LIFTING AND LOWERING APPARATUS

LIFTING AND LOWERING APPARATUS

This invention relates to apparatus for lifting or/and lowering

persons or/and objects.

The invention has been devised primarily for application to

apparatus for raising and lowering a person, for use in caring for disabled,

injured or infirm persons and for medical purposes, for example, for

assisting a person to get into and out of a bath or up and down from and

to the floor. Although the following description of the invention is

directed mainly to this application of the invention, it is to be understood

that there is no limitation in this regard as the invention is applicable to

any appropriate type of apparatus for lifting and/or lowering persons or

objects. Purely by way of example there may be mentioned apparatus for

gaining access to elevated locations and apparatus for lifting and loading

objects, for example lifting trolleys, lifting tables and pallet trunks.

According to the invention there is provided an apparatus for

lifting or/and lowering persons or objects which comprises a structure

provided with or adapted to be provided with a support for persons or/and

objects, said structure having two parts which are movable relative to one

another between an erected condition in which the support is in a raised

position, and a collapsed condition in which the support is in a lowered

position, and an inflatable means operatively connected between the parts

of the structure so as to move said parts between the erected and

collapsed conditions on inflation and deflation thereof. Preferably the two parts of the structure are pivotally connected

together. Preferably they are arranged in an X-configuration although

other arrangements may be used, for example a number of pivoted links

of any other appropriate configuration.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the structure

comprises two X-frames each comprising two members pivotally

connected together at locations intermediate their ends, the two frames

being disposed in planes parallel to one another and arranged, in use, to

stand upright, the frames being connected together by one or more

transverse members. However, other arrangements are possible within

the scope of the invention, for example the structure may comprise only

one such X-frame or three such X-frames disposed in spaced parallel

relationship.

The inflatable means preferably comprises at least one inflatable

bag extending between the two relatively movable parts of the structure.

Where the structure is of an X-configuration the bag is preferably formed

with an opening and is arranged to surround the pivotal connection of the

said two parts of the structure so that a portion of the bag lies between

the two parts of the structure at one side of the pivotal connection and an

opposed portion of the bag lies between the parts at the other side of the

connection, whereby inflation and deflation of the bag, respectively,

opens the structure in scissors-fashion and allows the structure to close in

a similar fashion under the weight of a person or object on the support or just under the weight of the structure itself if there is no person or object

on the support.

In the case of an apparatus having a single X-frame the bag will

have only one, central opening but where the apparatus has two or more

X-frames disposed in spaced parallel planes the bag may have a

corresponding number of separate openings through which the respective

frames extend or a single central opening containing all the frames. Thus,

when there are separate openings the two opposed portions of the bag

lying between the two relatively movable parts of the structure at

opposite sides of the pivotal connection are connected together by a

number of further portions of the bag which is one more than the number

of openings in the bag.

The bag may be provided with tie means for connecting together

the said two opposed portions of the bag at opposite sides of the or at

least one opening in the bag. In the case of an apparatus having two or

more X-frames in spaced parallel relationship, if the bag has only one

central opening there may be just one such tie means extending across

the opening, but if the bag has two or more openings a corresponding

number of such tie means is preferably provided, one extending across

each opening. The or each tie means may be two elongate elements

connected to the respective portions of the bag and joined by a releasable

connector which when released facilitates fitting of the bag to the

structure and its removal. The tie means cause the bag to centre itself relative to the X-frames on inflation of the bag and prevent distortion of

the bag which might otherwise cause an uneven application of forces by

the bag to the parts of the structure on inflation of the bag and create

strains in the structure of the bag.

The inflatable means may comprise a single bag or a number of

bags.

In the case of an apparatus having a structure of X-configuration,

for example one or more X-frames, the bags are preferably arranged in

superimposed relationship. The bags may be arranged to be inflated and

deflated simultaneously or one after the other.

The apparatus may further comprise means for producing a supply

of compressed air, for example a pump or a compressed air cylinder,

connected to the inflatable means and valve means for controlling the

supply of air to the inflatable means and expulsion of air from the latter.

Alternatively the valve means may be connectible to an external source of

compressed air.

The or each bag may be provided with internal or external

restraint means adapted to limit the degree of permissible inflation of the

bag and hence the height to which the support can be raised.

Where the structure is of X-configuration, one of the two parts

thereof is preferably provided at its lower end with wheels, for example in

the form of rollers or castors, arranged to run on a surface on which the

apparatus is standing, towards and away from the lower end of the other part as the structure is moved between its erected and collapsed

conditions, so that such movement takes place easily and smoothly. In

this event, where the apparatus is to be used as a stationary apparatus,

the lower end of said other part is preferably provided with means for

preventing movement thereof relative to the said surface, for example

non-slip feet or suction pads. Alternatively, where the apparatus may be

required to be used to move persons or objects from place to place as

well as lifting or/and lowering them, the lower end of said other part is

preferably provided with wheels which may be equipped with braking

means operable to prevent movement of the apparatus over the surface

concerned on erection and collapsing of the structure.

The upper end of one of the parts of the structure may be

provided with means for attachment to the support, and in this event the

upper end of the other part is preferably provided with means adapted to

permit it to slide or run along a lower surface of the support on erection

and collapsing of the apparatus. These means may be sliders or wheels.

The support may simply comprise a platform of an appropriate

size so that a person can sit and/or lie upon it. In other examples the

support may be in the form of a seat or a stretcher which is detachable

from the structure and which may also be combined with a platform, and

for raising and lowering objects the support may likewise be a platform or

of any other appropriate form such as a cradle or cage.

To enable the apparatus to lift and/or lower persons or objects to or from greater heights, it may be provided with one or more additional

structures with inflatable means similar to the first structure and/or one or

more additional structures similar to the first structure but without similar

inflatable means, the structures being arranged one on top of the or each

other so that they can be moved between their erected and collapsed

conditions by movement of the said parts of the structure having

inflatable means or of at least one of the structures having inflatable

means between their erected and collapsed conditions under the control of

said inflatable means, the structures being arranged one on top of the or

each other. In the case of such an apparatus which has two or more

structures with inflatable means, these inflatable means may be inflatable

and debatable together or independently.

Thus, where the structures comprise X-frames, the first structure

may have pivotally connected to the upper ends of its frames the lower

ends of the frames of a second structure, the upper ends of these frames

either supporting the support or being similarly connected to a third

structure which carries the support or is in turn similarly connected to one

or more other such structures carrying the support.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with

reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one form of apparatus

according to the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a similar view showing the apparatus of FIGURE 1 without its support platform,

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the apparatus of FIGURE 1 ,

FIGURE 4 is a side view showing the apparatus of FIGURE 1 in a

collapsed condition,

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of another form of apparatus

embodying the invention,

FIGURE 6 is a side view of the apparatus of FIGURE 5 without its

support,

FIGURE 7 is a plan view corresponding to FIGURE 6, and

FIGURES 8, 9 and 10 show diagrammatically three further forms

of apparatus according to the invention.

FIGURES 1 to 4 and FIGURES 5 to 7 of the drawings show two

embodiments of an apparatus for raising and lowering a person which has

been designed primarily for use in assisting a person to get into and out of

a bath. Each apparatus comprises a structure generally designated 1

which is movable between erected and collapsed conditions, inflatable

means2 arranged on inflation and deflation thereof to erect the structure

and collapse the structure respectively, and a support platform 3

supported by the structure on which a person may sit or lie to be raised or

lowered, for example lifted out of or lowered into water in a bath (not

shown).

In both embodiments the structure 1 comprises two X-frames 4,5, each comprising two elongate members 4a, 4b or 5a, 5b which are

pivotally connected together intermediate their ends by a joint 6 so as to

be movable relative to one another in scissors-fashion. The two frames

are connected together in spaced parallel relationship by transverse

members 7 so that in use they stand upright.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 1 to 4 the inflatable means 2

comprises a single inflatable bag. This bag has a central opening 9 and

comprises two relatively large sections 2a, 2b extending transversely of

the apparatus and located between the members 4a, 4b and 5a, 5b, these

sections being joined by smaller sections 2c, 2d. In the embodiment of

FIGURES 5 to 7 the inflatable means 2 comprises two inflatable bags 32

arranged one on top of the other. Each bag has two relatively large

sections 32a, 32b and two smaller sections 32c, 32d similar to the

sections of the bag 2 in FIGURES 1 to 4. The internal compartments of

the two bags communicate with one another so that air can flow between

the bags.

The X-frames 4,5 extend through the central opening of the or

each bag so that the latter surrounds the pivotal connections 6.

In both embodiments the inflatable means 2 is connected by a

pipe 10 to a supply of compressed air which may be a separate unit

supplied with the apparatus and comprising an air pump or compressed air

cylinder. Valve means are provided to control the supply of compressed

air to the bag and expulsion of air from the bag to inflate and deflate it. The or each bag is formed from a number of pieces of plastics-

coated material or plastics film which are joined together by welding or

adhesive. Alternatively the bag may be blow-moulded in one piece.

The sections 2a,2b or 32a,32b of the bag(s) at opposite sides of

the pivotal connection of the frames are connected together by a tie

comprising two short belt lengths 1 1 joined by a buckle 1 2. This tie

causes the bag to centre itself relative to the X-frames and prevents the

or each bag becoming distorted as it is inflated and deflated thereby

ensuring, in particular, that equal forces are applied to the frame members

at opposite sides of the pivotal connection on inflation of the bag(s).

Also, the buckle can be released to enable the bag(s) to be fitted to the

frames on assembly of the apparatus and removed from the frames, for

example for storage purposes (alternatively the transverse members 7

could be detachable to facilitate fitting and removal of the bag in which

case there may be a non-releasable tie between the sections 2a, 2b or

32a, 32b or between the sections 2c, 2d or 32c, 32d).

In both embodiments the lower ends of the frame members 4a, 5a

are provided with two suction pads 1 3 for engagement with the bottom

surface of a bath in order to hold the apparatus in position in the bath.

The lower ends of the members 4b, 5b are provided with wheels or rollers

14 arranged to run along the bottom surface of the bath as the structure

2 is moved between its erected and collapsed conditions. In the

embodiment of FIGURES 1 to 4 the upper ends of the members 4b, 5b are provided with hinged plates 1 5 which engage the underside of the support

platform 3 and may, if desired, be attached to it, for example by screws,

welding or adhesive. The upper ends of the members 4a, 5a are provided

with wheels or rollers 16 arranged to run along the underside of the

platform on erection and collapsing of the structure 2.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 5 to 6 the transverse member 7 at

the upper ends of the members 4b,5b is secured to the underside of the

support platform 3 and the ends of the transverse member 7 at the upper

ends of the members 4a, 5a are provided with sliders arranged to run

along the underside of the platform an erection and collapsing of the X-

frames.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 1 to 4 the platform comprises a

flat panel 3a with two side wings 3b, 3c. In FIGURES 5 to 7 the platform

is of a similar design and is additionally provided with a seat 35 having a

backrest 36 which is movable between a horizontal position and an

inclined position as shown in FIGURE 5 in which it is held by stays 37.

In use, the apparatus is placed in a bath and held in position by

engagement of the suction pads 13 with the bottom surface of the bath.

The bag or bags is or are inflated by supplying compressed air to it or

them so that expansion of the sections 2a, 2b or 32a, 32b causes the X-

frames to open in scissors-fashion thereby raising the platform 3 to an

erected condition level with the top of the bath. A person can then sit on

the platform and swing his or her legs over the side of the bath on to the platform. Air is then released from the or each bag so that it deflates and

allows the X-frames to close to a collapsed condition as shown in FIGURE

4, thereby lowering the person into the bath. When the person has

finished bathing the or each bag is inflated to raise the platform to the

raised position so that he or she can then get out of the bath.

An advantage of the arrangement of the or each bag so that it

surrounds the pivotal connection of the X-frames is that the bag acts as a

barrier and keeps a user's limbs away from the scissors-type mechanism,

thereby preventing, for example, a person's fingers being trapped between

the X-frames as the apparatus is collapsed.

FIGURES 8, 9 and 10 show three embodiments in the form of

modified versions of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 4 and in

which the same reference numerals are used to denote like parts.

In FIGURE 8 an apparatus similar to that shown in FIGURES 1 to

4 has the support 3, the plates 1 5 and the wheels 16 replaced by pivotal

connections 17 which connect the upper ends of the two X-frames 4,5 to

the lower ends of the X-frames of a second structure 18 identical to the

structure 1 but without an inflatable bag corresponding to the inflatable

bag 2. This second structure has a support 3, plates 15 and wheels 1 6

identical to those of the apparatus shown in FIGURES 1 to 4. In this

embodiment inflation and deflation of the bag 2 moves not only the X-

frames 4,5 of the first structure 1 but also the X-frames of the second

structure 18 (through the pivotal connections 17) between erected and collapsed conditions.

In FIGURE 9 an apparatus similar to that shown in FIGURES 1 to

4 has the support 3 and the plate 1 5 replaced by pivotal connections 19

which connect the upper ends of the members 4a, 4b of the structure 1 to

the lower ends of the members 4a, 4b of the X-frames of a second

structure 20 similar to the structure 1 , and a guide 21 similar to the

platform 3 but attached to the pivotal connections 19 and extending

between the wheels 16 of the first structure 1 and the wheels 14 of the

second structure 20. In this case the second structure 20 has an

inflatable bag 22. In this case, the two bags are inflated and deflated one

after the other. To erect the two structures 1 and 20 the lower bag 2 is

first inflated so that the lower structure 18 provides in its erected

condition a rigid and stable base for the second structure 20 as it is then

erected by inflating the upper bag 22. The apparatus is collapsed by first

deflating the bag 22 of the upper structure 20 and then deflating the bag

2 of the lower structure 1 . During these movements the wheels 16 of the

first structure and the wheels 14 of the second structure run along the

lower and upper surfaces of the guide 21 .

The embodiment shown in FIGURE 10 is similar to that illustrated

in FIGURE 8 except that the second structure designated 23 and

corresponding to the structure 18 is provided with an inflatable bag 24.

In this embodiment the two bags are inflated and deflated together to

raise and lower the platform 3. The embodiments shown in FIGURES 8,9 and 10 can be modified

by replacing each single bag with two bags as in the embodiment of

FIGURES 5 to 7.

It is to be understood that the scope of the present invention is

not to be limited by the embodiment shown in the drawings. In particular,

the apparatus may be made in a wide range of sizes to suit different uses.

Moreover, the invention includes any novel and inventive feature disclosed

herein either alone or in combination with any one or more other such

features.