MEDICAL MOBILITY DEVICE

Abstract

A medical mobility device for use by a person comprising of a transfer board to shift between a first seated area to a second seated area and a handheld support which includes a gripping portion dimensioned for a person's hand and a paddle portion attached to the gripping portion in a substantially perpendicular relationship with respect to the paddle portion. A pair of handheld supports can be used simultaneously by a person holding one in each hand while transferring body weight across a transfer board.

Claims

1. A medical mobility device comprising of: a transfer board; and a handheld support; characterized in that said handheld support includes a gripping portion and a paddle portion attached to said gripping portion.

2. A medical mobility device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said gripping portion is dimensioned for a person's hand.

3. A medical mobility device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said paddle portion is attached to the gripping portion in a substantially perpendicular relationship with respect to the paddle portion.

4. A medical mobility device as claimed in claim 1 the transfer board is dimensioned to span a distance between a first seated position to a second seated position.

5. A medical mobility device as claimed in claim 1 and working thereof wherein a person's body is transferred from a first seated position to a second seated position by placing a transfer board between a first seated position and a second seated position

6. A medical mobility device as claimed in claim 1 and working thereof wherein the handheld support is placed at a first edge of the transfer board.

7. A medical mobility device as claimed in claim 1 and working thereof wherein the person pushes against the gripping portion of the handheld support in a substantially horizontal direction while shifting bodyweight away from the paddle portion

8. A medical mobility device as claimed in claim 1 and working thereof wherein the person's body is shifted in a seated position along the length of the transfer board from the first seated position to the second seated position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention, which shows the handheld supports.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention, which shows the transfer board.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a transfer board and handheld support, with a user seated on a bed near a wheelchair.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the user seated on the transfer board between the bed and the wheelchair while grasping the handheld support.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] In that form of the present invention chosen for purposes of illustration, FIG. 1 shows the handheld support for use along with the transfer board

[0027] In that form of the present invention chosen for purposes of illustration, FIG. 2 shows a transfer board.

[0028] FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 depicts the use of the present invention by a wheelchair bound person to move from his bed to the wheelchair.

[0029] According to a preferred embodiment of the working of the present invention, there is shown in FIG. 3 a user seated on bed. Next to person is handheld support and transfer board. Proximate to bed is wheelchair. Handheld support and transfer board are within reach of user, and are used to effectively shift user's body weight between bed and wheelchair. First, user places board between bed and wheelchair to provide a surface for user to sit upon without having to stand upright.

[0030] According to a preferred embodiment of the working of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, user grasps handheld support with his or her hand, pressing it downward against board or bed. User thus has a sufficiently stable grab handle that is useful for transferring one's bodyweight across board between bed and wheelchair. As shown, the user is grasping the armrest of wheelchair. In many wheelchair designs, the armrest is removable to accommodate transfer boards. In such designs, user need only use one handheld support to transfer himself onto board while grasping the armrest. First, user can push against handheld support to inch closer and closer to wheelchair. Then, user can remove the armrest from wheelchair and place it on bed. User can then place handheld support downward against board closer from the edge of board making contact with bed, for example a few inches closer to the center of board, and then transfer handheld support to the other hand. Once in the other hand, the user can place handheld support downward against board on the wheelchair side of board, and shift bodyweight onto the right hand and slide onto wheelchair in a seated position. In wheelchair designs without armrests, two handheld supports can be used, one for each hand, to provide left and right grab handles for user.

[0031] According to a preferred embodiment of the working of the present invention, FIG. 4 shows an alternative perspective view of user on transfer board. Once again, user has two grab handles: one is the armrest of wheelchair and the other is handheld support placed on the edge of board and bed. User can push his bodyweight away from wheelchair with his right hand while maintaining a firm grasp on handheld support and shifting his bodyweight onto bed.

[0032] While the preferred embodiments of the present invention has been shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that numerous modifications can be made to the preferred embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, a gripping surface may be placed on the bottom of handheld support, for example, rubber, plastic, fabric, or other material that increases the coefficient of static friction between handheld support and bed or wheelchair. Also, the shape and contour of handheld support can be changed to provide increased grip or less or more surface area to bring in contact with bed or wheelchair. As a person's physical abilities vary from user to user, handheld support can be adjusted accordingly to provide ease of use. In an alternative embodiment, the present invention includes a kit having at least one handheld support and transfer board.

[0033] Obviously, numerous variations and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, it should be clearly understood that the forms of the present invention described above and shown in the figures of the accompanying drawings are illustrative only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.