WO2018011783A1

WO2018011783A1 - System for aiding a disabled person

Info

Publication number: WO2018011783A1
Application number: PCT/IL2017/050758
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yaakov MOR; Ben AVRAHAM; Tom BARY
Original assignee: Standing Steel Ltd
Current assignee: Standing Steel Ltd
Priority date: 2016-07-10
Filing date: 2017-07-06
Publication date: 2018-01-18
Anticipated expiration: 2019-01-10
Also published as: IL246696A

Abstract

A system (10) for aiding a disabled person (62), including a seat (12) for allowing the disabled person (62) to sit thereon; an arm (14) having driving means (94), for pivoting the arm (14) together with the seat ( 12) about a static hinge (78) of the arm (14), the static hinge (78) being distal from the seat (12). The pivoting of arm (14), together with the seat (12), facilitates lifting a buttock (80) of the disabled person from a first position (99A), through a second position (99 B), in which the arm (14) is tilted, to a third position (99C) for pressing the buttock (80) horizontally. Thereby, the seat (12) presses the buttock (80) orthogonally (86) at any of the positions (99A, 99B, 99C), wherein the driving means (94) for pivoting the arm (14) includes a hydraulic mechanism that is powered by network water pressure (36).

Description

TITLE

SYSTEM FOR AIDING A DISABLED PERSON

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to the field of disabled persons' aids. More particularly, the invention relates to an aid for helping the disabled person stand.

BACKGROUND

Fig. 1 is an illustration of the prior art steps of helping the disabled person to stand.

According to prior art steps, at the first step, which is while the disabled person 62 sits on a wheelchair, 66, a strap 82 is wrapped for surrounding the back 84 of disabled person 62 together with a lever 60. Strap 82 cannot wrap the buttock 80, since there is not access thereto, since the user sits thereon.

At the second step, lever 60 rotates about a point 92, thus lifting disabled person 62. At the third step, which is once the disabled person 62 is erected, lever 60 ceases the rotation. The user may then stand, and even shower by shower 66.

However, strap 82 is attached to disabled person 62 and embraces him, and it cannot be removed, since strap 82 protects disabled person 62 from falling back. These steps of further disadvantaged in that strap 82 can only lift the back 84 of the disabled person, thus applying undesirable forces on the spine, rather than lifting buttock 80, being naturally designed for supporting the body.

SUMMARY

The invention provides a solution to the above- mentioned and other problems of the prior art In contrast to pulling the body of the disabled user by strap 82, a system 10 according to the invention presses the body.

System may aid self-showering of a disabled person, even without any personal external aid.

In one aspect, the invention is directed to a system (10) for aiding a disabled person (62), the system (10) including:

- a seat (12), for allowing the disabled person (62) to sit thereon;

- an arm (14) including driving means (94), for rotating the arm (14) together with the seat (12) about a distanced static hinge (78) of the arm (14), the static hinge (78) being distal from the seat (12),

wherein the pivoting of the arm (14), together with the seat (12), facilitates lifting a buttock (80) of the disabled person (62)

from a horizontal position (99 A),

through a tilted position (99B), in which the arm (14) is tilted, to a vertical position (99C) for pressing the buttock [80] horizontally,

thereby the seat (12) presses the buttock (80) orthogonally (86) at any of the positions (99A, 99B, 99C),

wherein the driving means (94) for pivoting the arm (14) comprises a hydraulic mechanism that is powered by network water pressure (36).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments, features, and aspects of the invention are described herein in conjunction with the following drawings:

Fig. 2 depicts a system for showering a disabled person according to one embodiment of the invention, and the first step of using it

Fig. 3 depicts the position of the disabled person after the first step of Fig. 2, and depicts the second step.

Fig.4 depicts the position of the disabled person after the second step of Fig. 3, and depicts the third step.

Fig. 5 depicts the position of the disabled person after the third step of Fig. 3, and depicts the fourth step.

Fig. 6 depicts the position of the disabled person after the fourth step of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 depicts the fifth step.

Fig. 8 depicts the powering of the powered cylinder device of Fig. 4, utilizing network water.

Fig. 9 illustrates the physics of the lifting power required.

The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will be understood from the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, which are meant to be descriptive and not limiting. For the sake of brevity, some well-known features are not described in detail.

The reference numbers have been used to point out elements in the embodiments described and illustrated herein, in order to facilitate the understanding of the invention. They are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting. Also, the foregoing embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated in conjunction with systems and methods thereof, which are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting.

At the first step, disabled person 62 sitting on wheelchair 66, moves forward toward a seat 12 lacking a headrest Seat 12 is currently disposed lower than the seat 64 of wheelchair 66, the disable person 62 must apply horizontal forces only, and need not lift himself.

At the second step, disabled person locks the wheels of wheelchair 66; extends the legs 70 forward past seat 12 of showering system 10; presses by the hands, downwards on the armrests 68 and further presses the arms back, for moving the body forwards as depicted by arrow 72.

Fig. 4 depicts the position of the disabled person after the second step of Fig. 3, and depicts the third step.

Thereby, disabled person 62 sits on seat 12. At the third step, disabled person 62 holds handles 30, disposed in front and above seat 12; and extends the legs further forward.

The term "lever" refers to an arm, being rotatable about a pivot of the arm, by a power source, such as by an electric motor.

Seat 12 is fixed to an end 74A of an arm 14, being part of a lever.

The length of arm 14 is substantially the length of leg 70 of disabled person 62.

The other end 74B of arm 14 is pivotally connected to a distanced pivot 78, near the ground 76, thereby arm 14 is rotatable in relation to the ground.

At the fourth step, arm 14 is rotated about a pivot 78, thereby lifting seat 12 and pressing buttock 80.

Force vector 86 applied on buttock 80 is advantaged in being, at all the positions, orthogonal to the surface of buttock 80.

The rotation of arm 14 may be applied by a powered cylinder device 16, having driving means 94, such as a motor 98, for pressing on arm 14.

Referring again to Fig. 4, end 88A of powered cylinder device 16 is pivotally connected to the ground, and end 88B of powered cylinder device 16 is pivotally connected to arm 14. Thus, extension of end 88B forward, lifts seat 12, and further moves seat 12 horizontally towards the front

Front barriers 90 A and 90B may ensure that the horizontal motion of seat 12 cannot tilt disabled person 62 forwards to fall.

The bottom front barrier 90A may support the knee. Bottom front barrier 90A may be disposed at an end of an extendible arm 18, for supporting the knee, for accompanying the correct folding of the knee.

Fig. 6 depicts the position of the disabled person after the fourth step of Fig. 3.

The pressing of seat 12 makes disabled person 62 to stand. Once disabled person 62 stands and is stable, seat 12 and front barriers 90A and 90B are not required any more, for ensuring the standing position.

Fig. 7 depicts the fifth step. However, the presence of seat 12 and of front barriers 90A and 90B may indeed be desirable for avoiding an accident Thus, at the fifth step, seat 12 and knee support 90 are slightly retracted while maintaining their presence.

This state is advantaged in that no object is attached to the body of the user, thus allowing efficient showering, while yet protecting the user from loss of stability.

Powered cylinder device 16 includes a piston 17. Piston 17 includes a wide portion 19 a narrow portion 21, wherein wide portion 19 subdivides the pressure zone inside cylinder barrel 15: pressing chamber 23 and relieving chamber 25.

The piston 17 of powered cylinder device 16 may be powered by a water driven mechanism 35 utilizing a network water outlet 36, thereby eliminating the need for an electric motor for powering powered cylinder device 16 or any other electrical device, thereby enhancing safety. For example, hydraulic mechanism 35 includes an opening water tap 38, a water release tap 44, an inflow-water-pipe 40 that operatively interconnects powered cylinder device 16 with the network water system and controlled by opening water tap 38, and an outflow-water-pipe 41 that operatively interconnects powered cylinder device 16 with a drainage target and controlled by water release tap 44. To operate water driven mechanism 35, while water release tap 44 is closed, by opening water tap 38, the network water pressure flows the water via inflow-water-pipe 40 to thereby activate powered cylinder device 16, to thereby push piston 17 outwardly and move seat 12 towards a standing position. To retract seat 12 back towards a seating position, opening water tap 38 is closed and release tap 44 is opened to thereby drain the water from powered cylinder device 16 via outflow-water-pipe 41 and water draining means 43, to thereby retract piston 17 back into powered cylinder device 16. Seat 12 than moves back towards the lower seating position by the force of the weight of the seat assembly and/or the weight of the user seating on seat 12. Fig. 9 illustrates the physics of the lifting power required to operate powered cylinder device 16, enabling the lifting of a disabled person, without his/her assistance.

The following describes, by way of example, calculations of the diameter dimensions of piston 17:

where A denotes an area, and where

A = A₁ - A₂ , where Ai denotes the area of the cross-section of wide portion 19 of piston 17, and A2 denotes the area of the cross-section of a narrow portion 21 of piston 17; P denotes the pressure applied to Ai, in order to push piston 17 away pressing chamber 23; F denotes the force needed to move the disabled person.

Example of piston diameter calculation:

F = 200Kg (2000N);

P = 4-6 Bar, which is the common pressure available at a network water outlet

Hence, in this example, the diameter of A₁, being the wide portion 19 of piston 17, is 79.8 [mm].

It should be noted since piston 17 pushes the arm 14 for moving the seat, and since the angle α between piston 17 and arm 14 is continuously changing, the actual lifting force T applied to the seat [12] is: T = F * sin α.

Thus, in one aspect, the invention is directed to a system (10) for aiding a disabled person (62), the system (10) including:

- a seat (12), for allowing the disabled person (62) to sit thereon;

- an arm (14) including driving means (94), for rotating the arm (14) together with the seat (12) about a distanced static hinge (78) of the arm (14),

from a horizontal position (99A) for lifting a buttock (80) of the disabled person (62),

through a tilted position (99B),

to a vertical position (99C) for pressing the buttock (80) horizontally,

thereby the seat (12) presses the buttock (80) orthogonally (86) at any of the positions (99A, 99B, 99C).

The driving means (94) may allow horizontal retracting of the seat (12) from the buttock (80) once the disabled person (62) stands,

thereby eliminating any object from attaching the disabled person (62) while standing,

thereby allowing convenient showering (42) during standing.

The system (10) may further include:

- a front barrier (9 OA), for protecting the disabled person (62) from the horizontal pressing by the seat (12).

The front barrier (90A) maybe horizontally movable as a function of the current position of the disable person (62), for permanently supporting him against the back pressing of the seat (12).

The static hinge (78) of the arm (14) may be disposed near the ground (76).

At the horizontal position (99A), the static hinge (78) of the arm (14) is disposed in front of the seat (12), for being disposed in front of the buttock (80) of the disabled person (62).

The distance between the static hinge (78) and the seat (12) may be the distance between the foot (96) and the buttock (80) of the disabled person (62).

The driving means (94) for rotating the arm (14) maybe: an electric motor (98), or hydraulic means, or the network water pressure (36) of the shower.

The driving means (94) for rotating the arm (14) maybe a powered cylinder device (16) being pivotally connected (88B) to the arm (14).

It should be noted that system (10) for aiding a disabled person of the present invention may be foldable. It should be further noted that system (10) for aiding a disabled person of the present invention may be portable and can be installed in just about any shower.

In the figures and/or description herein, the following reference numerals (Reference Signs List) have been mentioned:

- numeral 10 denotes the system for aiding self- showering of a disabled person, even without any personal external aid, according to one embodiment of the invention;

numeral 12 denotes a seat;

numeral 14 denotes the arm for moving the seat;

numeral 15 denotes the cylinder barrel of powered cylinder device 16;

numeral 16 denotes a powered cylinder device, for moving the arm and the seat;

numeral 17 denotes the piston of powered cylinder device 16;

numerals 18, 20 and 22 denote telescopic horizontal rods; numeral 19 denotes the wide portion of piston 17.

numeral 21 denotes the narrow portion of piston 17.

numeral 23 denotes the pressing chamber of the pressure zone inside cylinder barrel 15;

numeral 24 denotes a telescopic arm, for raising the top front barrier 90B;

numeral 25 denotes the relieving chamber of the pressure zone inside cylinder barrel 15;

numeral 26 denotes a telescopic arm, for raising the bottom front barrier 90A;

numeral 28 denotes a bathtub, within which the disabled person showers;

numeral 30 denotes a handle;

numeral 34 denotes a platform for placing the feet;

numeral 35 denotes a water driven mechanism for activating a powered cylinder device 16;

numeral 36 denotes the network water outlet;

numeral 38 denotes a water power tap;

numerals 40 and 41 denotes water pipes;

numeral 42 denotes a shower;

numeral 43 denotes a water draining means;

numeral 44 denotes a water release tap; numeral 48 denotes a joystick, for determining the extent of the rotation of the arm;

numeral 50 denotes an on-off button;

numeral 60 denotes a prior art lever;

numeral 62 denotes the disabled person;

numeral 64 denotes the seat of the wheelchair, or of the chair the disabled person sits prior to using the system; numeral 66 denotes a wheelchair;

numeral 68 denotes the armrest of the wheelchair;

numeral 70 denotes the leg of the user;

numeral 72 denotes an arrow, showing the movement from the wheelchair to the seat of the system;

numeral 74A denotes the high end, to which the seat is fixed;

numeral 74B denotes the low end of the arm;

numeral 76 denotes the low anchor, from which the arm extends and rotates about;

numeral 78 denotes the pivot of the low end of the arm; numeral 80 denotes the buttock;

numeral 82 denotes a strap;

numeral 86 denotes the force vector provided by the seat; numerals 88a and 88B denote ends of the powered cylinder device 16;

numeral 90A denotes the bottom front barrier;

numeral 90B denotes the top front barrier;

numeral 90C denotes a front barrier, which may be stationary, such as a wall;

numeral 92 denotes a pivot numeral 96 denotes a foot;

numeral 98 denotes a motor;

numeral 99A denotes the substantially horizontal position of the arm and the seat, in which the disabled person sits on the seat;

numeral 99B denotes the position of the arm and the seat between the initial sitting and the standing; and

numeral 99C denotes the substantially vertical position of the arm and the seat, in which the disabled person stands.

The foregoing description and illustrations of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the above description in any form.

Any term that has been defined above and used in the claims, should to be interpreted according to this definition.

The reference numbers in the claims are not a part of the claims, but rather used for facilitating the reading thereof. These reference numbers should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any form.

Claims

CLAIMS what is claimed is:

1. A system (10) for aiding a disabled person (62), said system (10) comprising:

- a seat (12), for allowing the disabled person (62) to sit thereon;

- an arm (14) comprising driving means (94), for pivoting said arm (14) together with said seat (12) about a static hinge (78) of said arm (14), said static hinge (78) being distal from said seat (12),

wherein said pivoting of said arm (14), together with said seat (12), facilitates lifting a buttock (80) of the disabled person (62),

from a first horizontal position (99A),

through a second tilted position (99B), in which said arm (14) is tilted,

to a third vertical position (99C), for pressing the buttock (80) horizontally,

thereby said seat (12) presses the buttock (80) orthogonally (86) at any of said positions (99A, 99B, 99C),

wherein said driving means (94) for pivoting said arm (14) comprises a hydraulic mechanism that is powered by network water pressure (36).

2. A system (10) according to claim 1, wherein said hydraulic mechanism 35 comprises an opening water tap 38, a water release tap 44, an inflow-water-pipe 40 that operatively interconnects said powered cylinder device 16 with the network water system and controlled by said opening water tap 38, and an outflow-water-pipe 41 that operatively interconnects said powered cylinder device 16 with a drainage target and controlled by said water release tap 44.

3. A system (10) according to claim 2, wherein to lift a user from seating position towards standing position by said hydraulic mechanism 35, said water release tap 44 is kept closed and opening water tap 38 is opened allowing water from network water pressure to flow via said inflow-water-pipe 40 to thereby release the lifting pressure from inside said powered cylinder device 16.

4. A system (10) according to claim 2, wherein to retract said seat 12 back towards a seating position by said hydraulic mechanism 35, said opening water tap 38 is closed and said release tap 44 is opened to thereby drain the water from said powered cylinder device 16 via said outflow-water-pipe 41 and water draining means 43, to thereby release the lifting pressure from inside said powered cylinder device 16.

5. A system (10) according to claim 1, wherein said driving means (94) allows horizontal retracting of said seat (12) from the buttock (80) once the disabled person (62) stands, thereby eliminating any object from attaching the disabled person (62) while standing while said seat (12) yet protects the disabled person (62) while being slightly retracted, thereby allowing convenient showering (42) during standing.

6. A system (10) according to claim 1, further comprising:

- front barrier (90A), for protecting the disabled person (62) from said horizontal pressing by said seat (12).

7. A system (10) according to claim 6, wherein said front barrier (90A) is horizontally movable as a function of a current position of the disable person (62).

8. A system (10) according to claim 1, wherein said static hinge (78) of said arm (14) is disposed near a ground (76).

9. A system (10) according to claim 1, wherein at said horizontal position (99A), said static hinge (78) of said arm (14) is disposed in front of said seat (12), for being disposed in front of the buttock (80) of the disabled person (62).

10. A system (10) according to claim 1, wherein a distance between said static hinge (78) and said seat (12) comprises a distance between a foot (96) and the buttock (80) of the disabled person (62).

11. A system (10) according to claim 1, wherein said driving means (94) for rotating said arm (14) comprises a powered cylinder device (16) being pivotally connected (88B) to said arm (14).

12. A system (10) according to claim 1, wherein at said horizontal position (99A), said seat (12) is disposed lower than another chair (64, 66), thereby allowing the disabled person (62) to move from said other chair (66) to said seat (12).