Apparatus to assist the disabled
AssigneeParaSystems, Inc.
InventorsFrancis J. Hachey, Henry J. Hachey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is apparatus to assist the disabled comprising a cradle assembly made of flexible support material suspended by first and second elongate, independently adjustable pairs of support members suspended from a pair of horizontal support rails. The support members connect to the cradle at spaced-apart head and foot lifting points and are mounted for sliding movement along the rails. A control for adjusting the length of the respective pairs of support members enable the disabled person to be lifted into a sitting or prone position above a bed and to be transferred comfortably to a wheelchair.
Claims11
Apparatus for repositioning a disabled person, said apparatus comprising:
- a pair of parallel support rails extending horizontally;
- a cradle assembly for placement under the person disposed beneath said support rails, the cradle assembly comprising:
- a flexible support material extending between a first pair of foot end lifting points connected to the material and a second pair of head end lifting points also connected to the material and longitudinally spaced apart from said first points;
- and
- at least one stabilizing member connecting said first and second lifting points;
- at least two first elongate support members attachable to said first pair of lifting points and at least two second elongated support members attachable to said second pair of lifting points on said cradle assembly, said support members being mounted for sliding horizontal movement along said rails;
- first means for adjusting the length of both of said first support members between said cradle assembly and said rails to permit simultaneous raising and lowering of said first points on said cradle;
- second means for adjusting the length of both of said second support members between said cradle assembly and said rails, independent of the length of said first support members, to permit simultaneous raising and lowering of said second lifting points on said cradle independent of said first lifting points and;
- a control for actuating independently said first and second means for adjusting.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.