GB2346605A - Invalid hoist - Google Patents

Abstract

An invalid hoist has a base member 10 and a mast 18. The mast 18 may be secured firmly relatively to the base 10 by insertion into a socket part 15 and can be moved to a second position in which it is still connected to the base 10 but may be pivoted relative thereto to a folded position to facilitate transport and storage of the invalid hoist. The socket part can be on the mast and the base have a spigot. The mast can have a handle part allowing towing when collapsed.

Description

Title: Invalid Hoists Description of Invention The present invention relates to a device hereinafter referred to as an invalid hoist for lifting infirm or elderly people and can be used for lifting a person from one position to another position or raising a person from a reclining or sitting position to an upright position.

Such devices are well known and comprise a base from which extends in a generally upright direction a post like part hereinafter referred to as a mast which is pivotally connected to one end of a lifting arm the other end of the lifting arm has a spreader arm adapted to be connected to a sling or other lifting harness that supports a person to be lifted.

The lifting arm is moved relative to the mast by means of a ram or a screw and nut mechanism or any other convenient manual or powered movement means.

Because of the nature of the invalid hoist and the use to which it is put it must be of substantial construction and necessarily occupies, because of the substantial base part and the height of the mast, a considerable amount of room.

It has been proposed to have an invalid hoist in which some of the parts are separable in particular the mast may be detached from the base so that it may be stored more easily.

It would be advantageous if the invalid hoist could be moved from an in use position to a storage position without separation of the component parts.

However, this provides a problem in that when in its in use position it must present a rigid strong structure and foldable connections between various parts could well cause problems.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new or improved invalid hoist.

According to one aspect of the present invention we provide an invalid hoist having a base part and a mast, the mast having a first position relative to the base part in which it is securely supported by the base part and a second position in which it is connected to the base part and may be moved relative thereto.

Preferably the base part presents a socket like formation in which the mast is located in its first position and wherein movement of the mast in a generally upwards direction relative to the base moves the mast out of said socket like formation to a second, folded, position in which it may pivot relative to the base part.

Preferably the mast is provided with an elongate slot extending in an upwards direction and the base part is provided with flanges mounted above said socket. Said flanges are provided with a bolt or rod passing there through which also passes through the elongate slot provided in the mast. The mast is thus capable of being inserted into the socket and on vertical movement of the mast in an upwards direction it is removed from the socket but remained captive relative to the base part by means of the bolt which is connected to the flanges provided on the base part and through the elongate slot provided in the mast.

The extent of pivotal movement permitted when in its second position enables the mast to be pivoted so that it overlies the base part and hence considerably reduces the space needed for storage.

Conveniently the base part is provided with wheels necessary to allow transport of an invalid being carried by the hoist and the wheels may be so positioned so that when the hoist is in a folded position it may be supported by holding an end of the folded structure remote from at least two wheels to enable the hoist to be manually moved in the manner of a trolly. Preferably securing means are provided to maintain the invalid hoist in a secured position.

Whereas it has been found convenient to provide a socket part on the base part and form the lower end of the mast so that it locates within the socket it will be understood that the arrangement could be reversed and a spigot like part could be provided on the base part and the lower end of the mast providing a socket which locates on the spigot. With such an arrangement a transverse member such as the bolt or rod like part described above could be provided fixed either to the mast or to the spigot and locate in a slot provided in the spigot or the mast respectively.

It is envisaged that any suitable alternative arrangement may be provided to maintain the mast captive to the base. One advantage of the proposed arrangement is that the means for maintaining the mast captive in the base does not have to be particularly substantial since when the mast is located in its in first use position on the base the rigidity of the structure does not rely on the captive connection that provides for the pivotal movement.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described in more detail by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein; FIGURE 1 is a view of one embodiment of an invalid hoist according to the present invention, FIGURE 2 is a view of the connection between the base and the mast in its first, in use, position, FIGURE 3 is a view of the connection between the base and the mast in its second, folded, position, FIGURE 4 shows the hoist in a partly folded position, FIGURE 5 shows the hoist with the mast in a folded position; and FIGURE 6 shows the hoist in a completely folded position.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 4 the hoist comprises a base part comprising a base member 10 base member 10 having two legs 11 and 12 pivotally connected thereto, each leg 11 and 12 having wheels 13 at each end thereof.

The base member 10 is provided with a socket part 15 which is shown in more detail in Figures 2 and 3. The base part is provided with link members one of which can be seen at 16 which connect the legs 11 and 12 to a manually operable member 17 which can be moved to cause pivotal movement of the leg 11 and 12 so that they may be moved away or towards each other thus enabling the hoist to be positioned around the wheel chair for example or, some other article of furniture from which it is desired to move a person.

Supported by the base member 10 is a mast 18 which has its lower end 19 supported in socket 15. This is best illustrated in Figure 2. The end 19 of the mast 18 is formed with a slot 20 through which passes a rod 21 which has its ends secured on opposed flanges 22 and 23 extending above the socket 15.

The mast 18 is firmly secured in the socket 15 when the invalid hoist is in its first, in use, position as shown in Figure 1. In order for the hoist to take up its second, folded, position the mast 18 is moved upwardly out of the socket 15 such movement being permitted by the elongate slot 20 and it may then be pivotally folded to the position as shown in Figure 3 and also in Figures 5 and 6.

The mast 18 can then be firmly secured to the base by location in the socket 15 which prevents any undesired movement between the mast 18 and the base. However the upwards movement as hereinbefore described enable it to be moved to a second position in which it can be folded as shown in Figure 3.

The hoist further comprises a lifting arm 23 having a spreader arm 24 connected at the outer end thereof in an articulated manner. The spreader arm having harness attachment points 25 and 26.

An electrically operated movement device generally indicated at 27 causes the lifting arm 23 to be pivotally moved about axis 28 to enable a person, supported by a harness connected to the spreader arm 24, to be lifted and moved.

When it is desired to store the hoist, the upper end of the lifting device 27 is detached from the lifting arm 23. The battery box is removed and the hoist can then take up a position as shown in Figure 4. The mast is then lifted out of the socket 15 as shown in Figure 3 so that the hoist may take up the position as shown in Figure 5. The legs 11 and 12 are then pivoted relative to the base member 10 and the hoist can take up a fully folded position as shown in Figure 6. It may easily be moved manually by holding the handle part 30 and the hoist may then be moved on its wheels 13 to where it is desired to be stored.

It will be appreciated that the hoist as described with reference to the accompanying drawings is only one embodiment of hoist which may incorporate the connection of the mast to the base to enable the hoist to take a secure in use position and a convenient folded position in which the base and the mast are still interconnected.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims (12)

1. CLAIMS 1. An invalid hoist having a base part of the mast, the mast having a first position relative to the base part in which it is securely supported by the base part and a second position in which it is connected to the base part and may be moved relative thereto.
2. 2. An invalid hoist as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the base part presents a socket like formation in which the mast is located in its first position.
3. 3. An invalid hoist as claimed in Claim 2 wherein movement of the mast in a generally upward direction relative to the base enables movement of the mast out of said socket like formation to its second position in which it may move relative to the base to a second folded position.
4. 4. An invalid hoist as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein pivotal movement between the base and the mast is possible when said mast is in its second position.
5. 5. An invalid hoist as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the mast is provided with an elongate slot extending in an upwards direction when the base part is provided with flanges mounted above said socket and wherein said flanges are provided with a bolt or rod passing there through which bolt or rod also passes through the elongate slot provided in the mast.
6. 6. An invalid hoist as claimed in claim 4 wherein pivotal movement of said mast when in its second position enables the mast to be pivoted so that it overlies the base part 7.
7. 7. An invalid hoist as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the base part is provided with wheels.
8. 8. An invalid hoist as claimed in Claim 7 wherein said mast may be moved relative to the base part when in its second position to a folded position and wherein the mast or a part associated therewith may be used as a handle to enable movement of the invalid hoist on the said wheel to enable transport thereof.
9. 9. An invalid hoist as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein securing means are provided to maintain the mast in its first position.
10. 10. An invalid hoist as claimed in Claim 9 wherein the base part is provided with a spigot like part and the mast is provided with a socket whereby the mast may be located on the base part in a first secure position and wherein said socket and spigot may have engaging formation operative such that movement in an upwards direction of the mast relative to said base enables said mast to take up its second position in which relative movement between the mast and the base so that the mast may be folded relative to the base is possible.
11. 11. An invalid hoist substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
12. 12. An invalid hoist including any novel feature or any combination of features as disclosed herein and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.