| Manually driven bathtub lift -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
  Manually driven bathtub liftUSPTO Application #: 20070011803Title: Manually driven bathtub lift Abstract: A manually driven bathtub lift for assisting persons of limited strength or mobility into or out of a typical bathtub without the high costs associated with pneumatic, hydraulic or electric lift devices. A seat is attached to a wheeled trolley arranged for movement up an inclined track mounted on a base frame. A chain is disposed about a drive sprocket and a set of guide pulleys and attached to opposite ends of the trolley. The set of pulleys includes an idler that is biased to retain tension in the chain. The drive sprocket is driven by the rotation of a driver wheel supported on the same shaft as the sprocket. Rotation of the sprocket drives the chain which in turn moves the trolley and attached seat. The driver wheel has handles circumferentially spaced around it and is of large enough size that it can be reached and operated from the seat. The lift is light to allow for easily installation and removal and does not require significant strength to operate. (end of abstract) Agent: Ade & Company Inc. - Winnipeg, MB, CA Inventor: Paul Ogrodnick USPTO Applicaton #: 20070011803 - Class: 004560100 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Baths, Closets, Sinks, And Spittoons, Tubs, Convenience Accessories, Means For Handling User The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070011803. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] The present invention relates to a mechanical bathtub lift seat apparatus for assisting persons of limited mobility, such as the elderly or disabled, transfer into or out of a typical bathtub. BACKGROUND [0002] Persons having permanently limited mobility or strength to due to age or disability may have difficulty performing certain typical daily tasks. Entry to or exit from a bathtub is an example of such a task, as it requires transition between a standing position outside the tub and a seated position upon a very low surface within the tub, including climbing over the side wall. [0003] As a result, there are a number of existing products aimed at assisting a user enter and exit the tub by easing the aforementioned transition. These products include inflatable chairs positioned within a bathtub for lowering and raising the user to and from the bottom of the tub in a constantly seated position. Other seat assemblies can be positioned within a tub for the same purpose, but are driven by water actuated cylinders or electric motors. Some of these assemblies feature rotating seats so that the user can initially sit with his/her legs outside the tub and then rotate their legs over the tub wall before being lowered, eliminating the step of unassisted entry to the tub altogether. Other devices, typically driven by electric motors, are capable of actually transferring the user from a seated position entirely outside the walls of the tub to a seated position within. One lowering system involves a band spanning from a wall-mounted dispenser on one side of a tub to the wall of the tub opposite the dispenser. An electric motor within the dispenser slowly dispenses more length of the band in order to lower a user seated on the band into the tub. Once bathing is completed, the motor is run in an opposite direction to retract the band into the dispenser, thereby lifting the user back up to the top of the tub. [0004] The primary problem associated with the existing bathtub lift devices is the high cost involved. The need for components such as air compressors, seals and adaptors for water driven devices, electric motors and control systems, coupled with possible installation costs, keeps many of these products financially out of reach for many of those in need of the assistance that would be provided. Many elderly or disabled persons live on limited income and cannot justify the high cost of the existing bathtub lift systems despite the comfort and safety levels they offer. As a result, there is a need for a bathtub lift apparatus that can be produced and sold at a reasonable cost. SUMMARY [0005] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a bathtub lift apparatus for assisting a person into and out of a bathtub comprising: [0006] a base frame for being received in the tub, the base frame including a track supported on the frame having a lower end and an upper end; [0007] a trolley supported for movement along the track; [0008] a seat for supporting the person thereon, the seat being supported on the trolley device for movement with the trolley between a lower position at the lower end of the track and an upper position at the upper end of the track; [0009] a rotatable drive member supported for rotation on the frame; [0010] an elongate driven member engaged about the drive member and connected to the trolley for displacement of said trolley as the drive member is rotated; and [0011] a driver device for rotating the drive member. [0012] Preferably the base frame comprises two laterally spaced parallel walls, wherein the drive member and elongate driven member are located between said walls. [0013] Preferably the track comprises two laterally spaced track members, each having an upper and lower surface defining an elongate channel therebetween for receiving the trolley. [0014] Each of the upper and lower surfaces of the track members may comprise a rail. [0015] Alternatively, the upper surface of each track member may comprise a rail while the lower surface of each track member comprises the base frame. [0016] Preferably there is provided roller members supported on each side of the trolley supported for movement along the track. [0017] Preferably the roller members are supported in pairs on axles mounted to the trolley. [0018] Preferably the track is non-linear between the upper and lower ends thereof. [0019] The seat may be pivotally supported on the trolley for pivotal motion relative thereto. [0020] In this arrangement, preferably there is provided: [0021] a pivotal mounting mechanism for pivotally supporting the seat on the trolley for pivotal motion between the lower position where the seat is generally horizontal and the trolley is inclined along the track and a lifting position where the seat and trolley are both inclined along the track and generally parallel to each other; and [0022] an abutment member mounted on the seat that abuts with the trolley to prevent the seat from pivoting passed the lifting position where the seat and trolley are generally parallel. Continue reading... Full patent description for Manually driven bathtub lift Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Manually driven bathtub lift patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Manually driven bathtub lift or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Bath tub lifter Next Patent Application: Shower head that can swivel freely Industry Class: Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Manually driven bathtub lift patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 1.06734 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Canon USA , Celera Genomics , Cephalon, Inc. , Cingular Wireless , Clorox , Colgate-Palmolive , Corning , Cymer , |
||
