Vertically And Horizontally Patents (Class 4/561.1)
  • Patent number: 11331243
    Abstract: An upright massage tub can be converted into a standard bathtub. The upright massage tub is designed so as users can safely and easily enter the tub in a step/sit motion, sitting themselves upright in a natural, ergonomic position (at approximately a standard chair height). This upright design is also better for user assistants, putting them in a better ergonomic position while they assist users in bathing. This upright massage tub design also includes a vertically adjustable hub, housing a water jet that can deliver a proximity source of water-jet flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Inventor: Robert J. Sechrest
  • Patent number: 11021181
    Abstract: The invention relates to a medical transport device for dependent persons. The invention also relates to an auxiliary drive for the motorised transportation of such a medical transport device for dependent persons according to the invention. The invention furthermore relates to a method for transporting such a medical transport device for dependent persons according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: JOSH IP III BV.
    Inventor: Jozef Huizinga
  • Patent number: 10105270
    Abstract: Water birthing apparatus for use in a bath sized to accommodate an adult woman in childbirth, the bath having a base wall and one or more side walls extending upwardly from the base wall to an upper edge to define an open top, including: a false floor sized to cover at least some of the base wall of the bath and including drainage means for draining water from above the false floor to below the false floor; and lifting means associated with the false floor and operable for moving the false floor between a lower position at which the false floor is adjacent or resting on the base wall and an elevated position spaced at which the false floor is spaced above the base wall, and wherein the lifting means includes a plurality of lifting arms connected to the false floor and extending from a movable carriage assembly mounted to a carriage track, the carriage assembly being movable up and down the carriage track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Inventor: Matthew Macbeth
  • Patent number: 9707144
    Abstract: A patient rotation device including a leverage bar member having a removable padded housing, a first cross-bar member attached to a top end of the leverage bar member, and at least a second cross-bar member disposed on a rear side of the leverage bar member at the concave portion, wherein the leverage bar member is moved by a winch mechanism attached thereto by an upper hook on the end of a first cable, and a lower hook on the end of a second cable attached to an underside of a bed frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Inventor: Bryan T. Stewart
  • Patent number: 8857844
    Abstract: A transport device for a user of a wheel chair to access a pool or a lower surface that the wheel chair rests upon, the device employing a frame, a lift mechanism, gearing to operate the lift mechanism, drive wheels, stabilizing wheels, locking devices, clamping device, handle grips and holding pads. The transport device is entered by a wheel chair user from a site away from a pool. The user moves the transport device near to an edge of a pool. The lock device is deployed and the lift mechanism is operable by the user of the transport device. The lift mechanism raises and lowers the user to the surface of the pool edge. A rest pad can be deployed under the seat portion. The device to hold the transport device at or near the edge of the pool or at a surface that the wheel chair rests upon has a pivotable clamp and/or stop/hold pads under the handle grips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Inventors: Kenneth Carl Weber, James A. Fox, Michael Shinkevich
  • Patent number: 8646119
    Abstract: A chair lift apparatus adapted to transport an individual into and out of a water pool, the chair lift apparatus that includes a frame, a chair, a lift arm, having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion of the lift arm is rotatably attached to the frame and the second end portion of the lift arm is operatively attached to the chair, a linkage, and a linear actuator, having a first actuator portion and a second actuator portion located within a frame, the linear actuator is operable to move the linear actuator between a first actuator position and a second actuator position. There is a protective cover to provide protection from environmental damage and the space between the frame and the linear actuator does not constitute a pinch point when the chair is above the edge of the water pool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Inventor: Steven W. Sheridan
  • Patent number: 8405353
    Abstract: A controller 10 suitable for controlling a bath lift. The controller 10 includes a rechargeable unit 12 and a first protection unit 14 which measures the voltage and current provided by the rechargeable unit 12. The first protection unit 14 prevents connection to the bath lift when the voltage of the rechargeable unit falls below a lower predetermined limit. A second protection unit 20 is also provided which measures the voltage from the rechargeable unit 12 and detects whether the voltage has fallen below an upper predetermined voltage, and if the voltage has dropped below this level downward movement of the bath lift is not permitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Care-Knight Limited
    Inventor: Annette Elvina Greenwood
  • Patent number: 7506385
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for a bathing and transfer chair that provides a stand alone wheeled chair that is configurable to engage a stand alone base, adapted to engage a bathing tub and lower the level of the chair thereby submersing the user in the bath water. The seat portion of the device is adaptable to transfer an individual from the wheeled chair portion of the device, positioned outside of the bathing area, to the submersing base which is positioned within the bathing area. The described embodiments can be custom fit to individual's dimensions, or be refit at any time to accommodate growth and/or size changes. Legs, calf support and back angles as well as chair height can be adjusted independently to maximize positioning options to accommodate the support and comfort of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Columbia Medical Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventor: Gary S. Werschmidt
  • Patent number: 7197775
    Abstract: A bath lift apparatus locatable near a bath to raise or lower a person sitting thereon. The lift apparatus features a support for positioning on the floor and a canopy mounted above the bathtub. Extending from the support is an arm capable of both translation and rotation, from which, a chair is attached. Located within the canopy is a prime mover that is connected to the arm and provides lifting force for the chair and occupant when the lift is assembled and in use to elevate a user from and into the bath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: William Steadman
  • Publication number: 20040139542
    Abstract: Bathing-assist device to assisting a bather to lower himself or herself into a bathtub for bathing and later to lift himself or herself out of the bathtub, directed at persons who cannot otherwise take a bath without outside assistance. The device uses the hydraulic force available from household water pressure and has no electrical aspects. Further, the device includes a support frame from which the various components are suspended, a frame that can be lifted directly onto a bathtub with which the device is to be used, eliminating the need to affix anything to the bathroom walls or to the bathtub itself.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventor: Lawrence Crane
  • Patent number: 6643860
    Abstract: A bath lifting system comprises a seat which is raised and lowered inside of a bath by a lifting device positioned inside the bath. The lifting device provides an aesthetically appealing system with the seat substantially covering the lifting device, thus obscuring its view. The guiding assembly guides the seat from a lowered position to a raised position facilitates ingress and egress to a bather. A composite bath embodiment and a retrofit embodiment, both with either straight up or laterally offset lifting, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Freedom Bath, Inc.
    Inventors: Mary F. Sherlock, Rainer Kuenzel
  • Patent number: 6643861
    Abstract: A bath lifting system comprises a seat which is raised and lowered inside of a bath by a lifting device positioned inside the bath. The lifting device provides an aesthetically appealing system with the seat substantially covering the lifting device, thus obscuring its view. The guiding assembly guides the seat from a lowered position to a raised position to facilitate ingress and egress to a bather. A composite bath embodiment and a retrofit embodiment, each with either straight up or laterally offset lifting, are disclosed. All the embodiments can use a closed self-pressurized system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Freedom Bath, Inc.
    Inventors: Mary Frances Sherlock, Rainer Kuenzel
  • Patent number: 6397410
    Abstract: A bath lift (10), the lift (10) comprising a housing (12) locatable to a first side (18) of a bath (20). A flexible band (72) is provided which is selectively extendable from the housing (12) across the bath (20) to a second side (86) of the bath (20) such that a person can sit on the band (72). The lift (10) comprises means for selectively feeding the band (72) out or in of the housing (12) such that when the band (72) is fed out a person sitting thereon is lowered into a sitting position to the bottom of the bath (20), and when the band (72) is fed in, a person sitting thereon is raised off the bottom of the bath (20). The lift (10) is arranged to be selectively movable between an in use position with the band (72) extending from the housing (12) across the bath (20), and an out of use condition with the band (72) located at least substantially within the housing (12). The housing (12) lies in a generally flat configuration to the first side (18) of the bath (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Inventor: William David Steadman
  • Patent number: 6397409
    Abstract: A bath lift system comprises a seat which is raised and lowered inside of a bath by a lifting device positioned inside the bath. The lifting device provides an aesthetically appealing system with the seat substantially concealing the lifting device, thus obscuring its view. The lifting device reduces leakage while providing straight line movement positioning of the seat from a central position to a position along side of the top rim of the bath. Also, an alternative internal lifting device that eliminates the need for openings through the wall of the bath is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Freedom Bath, Inc.
    Inventors: Mary F. Sherlock, Rainer Kuenzel, John R. Schubert
  • Patent number: 6256807
    Abstract: A bath lift for assisting a person into and out of a bath tub is disclosed. The lift includes a tower mounted adjacent or atop a bath tub. The tower includes structure for attachment of the tower to a wall adjacent the tub or to the tub when the lift is in use. The tower defines a spaced pair of tracks, reciprocatably mounting a carriage by rollers engaged with the tracks. An elongate threaded member is rotatably mounted in the tower and operably engaging the carriage. A drive is connected to the member to effect member rotation thereby causing longitudinal movement of the carriage relative to the tower as coaction of the tracks and rollers guides movement when the lift is in use. An occupant chair including a seat and a back is supported by the carriage. The chair as also mounted on the support for rotation about a horizontal axis when the lift is in use to enable adjustment of the chair back for occupant comfort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Silver Crown Associates Limited
    Inventor: William David Steadman
  • Patent number: 6203044
    Abstract: The present invention is a connector assembly for use in coupling a wheelchair to a wheelchair lift. The assembly includes a lift connector which has a lower arm and an upper arm, with each arm having first and second ends. An end link joins the first ends of the lower and upper arms, and the second end of each arm is free. A chair mount is removably connectable to the second free end of the lower arm of the lift connector, and is secured to a wheelchair. A lift mount is selectively positionable along the upper arm of the lift connector and is adapted to be coupled to a wheelchair lift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Ranger All Season Corporation
    Inventors: Kary D. Conaway, Aaron H. Stegeman, Ronald F. Bechler