WO1992008431A1

WO1992008431A1 - Lifting and positioning system for wheelchairs

Info

Publication number: WO1992008431A1
Application number: PCT/IT1991/000093
Authority: WO
Inventors: Francesco Giormani
Original assignee: Center Trieste Srl AB
Current assignee: Center Trieste Srl AB
Priority date: 1990-11-08
Filing date: 1991-11-07
Publication date: 1992-05-29
Anticipated expiration: 1993-05-08
Also published as: IL99907A0; IT1243630B; IT9082813A0; AU8901191A; IT9082813A1

Abstract

The lifting and positioning system has been devised in order to prevent disabled people from having to move from their wheelchairs to a doctor's chair. The system consists of following components: a counterframe (1), joined through some links (10) to a lifting frame (2); a frame (2), connected through hinges to a reclining platform (3); a platform (3), behind which a column construction (7) is located, carrying a lifting jack (8) on top, which is linked to a headrest (6); a number of lifting jacks (4), and reclining jacks (5); accident prevention, and linking elements. The disabled person climbs onto the platform (3) with his wheelchair; the wheelchair can be reclined, while the frame (2) can only be lifted. The adjustment of those two components, and of the headrest (6) allows the doctor to put his patient to the desired height, and position.

Description

LIFTING AND POSITIONING SYSTEM FOR WHEELCHAIRS

Particularly innovative, and rational lifting and positioning system for chairs for disabled, and/or handicapped people to undergo dental, and general medicine treatment.

When a disabled (or handicapped) person - compelled to use a wheelchair - requires medical specialist treatments on his face (such as operations on his dental system, his nose, his pharynx, etc.), he is lifted from his wheelchair, and put on a vertically self-moving, suitable chair.

That allows the dentist, the laryngologist, or another specialist to put the patient's head to the desired height, and way, so as to be able to perform the necessary operation in the most comfortable way.

The fact of being put on a doctor's chair is however a small psychological trauma for the disabled person. In other words, leaving his wheelchair - which represents the only means allowing him to move - is regarded by the disabled person as a momentary dramatic tension increasing his already understandable inconvenience preceding the medical treatment. As far as we know, there are not any systems, or means to prevent the patient's transfer from his wheelchair to the doctor's chair, and the above mentioned consequences. The aim of this invention is indeed to give a solution to that problem, meanwhile achieving a system able to give the wheelchair - on which the disabled person is placed - the same positionings of a normal dentist's - or, anyway, specialist's - chair, and saving the disabled person difficult transfers from both a logistic, and a psychological point of view.

This aim is achieved by the lifting, and positioning system for wheelchairs for disabled, and/or handicapped people - the subject of this patent -, which is basically made up of following components:

- a counterframe secured to the floor, or moving on it - by means of wheels, rolls, etc. -, on which supports for the hinging of some links, and of one or more lifting jacks rest;

- a lifting frame, connected to the above mentioned counterframe (through the above links), and to the reclinable platform by means of hinges; that frame is fitted with supports for the hinging of links, and of other supports, on which jacks used for reclining are hinged; the lifting frame includes lifting jack catch projections as well; - a reclinable platform - consisting of a frame covered with a metallic, or plastic plate - which is hinged to the lifting frame, and provided with catch projections for reclining jacks; on its rear part, that platform houses a column construction - totally made up of metallic bars, and thoroughly covered up by an external casing -, over which a jack connected to a headrest is fitted; - a number of single or double acting jacks driven by pneumatic, hydraulic, and screw- systems, or another system -, one or more of which link the lifting frame to the reclinable platform, while one is used to shift the headrest upwards and downwards; - accident protection, and safeguard elements, such as the side plates secured to the reclinable platform, a vertical removable front grate, treadable platforms, electrically connected to jacks, etc., and the necessary connecting means (pipes, electric cables, etc.). - A - and control means (levers, hand grips, and so on) ; for convenience, these control means are gathered on one panel. Invention further features, and advantages will better result from the characterization of one performance mode - the favoured but not the only one - of the lifting and positioning system for wheelchairs, shown as a reference but not as a limit in the attached drawings, where: figure 1 shows a side view of the system; a handicapped person sitting on his wheelchair is shown as well; figure 2 shows a front view of the lifting system, when it is not working (and all the various components are lowered); figure 3 shows a front and a back view of the system, still not working; for a better understanding, the wheels and the hand grips of a wheelchair have been shown as well; figure 4 again shows a side view of the system; casings and side protection plates have been removed to show the various component items more in detail; figures 5, 6 , and 7 show the upper views of the counterframe, the lifting frame, and the reclining platform, respectively; in those Figures - and in the following ones as well -, neither jacks, nor casings, nor, finally, protections are shown; moreover, in figure 7, bars making up the column framework are missing; figures 8, 9, and 10 show the front views of what shown in figures 5, 6, and 7, respectively; figure 11 shows one of the links used to couple the counterframe to the lifting frame. More precisely, the subject invention deals with a system, mechanically designed, for the lifting and positioning of handicapped people compelled to move on wheelchairs. The system is essentially made up of following components:

- one counterframe 1 secured to the floor;

- one lifting frame 2;

- one reclinable platform 3;

- one lifting jack A , and one reclining jack 5; - one headrest 6 placed on top of a column 7;

- one lifting jack 8, fitted inside column 7. Counterframe 1 , having rectangular shape, is made up of metallic sections joined to each other; it is permanently secured to the floor (on a suitable embedding made in it) through screws. The longer sides of counterframe 1 house supports 9 on which six links 10 connecting counterframe 1 to lifting frame 2 are hinged. Each of those links 10 consists of two coupled bars provided with some holes on their ends to hinge them on supports 9 and 11 of the components described above. Counterframe 1 also houses support 12 for the hinging of lifting jack 4. More specifically, it is placed in the centre of a section connecting the two longer sides of counterframe 1 in a perpendicular way.

Lifting frame 2 is also made up of metallic sections arranged in a rectangular way. Supports 11 for the hinging of links 10 rest on its longer sides, while a shorter side is provided with lugs of hinges 13 connecting lifting frame 2 to platform 3. Frame 2 also includes a bar 14 (vertically arranged, and secured at the middle of the shorter side housing hinges 13 as well), which is used as a catch projection for lifting jack 4. In addition, a section joining the two longer sides of frame 2 is fitted, at the middle of which the hinging support 15 is arranged for reclining jack 5. Reclinable platform 3 is made up of metallic sections, and covered with a steel plate used as a standing plane for wheelchair 16; two bars, arranged in a parallel direction with the platform 3 longer sides are to strengthen the construction. On one of the shorter sides of platform 3 (of a rectangular shape), the pins of hinges 13 are anticipated for connection to lifting frame 2. Furthermore, platform 3 is provided with a fork 17, on which the catch projection for reclining jack 5' is obtained.

The latter, and lifting jack 4 are simple acting; they are pneumatically operated, and are connected via a suitable piping - to a compressor placed in a proper adjacent space. On platform 3 rear area, column 7 is secured; it consists of metallic bars, externally totally covered with a casing made up of a suitably cut and shaped steel plate. Inside that column 7, and, namely, on its upper end, the pneumatic and double acting lifting jack 8 is located.

The top end of the piston stem of the latter carries headrest 6, made up of steel and covered with sponge rubber and leather. Headrest 6 can be reclined at will, as it rotates on a suitable horizontal axis. At the rear of column 7 - on an easily accessible position -, control panel 18 is arranged, on which some levers allow the operator to move single components. The subject system operation is extremely easy and rational.

Once entered the specialist's consulting room, the disabled person on his own wheelchair 16 places himself on reclinable platform 3, arranged at floor level, while the wheelchair 16 back rests against column 7.

Besides being used as a rear support for wheelchair 16, column 7 also plays the important role of keeping wheelchair 16 in position, since hand grips - through which a possible companion of the disabled person pushes the wheelchair -, and wheels are normally placed at a slightly greater distance than column 7 itself. The disabled person's weight does not allow wheelchair 16 to move in any way. Moreover, wheel stops are anticipated (all wheelchairs on the market are however fitted with them) . Once wheelchair 16 is in position, the operator acts on the lifting jack 8 control, and adjusts headrest 6 to the right height. Then a second lever fitted on control panel 18 is operated, and pressure-air is sent to lifting jack 4, a piston of which - extending - forces frame 2 to lift. That lifting simultaneously occurs on the floor, since it depends on links 10 binding frame 2; in other words, links 10 - hinged on supports 9 and 11 - have counterframe 1, frame 2, and links 10 behave as an articulated parallelogram. Compared to counterframe 1, the rising of frame 2 is to allow an easy positioning, and operation of lifting jack 4 and reclining jack 5. If a second lever - still fitted on control panel 18 - is operated, pressure-air is sent to the latter jack 5, which - thanks to its piston extension - forces reclinable platform 3 to rise lengthwise with respect to lifting frame 2. The position in which reclining jack 5 is secured, and the existence of hinges 13 have platform 3 lift from one side only, until the desired inclination is reached.

Reclinable platform 3 maximum rising is so ^• adjusted as the inclination of the latter falls within a thirty degree angle. Lifting, inclination, and headrest 6 adjustments allow the doctor to put the disabled person - still sitting on his own wheelchair 16 - to the desired height, and position enabling him to carry on his operation, or visit at best. When the treatment is over, by suitably operating control levers, the operator has air released from lifting jack 4 and reclining jack 5, thus enabling reclinable platform 3 and frame 2 - subject to force of gravity - to fit back to their original position. The disabled person leaves now the lifting system without help.

On moving frame 2 and platform 3, some parts of the doctor's, the nurse's, or another operator's bodies, or some object could accidentally be caught inside the above mentioned components with easily conceivable consequences.

The existence of plate 19 - made up of a metallic plate shaped as a circle sector, and secured to platform 3 - on each side however prevents that from occurring, and avoids any possible accidents. The same can be said for a removable vertical grate arranged in front of the system in suitable holes of the floor, and for an electrified treadable platform surrounding the system itself. More specifically, that treadable platform is horizontally arranged on the floor surrounding the lifting system, and is connected to a weight- sensitive electric switch. When the doctor (or another person) is working on the patient, his weight has the switch off, interrupting the electric circuits connected to the various jacks, thus causing the immediate stopping of their movement. After that, the system will be de¬ activated as long as some operator is standing on the treadable platform (with the risk that some parts of his body are involuntarily caught inside the various components).

For the sake of precision, it is specified that each stiff protection plate 19 penetrates a suitable groove on the floor when the system is lowered. According to another suggestion, each plate 19 is made up of sub-plates of plastic material connected by hinges, which overlap (like a fan) during the lowering of the system. In that case, of course, the grooves on the floor are not required.

Lifting jack 4, and reclining jack 5 are arranged in an almost vertical position, and can be operated simultaneously too. In a more complex version of the same system two reclining jacks 5 are arranged sideways, while hinges 13 are made up of springs: In that case, transversal bendings of platform 3 are possible as well.

This invention, as conceived, is susceptible to several changes, and variations falling within the inventive ability; furthermore, all details can be replaced by other, technically equivalent ones.

Claims

CLAIMS 1 - Lifting and positioning system for wheelchairs for disabled, and/or handicapped people to undergo dental, and general medicine treatments, characterized by the fact of consisting of following components:

- a counterframe (1), secured to the floor, or moving on it (through wheels, rolls, etc.), made up of metallic sections joined to each other, so as to preferably form a rectangle, on which supports (9) and (12) for the hinging of some links (10), and of one or more lifting jacks (4) rest;

- a lifting frame (2), of preferably rectangular shape and made up of metallic sections, showing supports (11) and (15) for the hinging of above mentioned links (10) and of one or more reclining jacks (5), as well as lifting jack (4) catch projections, and hinges (13), by which lifting frame (2) is joined to reclinable platform (3);

- a reclinable platform (3), consisting of a frame (reinforced in several ways), of preferably rectangular shape, covered with a (metallic, or plastic) plate, showing connecting elements with hinges (13), and catch projections for reclining jacks (5), and, on the rear (i.e. sideways of hinges (13)), a column construction (7) (internally made up of bars, and totally covered with a casing) , on top of which a lifting jack (8) connected with a headrest (6) lies;

- a number of single, or double acting jacks (driven by pneumatic, hydraulic, screw-systems, or another system), one (4) or more of which connect counterframe (1) with lifting frame (2); others (5) join lifting frame (2) to reclinable platform (3), and one (8) is used to raise headrest (6);

- accident protection, and safeguard elements, such as side plates (19) secured to reclinable platform (3), a removable vertical grate, treadable platforms, electrically connected with lifting jack (4) and reclining jack (5), or other;

- connecting (pipes, electric cables, etc.), and control (levers, hand grips, push-buttons, or other) elements, the latter gathered on one panel (18)).

2 - Lifting and positioning system for wheelchairs, according to claim 1 , characterized by the fact that links (10) - through which counterframe (1) is joined to lifting frame (2) - are made up of stiff elements, of any sections and same lengths, which are hinged to above mentioned components so as to force frame (2) to lift in parallel with floor only (when lifting jacks (4) act) . 3 - Lifting and positioning system for wheelchairs, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that hinges (13) (through which frame (2) is joined to platform (13)), stiff (e.g. lugged) or elastic (with springs, plates, etc.) are located on one side of components only, so as to allow platform (3) to tilt either longitudinally, and/or transversally.

4 - Lifting and positioning system for wheelchairs, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that headrest (6) is joined to the piston stem of lifting jack (8), which is arranged inside the column construction (7), and, namely, on top of it.

5 - Lifting and positioning system for wheelchairs, according to any of the previous claims, characterized by the fact that suitable bars (14) and forks (17), vertically fitted on frame (2) and platform (3), respectively, are used to house catch projections for lifting jack (4) and reclining jack (5). 6 - Lifting and positioning system for wheelchairs, according to any of the previous claims, characterized by the fact that counterframe (1) and frame (2) are internally fitted with metallic sections, on which supports (12) and (15) for lifting jack (4) and reclining jack (5) can rest.

7 - Lifting and positioning system for wheelchairs, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that side plates (19), shaped as, e.g., a circle section, can be stiff (and penetrate into suitable grooves of the floor when the system lowers) , or made up of sub-plates of any materials, connected by means of hinges, which overlap on lowering.

8 - Lifting and positioning system for wheelchairs, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that treadable platforms electrically linked to jacks (4) and (5) are connected to weight-sensitive electrical switches.

9 - Lifting and positioning system for wheelchairs, according to any of the previous claims, the whole as previously described and shown in attached drawings.