Portable six-bar apparatus for lifting, lowering and self-propelled transit

• US 8,468,622 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2010
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Research Foundation for The State University of New York (State University of New York)
• Original Assignee: The Research Foundation for The State University of New York (State University of New York)
• Inventors: Purwar, Anurag, Galeotafiore, Thomas, Miles, Justin, Renert, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Trettel, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): THROOP, MYLES A
• Application Number:
  US12/868,446
• Publication Number:
  US 20120047648A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 5 8/11.R, 5 8/31, 5 8/51, 5 8/61, 5 8/71, 566/2, 135/65, 135/66, 135/67, 135/71, 135/74, 135/85, 135/912, 280/87.021, 280/87.03, 280/87.041, 280/87.05, 482/95, 482/97
• US Class Current: 5/86.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2200/34 sitting
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2200/36 standing
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2200/52 Underarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1017 Pivoting arms, e.g. crane type mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1046 Mobile bases, e.g. having wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1092 the arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1094 Hand or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2003/006 with forearm rests, i.e. for non-used arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2003/0227 convertible from armpit- into forearm-model
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1238 with hydraulic or pneumatic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1246 by piston-cylinder systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1614 Shoulder, e.g. for neck stretching
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/163 holding means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1652 Harness
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5066 Limit switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/008 Using suspension devices for supporting the body in an upright walking or standing position, e.g. harnesses drawing-out devices A61H1/0218
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/04 Wheeled walking aids for disabled persons A61H3/06 takes precedence

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a portable lifting apparatus that includes an actuator and a lifting mechanism, which includes a parallel bar, a first coupler, a second coupler, a first rocker, a second rocker, and a frame that are each rotatably connected, so that operation of the actuator moves the parallel bar in a J-shaped path while maintaining a constant orientation of the parallel bar.

Claims

1. A portable apparatus for lifting a user, the apparatus comprising:

an actuator; and

a lifting mechanism comprising;

a parallel bar,

a first coupler,

a second coupler,

a first rocker,

a second rocker, and

a frame,

wherein each of the parallel bar, the first coupler, the second coupler, the first rocker, the second rocker, and the frame are rotatably interconnected, and operation of the actuator moves the parallel bar along a J-shaped path.

2. The portable lifting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator is coupled at one end thereof to the frame and at an other end thereof to the second rocker, wherein relative positions of each of the parallel bar, the first coupler, the second coupler, the first rocker, the second rocker, and the frame changes when the actuator provides a force between the frame and the second rocker.

3. The portable lifting apparatus of claim 2, wherein assistance is provided both during a standing process and a sitting process to provide exercise to the user in the standing process and the sitting process.

4. The portable lifting apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a controller accessible to the user to control lifting/lowering between standing/seated positions, to provide varied levels of user exercise.

5. The portable lifting apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

a harness for positioning on buttocks of the user and attaching to a securing point fixed to the parallel bar;

a forearm crutch; and

an underarm crutch,

wherein weight of the user is distributed between the harness, the forearm crutch and the underarm crutch during a standing/sitting process.

6. The portable lifting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator provides a force that changes relative positions of each of the parallel bar, the first coupler, the second coupler, the first rocker, the second rocker and the frame.

7. A portable lifting apparatus for lifting a user, the portable lifting apparatus comprising:

a frame;

a first lifting mechanism;

a second lifting mechanism parallel to the first lifting mechanism;

a free space between the first lifting mechanism and the second lifting mechanism;

wherein the first lifting mechanism is a six bar lifting mechanism including a parallel bar, a first coupler, a second coupler, a first rocker, a second rocker, and the frame as bars thereof,

wherein the parallel bar rotatably connects at a first end thereof to a first end of the second coupler,

wherein the parallel bar rotatably connects to a first end of the first coupler,

wherein a second end of the second coupler rotatably connects to a first end of the second rocker,

wherein the second rocker rotatably connects to the first coupler,

wherein a second end of the second rocker rotatably attaches to the frame at a second anchor,

wherein a second end of the first coupler rotatably connects to a first end of the first rocker, and

wherein a second end of the first rocker connects to the frame at a first anchor.

8. The portable lifting apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

an actuator affixed to the first lifting mechanism; and

a controller for operating the actuator to assist the user moving between the seated and standing positions.

9. The portable lifting apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

wheels affixed to an underside of the frame,

wherein the apparatus moves a user between a seated position and a standing position, and

wherein the user can, by swinging a foot through the free space, propel both the user and the apparatus without bearing the user'"'"'s entire weight on either foot.

10. The portable lifting apparatus of claim 9, wherein an actuator connects at a first end thereof to the second rocker and connects at a second end thereof to the frame at a third anchor, with each of the first, second and third anchors being fixedly positioned on the frame.

11. The portable lifting apparatus of claim 10, wherein operation of the actuator moves the parallel bar along a J-shaped path.