Adjustable Sling Bar Assembly for Variable Lifting Span
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sling bars have fixed sizes, limiting their suitability for use with subjects and accessories of varying sizes, necessitating the need for caregivers to maintain multiple varieties and manually correlate appropriate sling bars with subjects and accessories.
Innovation Solution
A sling bar assembly with adjustable sling bar members that can be locked or unlocked to adjust the span laterally, allowing for flexible accommodation of different sized accessories, and includes features like slots, engagement members, and a lateral governor to facilitate movement and locking of the bar members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional fixed-size sling bars are used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the adaptability to different subject and accessory sizes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The sling bar employs adjustable bar members that can move relative to each other along the longitudinal axis, transitioning between locked and unlocked states. This dynamic capability allows the sling bar to adapt to different subject and accessory sizes while maintaining structural integrity through the locked position mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The sling bar is divided into multiple adjustable bar members (first bar member and second bar member) that can independently position relative to each other. This segmentation enables flexible adjustment of the span between engagement members, providing adaptability to various sizes while keeping each individual bar member relatively simple in structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple varieties of sling bars are maintained to accommodate different sized subjects, then the adaptability is improved, but the inventory complexity and maintenance burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single sling bar design with adjustable bar members can accommodate multiple subject and accessory sizes by adjusting the span between engagement members. This universal design eliminates the need for facilities to stock and maintain multiple varieties of fixed-size sling bars, reducing inventory complexity while maintaining comprehensive adaptability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If adjustable sling bar members are implemented, then the adaptability to different sizes is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanism utilizes the subject's own weight and positioning to automatically guide the bar members into appropriate locked positions. The engagement members and slots work together such that the subject's positioning actions naturally facilitate the adjustment process, reducing the need for complex external adjustment mechanisms and simplifying manufacturing.
4Ease of operation
If the sling bar members are made movable to allow adjustment, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability and stability during lifting may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The bar members are designed to be movable during adjustment but automatically lock into stable positions during lifting operations. The engagement members interact with slots to provide discrete locked positions that ensure reliability and stability when the subject is being lifted, while allowing ease of adjustment when the subject is not being supported.
Data Source
AI summary
A sling bar assembly allows variable positioning of a sling on the sling bar assembly. Some sling bar assemblies include opposing sling bar members that are movable with respect to one another in a lateral direction. Some opposing sling bar members are repositionable between a locked position, in which movement of the sling members with respect to one another is restricted, and an unlocked position. Some sling bar assemblies include multiple sling hooks positioned on a sling bar member. Some sling bar assemblies include a biasing member that permits movement of a sling hook with respect to the sling bar assembly in the lateral direction.