GB2401541A

GB2401541A - Wall mounted, stretcher / bed support

Info

Publication number: GB2401541A
Application number: GB0311056A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Bruce Phili Stuart-Smith; Richard Oldale
Original assignee: ASTOR BANNERMAN
Current assignee: ASTOR BANNERMAN
Priority date: 2003-05-14
Filing date: 2003-05-14
Publication date: 2004-11-17
Anticipated expiration: 2023-05-14
Also published as: GB2401541B; GB0311056D0

Abstract

A wall-mounting stretcher or surface includes a platform 7 having a use state in which the platform is substantially horizontal and carries a patient (20) to be worked on by a carer. It includes mounting means 12 for mounting the platform to a wall, the mounting means incorporating height-adjustment (14 Fig 2) means to allow the platform to be raised or lowered in height thereby to accommodate use by carers of different heights. The height-adjustment means include releasable locking means 14, 15 selectively operable to lock the platform 7 at a chosen height and unlock to allow it to be moved manually to another height when released which means are arranged to prevent the platform being unlocked when in its use state. The platform may be foldable between a stored and an in the use position. In the stores position the height operating handle may be accessible preferably the unlocking means cannot be operated by the patient when situated on the stretcher.

Description

2401 541

STRETCHER OR CHANGING UNIT

The present invention relates to stretchers and changing units. More particularly it relates to wall-mounted changing and showering stretchers and units. Such devices are well-known and baby changing surfaces, for example, are commonly found in public places. Typically these baby changing units comprise a mount which fixes to the wall and a moulded plastic surface, attached to the mount, that can be folded up to stow or folded down into a cantilevered use position providing a broadly horizontal plafform on which to wash or change a baby.

Larger changing stretchers for use with older children and adults more commonly comprise a stretcher arrangement including a perimeter frame with a sheet of nylon or other material stretched across the frame to provide a washing, changing and showering surface. The frame will again be supported by a wall-fixing mount to which it is attached and will typically be foldable between a stowed position and a use position providing a broadly horizontal surface for washing, showering or changing. Some such changing stretchers will also include stowable legs which extend to the floor when the stretcher is in its use position and help to support the weight of the person on the stretcher. Stretchers of this type are often found in hospitals and schools where they are used by carets to wash, shower or change ill and disabled patients who are unable fully to look after themselves.

The advantage of wall-mounting stretchers and surfaces over freestanding stretchers and tables, which are also known, is the greater space efficiency they allow. These devices are often installed in lavatories and bathrooms where space is very limited and the ability to stow the surface when not is use is essential. If the patient is unable to get themselves onto these stretchers, then a mobile or ceiling-track hoist can be used to lift the patient onto the stretcher.

There are also known electric patient-lifting wall-mounting stretchers and surfaces. These offer the advantage that the stretcher can be lowered while in its use position until a patient can be transferred easily from a wheelchair, using a transfer board for example, and then raised to a convenient height for patient care. This avoids the need to lift an often heavy patient onto a fixed-height stretcher. A typical wheelchair seatheight is around 550mm whilst a comfortable working height for most people is in the range 800-950mm, depending on the height of the person. As a result most patient-lifting wall-mounting stretchers have a height- range of around 350mm. A second advantage of these stretchers is that they allow the height of the stretcher to be varied to accommodate the preferences as to working height of different carets.

Known patient-lifting wall-mounting stretchers are uniformly electric, in contrast to their free- standing equivalents which are known both in electric versions and in hydraulic versions operated by a foot-pump. The reasons for this are ones of space and practicality. The foot- pump would end up standing out in the middle of the room when the stretcher was stowed, obviating the space advantage offered by stowing. Although theoretically a hand-pump could be used, this produces difficulties, both in mounting it and in using the pump while simultaneously supporting and reassuring a patient on the stretcher.

According to the present invention there is provided a wall-mounting stretcher or surface including a plafform having a use state in which the plafform is substantially horizontal and carries a patient to be worked on by a carer and also including mounting means for mounting the plafform to a wall, the mounting means incorporating height-adjustment means to allow the plafform to be raised or lowered in height thereby to accommodate use by caters of different heights, wherein the height- adjustment means include releasable locking means selectively operable to lock the plafform at a chosen height and unlock to allow it to be moved manually to another height when released which locking means are arranged to prevent the plafform being unlocked when in its use state.

Preferably the plafform is foldable between a use position in which it is prevented from being moved in height and a stowed position in which it can be moved in height.

Preferably the plafform is foldable between a use position and a stowed position and incorporates a height-adjustment handle accessible when the plafform is in its stowed position.

Preferably the handle incorporates operating means to operate the said releasable locking means.

Preferably the said handle when the plafform is in its stowed position is at substantially the same height as the plafform when unstowed and in its use position.

In an embodiment of the invention the handle bears against the mounting means when the plafform is in its use position, thereby to support it in that position.

In a further embodiment of the invention the said locking means include an operating device operable by a cater to release the locking means, which operating device is accessible when the plafform is in its stowed position and is inaccessible when the plafform is in its use position.

In another embodiment of the invention the said plafform is movable between a non-use position in which it is tilted a little above horizontal and a use position in which it is substantially horizontal and wherein the movement between the two positions operates to disable the release of the said locking means.

In another embodiment of the invention the said release means include operating means to operate the release means which operating means are obscured from use by the said patient when the plafform is in its use state.

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig 1 shows a known wall-mounted stretcher Fig 2 shows a first embodiment of the invention in its stowed position Fig 3 shows this embodiment of the invention in its use position Fig 4 shows a second embodiment of the invention in its non-use position Fig 5 shows this embodiment in its use state with a person on the plafform and Fig 6 shows a third embodiment of the invention in a non-use state.

Figure 1 shows a known wall-mounted stretcher. A plafform 1 comprises a perimeter frame 2 carrying a nylon surface 3 on which a patient may be laid. The frame is pivotally mounted to a wall 4 by a pair of mounting brackets 5, 5. The stretcher shown also includes a pair of legs 6, 6 which fold down to rest on the floor and support the near edge of the plafform. When the stretcher is not in use the legs can be folded up and the plafform stowed against the wall.

Figure 2 shows a first embodiment of the invention in its stowed position. A plafform 7 comprises a perimeter frame 8 carrying a nylon surface 9 on which a patient may be laid when the plafform is in its use position. The plafform is pivotally attached to a pair of bearings 10, 10 which slide on respective rails 11, 11 forming part of a wall-fixing frame 12.

The plafform is held in its stowed position by detente means not visible in this view.

The plafform is supported by a lockable gas strut 14 which can be released by means of a release knob 15. In this embodiment the handle is mechanically linked to the gas spring. A handle 13 is fixed to the plafform 7, which handle can be used to move the plafform up and down on the rails 11 when the gas strut is released. In use an operator can grasp the handle 13, operate the knob and move the plafform to a height suitable for them to care for a patient when the plafform is in its use position. In the example shown, the handle is mounted such that the height of the plafform when in its use position is the same as the height of the handle when the plafform is stowed. In this way it is easy for the operator to judge when the plafform is at the right height. Releasing the knob 15 locks the gas strut so that it supports the plafform at the chosen height.

Figure 3 shows this embodiment in its use position. After release of the detente means, the plafform has been folded down. In this position the handle 13 bears against the rails 11, supporting the plafform in its cantilevered horizontal use position. When in this use position it will be seen that the release knob 15 is out of reach, beneath and behind the plafform. If additional security against inadvertent release is desired, the knob may be arranged to disengage from the gas spring release mechanism. For example, the knob may mechanically disengage from the gas spring as the plafform moves through a 90 degree arc when unstowed. These disengagement means are not shown in the drawing of the present embodiment.

Once the plafform is in its use position it can safely be used to carry a patient without fear of inadvertently unlocking the gas spring and thereby causing the patient to drop to the bottom of the plafform's range.

Figure 4 shows another embodiment of the present invention in its non-use position, in which the plafform 7 is slightly above horizontal. In this embodiment the release knob 16 is mounted on the front edge of the plafform and is accessible in the plafform's stowed, non- use and use positions. In the example shown the knob is connected to the gas spring via an hydraulic hose 17. The plafform can be moved up and down both in the stowed and non-use positions by unlocking the gas spring by means of the release knob 16. It will be seen that the plafform is biased towards the non-use position by a sprung lever 18 which bears against the handle 13 and holds the plafform slightly above horizontal.

Figure 5 shows this embodiment in its use position, with a patient 20 laid upon the plafform.

The weight of the patient moves the plafform 7 from its non-use to its use position, depressing the sprung lever 18. This lever operates a valve in the gas spring which disables the knob from releasing the gas spring. As a result, the plafform cannot be adjusted in height when a patient is laid upon it. When the patient is removed, the plafform will return to its non-use position and can again be adjusted in height.

Figure 6 shows a third embodiment of the invention in a non-use state. In this embodiment the gas strut 14 is released by pulling both of a pair of loops 21, 21 towards the front of the plafform, which loops are mounted on a back beam of the plafform. In this embodiment the loops operate respective valves 22, 22 which, when operated together, unlock the gas spring. It will be seen that when a patient is laid on the stretcher the loops become inaccessible, preventing the gas spring from being unlocked. Having a pair of such loops provides against a patient inadvertently pulling a loop and unlocking the gas strut 14. In this way the patient's body itself acts to prevent the plafform being adjusted in height when it is in its use state.

Claims

1. A wall-mounting stretcher or surface including a plafform having a use state in which the plafform is substantially horizontal and carries a patient to be attended on by a caret and also including mounting means for mounting the plafform to a wall, the mounting means incorporating height-adjustment means to allow the plafform to be raised or lowered in height thereby to accommodate use by carers of different heights, wherein the height- adjustment means include releasable locking means selectively operable to lock the plafform at a chosen height and unlock to allow it to be moved manually to another height when released which locking means are arranged to prevent the plafform being unlocked when in its use state.

2. A stretcher or surface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plafform is foldable between a use position in which it is prevented from being moved in height and a stowed position in which it can be moved in height.

3. A stretcher or surface as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the plafform is foldable between a use position and a stowed position and incorporates a height-adjustment handle accessible when the plafform is in its stowed position.

4. A stretcher or surface as claimed in claim 3 wherein the said handle incorporates operating means to operate the said releasable locking means.

5. A stretcher or surface as claimed in either of claims 3 or 4 wherein the said handle when the plafform is in its stowed position is at substantially the same height as the plafform when unstowed and in its use position.

6. A stretcher or surface as claimed in any of claims 3 to 5, wherein the handle bears against the mounting means when the plafform is in its use position, thereby to support it in that position.

7. A stretcher or surface as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the said locking means include an operating device operable by a cater to release the locking means, which operating device is accessible when the plafform is in its stowed position and is inaccessible when the plafform is in its use position.

8. A stretcher or surface as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the said plafform is movable between a non-use position in which it is tilted a little above horizontal and a use position in which it is substantially horizontal and wherein the movement between the two positions operates to disable the release of the said locking means.

9. A stretcher or surface as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the said release means include operating means to operate the release means which operating means are obscured from use by the said patient when the plafform is in its use state.

10. A stretcher or surface substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.