US 6,957,859 B1 · Chair for a person lift

Abstract

A chair for transporting a person from a first location to a second location along a rail in response to an input provided to a control for a hoist and motorized conveyor by the person. The chair includes first and second seat portions that are pivotally attached to a frame and connected by a linkage arrangement to a lever arm. The hoist moves the chair toward a fixed surface while surrounding the person and as the person moves the lever arm from a first position, the first and second seats portions move from a vertical position to horizontal position under the person. Thereafter, the lever is locked in a fixed position and the hoist activated to raise the chair to allow the chair to be moved by the motorized conveyor along the rail.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims10

Dependent claims

A chair for use in a person transporting system having a hoist and motorized conveyor located on a rail whereby the person is vertically lifted from a first location and thereafter horizontally moved from the first location to a second location in response to an input provided by the person, said chair being characterized by:

a frame defined by a first member having a first end and a second end and a second member having a third end and a fourth end, said first end and said third end being connected to each other by a first support member while a second support member located between said first and second ends and said third and fourth ends is fixed to said first member and said second member to form a rigid member with said first member being parallel with said second member;
a first top arm and a first bottom arm attached to said first member in a plane perpendicular to said second support member;
a second top arm and a second bottom arm attached to said second member in a plane perpendicular to said second support member;
a first shaft with a first end that extends through said first member and a second end that extends through said first top arm;
a second shaft with a first end that extends through said first member and a second end that extends through said first bottom arm;
a third shaft with a first end that extends through said second member and a second end that extends through said second bottom arm;
a first plank assembly connected to said second shaft;
a second plank assembly connected to said first plank assembly to define a first portion of a seat;
a third plank assembly connected to said third shaft;
a fourth plank assembly connected to said third plank assembly to define a second portion of the seat;
a first disc attached to said second support member;
a second disc attached to said second support member;
linkage means for connecting said first end of said first shaft with said first disc, for connecting said first disc with said first plank assembly, for connecting said first disc with said second disc, and for connecting said second disc with said third plank assembly;
a lever that is fixed to said second end of said first shaft has a horizontal first position that is substantially with parallel with said first member and a vertical second position that is substantially parallel with said second support member, said lever being moved by the person from said first position to said second position to impart a force into said linkage means that causes said first and second disc to simultaneously rotate and move said first and second plank assemblies and said third and fourth plank assemblies from first positions parallel to said first and second members to a second position parallel with said second support member to define said seat;
and
fastener means attached to said first support member along a center of gravity for said chair such that on receipt of an input by a controller, the hoist moves the first and second members in parallel planes that are perpendicular to the rail.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description3,272 words

Summary931 words

#This invention relates to a chair for use in a person transporting system that includes a hoist and conveyor whereby the person is vertically lifted from a first location and thereafter horizontally moved along a line from the first location to a second location in response to an input signal provided by the person to a control for the motor associated with the hoist and conveyor.

#Many apparatus have been disclosed for lifting a person from a bed to a wheel chair or carnage in order to transport the person from one location to another. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,539,941 a support frame is placed under the person and the frame is connected to a winding motor that lifts the frame to allow a person to be moved from a bed to a carriage while in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,117,516 and 5,379,468 a torso support is placed on a person and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,125,908 a sling is used to provide for movement of a person from a bed. Even though the apparatus of the known prior art function in an adequate manner, persons who have the use of their motor facilities upward from their waist may desire more independence with respect to activities than is provided by such apparatus.

#The present invention provides a person with sufficient arm strength and body control to independently get into a chair and control the movement of the chair along a rail from one location to a second location.

Brief description of the drawings16 figures

#FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a chair according to the present invention for use in a transport system whereby a person may move from one location to another location;

#FIG. 1A is a view of an alternate construction for a back for the chair of FIG. 1 using a continuous tube;

#FIG. 2 is a front view of the chair of FIG. 1 in a first position above a horizontal surface;

Detailed description2,071 words

#In the specification where similar components are used the component may be identified by a number or a same number plus depending on a relationship with other components.

#The chair 10 shown in FIG. 1 is made according to the present invention and is fixed to a rail 12 through a hoist 14 and conveyor 16. A motor for operating the hoist 14 and conveyor 16 for moving the chair 10 from a first location to a second location is responsive to an input signal supplied to a control member 126 by a person.

#The chair 10 is defined by a back member 18 having a rigid frame, top 20, 20′ and bottom 22, 22′ arms that extend from the back member 18 and a seat 70. The top of the back member 18 is attached to the hoist 14 such that a person located on seat 70 may be moved from a first horizontal position to a second horizontal position in response to an input signal supplied to the control member 126 to activate the motor associated with the hoist 14 and conveyor 16. The chair 10 is designed such that a person may get onto the seat 70 by manipulation of the seat 70 under his body as the hoist 14 lowers the chair 10 from a first vertical position to a second vertical position with respect to a fixed surface “F” on which the person is located. Once the person is located on the seat 70, the chair 10 is raised from the second vertical position to a new vertical position above the fixed surface F and thereafter an input signal is supplied to the control member 126 to terminate the activation of the motor for the hoist 14 and if desired to activate the motor for the conveyor 16 to move the chair 10 along the rail 12 to another location.

Chair for a person lift

Life of this patent

Chair for a person lift

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims10

Description3,272 words

Drawings

Classification5 codes

Life of this patent

Description3,272 words