FR2647338A1 - Lifting apparatus for lifting individuals up - Google Patents

Abstract

A movable frame 1 comprises a telescopic arm 30 extending horizontally from a column 27 which comprises an elevating device 34 for the arm 30. The arm has at its free end a horizontal lifting beam 2 equipped with C-shaped members 3 spaced along the lifting beam, the said members 3 being capable of being inserted readily under the body of an individual in a lying position, after the said members have been adjusted to a suitable height by raising or lowering the lifting beam. Each member 3 comprises means 8A-8E for vertical adjustment of the position of suspension from the lifting beam 2, by means of which the said members 3 can be positionined individually in height relative to the lifting beam 2.

Description

 The present invention relates to a lifting device suitable for lifting sick, disabled, injured, or other bedridden people lying on a bed or on the floor.

 It is known to make such an apparatus for lifting a person resting on a bed, this apparatus comprising a frame surmounted by a transverse bar equipped with two spreaders spaced apart from each other and which can be positioned above the person and parallel to it, and having flexible straps fixed by one end to one of the lifting beams, at determined intervals, which are placed under the person and are suspended from the other lifting beam in order to support the person to be lifted. The arrangement of these flexible straps, in particular their positioning below the subject's body, is delicate and difficult and generally requires the intervention of two assistants, one introducing the straps on one side of the subject's body and the other taking up the flexible straps on the other side in order to hang them on the lifting beams. In addition, such a device is not suitable for lifting a subject lying on a bed which can only be accessed from one side.

 The main object of the invention is to provide an improved lifting device for lifting people.

 According to the invention, there is provided a lifting device for lifting a person, comprising a frame, a lifting beam suspended from the frame and contained in a horizontal plane at a given level and intended to be placed above a person resting in a plane roughly parallel to the horizontal plane, and parallel to this person, at least one way. lifting device fixed to the lifter and adapted to extend at least partially below said person, and a lifting device incorporated in the frame for moving the lifting means along a vertical axis perpendicular to the horizontal plane, said lifting means consisting of at least one body handling body, having a C shape.

 Preferably, the C-shaped handling member constituting the lifting means comprises a head provided with a connecting member and is arranged in a releasable adjustment mechanism.

 Preferably also the frame comprises an elevating device for raising the lifter along a vertical axis perpendicular to the horizontal plane passing through the lifter and containing the latter.

 Suitably, the frame is constituted by a base contained in an approximately horizontal plane, this base preferably comprising two parallel lateral bars spaced at a distance at least equal to the width of a person, and joined by a cross member delimiting a free surface bordered by the side bars, the vertical axis of movement of the lifter being able to move at least along said free surface, and a column rising on the base, this column being equipped with an arm carrying the lifter in the horizontal plane, this arm comprising a rotation device allowing the lifter to rotate in the horizontal plane.

 In a first embodiment, a vertical positioning device is provided, the height of which is adjustable in increments and reversibly on a hook, and the said body handling members are articulated on the positioning device so as to be able to oscillate below 'a person.

 In a second embodiment, the vertical positioning device in height is adjustable in increments on a latching member or a rack, and the C-shaped members are adapted to allow universal movement and to oscillate in a manner on this device.

 In a third embodiment, the vertical positioning device in height is infinitely adjustable by means of cleat cleats, and is flexible to allow a limited oscillation movement in order to engage the C-member under a person.

 According to a fourth embodiment, the vertical positioning device in height is infinitely adjustable by means of cleat cleats and a flexible cable to allow universal positioning and the positioning of the C-members under a person.

 Finally, in a fifth embodiment, the vertical height positioning device is infinitely adjustable and is adapted for universal orientation by means of a strap and loop device which allows complete freedom, twisting and rotation. .

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear during the description which follows, made with reference to the appended drawings given solely by way of examples and in which:
Fig.1 is an overall perspective view of an apparatus according to the invention;
Fig.2 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the invention with a body handling member having a C shape, connected to a lifting beam by a vertically adjustable member and comprising safety means;
Fig.3 is an enlarged view along line 3-3 of Fig.2, showing the vertical and invertible adjustment of the C-shaped member;
Fig.4 is a partial view on a larger scale of a part of Fig.1 showing the folding of the lifter, the C-shaped members being removed;
Fig.5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention showing a C-shaped member for handling the body, connected to a lifting beam by means of a vertically adjustable latching member, with security means;
Fig.6 is an enlarged sectional view along line 6-6 of Fig .5, showing the adjustable engagement of latching member;
Fig.7 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention showing a C-shaped member connected to a lifting beam by means of a flexible bar vertically adjustable, received in a device with adjustable cleats infinitely and with security means ;;
Fig.8 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the invention showing a body handling member, C-shaped, connected to a lifting beam by means of an adjustable flexible cable verti calent received in a infinitely adjustable cleat device comprising safety means;
Fig.9 is a perspective view of a cin quine embodiment of the invention, showing a C-shaped member connected to a lifting beam by a flexible strap adjustable vertically, and a safety loop, allowing infinity positions.

 Referring now to the appended drawings, the lifting device for lifting people described by way of example and according to FIG. 1 comprises a frame 1 carrying a lifting beam 2 which is as a whole contained in a horizontal plane H and equipped one or more mobile means for lifting a body, adapted to pass at least partly under the body of a person to lift it. Each lifting means is a member 3, as shown in the drawings. Each member 3 comprises a support part such as a curved rigid blade 4 having a small thickness, extended by a rigid elbow 5 (C-shaped) supplemented by a head 6 provided with means for vertically adjusting in height (8A to 8E ).

 Of course, the configuration of the C-shaped member 3 is determined directly by the morphology of the subject to be raised. Thus, the length of the blade as defined between the ends E and E 'must be equal to or preferably greater than the width of the part of the body in contact with it; for example, a body handling member 3 disposed below the subject's legs has a blade that is smaller than that of that disposed under the subject's back. In principle, the blade is slightly curved in its main part 4E in order to correspond exactly to the shape of the subject's body and has a width which is commensurate with the part of the body in contact with the blade. 4E ends, towards its end E 'and up to it, by an end part 4E' having a curvature greater than that of the main part in order to avoid any sliding of the subject.

 Firstly, a base in the shape of an ü is produced with two lateral bars 22 and 23, preferably of the telescopic type, spaced and parallel, and joined by a cross-member 24; a free surface thus remaining between the lateral bars 22 and 23 and delimited by the cross-member 24. This base 21 includes rolling means 25 in order to allow it to be easily moved on a floor 26, for example casters which can be oriented on each of the lateral bars 22 and 23. The base delimits a plane roughly parallel, on the one hand to the ground 26 on which the apparatus must move when it is used and, on the other hand to the plane containing the lifter 2; these two planes will be designated hereinafter by the terms: horizontal planes.

 Secondly, a column 27 having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the horizontal plane, and which will hereinafter be designated by: vertical axis, rises on the base 21, preferably in the middle of the crosspiece 24. this column 27 is consisting for example of a hollow tube of rectangular section having a longitudinal slot 29 extending the entire length of the column.

 Thirdly, an arm 30 of the telescopic type comprises a front element 31 and a rear element 32 over the front element 31. The latter supports the lifter 2, and the rear element 32 extends through the slot 29 and is fixed to a guide device 33 sliding vertically inside the column.

 The vertical translational movement of the guide device 33 is obtained by means of a lifting device 34 placed on the column at an accessible level, to which is fixed the end of a strap 38 which can be wound on this device. This belt passes over a pulley 39 disposed at the upper end of the column 27, and its end is fixed to the guide device or carriage 33, the rear element of the telescopic arm 30 being carried by this carriage with a support 41 on the rear element 32. The front element 31 of the arm 30 comprises means 60 allowing the rotation of the lifter 2 in the horizontal plane. The front element 31 includes a sleeve 61, for the vertical axis of rotation V, in which a shaft 62 is rotatably mounted to which the lifter 2 is suspended horizontally so as to rotate in the horizontal plane.

 The person lifting device equipped with its vertical height adjustment device is characterized by a folding spreader 2 arranged in a horizontal position with a horizontal position adjustment device 18 which moves by tran station in a co-extensive manner . along the spreader 2 without rotation; for example, the device 18 for horizontal position adjustment has a square cross section slightly greater than the cross section of the lifter 2, which is also square. The device 18 for horizontal position adjustment is essentially a carriage which receives and carries the device for vertical height position adjustment, five embodiments of which are shown in FIGS. 2, 5, 7, 8 and 9.

As shown in Fig. 4, the lifter 2 is folded up, its opposite ends being folded upwards by means of articulations 10 of the offset toggle type, whereby the folded sections are spaced from the central section of the lifter. so as to receive the sliding carriages of the device 18. The carriages of this device 18 are removable as indicated.

 The device 8A for vertical position adjustment of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 comprises a bar arranged vertically, preferably a rigid tubular member, and carrying at its lower end a connecting pin 7, and having a series of spaced holes 9A and 9B in the front and rear parts of the tube, and with their axes roughly parallel to the rigid blade 4 of the member 3 located below.

In this first embodiment, the device 18 for horizontal position adjustment comprises an anchoring member 19 (FIG. 3) constituted by a hook-shaped tab adapted to be introduced through any of the holes in the series of holes 9A or 93 on the front or rear of the adjustment device 8A arranged vertically. Preferably, the device 18 for horizontal position adjustment also comprises a locking means 20 such as a safety toggle fixing the means for lifting the body to the lifting beam 2 releasably. Consequently, the member 3 is instantly adjustable and / or removable, and tends to assume a comfortable position for the subject to be lifted.

 The device 83 for vertical position adjustment of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 comprises a latching member or a rack, preferably a solid member, carrying a connecting ball 7b at its lower end, and comprising on its rear part a vertical series of spaced apart teeth 50 facing downwards. In this second embodiment, the device 18 for horizontal adjustment comprises spaced teeth 51 directed upwards which are complementary to the teeth 50 in order to cooperate with them as shown. The locking means 20 is the same as described above and closes on the front side of the latching member or of the rack so as to 1 releasably secure by its toggle action. A characteristic of this second mode one embodiment consists of a head 6b forming a double tube which is fixed to the ball joint 7b so as to be able to rotate and oscillate in all directions as indicated. Consequently, the member 3 is instantly adjustable and / or removable from the desired vertical position with respect to the lifting beam 2, and can be positioned in any orientation relative to the subject to be lifted.

 The device 82 for vertical height adjustment of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 7 comprises a flexible bar or rod arranged vertically, preferably in a solid plastic material such as nylon or Teflon or any other suitable polymer or similar, which is also compressible and capable of being firmly gripped by the teeth of two eccentric members spaced apart 53 from a device 52 of cleat cleats. The toothed members 53 are biased inwards by springs (not shown) in the way usual and as represented by the arrows at the FIg.?. The rod or the bar can be adjusted in any way in height and with respect to the lifting beam 2 and its safety fixing is ensured by a hasp 54 held by a rotary key 55 which penetrates through an opening 56 through the end of the hasp. A characteristic of this third embodiment is its inherent flexibility which allows oscillating and twisting movements as indicated. Consequently, the member 3 is instantaneously adjustable and / or removable from its desired vertical position relative to the lifter 2, and tends to assume a comfortable position relative to the subject to be lifted.

The device 8D for vertical height adjustment of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 8 comprises a flexible rope or cable arranged vertically, preferably a sheath braided in wire.
Nylon with several filaments, or the like, which can be compressed and subjected to firm tightening by the teeth of the eccentric members 53 of the clamping device 52, identical to that described above. The toothed members 53 are biased inward by springs (not shown) in the usual way and as shown by the arrows in Fig.8. The rope or cable can be adjusted in any way in height and relative to the lifter 2, and a safety fastening is ensured by means of a hasp 54, held by a rotary key 55 which enters an opening 56 through the end of the hasp, as described above.

A feature of this fourth embodiment is its inherent flexibility which allows complete freedom, and oscillating and twisting movements as indicated.

 The device 8E for vertical height adjustment of the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 9 comprises a flexible belt arranged vertically and preferably a woven strap or the like which is flexible and adapted to be placed on the lifting beam 2 and through a loop 57 and a carabiner 58. The carabiner 58 is connected to the head 6E of the member 3, constituted by an eye as in the fourth embodiment.

The lower end of the flexible strap forms a loop around a swivel 59 and is fixed by sewing after crossing 11 eye of it, - and freely rotating on the pivot, carries the head 6E releasably under the control of the latch 7E of the carabiner.

The free end of the strap passes through the loop 57 and over the lifter 2, and returns through the loop where it is permanently fixed in the usual way and as shown in Fig.9. The setting is infinite and is safely stopped by the loop.

A feature of this fourth embodiment is its inherent flexibility which allows complete freedom and oscillating and twisting movements as indicated.

 The device according to the invention as described above is used in the following way: when it is desired to lift or transport a person resting for example on a bed, the blade 4 of the organ or organs 3 of my body nutment is, or are, introduced between the bed and the subject by pressing on the bed with these organs; the fact that the rigid blade rests against the bed having a certain flexibility, it sinks slightly into it and thus passes under the body of the subject without any discomfort for the latter. It is preferable to give a reduced thickness to the blade in order to facilitate its passage under the body of the subject. Several C-shaped bodies for handling the body, for example six, are thus passed under the subject in appropriately spaced positions. It will be noted that to ensure lifting on a suet without risk of slipping, in particular in the case of agitation, the lifting organs consisting only of a C-shaped body can be placed alternately and successively on either side of the subject.

 After the C-shaped members 3 have been put in place, the lifter 2 is advanced above the subject at the level of the devices 8A-8B for vertical height adjustment, by means of the lifting device 34. A device 18 horizontal position adjustment is brought into correspondence with each vertical height adjustment device, and the latter are adjusted on the first and fixed with the locking means 20. Finally, the subject is raised with the lifting device 34 and can thus be transported by means of mobile frame 1.

 The device also makes it possible to lift a person resting on the ground, with the device-occupying a reduced space. For this purpose, the distance between the side bars 22 and 23 of the base 21, must be included at least in the height and weight of a person. Preferably, for reasons of space, the distance between the side bars is much greater than the width of the subject's body so that the side bars come into place on either side thereof. To place the spreader 2 parallel above the subject using the rotation device 60, the telescopic arm 30 is extended as well as the telescopic side bars 22 and 23, so that the travel of the vertical axis V above the plane of the base is always in the free surface 26 to ensure the stability of the device. Similarly, the lifting beam 2 of the device can be folded to reduce its size and when a subject is lifted in the sitting position.

Claims (12)

 1- Lifting device for lifting people, characterized in that it comprises a frame (7), a lifting beam (2) suspended from the frame, contained in a horizontal plane at a given level and intended to be placed above a person resting in a plane roughly parallel to the horizontal plane and parallel to this person, at least one lifting means (3) fixed on the lifter (2) and adapted to be engaged at least partially under said person, and a device elevator (34) incorporated in the frame (2) to move the lifting means (3) along a vertical axis perpendicular to the horizontal plane, said lifting means consisting of at least one C-shaped handling member.  2- Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized ern that said lifting means is a C-shaped member comprising a head (6,6b, 6D) provided with a connecting member, tui-is disposed in an adjustment mechanism releasable.  3- Apparatus according to either of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the frame (i) comprises a lifting device (34) for raising the lifting beam (2) along a vertical axis (V ) perpendicular to the horizontal plane containing the lifter.  4- Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, conveniently, the frame (i) comprises a base (21) U-shaped contained in an approximately horizontal plane and preferably comprising two bars parallel lateral (22,23) spaced at a distance at least equal to the width of a person, and joined by a crosspiece (24) delimiting a free surface (26) bordered by said lateral bars, the axis of vertical movement of the spreader (2) moving by hand along said free face, and a column (28) rising on the base, said column comprising an arm (30) supporting the spreader in the horizontal plane, said arm comprising a rotation device (60) allowing the lifter to rotate in the horizontal plane;  5- Lifting device for lifting people, characterized in that it comprises a lifting beam maintained in a horizontal plane with respect to a given level and adapted to be placed above a person resting in a roughly parallel plane in the horizontal plane and parallel to this person, several devices (8A-8E) for vertical height position adjustment carried by the lifter, lifting means (3) fixed to the lifter (2) by each device (8) for vertical adjustment in position in height, each of said lifting means being constituted by a body handling member (3) oscillating mounted on the lifter (2) and adapted to extend at least partially under said person, a locking means (20) removably fixing each device (8) for vertical height adjustment on the lifter, and a lifting device (34) incorporated in the frame and adapted to move the lifting means along a green axis ical (V) perpendicular to the horizontal plane.  6- Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the vertical height position adjustment device is constituted by a flexible bar (8C) arranged vertically having compressible opposite sides and capable of being engaged in a wedging device (52) carried by the lifter (2), the body handling member (3) being connected to a lower end of said bar (8C) to oscillate and rotate relative to the latter when said bar is deformed.  7- Apparatus according to claim 6, character ized in that the wedging device (52) comprises two eccentric toothed members (53) resiliently biased to close on the bar (8C, 8D) inserted between them detachably.  8- Lifting device for lifting people characterized in that it comprises a lifting beam (2) held in a horizontal plane with respect to a given level and intended to be placed above a person resting in a plane a little near parallel to the horizontal plane and parallel to this person, several removable vertical height adjustment devices carried by the lifting beam (2) and each comprising a flexible element similar to a rope (8D), arranged vertically, with compressible opposite sides , being able to be engaged in a clamping device (52) carried by the lifter, a lifting means fixed on the lifter by means of each vertical position adjustment device and comprising a body handling member (3) oscillating on the lifter and adapted to extend at least partially under said person, said member (3) being connected to the lower end of the rope by means s (6) so as to oscillate freely, and a locking device (54) removably fixing each device for adjusting the vertical position in height on the lifting beam, and a lifting device (34) incorporated in the frame and adapted to move the lifting member along a vertical axis perpendicular to the horizontal plane.  9- Apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the locking device is a hasp (54) fixed by a rotary key (55) releasable, through a hole in the hasp.  10- Lifting device for lifting people characterized in that it comprises a lifting beam (2) maintained in a horizontal plane relative to a given level and adapted to be placed above a person resting in a plane a little near parallel to the horizontal plane, and parallel to this person, several devices (8B) for vertical height adjustment carried by the lifter (2) and each comprising a rigid rack (8B) with a series of teeth (50) spaced vertically selectively received by at least one tooth (51) projecting from the spreader, a lifting means fixed on the spreader by each adjusting device (8B) and constituted by a body (3) for handling the oscillating body on the spreader and adapted to extend at least partially under said person, said member (3) being connected to the lower end of the rack by means (6b, 7b) allowing it to oscillate, means of ve lock (20) removably fixing each vertical adjustment device on the lifting beam and a lifting device (34) incorporated in the frame (1) and adapted to move the lifting means along a vertical axis (V) perpendicular to the plane horizontal.  11- Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the means connecting the member (3) to the lower end of the rack is a ball joint (6b, 7b).  12- Apparatus according to either of claims 10, 11, characterized in that the locking means is constituted by a releasable toggle (20).