# US 10,441,488 B2 · Caregiver's helper lift

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- Number: US 10,441,488 B2
- Document ID: US10441488B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/937,852
- Filed: 2018-03-27
- Published: 2018-08-02
- Granted: 2019-10-15
- Earliest claimed: 2015-03-14
- Applicants: Dawn Hideko Mitchell
- Inventors: Dawn Hideko Mitchell
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441488B2

## CPC

- A61G 7/1073: {Parts, details or accessories}
- A61G 7/1015: {Cables, chains or cords}
- A61G 7/1036: {facilitating loading and unloading of the patient, e.g. using flaps or additional tilting}
- A61G 7/1046: {Mobile bases, e.g. having wheels}
- A61G 7/1051: {Flexible harnesses or slings}
- A61G 7/1074: {Devices foldable for storage}
- A61G: TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS (appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00); OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES (embalming corpses A01N1/00)

## Abstract

A caregiver's helper lift utilizes a unique hoisting apparatus, a lifting harness worn by a patient, and a control apparatus to allow a caregiver to raise and lower a patient into/out-of a wheelchair and into/out-of a vehicle, down to or up off a floor, or to any other position/location that a patient needs to be moved. The lifting harness can clip to a lift attachment which is affixed to a helper lift suspension cable/rope/etc. The caregiver's helper lift utilizes a crane arm to suspend the patient and allow him or her to be repositioned by simply rolling/turning the lift. By actuating the hoisting apparatus control system, the patient can be controllably raised and lowered as desired. The crane arm can be adjustably attached to a power T upright which is itself attached to a brace base. At least two beam extensions extend laterally from the brace and provide stability.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A caregiver's helper lift assembly, comprising:
a brace base extending generally horizontally wherein the brace base comprises a first extension receiver and a second extension receiver, and wherein the brace base is connected at a brace base proximal end to a power T upright;
the power T upright having a substantially horizontal T bar member and a substantially vertical T stem member wherein the T bar member is attached to the brace base;
a crane arm comprising a crane upright and a crane extension;
the crane upright removably engaged with the T stem member and extending generally upwards therefrom;
the crane extension attached to the crane upright and wherein the crane extension extends generally away from the vertical;
a horizontal cross member attached to the T bar member;
the horizontal cross member adapted to hold thereon a power plant;
the power plant comprising at least a hoisting apparatus, a power source, and a hoisting apparatus control system;
the hoisting apparatus adapted to take-in and play-out a helper lift suspension;
the helper lift suspension having a helper lift suspension proximal end and a helper lift suspension distal end and wherein the helper lift suspension proximal end is attached to the hoisting apparatus;
the helper lift suspension threaded through a plurality of lifter pulleys, the plurality of lifter pulleys comprising: a first and second lifter pulley mounted to the crane extension; a base pulley mounted to a bottom side of the T bar member, and a T bar pulley mounted to a front facing side of the T bar member such that the T bar pulley extends between the first and second extension receivers, wherein the plurality of lifter pulleys are configured to direct the helper lift suspension under the bottom side of the T bar member, to the front facing side of the T bar member, between the first and second extension receivers, along the T stem member, the crane upright, and the crane extension such that the helper lift distal end extends from the crane extension;
a lifting harness that is adapted to be worn by a patient and configured to be releasably attached to the helper lift suspension distal end such that the hoisting apparatus can take-in the helper lift suspension and thereby suspend the lifting harness below the crane extension;
the hoisting apparatus control system adapted to allow a caregiver to raise and lower the lifting harness by operating the hoisting apparatus to take-in and play-out, respectively, the helper lift suspension;
a position adjustment line holder comprising a position adjustment line which passes through a plurality of slide rings over a friction collar, a first end of the position adjustment line having a harness attachment which is used to attach the position adjustment line to the lifting harness;
the friction collar adapted to wrap around a steering column on a vehicle so that one of a patient and a caregiver can pull on a second end of the position adjustment line and position the patient closer to the steering column;
a first balance beam extension removably attached to the brace base and extending generally horizontally therefrom and a second balance beam extension removably attached to the brace base and extending generally horizontally therefrom;
a first balance beam extension wheel attached to the first balance beam extension and a second balance beam extension wheel attached to the second balance beam extension;
a T bar first wheel attached to the T bar member;
a T bar second wheel attached to the T bar member; and
the power source adapted to provide power to the hoisting apparatus so that the hoisting apparatus can take-in and play-out the helper lift suspension on demand.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The caregiver's helper lift assembly of claim 1 wherein the crane arm is adjustably engaged with the T stem member such that the crane arm can be raised and lowered in relation to the T stem member and locked in place.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The caregiver's helper lift assembly of claim 2 wherein the crane upright has a plurality of crane upright lock ports and a crane upright lock is adapted to be placed through the crane upright lock ports and through the T stem member in order to lock the crane arm to the T stem member.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The caregiver's helper lift assembly of claim 1 wherein the first extension receiver is adapted to removably receive therein the first balance beam extension and the second extension receiver is adapted to removably receive therein the second balance beam extension.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The caregiver's helper lift assembly of claim 2 wherein the first extension receiver is adapted to removably receive therein the first balance beam extension and the second extension receiver is adapted to removably receive therein the second balance beam extension.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The caregiver's helper lift assembly of claim 3 wherein the first extension receiver is adapted to removably receive therein the first balance beam extension and the second extension receiver is adapted to removably receive therein the second balance beam extension.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The caregiver's helper lift assembly of claim 4 wherein the horizontal cross member is indirectly attached to the first extension receiver and the second extension receiver is adapted to provide a platform upon which the power plant can be positioned.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The caregiver's helper lift assembly of claim 5 wherein the horizontal cross member is indirectly attached to the first extension receiver and the second extension receiver and is adapted to provide a platform upon which the power plant can be positioned.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The caregiver's helper lift assembly of claim 6 wherein the horizontal cross member is indirectly attached to the first extension receiver and the second extension receiver and is adapted to provide a platform upon which the power plant can be positioned.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The caregiver's helper lift assembly of claim 1 wherein the horizontal cross member is attached to the T bar and is adapted to provide a platform upon which the power plant can be positioned.

### Claim 11 (depends on 3)

The caregiver's helper lift assembly of claim 3 wherein the horizontal cross member is attached to the T bar and is adapted to provide a platform upon which the power plant can be positioned.

### Claim 12 (depends on 6)

The caregiver's helper lift assembly of claim 6 wherein the horizontal cross member is attached to the T bar and is adapted to provide a platform upon which the power plant can be positioned.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The caregiver's helper lift assembly of claim 10 wherein a cross brace is attached to the horizontal cross member and the T bar member and is adapted to provide a support to brace the horizontal cross member in position.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The caregiver's helper lift assembly of claim 11 wherein a cross brace is attached to the horizontal cross member and the T bar member and is adapted to provide a support to brace the horizontal cross member in position.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The caregiver's helper lift assembly of claim 12 wherein a cross brace is attached to the horizontal cross member and the T bar member and is adapted to provide a support to brace the horizontal cross member in position.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The caregiver's helper lift assembly of claim 1 wherein the first balance beam extension is removably locked to the brace base by a first beam extension lock and the second balance beam extension is removably locked to the brace base by a second beam extension lock.

### Claim 17 (depends on 4)

The caregiver's helper lift assembly of claim 4 wherein the first balance beam extension is removably locked to the brace base by a first beam extension lock and the second balance beam extension is removably locked to the brace base by a second beam extension lock.

### Claim 18 (depends on 7)

The caregiver's helper lift assembly of claim 7 wherein the first balance beam extension is removably locked to the brace base by a first beam extension lock and the second balance beam extension is removably locked to the brace base by a second beam extension lock.

### Claim 19 (depends on 10)

The caregiver's helper lift assembly of claim 10 wherein the first balance beam extension is removably locked to the brace base by a first beam extension lock and the second balance beam extension is removably locked to the brace base by a second beam extension lock.

### Claim 20 (depends on 13)

The caregiver's helper lift assembly of claim 13 wherein the first balance beam extension is removably locked to the brace base by a first beam extension lock and the second balance beam extension is removably locked to the brace base by a second beam extension lock.