LIFT PANTS FOR A PATIENT LIFT SYSTEM
Lift pants for improved patient ambulation while the patient is supported by a lift system. The lift pants include a left pant leg and a right pant leg. A lower left leg tightening strap and a lower right leg tightening strap are connected to the pant legs and are utilized to tighten the lift pants around the patient's feet. A connection means is utilized to connect the lift pants to a lift system. The lift pants have sections that expose the patient's anal area and genitals so that the patient is able to use a toilet without removing the lift pants. The lift pants are configured so the patient is lifted primarily from his feet. In a preferred embodiment, lift shoes are also included that allow the patient to utilize the system while wearing his favorite shoes or his most comfortable slippers, or while wearing just his socks or while barefoot.
The present invention relates to patient lift systems, and in particular to patient garments used in conjunction with patient lift systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONA significant portion of the population of the world has great difficulty in walking. A huge number cannot walk at all. These groups are forced to rely on attendants or mechanical devices such as crutches or wheelchairs for their ambulation. Included are those with ambulation problems due to recent hip and knee replacement surgery and amputees (such as combat veterans, for example) with limbs missing.
When a person is not able to walk for a period of several weeks or months, his leg muscles tend to degenerate unless physical therapy is provided. If the leg muscles degenerate, extensive physical therapy may be required to enable him to regain his ability to walk. Many people never walk again after an extensive period of relying on devices such as a wheel chair for transportation.
The prior art includes overhead support systems. These typically include an overhead track with some type of cart riding on the track with a load (which could be a person) suspended from the cart through a suspension tether. Many such systems exist in automated factories. A typical prior art overhead transport system is found by reference to U.S. Pat. No. 5,404,992. This reference discloses a suspension conveyor system comprising a conveyor device that rolls along a track rail. A major disadvantage of this design, and others like it, is that when tracks intersect, the patient must select which track to take by a switching means. The switching means tends to be complicated, costly and subject to failure. Some exemplary switchless prior art overhead support systems are shown in patents awarded to Applicant, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,996,823; 6,079,578; and 6,315,138 (each of which is incorporated by reference herein).
Automatic tensioning assemblies are commonly found in prior art overhead transportation systems. Generally, a tensioning assembly will maintain a set load under tension based on the load cell read-out from the torque on the tensioning assembly's drive motor. Usually, a hand held remote is used to set the load, and raise and lower the object being carried by the transportation system.
In the prior art, the harnessing system utilized to suspend and support the patient is often cumbersome, uncomfortable and difficult for the patient to manage. For example, patients are unable to adequately use a toilet while connected to the overhead support system.
What is needed is a better overhead support system including garments that properly support and suspend the patient and allow the patient to comfortably and effectively live his life with dignity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides lift pants for improved patient ambulation while the patient is supported by a lift system. The lift pants include a left pant leg and a right pant leg. A lower left leg tightening strap and a lower right leg tightening strap are connected to the pant legs and are utilized to tighten the lift pants around the patient's feet. A connection means is utilized to connect the lift pants to a lift system. The lift pants have sections that expose the patient's anal area and genitals so that the patient is able to use a toilet without removing the lift pants. The lift pants are configured so the patient is lifted primarily from his feet. In a preferred embodiment, lift shoes are also included that allow the patient to utilize the system while wearing his favorite shoes or his most comfortable slippers, or while wearing just his socks or while barefoot.
Before utilizing support system 1, the patient must put on lift pants 20.
In a preferred embodiment, lift pants 20 are fabricated from easily washable material (such as cotton) so that the lift pants can be washed easily in a home washing machine. The material is chosen to ensure that cleanliness can be easily maintained and so that the material is kept free of body wastes and bacteria. Straps may be made from a variety of strong flexible material. One preferred material for the strap is vinyl.
Donning the Lift PantsAs can be seen by reference to the figures, a majority of the lifting force is accomplished from the feet. Applicant has determined that this is the most comfortable and natural form of supporting the patient. This lies in contrast to prior art systems where the patient utilizes a harnessing system that supports the patient under the chest, under the arms or under the genital area. With lift pants 20 the anal area and genitals are uncovered by lift pants 20 and the patient is lifted primarily from the feet. The patient may put on a short skirt (not shown) to cover these regions for modesty.
Lift ShoesAs clearly shown in the
By utilizing lift system 1 in conjunction with lift pants 20 (
The patient would then be able to use the toilet because his genitals and anal area are uncovered, as explained above.
Preferred Switchless TrackAlthough the above-preferred embodiments have been described with specificity, persons skilled in this art will recognize that many changes to the specific embodiments disclosed above could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, in addition to a private residence switchless track 70 could be mounted in a variety of locations, including a VA hospital, a rehab center, a hospital, or a nursing home. Also, while the above description continuously referred to the patient as being a male, it should be understood that the patient may also be female and that lift pants 20 may be worn by a female patient, allowing her to be lifted primarily from the feet and exposing her genitals and anal area. Therefore, the attached claims and their legal equivalents should determine the scope of the invention.
Claims
1) Lift pants for improved patient ambulation while a patient is supported by a lift system, comprising:
- A) a left pant leg for receiving a patient's left leg,
- B) a right pant leg for receiving a patient's right leg,
- C) two shoes with each having at least one boot strap connection,
- D) at least one lower left leg tightening strap for tightening said left pant leg to one of the boot strap connectors,
- E) at least one lower right leg tightening strap for tightening said right pant leg to one of the boot strap connectors,
- F) a connection means for connecting said lift pants to said lift system, wherein said lift pants define sections exposing the patient's anal area and genitals thereby allowing the patient to use a toilet without removing said lift pants, and wherein the patient is lifted primarily from his feet.
2) The lift pants as in claim 1 wherein said left pant leg and said right pant leg each comprise an outer support strap extending along the length of the pant leg and designed to provide additional tension support to the pant legs.
3) The lift pants as in claim 1, wherein said left pant leg and said right pant leg each comprise an inner vertical strap extending vertically along the length of the inside of the pant leg.
4) The lift pants as in claim 1 wherein said at least one lower left leg tightening strap is a lower left leg inner tightening strap and a lower left leg outer tightening strap.
5) The lift pants as in claim 4, wherein said lower left leg inner tightening strap and said lower left leg outer tightening strap are connected to a patient's left footwear and tightened.
6) The lift pants as in claim 1 wherein said at least one lower right leg tightening strap is a lower right leg inner tightening strap and a lower right leg outer tightening strap.
7) The lift pants as in claim 6, wherein said lower right leg inner tightening strap and said lower right leg outer tightening strap are connected to a patient's right footwear and tightened.
8) The lift pants as in claim 1, further comprising:
- A) a right frontal tightening strap for further tightening said right pant leg, and
- B) a left frontal tightening strap for further tightening said left pant leg.
9) lift pants as in claim 1, wherein said connection means comprises:
- A) a right frontal loop,
- B) a left frontal loop,
- C) a right rear loop,
- D) a left rear loop, wherein said right and left frontal loops and said right and left rear loops are located at or near the waist area of said lift pants.
10) The lift pants as in claim 1, wherein said lift pants are worn by a patient and connected to a lift system, said lift system comprising:
- A) a lift motor for raising and lowering said lift system,
- B) lift system bars connected to said lift motor,
- C) lift system straps attached to said lift system bars and to said connection means.
11) The lift pants as in claim 10, wherein said lift system is connected to a track connection means extending downward from a switchless track.
12) The lift pants as in claim 11, wherein said switchless track comprises:
- A) a platform,
- B) a plurality of castors attached to the bottom of said platform and rolling on said track,
- C) a track slot,
- D) a hook extending downward from said platform and through said slot, wherein said lift motor is connected to said hook.
13) The lift pants as in claim 1, further comprising lift shoes wherein said lower left leg tightening strap and said lower right leg tightening strap are connected to said lift shoes.
14) The lift pants as in claim 13, wherein the patient's left foot and the patient's right feet are inserted into said lift shoes.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 10, 2011
Publication Date: May 16, 2013
Inventor: Donald J. Dyson (Escondido, CA)
Application Number: 13/293,497
International Classification: A41D 1/06 (20060101);