Method and equipment for raising a lying person

Abstract

There is presented an equipment for raising of an associated lying person, comprising a seat, a primary leg, a secondary leg being secondary leg being rotatably connected to the seat and a backrest, wherein the equipment is arranged to be passed from a first configuration to a second configuration by rotation of the secondary leg around a rotation axis, and wherein the equipment is arranged so that it enables placement of the equipment between the associated lying person and a supporting surface while the bottom of the associated lying person is in contact with the supporting surface upon which the associated lying person is lying and subsequently raising the associated lying person by passing the equipment from the first configuration to the secondary configuration by rotation of the secondary leg. In a particular embodiment, the equipment is arranged for being reversibly assembled and disassembled without using tools.

Claims

1. Equipment for raising of a lying person relative to a supporting surface upon which the lying person is lying, the equipment comprising: a seat, a primary leg, wherein the primary leg is connected to the seat and having a portion extending in a primary direction away from the seat, a secondary leg, wherein the secondary leg is rotatably connected to the seat and having a portion extending in a secondary direction away from the seat, a backrest, wherein the backrest is connected to the seat and having a portion extending away from the seat in a tertiary direction, wherein the backrest defines an absence of material between the backrest and the seat, wherein the secondary leg is configured for rotation around a rotation axis, wherein the equipment is configured to be passed from a first configuration to a second configuration by rotation of the secondary leg around the rotation axis, wherein an angle between the primary direction and the secondary direction decreases during said rotation, and wherein the absence of material is configured to permit: placement of the equipment in the first configuration at least partially between the lying person and the supporting surface upon which the person is lying, without displacement of the buttocks of the lying person in a vertical direction, while the buttocks of the lying person are in contact with the supporting surface upon which the lying person is lying and subsequently raising the lying person by passing the equipment from the first configuration to the secondary configuration by rotation of the secondary leg.

2. The equipment according to claim 1, wherein the equipment is configured such that, while the buttocks of the lying person are in contact with the supporting surface: the backrest may be positioned below a back of the lying person, and the seat may be positioned below legs of the lying person.

3. The equipment according to claim 1, wherein the equipment is configured such that the absence of material between the seat and the backrest, which permits the buttocks of the lying person to be in contact with the supporting surface when: the backrest is positioned below a back of the lying person, and the seat is positioned below legs of the lying person.

4. The equipment according to claim 1, wherein an angle between the secondary direction and the tertiary direction increases during said rotation.

5. The equipment according to claim 1, wherein a largest distance between: a point on the primary leg, and a distal point on the secondary leg, where the distal point is the point on the secondary leg, which is furthest away from the rotation axis, at least in the first position is larger than the distance d.sub.2 between: the distal point on the secondary leg.

6. The equipment according to claim 1, wherein the secondary leg is coupled to the seat via a pivot joint at one end of the secondary leg and, wherein the rotation axis is coincident with the pivot joint.

7. The equipment according to claim 5, wherein the rotation axis is at one end of the secondary leg and, wherein a distance d.sub.2 between the rotation axis, and a furthest point on the primary leg on the opposite side of the rotation axis than the distal point on the secondary leg is smaller compared to d.sub.2.

8. The equipment according to claim 1, wherein one or more parts of the equipment have at least one of (i) a joint, (ii) dimensions to allow a transition fit, and (iii) a mechanical locking member configured for both disconnection and re-connection to another part of the equipment.

9. The equipment according to claim 8, wherein said disconnection and re-connection may be carried out by an assisting person without using tools.

10. The equipment according to claim 8, wherein said disconnection and re-connection is facilitated by said joint comprising: i) a male part on a first part of the equipment, and ii) a female part on a second part of the equipment.

11. The equipment according to claim 8, wherein different parts of the equipment are kept together by a transition fit.

12. The equipment according to claim 8, wherein different parts of the equipment are kept together by said mechanical locking member selected from: a pin, a click-lock, a detent ball, or a hand-operable screw.

13. The equipment according to claim 1, wherein said equipment is configured to be disassembled into separate parts and, wherein each separate part weighs less than 12 kg.

14. The equipment according to claim 1, further comprising a motorized drive unit configured to power rotation of the secondary leg.

15. The equipment according to claim 14, further comprising an energy storage unit operably connected to the motorized drive unit.

16. The equipment according to claim 8, wherein a structural strength of said one or more parts of the equipment is configured to permit the raising of lying persons with a body mass of at least 75 kg.

17. The equipment according to claim 1, further comprising a remote controller, configured to permit an assisting person to control the equipment without being in physical contact with the equipment.

18. The equipment according to claim 1, wherein the equipment is configured to permit a rotation of the secondary leg around the rotation axis such that the equipment is passed from the first configuration to the second configuration and, during such passing: a distal portion of the primary leg engages with the supporting surface of the lying person at a primary side of the seat, a distal portion of the secondary leg engages with the supporting surface of the lying person at a secondary side of the seat, wherein the secondary side of the seat is opposite of the first side of the seat, and, wherein during the passing from the first configuration to the second configuration the decreasing angle between the primary direction and the secondary direction during said rotation, is such that: a distance between the seat and the supporting surface increases, and an angle between the tertiary direction and a vertical direction decreases.

19. The equipment according to claim 1, wherein in the first configuration of the equipment, an angle between the primary direction and the tertiary direction is more than 90 degrees.

20. The equipment according to claim 1, wherein in the first configuration of the equipment, an angle between the secondary direction and the tertiary direction is less than 90 degrees.

21. The equipment according to claim 1, wherein an angle between the secondary direction and the tertiary direction is substantially constant.

22. The equipment according to claim 1, which further comprises a traversing element connected to each one of the seat, the primary leg, the secondary leg, and the backrest.

23. The equipment according to claim 22, wherein: the seat is optionally fixedly mounted on the traversing element or being part of the traversing element, the primary leg is connected to the traversing element, wherein: an axis of a male and female connection is substantially orthogonal with the rotation axis, and wherein the male and female connection optionally comprises a detent ball, the backrest is connected to the traversing element, wherein: an axis of the male and female connection is substantially orthogonal and, wherein the male and female connection optionally comprises a detent ball, and/or the secondary leg is connected to the traversing element.

24. The equipment according to claim 1, wherein the backrest comprises two separate parts, which are connected to the equipment at different positions separated from each other in a direction being parallel with the rotation axis.

25. A method for raising a lying person, which lying person is initially lying on an associated support surface, said method comprising: placing a seat below legs of the lying person while the buttocks of the lying person are in contact with said associated support surface upon which the lying person is lying, placing a backrest between a back of the lying person and the associated support surface while the buttocks of the lying person are in contact with said associated support surface upon which the lying person is lying, without displacement of the buttocks of the associated lying person in a vertical direction, connecting the backrest to the seat, connecting a secondary leg to the seat, wherein the secondary leg is connected rotatably to the seat and having a portion extending in a secondary direction away from the seat, connecting a primary leg to the seat so that the primary leg is having a portion extending in a primary direction away from the seat, and raising the lying person by rotation of the secondary leg from a first angular position of the secondary leg to a second angular position of the secondary leg, wherein an angle between the primary direction and the secondary direction decreases during said rotation.

26. The method for raising a lying person according to claim 25, wherein a largest distance d.sub.12 between: a point on the primary leg, and a distal point on the secondary leg, wherein the distal point is the point on the secondary leg, which is furthest away from the rotation axis, at least in the first angular position is larger than the distance d.sub.2 between: the rotation axis, and the distal point on the secondary leg.

27. The method for raising a lying person according to claim 25, wherein the backrest is having a portion extending away from the seat in a tertiary direction, and an angle between the secondary direction and the tertiary direction increases during said rotation.

28. The method for raising a lying person according to claim 25, wherein the method further comprises rotating the secondary leg so that the secondary leg is passed from a first angular position to a second angular position, during which passing: a distal portion of the primary leg engages with the associated support surface of the lying person at a primary side of the seat, a distal portion of the secondary leg engages with the associated support surface of the lying person at a secondary side of the seat, wherein the secondary side of the seat is opposite of the first side of the seat, and such that during the passing from the first angular position to the second angular position the decreasing angle between the primary direction and the secondary direction during said rotation permits: an increase in distance between the seat and the associated support surface, and a decrease in angle between the tertiary direction and a vertical direction.

29. The method for raising a lying person according to claim 25, wherein the lying person is raised by said rotation of the secondary leg, and, wherein the buttocks of the lying person are kept in contact with the associated support surface until the lying person is raised by rotation of the secondary leg.

30. The method for raising a lying person according to claim 25, wherein one or more or all of: connecting the backrest to the seat, connecting the secondary leg to the seat, or connecting the primary leg to the seat, takes place after: placing the seat below the legs.

31. The method for raising a lying person according to claim 25, wherein after raising of the lying person, the method further comprises: rotating the second leg so that said second leg assumes the first angular position.

32. The equipment according to claim 23, wherein the secondary leg is connected to the traversing element through a male and female connection where an axis of the male and female connection is substantially parallel, such as parallel, with the rotation axis.

33. The method for raising a lying person according to claim 25, wherein after raising of the lying person, the method further comprises at least one of: disconnecting the backrest from the seat, disconnecting the secondary leg from the seat, or disconnecting the primary leg from the seat.

34. Equipment for raising of a lying person off a supporting surface upon which the lying person is lying, the equipment comprising: a traversing element adapted to be passed under the lying person's thighs when the lying person's buttock is on the supporting surface and the lying person's knees are elevated off the supporting surface, the traversing element comprising: a secondary joint that is rotatable about an axis of rotation relative to the traversing element, a seat, wherein said seat is fixedly mounted on the traversing element; a primary leg that is selectively fixedly coupled to the traversing element, wherein a portion of the primary leg extends in a primary direction away from the traversing element; a secondary leg that is selectively coupled to the secondary joint, wherein the secondary leg has a portion extending in a secondary direction away from the traversing element and wherein the secondary leg is rotatably connected to the secondary joint, a backrest that is selectively fixedly coupled to the traversing element, wherein the backrest has a portion extending away from the traversing element in a tertiary direction, wherein the backrest is adapted to be positioned between the lying person's back and the supporting surface and wherein, when coupled to the traversing element, the backrest defines said an absence of material between the backrest and the seat so that the backrest can be coupled to the traversing element while the lying person's buttock remains on the supporting surface; wherein, when the primary leg is coupled to the traversing element, the secondary leg is coupled to the secondary joint and the backrest is coupled to the traversing element, rotating the secondary joint about the axis of rotation moves the equipment from a first configuration to a second configuration which decreases an angle between the primary direction and the secondary direction during rotation; and wherein the equipment is adapted to raise the lying person by passing the traversing element under the lying person's thighs while the lying person's buttock is on the supporting surface, coupling the primary leg to the traversing element while the lying person's buttock is on the supporting surface, coupling the second leg to the secondary joint while the lying person's buttock is on the supporting surface, coupling the backrest to the traversing element while the lying person's buttock is on the supporting surface and then raising the laying person off the supporting surface by rotating secondary joint about the axis of rotation and moving the equipment from the first configuration to the second configuration.

35. The equipment according to claim 34, wherein the traversing element further comprises a motorized drive unit adapted to power rotation of the secondary joint.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) The equipment, use and method according to the first, second and third aspect of the invention will now be described in more detail with regard to the accompanying figures.

(2) The figures show one way of implementing the present invention and is not to be construed as being limiting to other possible embodiments falling within the scope of the attached claim set.

(3) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an equipment 13 for raising of an associated lying person,

(4) FIG. 2 shows a side view from a point along the rotation axis of the equipment depicted in FIG. 1

(5) FIG. 3 shows another side view of the equipment with the same perspective as in FIG. 2, but with the equipment passed to the second configuration.

(6) FIGS. 4-12 illustrates a method of raising an associated lying person 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

(7) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an equipment 13 for raising of an associated lying person, such as the associated lying person being a person lying on the back, the equipment comprising: a seat 1, a primary leg 4, wherein the primary leg in this embodiment comprises two sub-legs with one sub-leg on each side of the equipment (and analogously for the primary leg 4), wherein the primary leg 4 is connected to the seat 1 and having a portion extending in a primary direction away from the seat, a secondary leg 5, wherein the secondary leg 5 is rotatably connected to the seat 1 and having a portion extending in a secondary direction away from the seat, a backrest 2, wherein the backrest 2 is connected to the seat 1 and having a portion extending away from the seat in a tertiary direction, and wherein the backrest 2 comprises two separate parts 8, 9 which are connected to the equipment at different positions separated from each other in a direction being parallel with the rotation axis. wherein the secondary leg 5 is arranged for rotation around a rotation axis (said rotation axis being shown in the figure with a dashed line), wherein the equipment is arranged to be passed from a first configuration to a second configuration by rotation of the secondary leg 5 around the rotation axis, wherein an angle between the primary direction and the secondary direction decreases during said rotation, and wherein the equipment is arranged so that it enables placement of the equipment in the first configuration at least partially between the associated lying person and a supporting surface upon which the associated person is lying, such as at least partially below the associated lying person, while the bottom of the associated lying person is in contact, such as uninterrupted contact, with a supporting surface upon which the associated lying person is lying and subsequently raising the associated lying person by passing the equipment from the first configuration to the secondary configuration by rotation of the secondary leg 5.

(8) The equipment in FIG. 1 furthermore comprises a traversing element 6 where the seat is integrated into the traversing element as the surface of the traversing element facing the backrest 2, and where each of the primary leg, secondary leg and backrest are attached to and pointing away from the traversing element, and wherein the traversing element is comprising a housing. A drive unit and an energy storage unit operably connected to the drive unit is placed inside the housing so that it can power rotation of the secondary leg and thereby raise an associated lying person by activation of the drive unit.

(9) All of the primary leg 4, the secondary leg 5 and the backrest 2, are arranged for disconnection and re-connection to the traversing element in a reversible manner. This is indicated by the thick, arrows, which indicate the direction in which the part adjacent said arrow may be disconnected from the traversing element (and reconnected by movement in the opposite direction). Said disconnection and re-connection may be carried out by an associated assisting person without using tools.

(10) FIG. 2 shows a side view from a point along the rotation axis of the equipment depicted in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 indicates point P, distances d.sub.12, d.sub.2, d.sub.2, and the three arrowswhich represent vectorsindicate, respectively the primary, secondary and tertiary direction, for the primary leg 4, the secondary leg 5 and the backrest 2. The directions are given by the direction of the longitudinal axis, such as the axis of minimum moment of inertia, of each of said parts. The figure shows that the primary direction is substantially opposite both the secondary and tertiary direction, and that the secondary and tertiary directions are substantially parallel.

(11) The equipment in FIGS. 1-2 is shown in a first configuration, wherein the equipment may be placed at least partially below an associated lying person, such as the traversing element 6 with seat 1 under the thighs, and at least a portion of the backrest 2 under the back of the associated lying person. The absence 14 of material is arranged so that the bottom of the associated lying person fits into this absence of the material, so that the equipment 13 can be placed at least partially below, such as assembled at least partially below, the associated lying person without lifting the bottom of the associated lying person of the ground.

(12) FIG. 3 shows another side view of the equipment with the same perspective as in FIG. 2, but with the equipment passed to the second configuration. The equipment in the second configuration is configured as a chair, so that the associated lying person can be brought to sit in an upright position. The equipment may be passed from the first configuration to the second configuration by rotationas indicated by the curved and dashed arrowof the secondary leg. The figure also shows that said rotation entails that an angle a.sub.12 between the primary direction and the secondary direction decreases during said rotation, and an angle a.sub.23 between the secondary direction and the tertiary direction increases during said rotation.

(13) FIGS. 4-12 illustrates a method of raising an associated lying person 15.

(14) FIG. 4 shows an associated assisting person 16, such as personal care worker, whom in the present example is male and hereafter referred to as he or him. He arrives to an associated lying person 15, whom in the present example is female and hereafter referred to as she or her. He carries equipment for raising her, which equipment is disassembled so that he need not carry the entire weight of the equipment at once.

(15) FIG. 5 shows that the traversing element 6 which in a sliding motion as indicated by the thick arrow is placed under the thighs of her without lifting her bottom 20, which is resting on a supporting surface. The side of the traversing element adjacent the bottom 20 double functions as a seat. The traversing element has a side, which is planar so that the traversing element can be stably placed on the floor. The traversing element also features a handle 17 for easy handling. The side of the traversing element opposite the handle is planar.

(16) FIG. 6 shows that her shoulder is gently turned by pushing her elbow, and the backrest part 9 is gently placed below her back, more specifically her shoulder, in a sliding motion. Her buttocks 20 remain resting on and in contact with the supporting surface during this placement of the backrest part 9.

(17) FIG. 7 shows that the backrest part 9 is connected to the seat via the traversing element via a male-female coupling with a spring pin. A close up view shows the male part 23 of the male-female coupling and the female part 24 of the male-female coupling. His foot is placed on the other side of the traversing element to ensure that it stays in place.

(18) FIG. 8 shows that a sub-leg of the secondary leg is connected to the seat via a bracket 18 on a side of the traversing element. A click-lock arrangement ensures that the sub-leg stays in place during the subsequent raising and it may be seen in this drawing that after this connection, her buttocks 20 are located within the area of the absence 14 of material.

(19) FIG. 9 shows that a sub-leg of the primary leg 4 is connected to the seat via the traversing element via a male-female coupling with a spring pin.

(20) Thus, FIGS. 6-9 illustrates connection of the right side sub-parts of the primary leg, secondary leg and backrest to the seat via the traversing element. In analogy herewith, the method also features connection of the symmetrical left side sub-parts of the primary leg, secondary leg and backrest to the seat via the traversing element. This is not shown in the figures.

(21) FIG. 10 shows the associated lying person, with the equipment placed below her, although her bottom is in contact with the floor and the equipment being in the first configuration and ready for raising her. The traversing element 6 comprises a motorized drive unit 21 and an energy storage unit 22 for raising the associated lying person by rotation of the secondary leg.

(22) FIG. 11 shows that he supports her neck with his right hand, while he via the remove controller 19 activates a drive unit in the traversing element so that the secondary leg starts rotating via brackets 18. The angle between the tertiary direction and horizontal increases as indicated by the thick arrow.

(23) FIG. 12 shows the equipment in a second configuration, where she has been raised and able to exit the equipment, which is now configured as a chair, on her own or with assistance from him.

(24) To sum up, there is presented an equipment (13) for raising of an associated lying person, comprising a seat (1), a primary leg (4), a secondary leg (5) being secondary leg (5) being rotatably connected to the seat (1) and a backrest (2), wherein the equipment is arranged to be passed from a first configuration to a second configuration by rotation of the secondary leg (5) around a rotation axis, and wherein the equipment is arranged so that it enables placement of the equipment between the associated lying person and a supporting surface while the bottom of the associated lying person is in contact with the supporting surface upon which the associated lying person is lying and subsequently raising the associated lying person by passing the equipment from the first configuration to the secondary configuration by rotation of the secondary leg (5). In a particular embodiment, the equipment is arranged for being reversibly assembled and disassembled without using tools.

(25) Although the present invention has been described in connection with the specified embodiments, it should not be construed as being in any way limited to the presented examples. The scope of the present invention is set out by the accompanying claim set. In the context of the claims, the terms comprising or comprises do not exclude other possible elements or steps. Also, the mentioning of references such as a or an etc. should not be construed as excluding a plurality. The use of reference signs in the claims with respect to elements indicated in the figures shall also not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Furthermore, individual features mentioned in different claims, may possibly be advantageously combined, and the mentioning of these features in different claims does not exclude that a combination of features is not possible and advantageous.