LIFT FOR FALLEN PERSON AT HOME

Abstract

A household lift for fallen persons is devised in which a modified stepladder serves as the main lift structure while also serving as a stepladder storably foldable and usable within the house. A removable winch is set atop the stepladder, and it too can serve other purposes and can be of hand-cranked or electric powered design. The winch's lift cable is removably attached to preferably a prior-art sling type which first lays flat on the floor to facilitate moving the person onto it, and next pulls the person up into a secure sit-up position and then high enough to lower onto a wheelchair or other safe destination.

Claims

1. An apparatus serving as both a lift for a fallen person at home and a household stepladder, comprising: a stepladder structure of height well below ceiling height and providing adequate room between its front and rear rails to accommodate a patient lifted above chair height, the stepladder being foldable for compact storagability; a winch mounted under the top of the stepladder; a sling layable flat on floor beside the fallen patient to accept the patient being rolled onto it; whereupon the stepladder can be set over the patient, the cable of the winch lowered and attached to the sling, and the winch operated to lift sling and patient securely into a sitting position within the stepladder's rails and then to a height allowing a chair or wheelchair to be positioned under the patient.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the tops of the front rails of the stepladder are rigidly gusseted to extend horizontally and fasten hingedly to the tops of the rear rails, holding the tops of the rear rails apart from the front rails in order to provide more room to accommodate the lifted patient while the stepladder remains short enough to operate indoors, and remains foldable for compact storage; the winch is removably mounted so that it may be affixed on the stepladder only when needed to lift a fallen patient, leaving the stepladder significantly lighter when used just as a stepladder or being moved to the patient.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the invention in action.

[0009] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the invention, job done.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] In FIG. 1, the patient has been raised slightly higher than a wheelchair seat, a helper having first maneuvered the fallen patient onto a sling 3 (a type that keeps a patient leaned back as shown rather than bundled vertically like a sack of potatoes), set and secured the winch 2 on the stepladder 1, shifted the prepared stepladder 1 over the patient on the floor and connected the winch line 2a to the sling 3. The base of the winch 2 has its front set on a step S and its rear set on a bar across the rear rails, secured (removably) with cleats and hook-and-loop bands in this case. (The bar, cleats and bands are not clearly visible. Of course there are alternative mounting methods for removably securing the winch, one being to have a hook on top of the winch engaging a loop or openings in the stepladder's top—also not shown). The winch handle 2b is on an extended shaft so that it clears the ladder's rails 1b and 1c, and can be operated by the helper standing in front of the steps S (or on a step). The front rails 1b and steps are cut away for clarity, better showing the patient and sling. The cutaway reveals portions of the rear rails 1c. While these are better shown in FIG. 2, the ends of the ladder's top-spreading gussets 1a and the ends of spread-restraining ties (“spreaders”) 1d can be seen here.

[0011] (While the illustrated winch 2 is manually operated, it could of course be an electric motor type, although that would add cost and considerably more weight.)

[0012] FIG. 2 shows the patient successfully lowered into the wheelchair, which the helper has wheeled in from behind the lifted patient. The sling 3 has been detached from the winch line 2a and remains under the patient as shown. The patient can now be helped to stand or wheel or be wheeled to a bed or other security, the sling 3 then free to be removed and put away. The winch 2 with cord 2a is removed and stored “on call” for such an emergency, while the stepladder 1 is folded and stored ready for general usage—or such emergency usage. The ladder design modifications are clear: to afford room for the lifted patient while fitting under house ceilings, a common 8 ft. high stepladder has been cut down to 6.5 ft. while its spread at the top has been maintained by rigidly attaching gussets 1a to the front rails 1b and hingedly attaching them the rear rails 1c. The spreaders 1d keep the feet of the rails from sliding apart under load (and high-friction feet help prevent that as well). The ladder still folds up compactly for storage.

[0013] It should be noted that the changes made to the usual stepladder design (to keep it short enough for household use but broad enough to accommodate the lifted patient) have shortened the distance of the spreaders 1d from the top, increasing “leverage” tension on the spreaders and bending force on the rails; some strengthening may be justified. And, back to FIG. 1, a further change to common stepladder design is to widen its stance on the floor—as shown or even a bit wider—for better side-to-side stability during a lift.