Portable adjustable back lift system

Abstract

A portable lightweight back lift system is made from a back support upper frame portion and a lower base frame portion. Both frames are hinged together at one end enabling the angle between them to be changed. A support frame is hinged to the side members of the upper frame and slides over the side members of the lower base frame. The upper frame is held in place by securing pins, which lock the angle of inclination of the back support upper frame portion according to the needs of a user. The bottom surface of the lower base frame portion is covered by a high friction material, so that the back lift system does not slide over a flat bed surface when a user leans against the back lift system. Each of the frames is composed of welded or glued lightweight tubular material, such as aluminum or polymeric material.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to back lift systems; and, more particularly, to a light weight back lift system appointed for use in combination with a conventional bed to orient and change the angle of inclination of the back rest to facilitate viewing of television, reading and other activities.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Many patents address issues related to back lift systems. These patents disclose cumbersome bed lift devices that are laden with complicated machinery; or are not portable due their weight; or are attached permanently to the bed.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,336,294 to Hackman discloses a bed rest. The bed rest has a crank (19) that turns a rod element (17) with right handed threads at one end and left handed threads at the other end, engaging with two lugs (14) having corresponding threads displacing the lugs in opposite directions. The lugs are connected to rod elements (12 and 13), which have rod end sleeves (10) that slide and displace laterally to accommodate the displacement of lugs (14). When the body weight of a user on the top portion is applied, the sleeves (at 10) may slide since lugs (at 14) do not restrain a downward movement of the top portion (5). As a result, the bed rest does not provide reliable back support.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,931,653 to Bien discloses a power operated backrest. This body rest apparatus has a base adapted to be placed on a support surface. This backrest is actuable to different inclined positions relative to the base by a motor driven screw and nut mechanism located within the dihedral angle formed between the base and backrest elements. The motor turns a screw element, which pushes a swing plate against the back plate to change its angular position. The backrest (17) rests against the edge of the swing plate (30). Accordingly, there is no physical restraint for the backrest, which may freely swing, losing contact with the edge of the swing plate.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,185,342 to Young discloses a portable, adjustable backrest for beds and the like. This portable, adjustable backrest is designed for use primarily on a bed, sofa or the like and takes the form of a backrest panel connected by a hinge to a base which is placed upon the bed, sofa or the like. The backrest panel is designed to be adjustable with respect to the base in various inclined positions. The adjustments of the backrest panel are provided through a crank arm assembly, which operates through a disc assembly. This disc assembly, in turn, rolls upon a thin flexible strap assembly. An arm assembly is attached to the disc assembly, which is adapted to pivot with the disc assembly. The outer end of the arm assembly is designed to be in contact with the backside of the backrest panel. The pivoting of the arm assembly to different positions results in locating of the backrest panel to various inclined positions with respect to the base. This backrest is not indicated to be a lightweight portable device and is not placable in the middle of a bed due to the protrusion of the hand crank.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,370 to Fickler discloses a device for adjusting the angular position of a movable supporting surface. This device is designed for adjusting the angular position of a movable support. It has two frames, which are pivotally connected to each other along a pivot axis and are capable of being moved apart by the action of pre-tensioned torsion spring rods provided near the pivot axis so that the two frames assume variable angular positions with respect to each other. The movable support frame in its upwardly directed angular position may serve as a supporting surface for a mattress at the head end of a bed frame. To effect angular adjustment, two steel cables fastened to one frame are trained over pulleys disposed on the other frame and are guided to a pivot lever pivotably attached to the other frame and are actuated by an electric motor. As the motor is operative, the steel cables cause the frames to be pulled in one direction toward each other against the action of the torsion spring rods and the pneumatic springs. Reversing the direction of the motor will cause the frames to move away from each other due to the action of the torsion spring rods and pneumatic springs. This device is a complicated lifting mechanism with a motor, steel cables, pulleys, and pneumatic springs. The presence of springs allows movement of the backrest according to the spring constant provided and is therefore not a backrest that provides steady support to the back. The steel cable and pivotal arrangements provided also result in slack within the backrest support.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,754,507 to Edge discloses a back rest device. This back rest device comprises frame means, a back rest, and connecting means for pivotally connecting the back rest to the frame means such that the back rest is pivoted during use and can be changed from a substantially vertical position and an inclined position. The connecting means enable up and/or down movement of the back rest as it is pivoting between the substantially vertical position and the inclined position whereby the back rest is able to rise over any obstacles that may be in the way. This back rest is permanently attached by bolts to the divan (which is below the mattress of a bed). The device disclosed by the '507 patent is not portable. When not in use, the back rest folds to a vertical position. In use, the back rest is inclined. Consequently, it slides on the mattress surface creating a “digging” action, which tends to damage the mattress surface.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,853,990 to Elder et al. discloses a mechanical backlift. This is a person-raising device, designed for lifting a person in bed. The device rests atop a bed and is activated by a linear actuator. The actuator comprises a dual-threaded lead screw and a small electric motor and gear reduction unit. The small electric motor and gear reduction unit drives the dual-threaded lead screw to raise a pair of support arms, which raises a person resting on the device. The lead screw is enclosed in a slotted tube; this decreases the chance of the lead screw coming into contact with a person using the device. The mechanical back lift disclosed by the '990 patent is a heavy motorized device. A motor, gearbox and lead screw are contained within a tube that forms the base of the device. Such an apparatus is not a lightweight portable device.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,150 to Palmer, Jr. et al. discloses an articulating device for a flat bed. This device converts a flat bed into an adjustable bed. The system (10) has a base (20) which mounts on the bed's box-springs (14) and an articulating platform (30) sandwiched between the box-springs (14) and the mattress head section (18A). The articulating platform (30) pivots about the pivoting end (28) of base (20) by inflating bellows (40). The controls (42, 43, 44) provide for adjustable firmness, degree and speed of pivoting, and delay for the start of the deflating of bellows (40) for lowering articulating platform (30). This device has the base permanently attached to the mattress box spring. Consequently, the device is not portable. Air bellows are pressurized to incline the device, which does not rest on the surface of the bed.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,077 to Neige discloses a device for tilting the top end and/or bottom end of a bed. This device is designed for tilting the top end and/or bottom end of a bed. Two frames are connected by a hinge. A control unit connected to the hinge adjusts the spacing between the two frames. One fixed frame is supported on the bed base while the other movable frame supports one end of a mattress. The fixed frame comprises two parallel co-planar tubes and the movable frame consists of a U-shaped frame pivotably mounted on and between the tubes. The control unit is attached to the fixed frame and controls the longitudinal translation of slide blocks with worm screws. The blocks are slidable along the tubes to tilt the movable frame relative to the fixed frame. The worm screws are mounted in the two tubes and the control unit is located outside the area encompassed by the fixed frame. This is a motorized device attached to a bed for tilting the head and the foot of a bed. This complicated device is heavy. It is not portable and operates to incline only the head portion of a patient resting on a bed surface.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,926,876 to Haigh et al. discloses a surgical operating table accessory for shoulder procedures. This device is designed for adapting a surgical operating table such that the upper torso of the patient can be raised in order to place the patient in a seated position. The device further provides the means of exposing or supporting a side of said patient's upper torso and limbs. The device contains a continuously adjustable positioning mechanism, and corresponding actuator for said mechanism, in a way that a user can rapidly and conveniently put a patient in the desired position, from a supine posture to a fully seated position. Additionally, the device does not render the surgical table permanently modified, as the process of modification is reversible by means of a simple attachment mechanism. The device uses a back support section hingedly connected to a base frame, which provides the attachment support to the surgical table. Side support panels are either moved out of the way on the patient's operative side, or left in place to provide support to the unaffected side. Two embodiments are described that differ solely in the way the back support surface is implemented. The surgical operating table accessory disclosed by the '876 patent is attached to an operating table. It is a heavy bulky device that is not portable. U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,459 to Binaghi et al. discloses a pillow lifting device, particularly suited for beds and the like. A first fixed structure is arranged at the region where the user's head is meant to rest. A second structure is pivoted to the first fixed structure at one end and is suitable to support a pillow. The elements for lifting/lowering the second structure with respect to the first fixed structure comprise an elongated element actuated by a motor. The pillow lifting mechanism disclosed by the '459 patent is a motorized, heavy device. It is permanently attached to a bed, and is not portable.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,240,385 to Brown discloses a device designed for raising at least a portion of a mattress. This device is positioned between a box spring and a mattress and selectively raises a portion of the mattress. The device has a base frame secured to the box spring or box spring frame. A mattress supporting frame is pivotally coupled to the base frame. A leveraging arm with a roller bearing is pivotally coupled to the base frame. A linear actuator having an electric motor and a displaceable shaft is pivotally coupled to the leveraging arm. Extension of the shaft pivots the leveraging arm upwardly, raising the roller bearing against a cross member of the mattress supporting frame to lift a portion of the mattress. Mattress restraining members prevent the mattress from shifting as the mattress is raised. The base frame is adapted to nest within the mattress supporting frame when the device is in a lowered position to minimize the vertical space required for the device. The device disclosed by the '385 patent is permanently attached to a bed frame, and therefore is not a portable backlift.

Foreign Patent Application No. DE 3119524 to Braun discloses portable appliance for lifting and lowering loads, in particular beds or bed bases. It has a lifting device, which can be attached, for example, to the underside of a bed. This lifting device is equipped with a lifting platform adjustable rectilinearly in the vertical direction and receiving the load. The appliance can be set up under the bed to lift bedridden patients to a favorable height for making the bed. It is possible to merely lift the bed frame covered with a mattress out of the bed frame and lower it again into the bed frame. This is said to be useful in the case where double beds are assembled and, consequently, a bed as such cannot be lifted. The portable appliance for lifting and lowering beds, as disclosed by the '524 patent is attached to the bed to lift the mattress with the patient; and therefore is not a portable device.

There remains a need in the art for a lightweight back rest which enables the angle of support for the back of a person to be reliably adjusted in a stable manner. When the back rest orientation may need to be varied by the person using the bed to better view TV or the like, this change in the orientation of the back rest should be accomplished easily. The back rest should not slide on the bed surface under the weight of the inclined person resting thereon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a lightweight portable back lift system, which can be used when lying on a flat bed to lift the back at any convenient angle. Since the bottom surface of the back lift system has a high friction surface, the weight of the user loads the friction bottom surface of the back lift system against the top surface of the bed. Consequently, the bed rest remains fixed on the bed at any selected location when the user rests thereon. When the user releases the weight loading, the back rest may be moved easily on the bed surface to a new location. This allows the user to easily change the viewing angle to best observe a television program, or the like. The user may be a household resident or a patient in a hospital bed.

Briefly stated, the invention of the back lift comprises an upper adjustable rectangular portion that supports the torso above the waist and the head of a user. The upper adjustable rectangular portion is hinged to a rectangular lower fixed rectangular base portion that is provided with a high friction bottom surface, which rests on a flat bed. The angle of inclination of the upper rectangular portion can be readily changed and locked in place by displacing a supporting frame that bridges between the upper rectangular portion and the lower rectangular base portion. The supporting frame may constructed with one or more linked support structures. In one embodiment, the supporting frame is a hinged rectangular frame which is pivoted by a hinge at the side members of the upper rectangular portion and which contacts the lower base portion, providing support. The user lies on the flat surface of the bed with the waist nearly in line with the hinge between the upper rectangular portion and the lower rectangular portion. The angle between the torso supporting rectangular portion and the lower rectangular base portion may be selected at any angle ranging from zero, a flat position, to a maximum inclination angle of typically 85 degrees. The angle of inclination of the upper rectangular portion is changed by the attachment location of the link member and the fixed rectangular base portion. The attachment location may include a plurality of apertures in the lower rectangular base and the link member. A pin is inserted through the aligned apertures connecting the upper rectangular portion securely at the user selected angular inclination.

The upper rectangular portion and lower rectangular base portion are frames made from light weight, low density material such as aluminum tubing or polymeric tubing welded or bonded by appropriate glue. A hinge holds the two frames together and the angle between the frames can be changed easily. When this angle is brought to zero, the upper rectangular frame lies over the lower rectangular base portion, so that the back lift is compact and can be readily transported.

Significant advantages are realized by practice of the present invention. The key elements of the portable adjustable back lift system of the present invention comprise:

1) A lightweight foldable adjustable system composed of lightweight, glued polymeric tubes or welded aluminum tubes;

2) the tubes forming a base rectangular frame with two edge members and two side members;

3) the tubes forming an adjustable back support rectangular frame with two length members and two side members;

4) the base rectangular frame and adjustable back support frame being hinged at one end so that the angle between the two rectangular frames is changeable;

5) the adjustable back support frame having a central rod connecting its side members and carrying one end of a hinged supportive rectangular frame;

6) the other end of said supportive rectangular frame having channeled legs that slide over side members of said base frame, and are lockable at a plurality of positions to fix the angle between the base rectangular frame and the adjustable back support rectangular frame;

7) the bottom surface of said base rectangular frame being provided with a high friction surface;

whereby the adjustable back support is adjusted and locked in desired angular position and placed on a bed surface, and is prevented from sliding by the high friction surface on the bottom surface of the base rectangular frame in combination with the weight of the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention will be more fully understood and further advantages will become apparent when reference is had to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the portable adjustable back lift system;

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an alternate embodiment of locking mechanism of the portable adjustable back lift system;

FIG. 3 illustrates the details of the latching mechanism that locks the supporting frame against the lower base frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a lightweight, portable adjustable back lift system. The user is easily able to carry the portable back lift anywhere. The folded device is placed on a bed with the base rectangular frame friction surface resting on the bed surface. The user then opens out the adjustable rectangular frame and inclines it to a desirable angle. In addition, the user can pull out the folded support rectangular frame that is hinged to the central rod of the adjustable frame and locate and lock the legs of the support rectangular frame on the base rectangular frame side members. The user's back may now be brought to rest against the adjustable frame. The weight of the user, in combination with the friction surface underneath the base rectangular frame, prevents sliding of the portable adjustable back lift system on the bed surface.

Briefly stated, the invention involves a back lift comprising an upper adjustable rectangular portion that supports the torso above the waist and the head of a user. A rectangular lower fixed rectangular base portion of the back lift rests on a flat bed. The torso supporting portion and the base rectangular portion are hinged to each other at one end so that the angle between the torso supporting rectangular portion and the base portion may be selected. Angles available for selection range from zero, a flat position, to a maximum inclination angle. The angle is changed by one or more hinged link members. The attachment location of connections between link members and the fixed rectangular base portion may be continuously varied by selecting a desired angular location of the upper adjustable rectangular supporting portion with respect to the fixed base portion. Such a selection is readily effected by manual means or an electrical motor drive.

Particularly, the portable adjustable back lift system comprises a base rectangular frame portion having its bottom surface coated with high friction material. An adjustable rectangular frame portion is hinged to the base rectangular frame. The adjustable rectangular frame has a central rod that includes a hinged connection to a distal end of a support rectangular frame. With this arrangement, the support rectangular frame can be inclined at virtually any angle with respect to the adjustable rectangular frame. The proximal end of the support rectangular frame has two channeled legs that ride on the side members of the base rectangular frame. This construction enables the angle of the adjustable rectangular frame to be adjusted with respect to the base rectangular frame, as the channeled legs are slid along the side members of the base rectangular frame. The legs of the support frame have locking features. Accordingly, the location of the support frame on the base rectangular frame may be locked so that the angle of the adjustable frame with respect to the base rectangular frame remains fixed.

The user places the portable adjustable back lift on the bed surface so that the base rectangular frame with the bottom friction surface contacts the bed surface. The user then raises the adjustable rectangular frame from the zero position to the desired angle. The support rectangular frame that is hinged to the central rod of the adjustable frame at one end is adjusted so that the two legs of the support rectangular frame ride on the side members of the base rectangular frame. The angular location of the adjustable frame is fixed when the user locks the channels provided on the legs; these channels are locked against the side members of the base rectangular frame. The locking means may be a plurality of holes through which a pin is inserted; such insertion is effected through the leg member and the side member of the base rectangular frame.

FIG. 1 illustrates generally at 10 a schematic sketch of the back lift system. The back lift comprises upper adjustable portion 12 and base portion 11, both being generally rectangular and sized such that upper portion 12 accommodates generally the torso and head of the subject. The base rectangular portion has two side members with a plurality of apertures 13 for locking the upper adjustable portion 12 at a specific angular position φ using a support frame. Portions 12 and 14 are connected at their bottom edges by a hinge 16. Bottom portion 11 is appointed to rest on a conventional bed (not shown) and has a high friction under surface so the device does not slide on the bed when a person's torso is rested on the back lift. The high friction coating on the bottom of base portion is shown at 11A. In typical use, a subject lies on the bed with his/her waist approximately aligned with hinge 16. By elevating upper portion 12, the head and torso bend generally at the waist, and are supported by portion 12.

The details of the manufacture and operation of the portable adjustable back lift are shown in FIG. 1. The base portion 11 that rests on the bed is made as a rectangular frame by gluing or welding light weight polymeric tubes or aluminum tubes with the bottom bed contacting surface covered with a high friction material such as sand paper, terry cloth and the like. Similarly, the adjustable frame 12 is also made from lightweight polymeric tubes or aluminum tubes joined together by gluing or welding to form a rectangular frame. One end of the adjustable frame is hinged at one end of the base frame to form a hinge 16. The hinge arrangement is such that the angle between the base frame and the adjustable frame may be readily changed. The adjustable frame has central rod 14 that carries a support rectangular frame 15 hinged at 17. This hinge connection may be of any construction type including a large tube that captures both the adjustable frame distal edge and the distal end of the rectangular support frame. In this manner, the support rectangular frame may be inclined at any angle with respect to the adjustable frame. The proximal end of the support rectangle carries two channeled legs 18 with a locking aperture that ride on the two lateral tubes of the base rectangle. Thus, as the support rectangle channeled legs slide along the side lateral tubes of the base rectangular frame, the angle φ between the base rectangle and the adjustable frame is changed. This movement of the legs of the support rectangle may be manual or motor assisted. A secure locking arrangement is provided on the channeled legs to lock the support frame at a chosen position on the base rectangular frame using bolts 19 inserted through the apertures of the channel guide 18 and apertures of the side elements of the base frame at 13. Thus, when the back lift is assembled at a particular angle, and the person's torso is placed against the adjustable frame, a large weight is applied to the device and the friction surface under the base plate prevents sliding of the device. However, when the person removes his or her weight from the adjustable, the location of the adjustable back lift on the bed surface may be easily changed, allowing the user to orient the sitting posture to comfortably view TV or other activities, including reading.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates at 20 an alternate embodiment for the locking mechanism of the portable adjustable back lift system. This embodiment uses a pin 21 that integrally attached within the side member of the support frame 15 and can be inserted within the matching apertures of the channel 18 and aperture 13, which are provided in the side members of the lower base frame 11.

FIG. 3 illustrates at 30 the details of the latching mechanism that locks the supporting frame against the lower base frame. The pin 21 has a head 31 that prevents escape of the pin 21 from the side member 15 of the supporting frame. The figure A shows the condition when the pin may be pulled out from the apertures, and the supporting frame displaced to select a different inclination angle for the back support upper frame. As shown in figure B, the pin 21 is slid back into matching apertures in the channel 18 and aperture 13 of the lower base frame side member fixing the angle of inclination selected by the user. In this manner, the pin is not lost and is always available.

Having thus described the invention in rather full detail, it will be understood that such detail need not be strictly adhered to, but that additional changes and modifications may suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, all falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the subjoined claims.

Claims

1. A portable lightweight back lift system, comprising:

a) a back support upper frame portion and a lower base frame portion;

b) each of said upper frame portion and lower base frame portion having two side members, and each of said back support upper frame portion and lower base frame portion having two edge members;

c) said lower base frame portion having a high friction bottom surface;

d) said upper frame portion and lower base frame being hinged at one end so that the angle therebetween can be changed;

e) said upper frame portion having a hinged support frame;

f) said hinged support frame contacting said lower base frame portion and secured thereto; and

g) said side members of said lower base frame portion having a plurality of locking apertures;

whereby the back support upper frame portion is secured at a user selected angle with respect to the lower base frame portion, and said portable lightweight back lift system can be placed on a flat bed surface to support the user at a selected location on the bed surface by inclining and supporting the back of the user at the selected inclination angle.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. The portable lightweight back lift system as recited by claim 1, wherein said the hinged support frame has two channels with apertures that contact and rest against the side members of the lower base frame portion and are locked by a set of securing pins.

5. The portable lightweight back lift system as recited by claim 4, wherein said securing pin is secured to the side members of the support frame, preventing its misplacement.

6. The portable lightweight back lift system as recited by claim 1, wherein said angle of inclination of the back support upper frame portion with respect to the lower base frame portion ranges from 0 to 85 degrees.

7. A method of using a portable lightweight back lift system, comprising the steps of:

a) inclining the back support upper frame portion with respect to the lower base frame portion at the hinge to a desired angle;

b) extending the support frame at the hinge of the side members of the upper frame portion and contacting the end distal from the hinged end against side members of the lower base frame portion to secure a contacting location;

c) orienting the back lift system on a flat bed surface at a location convenient for viewing television or other activities;

whereby the weight of the user on the back support upper frame portion applies load to the high friction undersurface of the lower base frame portion, preventing sliding of the back support system on the flat bed surface during use.