length adjustment element between the first strap and the second strap, and on the other hand, a lumbar support adjustable/deactivatable in its fastening restriction comprising a first belt section connected to the dorsal support and a second belt section connected, respectively, to the dorsal support in a lower position, on the right and left.

Fig. 4B

[Fig. 4B] is a rear view of the equipment according to Figure 4A, illustrating in transparency the dorsal support, as well as the upper and intermediate joining points of the first and second straps of the right and left suspenders, as well as the joints of the first belt section and the second belt section, in the lower part of the dorsal support, with arrows illustrating the distribution of forces in the dorsal support coming from a tension on the suspender and a tension on the lumbar support.

Fig. 4C

[Fig. 4C] is a detailed view illustrating the first strap and the second suspender strap, as well as an adjustment buckle, with an unassembled view above, and an assembled view of the straps with the buckle below.

Fig. 4D

[Fig. 4D] is a partial detailed view of the first belt section and the second belt section, and of the removable fixing system, which ensures the regulation of the position between the two belt sections.

Fig. 5

[Fig. 5] is a front view of a front portion of the upper body garment, which may be the bib of the garment for the upper handles attached to the suspenders, or the front panel of the garment for the lower handles attached to the lumbar support, the handles retracted below a handle opening of a first outer textile of the garment, the handle opening closed by a zipper closure whose two toothed bands, integral with two edges of the handle opening, are coupled by meshing of their respective teeth, a zipper closure puller in the upper position

Fig. 6

[Fig. 6] are two views, respectively front and side, of Figure 5, after the puller has been lowered, causing the separation of the two toothed bands of the zipper closure, and thereby the opening of the handle opening and the deployment of the retractable handle through the opening, the handle protruding outwards, substantially consisting of a strap whose distal ends are joined at two fixing points to a front face of the strap in the case of the upper handles, or joined at two fixing points to a front face of the lumbar support in the case of the lower handles.

Fig. 7

[Fig. 7] is a sectional view according to section VII-VII of Figure 6, illustrating the handle formed by a fold of the tape with two longitudinal edges of the tape integral with each other, in particular by sewing, an elastic element such as a leaf spring, integrated within the cavity formed by the fold, the leaf spring configured to urge the retractable handle from its retracted position towards/to its deployed position.

Fig. 8

[Fig. 8] is a front view of the equipment according to the present disclosure comprising an upper body garment, in particular a long-sleeved blouse, and two separable portions, right and left, forming the bib and the front panel of the garment, joined by a closure, in particular a button closure.

Fig. 8A

[Fig. 8A] is a detailed view of the two separable portions, right and left, after opening of the closure, illustrating, on the one hand, the first lumbar support belt section, received in a separable portion, the left, the first section received in a first pocket between the first textile and the second textile forming a lining, partially protruding through a belt opening of the left separable portion, and on the other hand the second lumbar support belt section, received in the other separable portion, the right, received in a second pocket between the first textile and the second textile forming a lining, partially protruding through a belt opening of the right separable portion.

Detailed description of the invention

The drawings and the following description contain, for the most part, elements of a true nature. Therefore, they can not only serve to improve the understanding of this disclosure, but also contribute to its definition, where appropriate.

Reference is now made to Figure 1a, which illustrates a caregiver's practice in manually assisting a bedridden person to sit on the edge of the bed. During the transfer, the caregiver assists the bedridden person by placing their left hand under the nape of the neck and their right hand under the calf, then manually turning the bedridden person by supporting them by the nape of the neck, as illustrated in the two left-hand views, to a sitting position. Once seated on the edge of the bed, and with a view to lifting the currently seated person onto the edge of the bed, the caregiver places their legs to the right and left of those of the seated person, flexing their legs, and places their hands behind both shoulders of the person to be lifted, as illustrated in the right-hand view of Figure 1a.

In Figure 1b, the lift continues, with the caregiver leaning back and simultaneously pushing on his or her legs to lift the person.

During this lift, the caregiver must take special care to maintain proper posture. Otherwise, repeated lifting of the patient may lead to an increase in musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

There are mechanized transfer solutions, such as those illustrated in Figure 2, as an example. In practice, according to the inventors' conclusions, these mechanized systems are rarely used by caregivers due to their bulk and the time required to move them, which is often much longer than manual transfers.

This disclosure addresses this problem.

Furthermore, this disclosure relates to equipment 1 configured for the transfer of a person by a user, said equipment comprising:

- an upper body garment 2, such as a blouse, a jacket or the like comprising at least one textile configured to cover the upper part of the user's body, comprising at least the shoulders and the back, including the lumbar region of the user, or even the chest and ventral part

- a flexible exoskeleton sheet 3, internal and preferably coupled to the upper body garment; internal to the integral garment with said at least one textile of the upper body garment.

An exoskeleton sheet is understood to mean a flexible, low-thickness structure, typically less than 1 cm thick, or preferably less than 7 mm, or even less than 5 mm, which is configured for load transfer, without transmitting load restrictions to the upper body garment.

The upper body garment 2 comprises at least one textile, a first outer textile 20, or even a second textile 21. The outer garment may typically be formed by a back covering the user's back, a bib covering the chest, a front panel covering the stomach and waist, and sleeves, for example short, covering the arm, or even long sleeves also covering the user's forearm. The textile of the garment covers the user's shoulders and forms a collar.

The bib and the front panel of the upper body garment may be formed by two separable portions 2A and 2B, left and right, which can be joined (closed) together by a fastener such as buttons B, as illustrated by way of example in Figure 8, or by a zipper fastener according to an example not illustrated. Opening the fastener makes it possible to separate the two separable portions 2A, 2B of the upper body garment, right and left, and thus facilitate its putting on by the user, in a manner known per se for a jacket or blouse.

Opening the closure can also allow adjustments to the fit of the exoskeleton, or even a possible deactivation of the exoskeleton sheet fastening.

“Exoskeleton sheet deactivation” means the operation of moving the exoskeleton sheet to a non-use position by releasing the tensions generated by the exoskeleton sheet on the user, as will be explained in more detail, and/or retracting the handles as will be explained below.

Once the exoskeleton sheet is deactivated, it remains attached to the garment, without causing any discomfort to the user, whether physical discomfort (to the touch) or even visual discomfort, as the exoskeleton sheet is preferably integrated into the upper body garment and therefore hidden by it. Once the exoskeleton sheet is released/deactivated, it no longer exerts any clamping force, so it no longer hinders range of motion.

The fact that the exoskeleton sheet 3 is hidden by the upper body garment 2, and/or the fact that the physical presence (to the touch) of the exoskeleton sheet is imperceptible, or even of reduced perceptibility, contributes to the acceptance of the equipment by the user.

According to the inventors' conclusions, providing equipment according to the present disclosure that can be widely accepted by its user, particularly by nursing auxiliary personnel, or the like, contributes to ensuring a high utilization rate of the equipment configured to assist in the transfer of people.

The exoskeleton sheet 3 is a structure separate from the upper body garment 2, preferably internal to the latter, which is configured for load transfer and which, unlike the textiles of the garment, does not have the strength necessary to withstand such load.

In this case, the load is related to the use of the exoskeleton sheet, i.e. the transport of a person, i.e. the exoskeleton sheet 3 and its structure must be able to withstand a load transmission corresponding to several tens of kilograms, or even a hundred kilograms, such as greater than 100 daN/100 kg, for example 250 daN/250 kg.

The structure of the exoskeleton sheet 3 is essentially, or even exclusively, made of flexible neoprene material, three-dimensional fabric, high-tech textile, woven or non-woven (and not rigid), in such a way as to promote the imperceptibility of the exoskeleton 3 to the user.

As illustrated for indicative purposes in the various figures, and in particular in Figures 3, 4A and 4B, the exoskeleton sheet (and its structure) may include:

- a lumbar support 30 configured such that, once activated, the support allows a holding action of the lumbar segment around a neutral flexion-extension position; the lumbar support also allows transferring at least a first portion of a load exerted on the exoskeleton sheet to a lumbar region of the user, placed in a neutral flexion-extension position (physiological protective lordosis).

- two straps 31, configured to allow tensioning of the exoskeleton sheet in order to transfer at least a second portion of said load to the shoulders of the user

-- a dorsal support 32 connected to the lumbar support in a lower portion of the dorsal support, and connected to the two straps in an upper portion of the dorsal support, eventually configured to transfer a third portion of the load to a dorsal area of the user and allow a distribution of the load over the entire exoskeleton sheet between the lumbar area and the shoulders of the user,

— handles 34, 35, fixed to the exoskeleton sheet, projecting outwards from said upper body garment, at least in a deployed position of the handles, the handles arranged on the front of said upper body garment, the handles configured to be grasped by a person during transfer: the handles may preferably be oriented vertically, i.e. following the height of the upper body garment, in a neutral pronation-supination position.

In particular, the two straps, right and left, form a loop that surrounds the shoulder, and are hooked to the dorsal support, at two anchor points separated along the height of the dorsal support 32, with a first upper anchor point, preferably above the shoulder, and an intermediate anchor point to the dorsal support 32, located below the shoulder. The lumbar support 31 extends from the lower portion of the dorsal support to the right and left of the dorsal support 32.

This type of equipment finds particular application when carried by a user, for example a caregiver, when manually transferring a person, particularly a dependent person, for example an elderly or disabled person.

During manual transfer by the user of the equipment, the handles 34, 35 of the exoskeleton sheet offer robust anchor points that are easily grasped in a force grip and whose gripping performance is far superior to a clamp grip used to grasp a garment by the person during its transfer, which makes it possible to secure, simplify and greatly facilitate the transfer operations.

An exoskeleton sheet of this type is thus advantageously configured such that the load resulting from the person gripping the handles is transferred from the handles 34, 35 and distributed over the entire exoskeleton sheet which transfers and distributes this load onto the shoulders, the lumbar region, and the dorsal region of the user between the lumbar region and the shoulders, respectively, by means of the shoulder straps 31, the lumbar support 30 and the dorsal support 32 of the exoskeleton sheet.

The operator's load transmitted by the handle(s) is thus advantageously distributed between the shoulder straps 31, the lumbar support 30, and the dorsal support 32 of the equipment to the user. Such distribution of the load on the user's upper body and the support of the lumbar segment in a neutral flexion-extension position facilitates operations, reducing the risk of poor posture and, therefore, musculoskeletal disorders, particularly lumbar disorders. The possibility of distributing the force of the body weight more simply and safely during a manual transfer is also beneficial for preventing musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limbs, and particularly the shoulders.

In general terms, the equipment 1 may comprise two upper handles 34, fixed respectively to the two straps 31 of the exoskeleton sheet and/or the equipment 1 may comprise two lower handles 35, fixed to the lumbar support 30 of the exoskeleton sheet.

Therefore, said equipment 1 according to the present disclosure can be, in particular, of great help during the transfer operations illustrated in Figure 1a where a caregiver transfers a person from a bedridden position to a sitting position at the edge of the bed.

In particular, when such equipment (and in particular the upper body garment 2 and the exoskeleton sheet) according to the present disclosure is worn by the caregiver, it becomes possible for the person being transferred from the bedridden position to the sitting position to grasp one or both of the handles during the transfer, and in particular one or both of the lower handles 35.

Again, and for the transfer illustrated in Figure 1b for which the caregiver lifts the person from the sitting position to the elevated position, it is possible for the person being transferred from the sitting position to the elevated position to grasp one or both handles during the transfer, and in particular one or both of the upper handles 34.

According to the present disclosure, said at least one textile of the garment comprises at least a first outer textile 20. The lumbar support 30 and the straps 31, on the one hand, and the dorsal support 32 connected to the lumbar support in a lower portion of the dorsal support 32 and connected to the two straps 31 in an upper portion of the dorsal support, on the other hand, are preferably located under the outer textile 20, hidden by the upper body garment, at least when the upper body garment is worn (see closed).

In such a case, said handles 34, 35 protrude towards the outside of the garment through the handle openings 200 in said at least one first textile 20.

Thus, the two upper handles 34, right and left, respectively integral with the two straps 31, right and left, can each project, at their base from the strap, below the first textile, protruding outwards through the handle opening 200, to the right and left of the bib.

Again, the two lower handles 35, right and left, are respectively integral with the two belt sections 301, 302, right and left, and each projects, at its base from the lumbar support, below the first textile, protruding outwards through the handle opening 200, to the right and left of the front panel.

The handle may comprise a flexible element, such as a strap attached at a first end E1 to the strap (or belt) in a first position, and at a second end E2 to the strap (or belt) in a second position. Thus, the handle is formed by the loop formed by the flexible element.

As shown in the figures, the handle 34 and/or 35 (upper, lower or both) may be oriented substantially vertically, i.e. in the bottom-up direction of the upper body garment, or even in a quasi-vertical orientation, for example at about 30° to the vertical direction.

The vertical orientation of the handles allows the patient to grasp them in a neutral prone-supination position (radiohumeral joint), offering the best muscular and joint performance to effectively block a holding action (manual grip by force in a neutral prone-supination position).

According to the present disclosure, advantageously, all or some of the handles 34, 35 are retractable handles, configured to move from the deployed position P1 to a retracted position P2.

In this way, the handles protruding from the exoskeleton sheet can be retracted from their deployed position P1 to their retracted position P2, where the handle takes up less space, thus limiting the risk of the handle becoming snagged when the exoskeleton is deactivated. Such a retractable handle helps make the exoskeleton invisible when not in use for patient transfer. The retractability of the handles allows the healthcare professional to decide on their deployment based on the patient's profile (diagnosis, ability to act). The retractability of the handles makes it possible to avoid risky situations with aggressive patient profiles who may deliberately use a blouse handle to forcefully grab the caregiver.

According to the present disclosure, in the retracted position P2 of the retractable handle, the handle is retracted under the handle opening 200, that is, located under the first textile 20. The handle opening 200 comprises a removable closure means 201 (such as a zipper closure) configured to ensure the closure of the handle opening 200 in the retracted position P2 of said handle.

In this way, the handle opening 200 can be closed by a zipper closure whose two toothed bands, integral with two edges of the opening, are coupled by meshing their teeth, by means of the actuation of a puller. Such a puller is illustrated in the upper position in Figure 5, when the handle opening 200 is closed by the zipper.

Furthermore, the deployment of the handle 34 or 35 from its retracted position P2 to its extended position P1, protruding, requires the closure means to be opened. Figure 6 is a view according to Figure 5, after movement of the handle, which causes the separation of the two toothed bands of the zipper, with the handle 34 projecting through the handle opening 200, and as illustrated for indicative purposes in the right-hand view of Figure 6.

According to one embodiment, all or some of the handles 34, 35 may be equipped with an elastic element 36 that forces said handle from the retracted position P2 towards/to the deployed position P1, after the opening of the removable closing means 201. The technical effect associated with this elastic element is to facilitate the deployment of the handle.

For example, and when the handle 34, 35 essentially comprises a flexible element, for example a strap, fixed at its ends - first end E1 and second end E2, to the strap or to the belt, the strap can be folded over itself in such a way that two longitudinal edges are fixed together, for example by sewing. The elastic element 36 is then associated with the handle (preferably inserted into the cavity formed by the strap thus folded) and can comprise a leaf spring, as illustrated, for example, in Figure 7.

According to one embodiment, the straps 31 are adjustable/deactivatable, which allows the exoskeleton sheet to be tensioned, each strap comprising an adjustment system comprising a first strap 310 and a second strap 311, as well as an adjustment buckle 312 between the first strap 310 and the second strap 311.

The first strap 310 may be attached to the dorsal support 32 at the upper point, above the shoulder, and the second strap 311 may be attached to the dorsal support 32 at the intermediate point, below the shoulder, in particular for the right and left shoulder straps.

The adjustment buckle 312, normally made of plastic and known per se, comprises two openings through which a single strap (first or second strap) is inserted, allowing the buckle formed by the shoulder strap to be adjusted by pulling on the strap, sliding it through the two openings. Such an adjustment system makes it possible to adjust the size of the buckle formed by the shoulder strap 31, increasing its perimeter or, conversely, decreasing it to narrow and adjust the shoulder strap to the user's shoulder.

According to one embodiment, the lumbar support 30 is adjustable/deactivatable, allowing tensioning of the exoskeleton sheet, comprising a first belt section 301 and a second belt section 302, as well as a removable fixing system 4 between the first section and the second belt section 301, 302, such as a hook/loop fixing system configured to ensure fixing of the first belt section 301 to the second belt section 302 in different adjustment positions relative to each other.

The first belt section 301 extends on one side, for example the left side of the back support 32, and the second belt section 302 extends on the other side, for example the right side of the back support 32.

The lumbar support 30 can be opened, after separating the two belt sections 301, 302, and then closed and adjusted to the user's waist by means of different possible fixing positions between the first belt section 301 and the second belt section 302, for example using a loop/hook fixing.

In particular, and when the exoskeleton sheet is deactivated, the first belt section 301 and the second belt section 302 can be advantageously untied, in particular while maintaining the objective of making the exoskeleton 3 imperceptible when not in use.

According to one embodiment, the upper body garment 2 is configured to be opened or closed by a closure, such as a button closure B or even a zipper closure, upon separation of the two separable portions 2A, 2B of the upper body garment, right and left, forming the bib and the front panel of the garment, respectively covering the chest and waist and/or the ventral part of the user.

According to one embodiment, the first belt section 301 and the second belt section 302 can each be respectively received in two pockets, each pocket internal between the first textile 20 and the second textile 21, the two pockets belonging respectively to the two separable portions 2A, 2B of the upper body garment.

The two PC pockets each have two belt openings 303, through which the first belt section and the second belt section 301, 302 pass respectively, enabling the operator to removably attach a projecting portion of the first belt section 301 to a projecting portion of the second belt section 302.

Thus, in Figure 8A and in general terms, it can be observed that:

- the first belt section 301 is housed in a first pocket PC between the first outer textile 20 and the second inner textile 21 of a first separable portion 2A, the first belt section 301 protruding at a distal end of the first section through the belt opening 303,

- the second belt section 302 is housed in a second pocket PC between the first outer textile 20 and the second inner textile 21 of a second separable portion 2B, the second belt section 302 protruding at a distal end of the second section through the belt opening 303.

These two PC pockets are advantageous in that they allow the first belt section 301 to be kept in a first pocket, and the second belt section 302 in a second pocket of the upper body garment when the two belt sections are untied, i.e. when the lumbar support of the exoskeleton sheet is deactivated.

This further contributes to the imperceptibility of the exoskeleton by the user of the upper body garment when the exoskeleton is deactivated: it is possible to eliminate the tensions/holding due to the tensioning of the lumbar support by untying the two belt sections 301 and 302, advantageously without the two then untied belt sections being suspended, and hanging by their proximal end connected to the dorsal support 32, since they are held at least for a preferably longer portion, in their PC pocket.

In particular, it is advantageous to use an elastic material for the two belt length sections, such that the two belt sections 301, 302 return to their respective pockets, due to the elasticity of the material, once untied.

Industrial application

Equipment 1 according to the present disclosure finds particular application in hospital settings or in EPHADs (residential centers for dependent elderly persons) to equip caregivers and, more generally, all healthcare professionals who regularly have to carry out transfers of people, particularly people with disabilities.

The exoskeleton sheet of the equipment when activated (lumbar support and shoulder straps adjusted on the user, and handles in the deployed position) makes it possible to facilitate manual operations by the user of the equipment by allowing the person being transferred to grasp the handles of the exoskeleton while ensuring an even distribution of the effort exerted on the entire exoskeleton sheet (shoulders, back and lumbar area of the user) through the handles and helping the user, through the holding effect of the exoskeleton sheet, to maintain a lumbar spine protection posture in a neutral flexion-extension position (respecting the physiological lumbar position).

Advantageously, and when the exoskeleton sheet is deactivated (i.e. the lumbar support and the shoulder straps are loose, or even the two sections of the belt 301, 302 are untied, or even the handles are in the retracted position), the equipment according to the present disclosure is advantageous insofar as it makes it possible to reduce the perceptibility of the exoskeleton integrated into the garment and therefore to increase the acceptability of the equipment by its user, in particular for the execution of all tasks that do not require the need for assistance from a supporting textile exoskeleton sheet.

The present disclosure also relates to a method of handling a person by a user equipped with equipment according to the present disclosure, in which the user of the equipment 1 manually transfers the person, the transferred person grasping one or more protruding handles of said exoskeleton 3.

List of reference signs

- 1: Team

- 2. Garment for the upper part of the body,

- 2A, 2B. Detachable right and left portions of the garment, forming the bib and front panel of the garment; - 20, 21. First outer textile, and second inner textile,

- 200. Handle openings,

- 201. Fastener (in particular, zipper)

- 3. Exoskeleton sheet,

- 30. Lumbar support,

- 31. Suspenders,

- 310, 311, first strap and second tie rod strap,

- 312. Adjustment buckle,

- 301, 302 first belt section and second belt section, respectively,

- 303. Belt openings

- 32. Dorsal support,

- 34, 35. Handles, upper and lower, respectively,

- 36. Elastic element (in particular leaf spring, integrated within a handle formed by a band folded around the leaf spring)

- P1. P2. Deployed position and retracted position of the handle, respectively,

- E1, E2. First and second ends.

Claims (6)

1. Equipment (1) configured for the transfer of a person by a user, said equipment comprising: - an upper body garment (2), such as a blouse, jacket or the like, comprising at least one textile configured to cover the upper part of the user's body, comprising at least the shoulders and the back, including the user's lumbar region and the ventral part - an exoskeleton sheet (3), internal to the upper body garment, integral with said at least one textile of the upper body garment, comprising: -- a lumbar support (30) configured to transfer at least a first portion of a load exerted on the exoskeleton sheet to a lumbar region of the user -- two straps (31) configured to transfer at least a second portion of the load to the shoulders, -- a dorsal support (32) connected to the lumbar support in a lower portion of the dorsal support, and connected to the two straps in an upper portion of the dorsal support, configured to transfer a third portion of said load to a dorsal area of the user between the lumbar area and the shoulders, — handles (34, 35), fixed to the exoskeleton sheet, projecting outwards from said upper body garment, at least in a deployed position of the handles, the handles arranged on the front of said upper body garment, the handles configured to be grasped by a person during transfer, and wherein said exoskeleton sheet (3) is configured such that the load resulting from the gripping of the handles by the person is transferred to the entire exoskeleton sheet from the handles and is distributed over the shoulders, the lumbar area and over the dorsal area of the user between the lumbar area and the shoulders, respectively, by means of the straps (31), the lumbar support (30) and the dorsal support (32) of the exoskeleton sheet, and wherein said at least one textile of the garment comprises at least a first outer textile (20) and wherein the lumbar support (30), the straps (31), on the one hand, and the dorsal support (32) connected to the lumbar support in a lower portion of the dorsal support (32) and connected to the two straps (31) in an upper portion of the dorsal support, on the other hand, are located under the outer textile (20), hidden by the upper body garment, at least when the upper body garment is worn and wherein said handles (34, 35) protrude towards the outside of the garment through handle openings (200) in said at least one first textile (20) characterized by - all or some of the handles (34, 35) are retractable handles, configured to move from the deployed position (P1) to a retracted position (P2), - in the retracted position (P2) of the retractable handle, the handle is retracted under the handle opening (200), - the handle opening (200) comprises a removable closure means (201), such as a zipper closure, configured to ensure the closure of the handle opening (200) in the retracted position (P2) of said handle. 2. Equipment (1) according to claim 1, wherein the handles comprise two upper handles (34) fixed, respectively, to the two straps (31) of the exoskeleton sheet and/or the handles comprise two lower handles (35) fixed to the lumbar support (30) of the exoskeleton sheet. 3. Equipment (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein all or some of the handles (34, 35) are equipped with an elastic element (36) that forces said handle from the retracted position (P2) to the deployed position (P1), after opening of the handle opening (200) by said removable closing means (201). 4. Equipment (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the shoulder straps (31) are adjustable and deactivatable, allowing variable and desired tensioning of the exoskeleton sheet, each shoulder strap comprising an adjustment system comprising a first shoulder strap (310) and a second shoulder strap (311), as well as an adjustment buckle (312) between the first strap (310) and the second shoulder strap (311) and/or the lumbar support (30) is adjustable/deactivatable, allowing variable and desired tensioning of the exoskeleton sheet, comprising a first belt section (301) and a second belt section (302), as well as a removable fixing system (4) between the first belt section (301) and the second belt section (302), such as a hook/loop fixing system configured to ensure fixing of the first belt section (301) to the second belt section. (302) in different adjustment positions of the two belt sections (301, 302) relative to each other. 5. Equipment (1) according to claim 3 taken alone or in combination with one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the textile comprises, in addition to said at least one first outer textile (20), at least one second inner textile (21) forming a lining, and wherein the straps (31), the lumbar support (30) and the dorsal support (32) are received inside the lining, in whole or in part, arranged between the first outer textile (20) and the second inner textile (21). 6. Equipment (1) according to claims 4 and 5, wherein the upper body garment (2) is configured to be opened or closed by a closure, such as a button closure (B) or a zipper closure, after separating two separable portions (2A, 2B) of the upper body garment, right and left, which form the bib and the front panel of the garment, and which cover, respectively, the chest and the waist of the user, and wherein the first belt section (301) and the second belt section (302) are each received in two internal pockets (PC), between the first textile (20) and the second textile (21), the two pockets belonging, respectively, to the two separable portions (2A, 2B) of the upper body garment, the two pockets having, respectively, two belt openings (303), through which the first belt section and the second belt section pass, respectively. (301, 302), allowing the operator to removably attach a protruding portion of the first belt section (301) to a protruding portion of the second belt section (302).