US4530122A — Patient weight reliever apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 170 words

Patient weight reliever apparatus for at least partially lifting a patient from a support structure, such as a bed or a wheelchair, comprising: a support frame including first and second spaced apart upright supports, an overhead support member connecting the upper ends of said upright supports and means for supporting said upright supports in a generally vertical attitude; vertical lift means mounted to said overhead support member including an eccentric roller pivotally mounted to said overhead support member at a pivot point and a lift line connected to the roller at one end, said roller adapted to wind a portion of said lift line onto and off of a cam surface thereof when said eccentric roller pivots about said pivot point; a patient sling adapted to support the patient when lifted by said lift means; means for selectively coupling said lift line and said sling; and handle means for actuating said lift means to raise said sling and patient a desired distance to relieve pressure on the patient's contact points.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 170 words

Patient weight reliever apparatus for at least partially lifting a patient from a support structure, such as a bed or a wheelchair, comprising: a support frame including first and second spaced apart upright supports, an overhead support member connecting the upper ends of said upright supports and means for supporting said upright supports in a generally vertical attitude; vertical lift means mounted to said overhead support member including an eccentric roller pivotally mounted to said overhead support member at a pivot point and a lift line connected to the roller at one end, said roller adapted to wind a portion of said lift line onto and off of a cam surface thereof when said eccentric roller pivots about said pivot point; a patient sling adapted to support the patient when lifted by said lift means; means for selectively coupling said lift line and said sling; and handle means for actuating said lift means to raise said sling and patient a desired distance to relieve pressure on the patient's contact points.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 198 words

Patient weight reliever apparatus for at least partially lifting a patient from a support structure, such as a bed or wheelchair, comprising: a support frame including first and second spaced apart upright supports, an overhead support member connecting the upper ends of said upright supports and means for supporting said upright supports in a generally vertical attitude; vertical lift means mounted to said overhead support member including an eccentric roller pivotally mounted to said overhead support member at a pivot point and a lift line connected to the roller at one end and to said sling at another end, said roller adapted to wind a portion of said lift line onto and off of a cam surface thereof when said eccentric roller pivots about said pivot point; a patient sling adapted to at least partially surround the patient and to support the patient when lifted by said lift means at points other than normal bedsore contact points between the patient and the support structure; means for selectively coupling said lift means and said sling; and means for actuating said lift means to raise said sling and patient a desired distance to relieve pressure on the patient's contact points.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 198 words

Patient weight reliever apparatus for at least partially lifting a patient from a support structure, such as a bed or wheelchair, comprising: a support frame including first and second spaced apart upright supports, an overhead support member connecting the upper ends of said upright supports and means for supporting said upright supports in a generally vertical attitude; vertical lift means mounted to said overhead support member including an eccentric roller pivotally mounted to said overhead support member at a pivot point and a lift line connected to the roller at one end and to said sling at another end, said roller adapted to wind a portion of said lift line onto and off of a cam surface thereof when said eccentric roller pivots about said pivot point; a patient sling adapted to at least partially surround the patient and to support the patient when lifted by said lift means at points other than normal bedsore contact points between the patient and the support structure; means for selectively coupling said lift means and said sling; and means for actuating said lift means to raise said sling and patient a desired distance to relieve pressure on the patient's contact points.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 30 words

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said actuating means includes handle means for rotating said roller about said pivot point to raise and lower said sling and the patient therewith.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 193 words

Patient weight reliever apparatus for at least partially lifting a patient from a support structure, such as a bed, comprising: a support frame including first and second spaced apart upright supports, an overhead support member connecting the upper ends of said upright supports and means for supporting said upright supports in a generally vertical attitude; vertical lift means mounted to said overhead support member; a patient sling adapted to at least partially surround the patient and to support the patient when lifted by said lift means at points other then normal bedsore contact points between the patient and the support structure, said sling being adapted for use wth a bedridden patient and including a pair of relatively stiff elongate sides, rigid side separators mounted between the sides to keep the sides spaced apart one from the other when said sling is lifted by said lift means, and patient support straps attached to said sides to support the patient's body; means for selectively coupling said lift means and said sling; and means for actuating said lift means to raise said sling and patient a desired distance to relieve pressure on the patient's contact points.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 193 words

Patient weight reliever apparatus for at least partially lifting a patient from a support structure, such as a bed, comprising: a support frame including first and second spaced apart upright supports, an overhead support member connecting the upper ends of said upright supports and means for supporting said upright supports in a generally vertical attitude; vertical lift means mounted to said overhead support member; a patient sling adapted to at least partially surround the patient and to support the patient when lifted by said lift means at points other then normal bedsore contact points between the patient and the support structure, said sling being adapted for use wth a bedridden patient and including a pair of relatively stiff elongate sides, rigid side separators mounted between the sides to keep the sides spaced apart one from the other when said sling is lifted by said lift means, and patient support straps attached to said sides to support the patient's body; means for selectively coupling said lift means and said sling; and means for actuating said lift means to raise said sling and patient a desired distance to relieve pressure on the patient's contact points.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said sides are shaped to generally conform to the lateral contour of the patient's body.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said side separators are adjustable in length and are removably mounted between said sides.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 75 words

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said patient support straps include a neck strap suspended between said sides and adapted to support the patient in the area of the patient's neck, a lower back strap suspended between said sides and adapted to support the patient in the lumbar region of the patient's back, and ankle strap support means connected to the sides and adapted to support the patient in the area of the patient's ankles.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said ankle strap support means includes two ankle straps, one connected to either side.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 106 words

A patient sling for lifting a generally horizontal patient, said patient having bedsore contact points, comprising: a pair of relatively stiff elongate sides, said sides having means for providing lift points for raising said sides; rigid side separators mounted between said sides to keep said sides spaced apart one from the other when said sling is lifted at said lift points; and patient support straps attached to said sides to support the patient's body, said straps adapted for supporting the patient at points other than the bedsore contact points so that when the patient is lifted by the sling, pressure on the contact points is relieved.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 106 words

A patient sling for lifting a generally horizontal patient, said patient having bedsore contact points, comprising: a pair of relatively stiff elongate sides, said sides having means for providing lift points for raising said sides; rigid side separators mounted between said sides to keep said sides spaced apart one from the other when said sling is lifted at said lift points; and patient support straps attached to said sides to support the patient's body, said straps adapted for supporting the patient at points other than the bedsore contact points so that when the patient is lifted by the sling, pressure on the contact points is relieved.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said sides are shaped to generally conform to the lateral contour of the patient's body.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said side separators are removably mounted to said sides.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 75 words

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said patient support straps include a neck strap suspended between said sides and adapted to support the patient in the area of the patient's neck, a lower back strap suspended between said sides and adapted to support the patient in the lumber region of the patient's back, and ankle strap support means connected to the sides and adapted to support the patient in the area of the patient's ankles.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said ankle strap support means includes two ankle straps, one connected to either side.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1988-07-22	1989-01-21	1989-07-23	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1992-07-22	1993-01-21	1993-07-23	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1996-07-22	1997-01-21	1997-07-23	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Patient weight reliever apparatus

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