EP1319383A1 - Person transfer apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The transfer frame for transferring a disabled person between two adjacent positions has a base plate (2) with a post (10) having a leg rest rotatably mounted on it. An upper body support (23) is mounted at the top of the post to suspend the user during movement. The support is angled to the post to allow the user to be lowered for transfer.

Description

The present invention relates to the technical field of devices designed for allow a person, whose physical capacities are deficient temporarily or permanently, to be able to be transferred between two positions relatively close to each other.

For people with physical disabilities, moving from one position to another constitutes a real difficulty. This is the case, especially to go from one lying down to a sitting position and vice versa, or moving from a sitting position in a seat, in a sitting position in a chair, for example. In addition, a such a person cannot make such a transfer alone and must call upon a help.

In the state of the art, various devices have been proposed, in general electric, suitable for handling disabled people. These devices are generally bulky, expensive and require the use of an energy source electric.

It therefore appears the need to be able to have a simple device, suitable for allow the transfer of a person from one position to another, such transfer being insured in a safe manner without necessarily requiring the help of a third party person.

There also appears to be a need for a simple device designed to transfer a person with good physical abilities to his level upper members.

The object of the invention therefore aims to satisfy this need by proposing an apparatus simple, space-saving and designed to transfer a person from a position to a other, with total security and not necessarily requiring help exterior.

• un piétement délimitant un polygone de sustentation,
• un mât s'élevant verticalement à partir du piétement,
• un ensemble d'appui pour les membres inférieurs d'une personne, monté rotatif sur le mât,
• et un système de transfert d'une personne adapté pour la déplacer dans le polygone de sustentation, entre une position initiale et une position finale décalées angulairement entre elles, le système de transfert étant monté sur le mât en étant pourvu d'un ensemble de suspension pour les membres supérieurs, monté pivotant sur le mât selon un axe incliné par rapport à la verticale et destiné à être placé à un niveau haut de manière à être entraíné en rotation sous l'effet du poids de la personne suspendue, jusqu'à un niveau bas permettant d'obtenir ainsi le transfert de la personne.

To achieve such an objective, the apparatus, according to the invention, for transferring a person comprises:

• a base delimiting a support polygon,
• a mast rising vertically from the base,
• a support assembly for the lower limbs of a person, rotatably mounted on the mast,
• and a system for transferring a person adapted to move him in the support polygon, between an initial position and a final position offset angularly therebetween, the transfer system being mounted on the mast being provided with a suspension assembly for the upper limbs, pivotally mounted on the mast along an axis inclined relative to the vertical and intended to be placed at a high level so as to be rotated under the effect of the weight of the person suspended, up to a low level allowing to obtain the transfer of the person.

Various other characteristics of the invention emerge from the description made below with reference to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of examples not limiting, an embodiment of the subject of the invention.

Fig. 1 is an elevational view showing the apparatus according to the invention.

Figs. 2 and 3 are top views of the device according to the invention, taken in two characteristic positions.

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken along lines II-II of Figure 1 and showing a characteristic detail of the base according to the invention.

Fig. 5 is a partial perspective view of the device, according to the invention.

Fig. 6 is a partial elevation section view of a characteristic detail of the apparatus according to the invention.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the object of the invention relates to an apparatus 1 adapted to ensure the transfer of a person, from an initial position PI to a final position PF represented schematically by the sagittal plane of the person. The device 1 comprises a base 2 intended to rest on the ground, to conventionally delimit a support polygon. In the variant illustrated in particular in Figures 4 and 5 , the base 2 is constituted by three arms, extending from a central connecting support 4 to have a general shape in "T". According to a preferred embodiment, two of the arms, namely the lateral arms 3 ₁ with respect to the central arm 3 ₂ , are mounted foldable so that they can be folded substantially parallel to the central arm 3 ₂ when the device 1 is not in use ( fig. 4). To this end, each lateral arm 3 ₁ is mounted on the support 4 along a pivot axis 5 and is fitted with an element 6 for locking the arm in the deployed position.

According to a preferred embodiment characteristic, the central arm 3 ₂ extends beyond the support 4 for the central connection of the arms, by an extension 3 ′ ₂ of reduced length making it possible to contribute to maintaining the base 2 in contact with the ground. Preferably, the end of the extension 3 ′ ₂ is fitted with rollers 7 which are mounted so as not to be in contact with the ground in the support position of the central arm 3 ₂ on the ground. The rollers 7 make it easier to transport the base 2 in the folded position. For this purpose, the base 2 is raised from the opposite end from that carrying the rollers 7 so that the latter can roll on the ground.

The support 4 of the base comprises a tubular barrel 8 in which is engaged the lower end of a mast 10 rising vertically along an axis X. Preferably, the mast 10 is locked in rotation relative to the support 4, at l using a locking screw 4 ₁ . Thus, the mast 10 can be easily removed from the base 2 when the device 1 is dismantled .

The mast 10 is equipped with a support assembly 11 for the lower limbs of a person, rotatably mounted on the mast 10 . In the example illustrated, the support assembly 11 for the lower limbs is constituted by a footrest 12 and by two open leggings 13, carried by a tube 10 ₁ fitted on the mast 10 to be rotatable around the mast 10 . to prevent the tube ₁ slides 10 along the mast 10 during the withdrawal of the latter of the barrel 8, the mast 10 is provided with a stop ring 10 ₂ emanating resting on the edge of the drum 8.

As can be seen more clearly from FIGS. 2 to 5 , the footrest 12 is constituted, in a conventional manner, by two support plates 14 bordered by flanges 15 and connected together by a cross member 16 carried by a fixed member 17 to tube 10 ₁ . Of course, the support plates 14 for the feet which extend on either side of the mast 10, can be adjustable in spacing and / or in orientation.

The two open leggings 13 are intended to fit from the front the legs of a person to bear substantially below the tibial plateau, to immobilize the lower limbs laterally and in the anteroposterior plane. The two open leggings 12, which extend on either side of the mast 10, each consist of a hoop 19 fixed on a transverse rod 20 supported by a collar 21 for mounting on the tube 10 ₁ . For example, the two open leggings 12 are mounted with a possibility of adjustment in spacing and / or in orientation. Preferably, the mounting collar 21 has a possibility of adjustment in height, along the tube 10 ₁ .

The apparatus 1 , according to the invention also comprises a system 22 ensuring the transfer of a person in the support polygon, between the initial position PI and the final position PF angularly offset between them.

The transfer system 22 is mounted on the mast 10 , being provided with a suspension assembly 23 for the upper limbs. In the example illustrated, the suspension assembly 23 consists of two handles extending radially from the mast 10 close to one another. According to a preferred embodiment characteristic, the suspension assembly 23 also includes hooks 24 capable of serving as a point of attachment to straps, or the like, intended to come and surround the person during the transfer operation.

As shown more precisely in FIG. 6, the suspension assembly 23 is pivotally mounted on the mast 10, along an inclined axis X with respect to the vertical V. In the example illustrated, the transfer system 22 comprises a guide bearing 25 for a bearing 27 whose the inner ring is mounted for rotation, by means of an axis 29 with the suspension assembly 23 . Given the mounting of the suspension assembly 23 , along an inclined axis X with respect to the vertical V , the suspension assembly 23 describes a trajectory establishing itself in a plane perpendicular to the axis X , that is to say ie inclined with respect to the vertical V. During this circular trajectory, it should be understood that the suspension assembly 23 passes from a maximum high level to a minimum low level. Insofar as the center of gravity of the suspension assembly 23 is offset from the axis of rotation X , the suspension assembly 23 tends, when it is placed at a high level (shown at left in fig. 6 ), to return by simple gravity to its minimum low level (shown in phantom on the right in fig. 6 ). The interest of this characteristic will appear more precisely in the following description.

According to a preferred embodiment characteristic, the apparatus 1 comprises means 30 for locating the final position PF , that is to say the high level for the suspension assembly 23 . In the illustrated embodiment, the locating means 30 is constituted by a handle 31 extending from a tubular skirt 33 forming part of the transfer system 22 . Of course, the locating means 30 can be produced in a different way. The tubular skirt 33 , which extends the guide bearing 25, is fitted on the free end of the mast 10. This tubular skirt 33 is placed in a fixed position relative to the mast 10 using a manual locking means 36 , such as a screw. The transfer system 22 can thus be easily dismantled relative to the mast 10 . It should be noted that the handle 31 also advantageously serves to allow the device 1 to be moved during, in particular, its rolling using the rollers 7 .

The use of an apparatus 1 according to the invention follows directly from the foregoing description.

The apparatus 1 is positioned so as to allow a person to pass from an initial position PI, illustrated in FIG. 2, at a final position PF, illustrated in FIG. 3. In the example illustrated, the two positions PI, PF are offset angularly, substantially of the order of 90 °. To do this, the person uses the locating means 30 in order, in the example illustrated, to orient it in the desired final position PF . To this end, the handle 31 is oriented in the direction of the final position PF and is locked in this position using the manual locking means 36. As shown in FIG. 2, the handle 31 is positioned relative to the mast 10 , opposite the final position PF . Of course, it could be expected that the handle 31 is located on the side of the final position PF .

Given the blocking in the position defined above of the transfer system 22 , the suspension assembly 23 is positioned in the initial position PI at a level considered high, that is to say greater than a level considered low in which will be located the suspension assembly 23 in the final position PF . The person can then come and rest their feet on the receiving trays 14 and engage their legs in the two open leggings 13 . The person then hangs by his hands to the suspension assembly 23 so that it is completely supported by the transfer device 1 according to the invention. Given the position at a high level of the support assembly 23, the latter is rotated under the effect of the weight of the person suspended from the suspension assembly 23 . This suspension assembly 23 is therefore rotated to come to be placed at a low level. Given the rotation of the upper limbs and the trunk of the person, the support assembly 11 for the lower limbs is also rotated to allow the person to be placed in its final position PF .

The apparatus 1 according to the invention thus makes it possible to transfer a person from one position to another in a simple and safe manner, without the aid of a third person. The transfer takes place without an energy source but only under the effect of gravity.

According to a preferred characteristic of embodiment, the apparatus 1 comprises stops 40 for limiting the rotation relative to the mast 10 , of the support assembly 11 for the lower limbs. In the illustrated embodiment, these limiting stops 40 are constituted by two stiffening plates of the socket barrel 8 on which is intended to come into abutment, a lug 41 extending between the tube 10 ₁ and the frame 17 . the implementation of these stops 40 ensures that the transfer of the person is always done in the support polygon. According to an advantageous characteristic of embodiment, the device 1 comprises a polarizing device to prevent improper mounting of the mast 10 on the base leading to the positioning of the person outside the support polygon. To this end, the barrel 8 is provided at its end with a rim 43 extending between the two stops 40 , outside the authorized range of rotation of the lug 41 . Thus, the mast 10 cannot be engaged in the barrel 8 in a bad position because the lug 41 abuts on the rim 43 .

The invention is not limited to the examples described and shown since various modifications can be granted without departing from its scope.

Claims (10)

Person transfer apparatus, characterized in that it comprises a base (2) delimiting a support polygon, a mast (10) rising vertically from the base (2), a support assembly (11) for the lower limbs of a person, rotatably mounted on the mast (10), and a system (22) for transferring a person adapted to move him in the support polygon between an initial position (PI) and a final position (PF) offset angularly therebetween, the transfer system (22) being mounted on the mast (10) being provided with a suspension assembly (23) for the upper limbs, pivotally mounted on the mast along an axis inclined relative to the vertical and intended to be placed at a high level so as to be driven in rotation under the effect of the weight of the suspended person, to a low level thus allowing the transfer of the person to be obtained. Transfer device according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes a high level marking means (30) for the suspension assembly (23) . Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the locating means (30) consists of a handle (31) extending from the transfer system (22) which is mounted with a possibility of rotation relative to the mast, the transfer system (22) being placed in a fixed position relative to the mast by means of a manual locking means (36) . Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the transfer system (22) comprises a guide bearing (25) for a bearing (27) locked in rotation with the suspension assembly (23) , the guide bearing (25) being mounted along an inclined axis (X) relative to the vertical. Transfer device according to claim 1, characterized in that the support assembly (11) for the lower limbs consists of a footrest (12) and two open leggings (13) . Transfer device according to claim 1 or 5, characterized in that it includes stops (40) for limiting the rotation relative to the mast (10) , of the support assembly (11) for the lower limbs. Transfer device according to claim 1, characterized in that the base (2) comprises a nesting barrel (8) for the mast (10) allowing the dismantling of the mast relative to the base. Transfer device according to claim 1 or 7, characterized in that the base (2) consists of at least three arms, two of which (3 ₂ ) are mounted, foldable to be in the non-use position, folded along the central arm (3 ₁ ). Transfer device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the base (2) is equipped with rollers (7) mounted so as not to be in contact with the ground in the support position of the base on the ground. Transfer device according to claim 1, characterized in that the support assembly (11) comprises hooks (24) to serve as a point of attachment to straps or the like intended to come and surround the person.

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